Eavesdropping On Your Funeral

I have been contemplating my demise. Actually, I do it all the time. My professor told me to do it.

I guess I should clarify. I really have no intention of dying, at least not any time soon. (Insert sign of the cross, knock on wood, etc.)  But most of us feel that way. Unless we know it is inevitable, and someday it will be, we try not to think about it. That's why this exercise is so weird, I admit. But if you are working on those parts of yourself that need work (or healing), this a good exercise.

Lie on your back, in a quiet room, cross your hands over your chest and pretend you are dead. Everything is over. Relax, and clear your mind. Then envision yourself at your funeral. What are the people walking by saying?

The idea behind this exercise is not to be hard on yourself - and it's not a popularity contest - it doesn't matter how many people are at your funeral. If you don't have many people in your life, then use the people you come in contact with. Be totally honest with what you might be hearing. Were you a kind person? Happy? Sad? Honest? Charitable? Are people saying how much they will miss you? That your generosity of spirit will be missed? Are people saying that it is sad you are gone, but you really weren't a very good person. You were successful, but at the expense of others. Anyway, this is your funeral - you get to pick the conversations.

The point is to really look at where you are in your life. And maybe where you want to go for the rest of it. The impact that we have on others is very real and far-reaching. It's rippling effect is powerful.

We only get one shot at living. There isn't a second act. So be the person you want to be remembered for being. A life well lived.

It Was A Hit

The reaction was exactly what I thought it might be! My grandson loved his gift of music! He's only sixteen months old, but for some reason, he loves all kinds of music and as soon as I put it on, he wanted up. He immediately put his head on my shoulder and snuggled in for some music and dancing with his grandma. Of course, if you wear out and need to pass him off, he does the exact same thing with the next person. It's like he goes into another world, and likes nothing better than to listen and be close! He never seems to tire of the exercise. Only problem is the dancer part of the exercise is the only one getting any. He's getting a bit big and feels like a warm little sack of potatoes. But, honestly, - do I really have anything better to do than dance with my grandson? Can there be anything better? And exactly how long do you think I have, before this is something he will be way too cool for?

On another note, for those of you who have heard the story of mat, liz, and madeline, they will be on Oprah today. For those of you that have not heard the story, it is a sad one. Mat and Liz had their first baby a year ago, but Liz died the next day. The blog is done by Mat as he struggled to care for his newborn and grieve for his wife. He took tons of pictures and I've followed it from day one. It is sad, happy, funny at times, and very soulful. You can't help but love Madeline and respect Mat. They have been in People Magazine and even on Rachael Ray. 

It is a "count your blessings" kind of story. 

Easter on the Columbia River Gorge

Spring Renewal & Happy Easter

I love Easter. I love everything about it. But especially the feeling that we are on the precipice of an explosion of new growth. Soon all the trees will have beautiful leaves, flowers will bloom in abundance, showering our senses with color. The grass will turn green, and all the little creatures in the soil will come alive to help us grow our food.

Maybe, just maybe, it's true for us as well.  What do you think?

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!

Mission Statement

Many years ago, when I began my "spiritual search" for meaning, I wrote a little personal mission statement. It has come and gone in my consciousness over the years. But for anyone who has begun a "spiritual search", you know that you are not always on the path. You fall off and go in different directions, only to find the need to get back on the path because you don't feel so well. It usually happens when everything we work for, or believe in, becomes an illusion, or doesn't feed that part of us that needs feeding. I think that is happening on a world-wide scale. Our old ways of doing things are no longer applicable. We are destroying our earth home, consuming to feed that part of us that actually needs food of a different sort. Your path is different from mine, but one thing we have in common is our desire for a society, no matter where you live in this world, that listens, and provides, what we want and need.

So what do we want? What do we need? Now that our institutions are falling, how would you like to see them structured?

These questions are very real. Governments all over the world are needing our help. Yes, our help. The simple fact is - they really don't know how to fix all that ails. Of course we may have some ideas, but we are only small people and these are larger than life problems. Or are we?

I have found an explosion of new ideas and energy over the last couple of months. People who no longer trust institutions are taking destiny into their own hands. This creativity is coming from despair, but it's building, believe me. And you, yes you, are part of it. You are part of it because you were drawn to read this. Because you've been thinking about it. Whatever special gift you were given, and we all have one, is part of the solution.

So it's time to take your place in the scheme of things. It's time for you to start designing your world as you want it to be. Keeping in mind that "like attracts like", I would challenge you to work from a higher self, one that takes the well-being of all into consideration. Write your own mission statement. Carry it in your mind as you start designing the world you would like to see. Starting in very simple ways is okay, but everyone, everywhere, can do something to affect change. And remember, thoughts are energy, the very building block of what you want to see happen. Speaking of energy, I woke up to a little update blog entry from one of my favorite authors this morning in my e-mail. Are we on the same page or what?

Share your ideas, they may spark one in us. Blogging is a unique opportunity because it shares information instead of competing for it. How great is that?

Blogging and Energy

Lately I have been turning off the news. I've been a news junkie. Over the last many months, since before the election, and subsequent dismantling of our economy, I was glued. And listening to all the angry voices out there, angry for good reason, I might add, I realized I couldn't overcome the the number one Spiritual Law of the Universe. "Like attracts like". Whatever you focus on returns to you. My anger was returning to me, and it wasn't pretty. The news media feeds on that anger because it sells. The only way to break the cycle was to turn off the news programs and quit visiting my many aggregate news sites, newspapers on-line, and magazines. Time to let Obama do what he is going to do, trusting that he has our back. I was like a junkie. I needed to get it under control before I needed anti-depressants, or therapy.

Like most addictions, you need a replacement. In my case it became blogging. I started out by hanging around my daughters blog. But she is in a completely different stage in life, and I kind of felt a little out of place. I will always be interested in children and families, but this blogging forum was more about new mommies who wanted to connect with other new mommies. No, what I needed was something different. So I started going to Blog of Note, and found a couple of sites there. But my biggest breakthrough was following some of the comments on those sites. The beautiful thing about blogging is that it is inclusive. You don't have to be young, old, athletic, beautiful, handsome, smart, rich or poor to be included. You just have to leave a comment. Certain rules do apply, however. Mean comments will be deleted and so will you. The blog will either become private, or all the comments will be approved before they appear on the blog. A nice little built-in hate stopper. But thoughtful comments are appreciated by everyone. 

Which brings me to energy.

I have been noticing a certain energy pattern in blogging. We are drawn to the sites that have something we need. It may be a quality that we have not yet developed, an interest we want to pursue, a need to be cheered, information, a friendly "voice" in the night. But we find them, and they find us. We are never alone, if we don't want to be. And everyone has something to offer. And I think that is the real beauty of it. You may not think what you have to say is of any interest to anyone, but rest assured someone is interested. What you have to offer is valuable. So all you new bloggers out there, keep exploring the blog world, and remember "like attracts like".

Spring at 6500

I think spring has arrived here at 6,500 feet. It may not be lush yet, but there are certainly signs. I always love to visit blogs that show me pictures of what it is like where they live at different times of the year. So I thought you might like to see what early spring looks like at Lake Tahoe.

We took a walk that winds us around the golf course and homes that are only used for a certain part of the year. Where I live, only 30% of the people live here year-round. I guess they don't like to shovel snow. Anyway, it's quiet right now, but soon it will be bustling with tourists and the people who are only here for parts of the year.

Lucy was having a ball running on the golf course. But she will only be able to do that for a few more walks. We could already see someone preparing the course for the summer, and she is not welcome when the little golf carts start winding their way around. As you can see she is running at full tilt. We keep a close eye on her because if she hits us running like that there is no doubt you are either going down or breaking something. We don't call her Hulk Lucy for nothing. One time I was talking with a plumber in my kitchen in Minnesota, I was on one side of a high counter and he on the other. That house was large with a big open floor plan. Lucy went into "crazy lab mode" which is running as fast as she could around and around the room. She was able to get some speed up when she hit me right behind the knees. One minute I was talking to the plumber and the next I was looking up, red faced, as he peered over the counter to see if I was okay! 

You can see that the snow is fighting to keep hold on the green grass that has been buried, just waiting to take it's turn. I love the shadows on the snow and grass from the tree branches not yet in bloom.

I'm trying to visit everyone's blog that left messages. Thanks so much for your visits to mine. Have a great day!