My wish for today

Hey everyone... it's been a minute... 
and it might be the mood I've been in lately, but today I wanted to say hi and I wanted to share.

Today I wish I could step into a picture and experience the scene. But maybe not a picture of my past. Those memories linger in my mind already and I don’t want to go back because memories are often tainted by subsequent experiences. Also going back in time might be painful - like visiting a moment with a loved one who is now deceased. I might not want to leave or leaving might make me sad and today I think I want to feel elation. Or euphoria. Or something like that.

You see, what I really want is to able to jump into a photograph of a location - like Glacier National Park in Montana and experience the scene. I want to step into the picture and experience the moment. Like a moment at Carnival or a moment standing under the waterfall at God’s Bath in Sonora, California. Or how about feeling the exhilaration of a late spring rain from atop a roof or a summer mist in the middle of a rain-forest? Or what about sipping wine from a little cafe in a winery in France.?Or imagine actually smelling the sweet fragrance of fresh roses in a huge rose garden or tasting an orange just picked from nature.

And there are many advantages. For example, you wouldn’t get lost. The picture would take you right to the spot you want so you wouldn't wind up in the middle of a volcano or the depths of the ocean - unless that is what you want (though why would you). Also it’s a moment in time. so you wouldn't get stuck there for years or hours, days or decades. You would get a few minutes and then you would return to the present. You couldn't get stuck in a time continuum and you wouldn't misstep and land in the middle of a wall or something. You would return from whence you came.

Ah, respite my way... or your way. What a way to spend a lunch break, right?  So today I imagining myself stepping into a picture and experiencing that picture for five minutes. Just enough to whet my appetite for some elation. And what about you? Do you wanna join me? You could experience some elation as well. Or satisfy a curiosity about a place or a thing. Anyway, that's my wish for today. What's yours?

we live inside of relationships

Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about how we… as people do not realize that we live inside of relationships. it’s sounds great but just what does that mean… we live inside of relationships. i’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure that out. if we are constantly being told to love ourselves first, because the most important thing to know is that we spend more time with ourselves than we do with others, that means we live alone. alone is the opposite of relationships. If we are also told that we live inside of relationships than that means we are not alone and then perhaps we should love ourselves second. but that makes no sense at all. can we love ourselves first and still exist inside of relationships?

I think the answer stems from our understanding of love. love is the energy we live in. we are created from love, born to love, designed to spread and share love and we start first by loving ourselves. once we are able to love ourselves we can love others and that works because other than when we are alone, we are not.

We live in a universe filled with people. everything we do and everything we enjoy involves someone beyond ourselves.  the car we drive was created by someone. when we bought it we dealt with someone. the food we eat was raised by someone, farmed by someone, manufactured by someone, sold to us by someone. the bed we sleep on was made by someone, stored by someone, delivered to us by someone.and so we live inside of relationships, many different kinds of relationships, but still.. relationships. therefore, if we do not acknowledge this, we are missing a major part of life.

If we do not open up to and acknowledge that relationships shape our lives. we will miss out on many things, on many experiences. if we embrace the concept and become aware of the many relationships we experience daily, we realize we are not ever truly alone. once we realize we are not truly alone, we can begin to see how it is that we live inside of relationships. once we get that, we also get that the driving force behind this world is love. and once you open yourself to love, everything changes.

Once you really begin to love yourself, you love to overflowing. once your love overflows, loving yourself will not be enough. you will begin to share that love with others and that love will overflow. you will then want to share your love with the world. once you start to share your love with the world and your love still overflows, you will begin to change the world. once you become a source of overflowing love… your life will change. and we want that to happen because that is our purpose… to love. once we begin to be the source of love, life as we know it will change. The light of love will fill this world and all will be well.

And so, i get it. we live inside of relationships and with those relationships we can change the world. but it all starts with us… and with love.

How To Step Into Your SuPeRHeRo PoWeRS

So, I have been on a SuperHero kick. It is clear to me we all can be our own SuperHero. As such I have created a small SuperHero manual. Thinking about being my own SuperHero has helped me put some things in perspective. I hope it helps you as well.

The SuperHero’s Manual

or

How To Step Into Your SuPeRHeRo PoWeRS and Don Your Cape

1. The Power of Presence - Being Present to and Aware of…

You are here - alive, breathing. Now start living. Be present. Be connected to the moment. Focus on your senses.  Look at yourself. Notice the world around you. Observe life.  Smell the rain, the flowers, the scents of nature. Breathe in the aromas of man - the earthy, musky scents of individuals. Inhale your own natural, individual essence. Listen to the birds, the waves crashing against the shore, a child’s peals of laughter, two lovers exchanging vows. Enjoy the sounds of man - cars honking, singers, musicians, hands clapping, bells ringing. Harken to the voice inside you.  Catch raindrops on your tongue, sip champagne, taste the foods of different cultures. Feel the glide of silk, the solidness of wood, the softness of lambswool, the wetness of water, the heat of a summer’s day.

Being present is a Super Power. Once you understand that, you can connect to almost anything. Once you choose to be present to life, you can use it to work for you. Stare at a problem until you find a way through, over, under, or around it. Your full presence - being present and aware, is the only state in which you can accomplish anything worthwhile.

2. The Power of Choice.

Choice is the on/off button of your power. Every second of your life is really just a choice to live it one way or another. The belief that you have no choice is a choice. In fact, not choosing is a choice. Everything you do, everything you believe - it all stems from choice. Choice is a monumental Super Power. Change your choice and you can change your life. There is no ultimate reality. You choose our reality time and time again. Knowing you have the power of choice can change your world. You can choose the life you live. Really it is all up to you and the choices you make. So choose wisely.

3. The Power of Authenticity.

Whatever you do, “there’s no one you-er than you.” So take off the mask and have the courage to be yourself. Your ultimate power resides precisely in being faithful to who you are deep down - your authentic, original, unique, special essence. You can only touch the extraordinary from a place of honesty. Dare to be different by being true to who you are. Don’t compare yourself to other superheroes. Don’t try to be another Superhero. Be yourself. If you are here, it means there was a demand for you. You are the universe expressing itself as only it can. You haven’t happened before and you will never happen again. Don’t underestimate yourself - you are what is wanted and needed.

4. The Power of Intention.

“In that we intend, when we intend, we become the intention” - ergo - we are intention machines. You are an intention machine. You have the extraordinary ability to create intention from dreams and ideas.  Your intentions generate purpose. Purpose generates meaning, and meaning helps to make sense of life. Once you make sense of life, you realize your connection to the bigger picture - to the world and where and how you fit in the world. Having an intention gives you a goal to seek, a reason to act, a way to be. Intention is a light in the dark SuperPower. It guides your path, giving you a way out of the darkness. The more you intend, the more purpose, meaning and reasons to create, to act, to be.

5. The Power of Spirituality.

Spirituality is not religion. You don’t have to be religious to be spiritual. You also don’t have to be spiritual to be religious. However believing in something gives us a something to stand for, a reason to be. Find your holy ground. Seek and acknowledge the divine within you. Know that you are the part and parcel of the greater divine that exists. Know and be in awe of the divine. Know and realize that you’re great but small, and that your greatness comes from the divine. Realize that you exist because of the divine, and that you are a SuPeRHeRo with SuperPowers because of the divine within you…  running through your veins. Trust in the divine within you. When you do miracles happen.

6. The Power of Beauty

I won’t say that beauty is everything, but beauty is a quietly kept SuperPower. It is the best kept Superpower. The ability to see the beauty in yourself and others is life-changing. The ability to see the perfection in imperfection is a gift. I wish you understood that seeing, acknowledging. and appreciating the beauty of all things and all people  allows people the opportunity to feel comfortable in who they are. By allowing your beauty to shine through, you awaken beauty in others and allow them the freedom to let their beauty shine.  I wish everyone would  remove their masks and reveal themselves-  scars, wounds, successes,  glory, and all. There is just as much beauty in scars and wounds as there is in success and glory. Your beauty is enough.

7. The Power of Healing.

This is a seldom used Super Power. Maybe because healing others requires the ability to heal yourself and healing yourself requires courage. You can’t be the you that you want to be if you don’t know who you are, You can’t know who you are if you aren’t willing to take the hard look at yourself and face your own truths. You must be able to see yourself- the perfections and the imperfections, the success and failures, the joys and the sorrows, your light, and your darkness. Take a step back and pull out all your demons. Know that you have the courage to face them, you can figure out what to do with them. This is knowledge and knowledge is power that you can use use to your benefit.

Now, armed with knowledge, you can begin to heal yourself. Know that demons don’t happen by chance. If you have them, the first thing you should look for is the cause. You cannot kill the symptoms, you must kill the demon and you cannot kill the demon if you don't know it’s root. Your pain is a messenger. It will help you get to the cause, the root of the demon; so listen to it and you will begin to fix the real problem. Once you know what to do, give it space and the time necessary and your demons will be taken care of. Then let it go and move on. As you heal yourself you will be able to help others to heal themselves.

8. The Power of Creativity.

Creativity is your operating SuperPower. Creativity is how you navigate the highways of your life.  It is how you breathe life into a concept that originates in your mind’s eye. It helps you recognize your potential, brings your dreams to life, and makes the impossible possible. Creativity, while unique and personal to the individual, is a basic force of life. It bridges the space between the realities and the mysteries of life, and is second only to love in terms of its power. Creativity is how you face challenges, respond to uncertainties, and delve into possibilities. Creativity is how you use all of your other SuperPowers.

9. The Power of Perceptions

Resilience is the ability to maintain stability despite adversity. We are resilient. People are resilient. Whether you believe it or not, you are resilient. You bounce back. It is one of you best Super Powers. It is constantly being used. Granted some are more resilient than others but it is a Superpower. You must work with it.

Life happens - it ebbs and it flows; and fortunes and misfortunes come and go. But there are tools available to help you rally back and stay on track. Your best tool is your perception - how you see things. It is so powerful, it could be a SuperPower. It helps you to rally forth in spite of… it helps you rally because. How you see things determines how you respond and react. If you see the best, if you seek the best in every situation; you will rally  faster. Accepting responsibility and learning from the past will help you bounce back. Family, friends, being social, and doing things you love - those will help you to bounce back faster. Practice and Choice - those will also help you to bounce back faster. Either way, you do bounce back. Resilience allows you to maintain through whatever life throws at you and then come back even stronger from what you learned. Resilience can be a SuperHero’s most effective weapon. So… who’s up for a game of ball?

10. The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude. The ultimate SuPerPoWeR. It attracts what you want, improves your relationships, reduces negativity, lightens darkness, improves your problem-solving skills and helps you learn. Gratitude is an attitude, a choice, and a way of life. When practiced daily it can become a powerful habit. When you are grateful for the people. places, things, relationships, situations, and resources in your life, you begin to attract more… you begin to attract better.

When you exhibit and express gratitude you are happier, healthier, and more energetic. When you operate from a place of gratitude you are less lonely, stressed out, anxious and depressed. When you cultivate gratitude you feel better about your life,  you self esteem increases, feel greater joy and happiness, and are optimistic about the future. Living from a place of gratitude strengthens your heart and immune system, decreases your blood pressure, and gives you more enthusiasm, determination and focus so that you make greater progress toward achieving personal goals.

Gratitude unlocks the fulfillment of life. It turns what you have into enough and enough into more. It brings your attention to the present moment -  where miracles can unfold. The deeper your  appreciation, the more you see with the eyes of the soul and the more your life flows in harmony with the creative power of the universe.. Gratitude is a way to your other SuperPowers. Gratitude turns up all of your other SuperPowers - even love.

-- asd --

when i choose to love

When I Choose to Love

We are made from love… by love… to love. With love, we have everything. Without love we are without… just… without.

When I choose to love, I allow myself the opportunity to be open, to share my vulnerability, to trust myself and others, and to get connected

When I choose to love, I honor the light, love, beauty, and joy within you because it is also within me.

When I share my light, love, beauty, and joy, I honor all that I was created to be… I honor all that I am as I honor you.

When I choose to love, when I choose to share, and when I allow myself these opportunities, I begin to look at you and the world differently. I actually begin to see you.

In seeing you, I recognize there is no difference between us. We are one… and we are the same - in all our perfection and imperfections

When we become one, our light shines brighter, or love flows stronger, our beauty blossoms wildly, and our joy becomes vibrant.

When I choose love, I also choosing to act from a place of love.

When I choose to act from a place of love, I am choosing kindness - to do a kindness, to be kindness. Kindness is an active expression of love.

When I choose to be kind to myself, I am choosing to love myself. When I choose to be kind to others, I am choosing to love them.

When I choose to be kind, I am choosing love.

And so…  I choose to love. And when I love, my heart recognizes your heart and when I do a kindness, my soul honors your soul.

When we live in a world of love, when love is our first choice, when we see each other, and when we honor each other… our souls begin to recognize and touch each other. And in the end, isn’t that what we want? Your heart to recognize my heart… your soul to recognize my soul.

My Cracks and Golden Repair

Sometimes I feel I am an egg: all hard on the outside; soft and mushy on the inside. If you touch me too hard, I might break. If you say the wrong thing, pieces of me might break off. When bad things happen, I suffer cracks. If I am an egg; I am an egg with a cracked eggshell.

But I am learning my cracks not only let light in; they also allow the light, I often forget I have in me, to shine through… maybe even to be a light for others to help them emerge from the dark - just as I am doing.

Kintsukuroi…also known as kintsugi, is a Japanese form of gold joinery. Literally it means to fill with gold. It is an art form and a form of philosophy. When pottery cracks, it is filled with gold or silver lacquer. The filling and the cracks become one as the pottery becomes whole once more. The piece of pottery is now more beautiful for its having been broken open and repaired. Looking at the piece of pottery reminds us that the breakage and repair are part of the object’s history and that it is its imperfection that makes the pottery more beautiful.

I wish we all took the time to look at each other with open eyes; eyes that would recognize that though we are broken, scarred, and imperfect; we can be healed. I wish we could each fill our cracks and brokenness with the golden joining of love, kindness, acceptance and compassion. Then, when we looked at one another, we would see the gold and realize that each of us has fallen, cried, been broken open, but are beautiful. And we would learn two things - (1) it is the broken, scarred, imperfect parts of us that unite us; (2) and that we all can heal and, once healed, are more beautiful because of the experience.

So, if I’m not an egg shining light for others,

I am a soul inside a body that is cracked -

just fill me full of gold

and call me whole,

healed and beautiful

for others to behold…

honoring yourself

“Beauty shouldn’t be about changing yourself to achieve an ideal or be more socially acceptable.

Real beauty, the interesting, truly pleasing kind, is about honoring the beauty within you and without you.

It’s about knowing that someone else’s definition of pretty has no hold over you.”

-- Golda Poretsky --

I say…  you honour yourself when you trust yourself, your gut, your instincts.

you honour yourself when you allow yourself to be your true being, when you see yourself for who you are and accept what you see - with all your failures, mistakes, and imperfections; with all your successes, accomplishments, and beauty.

you honour yourself when you believe in yourself - when you believe you can be all that you want, when you believe you can do all that you want, when you believe you can have all you want, when you believe you matter. when you believe you are enough. you hour yourself when you believe in you

how do you hour yourself? you trust, allow, and believe in YOU!!

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”

--Audrey Hepburn --

We all need to honour ourselves if we are to live vital, vibrant, exciting lives of passion. We need to honour ourselves if we are going to live by our choices. How do we do that? We take responsibility for what we perceive are our needs and desires. We take responsibility for our thought, feelings, and emotions. We take responsibility for our beliefs and our truths. We take responsibility for our actions and the consequences of our actions. We take responsibility for everything. Once we do that, we can begin to create our life in a way that honours what we are responsible for!!!

An important point - we are not on this planet alone, and we cannot succeed by believing we are in this alone and that we must do it alone. The line -”no man is an island” is significant because it is true. We did not come here alone, we do not exist alone, we do not succeed alone. It is not our purpose to be alone. We can choose to be alone, but that is a choice, and those who choose to always and only be alone are not truly living. So, let us remember to honour those who are a part of our lives. When we honour them, we honour ourselves.  Let us honor our parents, our children, our our peers, our neighbors, the people we pass, the people we come in contact with, the people we have known, the people we will know.

i will honor me

i will honor me

in this world i live in

i will do that with

my thoughts, dreams, beliefs, and actions

i will

honor my word

live by my principles

be true to me

i will

listen to my mind, my instincts, my gut

be honest about my needs and my time

love and respect me

i will

look my best

take care of my body

take good care of me

i will

not worry about the other person

not look back or dwell on my mistakes

let all that go and let the past be

i will

remember - what i think, determines what i create

what i put out is what i get back

and how i see others i how they will see me

i will

give it my all and do it for me

i will honor me

LoVe SPReaDeRS

I am a light bearer, a love spreader, a joy sharer, a dreamer.  There are, I believe, millions of us. We are not unhappy, but neither are we truly content. We seek not so much to explore life, as to explore people. We seek to understand people - why they say the things they say, do the things they do, think as they think, feel as they feel. We start by exploring ourselves, hoping to understand why we do, say, think, and feel the things we do. By understanding who we are, we hope to begin to understand others.

We are earth lovers. We like to walk in the rain, feel the wind tangle in our hair, and the breezes tingle across our skin. We appreciate the beauty of a first snow, the smell of babies, the unconditional loyalty of pets, the sound of birds, the fragrance of flowers, and the serenity of trees. We fill our homes with art, music, flowers, books, and things that bring us joy. We are drawn by Mother Nature - taken by her power, her mystery, her majesty, and her unspeakable beauty. We are intrigued by forests and awe-struck by mountains. We are fascinated by the mystery of deserts, hidden caves, and obscure rivers. We are especially at home in large, lonely cities. We can be as mercurial as the weather in London, our emotions running deeper than the oceans of the world. Indeed, our sadness is as much a part of our lives as is our laughter; and finding someone we love to share our sadness with, and not feel shame, is perhaps one of the greatest joys we can know.

We are idealists who often feel alone in the world. We want so much to love and give and are often broken hearted by the response we receive when we open our hearts. Some of us have taken to hiding our light in fear of rejection. Some of us have stopped trusting our natural instinct to love - it is so often misunderstood.  But, we look out for those who are like us, long for those who are willing to understand and accept us, and rejoice when we find those who are willing to love us.

We are as simple as we are complicated. We are both hard to understand and easy to read.  Simply put - we seek joy and light, kindness and compassion, serenity and enlightenment. In ourselves, others, and  the world… just as we look everywhere for magical moments, the grace of blessings, and everything beautiful. Most of all, we seek love - love to give and love to receive. We want to live fully, feel deeply, and enjoy relationships that will encourage our light to brighten, and our love to flow..

For dreamers, light-bearers, joy seekers, and love spreaders…  for men and women who dare to ask of life everything good, loving, light-filled, and beautiful; I say - let us stand together and love. Let us trust and love. Let us bring joy and love. For when we do, our light shines bright, and our love can fill and change the world.

-- asd --

Loving Yourself around Valentine's Day

I wrote this piece two weeks ago. But it has just sat in my save file. For some reason I have been unable to finish it. Well today, is the day. This piece is finished and I am Posting it. I hope you enjoy it as much I enjoyed writing it and I hope it remains with you as it has remained in my save file.  It is about Valentine's Day and loving yourself...

Valentine's day came and went. I spent it as I have spent most Valentine's Days - with family and friends. At some point, we got into the usual V-day discussion of whether or not it should be celebrated or ignored because the only people who really benefit are card, chocolate, and flower shops, restaurants and jewelers. Most said they don't celebrate because they show love year round and don't need V-day to show or prove their love.

I gave an answer I still stick with but V-day brought up some other issues for me- like trust. I have come to a few conclusions I have been working on. I would like to share them with you.

First, V-day is like any special occasion day - like birthdays or thanksgiving, or Christmas. It is a day to celebrate love. While there will be those who will financially profit from the day, there is nothing wrong with a special day to say "I love you" to someone. Don't spend money if you are against the commercialism; but don't pass up an opportunity to say "I love you", to show your love. Or if you want to do something nice, without spending a penny; create a book of coupons. You know... "this coupon entitles you to one back massage", "this coupon entitles you to one car wash". Family members or friends... anyone would love this.

But, I think, the thing we are missing is that V-Day is not just about couples. It is about love - love of family, love of friends, love of self. We could have each spent the day loving on ourselves. How often do you take a day to just love yourself? How great would that have been? To have bought yourself you favorite flowers and chocolate? To have taken yourself to the movies or to an art show, or to a massage? What if you had run yourself a nice, hot bubble bath and then enjoedy it with a glass of wine?

It is true you can do these things any day of the week, But how many of us actually remember to take care of ourselves? How many of us treat ourselves as we want others to treat us? How many of us love on ourselves? Perhaps that is how we should have celebrated the day. 

Anyway, thinking about all this made me also think about what loving myself and others actually means. Love is about trust. If you love yourself, you trust yourself. Trusting yourself allows you to trust others and trusting another allows you to love them. Love without trust is not a healthy love - is not really love and does not last.

When you trust yourself - your dreams, your thoughts, your actions, you are more willing to take risks, you are more willing to be open to love. It does not mean you think you are perfect, but it does mean you give yourself credit for your authenticity, and you have faith in yourself and what you stand for. It also means you trust your opinions, feelings, intuition. 

When you trust yourself, your love for yourself grows. When you stand up for yourself, your love grows. Trusting yourself is the beginning of trusting others, just as loving yourself is the beginning of loving others. Sometimes life beats up on us and rather than acknowledging that life can do that, we sometimes blame ourselves. If we do that over a course of time, we stop trusting ourselves, we stop believing in ourselves and then we stop loving ourselves. Then one day, we wake up suspicious of everyone and we wonder what happened.

Days like V-Day can change that. Days that we set aside to love ourselves can restore our faith in ourselves. When we take the time to care for ourselves we remind ourselves that we matter, that we are worth it. This helps us to restore our trust in who we are, how we think, what we feel. This helps us to love ourselves more.

When we begin to trust ourselves, when we begin to love ourselves; we will discover the magic of trusting and loving others... and being trusted and loved. There is nothing like sharing who you are in open vulnerability and having that sharing reciprocated. There is nothing like LeaNiNG In, knowing the other person has you - nothing like having someone LeaN IntO you, trusting that you have them. There is nothing like sharing all of who you are, knowing the other person will accept you... and vice-verse. These are magical moments. I want these for myself. How about you?

I have decided, I am going to have a Valentine's Day year. I am going to take care of me, love on me, trust me. That way I will begin to love others, trust others and have magical moments. Why don't we all have a Valentine's year. I'm worth it. You're worth it. We're all worth it? So, let's do it!!!

"If you don't love yourself,

you'll always be chasing people who

don't love you either."

-- Mandy Hale --

-- asd --

more on forgiving yourself

in order to love others kindly and gently; love yourself kindly and gently

in order to forgive others, and move on; forgive yourself, and  move on

I say all the time that spirit meets spirit and that the universe rises up to meet us where we are when we are truly connected. That has become evident to me today. Yesterday i wrote about forgiving yourself, last night a friend spoke to me about having to do work on forgiving himself and today the discussion of forgiving one's self and others has continued.

Forgive Yourself

forgive yourself -

the first step to ending

some of your health issues

and the lies you tell yourself

time can eat away at life

forgive yourself

for losing track

there still is so much more

when the walls are closing all around

and you're holding yourself back

forgive yourself -

and release what is keeping you caged

what's the first step to letting go

of the anger toward those

who destroyed your visions -

forgive yourself

when you choose to do

all that you can

to prove you can

when there are things you can’t

forgive yourself

in forgiving yourself

you give yourself

license to forgive others

forgive yourself

in forgiving yourself

you open yourself  

to joy and love

forgive yourself

for in giving yourself

the gift of

forgiving yourself

you also get the opportunity 

to begin again

can you let go of your perceptions? Can you forgive yourself?

so i had the most interesting conversation today with someone. ironic the conversation took place in autumn, the day after a night of rain. it was all about how our perceptions of ourselves and our lives effect every other aspect of our life. I got it, my friend did not. That is not to say I always get it, but it is to say this was one of those conversations where I got it and was trying to help them get it.

autumn  - i love this season, it reminds me how beautiful letting go can be when done in a healthy environment, in a a healthy way, for the right reasons. We let go of what no longer fits, what no longer suits, what no longer works. we let go to have new, to have better; we let go to heal, to grow; we let go to be better, because it is time.

and rain - i love the rain, the feel of wetness and the rhythm of the drops, it enriches my soul. the morning after a night of rain is always a cleaner, purer, fresher day. as though the rain released and then washed away all the toxins. the aftermath is usually a day of sun, and sweet smells and lighter essences. so, when we release the toxins that hold us hostage and allow them to be washed away, we too emerge cleaner, sweeter and lighter in essence. 

sometimes in order to let go we have to acknowledge that the way we see things is not fact ... not truth - even though it may be a truth for us. In reality it is just a perception and a perception is a personal belief. further - a truth is not a fact. a truth is a perception you have based on what you know and truths change as your knowledge grows.

anyway, i was trying to get my friend to understand that their truths were really based on their perceptions, and that if they would forgive themselves, it would actually change their perceptions, and open them and their lives up to new possibilities. if my friend would begin by forgiving their self, they would be able to forgive others and that forgiveness would allow joy, love and healing into their life in whole new and unexpected ways.

i know how hard it is to do this work. to examine your perceptions, acknowledge that some are no longer relevant and then discard them. it is hard to forgive yourself and others, and leave yourself open to new possibilities. it is hard to let go of what has been our constant companion for so long, but that is how we get better, that is how we make room for new and improved in our lives. that is how we heal and grow.

i don't know if my friend really got it. i left them to think about what i said. but this i know for sure. forgiveness must start with forgiving yourself just as loving others begins with first loving ourselves. and we can't let go of things outside of our control if we don't first let go of the things within our control. it is hard work. sometimes it is sad work, at times it is angry work, but once done, a weight comes off and you feel lighter and airy. better... whole new possibilities begin to to open up and paths towards you are cleared.

my suggestion - go for it. take a chance on yourself. you are smarter than you realize. stronger than you know and more resilient than you believe. it is worth it and you will be glad you did. SO... today... forgive yourself, let go, release those toxins and then breathe in the cleaner, sweeter, lighter essence that is you. when you are done, be prepared for all the wonderfulness that has been waiting to come rushing to you...  be prepared... it will happen and it will be good.