Profound Words

     I'm including in this post two quotes from President Obama's 2016 State of the Union Address. While so many folks think the world is going to hell, these two statements show me how far we've come just in my lifetime on the slow journey toward world peace. I was born in 1955, and my early years were spent very much in a climate of war, and "bomb the hell out of them."
     This is different. President Obama quotes Pope Francis:

His Holiness, Pope Francis, told this body from the very spot I’m standing on tonight that “to imitate the hatred and violence of tyrants and murderers is the best way to take their place.” 

     And in his optimistic closing, the President said:

That’s the America I know. That’s the country we love. Clear- eyed, big-hearted, undaunted by challenge, optimistic that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. That’s what makes me so hopeful about our future.

     For us to have a President that uses the phrases "unarmed truth" and "unconditional love"... holy cow!! Ultimately I believe that's the direction in which we all want to move, whether or not we use those particular words. I agree with President Obama, we have extraordinary reason to be so hopeful and excited about our future!
     Lovingly,
          Leta

In Heaven

     I am extraordinarily blessed at this moment to be at retreat at Timber Creek Retreat House in Drexel, Missouri. Practicing yoga, relaxing, meditating, nourishing, communing, enjoying!
     This is our reading from our initial meditation upon arrival on Friday night (author unknown at the moment):

I welcome the new year that lies before me.
I regard each day as a perfect lifetime unto itself and I vow to enjoy it to the fullest.
I easily embrace change, for it is the nature of the Infinite to eclipse Itself as and through my existence.
I stand on the boundary of the life I have known and boldly step into the newness of my becoming.
I take deliberate action in the direction of my dream, knowing Spirit meets me right where I am, revealing more of my innate wisdom and power and propelling me forward in my unfolding.
With expectancy and delight, I advance toward the vision of my perfect life fulfilled, opening to myriad opportunities to experience vibrant health, deep love, unlimited wealth, and creative self-expression.
I release my word to the Law of Love, knowing as I speak it, it is already manifest.
My life begins anew this day. And so it is.

     Knowing for you all the blessings of Life in 2016!
              Leta

Daily

     I appreciate these words from the Rev. Margaret Stortz:

"I think it is a holy commission for us to begin to awaken to our true natures. It is also probably the way that we will begin to see real peace on Earth. Certainly it is worth all our best efforts to bring love into the world as a daily occurrence." 

     What might you do today to bring extra loving-kindness into your life, remembering that a kindness shown is also a kindness received? It's easy to start with a bright smile. Kindness isn't serious, it's playful!
      In fun-filled kindness,
          Leta

Changing my perspective on the new year...

     I must confess that I've lost interest in goal-setting. Too many "didn't make it" instances, I guess. At this point in life, setting a goal feels like pushing a river upstream, and all I really want to do is go with the flow.
     The following is a quote from Christian Sorensen:

Prayer too often ends up being directed at something outside of the self with a request for a change in conditions. Imagine the difference if your prayer was a communion with the Infinite. You would no longer be petitioning for anything to shift. Your only desire would be to know God better. When practiced in this manner, you are no longer looking for an answer that fulfills a limiting question that fits nicely into one of your preconceived rooms of thought. When you are in tune with the Infinite, you experience the unfoldment of an expanding consciousness that blows the walls out from your box. There are answers to prayer that your requests can’t even begin to articulate, Divine Connections ready to deliver the goods beyond expectations and a love that brings a peace and security only the soul could know.

     My only desire in 2016 is "to know God better." No forcing, no demanding, let Life take me where It will. It's done a damn good job so far, and I'm excited to see what the new year holds.
     Joyous 2016 to all!
                 Leta

A Simple Smile

     It's crazy out there! Loads of traffic and crowds of shoppers, folks thinking there's too much to do and not enough time.
     When I'm out in this mayhem, I make it a point to smile a LOT. It reminds me that I'm not in a hurry and all is well in my world. And I really do get lots of smiles back. It's almost as if seeing me smile reminds the other person that it's all OK, a tiny joyful wake-up call. Simple kindness is a wonderful thing.
     (((SMILE))),
           Leta

Listening

     Listening is a very valuable skill, one that I believe we can always develop more strongly. I know I can always use improvement in that skill. I can get lost in emotions, or figuring out a response, or simply thinking about my to-do list, and then I'm saying, "Could you please repeat that?"
     This shows up as today's topic, as I had the experience yesterday where I was not listened to, and that's quite frustrating. Our garage door opener failed, with my car inside, of course. And I couldn't get the door up manually due to the nature of the failure. We have an odd opener set-up due to the architecture of our house, and it has baffled repairmen in the past, to the point of them damaging the actual garage door in failed efforts to fix things. So when I called the repair company yesterday, I explained the unusual set-up and past history of repair difficulties, and asked that an experienced technician be sent out. So a youngster shows up who immediately says, "I've never seen anything like this." Someone wasn't listening to me!
     It will all work out eventually, and I take away the gentle reminder that listening is quite important, and a very valuable way to have successful interactions with other humans.
     Paying attention,
          Leta

Happiness

A Note from the Universe by Mike Dooley:
Happiness isn't a destination, it's a realization that things couldn't possibly get any better than having the freedom to perceive as you please and to think as you choose, in a magical, adoring Universe.

I've been playing with an awareness that I've spent most of my life doing stuff to try to be a better person, to please others or God, to be worthy. It's an impossible task, because we are already there--there's nothing we can do to be more loved than we already are--we are infinitely adored by that "magical, adoring Universe." Therefore, with this realization comes the knowing that everything I do is simply a choice. I don't HAVE to do anything. I don't have to tithe, or serve others, or be nice, or smile, or say "yes" when I mean "no," or anything else. Those are all choices, and therefore, it's all within. There's no more blaming anything outside myself for the choices I make. We shall see how this develops. Right now, it feels like a very empowering realization. 

     Enjoying the magic,

         Leta