Our whole country, perhaps the world, is experiencing change: shifts, large and small – with likely more to follow – leave us feeling a little unbalanced. And most of us, feeling a little unsteady, try to brace ourselves, to hold on to something, rather than fall. I think that natural instinct causes us to tighten and constrict.

Are you feeling pretty tight and anxious? A bit like you’ve been on a too-long car ride? Doesn’t it feel like a good time to stretch and get out of your cramped position? Go ahead, stretch a little bit now. Stand up and take a deep breath. Stretch your neck or back or shoulders. Give your body a little more room to breathe. Feel better?

Now, take a minute and feel your heart…how is it doing?

I think there are a lot of hearts that are feeling in need of a nice massage and a little more room to breathe. Yesterday, I had a brief vision of reaching out and being able to “fluff up “ weary, hurting, and constricted hearts. It was such a delicious experience! So, I want to fluff up more hearts, create more room to grow. Let’s make it a game! Anyone want to play with me?

Who do you know who could use a little breathing space for their hearts? Start with yourself, of course, but consider a few people you care for and see if you can help make some space for them. Imagine taking sheets from the dryer (or clothes line) and shaking them out, loosening the material – and that’s what we’re doing with our loved ones…just helping them loosen the crinkles that have begun pinching our hearts.

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Photo: Per Ola Wiberg (Powi)

You are a gift. You need to shine your light – the light of love and mercy and compassion. You all need to shine your lights.

Together you make up the resonance that will change the world. Stand together, shine your lights.
Know yourselves. Know yourselves deeply. Banish the doubt…when you notice the negative thoughts, drop them like a rag and turn your heart back to God. Let your heart, your being, expand, receive, expand again. Keep connecting, keep lighting each other’s lights as candles.

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This lovely video depicts the beauty in the wisdom of some of our elders. Their beauty, vibrance, elegance, as well as wisdom. The love and appreciation of these qualities have steeped the work of the wise young man who took on this project, Andrew Zuckerman.

Are we willing to take a big, juicy bite out of life?

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God Says Yes to Me – Kaylin Haught

I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic
and she said yes
I asked her if it was okay to be short
and she said it sure is
I asked her if I could wear nail polish
or not wear nail polish
and she said honey
she calls me that sometimes
she said you can do just exactly
what you want to
Thanks God I said
And is it even okay if I don’t paragraph
my letters
Sweetcakes God said
who knows where she picked that up
what I’m telling you is
Yes Yes Yes

What would you ask God if it was okay to do or be or have?

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The day was a huge success (because I say so) and reminded me of my passion
for so much of my work. Can’t think of much better. We laughed and teared up and got honest and connected heart to heart. Yummmm.

Pics to come!

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Often when we’re being tough and strong, we’re scared. It takes a lot of courage to allow ourselves to be vulnerable, to be soft. – Dudley Martineau

We’ve developed defenses for protection because we have felt the need for protection from the abuses of others, parents on occasion, bosses, spouses, even strangers. And in certain situations, our defenses served us well – for a time. However, they have taken their toll. Hiding behind them for long makes them habitual and we move farther and farther away from our center, from the woman each of use needs and wants to be.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/katiyarhode/2252741333/

Exposing who we really are invites judgment, sometimes rejection, oftentimes discounting. It’s a terribly hard risk to take, and the rewards are seldom immediate. But with time, others respect us for our vulnerability and begin to imitate our example. We are served well by our integrity, in due time.

Letting others see who we really are alleviates confusion – theirs and ours….There is only one appropriate choice to every situation – the one that is honest and wholly reflective of who we are at that moment.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

What kinds of things would you be willing to do for your friends? Especially on their “big day”? Dancing down the aisle would be a no-brainer for me…of course I’d do it, but what if their request really was out of my comfort zone??

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On Twitter this afternoon I read a tweet about “uplifting quotes at the end of emails make me want to stick hot needles in my eyes.”  I must be getting old, because I usually appreciate uplifting quotes, except really sappy ones, and can’t quite fathom why they would make anyone want to stick hot needles anywhere.  To each his/her own, I guess.

Some of Erma’s sayings:

It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.

“A friend will tell you she saw your old boyfriend – and he’s a priest.”

“If you can’t make it better, you can laugh at it.”

My theory on housework is, if the item doesn’t multiply, smell, catch fire, or block the refrigerator door, let it be. No one else cares. Why should you?

Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth.

“A child needs your love more when he deserves it least.”

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’”

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Greg had become quite religious his last several years…I think he really loved his Lord and wanted to share that.  Not all of us were so keen on listening to Greg, post-conversion.   Conversations became awkward.   And, as a result, they became further and further apart.

So just prior to one of the first “conversations” I had with Greg, after his passing, I was feeling a lot of regret for not being in better communication, basically since his first illness several years ago, we’ve had rare communications.   My regret is, in part, that I lost out on hanging out more with Greg.   As I’m trying to drop into my heart, to pray, to bring more light and peace to that sore spot, I felt Greg’s “presence” almost laughing at me, telling me to just drop that regret stuff…to take delight in the love of God I could feel when I thought of or felt Greg.  Rather than mope in regret, what did I learn from it – being in communication with loved ones is important.  I’ve left that by the wayside recently.

It’s been quite an experience of feeling that much “good stuff” being shared with someone who’s departed this world.  My sense is of the Greg I knew and loved, being relieved of pain and being able to just beam love and caring down – or over – or however it works!

Just know that he feels a little like a guardian angel or wayshower.  Nice.  Prayer answered.

At his memorial one of his friends said that when she was undergoing chemotherapy, Greg collected some music for her, “including some obscure music…like “The Israelites.”  That Greg would have had that song made me smile…it’s one I really liked as a teenager…it was really catchy then and still is…I’ve been humming “The Israelites” since the service last Thursday.  I always liked it, but enough already!

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Beautiful Hands

This is the kind of Friend
You are—
Without making me realize
My soul’s anguished history,
You slip into my house
And while I an sleeping,
You silently carry off
All my suffering and sordid past
In Your beautiful Hands.

- Hafez
The Subject Tonight is Love (translated by Daniel Ladinsky)

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