Reflections

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  1. Robin Ann

    Rest, prayer, going to church, walks with the dogs and trying my best to take care of me. I will be going to yoga weds night. On Saturday I tried out my new cross country skiis a little in the back yard. My friend got them for me for xmas last year and it wasn’t a good year for snow but so far this year has been better then last year.
    I have been mentally exhausted since visiting my daughter so I haven’t been on this site very much. She is doing great though and in a new longer term program. Remarkably, I really do not know how it came about other then it was an Act of God!! My prayers were answered truly.

    1 month ago
    1. Michele

      That’s good you’re taking time for yourself. Thanks for the update on your daughter too. I’m glad she’s in a new longer term program.

      1 month ago
  2. O.Christina

    With humor, reaching hands, laughter, with kindness and gratitude… and Love 🐬😊🙏💃❤️✨

    1 month ago
  3. C
    Carly J

    I’ve been practicing how to drop inside and locate the peace and “home” deep within me … and return there when I feel myself get overwhelmed with life. I’m also simplifying my work and centering my most dear relationships. Lastly, I am slowly getting rid of “stuff” that our large family has collected through the years and that we no longer need. it’s overwhelming but I’m pushing through.

    1 month ago
  4. m
    manatí grande y gordo

    Puedo ganar mucho dinero bebé

    1 month ago
  5. Dolores Kazanjian

    Fortunately or unfortunately, old age has forced me to lighten my load – my physical and emotional load. I have given my self permission to do what I want when I want. And sometimes that’s nothing at all. And this from a lifetime of over achievement, none of which I regret. As I said to my husband at breakfast, I am a happy guy.
    On a practical level, what lightens my load is getting rid of “stuff..”

    1 month ago
  6. A
    ActiveD5

    I’m pretty blessed with a fairly light load these days, but one thing I do is take way too much personally, have to realize what other people think is just their opinion. Not reality. So, for now, I will distance myself from that negativity.

    1 month ago
  7. Charlie T

    I try to lighten my load/life by practicing
    gratitude and non – attachment.
    It’s the stuff that I cling to that weighs me
    down. Its comparing myself to others that
    keeps me in a ungrateful state. It’s losing
    the big cosmic picture and focusing on my
    sad little inner world that weighs me down
    and keeps out the light.

    1 month ago
  8. Carol

    Be willing to grow in consciousness and greater self awareness. When I know better, I do better. Remember that everything is related. Everything I do impacts others. I share two quotes that have come to my attention in recent days and have helpfully impacted my present life situation.

    “I believe this is the greatest gift we can give each other as human beings, this sacred field of unconditional friendship where we allow each other to be imperfect.It is the space in which we give up trying to fix each other and instead listen with our entire being.It is the space in which true relaxation can happen, where the frazzled nervous system can breathe a sigh of relief ..
    ~ Matt Licata ~

    Richard Rohr on Friendship

    …what I let God see and accept in me also becomes what I can then see and accept in myself, in my friends, and in everything else. This is “radical grace.” This is why it is crucial to allow God, and at least one other trusted person to see us in our imperfection and even our nakedness, as we are—rather than as we would ideally wish to be. It is also why we must give others this same experience of being looked upon in their imperfection; otherwise, they will never know the essential and transformative mystery of grace.

    Such utterly free and gratuitous love is the only love that validates, transforms, and changes us at the deepest levels of consciousness. It is what we all desire and what we were created for. Once we allow it for ourselves, we will almost naturally become a conduit of the same for others. In fact, nothing else will attract us anymore or even make much sense.
    Adapted from Richard Rohr, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See (Crossroad: 2009), 140–141.

    1 month ago
    1. Avril

      Amen, Carol.

      1 month ago
  9. Michele

    I’m grateful to be out on FMLA for now.

    1 month ago
    1. Robin Ann

      Glad you were able to do so Michele and wishing you much peace during this difficult time for you.

      1 month ago
      1. Michele

        Thank you Robin Ann. I did have a sense of relief once I got the approval for my FMLA. (although I’m already stressing about my return to work knowing how far behind I will be)

        1 month ago
        1. Robin Ann

          I hope your co-workers will help with the workload while u are out : )

          1 month ago
  10. Carla

    Interesting and serendipitous question today as I now can no longer deny carrying my “load” mixed with cellular changes has caused Type 2 diabetes. Grrrr! Exercise is now mandatory along with medicinal support (which I’m not big on pharma stuff!). [please no comments on exercise is fun…I hear the voice of Charlie Brown’s teachers]. I’m nowhere near acceptance. The good side will be in order for others to see more of me, they will need to see less of me. Mortality and a smaller me. Happy Monday all—I’m off for a brisk walk. Grateful the sidewalks aren’t icy and some sunlight is on the path.

    1 month ago
    1. Robin Ann

      It is certainly a challenge but sometimes with Type 2 you can manage to have it disappear? At least one of my close friends
      had it happen to her.

      1 month ago
    2. Joseph McCann

      Thank you, Carla for a little levity on your serious diagnosis.

      1 month ago
      1. Carla

        Thank you Jospeh. This was significant putting it into “print.” And trying not to be sarcastic about it. As I chatted with a health care provider earlier today, what I hear are those 2 phrases from childhood tv shows—“Danger Will Robinson!”
        and “Lassie, Timmy’s down the well!” Just writing about Lassie is giving me a chuckle. Thanks again. I’ve never known endorphins to raise sugar levels 😉

        1 month ago
  11. Nannette

    As always this is a good question for thought. Any load that I am carrying is in my head. Otherwise; my life is good…I am responsible for any heavy loads. I let other people and minutiae cause havoc in my life. So today is a new day and a gift that I will never get again. Time to get to work, Nannette and clear that mind and the bad feelings that it creates. As for my life in general it is not too heavy…another gift.

    1 month ago
    1. Carol

      Thank you for the monkey mind reminder Nannette.

      1 month ago
  12. Yram

    My load right now is being entangled in my husband’s treatment for a rare blood disorder. It is time consuming, energy draining, and worrisome to give the support needed.
    I want to keep in mind that I need to thrive by staying in touch with others, attend to my needs, laugh, be in nature, ask for help, and nourish my spiritual life.
    Thank you for being here. You lighten my life.

    1 month ago
    1. Joseph McCann

      Kindness and Compassion Dear Yram.

      1 month ago
      1. Yram

        I experienced much kindness yesterday as I did a few errands! The smiles of others brightened my day.

        1 month ago
    2. Robin Ann

      Thinking of you during this difficult time. Keep trying to do some little things just for you too.

      1 month ago
      1. Yram

        I often list what I did for me during the day so I can be present to that need. Thank you!

        1 month ago
    3. Carol

      May the compassion you are giving be returned 100 fold and if your present load cannot be lightened may it at least be brightened by the love that pours back to you from this site.

      1 month ago
      1. Yram

        I appreciate every word. I am a RR fan also!

        1 month ago
    4. Avril

      Being here lightens the load.

      1 month ago
      1. Yram

        For sure!

        1 month ago
    5. Nannette

      YRAM, Sending prayers and love your way. Remember to care for yourself…it is not an easy task when you are so focused on your husband’s needs. Try to take some time to do something that gives you pleasure. God Bless You.

      1 month ago
      1. Yram

        Thank you!

        1 month ago
  13. Avril

    My load is my relationship obligations and some disorganization. My spiritual practices, which include prayer, meditation, journaling, and hanging out here and with my other uplifting communities, bring me the lightness I need. It gets heavy when I act egoically. I am working on being less controlling, less materialistic, and less impatient. My load is lighter when I embrace imperfection, gentleness, and consistency. I feel lighter when I listen deeply and stop steering the ship.

    1 month ago
    1. Carol

      Avril, I’m thinking you will identify with the quotes I shared today.

      1 month ago
  14. Kevin

    My load these days is living and coping with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Unfortunately, that’s a load that can’t be budged nor will it go away. I reduce its load by exercising faithfully and taking prescribed meds, stretching, stretching, and more stretching (!) and working to keep my overall outlook positive and forward looking.

    My take on the second part of the question, how do I “lighten my life, “would be that I have no intention of lightening my life because I love my life as it is, including everything and everyone in it! For me, that’s a load that somehow feels lighter that I feel grateful to carry

    1 month ago
    1. Carol

      Kevin, You are an inspiration.

      1 month ago
  15. sunnypatti

    Let go and trust the process.

    1 month ago
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