Isn't it funny that we live our life often measured by the smiles we shared or the hugs that we have given and yet there are moments when those milestones seem so far away. We get lost in a land of negativity and our tolerance for people becomes less and less and we get edgier whenever someone asks something of us. I find that I am in that land right now, I cannot stand to talk on the phone, don't want to hear what people have to say and really don't like their viewpoints, especially if it crosses mine.
I am trying to examine the whys of this situation and I find that it is ALL the things that I have wanted to say over the years and held back as good girls/women do, it is the times when someone spoke down to me, or abusively to me, or the mean spirited tone of someone. So, as I reflect on this it is my past that I am angry with and not my moment, here and now. It is the loved ones and strangers from yesterday that I am angry with and the ones here front and center are just having to deal with the aftermath.
In this is two lessons for me, 1. I need to treat everyone kindly, with compassion so as not to affect their future moments and 2. I need to release the pain from long ago, clear my throat chakra and just be in the now moment, not allowing the past to affect a precious shared moment or possibility.
I will try to take a moment, breathe through my pain (real or imagined) and smile at the person in front of me and know, that I choose to make a difference...
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The World, making a difference in fractions
Using our resources to actuate change and being empowered and aligned with our communities.
"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."--Maya Angelou
What a profound quote by a modern day Sage. You and I, part of this wonderful community, have a support system, namely each other. We are here to meet new people, talk about our lives and use the tools that have been created for this community to better our lives. We can make a difference with each other just within the "virtual" walls of this safe place. I count myself blessed that I/we have this haven. Many people are not so fortunate.
I wake up every day looking for ways to effect change and I have come to realize that everyone can make a difference on her or his own, but it is when we work with other people, that we create an even greater impact.
By working with other people, I am talking about supporting the local charities and Non profits in our home towns. I am talking about the grass roots efforts to make life better for many people, whether it be for social change or for welfare or for health.
As a Board Member of a non-profit in AZ, we often come up against that glass ceiling of giving. Obviously, money is important to keep the doors open, but there are other ways to help besides just handing over a check. How can I help make a difference? Here are some tips:
Time: Look in the local magazine for organizations and call to see if they need volunteers. Ask some of your local community leaders organization if they know of any organizations that can use your efforts. If you run out of options, then VolunteerMatch is a great place to start looking for a volunteer opportunity.
Money: Even $10.00 or more helps keeps the doors open. What about becoming a member in the organization? What about your business services? Can you offer it to the organization at cost? Can you donate something for their silent auctions? If you want to search by issue for a cause to support, Network for Good and Global Giving are two places to start. Think about changing your will and leaving part of your estate to a cause that is important to you and your family.
Skills: Mentor someone, help the organization with your skills, sit on the board, help plan events that will benefit the charity, use your talents to help foster change in any way.
Things: If you have high end items, donate them to the charity or find a consignment store and list your charity as the owner of the items. They will be able to turn things into cash. If you only have small items, ask your local organization if there is a family in need or if they have a place that could your items. If all else fails, bring them to Goodwill or public library near you to donate clothes and books.
Giving doesn't have to be through an organization or institution. Small acts of kindness count too. This can be as simple as buying someone a coffee, buying a breakfast for a board meeting, giving a gift, or bringing a meal to someone in need. It is about learning to keep our eyes open to opportunity and our hearts open to the concept of giving in all its forms.
Most of all, giving is good for us. In December 2007, the New York Sun article, Why Giving Makes You Happy reported that: "According to the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, a survey of 30,000 American households, people who gave money to charity in 2000 were 43% more likely than non-givers to say they were 'very happy' about their lives. Similarly, volunteers were 42% more likely to be very happy than non-volunteers. It didn't matter whether gifts of money and time went to churches or symphony orchestras — givers to all types of religious and secular causes were far happier than non-givers."
Each one of us have the opportunity to create a legacy of who we were as we lived, I want to be known as someone who cared and who made a difference in my community, what do you want to be known for?
"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."--Maya Angelou
What a profound quote by a modern day Sage. You and I, part of this wonderful community, have a support system, namely each other. We are here to meet new people, talk about our lives and use the tools that have been created for this community to better our lives. We can make a difference with each other just within the "virtual" walls of this safe place. I count myself blessed that I/we have this haven. Many people are not so fortunate.
I wake up every day looking for ways to effect change and I have come to realize that everyone can make a difference on her or his own, but it is when we work with other people, that we create an even greater impact.
By working with other people, I am talking about supporting the local charities and Non profits in our home towns. I am talking about the grass roots efforts to make life better for many people, whether it be for social change or for welfare or for health.
As a Board Member of a non-profit in AZ, we often come up against that glass ceiling of giving. Obviously, money is important to keep the doors open, but there are other ways to help besides just handing over a check. How can I help make a difference? Here are some tips:
Time: Look in the local magazine for organizations and call to see if they need volunteers. Ask some of your local community leaders organization if they know of any organizations that can use your efforts. If you run out of options, then VolunteerMatch is a great place to start looking for a volunteer opportunity.
Money: Even $10.00 or more helps keeps the doors open. What about becoming a member in the organization? What about your business services? Can you offer it to the organization at cost? Can you donate something for their silent auctions? If you want to search by issue for a cause to support, Network for Good and Global Giving are two places to start. Think about changing your will and leaving part of your estate to a cause that is important to you and your family.
Skills: Mentor someone, help the organization with your skills, sit on the board, help plan events that will benefit the charity, use your talents to help foster change in any way.
Things: If you have high end items, donate them to the charity or find a consignment store and list your charity as the owner of the items. They will be able to turn things into cash. If you only have small items, ask your local organization if there is a family in need or if they have a place that could your items. If all else fails, bring them to Goodwill or public library near you to donate clothes and books.
Giving doesn't have to be through an organization or institution. Small acts of kindness count too. This can be as simple as buying someone a coffee, buying a breakfast for a board meeting, giving a gift, or bringing a meal to someone in need. It is about learning to keep our eyes open to opportunity and our hearts open to the concept of giving in all its forms.
Most of all, giving is good for us. In December 2007, the New York Sun article, Why Giving Makes You Happy reported that: "According to the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, a survey of 30,000 American households, people who gave money to charity in 2000 were 43% more likely than non-givers to say they were 'very happy' about their lives. Similarly, volunteers were 42% more likely to be very happy than non-volunteers. It didn't matter whether gifts of money and time went to churches or symphony orchestras — givers to all types of religious and secular causes were far happier than non-givers."
Each one of us have the opportunity to create a legacy of who we were as we lived, I want to be known as someone who cared and who made a difference in my community, what do you want to be known for?
Monday, March 10, 2008
The World, The New Creation
Every morning I wake up and I say to myself, I am going to have an incredible day. Sometimes It is a incredible wonderful one and sometimes it is not. But I start my day, thinking only positive and joyous things. I want to be known for my upbeat viewpoint, my thinking the best about everyone, my caring heart. I want to be known for the smiles that I have shared, for the hugs that I have given, for the warmth that carried as my aura.
I am working on myself and have decided to take some classes about relationships, so I can know what to do in the next one and what not to do. To find that center within myself so I do not give so completely that I forget about myself. I need to learn about boundaries and what love entails. Does it include me giving you my soul and you expecting it? I don't think so. I think it means that in being ourselves with each other, we learn to love and accept the parts that are different and not place an emphasis on our differences but on the things that bring us together.
I am hoping that love comes knocking softly at my door, smiles at me and takes me into the warmth, on the outskirts, the fringes of passions fires, lays next to me and eternity begins. I just hope that I recognize it and understand and accept everything my loves is as I want them to do for me!
My wishes for the next few months is to open myself up to possibilities, to not be afraid and let fear go, in all aspects of my life, to grow and feed my soul with inspiration and love. I hope that for the world, I hope that for each soul that is breathing.
I learned about my grandmother and grandfather that they had a grand passion from the moment that they met. They had hard circumstances that had affected them in thier lives but they still loved each other. The younger generations do not want to think about our parents passion, or our grandparents but that is a gift that they give us, each time we look in the mirror, we see ourselves, but we are a fruit of that passion, of that love. Why are we so afraid to talk about it? It is the cornerstone of the world turning, of love songs being sung of babies being born and yet it is only talked about in whispers, in giggles, in silence. We should hug the older couples who have made it this far, we should tell them how much thier love has affected us, we should being it up to our parents and say wow, I am so glad that you two met and allowed yourselves to fall in love, what a gift!
I am working on myself and have decided to take some classes about relationships, so I can know what to do in the next one and what not to do. To find that center within myself so I do not give so completely that I forget about myself. I need to learn about boundaries and what love entails. Does it include me giving you my soul and you expecting it? I don't think so. I think it means that in being ourselves with each other, we learn to love and accept the parts that are different and not place an emphasis on our differences but on the things that bring us together.
I am hoping that love comes knocking softly at my door, smiles at me and takes me into the warmth, on the outskirts, the fringes of passions fires, lays next to me and eternity begins. I just hope that I recognize it and understand and accept everything my loves is as I want them to do for me!
My wishes for the next few months is to open myself up to possibilities, to not be afraid and let fear go, in all aspects of my life, to grow and feed my soul with inspiration and love. I hope that for the world, I hope that for each soul that is breathing.
I learned about my grandmother and grandfather that they had a grand passion from the moment that they met. They had hard circumstances that had affected them in thier lives but they still loved each other. The younger generations do not want to think about our parents passion, or our grandparents but that is a gift that they give us, each time we look in the mirror, we see ourselves, but we are a fruit of that passion, of that love. Why are we so afraid to talk about it? It is the cornerstone of the world turning, of love songs being sung of babies being born and yet it is only talked about in whispers, in giggles, in silence. We should hug the older couples who have made it this far, we should tell them how much thier love has affected us, we should being it up to our parents and say wow, I am so glad that you two met and allowed yourselves to fall in love, what a gift!
Monday, March 3, 2008
The world and all it possibilities
Sunday, I was lucky enough to get to be outdoors on a boat at a beautiful lake in AZ. It was glorious, just a little cool when we were going fast, but soul warming when we were just lazing along. The sunset was breathtaking with the gold, orange and purple against the red cliffs. It was a magical experience. There really is something to the saying about truly living in the moment and all the possibilities that it holds.
I had an experience yesterday at the lake that cemented my belief in people and learning to live in joy with our experiences. I was waiting at the lake for my friends to show up on their boat (they had gone out earlier and were coming back in to get me). It is confusing and we did not really state exactly where we would meet. I waited at the public places like the bait shop and the supply dock and then I got into the slip area, I waited and they were about an hour late, but I was not upset nor was I going to leave just yet. I figured that I would go back to the public area just in case they needed gas or something. As I was walking, I just released any worries and decided that I was actually having fun, even without my friends. I arrived to the public area and as I was waiting there, someone came up to me and asked if they had forgotten me, I said probably, she then asked if I was waiting for Gwen and I said no, but I was waiting for Jane in the slip next to Gwen.
She said why don't you wait at my boat for them, since we can see them come in from there. I followed her to her slip and she got me a chair and we were talking. Now picture this, I am talking to a complete stranger, following her to her boat slip, this woman took a moment out of her day to talk to me, isn't that incredible? As we were on her slip deck, and talking like old friends, who shows up but Jane and the gang. They couldn't believe that I did not leave them and that I was sitting on the dock of the lake waiting for them with a complete stranger. I hoped on the boat and we went on our way.
But, my point of this story is that someone took a chance and got involved with a complete stranger, she took a moment to show an act of kindness and it turned out to have an incredible ending. I will have a soft spot in my heart for her and the lesson that she gave me. It is a wonderful thing to reach out and help someone, even risking rejection. I will personally reach out my hand more often, get out of my comfort zone and risk, because of the gift that Lenora gave me. It is possible to just be in the moment and see the joy that we can give to others as well as experience it from each other.
Who can you help or just support in someway, what stranger can you give the gift to?
I had an experience yesterday at the lake that cemented my belief in people and learning to live in joy with our experiences. I was waiting at the lake for my friends to show up on their boat (they had gone out earlier and were coming back in to get me). It is confusing and we did not really state exactly where we would meet. I waited at the public places like the bait shop and the supply dock and then I got into the slip area, I waited and they were about an hour late, but I was not upset nor was I going to leave just yet. I figured that I would go back to the public area just in case they needed gas or something. As I was walking, I just released any worries and decided that I was actually having fun, even without my friends. I arrived to the public area and as I was waiting there, someone came up to me and asked if they had forgotten me, I said probably, she then asked if I was waiting for Gwen and I said no, but I was waiting for Jane in the slip next to Gwen.
She said why don't you wait at my boat for them, since we can see them come in from there. I followed her to her slip and she got me a chair and we were talking. Now picture this, I am talking to a complete stranger, following her to her boat slip, this woman took a moment out of her day to talk to me, isn't that incredible? As we were on her slip deck, and talking like old friends, who shows up but Jane and the gang. They couldn't believe that I did not leave them and that I was sitting on the dock of the lake waiting for them with a complete stranger. I hoped on the boat and we went on our way.
But, my point of this story is that someone took a chance and got involved with a complete stranger, she took a moment to show an act of kindness and it turned out to have an incredible ending. I will have a soft spot in my heart for her and the lesson that she gave me. It is a wonderful thing to reach out and help someone, even risking rejection. I will personally reach out my hand more often, get out of my comfort zone and risk, because of the gift that Lenora gave me. It is possible to just be in the moment and see the joy that we can give to others as well as experience it from each other.
Who can you help or just support in someway, what stranger can you give the gift to?
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