Life's Loving Memories

  RELAX INTO THE FLOW "A good diet, refraining from excessive desires, and daily meditation all lead to peace of mind, and this peace of mind is beneficial."     Little Book of Inner Peace,    --The Dalai Lama What happens when a person is caught in a rip current in the ocean? A lifeguard would tell you to swim parallel to the shore and that would break the hold of the current. When panic sets in it is sometimes very difficult to remember that idea of relaxing enough to swim parallel to the shore. Isn't that true about the challenges that we go through in life? We get caught in the idea of events becoming more than we can handle. When it occurs to us, that  Spirit surrounds us, moves in, through, and as us, we can remember to relax into that Divine Presence, and a shift happens. It allows us to respond, rather than react to the situation. There are many times that I have been so focused on the problem, that it takes me a little time to say, "God...

 EXHAUSTED OR ENERGIZED? "When we take a new approach to something, things often change for the better." Sandra Lindsey Smith,  Life's Garden Grows When the busy week is over, do you ever feel like you've just run a marathon, and are sitting spent on the side of the road? Do you stop and wonder how you could have possibly completed all of those things in one week? I have to admit that sometimes I feel that way. Then I remember all the smiles I have seen, the love that was shared, and the feeling of accomplishment. The realization hits me, I may feel tired, but my energy level was put to good use. Do you ever feel that there are times when you have committed yourself to too many things? Perhaps you always do such a fine job, that people come to you and ask because you always show up with the energy to accomplish all those things?  When I was forty-four and going through a divorce, I discovered a new Spiritual teaching, The Science of Mind. I put my soul into learning i...

 BE KIND TO YOURSELF "Things always get better. When you believe this, it becomes true. In the same way as you don't believe it doesn't get better, it doesn't get better."   Sandra Lindsey Smith, -- "Life's Garden Grows" Have you ever noticed how readily we rush to forgive other people for the minute, negative observations they say about themselves, but it is much more difficult for you to forgive yourself for the very same tiny thing you say about yourself? All the, "I AMs" that come out of our mouths are packed with the potential to show up in our lives exactly as they spring from our mouths. So, no: "I am so stupid"; "I can't get my hair to look right; or, "why do I even go in for this job interview, I can never express myself well under pressure" NO! Those are not the, "I AMs" that you want to spring from the depth of your soul. Instead, "I could have done that a different way", "...

SIZZLING SUMMER HEAT "Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."   Google Summer brings rising temperatures, and we all have ways of dodging the heat. Going to a movie theatre, playing in a lake or family swimming pool, sitting in an air conditioned home, all are ways to beat the heat. Lucky for us we replaced our broken air conditioning this summer, and the house is noticeably cooler.  I remember when I was a six-year old living in Michigan, no one in our neighborhood had air conditioning. We would go to sleep at night in the living room with the front door and all the windows wide open what a sweet memory). Of course, there was the humidity to deal with as well. Life was simpler, but not often easier. All through the years heat and cold temperatures have been something to gripe about, and they give us something to talk about when we meet our frie...

  HECTIC, BUT WONDERFUL TIMES "The inner sanctuary is filled with purity and wonder. It is a place of peace and comfort, safety and warmth. To enter this world takes discipline since it requires the practice of meditation and silent contemplation." Caroline Reynolds              -- Spiritual Fitness Maybe hectic may not be the best word to use in the title of this blog,  bu t we have all been there.  Going to class, picking up the kids, grabbing a cup of coffee, d riving to work, all may be very important; but having a Saturday that showers you with a chance for meditation, peaceful words, and a beautiful space to be in, that is the relief that your soul longs for. It's sort of like when a headache goes away and you feel like yourself again. I was at a peace meditation at my Center last Saturday, and my soul absorbed a beautiful bath of peace, truth, and guided and silent meditation, wonderful singing bowls, and gentle words from poems ...

BLOWING IN THE WIND  "The Answer  My Friend is Blowing in the Wind..." --Bob Dylan Think about the numerous things that blow in the wind:  Dandelion seeds the spiraling in the sky, only to find themselves in a new place to grow; sheets clinging to the line, holding them tightly as the drying winds blow; storms blowing wind and rain, to bring needed moisture or sometimes devastation. All the winds that blow are mother nature in action. Do we, as individuals find ourselves blowing in the wind? Some times, when we are moved to different jobs, homes, living circumstances, or relationships, we find ourselves planted in a new place. After the storm we may find measurable differences, some wonderful and some that present challenges. Those challenges may include some awe-inspiring stepping stones. Just as mother nature heals herself from firestorms and thunderstorms, we too may find that as life moves on, healing takes place.  "Time heals. The events that occur in our lives ...

  You Are a Light "It's impossible for you to connect with someone else's heart if you haven't connected first with your own."  Carolyn Reynolds ,                    --Spiritual Fittness Donna Michaels is a manificent Mystic of Music In Centers for Spiritual Living, as well as  being an ordained minister. She has a song that I have sung many times, usually at Christmas or New Years, but it can really be sung at any time. The verses contain the following words, I am a Light in this world (repeated three times), You are a Light in this world (r epeated three times), and W e are a Light in this world (repeated three times) . The chorus between each verse goes, And I shine, and you shine, and we shine so brigh t (respectively for each verse). I love this song because it really resonates with the the idea that when I have happiness in my life and shine it out, I recognize that, like a mirror, that happiness comes back to me. W...