PEOPLE COME INTO YOUR LIFE FOR A REASON

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life,
whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

Awaken Spring

'Tis like the birthday of the world,

When earth was born in bloom;

The light is made of many dyes,

The air is all perfume:

There's crimson buds, and white and blue,

The very rainbow showers

Have turned to blossoms where they fell,

And sown the earth with flowers.

—Thomas Hood

Happiness Defined

When I was 5 years old, my mom always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy.” They told me I didn’t understand the assignment and I told them they didn’t understand life.

The Seven Wonders of the World

A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of the World." Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes: 

1) Egypt's Great Pyramids 
2) Taj Mahal 
3) Grand Canyon 
4) Panama Canal 
5) Empire State Building 
6) St. Peter's Basilica 
7) China's Great Wall 

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the student if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have and maybe we can help." The girl hesitated, and then read:  

"I think the 'Seven Wonders of the World' are:   

1) To See... 
2) To Hear... 
3) To Touch... 
4) To Taste...

5) To Feel... 
6) To Laugh... 
And
7) To Love." 

The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wonderous! 
A gentle reminder: 
The most precious things in life cannot be bought or built by man.

Life Affirmations

"During my life journey on this planet I shall start each day with these affirmations…"

I am capable. I am worthwhile. I am beautiful. I am lovable. I shall accept both my strengths and my weaknesses for they are me. I shall never again believe the "lie" that if I make a mistake, I am a mistake.

My mistakes are the learning tools that I shall encounter on my life journey. When I learn from my mistakes, I give them meaning. When I give my mistakes meaning, I can begin to forgive myself, I can begin to heal.

I shall not use my mistakes as excuses to give up on me - my mistakes are not me.

I shall seek the wisdom to nurture my heart, mind, body, and soul so that I may feel more centered

• providing an energy reserve that allows me to climb the mountains in my own life
• providing an energy reserve that allows me to love and support others who are climbing a different mountain
• providing an energy reserve that allows time for friends, play, and celebration of life.

I shall allow myself to feel capable - so that I may seek excellence.

I shall allow myself to feel sadness - so that joy may return.

I shall allow myself to feel joy - so that I may be revitalized.

I shall allow myself to feel afraid - so that I may find courage.

I shall allow myself to feel alone - so that I may know me.

I shall allow myself to feel beautiful - so that I may feel free.

I shall allow myself to feel lovable - so that the loving may seek me.

I shall allow myself to feel pain - so that I may heal.

I shall allow myself to feel worthy - so that I may fulfill my purpose.

When I am centered, I see the perfection in the world, myself and others.

When I find the world to be imperfect, I will take responsibility for painting it that way.

I will look into the heart of a rose, or the eyes of a newborn baby and again know perfection.

I take responsibility for creating my own life story through the choices I have made; to blame others is to give away my personal power. Who will I allow to write the next chapter of my life?

I shall seek the courage to believe in a God or Higher Power who will laugh with me in the sunlight or cry with me in the darkness.

I shall make a small difference on this planet through the work I do - when I leave I will have done my share.

I shall live, love, laugh, and learn on my journey.

Moving Forward

"Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see Life with a clearer view again."

~ Alex Tan

If I Knew...

If I knew it would be the last time

That I'd see you fall asleep,

I would tuck you in more tightly

and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time

that I'd see you walk out the door,

I would give you a hug and kiss

and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time

I'd hear your voice lift up in praise,

I would video tape each action and word,

so I could play then back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time

I could spare an extra minute or two,

To stop and say “I love you,”

instead of assuming you would know I do.

If I knew it would be the last time

I would be there to share your day,

Well I'm sure you’ll have so many more,

so I can let just this one slip away.

For sure there’s always tomorrow

to make up for an oversight,

and we always get a second chance

to make everything just right.

There will always be another day

to say our, “I love you,”

And certainly there’s another chance

to say our, "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,

and today is all I get,

Id like to say how much I love you

and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,

young or old alike,

And today may be the last chance

you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you’re waiting for tomorrow,

why not do it today?

For if tomorrow never comes

you’ll surely regret the day.

That you didn’t take the extra time

for a smile, a hug, or a kiss

and you were too busy to grant someone,

what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,

and whisper in their ear,

Tell then how much you love them

and that you’ll always hold them dear.

Take the time to say “I'm sorry,”

“Please forgive me,” “Thank You,” or “It's okay.”

And if tomorrow never comes,

you’ll have no regrets about today.

Refuge Prayer by Thich Nhat-Hanh

At the foot of the Bodhi tree, beautifully seated, peaceful and smiling,
the living source of understanding and compassion, to the Buddha I go for refuge.
The path of mindful living, leading to healing, joy, and enlightenment,
the way of peace, to the Dhamma I go for refuge.
The loving and supportive community of practice, realizing harmony, awareness, and liberation,
to the Sangha I go for refuge.
I am aware that the Three Gems are within my heart, I vow to realize them.
I vow to practice mindful breathing and smiling, looking deeply into things.
I vow to understand living beings and their suffering, to cultivate compassion and loving kindness,
and to practice joy and equanimity.
I vow to offer joy to one person in the morning and to help relieve the grief of one person in the afternoon.
I vow to live simply and sanely, content with just a few possessions, and to keep my body healthy.
I vow to let go of all worry and anxiety in order to be light and free.
I am aware that I owe so much to my parents, teachers, friends and all beings.
I vow to be worthy of their trust, to practice wholeheartedly,
so that understanding and compassion will flower,
and I can help living beings be free from their suffering.
May the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha support my efforts.

The Season of Wisdom

 

"I like spring, but it is too young. I like summer, but it is too proud. So I like best of all autumn, because its tone is mellower, its colors are richer, and it is tinged with a little sorrow. Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age. It knows the limitations of life and its content."
-  Lin Yutang

 

Always Carry an Umbrella

Weather is a great metaphor for life - sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, and there's nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella. ~Pepper Giardino

It's Where You Live....

Wherever you live is your Temple, if you treat it like one.

The Dance of Life

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything;It is the essence of order and lends to all that is good, just, and beautiful.” ~ Plato

Wouldn't the world be a better place if we displayed our emotions through dance? I know it may sound silly but what if instead of having a verbal disagreement, everyone would just dance their anger away. Maybe even in....tap shoes? Wouldn't it be wonderful to see people dancing through the streets?

Actually, if you think about it a simple act like walking could really be seen as a dance. Look at all the different ways people walk. For instance, some drag their feet while others walk on their tip toes. While some walk with their head down at a fast pace, others walk slow absorbing the world around them. Wouldn't this be considered a dance? Have you ever sat in the mall and just watch people? The constant twists and turns and movements people will do to avoid contact with another person, or the beat of all the different shoes tapping on the floors. Our simple tasks are the beautiful symphony of life.

Music lives within all of us. I think dancing is a simple act of sharing your soul with others. A time when instead of our bodies housing our souls; our souls are visible to the world as if it was pinned to your chest. A vision of our spirits, our youth and wisdom at the same time.

The music we choose in our play list of life not only change with each growing experience but provides others with an outlook on who we really are. The songs that we choose to remember moments or sing to those we love... The songs we choose for special events or the ones that hurt too badly to listen too... these are all a part of us and an invitation to others to take a deeper look at the person inside.

Why is it that we gravitate to certain music, certain songs depending on our moods? Have you ever listened to the words to a song that comes on the radio, that you love when you are depressed but now you are in a good mood and just listen to the lyrics? Have you ever wondered why you resonate with that song?

What if we changed it up today and instead of grabbing for that album we favor when times are bad and we want to wallow in our sorrows, what if we grab for our happy music instead. Maybe we can change our moods a little quicker and the world could be a little better if we just.....dance.