Today 4/2913
One cannot have wisdom without living life.
–Dorothy McCallLiving life means responding, wholly, to our joys and our pitfalls. It means not avoiding the experiences or activities that we fear we can’t handle. Only through our survival of them do we come to know who we really are; we come to understand the strength available to us at every moment. And that is wisdom.
When we approach life tentatively, we reap only a portion of its gifts. It’s like watching a movie in black and white that’s supposed to be in Technicolor. Our lives are in color, but we must have courage to let the colors emerge, to feel them, absorb them, be changed by them. Within our depths, we find our true selves. The complexities of life teach us wisdom. And becoming wise eases the many pitfalls in our path.
Living life is much more than just being alive. I can choose to jump in with both feet. Wisdom awaits me in the depths.
.
follow us on http://fb.me/smallactofkindness
Some friends you see all the time, some friends you see here and there and some friends you don't see as often as you would like. The beautiful thing about friendship is that it lives in the heart, so daily sight isn't always needed for them to have a place in your life. Here are 3 clear signs you have a great friend.
I sat in the waiting room at Ben Taub Hospital with a friend that was having cataract eye surgery. Ben Taub is the top trauma hospital in Houston, and is also the hospital where uninsured persons get their chance at medical care. I hadn’t been inside this place for years. I was so surprised to see so many friendly and nice people at 6:15 a.m.
While I was waiting, going into the 3rd hour and reading, I noticed a man standing in the small area where about 25 persons also sat. He was speaking, but at first I didn’t stop to pay attention. I did notice NOONE was looking at him. He was crippled, not a handsome guy, but what a smile he had! I leaned closer towards him,and noticed he had a hospital badge, his name and MLSW after it. He was asking if there was anything he could do to make all of our wait time any better. Still, not an eye was upon him. I put my book down, looked at him, smiled, and said ” chocolate would make me happy”. He smiled, and with no other words left.
About 5 minutes later he walked back and hands me a Hershey’s mini chocolate. I thanked him, and others noticed we were then chatting. This young man, had been gunned down execution style during a robbery he happened to walk into while he was a pre med student at UT, 20 years prior. He gave me a copy of an article that he wrote and was published in one of the Chicken Soups for the Soul books. I asked him in light of his experience,what does he do to reconcile for all that happened. He replied “I try to make people smile every day, and you have a beautiful smile”. I got misty eyed, and thanked him again for the chocolate and the great conversation. Oh, he also went back years later and finished his degree! What courage and what a HERO.
I live part time in New Orleans, and sure you have to be careful. But guess what I notice most often? In New Orleans, the obvious homeless will return a smile,they make eye contact, and if you happen to have a cigarette and give them one, they thank you.
I look normal, usually walk with two small adorable dogs, so that often brings smiles to strangers faces. Think about this the next time you are walking…be it on your street, out of town, in the elevator. Start a trend, make a vow for one whole day you will smile and say hello to a stranger.
I found my joy again. A simple meditation, asking GOD to reveal to me why I was stuck, taking two steps forward, 3 steps back, STUCK. Sure, i have had reasonable excuses…health issues, overcoming obstacles that felt like cement bridges. But, at the end of the day, when I listened for that answer the voice whispered “you have lost your joy”. I knew it to be true. So, i went to work. I identified the words for me that I associate with JOY. They are words, and as simple as they seem, I certainly had lost them. Gave up. Allowed depression to be a crutch. Allowed health issues to be an obstacle. What wasted time! So, for the past 5++ weeks now I have refocused. I have turned my attention to JOY. Finding JOY, listening for JOY, Seeking JOY, determined not to lose it again, or allow it to be slowly sucked from my being. It takes mindfulness still. But if I continue to seek energy, creativity, awareness, being playful, enjoying or cultivate laughter, nurturing friendships, dare to be daring, feeling or being amused, or fascinated, being outdoors, working in the yard, pulling weeds, or being sexy…..All things that bring me joy.
And, i have put this to the test. I have been able to endure more aggravation, or problems of others, and still remain joyful.
I am grateful for the whisper to my answer. Perhaps you would like to comment if this helps you or if you have had a similar experience? Comments welcome!
One of the most difficult things in the world is determining your own path. All the questions have to be asked...but the main question is "What do I want for my life?" Once you can answer that question, you have the ability to go out and try to achieve that dream. For me, for a couple years now, my purpose has been to inspire people to live powerful and impassioned lives.
The hours are slipping now into early morning. It was the type of day, where everything I expected of the day and of myself was completely different. I drug myself out of bed for a 9a.m Dr appt. I was 15 minutes late. I came straight home, and talked my dogs into a nap. Next thing I knew it was noon. Knowing I had a 2:00 appt, I planned to get desk work done. Instead, I got laundry done, vacuumed, dusted, and left for my 2:00 dr. Appt at…2:00. Once again, out of integrity by being late.
But, upon my return home, and a short walk with the dogs, I felt renewed. I stopped to visit a neighbor, whose husband is dying. She went into the house and brought me a copy of the full Serenity Prayer. She asked if I was familiar with it. I assured her, I lived by the poem, and thanked her. We ended up laughing about ways we were going to get the cars that drive on our street to slow down from 50++ mph to the posted 30. My plan is to throw apples at their car, hers is to ask the police station to give her a radar gun.
Funny how laughter can completely change the day. Along with a nice dose of 74 degree weather and full sun. It’s been way too long like a day such as this
My gratitude is great today. I know that when I choose to “stretch” beyond what has been comfortable or familiar, I may encounter internal barriers; barriers that keep me connected to what is familiar and common. It is during these moments when I can do my part only, surrender these difficulty and ask for Divine intervention. It is such great comfort for me to know that I am not alone in my spiritual journeying.
There are human and divine resources abundantly available to me. Nature will also support and empower my sojourn into the realms of service and contribution.
Today I have the courage to utilize these resources. Blessings on your day upon waking. I hope to get up by 8:30. Time will tell!
