Really??!!?!

I'm enjoying the wonderful book by Michael A. Singer titled The Untethered Soul. The theme of this book is living life with an open heart, choosing to be unconditionally happy, and allowing life to be life and flow right on through us energetically without hanging onto irritations or celebrations--loving every moment, no matter what.
That's a tall order, to be sure. But as Mr. Singer says, "What's there to not be happy about?" Keeping one's vow of unconditional happiness requires us to give up our melodramas and that part of us that believes there is some reason to be unhappy. So many of the situations or people that we get wound up about (and often let ruin our day) are truly trivial in the grand scheme of things. Is it worth it to upset our lovely internal energy flow (which moves beautifully unless we block it or close it) over such trivial things? Really??!!?!
Breathe, relax and release. It's a practice, and you, too, can do it!
Leta

One of Those Days

Yesterday was "one of those days." For me, that means that I would prefer to be the only person on the planet, the rest of humanity can just get off the globe and leave me alone. It's an odd combination of mild crankiness and need for self-nurturing. I'm best not interacting with anyone on such days--it's rarely productive. So I mostly stayed in the woman cave, slept, ate moderately, and relaxed. Because I recognized this in myself, experienced it, and let it pass, today I'm fine and back to my "usual happy self."
These are some powerful words: This, too, shall pass. That's if we let it pass.
Is there anything you could let pass, to your great benefit?
Blessings,
Leta

Control, or not

I hit a "control bottom" in December. An attempt to exert influence, which I realized afterwards, didn't go well. Not the first time, alas. But hopefully one of the last. It was a good learning experience, in that I have no desire to control much of anything now. Nor do I have the ability. My "illusion of control" has been shattered, and for that, I am most grateful.
Now I get to enjoy the freedom, though sometimes a bit scary, of taking life, other people, and circumstances as they come. Things happen, I experience them, and let them go. It's a free way to live that I'm just starting to learn. I've been a controlling person for so long, this is a huge change. But being a controller is the direct opposite of living with an open heart, and I am committed to keeping my heart open and love flowing. I'm excited for this ongoing adventure.
Boldly,
Leta

Joy Enemy #1

     I've discovered through years of introspection that one of my key talents in life is helping people to see other options.
     "We've always done it this way!" is Joy Enemy #1. Let's take a look at this on a variety of scales. At the international level--we've always solved conflicts via war. This is becoming increasingly unacceptable as humans are waking to the idea that there are other options.
     At the national level, there is a huge expectation for the government to fix it, whatever "it" is. Truly this is a fairly recent phenomenon, less than 100 years old. Waiting for the government to fix something is futile. Consider other options, like employing the awesome creativity and resourcefulness of the American people.
     At the personal level, we tend to get so enmeshed in our habitual ways of doing things, that we don't even take time to consider other options. Here's one to blow most parents' minds: if your child is older than 10, they can do their own laundry. This supports their resourcefulness, and helps them understand consequences (such as the social embarrassment of stinky clothes). And it frees parents to do something more fun than laundry.
     There are many commonly-held beliefs that are bullshit, such as:
     1) Taking good care of oneself is selfish.
     2) A parent's job is to keep the child happy.
     3) A parent can't allow a child to fail--it will make the parent look bad.
     4) Change is to be resisted.
Well, if these are bullshit, what are the other options?  I'll let you ponder those a bit.
With an open mind,
Leta

Every Day a Blessing

We had a wonderful Christmas and visit with the sons. I had my Christmas cry on Christmas Eve day. I expect I'll have another as the sons leave to return to Colorado, and I clean up the aftermath of Christmas.
While "beam me up, Scotty" would be awesome for personal travel, right now I'd like to use it to put away all the Christmas stuff in the blink of an eye. Something to look forward to!
I am excited about 2013 as well. Travels, good times with family and friends, more basketball and another baseball season (Go, Cubbies!). Life is so good. Please live every day like Christmas, for each one is an awesome blessing!
Love and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Leta

The Christmas Cry

There's lots of emotion for me around Christmas. Being a person who prefers hanging out in my head (logic, etc.), there's some discomfort with an emotional roller coaster. I love Christmas--I've made conscious choices to lessen the stress and appreciate those events that focus on the many wonderful people in my life. I feel very blessed year-round, but especially at Christmas.
My sons moved from Kansas to Colorado this year, and thus have a much longer drive to get home for Christmas. I'm not a worrier, but I'm still a bit concerned about the weather potentials, driving at night, etc. Will they be home next Christmas? Will I be on the planet still next Christmas? These questions put pressure on me to really be enjoying the NOW, THIS Christmas, and am I doing that sufficiently? This kind of "head stuff" makes me crazy.
All that said, my best option for diffusing all these thoughts and emotions is to have the all-out annual Christmas cry. It serves me best to do it before Christmas, as my family really wonders why I would cry on Christmas Day.
I can feel it coming, and I know some blessing will occur to cause the tears to spill out, finally. That's a great thing.
So maybe consider it--a Christmas cry. I'm betting those around you will be glad you did!
Gratefully celebrating the Christ consciousness,
Leta

Don't Blame the Gun

The school shooting in Newtown is definitely a tragedy. I can't imagine the horror of the experience for the children, school personnel and families. However, it's a human tragedy, not a gun tragedy.
Unable to comprehend how such a thing could happen, humans take the easy route and blame the gun, and say we humans shouldn't be allowed to have them. That's like saying if someone is killed in a car accident, we shouldn't be allowed to have cars.
In our Bill of Rights, immediately following freedom of speech and assembly (#1) is the right to keep and bear arms (#2). The right to keep and bear arms is THAT important. There is no greater way to control a people than to prevent them from defending themselves by taking away their arms. This fundamental freedom must be maintained.
Those who want to do damage to other humans will always find a way, so it does absolutely no good to take away guns from people with the intent of preventing such tragedies. It simply does not work. I offer as an example that the bomb detonated by Timothy McVeigh in Oklahoma City was made primarily from fertilizer. I don't remember an outcry to outlaw fertilizer.
I don't own a gun. I don't care for them or hunting or sport shooting. But I will always defend my right to own one if I choose.
The real issue here is one of mental and spiritual health, a much bigger issue to deal with than a gun. Don't blame the gun!