Daily Inspiration 7-31-17

"There is nothing like getting started 

to bring a task down in size." 

 -- Albert K Strong 

[Classic post from 2-19-14]

I don't know about you, but I sometimes have these tasks that seem monumental when I look at them, and ever grander as I procrastinate all the more. My thinking is usually that I don't want to get started until I'm ready to complete the task. I find all sorts of reasons to avoid getting started. I got a lot to do, it's too big a project, and the list is long, yet every last one holds no real value. Then, I beat myself a bit about it and well, it's not a pleasant sight.

Yet lately, I've tried a new tact. I begin. Yes, that is it. I begin. Once begun, the size of the project seems to get smaller, and the longer I work on it, obviously, it gets smaller still. Sometimes you just have to dive in, get started, begin, and miraculously, the project not only seems doable but potentially a success.

I just had two of these in the last week. Yes, they took time to complete; however, I decided that I would begin, and then I would do what I could and then tomorrow, I would begin again, do what I had time and energy for and then tomorrow, again, and just keep doing that until it was done.

Strangely, it took less time than I had imagined as I was in the starring role of Procrastinator. Yes, it was a big project, but in bite-size chunks, it got done with ease. If I got tired, or some other thing stole my attention, I would just come back later. And, success on both accounts was the end result.


The Big, The Bold, And The Piecemeal. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Plan for joy today. Plan for joy every day. Don't let anything get in your way today. Joy is yours.

Daily Inspiration 7-30-17

"The more we look without,

the more we go without."

-- Albert K Strong

[Classic post from 5-31-13]

This one is interesting and seems so true in my own life. The more we look without; that is, outside of ourselves, the more we go without because it is those things that we accept and rejoice in that are real. Everything else is potential.

The other thing is that by looking outside of ourselves, we are essentially claiming lack. We are saying, 'this is missing from my life, and I want it and I want to find it, and it is out there. Either they have it, or God has it, or I'm destined to find it someday, or I wish I had it. And, it doesn't matter what 'it' is. It could be love, a partner, a child, a job, a home, money, fame, or a million and one other things.

I think we have to look within, not without. To find strength, we need to look within. It was here all the time, we just misplaced it. To find love, that is all around inside us just waiting to be acknowledged and shared. To find God, we won't find Him by looking in church or anywhere else outside. He is inside and always available every nanosecond of every millennium.

Even if something is not fully manifested and visualized by our human eyes, if we cannot find it within us, it cannot be found outside of us.

Here are a few great words from a favorite author and teacher, Alan Cohen: "You just need to know the truth about your power. Belief is the vehicle through which power manifests. The word "believe" comes from two original words: "leave be." What we are willing to leave be, or let be, becomes real. We do not have to create good in our lives, for all our good has already been created, and it is waiting for us to claim it."


"The Easiest Goal To Attain Is To Claim What You Already Are" -- Alan Cohen

Spread Some Joy Today--Celebrate all that you are and all that you have today.

Daily Inspiration 7-29-17

"No rules exist, and examples are simply lifesavers answering the

appeals of rules making vain attempts to exist."

-- Andre Breton

"We started off trying to set up a small anarchist community,

but people wouldn't obey the rules."

-- Alan Bennett

"No tendency is quite so strong in human nature

as the desire to lay down rules of conduct for other people."

-- William Howard Taft

[Classic post from 8-30-10]

There are rules and then there are rules . . . Think about it. Add up the number of rules that you have in your life right now. How about all the rules at work, the rules of etiquette, rules of taste and rules of conduct. Then there's the rules of law and the rules of the road and rules of right and wrong (conscience). OMG, they go on forever, don't they?

How many do you break? How often? Who cares?

Breaking a rule and not getting caught--is that like the sound of the tree in the forest when no one is there to hear it? Heck, I break the speed limit rules virtually every day of my life to one degree or five or six. You know, the safe zone. I've broken so many rules throughout my entire life that it would be scary to list them all.

Who cares? I know I don't care much. I suppose if I did, I would be more careful to not break them. Who made the rules, anyway? What is the meaning of all that?

The rules I break more often than any other rules are the most predominate rules on the planet: those made for my conduct by other people. I mean, really! What's with that!? Heck, I usually break those on purpose! It's like they deserve to be broken. Know what I mean? Where do they get off directing my conduct or thought?

So, my philosophy is that rules are a fluid concept. Maybe yes, maybe not. It depends.

Most Rules Are Meant To Be Flogged And Abused.

Spread Some Joy Today--Do you have any rules holding you back. How about any rules of your conduct written by others for your benefit? Laughable, right? Make your own rules. Heck, don't have any rules.

Daily Inspiration 7-28-17

"Dignity is not in possessing honors,

but in deserving them."

-- Aristotle

This has got to be one of the most delightful and empowering quotes I've ever read. It's magical.

For the last few weeks, I've written many posts on the subject of honoring ourselves, and this quote caps that off nicely. How do you honor yourself? I think the best answer is an awareness that you deserve the honor.

You don't have to do anything. You don't have to not do anything. In fact, it is simply and exquisitely given to all of us by virtue of our existence. And, as we acknowledge this fact, and this privilege, we have the power--all the power needed--to honor ourselves in our reality. As we honor ourselves, we are changed. As we are changed, we cannot help but change all of those that we see as being not us.

There is no need to compete for love or honor or peace. It comes from the most natural place within us without any effort whatsoever. As we become aware of all that is within us--as we honor that, honor our Source, and honor ourselves, we honor all of life. In this awareness, as we see those that seem to be separate from ourselves, we instead see us. We are everywhere at the same time.


This Place IS Love.

Spread Some Joy Today--Happy Friday! Thank God! Everyday. Constantly.

Daily Inspiration 7-27-17

"Compassion

is the keen awareness

of the interdependence

of all things."

-- Thomas Merton

This Tuesday, a movie was just released on DVD titled, Absolutely Anything, and I watched it last evening. It continually amazes me the things that I see in movies that are inspiring. And funny.

What's also interesting is that the movie was released in 2015 and according to what I've seen to very poor reviews. People said it wasn't funny. I laughed quite a lot through it and laughed wildly in some parts, and so the only reason I can think of that it wasn't funny to them is that they were taking it seriously. It is not even close to a serious movie; however, it has beautiful and helpful inspirations and observations. In my opinion, of course.

It's a silly story of so-called superior beings who enjoy destroying things. Now, that's not really a new idea, is it? The head leader is played by John Cleese and delightfully so. They determine to destroy Earth after finding a satellite that has exited our solar system depicting the human form in a drawing. But, these destroyers have rules. Hmm. . . it's getting more familiar with life on Earth already. . .

They randomly choose one person and give that person the power to change absolutely anything, hence the name. They want to see what this person does with that ultimate power and depending on how it is used, they will decide to destroy Earth or let it be.

The character played by Simon Pegg is chosen, who is a so-called typical human. Kate Beckinsale plays the woman Simon is drawn to that lives a floor below him. Simon lives with his dog Dennis, who is given a voice by Simon when he recognizes the powers he has been given, and that voice is none other than Robin Williams.

I very much enjoyed this silly flick, and yet here are some things that I culled from its lowly-rated dialog and concepts:

Superior Beings. An interesting concept played out throughout human history, one over the other with all manner of purported distinctions chosen by those seeing themselves as superior. At the same time, those who see themselves as less than get what they see too. There's something for everyone there.

Power. We have far more power than we give ourselves credit for. We have so much fear that we fail to see our power and fail to make good use of it, and more often than not, we are giving that power to others over us for all manner of reasons, yet the power remains; albeit, in the closet.

Communication between humans. We make assumptions about what others may or may not be thinking or feeling about us, who we are or what we do or represent. Assumptions create so many problems that kill communication when if lifted, we would find that we can live in harmony and in joy. As we assume, and as we imagine, we cover real communication in gooey, sticky, sludge. He likes her but never says anything and instead tries all sorts of trickery. Same plan, different people, and circumstances.

What we want. Often we are not very specific about what we want. Simon wanted to be inside the bus but he landed in the engine compartment, then he rephrased and ended up on the roof, and finally, he was specific enough to get inside the bus. Silly example, but so true about our own desires. What we say we want is often not what we really want--at least not specifically. And, even then, it all works best when what we are being specific about brings us pleasure, or feels good, and when it is not, we can back off to how we want to feel and let the Universe direct the rest.

Interdependence. We are interdependent. It is said that one drop in the ocean changes the ocean. As we want so much, that is not a problem until what we want damages or negatively affects others. There is always more to be concerned about than simply ourselves, and yet as we are aligned with our inner being, our truth within, we can be self-serving and serving all others at the same time. Broad strokes often are not very considerate on minute details of unrecognized importance. Everything is important in some way because every single thing is part of the whole, and all has an effect and a role to play.

Laughing at ourselves and other things. It is said that laughter is the best medicine. Taking things too seriously is a path devoid of joy and lightheartedness. We need to see the humor in ourselves and our circumstances. We need to be like a child when it comes to laughter. It is so empowering to be able to laugh at ourselves and to enjoy our individual journeys.

These are just a few things that I gleaned from this funny movie. It brought me some lighthearted joy and some wonderful lessons as a bonus.


Great Teachers And Enjoyable Teaching Is Absolutely Everywhere. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by laughing at yourself a bit today, taking light the loads that you try to carry in your seriousness. Let it flow.

Daily Inspiration 7-26-17

"I don't believe in being

serious about anything. 

I think life is too serious 

to be taken seriously." 

-- Ray Bradbury 

[Classic post from 5-31-14]

What a great quote. The older I get and the wiser I become, I find that this quote resonates with me more. How much of my life have I taken so seriously, and how did that help me along my path? Based on my own reflection, it didn't. In fact, the opposite was more of the truth. We are all a bunch of serious people.

Richelle E Goodrich says to "take a step back. Draw in a deep breath. Now ask yourself, 'So what?' Then, after answering, ask yourself again, 'So what?' And a third time: 'So what?' Chances are you'll come to realize that the issue at hand is not as dire, detrimental, or important as you first thought."

Then, there is the contrary point of view by Oscar Wilde: "One must be serious about something if one wants to have any amusement in life." How many times has that proven to be the case in my life? Many, many times. Along with Mr. Wilde, Martin Rubin is in agreement with, "the only reason to take anything seriously is to make it more fun."

Today, I tell people that my only goal in life is simply to enjoy myself. A better way to say that might be to INjoy myself. I am rather curious about how often and how long I can be in joy so that works. And, the only way that I can enjoy and be in joy is by not taking anything very seriously. That is the opposite of the way I used to live and I am certain now which path is more fruitful.


Here's A Great Question I Have On My Wall: Is There Joy In This? Another Sign Says: Lighten Up! Have More Fun! I Need Reminders . . . 

Spread Some Joy Today--by being injoy.

Daily Inspiration 7-25-17

"Everything in your life is there

as a vehicle for your transformation. 

Use it!" 

-- Ram Dass 

[Classic post from 7-27-16]

This morning, I'm still reeling from watching the just released 2-hour first time ever documentary of the Tony Robbins event he calls, Date With Destiny. The film is on Netflix and is titled, I'm Not Your Guru!

I loved it and was filled with emotion and tears because there were some very powerful transformations going on. It was also a bit of a trip down memory lane from the live three and a half day event I experienced with Tony in 1993. My goodness, has it been that long? Can it be 23 years? Wow. I remember as if it were yesterday.

So many people come out of a powerful event like that transformed, and in some cases, it might last, but Tony says it will last if they develop renewed strategies and daily rituals that will move their lives forward in a more effective, and pleasing way.

I know in my case that I did not develop new strategies and rituals right away. In fact, I found myself back in my comfort zone pretty quickly; however, there has been a lasting positive effect in having spent that time with Tony and allowed myself to release some of my inner fear, anxieties, and limiting beliefs during the intense program. And, I believe that it helped put me on a path of accelerated learning.

We all have walls, I think. They are built to protect ourselves. Some were built at a very young age, others have been built in the interim. None of the walls are really helpful for our psyche, and coming to the conclusion that something needs to change can lead us on a path toward transformation. Once transformed, it is a little like being born again, and now if we don't want to go back where we were, we need a new focus toward how we live in the moment and where we are going from here.

I don't know about you, but I have had many transformations in my life. Tony Robbins used to express that as the power of decision. In fact, chapter two in his groundbreaking book, Unleash the Power Within, which is also the new name of the seminar I went to, the chapter title is Decisions: The Pathway to Power. I think we can all relate to those times when we finally got to a point where we actually decided to change, and the decision was such a powerful place to get to and experience. Those kinds of decisions are indeed transformations, like moving from a place of accumulated pain and regret, into the relieving realm of space and freedom.

There are so many ways to get there. A Tony Robbins seminar is a good way, and there are thousands more. I've gotten there from a particularly powerful audiobook, or book, or song, or TV show, lecture, recording, or movie, interaction with someone, or seeing interaction with others, to name only a few.

It seems that we all want change but we resist it at the same time. We want better, but we get to a point where holding on to our familiar pain has become a badge of courage, a treasured blanket, our favorite hiding place, and more. We then see change as hard. We feel that breaking down those walls is too much for us. And these are all illusions, of course. We only have to give ourselves permission to let go and to move into a more pleasant and fulfilling place. Others can help us do that by reminding us that we do have that power and then encouraging us to make use of it.

It's interesting to write this now and realize that my life journey has been more like a series of letting go. It's like picking up the rope here and a rope there and pretty soon I've got all this resistance going on in so many areas. Then I let one go, and sometime later another, and so on. Hopefully, I'm letting go of more than I am picking up, and then I realize it is just the journey. It's all okay. I'm transformed again. I grew some more. I'm not a size 32 anymore (that was a long time ago. . .). I'm becoming, expanding, unfolding. I'm growing in love, expanding in appreciation--even for my pain, as in the film with Tony where he tries to have people be thankful for it all, rather than just the things that feel good. I'm unfolding in my spirit and enjoying that unfolding to the hilt.

I'm grateful that this documentary was made and that I saw it last night. I'm grateful that I was able to attend the one I went to. I'm grateful for all of the teachers on my journey, which number in the hundreds. I'm grateful for the transformation I made at Tony's event in 1993 and the many transformations that have expanded me to where I am today. This morning I find myself filled with gratitude that I flow to all that might be touched by it, as I delight in it personally.


Here's A Toast To Your Own Many Decisive And Delightful Transformations. And To Your Next One! Maybe It Will Be Today! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by spending some time in gratitude.

Daily Inspiration 7-24-17

"He is a wise man who does not grieve

for the things which he has not,

but rejoices for those which he has."

-- Epictetus

"Be thankful for what you have;

you'll end up having more.

If you concentrate on what you don't have,

you will never, ever have enough."

-- Oprah Winfrey

[Classic post from 11-26-10]

There is abundance in all things and there is no need to compete with anyone for something, for there is plenty for everyone. Everything that we want is attainable.

There is only a limited amount of things; only so much to go around, and we must compete for our fair share. It is a world of have's and have not's.

There is an abundance or lack of abundance as we choose to think of it. Whether how we think of it is learned from our parents in childhood, or learned from those we have associated with growing up, it makes all the difference which we believe.

We can change our beliefs. . .

When We Focus On Lack, We Attract More Lack. The Opposite Is Also True. In Any Case, It Is A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy.

Spread Some Joy Today--Watch as your gratitude changes you and those around you. Complainers will move to a new ground for they do not like gratitude and will begin avoiding you from now on. Of course, gratitude has not much use for complainers either. . . We could think of complainers as lack of gratitude. . .

Daily Inspiration 7-23-17

"What difference does it make?" 

-- A common phrase used by teenagers 

with their parents 

[Classic post from 9-30-14]

Where have I heard that before? Probably out of my own mouth a few times long ago, or maybe not too long ago. It's hard to remember, you know? In fact, though this is a common phrase for teenagers, I think it is pretty popular with twenty and thirty-somethings, and plenty of middle-agers too.

It is often used in frustration not understanding the value of doing something or becoming something and is a sure sign of powerlessness. Often the parents and others may argue with the powerless one to no avail because I've heard a lot of those arguments and they aren't very convincing.

And, here is about the only answer that makes any sense at all to me. My answer is that everything makes a difference. We all make a difference. Every single thing we do or say or write makes a difference. Our body language makes a difference. Our indifference makes a difference. The person we become makes a difference. Our so-called failures make a difference along with so-called successes. Every life, every animal, every breath, every bit of life makes a difference. We cannot help it, and we cannot stop it. We are doomed to make a difference.

Which leaves only one single, yet potentially important question: What kind of difference? There is no single answer, nor right or wrong, or good or bad, as there are as many answers as there are people who give them. So, leave all worries behind and find joy in your difference-making.


Let's Celebrate That We Do Indeed All Make A Difference! 

Spread Some Joy Today--Next time you're people-watching, pay attention to how many remind you of yourself at some point in your life.

Daily Inspiration 7-22-17

"To be conscious that you are ignorant

is a great step to knowledge."

-- Benjamin Disraeli

"When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly

stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was

astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."

-- Mark Twain

[Classic post from 3-20-11]

As I glanced at the quote above from Benjamin Disraeli, I laughed thinking of myself when I was young and ignorant thinking that most adults just didn't have a clue. It also reminded me of the Mark Twain quote. But, you know, it doesn't change at 21, does it? I've been ignorant in some ways all my life and still am in some things. The big difference from being a naive youngster and now is that I am conscious of my ignorance, and even so brave as to admit it openly. Indeed, that is a big difference, isn't it?

Today, I am very clear about the vastness of my ignorance, and at the same time, I am more confident than ever of that which I know. Interesting. . .

My Ignorance Is Such An Opportunity; However, I Have No Particular Need To Know Everything.

Spread Some Joy Today--Any time you feel love for someone today, make sure and let them know it. It might matter to both of you.

Daily Inspiration 7-21-17

"True giving happens not from a 

space of sacrifice, or self-righteousness, 

or an idea of spirituality,

but for the pure pleasure of it--because it is fun.

It can only come from a full, loving space."

-- Shakti Gawain

I love this quote. Giving is not usually stated as a way to give ourselves pleasure, but more of a beneficent duty.

Taken from her wonderful book, Creative Visualization, Shakti goes on to describe how we all have an unending supply of love and happiness within us though we are often accustomed to believing that our happiness and love come from others or from outside of us.

But, she says that the opposite is what is true. It is when we connect with and expand our inner knowing of the abundant love and happiness within, we are then able to allow that to flow outward toward others. As we do this, it feels good.

She says that in doing this, we open up space for more love and happiness to fill that which we gave away, constantly replenishing our store. The more we give, the more pleasure we may gain from the giving because loving feels good, happiness feels good, joy feels good, touching others feels good.

She offers this advice to consider as we expand our storehouse and practice our giving: "but remember always that you can't continue to give unless you are equally open to receiving. . . and that "giving" also means giving to yourself. . . "

She adds that "when it comes to outflowing, practice makes perfect. You must consciously practice it in order to get the experience of how good it feels."

We honor ourselves in our willingness to release and share the love within us as we honor those in which we bestow those benefits. And, we honor ourselves by being open to receiving which completes the circle, and as we honor ourselves in this way, we are honoring the other and the gifts that they give us.


Giving And Receiving Need To Be Equally Honored. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting your love flow out, while you are allowing the inflow as well.

Daily Inspiration 7-20-17

"In the realm of abundance,

there is no such thing as a fair share.

Heck, there's no such thing as share.

All there is, is all there is.

There is no need for more,

and no such thing as less.

In fact, there is no need."

-- Albert K. Strong

I was thinking this morning about how many of us tend to discount abundance, limit abundance, create rules about abundance in our minds. Abundance simply is. . . well, abundant.

Jim Rohn, one of my early mentors when I was in my thirties, says it this way: "Asking is the beginning of receiving. Make sure you don't go to the ocean with a teaspoon. At least take a bucket so the kids won't laugh at you!" Abundance is bigger than that ocean, but for our small eyes, the ocean seems pretty big.

The other day I saw a post on Facebook about how much money Joel Osteen makes and how expensive his home is and all this intimating that he is not a Christian and not a good person, and blah, blah, blah. We have so many ways of putting other people down and money is one of the easiest targets to use.

I used to put people down for that all the time. I would see some young person in a new fancy car and say that they must be a drug dealer. Of course, that may have been true, but that isn't the issue. The issue was my own sense of lack and seeing some abundance in another, my ego needed to justify my position versus theirs. Just as in the case with the Facebook post on Joel.

Here's an important quote from Abraham, Esther Hicks that speaks to this:

"As you set a financial goal, it is not only about the expansion for yourself; it's about the expansion of all of those who are involved in that which you are about. In other words, it creates this nucleus, this machine, that allows so many to begin to thrive along with you. It's much bigger than finances."

People cannot have any manner of abundance and not share it. Hoarding kills it. So, here's a more expansive way to look at this have and have not scenario: Look at that last two sentences in the Abraham quote again. "In other words, it creates this nucleus, this machine, that allows so many to begin to thrive along with you. It's much bigger than finances."

It pays us well to expand our view. Let's take some obvious examples from recent history. Steve Jobs. He was a billionaire, right? How many multi-millionaires did he create along his path? Let's take my earlier example of Joel Osteen. How many has he benefited financially and otherwise in his travels? Millions. Literally millions of people. I am one. I read one of his books. My early mentor, Jim Rohn. Benefited millions and is still benefiting millions long after his death in 2009. I have reaped so much from his teaching.

We could look at people who we judge as bad and find so much good if we chose to look for it. But, it is so easy for us to judge others and we always judge unfairly because we never ever will know all there is to know about them. This is the entire problem with the whole concept of judging others. Jesus had it right about the plank in our own eye focusing on the speck in the eye of the other.

Try this: Next time you see someone who is wealthy, has what we will call abundance, celebrate them. As Abraham said, they cannot be that without taking quite a number of others along with them, if not directly, certainly indirectly. Celebrate their success! Celebrate their going to the ocean with a big bucket even though we are so conservative with our teaspoon.

The whole idea of abundance is abundance. There is no end to it. There is no such thing as a fair share or any kind of share. It is not good or bad. It is not holy or unholy. It is not have and have not. It is abundance. When we are dealing with abundance, there is no such thing as lack, need, or even want. There is only acceptance of it or rejection of it. That is purely our own choice to make.


Accept Your Abundance By Honoring Yourself. Accept The Abundance Of Others By Honoring Them. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by dipping into the abundance the Universe has supplied while celebrating the whole idea of abundance.

Daily Inspiration 7-19-17

"We read the world wrong

and say that it deceives us."

-- Rabindranath Tagore

Here's a very personal post on the continuing theme of honoring ourselves. But, before I begin, take another look at the quote above, and consider changing the word 'world' to 'ourselves,' or we could get more specific and say, 'our feelings,' or 'our thoughts.'

Two days ago, I made what was a big announcement to me on Facebook. In fact, this had everything to do with this theme of honoring ourselves, and expressing many of these points for the last week or so has changed me in that I am sort of coming out of hiding in a way, or no longer allowing the deception that I've so often allowed in me.

Here is the text I posted on July 17th on Facebook:

"On July 8th, I made the biggest decision of my life and have adopted the idea of eating vegan. I watched the movie on Netflix, What the Health, and immediately decided to do this. I've watched five or six of this kind of movies over the last several years and did nothing, and yet this time was the tipping point. It is a very personal decision and so I am not necessarily promoting this to get anyone to go down this road, but simply to share a very impactful event in my life.
  
Today is day 9 on my journey and I have discovered and delighted in quite a number of things. One is that I've lost nearly a pound a day. Another, my salt consumption has dropped by at least 75%, I feel better, and I feel different, and I am liking that feeling. I used to eat meat at virtually every meal and have not missed it at all. I thought that I would but have not. I'm not trying to find things to replace meat, but different things instead. The most delightful thing I have found is the flavor. I am in heaven with all the flavors that I've found. I no longer feel heavy after a meal. 

This all came like a perfect storm of things coming together that made making this decision so easy and I was instantly committed to it, not testing it. I don't need to test it. And, it isn't about nutrition or losing weight. The main decision for me was to live up to my highest values and stop supporting things by turning my head and looking away. I am not one to push against things because I know that this is pointless, but for me to continue to support things that I do not value as I look at them, then I have not been living true to myself. 

Once I realized that I am not distinct from the landscape I inhabit and that I can be part of the solution or continue to be part of the problem, I realized that I had to make a choice and quit ignoring the situation. This is the main criterion for decision for me, and all the other things that come along with that choice is a wonderful bonus."

I mentioned this change in the July 10th post without being specific. It's still amazing how Victor Hugo's statement that "there is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come," and how fast a change can come when that time has arrived.

I share this here not to promote veganism. That is a very personal choice as I stated on Facebook, but this wasn't about food, nutrition, health, or even change. It was about honoring myself, honoring my values, honoring the planet. It's so easy to look away. It is so easy to ignore. It is so easy to expect others to do it. It is so easy to throw money at things instead of actually doing something.

I don't mean protesting. Generally, that is not time well spent; however, what is well spent is honoring what you feel is good in you, what you know to be true about you inside. It's not conscience. Conscience often just becomes guilt. No. It is about honoring myself. And, as I've stated over and over again, as we honor ourselves, we honor all those around us, indeed, the entire world.

It doesn't matter that you would choose differently. I chose differently for 67 years. Everyone gets to choose, and I cannot be the one to suggest you do anything you are not aligned with already. Do as your own inner knowing directs and you cannot miss.

For me, this choice was about one thing only: opening up to honoring myself. It is the most liberating experience of my life to date. And, delightfully, I eagerly anticipate the unfolding of this new life.

If I get the privilege of influencing you, I only wish to influence you into honoring yourself, loving yourself, being in alignment with your inner knowing. Whatever choices you make from that place is sheer perfection.


Injoy Your Own Unfolding! You Are Loved.  

Spread Some Joy Today--by breathing deeply and as you exhale, imagine letting go of all that you are carrying around with you. Just let it go. You can pick it back up later if you want, but right now, breathe and let it go. Can you feel that joy? If you can feel it, you are automatically spreading it, just as you honor yourself, you honor all others and their own right to choose as they will. This is love.

Daily Inspiration 7-18-17

"When your heart

and your mind

are aligned,

the choices are easy."

-- Albert K. Strong

I had no idea that this theme of honoring ourselves would be so expansive, and yet I delight in all the ways that I see how this is so helpful to consider in my life.

Something has changed in me in the last few weeks or months that has me seeing my life differently, feeling more connected with my inner knowing, and so much more. It would take pages to describe it, but day by day I'm exposing bits of it here in what I will have to say is probably my Daily Inspiration messages to myself, shared with all who care to see them. It is surprisingly helpful in this way for me too. Learning how to express changes in our lives is expansive in itself.

One thing has become clear to me in sharing these posts about honoring ourselves, and that is that we so often don't. We often go along. We accept. We comply. We conform. To truly honor ourselves, we need to feel free to expand, to be our best selves and in so doing, we cannot avoid honoring others.

I was getting my car repaired and picked up an 'O' magazine where Oprah Winfrey was interviewing ten women (March 2017 issue). I read the whole interview and all the diverse comments you might expect from ten individuals. One thing that Oprah said was that she felt that we were more divided in our country than any time she could think of except perhaps the Civil War period. I agree that it might seem that way, but it is truly just a perception that we in turn use to guide our thoughts and our lives.

I made a note the other day: The gap between us and them. This perceived gap is what so often rules our thoughts, decisions, and actions, whether personally, or in the government, or the entire worldview.

Whenever I am on Facebook, which is less than many would think, I try to be a participant. I like posts, often leave positive comments, and very rarely if something strikes me as off base, do I make any comment at all. Yesterday, I made a comment of one short sentence to offer another point of view on a post that obviously had an agenda to put someone down.

I ended up deleting my post because I didn't want to 'swim upstream' with anyone on the subject. We can each hold on to our point of view and they can be completely different views. Great. My point here this morning is the gap we have between us and how we might consider closing that gap.

Right and wrong, good and bad, holy and evil, and all manner of other comparisons are the tools of the judgment that creates and widens the gap between us. We may try to get someone to come over to our point of view, share our thoughts, and often the other is doing the same, thereby widening the gap as we speak.

This is not something that is solved in this way. There are far too many ways to have gaps between us, and often if we were to fill one gap, another is quickly noticed and expanded.

The way and the only way that I can think of that actually works is to learn to honor ourselves, and in so doing, we can only honor the other. We rarely if ever have all the facts about the other. We cannot see through their eyes. We cannot understand so much what their life has been like, and yet we so easily judge them. In movies, we see all the life on one side and all the threatening of our lives on the other. It is an unfair comparison for sure.

However, as we honor ourselves, we can close any gap by honoring the other regardless of the rhetoric. We must honor ourselves first because until we know who we are, there will always be a gap between us. Once we realize who we really are and that we all come from the same exact Source, share many more similarities than not, we can see ourselves in others, we can honor them.

We don't have to agree with them. But, we need to honor them, allow them their own God-given lives to be lived as they choose. This is what closes the gaps between us.

What has changed in me as I began this piece is that I have become so much more aware of my alignment or lack of it with my heart and mind, or my inner knowing to the point that I now see how this has directed my thoughts and my choices. I now choose differently, with more insight, and all that is a result of honoring myself.


Don't Mind The Gap. By Minding The Alignment, The Gap Is Filled With Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by trying to see the love that is in another that you disagree with. See them as the same as you with different thoughts. See them as whole. Love them.

Daily Inspiration 7-17-17

"The human heart

feels things the eyes cannot see,

and knows

what the mind cannot understand."

-- Robert Vallett

This morning I was thinking of honoring ourselves and how that plays out practically in living our lives, doing our jobs, and more. Memories came to me from when I was a sales manager at a car dealership in the 1980s.

A salesperson goes out to greet a prospect coming on the lot, and a relatively short time later comes in after the prospects are leaving and says, "They are just lookie-loos. They are flakes. And, they're probably credit criminals too." Car lingo is funny to look at now. Most of it is obvious, I think.

But, what the salesperson said is often typical of our prejudice, or a word I like better our prejudgment. There wasn't enough time for that salesperson to find out hardly anything about that prospect, and what was was really going on was that the salesperson was focused on his or her own agenda of making a sale and collecting a commission than on what their prospects came in for and how we might be of service to them.

In some circles, we call that operating within and from the small self, smaller self, ego, and so on. It is also operating from the head and not the heart. The heart feels and the brain thinks. If we can pay more attention to what the heart is feeling--and indeed, understanding, we can then invite the brain to do what it does best instead of what it does poorly. As I describe this, don't you think that the heart is doing a great job of thinking? Surely. That's why phrases like, "I know in my heart, I can feel them in my heart," come to play.

One of the best ways we can truly honor and love ourselves is to remain outside of judgment. I've talked about this before where discernment is our friend, and judgment is not. Obviously, this salesperson was in judgment and attempting to defend him or herself from any potential attack on their skills or choices. It wasn't me, it was them. They are the losers. Just a couple of lookie-loos.

The reality is that this salesperson could not communicate with this couple. There is a lot of ways that happens from focusing on the man and ignoring the woman, to not listening, to not asking questions to determine more of their desires and needs for a vehicle, and much more. As we are focused on our own agenda of what we want, we are clouded at best in determining what they want.

In this and all other scenarios like this, the best place we can start is to let go of our agenda and focus on them. The best way to achieve this is to begin by honoring ourselves as a divine aspect of our mutual Creator, and in turn, honoring those in front of us as equally divine. As we begin from this mutual respect and dignity, we cannot help but want to serve.


And, Our Best Service Is Of The Heart. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by honoring your connection to All That Is, as you honor all others in that same exact way. The result is natural joy.

Daily Inspiration 7-16-17

"Every moment of your life

is infinitely creative

and the universe 

is endlessly bountiful.

Just put forth a clear enough request

and everything your heart desires

must come to you."

-- Shakti Gawain

Still, on the theme of honoring and loving ourselves, clarity is one of the ways that we can do that. We are creators. We have free will to do as we choose. It is in our discernment--our choosing--that all our power exists.

To be crystal clear about what we want is wonderful and in that, we are drawing all of that to us in our clarity; however, often clarity is difficult because we can have a hard time picturing what we want though we are very clear that we want something else, something more, something better.

It's okay to ask to know what one wants. Feel free to reach out. "God, I know I don't want this, I want to know what I want. I ask that you guide me to know what I want." I've done this many times.

But, here's the key with that request. We need to let go and trust that the answer is already on its way. Many of us are control-freaks and we just have to be always mixing it up, trying to force things, make them happen, and yet letting go is far more fruitful.

Dr. Amy Johnson states, "Being receptive and allowing things to happen is a skill that can be practiced and improved upon." Some key words in that: It's a skill. It can be practiced and in that practice, we can learn to use our new skill to let go and let God get it done.

Dr. John D. Demartini has said that "beating yourself up is often the result of trying to fulfill other people's goals." What I should do. What should I do? Who should I be? How should I be? They say that I should _______. They say that I only need to _________. If I could only _______. All of these are other people's goals or ideals. Honoring ourselves means to trust that all will work out well.

Here's another way to develop clarity. We may not be able to see what it is that we want in detail, but we know how we want to feel when we have it, so then to concentrate on that feeling is to have clarity. After all, everything we do is done in order to attain a feeling--to feel good, to feel better, to feel loved, and more. So, the feeling of what it will feel like when you have what you want is a perfect place to start. And, easier too!

As we concentrate on how we want to feel (it will always feel good, or it isn't what you want), that is our only goal. All the rest will come of its own accord and will work out perfectly, often better than we could have imagined. Let go of how and focus only on what. What is our job. How is God's job.

Ask, and it is given. Seek, and you will find. Trust, and in your belief you cannot help but be rewarded accordingly.


Honor Yourself In Trusting Your Source. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding all manner of ways to feel good. If not good, find all manner of ways to feel better. Remember, it is not reaching out, but letting go. Joy is in the release, not the capture.

Daily Inspiration 7-15-17

"You are never given a wish

without also being given

the power to make it come true.

You may have to work for it, however."

-- Richard Bach

Continuing again on the subject of honoring ourselves. Yesterday, I wrote about how doing what we love for a living is not really work at all, and it is one of the great ways in which we honor and love ourselves.

Several posts back, I referred to John D. Demartini's book, The Values Factor, and had a link to answer 13 questions to help us find what our highest values are. In so doing, we can then have a great deal of insight into what we do and how that works out for us. As we are aligned with our highest values--you could say, our uniqueness here--we thrive in all ways, and as we discount them, follow other criteria, we often may not thrive.

In his book, Dr. Demartini mentions a woman in one of his weekend seminars that demonstrate a lot of what I wrote about yesterday. The story he shared was about a woman who was on the heavy side and stated that her highest value was dancing and that she couldn't figure out how to make a living doing that, especially with her physical shape where most professional dancers are thin. She said that she loved dancing so much and that she was particularly skilled at flamenco dancing.

He asked what her second highest value was. She said it was traveling, which is also one of Dr. Demartini's top four values for his life. He suggested that she combine her two highest values by going to a dance training center and giving notice of a special travel event that combines dance instruction in another country learning international dances in the country they were made popular, and have a wonderful adventure at the same time. She got excited and created a teaching trip to Spain and had several people sign up and go to Spain and learn flamenco and other dances of that country. She was now making a living doing what she most loved to do and fulfilling her highest values at the same time.

In the business I created out of thin air back in January of 2008, I am doing what I love and fulfilling my highest values as well. My highest value is learning, and the second highest is teaching. Though I own an Internet marketing company, in truth, I am paid to learn, and I am paid to teach. What's interesting about that to me is that I had never thought of it that way until recently.

As we are open to learning what our highest values are, we honor ourselves. As we align what we do in our lives to our highest values, we honor ourselves. As we are aligned with our highest values, we serve others and honor them. We serve them not so much in doing good deeds, or even doing things for them, but simply by being our truest selves.

We are all made (as is everything else) of energy. As we can feel that we are aligning with our truest selves within, everything we do, including nothing at all has a different effect on ourselves and all the other people (energy) and things (energy). We can sense this alignment in each other and feel the peace of it, and the joy of it. At the same time, we can all sense when it is out of alignment in us and in someone within our space.

I'll leave today's post on this subject with this quote that spells out the work involved in being in alignment, assuming that work, as stated in the quote at the top, is really something we need call work. I think it is more a matter of a willingness to risk choosing a more fulfilling life.


"And The Day Came When The Risk To Remain Tight In A Bug Was More Painful Than The Risk It Took To Blossom." -- Anaïs Nin 

Spread Some Joy Today--in considering another quote by Anaïs Nin: "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."

Daily Inspiration 7-14-17

"We have no idea

what tomorrow will bring,

but today

is overflowing

with potential."

-- Allan Lokos

Continuing with the theme of honoring ourselves, Mark Anthony is quoted as saying, "if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life."

It's very common to do something that we don't like doing with the excuse that we need the money, or that this is the only job available right now, with a long and detailed list of rationalizations as to why we do the work we do though we dislike doing it except for the paycheck.

Today is overflowing with potential and opportunities. It always is. Just because our eyes and ears are closed, it doesn't mean that there isn't a big world all around us.

Then people will say that they don't have the college degree, or they don't have the experience and/or skills required, and with each click of the reasons why it cannot be done or would not work, we claim and reaffirm the place we stand in.

Some might say that these people are too lazy to go find something different that would be more to their liking, but I don't think that is it. I think it is that they are just stuck in their current thought patterns and don't know how to get out, while at the same time, having been so comfortable in their place regardless of whether it is painful to them or not.

They just can't see all the opportunities because they have locked them out. Not because they're not wanting an opportunity, but because they are in a habitual pattern of thought and activity like having the repeat button on the music deck listening to the same song over and over again.

There's an old saying that "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." Well, this is pretty much true with all of us I think. It may not be that it needs to be our idea, but we certainly need to be open to it at some point, and that opening is where the change in thinking opens our eyes and ears to new possibilities. The thought is what comes first, then we can decide, and then we can act. Perception. Decision. Action.

Without the perception, nothing else can happen--even when we are led to water. Of course, it has to be our idea! It has to be our thoughts and our thinking. It is always our decision to make, else it could never work out regardless of the amount of action taken.

Abraham, Esther Hicks has often said that "words do not teach. Experience is what teaches." Yet, words can influence if someone is ready to read or hear them. That is the best they can do.

Doing what we love to do is not only a delightful way to live, but is also, and perhaps even more importantly, a way of honoring ourselves.

More tomorrow. . .


Loving Ourselves Is Also To Love What We Do. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding new opportunities to experience joy.

Daily Inspiration 7-13-17

"The vibration that you hold

is how you serve."

-- Paul Selig

In this multi-post treatise that began with the idea of honoring ourselves, today I want to expand just a bit more on comparing because it is something that we have been taught to do and that we do throughout our days, and even for so many throughout our entire lives.

As we compare--are we greater or lesser than, who's number one, who are my competitors, how do we stand in the market, and as I mentioned before, the list goes on.

What comparison is, is judgment, and we so often judge by how one person or entity, or situation is better than, worse than, and so on. As we judge, we are in fear.

Paul Selig writes, "everything you judge you fear because you have an investment in a certain way of thinking, feeling, believing, or a belief that your safety and your personality self is being challenged by it in some way."

Judgment and comparison quite often surround the idea of right and wrong, good and bad, holy and evil. Even love and fear fall into this as they are compared in that way. Love actually has no opposite, but we often see it that way.

All the stories we've heard, seen in movies, read in books follow this theme of judgment and comparison. It cannot be avoided it seems.

We think we need judgment. The people wanted Moses to be the judge and he didn't want the job. It's not a lot of fun generally, but it is everywhere, and we've lived with it pretty much since birth.

Do we need judgment? Not really. What we do need, however, is discernment.

What's the difference between judgment and discernment? Judgment seeks righteousness and endeavors to categorize and label everything so that everything is in its proper place. But, discernment is simply a choice. We are choosing. We have some kind of criteria that causes us to want this and not so much want that, and this would indicate a need to make a comparison and make a judgment, a decision about what it is and which label to affix to it. But, we don't need judgment, we need discernment.

To discern is to simply choose and we are born choosers. It is often called Free Will because we always get to choose. But to judge is not our affair. Judgment is a full-time job, and discernment is a momentary choice and decision. Discernment helps us stay on track of living the life that we came here to live and judgment takes us off that game and takes us on an infinite meandering and meddling journey.

As we honor ourselves, which as previously stated is the same as loving ourselves, we can serve because we are aligning with our truest selves. We can feel the congruity and resonance of that without any effort. As the top quote by Paul Selig said, "the vibration that you hold is how you serve." We are expressed as consciousness and in vibration and as we vibrate we serve.

He adds more clarity to how we can serve in our truest vibration: "For one man to be in service as himself is to be realized as his truest self. As this man is realized as his truest self, he is expressed as this and that is what he calls to him. He demonstrates this in every aspect of his life because he cannot not demonstrate it."

So it isn't good deeds that win the prize (judgment and comparison), but our own alignment with who we really are that is how we serve. Who are we? We are a divine aspect of God, Source Energy, All-That-Is, or whatever label you like. As we align to that and feel that resonance, we cannot help but serve in a higher way. As we recognize our own divinity, we can only see the divinity in others regardless of their trained facade.

This is the way to peace in everything. To recognize who we are, see that all others are also a divine aspect of God, and in the resonance of the truest sense of who we are, we cannot help but serve in that same sense.


I Know Who I Am. I Know How I Serve. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by recognizing the divine in yourself, and in so doing, see it in everyone you meet.

Daily Inspiration 7-12-17

"To thine own self, be true."

-- William Shakespeare

What does that mean? To me, it means to honor yourself, respect yourself, enjoy yourself. I think that in this way the common Bible phrase to love others as you love yourself comes alive with new meaning.

More on the interview with Dr. John D. Demartini. He said that we are more often than not judging versus honoring. This applies equally to ourselves and to others, which makes that Bible phrase develop even more life. Not to judge others as we judge ourselves because that is a given. We all have that inner voice that isn't always kind and uplifting, but we all need not pay it the homage that it seems to demand. No, not judging but honoring--honor others as we honor ourselves. That is pure love, isn't it? Not only loving others but also loving ourselves. Honoring and loving are within the same vibrational relativity.

This brings me to more notes that I recorded from that interview: comparing versus serving. That's one of those phrases that just leaps off the page for me. Comparing is something we all do every single day many times throughout the day. We're so used to it that we don't even give it any thought.

We compare ourselves to others, as in, she is better than me, prettier than, smarter than me, or he is thinner than me, healthier than me, more successful than me, or they make more money than me, have nicer homes than me. And, of course, we compare our better than points of view to their less than us in what we think is the reality. They are all lies. Every one of them.

We can compare ourselves to death, and I mean that literally too. Where does it ever stop? It cannot. As we continue to compare this with that and that with this, we find more to compare. A very small amount of this comparison game is even worth paying attention to, but most of it is harmful to our health and keeps us small no matter the stature we imagine we have.

This comparison game encourages us to hide within our comfort zone. Why would we want to step out and find out how bad we would be in comparison to the others already out there? It's safer to stay indoors, whether in our buildings or in our own little mental world. Then, when brave enough to get out there, we are bombarding ourselves with information on comparisons of this and that and the other. Whether performance, or design, or creativity, it just doesn't matter as there is an infinite number of things we can compare within ourselves about ourselves, and without ourselves about other people and about our relations with other people.

If we will consider the word serve instead of compare, serving instead of comparing, this can open a whole new perspective for us and how we can actually live up to that Bible verse and William Shakespeare's famous quote.

As we allow ourselves to serve there is no need to compare. What does it really matter what percentage of something one does versus another? Even someone who contributes one-tenth of one percent if serving is doing all that needs to be done. We serve ourselves and we serve others in allowing our uniqueness, our true self to be exposed. We serve with our message, our knowledge, skill set, expertise, touch, emotion, caring, comfort, our presence. There are infinite ways that we can serve.

More tomorrow, but consider how you are in comparison, and how in serving your true self is shared with the whole in whatever scope that may be.


Honor Your Life In The Service Of Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by feeling your way around today. Follow your bliss!

Daily Inspiration 7-11-17

"Honor your own life."

-- Dr. John D. Demartini

I am moved to a magnificent change. I wrote yesterday about the culmination of the tipping point and how easy it was to go over the edge much like a roller coaster reaching the peak and from there has created its own momentum to move without any effort at a high rate of speed on its course. Then, this morning, I knew what I had to write about for days to come.

It fascinates me how I will go through learning and nothing much seems to happen, and then suddenly I am moved. I used to call those plateau's of learning, where I climb and climb and climb some more reaching a plateau from which to enjoy a new and unique view. Here I am not resting so much as I am reviewing the insights that have gathered in sufficient quantity that it takes me some time to sift them, feel them, roll them around in my increased awareness before renewing my energy for climbing again.

On Friday, I mentioned an interview with John Demartini and as I took notes, I see so much more than I thought I was learning. The quote at the top is one of the notes I wrote, and as I looked at it yesterday and today, I was inspired to share some of his thoughts mixed with my own.

I'll start this morning with a question: Do you honor yourself? Do you really honor yourself? Here's another and more descriptive way of looking at this question: As you see your life, do you see the glass full and overflowing, or do you see it as half full?

Half full is often stated as positive and at the same exact level of the water in the glass can be seen as half empty. It's insightful to me to have the level be the same and we may see the exact so-called opposite view. Perception is all. Perception is uniquely individual. Perception is chosen; albeit, it cannot help but have been influenced in a variety of ways that lead toward that individual perspective.

It's easy to honor someone else. We all do it. If you're into sports, it is someone or many who are, as they say, superstars in that field. If you're into music, it is the favorite artists, and so on. We may honor certain politicians, or business leaders, or self-help guru's, religious or spiritual leaders. It is most often someone with a degree of attention in such a way as we can see their prowess, and experience their uniqueness.

And, uniqueness is a really good word to use here. It doesn't mean better than, worse than, or more than, or less than. That is a comparison. To me, it means honoring yourself. To me it means coming out, letting our innate skills and talents to be exposed. But, to avoid comparison, it is not to be better than, worse than, more or less than, but to be the most perfect uniqueness that is you.

It also means that we are not alone in our uniqueness, but all are unique. Do all share their uniqueness? No. But, they can. They are even encouraged to do so. Sometimes an inspired moment will open the gate and let some of that uniqueness out, and as that is allowed to open more, we can become as unique as we were divinely created to be.

It is not up to anyone else. It is only up to us. Much more in the coming days on this wonderful subject.


Honoring Your God-Ordained Life. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by breathing deeply many times throughout your day. Breath is life. Breath is freedom. Breath is perspective.

Daily Inspiration 7-10-17

"There is a tide in the affairs of men,

when taken at the flood,

leads on to fortune."

-- William Shakespeare

On Friday, I wrote about perceptions, decisions, and actions based on a quote I gleaned from John D. Demartini. Since Friday, I have used all of that, culminating in a decision that I've considered many times and let go again, yet in this instance, not only changed the perception, made a decision, and have taken action, but these often will take a lot of thought, and in this case was the easiest decision I've made in a long time.

As I was thinking about how this life-changing event came about, I noticed that there were numerous influences and that these influences came together in what I might call a perfect storm bringing the issue to a pinpoint where the decision was automatic. It required no more thought. Zero effort. The perception was changed. The decision was a foregone conclusion, and action was without the slightest effort or concern. In fact, it came together in such a way that it became an instant commitment with no thought of looking back, feeling loss, being concerned about the future, or anything else. It is done.

Do you know what I'm talking about? The subject of my change is not important, but you may have had similar times in your life where it wasn't one thing, but several things or influences that caused that perfect storm within you where a major change became a no-brainer. I mean that literally too, as there wasn't anything to analyze or consider. It was just done. Simple. It's on. There's no turning back.

I was trying to remember the last time this happened in my life. I couldn't think of anything quite so perfect. I've had epiphanies, sure, but though the decision was easy, there was also a certain amount of apprehension of the future, or in leaving things behind. Getting into the business I'm in now and making that decision was quick in late December 2007, but I had all kinds of apprehensions about the unknowable future, and especially since I had so little familiarity with the game.

Epiphanies are great. I love it when they come, yet things like this perfect store are simply magnificent.


This Weekend Gave New Meaning To The Phrase, Taken By Storm!

Spread Some Joy Today--in your eagerness to share your special attributes with all that you come into contact with today.

Daily Inspiration 7-9-17

"There's no place like home.

There's no place like home.

There's no place like home."

-- Dorothy from

The Wizard of OZ

I moved into the house I live in when I was 36 years old in 1986. At that time, I calculated that I had moved 43 times in those 36 years. The longest of those stays was 7 years, and the shortest was about a month. My parents were not in the military. The military doesn't move people that much. My parents just seemed to think that the grass was always greener on the other side of the fence, or town, or state.

You might imagine that when I finally was on my own that I moved a few more times, but I grew so weary of moving that I wanted to see what it might be like to be in one place for a long time. I have turned that imagination into a reality for now 31 years.

How many times I thought of moving and killed the idea. My wife and I looked at every model home for over 20 years built in the area. They were nice, but they required moving. We were together here for 26 years, and since she passed in the summer of 2013, I've thought much more often about going somewhere else.

I even took the time to plot where that might be. Brookings, Oregon was once on the seriously considered list. But, doing that would require a decision and action. I seemed to always come back to how much I like it here.

This place is nothing special, nor upscale in any way shape or form, but I love it here and I have since the first day I was invited over by the previous owner. There are many things that I wanted to change, but they were minor in comparison to being happy in this place. There are so many things about it that I love and that list overpowers the things that could use improvement.

So lately I've thought that if money were no object at all, where would I want to live other than here? I've come down to one answer only after looking at maps of the country and the world. It would be Lahaina, Hawaii on the western side of Maui.

From the time I first saw this delightful old town, I fell in love with it. The longest time I ever spent in Hawaii on Maui was ten days, and I didn't stay in Lahaina, so I have no idea what it would be like to live there, but that is the only place the trumps where I am now. At the moment, anyway.

Yet, what has prevailed for 31 years is that I love where I am with what it is and how it is. I love the climate, the centrally-located position within Northern California, and the list goes on and on. I have traveled a lot and now not so much, but no matter where I have traveled, there is no place like home. There is no place like home. There is no place like home.


Home Is A Very Special Place. It Is Where The Heart Is. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by loving who you are, where you live, how you live, how you love, and what you do.

Daily Inspiration 7-8-17

"But what about you?" He asked. 

"Who do you say I am?" 

Simon Peter answered, 

"You are the Christ, 

the Son of the living God." 

-- Matthew 16:15,16, 

The Bible 

[I've often said that I might sing Jingle Bells and celebrate Christmas in July because I think that you can have that or any other holiday in your heart, just as you can be on vacation in your mind and without leaving home. This morning I was thinking about the word, Namaste, and remembered that I had written a Daily Inspiration about that. Then, when I discovered that it was also Christmas Day of 2015, I thought it was completely appropriate to revisit Christmas in July and repost this from 12-25-15. Enjoy!]

Considering it is Christmas Day, it seemed so appropriate to honor the Christ of whom the day is supposed to represent--that of Jesus of Nazareth.

During the height of my 9-year experience at leading and being on the worship team at our church, I wrote a large number of songs that were simple and straightforward and expressed where my head and heart was during that time. I would often put a Bible quote at the top of the written song that stood as very appropriate for the song content. The quote above was used on a song from 2002 titled, I Know That You Are God. The two verses of the very simple lyrics went like this:

I want to know you more, but all I need, I have, in that I know that you are God. I want to see your face, but all I need I have, in that I know that you are God, I know that you are God.

Some people think that God began and stopped inspiring writing with the Bible. How sad that thought is. That would indicate that God no longer exists and only wanted to talk to selected people. How sad that is too. I cannot possibly believe such a thing because I know that God IS life, is living, is constantly inspiring, and speaking in hundreds of tongues throughout the world.

From 25 centuries ago, by special request, Lao-tzu recorded the Tao Te Ching. It is a book of 81 verses that are so short, simple, and full of love and wisdom. Beginning at Verse 1: "I choose to enjoy living the great mystery. The Tao that can be named is not the Tao." And, so it is today. The God that can be named is not God. As it is, we have given hundreds of names to this that cannot be named.

I know that writing is inspired because it resonates with me. And, at the same time, I know that all writing is inspired because it will resonate with someone somewhere. Kevin Hall's delightful book titled, Aspire, is one such book to me. It is the kind of book that I savor like a taste on my tongue that I want to play with and sense with unbridled joy, so I go slow and easy and relish each little bite. 

Here is where I learned what the word, Namaste (nah-mah-STAY) means. I've heard that word a lot, especially in New Age circles, but I never bothered to check into it. Kevin brought me the definition, or rather definitions, along with a whole chapter of how and why it is an important word. The image above shows the reverential way of expressing the word, typically with the head bowed, and the hands together touching the heart.

In the book, Kevin refers to a time when Albert Einstein learned of the word by watching Mahatma Gandhi greeting people in the streets of India. He said that Einstein wrote to Gandhi and asked what he was saying. Gandhi replied: "Namaste. It means I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the place in you of light, love, truth, peace, and wisdom." 

Kevin goes on to say: "Imagine what impact this single word could have on the world if every day you looked each person that you passed in the eye and said, in effect: I salute the Divine within you. I salute what you do best. I salute your natural gifts. I honor your uniqueness and your specialness." 

So, to wrap this up (pun intended) as a Christmas gift to all who may like to receive it, consider greeting all you see today, tomorrow and beyond with the blessing and statement of Namaste: I see in you, God. I see in you, The Christ. I see in you Divine. I see in you Love. I see in you that uniqueness that is you alone. I see in you infinite possibilities. I see in you joy. I see in you, myself, for I cannot acknowledge you and not acknowledge myself. I join with you in choosing to enjoy living the great mystery. I choose to love you, because I too, am love.


Merry Christmas To All. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting go of that rope and relaxing in the mystery.