Many years ago
I had lofty goals
and grand ideas,
but as life and misfortunes ground me down,
they faded into the background,
and eventually they fell away completely,
in favor of sheer survival–
staying alive.
Then that faded away too.
When I came back to Life,
humbled and contrite,
I started building from scratch,
and avoided hopes and dreams like the plague.
I put one foot in front of the other
and just did my best to make it through the day
by staying out of trouble.
After finding Gratitude
in all of its simple magnificence,
the Universe gradually opened up for me,
a little tiny bit at a time.
Soon
I realized I was not crawling around on all fours,
but actually standing up
and enjoying sunsets again.
I’ll never run again,
but that’s okay . . .
going slow
allows me to be present to so much more.
I am a lot better off
without the hopes and dreams
and a whole lot happier
without the grand ideas.
You’d never know it from the clutter of feathers and stones
and plants scattered around my home,
but I’m happy with whatever each day brings me
(mostly).
The simple pleasures
are much more nourishing than a feast that overfills.
And I don’t have heartburn
at the end of the day. ♥
This site-it’s philosophy, many teachings, stories, contemplative prayer and meditative practiced such as tai chi, yoga, monks walk, etc. help me live in the present-which is where life is as it unfolds at every moment.
And I carry this wisdom in my heart:
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
My attempt to see things as they are, and not how I want them to be or wish they were, is my way of embracing life as it is. I can complain (and I do🙄)
but what really helps with this, is practicing grateful living. Of course. It’s so easy to get caught up in what I don’t have and what didn’t work out for me, that I overlook all of the gifts that I have and everything that has gone right for me.
Exercising this part of my brain is like a fitness routine.
Living it! Whatever the “it” is in the moment. Could be chopping onions for the zucchini/yam fritters I made Sunday, then wiping away my allium tears. Walking past my neighbors on the corner with their yard full of beautiful flowers and thanking them yet again for making it such a palette. Talking to another neighbor at our annual barbecue Saturday. Hugging my sweetheart and holding him close. Talking with my daughters. Eating dark chocolate. Feeling the aches in my body from the exercise classes I took on the weekend, which tells me I need to keep going to those. It’s all good.
Life as it is — is temporary. To embrace the temporariness of myself and everything else, it helps to witness myself and everything else with love and compassion.
I have tried to answer this three times today . Due to migraines I’ve had difficulty. So for me it’s embarrassing life as it is right now . Yes I am tired due to pain but I don’t need to run away . I can trust life as it is . So here I am .
Hi Linda that’s what I took today . It does help but if we use too many of them the make more migraines. So it’s great they help though even if they wipe me out the whole day . Thank you . 🙏
I’m comfortable in my own skin. 1 day 7 years ago, I got together with a middle school friend in Eevah to catch up. We went out to “Tan Phat” restaurant close to my house in Fridley. She and I had some pho. Then, we went out to target to walk around, and she took me straight to menards for my Sunday afternoon piano shift. Back then, I worked at Walgreens close to my house on Wednesdays too checking expiration dates on items. I was also playing piano at Midwest Special Services in Brooklyn Park every other Mondays. I recall Eevah saying that she wished she had the luxury to work only 3 days per week like me. The point is that there are many out there who wish to be in our position.
Life. The imbedded inner intelligence of all living things. The spark of life. La chispa de la vida. I have embraced life more in the past few years. Much is due to leaving the genie in the bottle. An equal amount is gratefulness for what is. Now. Presence in the present of life. Namaste.
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Many years ago
I had lofty goals
and grand ideas,
but as life and misfortunes ground me down,
they faded into the background,
and eventually they fell away completely,
in favor of sheer survival–
staying alive.
Then that faded away too.
When I came back to Life,
humbled and contrite,
I started building from scratch,
and avoided hopes and dreams like the plague.
I put one foot in front of the other
and just did my best to make it through the day
by staying out of trouble.
After finding Gratitude
in all of its simple magnificence,
the Universe gradually opened up for me,
a little tiny bit at a time.
Soon
I realized I was not crawling around on all fours,
but actually standing up
and enjoying sunsets again.
I’ll never run again,
but that’s okay . . .
going slow
allows me to be present to so much more.
I am a lot better off
without the hopes and dreams
and a whole lot happier
without the grand ideas.
You’d never know it from the clutter of feathers and stones
and plants scattered around my home,
but I’m happy with whatever each day brings me
(mostly).
The simple pleasures
are much more nourishing than a feast that overfills.
And I don’t have heartburn
at the end of the day. ♥
Reality. Seeing my life with true eyes and not the way I would like it to be.
This site-it’s philosophy, many teachings, stories, contemplative prayer and meditative practiced such as tai chi, yoga, monks walk, etc. help me live in the present-which is where life is as it unfolds at every moment.
And I carry this wisdom in my heart:
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
My attempt to see things as they are, and not how I want them to be or wish they were, is my way of embracing life as it is. I can complain (and I do🙄)
but what really helps with this, is practicing grateful living. Of course. It’s so easy to get caught up in what I don’t have and what didn’t work out for me, that I overlook all of the gifts that I have and everything that has gone right for me.
Exercising this part of my brain is like a fitness routine.
Flexing our gratefulness biceps. 💪🏋️😆
Living it! Whatever the “it” is in the moment. Could be chopping onions for the zucchini/yam fritters I made Sunday, then wiping away my allium tears. Walking past my neighbors on the corner with their yard full of beautiful flowers and thanking them yet again for making it such a palette. Talking to another neighbor at our annual barbecue Saturday. Hugging my sweetheart and holding him close. Talking with my daughters. Eating dark chocolate. Feeling the aches in my body from the exercise classes I took on the weekend, which tells me I need to keep going to those. It’s all good.
Yes,
dear Barb . . .
it’s all good. 🙂
Life as it is — is temporary. To embrace the temporariness of myself and everything else, it helps to witness myself and everything else with love and compassion.
This is a beautiful observation,
dear Drea . . .
I am incorporating this into my daily Practice.
Thank you for posting it. ♥
My faith. Surrendering to what is & trust. Mother Nature. Being present & grateful for it all.
🕊️♥️
I have tried to answer this three times today . Due to migraines I’ve had difficulty. So for me it’s embarrassing life as it is right now . Yes I am tired due to pain but I don’t need to run away . I can trust life as it is . So here I am .
I understand migraines all too well. I have had them for years.
A drug called Sumatriptan has helped me enormously. Maybe it will work for you, too?
Hi Linda that’s what I took today . It does help but if we use too many of them the make more migraines. So it’s great they help though even if they wipe me out the whole day . Thank you . 🙏
I remember the migraines well,
dear Antoinette . . .
be kind to yourself.
This too shall pass. ♥
Yes they will pass sparrow . Did you have them too ?
I did,
dear Antoinette . . .
they stopped after menopause. 🙂
Hope the migraines receded soon, Antoinette.
Thank you Drea. 🙏
Hugs & love dear Antoinette. Feel better.
🤗♥️
Thank you PKR 🙏
Being outside, letting myself feel all my emotions, meditating
My faith in life itself and a knowing that everything is as it should be and will be as its supposed to be.
Presence and gratefulness
I’m comfortable in my own skin. 1 day 7 years ago, I got together with a middle school friend in Eevah to catch up. We went out to “Tan Phat” restaurant close to my house in Fridley. She and I had some pho. Then, we went out to target to walk around, and she took me straight to menards for my Sunday afternoon piano shift. Back then, I worked at Walgreens close to my house on Wednesdays too checking expiration dates on items. I was also playing piano at Midwest Special Services in Brooklyn Park every other Mondays. I recall Eevah saying that she wished she had the luxury to work only 3 days per week like me. The point is that there are many out there who wish to be in our position.
Loc Tran you’re in Minnesota? All those place sound familiar! I lived there for many years.
Yes, Antoinette.
Nature and People.
The continued realization that my presence here on Earth is nothing short of a miracle. I don’t want to squander the gift.
Laura, that’s exactly why I’m not a planner. It takes away from enjoying life in the here and now. Preparation is asking for suffering.
Life. The imbedded inner intelligence of all living things. The spark of life. La chispa de la vida. I have embraced life more in the past few years. Much is due to leaving the genie in the bottle. An equal amount is gratefulness for what is. Now. Presence in the present of life. Namaste.
As Eleanor Roosevelt is credited with saying, “The past is history, The future is mystery, today is the gift. That’s why we call it the present.”
Joseph, I can imagine how much pleasure comes out of that bottle only to be followed by more misery. Glad you’re able to get out of that.