May 31--Another Month Closes Out

Many people need desperately to receive this message: "I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone."  --Kurt Vonnegut 

    We close out the May theme of empathy. While technology and social media certainly have their downsides, the connection they have provided among people has been invaluable. No matter what the condition one is experiencing, it is possible to connect with others "in the same boat." Our common suffering brings us together and empathy supports healing. 

    Onward to June and summer fun,

        Leta

And more baseball!!!!!
This is one of many "sittin' spots" 
outside Minute Maid Park in Houston.

May 30--Connected at the Heart

You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was Dostoevsky and Dickens who taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive.  --James Baldwin

    I'm learning a lot about anxiety. Let me back up for a moment. At one of the very first 12-step meetings I attended years ago, the person leading shared on her multitude of fears. I thought at the time, "I'm glad I'm not scared of all that stuff." Well, it turns out that I had all those fears and more. 

    Back to anxiety. I never considered myself an anxious person until Something nudged me to look into what anxiety is. Holy cow! I am a living, breathing ball of anxiety, have been all my life, but it is so much a part of me that I didn't even recognize it. Maybe I should congratulate myself for living fairly successfully with it all these decades!??! Just like I dove in and dealt with many fears, I am now digging into my thoughts, beliefs and behaviors that are contributing to anxiety. It feels a bit like a Mount-Everest-size task, but I must continue with one of my favorite mantras: one day at a time. 

    I'm not alone in this, and I am grateful for that.

        Leta

Anxiety feels like a black hole.

May 29--Thinking of You

Never be so busy as not to think of others.  --Mother Teresa

    There is quite a lot of "busy" in the world. It is easy to get caught up in one's own to-do list, drama and "shoulds," so that it is easy to lose track of others.

    There are three times in particular when I feel like I can set myself aside and really open to Spirit's guidance. Those times are when writing, teaching Melt Method and yoga, and doing coaching sessions. Allowing the nudges, ideas and promptings of Spirit to flow through is energizing for me and usually just right in support of the others. It's a win-win, which I guess is the ultimate truth of the quote above... thinking of others is good for both parties!

    Take a deep breath and send a blessing to someone you love ❤

        Leta

Our deck garden, mostly herbs
with one pot of flowers

May 28--Just Be Kind

It's a little embarrassing that after 45 years of research and study, the best advice I can give people is to be a little kinder to each other.  --Aldous Huxley

    Each day my prayer includes this: "Help us all to be kinder to each other and kinder to the planet." 

    I have a snoozing pup next to me on the bed. I've learned a lot from Barney. Though we don't know what breed(s) he is composed of, we know he has strong herding tendencies--he is much more relaxed when his people are organized and in sight. He is curious, especially with cats and bunnies. He can be very still, with just the slightest nose twitch; he can zoom around the yard and house at lightning speed. He's good at chilling out. He loves his people. He's quite vocal when he thinks we need a talking-to. He entertains us by romping with a dirty sock while we are enjoying meal time. He's smart and eager to please. He makes us laugh. He gets wildly excited at the suggestion of a car ride. He's a really good long-distance traveler. Belly-up for belly rubs is his most adorable position. I've learned a lot about kindness since Barney came to our house. 

    Today is a good day to practice kindness,

        Leta

Focusing on a bunny...

May 27--Acceptance--A Good Plan

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.  --Harper Lee

    Walking around in another's shoes/skin/body is impossible. We can't really know all of what is happening with anyone, so let's all cut each other a bunch of slack, shall we? That's not easy, especially with what appears to be fear, ignorance, malevolence and stupidity running rampant nowadays. 

    I need this reminder from the big book of AA: 

And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation -- some fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.

For me, serenity began when I learned to distinguish between those things that I could change and those I could not. When I admitted that there were people, places, things, and situations over which I was totally powerless, those things began to lose their power over me. I learned that everyone has the right to make their own mistakes, and learn from them, without my interference, judgment, or assistance!

    Working on it!

        Leta

Sparkling dewdrops on the grass

May 26--Carry Love

A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart.   
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    I believe that each one of us comes into earthly life with love in our hearts. Alas, circumstances and people can damage that pure essence and warp the individual's perception of the world. Life becomes a question of whether or not we see the Universe as a friendly and welcoming place. 

    There is much going on in the world these days that seeks to implant fear in our hearts. Fear generates anger and all sorts of poor behavior. This is not good for anyone. For humanity to survive, we must carry love in our hearts, living the wisdom that we are all one with each other and our glorious Mother Earth. 

    Love casts out fear,

        Leta

In the neighborhood...

May 25--Thoughts on Aging

You can only understand people if you feel them in yourself.  --John Steinbeck

    Let's take up the subject of aging. A friend mentioned this the other night as a challenge in his life. We've heard the saying often: Getting old isn't for sissies. I certainly didn't understand older people and their aging issues until I became one of them. There are new experiences on every level. 

    Physically, I can't do as much for as long as I used to. There are things I did earlier in life, like repaint our entire house inside, that I have no desire to do anymore. I've cut down the size of my garden. I pace myself better to accomplish things like cleaning. Seeing my 83-year-old brother's challenges, especially with balance, is making me acutely aware of all the ways and places that folks can fall, and falls are the primary thing to put folks in nursing homes. I'm fortunate in that I'm very healthy and active, with minimal chronic aches. Those with major health issues have not only physical discomfort but also mental and emotional distress.

    Mental, emotional, spiritual issues of aging are abundant and complex. How do we maintain a sense of being useful after retiring from a lengthy career? How do we handle the challenges of illness and loss of loved ones? It's a proven fact that we attend more funerals as we age. Looking death in the face can be terrifying. Can we stay in our current home or do we need one more accommodating to our aging bodies? How is the bucket list going? Are we at peace with ourselves and others or do amends need to be made? So many questions, and we recognize--so little time. 

    Enjoy this day!

        Leta