This is the best day, the day when you take your life back. The day that you, finally, become the most important person....to YOU. 

This 'giving our lives, our power away', seems to be a women's issue for the main part. We are the nurturers and habitually devote much of our lives to others. That is, until this day, when we awaken to the fact that it is our turn. I would say that it is an age thing, that it takes a certain amount of years to get to this point, but it isn't true. It is different for all of us. For me, I had to wait for divorce, and my children to be grown before I could think clearly enough to notice that I, too, was part of the picture. But, I have found since that time, that many much younger women seem to have been born with this info. Whenever it hits you, whenever you realize that you have not been in charge of your own life, the journey will begin. It is very uplifting to take the reins and drive your own carriage.

You are responsible for your own life. You are the only one responsible. You can’t continue to blame your parents, the government, your friends or some unknown factor, for all your self-inflicted sorrow. At some point you have get up, get over it, put your big girl/boy pants on and strut your stuff. 

No one can do it for you, and it is such a relief when you only have yourself to worry about. What everyone else is doing is none of your business. How freeing is that statement? After looking after a family, it may come as a shock to realize it is only about you, it's always only been about you. Obviously, the children are dependant on you while they are young, but it has to end. You will always be supportive of their endeavors, but they can look after themselves now.  You, definitely will continue to be kind and loving, and be much happier now that your life is your own.

So enjoy 'the best day of your life,' whenever it arrives, it will be worth the wait.

This is about silencing the mind, about ceasing to listen to the constant chatter in your head; and going with your heart. 

The fact is your heart KNOWS what to do, your heart KNOWS what you want, but outside influences interfere with your resolve. There is always the 'voice of reason,' 'the voice in your head' that says you are not to go forward with that lamebrain idea of yours. So many people die with their dreams still in them, because of someone else's idea about what they SHOULD do. 

We all have been raised with a list of DO's and DON'Ts, imposed by parents, society, culture and religion. Most rebel in their teens and then get reined in and start following the 'RULES.' The fact is these rules are imposed by fear and the need to control. The whole idea of this society is follow the 'norm.' The 'norm' is acceptable and everyone can breathe a sigh of relief when those previously rebellious teens are now 'toeing the line.' If your desire is to do something outside of the 'norm' it is generally unacceptable.

Children need to have guidelines, there does need to be order in the world, but nothing is worth burying your hopes and dreams. Actually living your life requires you to do it your way. It does not matter the opinion of others, but it never seems to be the easy way.  The 'norm' is the easy way to co-operate in the world we live in. BUT, is the soul fulfilled following this path? The people that you remember from the history books, the ones that really made a difference, followed their hearts and did what they were meant to do. 

My feeling is, you need to listen to your heart, loose your mind, and have the fulfilling life you are here to experience. What about you, are living someone else's dream? What is your opinion? What do you feel about this 'heart versus head' idea? Please feel free to tell me 'I am out of my mind,' I couldn't agree more.

Most of us have preconceived ideas and expectations as to how things should work out. We plan the whole thing, have everything wrapped up in pretty little boxes with a bow on top. We are ready... and then the truth rears it's ugly head, and it is nothing like we expected. Disappointed doesn't nearly describe the feeling we experience.

"Expectation is the root of all heartache." William Shakespeare

Life will go on... and so will the expectations. This is a hard one to get over, at least it was for me. We project our ideas on to everything, it seems; from events to purchasing a home. We have the house decorated before we even have the mortgage approval. We feel we have control if we have it all 'set up' in our minds, if we know how it will turn out.

We project expectations onto our partners, our kids etc. We want them to do, be or say what we want them to do, be or say. And again with the disappointment. At some point we have to realize that they are who they are, and they will do, be or say what THEY want to do, be or say. And, of course, the same goes for any situation, it is what it is. Are you confused yet? 

Although it may be difficult to just let go of all the expectations surrounding any given situation; once you accept it as it is and let it play out, there is no more drama or disappointment. So, surrender to what is, let go of what was and have faith in what will be. 

Life will have it's ups and downs and your job is to just go with the flow, and enjoy your time here on this planet. The world was set up by a higher power than you, so it will continue to spin, even if you let go. 

Que sera sera, what will be, will be. That's life.

You are exactly where you are meant to be, you are doing exactly what you are meant to be doing, the universe is unfolding as it should.

During conversations, the statement that is shared the most is; "I stayed too long, I wish I had left 'it' years ago." The 'it' could be anything, a marriage, a business, a friendship, even your location: anything or anywhere that you were attached to, that you wanted to get out of or away from.  

You will not leave until you are ready to leave. Don't waste your time mourning the fact that you stayed for some time after you realized that it was over for you. You were in the midst of a lesson, and right where you needed to be. No time or experience was ever lost, every piece of your life was part of the whole. You are who you are because of where you have been.

Sometimes it is difficult to swallow, the situation that you find yourself in may seem completely ridiculous; and you find it hard to imagine WHY you have to go through this. WHY do I have to spend all this time on this again? WHY can't my life just be easy? WHY do I stay so long? WHY MEEEEE? 

It is part of the plan, it is for your growth, if it is meant to be, it will be. This is where hindsight comes into play, you WILL understand, and for now, just recognize that this is a lesson, and go with it. 

You are learning something, you are growing, you are becoming aware, you are opening up... you are doing life, really doing life. If you can convince yourself not to fight against the current the process will speed up... go with it. This is YOUR journey, you will spend the required amount of time on each lesson, and then move on to the next. We might not be exactly where we WANT to be, but we are precisely where we’re SUPPOSED to be; and RIGHT ON TIME!

That little voice.... the one my Mom called my conscience, the voice that knows everything. The voice that tries to warn you not to do what you so want to do, and lets you know, when you go right ahead and do it anyway. 

Remember when life was simple? Picture it.... 

You are a child and you have done something 'bad', something you knew you were not supposed to do. And what happened when you did it? You did not feel good, you had a stomach ache, you felt it; and you knew you were 'in trouble.' 

What happened to that signal, that gut reaction, that knot in your stomach? Where did the voice go?

Rest assured....it is still there. We have simply learned to ignore it, with years of practice we have gotten so we rarely notice it at all. Life has stepped in; giving us deadlines, details, commitments etc. that steal our focus. We feel we no longer have time to assess a situation, let alone be considerate or concerned about how we do it. We say and do things randomly, with no forethought; in the guise of getting things done... taking care of business. We no longer notice the simple things, or hear the voice warning us that we are going too far. We get manipulated because our early warning system is on the blink. What do we do now?  We need to reconnect.

You are either running your life on previously installed 'buttons' or intuition. The 'buttons' are causing this lack of purpose, this robotic life you are living. You are merely reacting. Conversely,  your intuition is divine, the voice, the conscience. Tune in, be aware of what is going on in your world, what you are doing and saying. Once you focus on the voice, you will find the answers. Blame, fear, and resentment will melt away and you will start to live your life with purpose.

You know what is right for you, listen to you inner voice.  

Most of us remember the old adage - "The best things is life are free." I think most of us figured out that meant not to be fooled by riches and material possessions. Nonetheless, this now seems to be the version, 'they are not things'.

The best things in life are the feelings, the emotions, the experiences, the love. All those 'things' that take place within you. The are what is real, what sustains you, what fills you up, what completes you. 

So many of us are not fulfilled, at some point in our lives, or perhaps never have been. We are not receiving what we need, leading to depression, and/or addictions. There is something missing, something we long for within, that no one seems able to touch. 

This lack, starts the search for something to fill us up, and/or dull the pain; a partner, a lover, shopping, drugs, alcohol etc. This is the beginning of looking for something outside of ourselves to make us feel whole, accepted or loved. 

The problem with all these 'answers' is the fact that they are temporary, you can never maintain the high, you must constantly be re-medicated with your addiction of choice. Instant gratification feels good only in the moment... and under it all....the ache is still there. Desperation and depression result when this is the case.. It is a never ending cycle.

"Peace comes from within.

Do not seek it without " 

Buddah

The answer to all the pain, is inside of you. You cannot blame others, because, even if you feel that they are the cause of your pain, it is the way you received/processed it that is causing your turmoil... you alone are responsible for how you feel, and you alone can make it right... for you. The things of life are not the answer. You are the answer. Seek within

For you today, our menu includes a plethora of choices, inspirations for living a superior life. Everything written here will fit some situation, you can choose which one to go with for any given day. Or, of course, you can choose to not participate. It is up to you. You make choices every day of your life... to learn, to live, to love or not.

It is a choice, whatever "rings your chimes," or resonates with your soul. This could change at any time. What resonates with you today, does not necessarily do anything for you tomorrow. We are all subject to change, thank God, that's what it is all about.... changing our attitudes, changing our beliefs....changing ourselves. 

With our finite mind, it may not look like much of a choice, we are doing what we feel we have to do, most of the time. There is always a choice, whether we see it or not. Reach for the stars, don't settle for less. The universe is open to you, everything is waiting for you. You are not meant to struggle, you are not meant to just 'get by', you are meant to enjoy true abundance in all areas of your life.

So for today, I choose LIFE IS GOOD, for my inspiration. It's a good day, and I am going to enjoy every minute of it. I am going out of the house...I will see things that I have never seen before, I will do things I have never done before and I will soak up the sunshine and the miracle of life. 

I wish you a day of simple pleasures, as well, seen with new eyes, and enjoyed with an open heart. Choose how you want to proceed.

Isn't it nice when you find someone that "gets" you? That laughs with you and loves you no matter what. .

It is rather a rare occurrence to find such a person, not so rare in a dog, but with people, rare indeed.

These are the people you like to be around, that are always game for the things that interest or amuse you. They are the ones, to go out with, to plan trips with, to go shopping with; they are true friends, and sometimes, even life partners. They are people to be grateful for, because they feed your soul.... they are your tribe.

So many people have their spouse to do certain things with, a friend that loves to shop, one for trips and another for spending the evening with. If you find one soul that is everything wrapped up in one package, that you are not just "putting up with," but actually enjoying, then you are blessed. 

A tribe member loves you, even when you don't. They are there to support you, whether they agree with you or not. You can always count on them, to show up, to be there.... for you! 

"Surround yourself only with people who are going to take you higher" Oprah Winfrey

This tribe that you have created, is filled with the people that are here for you. Hold them tight. Keep them close, appreciate them, love them.

You never need people around you that put you down, vote them out of your tribe. You are important. Don't put yourself down either. All of us deserve to be loved, accepted and cherished.... by the tribe members, and definitely by ourselves. This is about you, you are unique, no need to prove yourself, you already are approved of. So, revel in your quirks, and be grateful for the people of your tribe that sustain you.

Do you often find yourself in a quandary about some problem that actually is not directly concerning you. Are you mixed up in someone else's life?

Your adult son has decided  to quit his job and join a band. You tell him that you don't feel that this is a good idea.

Someone at work said or did something to a fellow employee and you are outraged. You take it upon yourself to try and straighten it out. 

You think that your daughter's boyfriend is far from marriage material. You tell your daughter that she could do better.

These are 3 examples of being is someone else's business.  Once a person has reached adulthood, what they do is their business. They are on their own path, they need to make their own "mistakes". Even if they are your children, your time is up... you have done all you can, they need to be treated as adults now, not controlled, like children. Even if you think that you know what needs to be done, or what would be best for them; it is none of your business.

"If a train doesn't stop at your station, then it's not your train." 

Just think how much more enjoyable life would be without having to worry about, or control what everyone else is doing. You only have to worry about yourself and what you are doing. Believe me, it gives you many more stress-free hours per day, to read a book, or go for a walk, or write a blog. 

I am certainly not saying that you shouldn't be considerate and supportive of others, but that is where it needs to end. Do not jump in the middle of someone else's life.... live your own. 

Your business is to make yourself happy, period. If you are happy, people will want to be around you. One way to be happier is to let go of control....control is an illusion; you never really have control over any situation or any person. The world will continue to spin on it's axis, if you let go, and live YOUR own life. 

Live in the moment, it's all there is.  

This is not easy to do, I have found. Your mind is always projecting the things that need to be done, or the event you have to plan, or any number of things that distract you from whatever is in the NOW. 

But even though it isn't easy, it is necessary, because you are missing your life. You are missing what is happening right now in the present. When you are waiting for the week-end, waiting for Christmas, or simply waiting for something more exciting, you miss what is.  You are wishing your life away.. BE PRESENT.

Always say yes to the present moment... Surrender to what is. Say yes to life... and see how life starts working for you rather than against you. Eckhart Tolle

How do you think you go about living for today and only today? First you need to silence your mind. 

So tune in.... this requires sitting still, meditating or contrarily, jogging, or walking. You can do anything that fits into your routine, anything that gives you free head space, and body awareness. Meditation is perfect for freeing up the mind, but if you aren't into meditation, or you just can't sit still then; go for a nature walk, nothing is more freeing... look around, use all of your senses and be aware of all that is. The flora and fauna, the wildlife, the scents, feel the wind and the sunshine. There is so much to explore; and before you know it you are PRESENT in the experience. TA DA! 

You can recreate this experience in meditation or simply in your mind, each time you need to bring yourself back to the present moment. 

Your life is NOW, be present and enjoy every minute. 

It's always darkest before the dawn. 

Many people live their lives in a fog that serves as a mantle, a protection, from the feelings that would be too overwhelming to handle if they were allowed to surface. Therefore, when you have a life crisis, you flounder, completely shut down, become depressed and/or cause bodily harm to yourself or others. These are the times that create desperation. Being pushed into a corner in this way may force you to ask for help, or pray for guidance. If not, talk to someone, parents, a friend, or pastor/priest, someone that can help to calm you, your mind, and give you back some hope. 

The main thing to realize is that you are not alone, you are never alone. If you need help, you only have to ask for it. Do not sit alone and obsess about how awful your life is, get outside, be among people, breathe in some fresh air, and talk to someone. This, too, shall pass. Things will get better. And they do. Whether it's divine intervention, or you just get sick of yourself, or "time served", the situation eventually clears itself, the solution is found, and there is light at the end of the tunnel again.

"Don't give up before the miracle happens" Fannie Flagg

If you are immersed in a situation that has hit a brick wall, or heading in that direction... you have 2 choices: If you don’t like it, whatever it may be, you can accept it and change your attitude, or quit/leave. That’s it. Don't complain, whine or wallow, just choose your option.

You may notice that I have one different option than the quote.... He says you can change the situation, I said, change your attitude....  He has three options and I have only two. But he is, after all, Eckhart Tolle, and I got my quote from my dad, so you choose. 

My feeling on this discrepancy  is: that all you can change is yourself and you are feeling between a rock and a hard place.... so all that is left to do is accept it and change your attitude or quit/leave....

So if this is your situation, and you cannot see a solution that would leave you happy, these are your choices.  

“No one can take advantage of you without your permission”

Eleanor Roosevelt

Remember you can’t change anyone, don’t waste your time trying. Even if it appears as though they are following your lead, they will sabotage you and/or the situation if it is not what they want. 

Everyone is just who they are, and when they are not treating you the way you want them to, it is up to you to speak up. Weigh the pros and cons and decide whether you can live with it or leave. But it is up to you. They are who they are, they are doing what they do.  Listen to your inner voice, that knot in your stomach, it will make it perfectly clear what your next step should be.

But make no mistake....If you continue in the same situation, you have no right to complain about it, it is your decision. 

You is Kind

You is Smart

You is Important

Aibileen - The Help

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was greater than the risk it took to bloom"... Anais Nin

I remember seeing this quote when I was just beginning my quest and profoundly identified with it. I thought it was the most deeply brilliant comment ever. Obviously I was very excited to be starting the inner work. 

This is exactly what was happening to me... you hold on to all the neurosis (Neurosis is a class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations, whereby behavior is not outside socially acceptable norms-Wikepedia) until you don't, you finally let go. At the beginning you tentatively let go of a minute bit of your self, but the shift begins.... then the most amazing things happen.  You have  achieved awareness, you really SEE, there are miracles all around. When you are no longer "so tight in a bud," no longer afraid; when you actually start to open, you see the world through new eyes. This is the beginning. 

Up to this point..... 

"We don't see the world as it is, we see it as we are" Anais Nin

So we have only seen the world the way we were at the point of our shift. All our past attachments, issues, fears and beliefs are running our lives, and making decisions for us. But once our eyes are opened, we have freedom and choice. This is an entirely different world we are now living in. We can see clearly now. Everything makes sense. 

Of course this is not spontaneous, but gradually. as we continue to do the work, it becomes clearer. Everything will show up, as you need it. When you are ready, the teacher will come. You are on the path and can finally see where you are going. You can see that the lessons and how the pertain to you, you have a greater understanding. The lessons will continue, we are here to learn, but, each lesson learned is a beacon on the path ahead.  

You are ready to "bloom."

I hope you have been able to create a space that you call home, one that is warm and wonderful. With pieces of you, strategically placed throughout; little mementos of your travels, your children/grandchildren and all your great memories. I am a Cancer, so I nest..... my home is my sanctuary and I am very protective of it. I do not want or allow negativity in.

There has been enough negativity in my life, and I imagine you have had the same, at some stage of yours. Whether it is your spouse, your parent, your child, a friend, boss or sibling, the responsibility is theirs for the attitude and energy that they project. You do not have to accept it.

I understand that when you have family living with you, it is a lot harder to control the energies in your space. The home is filled with activity, noise, some tension, and maybe some head-butting, arguing or teasing to accompany a few seconds of calmness. It seems there is always in a heated debate with someone when the children are younger and then with the children, themselves, when they are teens.  

I was just reflecting on this, when I read this quote and thought, "I wish I had this sign in my home, in my business and everywhere I might have been." Rather than deal with "keeping the peace" or "the customer is always right". I know when I worked in the bank,  the customers would give me an earful over some mistake, or I was getting "a piece of their mind" over some infraction. Of course, I was taught not to take it personally, in fact, we had many seminars on that very subject. But, frankly, when someone is directing their rage at you, it is hard not to.

"I was angry" is no excuse for taking your frustration out on others. If you are in a "bad mood", keep it to yourself, no one has the right to drag others down with their negative emotions or outbursts. 
Check your attitude at the door. Respect, consideration, kindness, politeness, etc. are still important, as always. Steer clear of Negative Nelly's

"You cannot expect to live a POSITIVE life if you hang with negative people.”  Joel Osteen

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind.....

What Bob Dylan was saying in his song is open to interpretation, for sure, but he did say: how many times does something have to happen before someone notices, and does something about it? The answer to that is: that it's blowin' in the wind, it's elusive, it's "there", all around us, through us, part of us.

We don't always know what to do, what to say, or what is next. We don't know if we are coming or going a great deal of the time and we are always looking for answers. Where are they, how do we know what is what? They say the answers are blowin' in the wind which seems to be a metaphor for they are "out there" in the great beyond; no one knows the answers to life's questions. You can only do what you think is best, you can only try as hard as you can try, you can only see what you see.....until you see more.

This life did not come with a book of instructions. We certainly were given direction, but this didn't always end up looking like we thought it would. There is a time in everyone's life that they are at the end of their rope with no idea whatsoever of what to do next. A life crisis, a spiritual crisis, a financial crisis, a relationship crisis, it doesn't matter, everything is bleak and we just want it all to go away. So what are the answers? Where are the answers?

The answers, my friend are within you. Pay attention to the signs, they are everywhere. Open your senses, listen, there are no coincidences, if you think it means something, it probably does. If it caught your attention, there is a reason for it. Don’t doubt yourself. Be aware, be open to the possibilities. Life was never meant to be a struggle. The universe is open to you and wants to help you on your path.  Tune in. 

The answers are not unattainable, if you are searching, look within. You CAN capture the wind, and the answers are also within your grasp. 

Be still and KNOW.

With the sudden death of the entertainment icon, Robin Williams, this quote really spoke to me. 

From the information that I have, it appears that he left by choice. I cannot imagine the depths of despair he must have suffered throughout his life as he battled addiction and depression. 

The man that we saw was always "on," a unique, and widely diverse individual that entertained us for decades. It is such a shame that this will no longer be so. Without him on this planet, there is a gaping hole that no one could ever fill.

So the message here is: some people suffer insurmountable amounts of darkness and finally make the choice to leave. I have a cousin that chose the same route a few months ago and it will always remain a mystery to me that suicide is the only option. I, of course, like everyone else,  have no idea of how that person actually felt and what drove them to even consider this. 

It is sad that they went with it and removed themselves from the people that loved them. It is a burden the survivors will wrestle with for the duration of their lives. Every person on earth affects the ones around them, they have a special place, and a specific purpose for being here. They were meant to be here until their time was done. Each life is precious and it causes an ache in my heart that not everyone is aware of how important they are in the scheme of things. Nonetheless, their suffering has ended and they are at peace. Rather than focus on the deaths let's remember the humans that they were and send love to the families.

You are a child of the universe

No less than the trees and the stars

You have a right to be here

And whether or not it is clear to you

No doubt, the universe is unfolding as it should

Max Ehrmann - excerpt from Desiderata 1927

You will be OK.... it is about being certain, KNOWING that no matter what happens, you will be OK.  

I recently read a story of a women who had been plagued with lumps in her breasts, the last one being discovered while she was still nursing her youngest child. Up until this time, the lumps had been benign, but the worry, the fear, the depression for her each time was debilitating. She projected thoughts of motherless children, grieving husband, and above all she was certain that THIS TIME she would not make it. She was trying so hard to keep herself in check while waiting for the results of the mammogram; with meditation, long walks, praying, anything to try and keep a calm and positive attitude. Finally, early one morning, she was sitting by the lake talking with God about how scared she was, and said "Isn't there any way I could handle this without being so scared?" and that was it. A feeling of calm came over her and continued to expand from that time forward. This was a divine gift! She realized in that moment, that it wasn't about praying that the lump was not malignant, or praying that she didn't have to have her breasts removed, or praying that she didn't die. These are the trials of life, the fear only makes it worse; but if you trust have faith in a higher power and in yourself, you can handle anything. 

It is a KNOWING that if any or even all of these things happened she would be OK. Death has long been the ultimate fear; but it is a KNOWING that we never really die, our souls will just leave this human form and return home. 

I think this knowing comes from trusting yourself, or surviving your worst case scenario, or maybe it's age. But somewhere along the line you settle into yourself, quite confident that all is well, and life is good. The little things simply don't matter anymore, you are finished with all the nonsense, you have formed your own beliefs and feel happy in your own skin. And so with little or no drama you realize that NO MATTER WHAT you will be OK.

Take time to rest.....

I remember very well the "family" days when there was never enough time to get everything done... the children, the job, the husband, the parents, the pets, all the usual attachments. Some times it was all just too much. There never seemed to be one moment when someone didn't want something from me.

“The real problem of leisure time is how to keep others from using yours.” - Arthur Lacey

Are you overworked, over committed, over stressed? It is very important to have some down time, just for you. How does this happen, what can you do to lessen the work load? 

The first step to reclaiming your time is to be aware of where it is going. It is not enough to assume that you don't have any, you have the same amount as everyone else, so it must be about how you are using it.  Many times we don't think there is another hour in the day for us, but how much time is spent obsessing about not having any time? What is it that is taking up most of your day? Are you in your own business, or minding everyone else's? 

There are many efficiency experts that say it is all about time management; that you spending too much time anticipating or avoiding the task at hand, not accomplishing anything. Look for patterns...take time to look back at the week to get a better feel for your schedule. What can be done less frequently? What can be eliminated completely? What jobs can be delegated to others?

Although time management is a valid point, it may only be part of it. I have found that it is about making yourself a priority. This is especially true of women. We have been devoting our time to the hearth and home for centuries. Meeting the daily demands can leave precious little time for us. If we manage to get the daily tasks accomplished, a sigh of relief is our reward. It simply doesn't occur to most of us, that we too, need time for us. Take a page from the experts' book and schedule time for you. If you make yourself a priority, you will find the time that is so important for your well being. There is enough time for you too. Make it happen. You will thank yourself.

Belief: we all have long established belief systems, programs or memories that were installed in our childhood concerning just about everything. We may have had some education or travel opportunities that challenged our beliefs or we continued unchallenged far in adulthood. The system was working out fine and we had not felt moved to change. Then one day, we see, feel or hear something that rocks our world. 

Don't you find it amazing that we let life go on, we just carry on doing what we do, without a thought about why, what or how we are doing it? Some things are simply second nature, and we don't think twice about how it is working for us, until we are challenged in some way. Once challenged, we are startled "Oh I never thought of it that way before," and there is a glimmer of light.

We are open, we noticed, we are thinking a different way, we are seeing differently. This is a great day! To my mind there is nothing better than being opened up, to realize that all is not as it seems. Think of all the possibilities. Things are not what they used to be, everything is bright, shiny and new. This is just the beginning of awareness. Awareness is the key, a change of attitude opens up a whole new world for you.

The belief system that has kept you going all this time is being questioned, opening a door to the unknown. It is exciting, maybe a little scary to look beyond the door and embrace a new way of thinking; but worth it. If you have been locked in with your beliefs all your life, you have taken the first step toward change...... awareness.

"The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness" Lao Tzu

You are a powerful force in the Universe!

You don't know who you are affecting in this life... Whether it is a situation that you change or a person's life; you doing what you do has the power to change everything. You can have a huge effect in 1 minute in the line-up at the market....you can change a life. 

It is extremely profound for someone that is there strictly for the message you are unwittingly providing. Whether it is your patience, your thoughtfulness, your smile; or your crankiness, impatience and hot temper, you are affecting those around you. Somebody needs what you are giving out at that exact moment. You don't need to do anything, just be yourself, you are unique and necessary to the universal plan. You are setting an example and providing lessons to any number of people each day. 

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning." - Catherine Aird.

We all know that random acts of kindness and such, positively affect people but negative people also are here for a reason, a lesson in this life. You may think that you don't want or need lessons of this kind, but you wouldn't be invited to the situation if you weren't necessary, an important contributor. We all contribute. Everyone is doing the best they can with what they have been given. 

"When you know better you will do better"  Maya Angelou

Everything happens for a reason. You being there means you are part of the situation, or you wouldn't notice anything or be available... the  situation is something that you need for your growth. When you are wondering "why am I here, what does this have to do with me?" you can rest assured that you were playing a role in what was going down. You are a cog in the wheel of life and people are depending on you for lessons to be learned and growth to continue. We are all here for each other, we are all one.