How lovely it is to receive letters in the mail! In this day and age of texting, email, and myriad other electronic communications, it is easy to forget the simple joy of receing a physical letter.
I happen to sponsor a woman in Nigeria, a Sister, through Women for Women International. Her name is Grace. I also sponsor a little girl in Haiti (Ashnaele) through Plan International. Within the last couple of weeks, I have received a letter from Grace and a picture drawn by little Ashnaele (who is only 3 years old). I must admit that I had been lax in writing to both of them first, yet each one (the little one through her parents, no doubt) reached out to me. It makes it more real and personal to hear from them.
It was so lovely to receive the letter from Grace and the drawing from Ashnaele. Yes, I have now written back to both of them and sent a picture to the little one in Haiti. I need to upload some pics in order to send one to Grace, so will look to do that soon.
How easy it can e to forget that spending just a few minutes to reach out personally to another can mean so much. I am grateful for the reminder that both Grace and Ashnaele provided, by their letters. I am seeking to remember to reach out personally to others and hope you will do the same. You never know when that simple, personal communication or smile, given in generosity, may change another's day or even their life.
Namaste!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Just needed to laugh!
How I needed to laugh! Have you ever had one of those days (or weeks) when your spirit seems so dampened you can barely find the strength to keep your eyes open, much less actually function? Perhaps work has you stressed or feeling blue. Perhaps your home life has drained your energy. Maybe both! Perhaps other situations have resulted in you feeling about as energetic as stagnant water.
My energy was at its lowest ebb when I decided to take a little break and to start reading a new book by an author I enjoy. It wasn't substantive reading - it was fun reading - something to entertain rather than to make me think. When I started to read, I could barely keep my eyes open. After reading for only a couple of minutes, I was laughing and suddenly had the energy to sit up straight and keep the eyes open. That is when it came to me - I just needed to laugh!
We take life so seriously sometimes that we forget the healing joy of simple laughter. So, I ask you, have you laughed today?
My energy was at its lowest ebb when I decided to take a little break and to start reading a new book by an author I enjoy. It wasn't substantive reading - it was fun reading - something to entertain rather than to make me think. When I started to read, I could barely keep my eyes open. After reading for only a couple of minutes, I was laughing and suddenly had the energy to sit up straight and keep the eyes open. That is when it came to me - I just needed to laugh!
We take life so seriously sometimes that we forget the healing joy of simple laughter. So, I ask you, have you laughed today?
Thursday, October 25, 2012
But, aren't you afraid?
Over the years, I have lost count of the times that I have been asked the question - aren't you afraid? It has been asked in so many different contexts and is one that has baffled me, surprised me, and at times, amused me, as well.
So, why would someone ask me if I am afraid so frequently? Well, as many know, one of my great passions has always been to travel and to see the world. It is such a great adventure, this life, and it is so enjoyable to visit new places, learn of new cultures, meet new people, and experience new things.
My overseas travel started at birth, as I was born on an Air Force base in Japan. That doesn't count, you say, as I had no choice in this matter. Well, you are correct in that I didn't have a choice there; however, I always knew I had been born in another country and always thought that was something special. In addition, my father had such a love of travel when he was younger. My mother would say he had "itchy feet," meaning he didn't like to stay in one place for too long and liked to get out to see new places and things, and she always said that I had inherited his “itchy feet.”
When I was in the early days of my first career (Medical Laboratory Science), I decided it was time to begin to see the world. An opportunity came my way to live overseas, by going to work in an American run hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Was I afraid? Absolutely! Was I going to let that stop me from taking on this adventure? No way!
From the outset, I was determined that my fear would not ruin this opportunity for me. As a result of that determination, I purposefully did not take enough money with me to allow myself to chicken out and return back to the USA on the next flight after I arrived there. That meant that I had to stick with it and could not return until such time as I had accumulated adequate funds by working there in the UAE.
When the airplane landed in Abu Dhabi, before we disembarked, an armed soldier (holding a rifle) came to stand in the entry way of the aircraft and we all had to pass by him to leave the airplane. Talk about intimidating! By the time I left the UAE, after living there for approximately 4 1/2 years, they no longer greeted airplanes in this way, but it certainly made an impression on my first arrival to the country!
Once I cleared customs, there was someone there to meet us and to drive us the 2 hours from Abu Dhabi to the hospital in Al-Ain. The scenery was primarily one of big sand dunes and sand stretching out for miles in the distance. There were occasionally camels and Arabic people in native dress (long garments with headdresses) to be seen. About half way into the journey, they stopped at what I can only describe as a wooden shanty type of building. To my amazement, this shack was a stop for refreshment and inside was a little store/cafe with tables. To my relief, not knowing what to expect in regard to available refreshments, they did have Coca Cola (even if the writing on the can was in both English and Arabic script). Although I am not a big fan of carbonated drinks, it was so nice to see something with which I was familiar, so I had some Coca Cola.
We safely arrived at Tawam Hospital, in Al-Ain, and were taken to our new lodgings. This, in my case, turned out to be a little apartment like dwelling that was essentially a duplex, with one bedroom, a kitchen/dining area, and a small living room.
This all began a period of my life in which I did a great deal of travel to different countries and new places. It was all such a fascinating adventure! Sometimes there were people with whom I would travel and other times I would venture on my own somewhere new.
It was those times that I chose, and often still do choose, to travel alone somewhere new that I was asked if I wasn't afraid to travel alone? Even more, wasn't I afraid to be a woman traveling alone? The answer - not really, and certainly not because I was or am afraid of traveling as a woman. I have met the nicest people throughout the world in my travels and often met them when I was traveling alone. There are such interesting, kind, and wonderful people everywhere, if we will open our hearts and our minds to meeting and talking with them.
I have always been baffled that someone would believe I should be afraid to travel alone, as a woman, as if that somehow meant I was more weak than a man would be who traveled alone. I have never felt that I was weaker or somehow less because I was a woman. I never saw the point in letting fear rule my life to the extent that it prevented me from reaching for my passions or dreams, especially in regard to travel. Am I careful to avoid silly risks? Sure. I don’t think traveling alone as a woman is a great risk, however, and it has never proven to be such.
So, am I sometimes afraid? Yes. Will it stop me from reaching for my dreams or passions? No. I am simply not made that way and I have more often than not chosen to move past fear or nervousness to go for it. That philosophy has served me very well over the years and has helped create a truly enjoyable, and unusual, life
So, why would someone ask me if I am afraid so frequently? Well, as many know, one of my great passions has always been to travel and to see the world. It is such a great adventure, this life, and it is so enjoyable to visit new places, learn of new cultures, meet new people, and experience new things.
My overseas travel started at birth, as I was born on an Air Force base in Japan. That doesn't count, you say, as I had no choice in this matter. Well, you are correct in that I didn't have a choice there; however, I always knew I had been born in another country and always thought that was something special. In addition, my father had such a love of travel when he was younger. My mother would say he had "itchy feet," meaning he didn't like to stay in one place for too long and liked to get out to see new places and things, and she always said that I had inherited his “itchy feet.”
When I was in the early days of my first career (Medical Laboratory Science), I decided it was time to begin to see the world. An opportunity came my way to live overseas, by going to work in an American run hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Was I afraid? Absolutely! Was I going to let that stop me from taking on this adventure? No way!
From the outset, I was determined that my fear would not ruin this opportunity for me. As a result of that determination, I purposefully did not take enough money with me to allow myself to chicken out and return back to the USA on the next flight after I arrived there. That meant that I had to stick with it and could not return until such time as I had accumulated adequate funds by working there in the UAE.
When the airplane landed in Abu Dhabi, before we disembarked, an armed soldier (holding a rifle) came to stand in the entry way of the aircraft and we all had to pass by him to leave the airplane. Talk about intimidating! By the time I left the UAE, after living there for approximately 4 1/2 years, they no longer greeted airplanes in this way, but it certainly made an impression on my first arrival to the country!
Once I cleared customs, there was someone there to meet us and to drive us the 2 hours from Abu Dhabi to the hospital in Al-Ain. The scenery was primarily one of big sand dunes and sand stretching out for miles in the distance. There were occasionally camels and Arabic people in native dress (long garments with headdresses) to be seen. About half way into the journey, they stopped at what I can only describe as a wooden shanty type of building. To my amazement, this shack was a stop for refreshment and inside was a little store/cafe with tables. To my relief, not knowing what to expect in regard to available refreshments, they did have Coca Cola (even if the writing on the can was in both English and Arabic script). Although I am not a big fan of carbonated drinks, it was so nice to see something with which I was familiar, so I had some Coca Cola.
We safely arrived at Tawam Hospital, in Al-Ain, and were taken to our new lodgings. This, in my case, turned out to be a little apartment like dwelling that was essentially a duplex, with one bedroom, a kitchen/dining area, and a small living room.
This all began a period of my life in which I did a great deal of travel to different countries and new places. It was all such a fascinating adventure! Sometimes there were people with whom I would travel and other times I would venture on my own somewhere new.
It was those times that I chose, and often still do choose, to travel alone somewhere new that I was asked if I wasn't afraid to travel alone? Even more, wasn't I afraid to be a woman traveling alone? The answer - not really, and certainly not because I was or am afraid of traveling as a woman. I have met the nicest people throughout the world in my travels and often met them when I was traveling alone. There are such interesting, kind, and wonderful people everywhere, if we will open our hearts and our minds to meeting and talking with them.
I have always been baffled that someone would believe I should be afraid to travel alone, as a woman, as if that somehow meant I was more weak than a man would be who traveled alone. I have never felt that I was weaker or somehow less because I was a woman. I never saw the point in letting fear rule my life to the extent that it prevented me from reaching for my passions or dreams, especially in regard to travel. Am I careful to avoid silly risks? Sure. I don’t think traveling alone as a woman is a great risk, however, and it has never proven to be such.
So, am I sometimes afraid? Yes. Will it stop me from reaching for my dreams or passions? No. I am simply not made that way and I have more often than not chosen to move past fear or nervousness to go for it. That philosophy has served me very well over the years and has helped create a truly enjoyable, and unusual, life
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Living the life of others dreams?
"You are living the life I dreamed of" she said to me on a beautiful autumn day in 2012, as I was leaving England to return to the USA. Amazing! I had just met her two days earlier, as our stays at a lovely little bed and breakfast in England overlapped. Her satement took me back in memory to something my sister had said to me years earlier.
In the late 1980s, I was working and living in the United Arab Emirates. I wanted to travel - to see the world - and the opportunities to do so were so much easier from there. I had from 7-9 weeks of paid leave every year, which provided so many opportunities, during my 4 1/2 years there, to travel the world.
On one of my annual trips back home to California, I was talking with my sister and other family members about some of my travel adventures. My sister looked at me and said, "You don't get it do you?". Confused, I looked at her and asked, "I don't get what?". Her answer was that I lived a life that other people only dreamed about. My response to her? "If they want it that badly, why don't they do something about it?"
I was truly confounded by the idea that someone could want something so badly, yet not work toward attaining the life they truly wanted. "Where there's a will, there's a way" was my motto in so many ways. As I had what my mother called "itchy feet," - a strong desire to travel and see the world - I had found a way to live a life that gave me the opportunities to do just that.
It would be many years later that I first heard of the Law of Attraction. Once that principle presented itself in my awareness, I could see how my long held belief that "where there's a will, there's a way" fit so beautifully into having created a life that some would hold out as living the life of others' dreams.
In the late 1980s, I was working and living in the United Arab Emirates. I wanted to travel - to see the world - and the opportunities to do so were so much easier from there. I had from 7-9 weeks of paid leave every year, which provided so many opportunities, during my 4 1/2 years there, to travel the world.
On one of my annual trips back home to California, I was talking with my sister and other family members about some of my travel adventures. My sister looked at me and said, "You don't get it do you?". Confused, I looked at her and asked, "I don't get what?". Her answer was that I lived a life that other people only dreamed about. My response to her? "If they want it that badly, why don't they do something about it?"
I was truly confounded by the idea that someone could want something so badly, yet not work toward attaining the life they truly wanted. "Where there's a will, there's a way" was my motto in so many ways. As I had what my mother called "itchy feet," - a strong desire to travel and see the world - I had found a way to live a life that gave me the opportunities to do just that.
It would be many years later that I first heard of the Law of Attraction. Once that principle presented itself in my awareness, I could see how my long held belief that "where there's a will, there's a way" fit so beautifully into having created a life that some would hold out as living the life of others' dreams.
Monday, March 28, 2011
House blessings
Wow! How the time does fly - I had no idea it had been so long since I last wrote here - must be the cold weather here on the east coast that caused my hiatus from writing, hm? I am now settled into my new place here (well, mostly so, anyway....does the unpacking ever end?). It is a lovely little place and suits both me and the babies (ie: cats, dog, and birds) well.
As someone close to me is very adamant that a person should do a house warming/blessing once moved into a new place, and as I normally do a house cleansing when I move into a new place (as well as when leaving one), this weekend I decided to host a small get-together for a house warming/blessing. It had been quite a long time since I hosted anything at home, which I am often hesitant to do because of the pets, so it was fun to put it together. It was lovely to have a few friends over, share some nice food and good wine (or non-alcoholic beverages if they so chose, those most did not choose such <grin>). Before the guests arrived I had done the sage-cleansing of the house, so that my guests wouldn't have to go room-to-room with me as I did it. The Native Americans, Feng Shui, and a number of other spiritual paths all recommend cleansing, by the way, as do some Orthodox faiths (though they use the holy water instead of burning sage). So, we finished the little gathering with a nice house-blessing ceremony, which they seemed to enjoy and which made me feel truly at home in the new place.
So, what say you? Do you like the idea of cleansing/blessing a new house so that old, negative energy is banished and the house is blessed with loving, peaceful intent?
As someone close to me is very adamant that a person should do a house warming/blessing once moved into a new place, and as I normally do a house cleansing when I move into a new place (as well as when leaving one), this weekend I decided to host a small get-together for a house warming/blessing. It had been quite a long time since I hosted anything at home, which I am often hesitant to do because of the pets, so it was fun to put it together. It was lovely to have a few friends over, share some nice food and good wine (or non-alcoholic beverages if they so chose, those most did not choose such <grin>). Before the guests arrived I had done the sage-cleansing of the house, so that my guests wouldn't have to go room-to-room with me as I did it. The Native Americans, Feng Shui, and a number of other spiritual paths all recommend cleansing, by the way, as do some Orthodox faiths (though they use the holy water instead of burning sage). So, we finished the little gathering with a nice house-blessing ceremony, which they seemed to enjoy and which made me feel truly at home in the new place.
So, what say you? Do you like the idea of cleansing/blessing a new house so that old, negative energy is banished and the house is blessed with loving, peaceful intent?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Have you ever had one of those moments?
Have you ever had a moment of pure joy that still stands out in your memory, one that wasn't tied to any particularly unusual external circumstances? I find it interesting to look back at the moments of pure joy that stand out in my memory and to reflect upon one of those specific moments, because it wasn't tied to having achieved anything in particular, wasn't tied to another person's actions or words, and wasn't tied to any unusual circumstances in my life at that given moment.
When was it, you ask? Well, it was a number of years ago when I was attending college in Northern California as an undergraduate. The college is located in a town called Angwin, up a winding mountain road above St. Helena, CA. The college is built on top of a long-dormant volcano and it is very beautiful there. One lovely afternoon, there at the school, I was walking down some of the many steps at the school, in front of the music building on campus, going past a lovely fountain, and enjoying the beautiful weather. It was sunny, warm, and a light breeze was blowing. Suddenly, I was filled with the most incredible joy at simply being alive! There was no other reason for the joy and it was such a wonderful few moments in time. That was when I first realized that a person can simply be happy - can simply choose to be happy - no matter any other circumstances in life. It was a profound, beautiful moment in time and one that I still treasure.
Live in joy today, even if you only find it for a moment, and know that you can choose to live in joy rather than fear. It is a much more beautiful place to live.
When was it, you ask? Well, it was a number of years ago when I was attending college in Northern California as an undergraduate. The college is located in a town called Angwin, up a winding mountain road above St. Helena, CA. The college is built on top of a long-dormant volcano and it is very beautiful there. One lovely afternoon, there at the school, I was walking down some of the many steps at the school, in front of the music building on campus, going past a lovely fountain, and enjoying the beautiful weather. It was sunny, warm, and a light breeze was blowing. Suddenly, I was filled with the most incredible joy at simply being alive! There was no other reason for the joy and it was such a wonderful few moments in time. That was when I first realized that a person can simply be happy - can simply choose to be happy - no matter any other circumstances in life. It was a profound, beautiful moment in time and one that I still treasure.
Live in joy today, even if you only find it for a moment, and know that you can choose to live in joy rather than fear. It is a much more beautiful place to live.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Living in Joy
Greetings! I don't know if any of you are fans of Dr. Wayne Dyer's work, however I know that I am indeed a fan. A friend that I both like and admire mentioned how much he liked Dyer's work, so I decided to watch him on a PBS special. There is so much that is positive and also practical in his advice, plus he introduced me to an ancient spiritual text that is over 3,000 years old, the Tao De Ching. It give one much to ponder and to think about.
In case anyone thought I was trying to be disrespectful of the life choices made by others in my last post, I was not doing any such thing. Rather, I was pondering the differences in what makes one person happy and content that in comparison, would make another one shudder should they feel constrained to live the same lifestyle. In my case, I love freedom, love travel, and love the adventure of life. Yet, to another (very close and dearly loved relative), those same things are not exciting, but are frightening. Neither of us is either right or wrong, but rather we see the world so very differently, and that is part of what makes life so interesting, don't you think?
In the end, we each create our own lives and it is up to us to figure out what makes us happy, then to pursue that happiness. It is not a matter of right or wrong, it is a matter of choice.
Have a great day!!
In case anyone thought I was trying to be disrespectful of the life choices made by others in my last post, I was not doing any such thing. Rather, I was pondering the differences in what makes one person happy and content that in comparison, would make another one shudder should they feel constrained to live the same lifestyle. In my case, I love freedom, love travel, and love the adventure of life. Yet, to another (very close and dearly loved relative), those same things are not exciting, but are frightening. Neither of us is either right or wrong, but rather we see the world so very differently, and that is part of what makes life so interesting, don't you think?
In the end, we each create our own lives and it is up to us to figure out what makes us happy, then to pursue that happiness. It is not a matter of right or wrong, it is a matter of choice.
Have a great day!!
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