Awareness

Making Baskets from Broken Straw.

I met young woman at the gas pump tonight.

It was clear to me, she’d been having a bad day – culminating in one final outburst upon purchase. Her card, you see, had just been declined. The reason? Insufficient funds.

It was the proverbial straw that broke the camels back.

In a fit of fury, she began swinging her handbag – smashing it against the outside of the pump casing.

With one final cry, she fell backwards against the car – then buried her face into her hands.

We’ve all had those moments, my loves – when the bigness of our emotions threatens to topple us. We feel wildly out of control, fitful with rage – and yet, perhaps our most vulnerable of all.

Albeit at great risk, I like to reach out in those moments – finding them the perfect teaching opportunity.

I walked over and without ever saying a word, scanned my own card to provide for her purchase. She cried when she realized the generosity of the moment.

“We all have bad days,” I smiled “make the rest of today a better one.”

And then I hugged her and pointed up to the sky.

She’d been so upset she’d nearly missed one of the most glorious sunsets this region had seen in years.

I may not have much, but I have ample enough heart – and what I have, I share freely to this world.

These moments happen all around us, my darlings – and yet, for reasons unknown we tend to look away. Perhaps, we feel it not our place? Or, that another is better suited to task?

Though, let me ask you – if we never act, then how can we ever make this world a better place?

It’s these simple acts of kindness, my loves – that have perhaps the most profound impact of all.

And so, today I challenge you to look for the need – step in, and help to create a lasting change.

Namaste, my loves ❤️

A Reminder of Purpose.

I’ve been experiencing somewhat of a difficult morning, owing to a lack of sleep and a rather I unwelcomed lingering flu.

There was certainly reason enough to stay a bit longer in bed, though – to be honest, there was so much more to do.

More in the way of reaching out; more in the way of a metaphorical holding of hands.

You see, no matter how I may feel, there’s always this deeper heart purpose — something begging for ‘just a little bit more.’

It encourages us when we’ve grown tired or weary, extending hope where once believed to be none.

And I am always so ever-grateful for it, as — my darlings it is the reason we are here today.

Because, our belief stands stronger than any external force.

And though, I had initially felt somewhat down upon waking – that single thought was enough to fill my heart.

None of us are immune to these challenges of day, and yet — together, we find our way through.

And so this day, my message is quite simple, my friends ~

Because of you, I’ll rise against any odds. For this, I bow humbly to you.

Namaste ❤️

Beyond the Barriers of Mind.

How do we become a true friend to self?
 
How do we express an authenticity of kindness when we are unable to express the very same to self? To focus our energy inward, to create the space for kindhearted reflection and compassion – my darlings, this is the most fundamental aspect of our spiritual practice.
 
And yet, it can often serve as our ‘achilles heel.’ Meaning, the scars of our wounds travel deeply, my loves – so much so, we become armored to all further exposures.
 
How easily we fall into the pattern of our past story lines – evidencing self worth through a single, fleeting memory. And, that ‘dialogue’ is well rehearsed, now isn’t it?
 
“I’m not deserving and/or worthy enough. So, why on earth should I take this chance?”
 
How sadly we begin this self-denigrating rhetoric in those moments when our love is needed most of all. We criticize our weaknesses instead of offering compassion.
 
So, why do we set these barriers, my loves? Why do we limit that which is needed most of all?
 
Is it because we’ve already decided upon our ‘story’? Are we so fixed to this idea of self, that we’re unable to release the pain of old wounds?
 
Pema Chodron writes,
 
“But as we let go of our repetitive stories and fixed ideas about ourselves–particularly deep-seated feelings of “I’m not okay”–the armor starts to fall apart, and we open into the spaciousness of our true nature, into who we really are beyond the transitory thoughts and emotions. We see that our armor is made up of nothing more than habits and fears, and we begin to feel that we can let those go.”
 
My darlings, maybe it’s time to let the armor go? To draw the energy of kindness inward, and help to refine those edges?
 
You see, it’s precisely within these moments of fear, anger or frustration — that we’re able to finally break through to the Divine.
 
A little something to consider, my friends ~
 
Much love and namaste <3
 
 

A Joy That Never Leaves.

In his essay, Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise , Thich Nhat Hanh spoke to the topic of life’s ‘ultimate concern’

“The deepest concern in you, as in many of us,” he shared. “is one you may not have perceived, one you may not have heard. Every one of us has an ultimate concern that has nothing to do with material or affective concerns. What do we want to do with our life? That is the question. We are here, but why are we here? Who are we, each of us individually? What do we want to do with our life? These are questions that we don’t typically have (or make) time to answer.”

So often we fall into the ‘routine’ of life, my loves; our happiness measured by way of external reward. In doing so, we miss the opportunity to reflect — to connect to that divine essence of who we are. It is this ultimate concern, my darlings – those probing questions which inspire our path and compel the heart’s greatest change.

Why are we here, my loves? What is it that inspires our journey? How often do we take the time to ask ourselves, that which ultimately refines our purpose?

It is this bustling of day, which drowns our clarity of focus; which presumes to know on heart’s behalf. And, we may spend the entirety of our lives listening to this external noise without once ever ‘hearing’ that voice within.

“Am I doing what I most want to be doing with my life?” he asks. “Do I even know what that is?”

It is within that answer that we find our joy.

It is true that we are shaped by our thoughts, my loves — we become what we think. And, when our minds are tuned to joy – ‘joy shall follow like a shadow that never leaves.’

Namaste ❤️

This Lesson of Stillness.

I remember my first introduction to the transformative power of silence.

I was 19 years old, at the time – and a massive tornado had just pushed through the very heart of our sleepy Texas town. In the aftermath, there was a stillness — as if all of mankind had gathered to pause.

By some divine grace, our house had been spared. Though, others – not more than a few feet away, had crumbled to dust in its path. As my neighbors emerged from the tumbled wreckage, I had expected to hear cries and moans — and, yet?

Not a sound was to be heard. It was as if stillness had become its own refuge.

I realized that stillness has its own quality of ‘unchanging.’ That even in this aftermath there exists a space of healing.

Perhaps, stillness is that pause in between? Much like the point in a ball’s trajectory where it is neither rising, nor falling – rather, it is suspended without judgment; never quite knowing where it may ultimately ‘land.’

And, much like each breath, between the rise and fall of our own chest walls — there exists an eternal peace.

It is this sense of well-being, my dearest darlings; this underlying calm — which remains accessible to us throughout each of our moments.

But only if we are willing, that is.

In peace, my loves ~ namaste ❤️

Accepting the Gift.

I’ve been experiencing a bit of a challenge, as of late.

Though life has certainly extended its hand in opportunity – to navigate this often weathered path, and find peace along the way. But, as with all things there is balance, you see — and moments in which our hearts may be tested.

And, that’s a blessing in and of itself, my loves — a cherished gift rendered from the ashes, simply that we may rise again.

And rise we shall – rather, we’ll soar. As we shall have the grace, the insight — and that much deeper knowing, that nothing is ever too great for the vastness of heart.

Life is filled with upset and challenge; and it is ripe with unanswered questions — but somehow within this pursuit we find meaning, and within that meaning we find our purpose.

And, purpose is all that we need to find our way through.

Even in our most challenging of moments, my darlings;,even as the world seems to crumble at our feet — there is still something inescapably alluring, something to draw us one step closer.

Remember darlings, “You hold in your hand an invitation: to remember the transforming power of forgiveness and loving kindness. To remember that no matter where you are and what you face, within your heart peace is possible.” (Jack Kornfield)

Accept the gift, no matter it’s ‘wrapping’ — knowing the treasure that lies within.

Namaste ❤️

We Are What We Choose.

My darlings, why is there so much fear in our world?

Everywhere we look, we seemed to be surrounded by it. From the more subtle of inferences to the most imposing of forces — fear is never more than a reflection away. We see it in our morning rush, we feel it through the end of day.
In some ways, fear becomes our ‘cage.’

We lose our touch with this present moment. We forget the conditions for our own happiness. We bury awareness in the worries over past and future.

In doing so, we fail to consider that which our heart so desperately needs. The cycle is seemingly never-ending. Fear predisposes to caution, as we let the opportunity pass.

And, then?

We wonder in our looking back – just how these moments failed us?

In an essay on fearlessness, Thich Nhat Hahn writes “Most of us experience a life full of wonderful moments and difficult moments. But for many of us, even when we are most joyful, there is fear behind our joy.”

My darlings, even in our most joyful moments – we fear. We fear we’re not deserving. We fear the moment may end. We fear we’ll lose what matters most of all.

We fear we may lose ourselves.

But, we’re never really lost, my loves. And, we can only lose that which we cling to.

So, why not cling to hope? Why not hold fast to happiness? Why not include all facets of emotion, including those which will carry you through?

Why not invite this great vastness of being, and step into the knowing of your limitlessness?

Because in the end, only one thing will matter – that is, how you’ve chosen to share your moments.

Namaste, my loves ~ on this day, I pray you choose well.

❤️

Finding Your Why.

I remember when I first began my meditation practice.

I’d just been diagnosed with a debilitating neurological disorder, and felt that ‘sitting’ might help to improve my nerves.

And, so – every morning at 4:00 a.m., I’d wake — move my pillow to the floor, and begin the process of settling in. Though, inevitably within just a few short moments, I’d learn there was no ‘settling’ to be had.

My mind would shift to trembling hand, as thoughts would formulate a future that hadn’t yet occurred.

I was distracted, discouraged and wondering the point in pursuing a process that only served to amplify my awareness of what I perceived to be weakness.

It was horribly traumatic. And, at times I felt like abandoning my efforts.

However, something kept me there each morning; ‘something’ invited me to return each day.

And so, I wandered off – read books, sifted through articles. I even watched videos… downloaded clever apps for my phone. However, the ‘stillness’ always seemed to escape me.

Until one day, when I finally realized — I’d lost my ‘why’ along the way.

I wasn’t there to simply calm my nerves, I was there to find peace within.

To that end, I realized I needed to face the inherent fear — to sift through the delicacy of emotion, and find the purpose within my healing.

We all have a ‘why’, my darlings — that something extra which refines our purpose and motivates our efforts throughout each day.

“The quieter you become, the more you’ll hear,” implores spiritualist Ram Dass.

It’s within that oft putting silence, my loves — that we may finally find out why.

As terribly uncomfortable as it may seem, at times – I promise you, there *is* something to be gained.

For, in following it through we ultimately find our heart.

And that should be reason enough to continue onward.

This Vastness of Ocean.

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. We are made to live together because of the interrelated structure of reality.”

My darlings, do you know who it was that first spoke these words? And do you have insight into the chaos they were experiencing, and the passion that fueled their ‘much greater purpose’?

These are the words of the Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — and these are the words that formed an everlasting change.

So often we think of ourselves in terms of ‘just one’. We feel overwhelmed by the challenges of this world. We see turmoil and feel powerless against it.

But, we are all connected my loves; with hearts surging life to all of humanity.

And, we are also instruments of peace. Even as we grieve, there’s a choice to be made — to be the voice for those who have none, or to let the river’s course define our heart.

Sometimes I wonder, if he ever felt the task to be too great? That his words might pale against a seemingly immovable ‘sun’?

And, so it is that we must define our truth. Bit by bit, we must turn thought into deed.

In this way, even those who’ve walked in darkness — may, in turn, impart the light.

My darlings, as you venture into this glorious day, be ever-mindful of those moments where our course may be forever changed. Remembering, the vastness of ‘ocean’ refuses no river.

Namaste <3

Nourishing What We Wish to Grow.

What does it mean to be mindful, my loves?

Does it require the fullest depth of emotion? A willingness to engage vulnerability in the face of adversity?

Or,

Does it presume a stoic resignation? An acceptance of life ‘just as it is?’

So often, we are troubled by the depths of our own emotions. We feel challenged by the groundlessness — instinctively clinging to status quo, and sadly viewing our vulnerability as weakness.

Oh, but that’s the fertile ground – now isn’t it? The place for our practice to grow.

Rumi once likened the sense to ‘being drunk at the edge of the roof’ –though, it is precisely this edge that helps us transcend these limitations of perception.

It’s interesting to me that the Sanskrit word for ‘practice’ is bhavana — meaning, we nourish what we most with to grow.

Think about that for just a moment, my darlings. How often have you wished for peace in the throes of anger? Or, wanted love when the heart was already closed?

My darlings, in order to know peace we must first know ourselves.

Earlier in my practice, I assumed the point of mindfulness was to *be* more mindful. I shied away from distressing emotion feeling it was a distraction not to be engaged.

Oh, but isn’t that where the practice begins? Isn’t that where we’ve the most room to grow?

You don’t have to be perfect to be mindful, my loves ~ you just have to be willing to ‘be’.

Namaste ❤️