The root of sorrow lies in the dearth of heroism and courage
in the character of the average man. Paramahansa Yogananda
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Our Children
I love this passage from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, and I love it when it appears before me, "magically," when I need to re-read it.
"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the Archer's hand be for gladness; for even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable."
"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the Archer's hand be for gladness; for even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable."
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Legacy
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one come to you without leaving better and happier." --Mother Teresa
I'm reading a very interesting book by Caitlin Doughty titled Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematory. She's a young, licensed mortician taking a historical, serious, and humorous look at death. She is the founder of The Order of the Good Death. Her website is http://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/ and there you can find some VERY entertaining videos.
As Caitlin indicates, the chance of each one of us dying is 100%. We don't much care to spend a lot of time thinking about that. I surely don't. But when I do, it leaves me considering my legacy. That leads me back to the Mother Teresa quote I started with. Our greatest power is to love. Let's use it, and live as Mother Teresa suggests.
I love my readers!
Leta
I'm reading a very interesting book by Caitlin Doughty titled Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematory. She's a young, licensed mortician taking a historical, serious, and humorous look at death. She is the founder of The Order of the Good Death. Her website is http://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/ and there you can find some VERY entertaining videos.
As Caitlin indicates, the chance of each one of us dying is 100%. We don't much care to spend a lot of time thinking about that. I surely don't. But when I do, it leaves me considering my legacy. That leads me back to the Mother Teresa quote I started with. Our greatest power is to love. Let's use it, and live as Mother Teresa suggests.
I love my readers!
Leta
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Have a FIRST today
I am currently working with a group of awesome women, and one of the assignments I have given them is to experience some sort of "first" in their lives. It doesn't need to be anything earth-shattering, like walking on the moon (but it could be!). It may be something as simple as smiling at someone you don't know. A "first" involves paying attention, because we probably experience more of them than we realize.
One example is that a few weeks ago I had an airbnb guest (www.airbnb.com--I am a host) who is an artist, and he did a pencil and watercolor portrait of me while we chatted in the evening. Having a portrait done was definitely a delightful first for me.
Regarding a "first," I offer this suggestion of encouragement from author Jane Beach:
Leta
One example is that a few weeks ago I had an airbnb guest (www.airbnb.com--I am a host) who is an artist, and he did a pencil and watercolor portrait of me while we chatted in the evening. Having a portrait done was definitely a delightful first for me.
Regarding a "first," I offer this suggestion of encouragement from author Jane Beach:
Make a list of all the times you've broken through fear to do something new. Then ask the questions:Have fun with your FIRST today!
--What is Spirit calling me to do now?
--Am I willing to listen to the voice of my inner wisdom?
--Am I willing to take the next step?
Leta
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Cleaning & Clearing
I have been on a massive cleaning & clearing effort at our house for the last couple of weeks. I've had the luxury of the time to spend parts of a day or two on each room, thoroughly cleaning it and getting rid of lots of stuff.
If you've read my blog for some time, or know me, you know that I despise cleaning. The goofiest things have kept me motivated:
- a piece of synthetic "lamb's wool" that a friend gave me, saying, "Here, this will clean your window screens." I gave him a look that said, "What makes you think I want to clean my screens?" I took it anyway, decided to try it, and it's a miracle!
- I bought Howard's Restor-a-Finish at the hardware store to spiff up our oak kitchen cabinets, and that, too, is a miracle product. It cleans and restores the finish without much effort. The cabinets look like new.
- I had printed an article I saw on Facebook that included a list titled "101 Things That Can Easily Be Reduced in Your Home." My mission is to cross off at least 90, and I'm over half-way to that goal already.
- The pile of stuff I plan to donate is growing in our garage. There's nothing there I will miss.
- I've sold some things on craiglist or ebay, thus earning somewhat of a "tip" for my efforts.
- It feels SO GOOD to de-clutter. I LOVE how seeing some empty spaces.
- I'm up to 18 bags of trash pitched, plus a bunch of stuff to recycle.
I heard someone say recently regarding happiness: 1) I got to eat today; 2) I'm healthy; 3) I have someone to love and love me; why wouldn't I be happy? It makes me happy to have less stuff in my life, and make more room for experiences, like travel, events with friends, golfing and so on.
Here's to less stuff!
Leta
P.S. Before and after photos of the laundry room...
If you've read my blog for some time, or know me, you know that I despise cleaning. The goofiest things have kept me motivated:
- a piece of synthetic "lamb's wool" that a friend gave me, saying, "Here, this will clean your window screens." I gave him a look that said, "What makes you think I want to clean my screens?" I took it anyway, decided to try it, and it's a miracle!
- I bought Howard's Restor-a-Finish at the hardware store to spiff up our oak kitchen cabinets, and that, too, is a miracle product. It cleans and restores the finish without much effort. The cabinets look like new.
- I had printed an article I saw on Facebook that included a list titled "101 Things That Can Easily Be Reduced in Your Home." My mission is to cross off at least 90, and I'm over half-way to that goal already.
- The pile of stuff I plan to donate is growing in our garage. There's nothing there I will miss.
- I've sold some things on craiglist or ebay, thus earning somewhat of a "tip" for my efforts.
- It feels SO GOOD to de-clutter. I LOVE how seeing some empty spaces.
- I'm up to 18 bags of trash pitched, plus a bunch of stuff to recycle.
I heard someone say recently regarding happiness: 1) I got to eat today; 2) I'm healthy; 3) I have someone to love and love me; why wouldn't I be happy? It makes me happy to have less stuff in my life, and make more room for experiences, like travel, events with friends, golfing and so on.
Here's to less stuff!
Leta
P.S. Before and after photos of the laundry room...
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Useful Thinking
From Paramahansa Yogananda (who wrote Autobiography of a Yogi):
"Negation acts like an insulator that inhibits the flow of God's power through you and thus causes inharmonies of body, mind, and soul. Criticism, anger, envy, suspicion, jealousy, fear, hate, doubt, laziness, worry, anxiety, thoughts of lack and so on are all forms of negation. Watch your thoughts. Stop them from pointless wandering, and make them obey you. Train your mind to think constructively at all times. A joyful, thankful attitude will carry you a long way toward the goal of bringing into your life only the good things that you desire."
"Change your thoughts if you wish to change your conditions. Since you alone are responsible for your thoughts, only you can change them."
"Negation acts like an insulator that inhibits the flow of God's power through you and thus causes inharmonies of body, mind, and soul. Criticism, anger, envy, suspicion, jealousy, fear, hate, doubt, laziness, worry, anxiety, thoughts of lack and so on are all forms of negation. Watch your thoughts. Stop them from pointless wandering, and make them obey you. Train your mind to think constructively at all times. A joyful, thankful attitude will carry you a long way toward the goal of bringing into your life only the good things that you desire."
"Change your thoughts if you wish to change your conditions. Since you alone are responsible for your thoughts, only you can change them."
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Making a Difference
This quote is from Jane Goodall: What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
What kind of difference will you make today? Will you offer a friendly smile or a frown? Will you talk about what's great in your life or talk about problems and what's wrong with the world? Even these seemingly small choices DO make a difference, not only in how you feel, but how those around you are affected.
We don't have to be Mother Teresa to make a difference. We do it by doing what comes naturally for us. Sometimes it's SO natural, it doesn't seem to make a difference. Here's an example from my life. I'm a natural organizer, especially of events. Last Sunday I organized a trip to Kansas City for three friends and myself. We went to a morning service, lunch with several friends, and then to the Royals game, in a rented car no less. We had a great day! While I dearly love the friends that went with me, I know that if any of them had had to organize the adventure, it would not have happened. That sort of effort just doesn't "float their boats." So my willingness to organize made a great difference, and it was easy for me.
Consider your choices for making a difference. Go do it!
Leta
What kind of difference will you make today? Will you offer a friendly smile or a frown? Will you talk about what's great in your life or talk about problems and what's wrong with the world? Even these seemingly small choices DO make a difference, not only in how you feel, but how those around you are affected.
We don't have to be Mother Teresa to make a difference. We do it by doing what comes naturally for us. Sometimes it's SO natural, it doesn't seem to make a difference. Here's an example from my life. I'm a natural organizer, especially of events. Last Sunday I organized a trip to Kansas City for three friends and myself. We went to a morning service, lunch with several friends, and then to the Royals game, in a rented car no less. We had a great day! While I dearly love the friends that went with me, I know that if any of them had had to organize the adventure, it would not have happened. That sort of effort just doesn't "float their boats." So my willingness to organize made a great difference, and it was easy for me.
Consider your choices for making a difference. Go do it!
Leta
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