It’s not “new” so to speak, but it’s one that I am working on accepting more and more, and that is that I am extremely smart and capable of learning and doing anything I want to do. It gets a little easier to accept as the days go on. I am worthy of achieving new goals, even at 52, which quite frankly is nowhere near as old as I thought it would be when I was 22! As so many say, “it’s never too late,” and I wholeheartedly agree. Finally!
I am just 67 and it took me 64+ to stop looking at my circumstances and to look at my capabilities, SunnyPatti. Sounds to me you are on your game. The game of life, of course! Namaste.
I don’t know that I have any ‘new’ perspectives . . .
I’m evolving
and I can feel the motion of it
even when I sit very still.
Some of my old skin
is being sloughed off
and the new skin underneath
is soft and pink,
but does not feel vulnerable or scary.
Does that mean I am growing less afraid
of showing who I really am?
Maybe I’m a snake,
undergoing ecdysis,
getting rid of parasites and injured skin,
growing into myself
from the snake I was before,
leaving a dry husk to be eaten by rock squirrels.
Maybe that’s what transformation is all about.
My 14-year-old granddaughter, since she was very young, has a fondness for snakes. So much so, I needed to teach her the shape difference of viper heads compared to garter snakes.
She probably feels Slytherin is her Hogwarts House 🐍
1
Cathie
6 days ago
I am not sure any one specific perspective has unfolded for me, but I do feel that my perspectives in general are softening. I am not sure that makes sense but that is how it feels.
Action for Happiness today quoted that “focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t do.” I love the quote, and it means a lot to me. May you all enjoy your weekend filled with loving happiness. https://actionforhappiness.org/calendar
Thank you,
dear Ngoc,
for posting this quote . . .
it is something I’ve been working on
as my own capabilities are diminished
or slowing down
over time. ♥
This morning as I was walking into the house I thought about if I was locked out, how angry I’d be. If you can stop, and collect yourself, you could instead be grateful:
Grateful I had a home
Grateful I had a job to buy a home
Grateful my wife works close to home to unlock it
Grateful our neighbors have a key
Grateful our other family has a key
Grateful it was beautiful out
And on and on
That’s hard in the moment. Being locked out would stink. But I do think it’s an interesting perspective that I’m trying to practice.
I’ve been in a pain crisis for the last few days— I thought it was a back injury and it turned out to be shingles. A new perspective is staying consistent in practice while in pain. I had to dig deeply— but, I found gratefulness each day. It was challenging not to get into a pity party. But, my husband and my practice came through. I am learning—beyond mere concept—that this is something you can find in deeply difficult times.
Avril, I just read your post about dealing with shingles. My heart aches for you. Your words are an inspiration. Your ability to find gratefulness each day screams the importance of willingness to me. Mary sent me a note telling me that she finds practicing “willingness” easier than “non-resistance.” When I resist, I find I hold my body tense. When my perspective is willingness, I relax more. It’s not as much of a battle. Your words made me realize this. Sending loving energy your way. And thanks to Mary, too, for differentiating between resistance and willingness!
I have been receiving treatment. It took several days because there wasn’t a rash at first. Now I am advocating from people to ask for a blood test if they have no rash. It was debilitating. I feel improvement today– not my usual self yet. But inching towards that.
I started it on Thursday. It is deeply helpful. I couldn’t believe the pain. It was shocking. These are meds that everyone should know about. I’m not a big med person. But, this was necessary!
To slow down and do half of what I think I should do has opened my perspective.
My nonstop go- getter attitude towards so many things has gotten me sick . I mean don’t get me wrong it is also one of my greatest assets. Balance is the key with everything isn’t it? Like Thay says in today’s quote- how we respond to the prent moment is key to transforming.
I’m so grateful that I was able to complete the education training in this meditation. It took me so much effort and dedication but it is changing my life and the results are becoming clearer and clearer.
Slowly, slowly transforming is for sure a much more sustainable practice than overdoing.
And I’m so happy the migraine passed and I didn’t have to go to the hospital! Thank you 🙏
I’m so happy your migraine passed too, Antoinette.
Also I’m happy for you that your meditation training has been so life changing for you.
You deserve good things!
☀️☀️☀️
The idea of looking for insights/learning or opportunities from challenging experiences and writing them down. That is part of the practice questions from Month 1 in Grateful Gatherings. I haven’t become aware of any opportunities yet, but have written down a couple helpful insights that arose from challenging experiences in the past couple of weeks. And in the area of opportunities, I was really struck by how many people who responded to the question from April 29, “What was the catalyst in my life that led me to living gratefully?” responded with challenging and difficult life experiences.
Some days I find myself changing my perspective moment by moment as old unhealthy perspectives can continue to pop up. That said, I do my best to focus on willingness–non resistance. Let all be. As Thich Nhat Hahn says in today’s quote: “The secret of transformation is in the way we handle this very moment.” I might change one word in that quote: “The secret TO transformation is in the way we handle this very moment.
I like the concept of willingness, Carol.
To me it feels more active.
Nonresistance feels passive and that feels difficult.
But I can be willing to deal with what is going on in the moment,
so I will call it willingness. Thank you, Carol.
Transformation is a powerful word and it hinges not just on choice but more precisely on willingness. In my life it has occurred most frequently when all my choices have brought me to a point of surrender, a point where I have forsaken all choices and have become vulnerable enough to be chosen. I wrote the following poem in the Summer of 1995 and hope that by sharing it someone else will experience the gift that willingness brings.
The Wings of Willingness
The Butterfly awakens inside the cocoon – TRAPPED.
Her wings embedded in her sides – CHAINED.
Her mind is reeling – AFRAID.
Every circumstance says she can’t move.
She bargains; she pleads.
But at last, she lets go.
The power of surrender surges through her.
Little by little, the darkness begins to fade into light.
At last, she is using her freedom rightly.
Her prison begins to crumble.
Her wings begin to spread.
SHE FLIES!
Some of us build cocoons from the inside out
And the only way to shed them is to let go.
No amount of digging, scratching or pushing can remove them.
Only letting God send those who can comfort and guide,
Only letting God peel off one layer at a time will constitute real change.
Transformation is God’s business.
Willingness is mine.
When I can truly let God be God,
My wings will spread and I will discover that
I have always been able to fly!
Transformation is about doing what I can with love, then releasing attachment to the results.
Being willing to act from love, and then being willing to let go.
I love the following lines, Carol: “Transformation is God’s business. Willingness is mine.”
In other words letting go of how my growth is coming along. I cannot control the results. My part is willingness and self discipline to do the spiritual practices, and leaving the how, when, and if, of transformation to God.
I think I understand what you are saying, Carol! 🌷
I’ve gotten involved in listening to an upcoming local campaign and a new candidate. I choose to maintain my civility when others are mud slinging. Civic involvement is important to me to help role model shades of democracy-listening and responding appropriately. Happy weekend 🌷
Give yourself the gift of free bi-monthly inspiration including uplifting articles, diverse stories, supportive practices, videos, and more, delivered with heart to your inbox.
It’s not “new” so to speak, but it’s one that I am working on accepting more and more, and that is that I am extremely smart and capable of learning and doing anything I want to do. It gets a little easier to accept as the days go on. I am worthy of achieving new goals, even at 52, which quite frankly is nowhere near as old as I thought it would be when I was 22! As so many say, “it’s never too late,” and I wholeheartedly agree. Finally!
Loved your insight: CS. Lewis famously wrote, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
Yes! I love that! Thank you, Cathie 🙂
I think I am a lot smarter and more capable than I give myself credit for.
Confidence is important.
Thanks for the reminder, SunnyPatti🌷
Smart, capable, and worthy 🥀
Thank you. ♥️♥️♥️
I am just 67 and it took me 64+ to stop looking at my circumstances and to look at my capabilities, SunnyPatti. Sounds to me you are on your game. The game of life, of course! Namaste.
Namaste 💫
I don’t know that I have any ‘new’ perspectives . . .
I’m evolving
and I can feel the motion of it
even when I sit very still.
Some of my old skin
is being sloughed off
and the new skin underneath
is soft and pink,
but does not feel vulnerable or scary.
Does that mean I am growing less afraid
of showing who I really am?
Maybe I’m a snake,
undergoing ecdysis,
getting rid of parasites and injured skin,
growing into myself
from the snake I was before,
leaving a dry husk to be eaten by rock squirrels.
Maybe that’s what transformation is all about.
Nature
teaches us everything we need to know.
Dear Sparrow, not sure if your last paragraph was meant to be a bit humorous, but I did chuckle out loud at the visual in my mind. Thank you.
Maybe,
maybe not,
dear Joseph . . .
I have a fondness for snakes
and how they cope in the world. 🙂
My 14-year-old granddaughter, since she was very young, has a fondness for snakes. So much so, I needed to teach her the shape difference of viper heads compared to garter snakes.
She probably feels Slytherin is her Hogwarts House 🐍
I am not sure any one specific perspective has unfolded for me, but I do feel that my perspectives in general are softening. I am not sure that makes sense but that is how it feels.
It does make sense,
dear Cathie . . .
mine have softened too
as I’ve been smoothed and worn down
bu the river passing over me . . . ♥
Action for Happiness today quoted that “focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t do.” I love the quote, and it means a lot to me. May you all enjoy your weekend filled with loving happiness.
https://actionforhappiness.org/calendar
That is a very helpful quote, Ngoc! And so easy to forget. Thank you for sharing, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well.
My Ngoc, I’m glad you returned to “Action for Happiness.” I knew you would. As someone who values compatency, this quote resignates with me.
Thank you,
dear Ngoc,
for posting this quote . . .
it is something I’ve been working on
as my own capabilities are diminished
or slowing down
over time. ♥
The idea of being grateful.
This morning as I was walking into the house I thought about if I was locked out, how angry I’d be. If you can stop, and collect yourself, you could instead be grateful:
Grateful I had a home
Grateful I had a job to buy a home
Grateful my wife works close to home to unlock it
Grateful our neighbors have a key
Grateful our other family has a key
Grateful it was beautiful out
And on and on
That’s hard in the moment. Being locked out would stink. But I do think it’s an interesting perspective that I’m trying to practice.
Wonderful chain of thoughts,
dear William . . .
they really do remind us
of how much we have
to be grateful for. ♥
I’ve been in a pain crisis for the last few days— I thought it was a back injury and it turned out to be shingles. A new perspective is staying consistent in practice while in pain. I had to dig deeply— but, I found gratefulness each day. It was challenging not to get into a pity party. But, my husband and my practice came through. I am learning—beyond mere concept—that this is something you can find in deeply difficult times.
Avril, I just read your post about dealing with shingles. My heart aches for you. Your words are an inspiration. Your ability to find gratefulness each day screams the importance of willingness to me. Mary sent me a note telling me that she finds practicing “willingness” easier than “non-resistance.” When I resist, I find I hold my body tense. When my perspective is willingness, I relax more. It’s not as much of a battle. Your words made me realize this. Sending loving energy your way. And thanks to Mary, too, for differentiating between resistance and willingness!
Dealing with shingles is no fun. It sounds like you are getting some meds that will ease the pain. It is great to have an alternative.
This is something I still struggle with,
dear Avril . . .
you inspire me
to keep working on it.
Long term pain
is the most difficult for me. ♥
ps. I hope you get helpful treatment for your shingles.
I have been receiving treatment. It took several days because there wasn’t a rash at first. Now I am advocating from people to ask for a blood test if they have no rash. It was debilitating. I feel improvement today– not my usual self yet. But inching towards that.
You’re reminding me of my intention to schedule a shingles vaccine. I’m sorry you’re hurting, Avril.
Avril, may you heal quickly! I have had shingles and they are no fun! I hope you received some anti-viral medicine, it helped me immensely🙏.
I started it on Thursday. It is deeply helpful. I couldn’t believe the pain. It was shocking. These are meds that everyone should know about. I’m not a big med person. But, this was necessary!
To slow down and do half of what I think I should do has opened my perspective.
My nonstop go- getter attitude towards so many things has gotten me sick . I mean don’t get me wrong it is also one of my greatest assets. Balance is the key with everything isn’t it? Like Thay says in today’s quote- how we respond to the prent moment is key to transforming.
I’m so grateful that I was able to complete the education training in this meditation. It took me so much effort and dedication but it is changing my life and the results are becoming clearer and clearer.
Slowly, slowly transforming is for sure a much more sustainable practice than overdoing.
And I’m so happy the migraine passed and I didn’t have to go to the hospital! Thank you 🙏
I’m so happy your migraine passed too, Antoinette.
Also I’m happy for you that your meditation training has been so life changing for you.
You deserve good things!
☀️☀️☀️
I am glad for you too, dear Antionette.
The idea of looking for insights/learning or opportunities from challenging experiences and writing them down. That is part of the practice questions from Month 1 in Grateful Gatherings. I haven’t become aware of any opportunities yet, but have written down a couple helpful insights that arose from challenging experiences in the past couple of weeks. And in the area of opportunities, I was really struck by how many people who responded to the question from April 29, “What was the catalyst in my life that led me to living gratefully?” responded with challenging and difficult life experiences.
I find,
dear Elizabeth,
that those ‘challenges and difficult life experiences’
are almost always
catalysts for dramatic change. ♥
They build character too!
Some days I find myself changing my perspective moment by moment as old unhealthy perspectives can continue to pop up. That said, I do my best to focus on willingness–non resistance. Let all be. As Thich Nhat Hahn says in today’s quote: “The secret of transformation is in the way we handle this very moment.” I might change one word in that quote: “The secret TO transformation is in the way we handle this very moment.
I like the concept of willingness, Carol.
To me it feels more active.
Nonresistance feels passive and that feels difficult.
But I can be willing to deal with what is going on in the moment,
so I will call it willingness. Thank you, Carol.
Transformation is a powerful word and it hinges not just on choice but more precisely on willingness. In my life it has occurred most frequently when all my choices have brought me to a point of surrender, a point where I have forsaken all choices and have become vulnerable enough to be chosen. I wrote the following poem in the Summer of 1995 and hope that by sharing it someone else will experience the gift that willingness brings.
The Wings of Willingness
The Butterfly awakens inside the cocoon – TRAPPED.
Her wings embedded in her sides – CHAINED.
Her mind is reeling – AFRAID.
Every circumstance says she can’t move.
She bargains; she pleads.
But at last, she lets go.
The power of surrender surges through her.
Little by little, the darkness begins to fade into light.
At last, she is using her freedom rightly.
Her prison begins to crumble.
Her wings begin to spread.
SHE FLIES!
Some of us build cocoons from the inside out
And the only way to shed them is to let go.
No amount of digging, scratching or pushing can remove them.
Only letting God send those who can comfort and guide,
Only letting God peel off one layer at a time will constitute real change.
Transformation is God’s business.
Willingness is mine.
When I can truly let God be God,
My wings will spread and I will discover that
I have always been able to fly!
Carol Ann Conner, June 1995
Transformation is about doing what I can with love, then releasing attachment to the results.
Being willing to act from love, and then being willing to let go.
I love the following lines, Carol: “Transformation is God’s business. Willingness is mine.”
In other words letting go of how my growth is coming along. I cannot control the results. My part is willingness and self discipline to do the spiritual practices, and leaving the how, when, and if, of transformation to God.
I think I understand what you are saying, Carol! 🌷
I’ve gotten involved in listening to an upcoming local campaign and a new candidate. I choose to maintain my civility when others are mud slinging. Civic involvement is important to me to help role model shades of democracy-listening and responding appropriately. Happy weekend 🌷
That believing in myself is healthier than being negative.
Yes, Yram, that is powerful!
I agree, Yram. Others will eventually believe in us if we believe in ourselves.
People are not who we think they are. The front stage is a show. The back stage reveals who they are and is the part that matters.
That love, trust, connection, caring, and tenderness are forms of power.
Dear Drea,
I just responded to your answer to the May 1 question
about people who have inspired us.
Just wanted to let you know. 🌷
Nothing new, but always grateful 🙂
Happy Friday Everyone.
https://nationaltoday.com/harry-potter-day/
”Michele, I so enjoy your gift of whimsy”
I do too,
dear Michele. 🙂
Thank you Sparrow.
Michele, I so enjoy your gift of whimsy to remind us of special international days, like Harry Potter, etc.💫 Enjoy your weekend! 🌸
Thank you Carla.
That the collective madness of the human being has yet to reach its apogee.
😂 Probably true. Oh my!
Some days though,
it seems SO close,
dear Joseph . . .
I’m at the edge of my seat,
waiting
and then something else happens.
Ah me . . . ♥
Well said…sigh!