Tears may be dried up, but the heart - never. ~Marguerite De Valois (1553-1615) French princess & scholar There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. ~Mary E. Little (1912-1999) American writer & illustrator Taking joy in life is a woman's best cosmetic. ~Rosalind Russell (1911-1976) American actress & philanthropist Conscience is the chamber of justice. ~Origen Adamantius (185-255) Alexandrian Christian scholar and theologian This is one of my favorite positive affirmations statements: Write down all the great things about everyone you know. Make a huge list of all the wonderful things about you. Compliment people wherever you go. Praise every single thing you see. Be a ray of sunshine to everyone you meet, and make his or her day better for having seen you. Say "Thank you" at every turn. Walk, talk, think and breathe appreciation and gratitude. When you do this, your outer life will change to reflect your inner state of being. Rhonda Byrne Creator of "The Secret" Here is an excerpt from Deepak Chopra M.D. book, Creating Affluence~Wealth Consciousness in the Field of all Possibilities "S" stands for Spending and Service. Money is like blood; it must flow. Hoarding and holding on to it causes sludging. In order to grow, it must flow. Otherwise it gets blocked and, like clotted blood, it can only cause damage. Money is life energy that we exchange and use as a result of the service we provide to the universe. And in order to keep it coming to us, we must keep it circulating. A lovely quote by Author, Louise L. Hay Here is an excerpt from her book, Heart Thoughts. I am at the center of peace. The outer world touches me not. I am in charge of my own being. I guard my inner world for it is there that I create. I do whatever I need to do to keep my inner world peaceful. My inner peace is essential for my health and well being. I go within and find that space where all is quiet and serene. I may see it as a peaceful, deep, quiet pool surrounded by green grass and tall, silent trees. I may feel it as white, billowy clouds upon which to lay and be caressed. I may hear it as a flowing delightful music soothing my senses. However I choose to experience my inner space, I find peace. At this center of peace I am. I am the pureness and stillness of the center of my creative process. In peace I create. In peace I live and move and experience life. Because I keep myself centered in inner peace, I have peace in my outer world. Though there may be madness all around me, I am calm and peaceful. Have a beautiful day, Photo: 'pool of mindful thought' PKM Joy, Rena www.talktotheturtle.com
Well I have made it to the final posting of writing a life list of 100 things to do here on planet earth before I go. I really did indulge myself by dividing my list into three separate postings, and I have so enjoyed savouring the process. I liken this unusual giftidea to opening a box of your favorite chocolates but for your mind. The main difference is that you get all the goodness, giddiness and excitement without the calories. You can check out the first pt. 1 on this February link-click here. For my pt. 2 listing of my 100 life list as inspired by Maggie Mason's website check out this April link-click here. Oprah on Joy. I watched this video on Oprah's website with the introduction banner: 'What Oprah knows about the power of gratitude.' I am including this link for you to view it on her site. The words that Oprah shares on her video does slow you down to take a mindful moment to consider her inspirational view. Oprah knows that if you don't have anything to be thankful for, you should start by just being grateful for your breath. By focusing on one thing you are grateful for it increases the energy of gratitude and raises just a little bit of the joy inside yourself. One good feeling helps build on another good feeling. Focus on the good you have, not the lack of it, because whatever gets your attention will increase the energy of gratitude. That's how joy rises. Click here to video link: 'What Oprah knows about the power of gratitude' My own joy experience was praying every day for two years in gratitude. The inspiration was actually two fold. As a child I had watched my Grandma reciting rote prayer as a Catholic. That memory came up for me when I read the new age book Conversations with God where the author, Neale DonaldWalsch asks the question about prayer. From these two very different ways of thought I was inspired to pray in gratitude for my health everyday. I focused on what I had and not on what was lost. When I viewed Oprah's experience of joy I made an instant connection. Exposing yourself to positive thoughts may not keep you from ending up on the gangplank of discouragement in your mind, but it will surely be that safety line available to keep you from falling into the drink. There are numerous distractions dotted along the way of our daily lives. Make a conscious effort to treat yourself to something beautiful that eases your mind. This BBC video spot kind of speaks to me. It is with this thought that I share this 100 things to do before I go life list.
68. Have lunch with Ellie Drake (founder Braveheart Women) 69. Express gratitude everyday 70. Learn how to play soccer 71. Design a finding 72. Attend 100 Art Gallery openings 73. Learn CPR 74. Be invited to a poetry recital 75. Make a paper bird mobile 76. Take Thai food cooking lessons 77. Have a gratitude journal that lists 5 things everyday 78. Learn how to play poker 79. Take a class on adobe illustrator 80. Talk to Vito Montone and Kim Castle for an hour 81. Have a dinner party with full on place settings and decoration 82. Make someone laugh every day 83. Camp at Yosemite National Park, CA 84. Play scrabble in Antigua, Caribbean 85. See Earth Wind & Fire play live (don't care how old they are) 86. Get Seasons tickets to the Opera 87. Juice every other day (I've tried every day and failed) 88. Go on a cattle drive - yippee horses! 89. Visit the J. Paul Getty museum in Los Angeles 90. Rent a houseboat for a weekend with friends 91. Have a fruit yielding cherry tree 92. Create a salad dressing that friends want the recipe for 93. Remember to create time to give thanks every day 94. Get married 95. A porch swing 96. To own an apartment-makes me smile just to think it. 97. My own pool 98. Touch a Moose's nose 99. Visit Mt. Rushmore, North Dakota U.S.A. 100. A clear night to see a meteorite shower in the sky
I am the most optimistic person to have around on a blue day. However,even with a space that has been energetically cleared and has the best Feng Shui going, one can be hit with the challenges of a hard day at work. If this happens to you remember that stepping across the threshold into a sanctuary that has been created to nourish and support you can feel like a dear old friend that knows you so well. Aahh, made it home. Regroup, recharge, reassess, revitalize. It is a blessing to be able to count on your friends to listen to your story and empathize with the craziness that can go on in the modern day workplace. Listening, I have come to realize is an art that you actually grow into with age. My friend's story of her workplace drama was long and entwined. It had all the components of what Eckhart Tolle writes about in his book, A New Earth. Eckhart talks about our ego and how it wraps itself around jealousy, envy, greed, and then feeds the "painbody" (which basically is stuck emotions) with the emotions gathered from high drama. "So, what do you think?" she asked me halfway through sharing the long complicated layout of the toxic events of her day. "Hmm.. I replied. Let's turn on the computer, I want to show you something". I then moused up a YouTube video for us to watch. The singing dog. "Just what angle are you taking with this video you want me to watch?" my friend asked me. "Well, the way I see it, this singing dog clearly has a story to tell". Now just because you don't understand "dog opera" does not mean that you won't feel there is a lot to the story. However that is all it is . A story. She watched it. The singing dog video.
She laughed out loud. Well we both did for that matter. Before she could slide back into the pattern of getting me to agree with her how bad her story of the betrayal that was going on in her workplace I added this: Viktor Frankl (1905-1997) is a legendary psychiatrist, Holocaust survivor and author of Man's search for meaning. He writes, "We are not defined by our environment or an experience". "Too deep." she quipped. Then it came to me. My idea or thought (and I was really grateful because I was sort of winging it with the singing dog video) was to distract her and cheer her up. "When I think about the quintessential bad day at work, with betrayal and deceit on every corner I feel no better story is portrayed than through the character J.J. Giddes in the movie, Chinatown". I clicked on the movie trailer for Chinatown and we watched it together.
When the energy gets crazy at the workplace I suggest you remember this movie's final line. "Go home Jake." "Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown". At the end of the day all you have is your integrity. This does not mean that you will always win in the workplace. However, you will be a winner by playing a fair game with yourself and you can find solace in these words of Mother Teresa. People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. ~Mother Teresa, (1910-1997) Roman Catholic Nun, Nobel Peace Prize recipient (1979) When big challenges come up in life, the main focus should be on retaining your joy of each moment. Oprah suggests just starting with being grateful that you are breathing.
Had a bad day at work? Try this out: Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth five times. Slowly... I did not create this; an elderly heart attack survivor shared this technique with me. We all have to find our own way through to unloading and dissolving disturbing life experiences. A good friend is a great place to start, and even a kindly therapist whose life passion is to comfort the hurting is another alternative. There is a lot to be said for a psychologist's help to put certain thoughts about events that hurt you into imaginary balloons and let them drift away into the sky...forever gone. Learn to find that space between you and your emotions. Create a sanctuary that will feed your mind and heart with wellness of being. Have a beautiful day, photo: PKM joy, Rena www.talktotheturtle.com
