#278

The meaning of life is just to be ALIVE. It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. Any yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves ... Alan Watts

I spoke yesterday (#227) about being ALIVE, getting with the program, making life work for you, not following anyone's lead, but doing what makes YOU feel ALIVE. 

Everyone needs to find something that gives them that feeling, whether it is nature, sports, dancing, or cooking... it doesn't matter what it is, it's just important to give yourself over to something that emits from the soul, that brings out your inner joyful child. (I need to stress that I am not referring to any artificial means of refilling your empty joy tank) 

Life is not meant to be a struggle, it is to be a celebration. On the whole, you are here to 'do' life, not make it a menial, frustrating chore. There are times when one has to manage life's traumas and dramas... these are the trials of life, meant to be growth related. They need to be dealt with, then dropped as soon as you feel able, so you can bring yourself back to life. Don't get lost in the negative, just breathe and carry on. That's it, it can be simple if you allow it, no complications, it's up to you.

You are in charge of your life, therefore your reactions to what life throws at you are your choice. There are no problems, unless you, yourself create them. You can choose to be devastated, scared to death, or calm and secure in the knowledge that you are OK. There is nothing beyond you, you are holding all the cards, you make your life exactly what you want it to be. Make your stumbling blocks into building blocks and construct the life you want.

"All problems are an illusion of the mind" Eckhart Tolle

#277

Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come ALIVE and then go and do that; because what the world needs is people who have come ALIVE.

Be alive....join the human race..wake up! Participation is required. 

As we wander through life half asleep, not noticing anything around us, we are missing the the whole point. We fill our lives with 'busy'ness, running back and forth, to and fro and basically accomplishing nothing. We all need to just calm down, nothing is worth ruining your health and well being. I know it's a leap to suggest meditation to many of you, but some relaxation technique would certainly help. 

We need to find some method of stress reduction, some method of  relaxation, enjoyment, something soothing, that brings some relief. Perhaps a run, a swim, a walk in the woods, something out of the house, away from the technology. We need something that makes us feel ALIVE. (during my walks in the woods, I have seen many people, running and chatting on their phones. They are doing the obligatory run, but have no awareness whatsoever of their surroundings, of the scents and scenes in the woods) Leave the technology at home and be present, be one with nature.

Stress is the greatest cause of illness/death, and we are all aware of the multitude of causes of stress in today's world. You really don't need a 'near death' experience to make you feel ALIVE, do you? The stress WILL manifest into disease if left unattended.

Do what makes you feel ALIVE. Whatever you choose...shake off the worries and stress of your world and start to really live. 

#276

A child can teach an adult three things:

to be happy for no reason

to always be busy with something

and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.

Paulo Coelho

Children are so happy and free, they really enjoy whatever they are doing. Even if they happen to get upset, all you have to do is pull a face or rattle something and they are happy again. 

They are 'ON' at all times, never stopping until they are sound asleep.

They know how to demand what they want, in no uncertain terms; and they just happen to be so cute that they usually get it. How could anyone possibly resist?

I, personally, think there is a lot more we can learn from children, like complete abandonment of self in any situation.... running, jumping, laughing, playing, they put every emotion right 'out there' for the world to see, without concern for how it will be received by anyone....no hesitation whatsoever. They are like spontaneous combustion from the second their feet hit the floor in the morning. 

Yes they can teach us a lot, if we are not too busy being parents to take notice. 

Children also love it when their parents or grandparents play with them. They enjoy FUN and they are the perfect teachers in case you have forgotten how. As you are enjoying the little ones maybe you could release a little stress and play a game of soccer, hop scotch, marbles or even tag. They are only young and innocent for a short period of time, so leave your worries on the doorstep and run off and play.

'You have a lifetime to work but children are only young once' Polish Proverb

#275

The world doesn't need saving. It just needs you to open up your heart and be love. Daniel Nielsen

Below is a quote from my perceptive friend, Sandy Dow-@sandydow.com, from one of her recent blogs; in which she displays the compassion and love with which she navigates the world. Thank you, Sandy

"The earth will look after itself, it is much stronger, wiser and more resilient than we can imagine. The earth has a way or correcting and re-balancing herself, although we may not like what it looks like. We have  populated her, and live where she breathes fire, blows hurricanes and shakes to adjust her core.

A Shamanic teacher taught me that the earth can toss us off anytime she wants, she is strong and no matter what, she will endure." Often her fury is a reflection of us as a species. We, as a species are becoming ill emotionally and spiritually. It is time for us to look at our earth, it's elements and creatures as our teachers. They are here to show us how to live more consciously toward each other and to her. To do that we have to take responsibility for our personal healing so we can move slower and create deeper love and connection to each other and our land. And no longer see our earth or ourselves as broken."

We are all one with the earth, the flora and fauna. In today's world,  we have turned our backs on what really matters and are looking everywhere for what we think we need....we have strayed from the basics and turned our attention from spiritual matters to material accumulation. 

Our source of power has shifted to 'what we can get' instead of what 'we have' or what 'we can give'. We have lost our appreciation factor AND our gratitude. We need to be concerned about healing ourselves, which will, in turn heal our planet. There is no need to look outside yourself to heal anything, it's all within YOU.

#274
"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards. They try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first, be who you really are, then do what you really need to do in order to have what you want." Margaret Young

First you need to be who you really are.... I think a large majority of us have had this backwards. Most of us hopped right to it, immediately school was finished and started our lives of accumulation. This seemed to be the symbol that we were successful, that we were OK. There was no time to think about who we were, we were working with the program that had been installed. 

I remember all the kids in the 60's that went off to find themselves; and the negative comments of the adults concerning their laziness, how they were drop outs and a burden on society. Well, I think those words can now be eaten, it appears that they were the ones that knew what they were doing. 

Comments such as these are only showing the fear of the adults of the time. Their trepidation was that their children would not make it in the world, that they were not following the rules and that maybe they would end up having to support them. These are common reactions when when a person outwardly expresses a desire to be who they are. People find this hard to cope with. They have expectations of their children, and probably haven't given much thought to what that child wants.... such was the thinking of that generation.  

I think we now know that inner exploration could be the most important thing you do. If you don't do it when you are young, you will, at some point, feel the urge to find out who you really are. What a wondrous journey!

#273

WITS END...

The idiom at wits’ end means to be very upset, or at the limits of one’s emotional or mental limitations.

The phrase originated in the King James Version of the Holy Bible in Psalms 107: 27. “They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.” The verse is speaking about people who go back and forth in their devotion to God. 

The archaic definition of wit was knowledge. So the phrase meant the people were at the end of their knowledge, at the point where they must rely on faith. Grammarist.com

Therefore when you reach your wits' end, you have no further knowledge to proceed with on your quest to solve this problem. You have no idea what to do. You have gone as far as you can go, tried every tactic at your disposal, depleted your options. 

This, then, is the time to let it go, give it up to the Universe.  Finally, we reach our wits' end, there is nothing more that we can do, and we let it go. Once you are out of your own way, the Universe is able to step in and take care of it. It will be solved, maybe not in the way you thought you wanted it, but solved, nonetheless. You will always get what you need,  whatever is necessary for your growth. The Universe is there to help you, and whenever you reach your wits' end you only need to ask for intervention. You are not alone, you have the entire Universe on your side.

#272

"I think of life itself now as a wonderful play that I've written for myself, and so my purpose is to have the utmost fun playing my part" 

Shirley MacLaine

I couldn't agree more, Shirley.... This is exactly the way to look at life. We are merely actors, playing our parts. Each one of us has scripted our lives before we arrived on this planet and we are role playing. We are in charge of our own lives, our own results... you can manipulate your life in whatever manner you choose. That being said; you are given a life and it is up to you to make it good or bad, easy or hard. 

We encounter obstacles on our path to receive the growth lessons we requested. How we handle these obstacles, accepting or fighting tooth and nail, determines how easy our life will be. All of this is to help us to understand, to open us up to receive and to pave the way on our path. Everything is important, nothing happens by chance. Your life can be a wonderful play or a tragedy, it's always up to you and you can change it anytime you like.

"We are not victims of the world, we are victims of the way we see the world" Shirley MacLaine

Just do the best you can with what you have been given. Relish your life, love those around you, be kind to your fellow beings, the animals and the earth, and enjoy your time on the stage.

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players"  William Shakespeare