Five Ways to Energize Your Life

Human beings must have energy to enjoy and profit from anything we do in life. Some people seem to have an abundance of energy to do anything, while others struggle with every little task they face. There are ways to increase your personal energy and become a vibrant and successful person. I hope you'll find these tips useful.

It’s been said that we’re living right now in the worst energy crisis of all time – the crisis of personal energy. We’re more stressed and pulled in more directions than we’ve ever been and the fast pace we’re expected to meet is depleting our energy levels at a disturbing rate.

Taking care of your personal energy has never been more essential. Doctors say that the number one complaint of their patients is, “I have no energy.” There can be a number of reasons that a person may be suffering from lack of energy, but most of the time it has nothing whatsoever to do with a medical condition.

Chronic low energy is often linked to circumstances such as a difficult or abusive relationship, lack of passion or being a caregiver to a parent or child. Rather than deal with lack of energy by prescribing drugs, many doctors are now more likely to suggest some tools that will help to restore energy levels and help you enjoy their life more.

Here are some tools designed especially to increase your personal energy levels:

·       Do what you’re passionate about. Passion is one of the greatest energy restorers available. You may not be passionate about everything you do, but find something that brings you joy.

·      Take care of yourself. Give yourself breaks when needed. Most people today think they have to keep going long after their energy levels are depleted. Taking care of yourself will help you keep your energy levels high.

·       Know your emotions. Your thoughts drive your emotions and some emotions can just wear us out. When you think positive thoughts, you’re naturally going to have positive emotions and that’s a natural energy booster.

·       Let your values determine your lifestyle. If you don’t live according to your values and react and perform out of guilt and shame, your energy will fade rapidly.

·       Take responsibility for your life. You, and only you, can make the choices that determine whether you will be successful or always floundering just on the precipice of success. Make wise choices when it comes to your well being.

To shift from lack of energy to an abundance of energy, you must tap into the powers that only you hold – to love yourself enough to take care of yourself.

Be blessed and aggressively grateful.

Moments

We do not remember days, we remember moments. - Cesare Pavese

Isn't this so true? For the life of me, some days I can't remember what day it is. Thursday or Friday? Saturday or Sunday? 

Yet I can remember moments ... like the details of when my children were born. Or the moment I first learned that my Mom had passed. Or the moment the other morning when the sun rose in a cloudless sky. Or the moment the doctor told me that I didn't have cancer after all. 

All too often, we hitch our star to things that happen outside of us that seem to directly affect our lives and our thinking in one way or another. 

It's the way we've been conditioned. We grow up under pressure to be 'somebody,' thinking that we must gain approval from outside sources. That we need to prove our worth as human/spiritual beings. 

I'm calling that out as B.S. It simply doesn't work for me anymore. 

Yes, I still have appointments to keep, bills to pay, and events that need scheduling. We all do. But these obligations won't deter me from experiencing my moments. I recognize them now more often. 

I want to FEEL more and THINK less. 

I'll stick to remembering moments, rather than days on a calendar. 

  

How To Overcome Shyness

Let’s say you’ve been invited to a dinner party by a friend and she is the only person you’ll know there. You have a few butterflies about it because you’re a bit on the shy side. But you don’t want to disappoint your friend. Maybe you’ll even have a good time so you agree to go.

Step One:

Pick out one person at the event who looks friendly. Strike up a conversation by introducing yourself and then asking a non-threatening question. It could be something like “Hi, I’m Tammy. I don’t know anyone here. Do you mind if I ask you a question?” Most likely that person will say, “Sure.” Then ask,  “Have you known {Host’s name} long?”

Or you could say, “Hi, I’m Tammy. I don’t know anyone here so I looked for a friendly face in the crowd and you’re it.” Then smile and let the other person talk. You’ll usually find that person will open up to a conversation. Repeat their name back to them so that you’ll remember it and use their name in your conversation.

Step Two:

Ask people questions about themselves. This allows them to open up and engage in a conversation. Pay them sincere compliments. For example, if the person has an attractive outfit, tell them that you like it. If that person has nice eyes or a great smile, compliment them. Again, be sincere. Phony compliments always backfire.

Step Three:

Look people in the eye. It lets them know you’re listening to what they’re saying. It’s easy to get distracted by what’s going on around you, so give the person you’re speaking with your undivided attention. It makes them feel important and you would want the same respect.  

All three of these steps in making people like you are easy to master and are adaptable to almost any social situation.

Remember ... life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

The Other Side

I was just speaking with my Uncle who is 86 years old. I love him. We always had such good times together. He's very witty even now. When I was a kid he would always tell me I was his favorite niece. Well ... I'm his only niece, so that was a long-standing joke we had together.

We were discussing what we think happens after we die. He asked me if I would want to know what it's like on the other side. My answer was a resounding yes! I have an inclination to believe that it's more beautiful than anything here on Earth. Yet I'm not ready to find out anytime soon. I still have many adventures to experience here.

Do you want to know what's on the other side when it's your time to cross over? I'd love to hear what you think. Post a comment below ...

Peruvian Cereus - infrared effect

Be good to yourself and each other. Namaste'

This Is Your Life

I could write about this image all day long, but I'll just let it speak for itself. Whoever created this is a true word wizard. Word wizards know how to evoke emotions and paint pictures with words. Amazing!

Be good to yourself and each other. Namaste'

In Memoriam

Today is the fifth anniversary of my brother's passing. I can't believe it's been this long. He was my only sibling.

Gone but never forgotten, I truly believe he is still with us in spirit. The soul never dies.

We had some good times and some less than good, but I thank him for being a major player in my life's "movie." I love you, Mike! Namaste'

Petals

Sad day.  You are subjected to your mean-spirited father and stepmother who have influenced your judgment and feelings about your mother.  I feel bad for you and your mom but there's nothing I can do about it.  I'm just your grandmother and as such, grandparents have no rights. 

Believe me when I say that the day is coming when the darkness will serve the light.  You can see it in this flower.  I love you and wish you all peace.  Namaste'

Finding Peace on Earth

Christmas Message from the Masters of Light (re-blogged from a post on Steve Beckow's blog) ...

In Christian Countries of the world, the focus of world peace has always been strongest during the month celebrating the birth of Jesus. Peace and love among all peoples were His most important messages. Today, that focus is constant as wars between races, religions and countries scar the earth and bodies of millions of people almost daily. Where is the Peace that the Angels promised? It is with you now & it always has been.

It was not peace between people and nations the message relayed; the Angels told of the Inner Peace that connects to the Mind of God, which automatically generates Good Will to Men! Consider that and see how very right it feels. The message was, and always has been, that humanity has that divine connection and it is only a matter of understanding and accepting the reality in order to be able to reach down deep within to access the Perfect Peace of God.

The message was not just for the followers-to-be of Jesus, but for the entire world. The words of the Angels were carefully preserved so that their meaning would eventually be understood by all humankind.

The word Peace as it is commonly used now, denotes the state of a lack of hostilities, in any form. When the world can live in such a state, able to raise children in a safe environment, grow food without unfair restrictions or mandated procedures, travel to any destination without hindrance, live and work with each other cheerfully, giving and sharing in joy, the world will experience the existence of real peace.

Before any of this can happen, however, before the world can come into the promised new age of peace, every living being must come to accept the Inner Peace & the inner connection with All That Is. How can a person who seethes with resentments live in peace with his/her brothers and sisters, giving and taking fairly and honestly? How can a person who lives with fear every day of his/her life, expecting a tragedy around every corner, relax and enjoy what life can really be? How can a person who must fill his/her ego with thoughts of supremacy work and live with those who are considered of no consequence because they look, think, and worship differently than they do? Inner Peace erases all such discrepancies.

How does one access this Inner Peace? The heavy clouds of daily cares, appointments, schedules, car repairs, computer breakdowns, keeping the kids in line, problems in relationships, etc., etc., keep the mind in many different focuses at once, all trying to command the primary attention. Emotions that spring from the daily round of thoughts engulf the nervous system, the heart, muscles, and the digestive system. Constant television commercials publicize certain diseases or common ailments, blowing them up to encourage the mind to accept the premise that the listener must certainly need their high-priced drugs to ease their suffering. Millions of dollars are spent each day for drugs that are not needed and do tremendous damage to the bodies they are supposed to be helping. Listen to the very quiet and rapid recitation of side effects that go with the ads for drugs. One even admits that the drug might bring on the flu as a side effect! Listen carefully!

All of these things keep the mind and body in a state of tension that forbids the conscious mind to relax and set aside a few minutes every so often to tap into the Inner Peace. Indeed, how often do most people even think about communication with their Creator through a few moments of prayer during their day? Would you believe that even a short “Hello!” to the spiritual sources of all things is welcomed as the acknowledgment of the reality? A few “Thank You’s” to your Angels for making things easier is very welcomed, too. If you cannot do this, accessing Inner Peace is impossible. You must know that it IS there! You must know that it takes the determination on your part to put your mind into a state of stillness in order to find that Peace. One does not have to sit in meditation for an hour to find it, although many people find this is the only way to train their minds to be still.

Inner Peace is not just a state of mind, but the very profound connection with universal energy and Creative Power. When that connection is made, even if only for a few minutes, it suddenly becomes apparent that all of the spiteful thoughts, all of the anger, all of the tangled webs of humankind, are simply of no real importance. The answers to problems become simplified, the blocks of memory or thought suddenly become clear again. You can see and understand the confusion behind all of the rhetoric of fear and annihilation that is produced by minds denied the clarity of Inner Peace.

European and Eastern nations who have been killing each other over the acquisition of ancestral lands, trying to erase those who think, speak and worship differently than they, continue their thoughts of hate and retaliation. Revenge for the terrible wrongs that have been committed is creating more terrible wrongs. This part of the world will not see a peaceful world for themselves and their descendants for a long, long time. The enlightened few are struggling bravely to turn this kind of thinking around, but it will not be easy. Where and when will it end? Worse yet is the infection of bias and bigotry that has been part of the human race for centuries.

When Inner Peace has been accessed, the realization of absolute unity with all humanity comes into view. One understands that the outer appearance is only a façade that spiritual beings use to experience a lifetime in matter. Yes, there are differences between spiritual beings, too, for the Creator saw to it that each created being is an individual, with its own thoughts and goals. That is why personalities differ so drastically. All of the experiences each being undergoes through the eternal stages of their lives, both in spirit and in matter, molds the spiritual personality just as much as the human personality, affecting the thoughts and goals of the incarnated soul. It is the Inner Peace, that connection with the Mind of God, that directs the beings towards wisdom and knowledge of the highest order. It is the Inner Peace that fuels the recognition of each person you meet as a part of yourself in some way. All of the qualities and characteristics of humanity are mirrored in the people you associate with every day. This realization is a beautiful relief from all of the little petty attitudes and resentments that are carried in the heart and mind & they hold you down and keep you from the joy you really desire! You realize you are no different from those you thought were either not as good as you, or so much better than you! All expressions of life are different as each individual reacts to them in different ways, echoing many eons of experiences. Inner Peace brings all of the Creator’s children together in simple, perfect Love.

Peace on Earth can be accomplished in your own home when both parents recognize the harmony and clarity that comes when peace is part of the thinking process, a part that remains close to the surface of the conscious mind, regardless of the many problems that surface each day. Disagreements can be quickly solved because of the clarity of mind that sees both sides of a question without the ego interfering. Negative outside influences can be explained to children from a universal, spiritual point of view instead of letting emotions run wild. This clarity of mind helps to avoid dangerous situations and/or to react without the mind turning to mush. The inner connection, when used constantly, eventually brings one to a point where the lies or misconceptions of others are seen without effort. Commercials or other methods of mind control are no longer of any effect. Inner Peace is a clarifier of thought and a kind, loving touch to the heart and the emotions. If humanity had never discovered this, your world would not have lasted this long!

The Inner Peace we are speaking of is NOT some namby, pamby, weak emotion that invites the scorn of others! It is an extremely powerful force, drawing upon the energy of the universe! As one dwells within the influence of this Inner Peace, it is like standing on a mountaintop, able to command all that you see, hear and feel in perfect harmony, a place where the personality has the feeling of supreme self-confidence.

Please help others to realize what a wondrous piece of creation they really are. They are partially a spiritual being that has all the knowledge of the universe at its fingertips, and partially a human being who is trying to understand life at a physical level, bringing a lifetime into real focus.

As this year comes to a close, it is apparent that the world is changing rapidly, bringing new experiences and challenges never even thought of in prior years. Finding your own Inner Peace will bring the realization that it is humanity itself that will bring world peace to perfection. You are the catalyst that will turn humankind’s concept of life and living completely around. As you live within the inner light and by the loving laws of the Creator, a new world is coming into play, just as planned. You are its Creators!

Peace on Earth WILL become a reality, for this is the Plan of God.

How to Keep Stress to a Minimum During the Holidays

The holiday season can be so joyous and yet extremely prone to creating real stress. Don't let your holidays be ruined by nerve-racking experiences. Here's some inspirational insights to help you keep your stress to a minimum this year.

Ask yourself if your expectations are realistic? Are you going to be getting together with family members that you normally prefer not to be around? Do you feel obligated to buy gifts for people who you aren't really close to? Do you get invited to events that just don't appeal to you but you feel obligated to go?  Believe it or not, these types of scenarios take place every year for millions of people. Why? Because we don't want to hurt someone's feelings so we sacrifice our own and then become resentful. If you want to stop that cycle, then just think carefully before you decide what to do. If it's a NO that you decide upon, say it as politely as possible but make it very clear that your answer is a firm NO. If it's a yes, then realize you committed yourself and see it through (hopefully in a very enjoyable way). I know people who purposely take the holidays to go away somewhere so that they're not caught up in the family frey. Las Vegas? Mexico? Hawaii, anyone?

Are you scheduling too much in too little amount of time? No one has more than 24 hours in a day. Try to remember that as you plan your pre-holiday events and accept invitations. Enlist the use of a calendar or day planner, either paper or electronic, so that you can feel some measure of control over your time. And don't feel bad if you've overlapped something by mistake. Just inform the parties involved and they will understand. We all make mistakes, especially at this hectic time of year.

Do you have a holiday budget or are you over-spending? Over-spending can be the biggest source of stress because we know what will happen ... we have to pay for those items sometime. If not now, then later. Just the dread of getting the credit card bills in the mail is enough to keep you from having a good time during the holidays. Stick to a budget. You'll be so glad you did come January when all the lustre and shine of the holidays has disappeared.

Sometimes our holiday stress comes from missing loved ones. If someone you love has passed on, change things up this year so that you can make it through this rough patch. There are lots of support groups with people going through the same kind of grief at the holidays. Tap into that for some healthy and supportive ways to cope. Last year at Christmas I just let myself "be" because my brother died in September. So I was pretty easy on myself and so were others around me. Of course I missed him, but attending a grief support group was such a lifeline for me.

The holidays can be the worst time of the year for us in terms of taking care of ourselves. My advice is to make sure you're eating healthy meals and drinking plenty of water. Dehydration (yes, even though it's not warm outside) can sneak up on you before you know it. Water supports every organ in your body, so if you plan on doing some holiday drinking, be sure to increase your water intake.

This may sound crazy because of all the running around we're doing at this time of year, but exercising is really important. Take a walk out in nature, ride a bike, do yoga, etc. Any form of exercise can be a phenomenal stress reducer. It's also good for lowering blood pressure, which could rise when crazy Aunt Mildred walks through your front door on Christmas Day.

One of the best things about the holidays is that more people open their hearts to acceptance and forgiveness. If there's someone in your life that you will be around this year that this applies to, give it a try. Even if it's a silent blessing from your heart to theirs. After all, the season really is about love.

The holidays are supposed to be a great time. Take good care of yourself and practice things that will eliminate some of the stress. I hope you find these tips helpful.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

How to Train Your Dog to Walk at Your Side

 (left) Daisy - (right) Foxy

You love your dog and want to spend more time with him, but the minute you try to take him for a walk, he becomes unmanageable.  And let's face it, no human wants to be dragged down the street by their four-legged friend. Below are the steps that you need to take to get Spot in line and out the door.

1.  Get your dog in command mode by making him stay still at the door. This sounds so simple and yet most dog owners never do it. Once your dog sees the leash he usually gets so excited that you can't get to the door fast enough and the minute you open it, his head is out and you're behind. Practice putting on the leash with your back to the door so your body is blocking the door while you're doing it. That sends a message to your dog that you're in charge. Once the leash is on have your dog sit before moving toward the door. This makes him calmer and gets him used to obeying your commands. I've had to practice this one a lot with both of my dogs because the minute they know we're going for a walk, the excitement begins.

2.  Walk through the door ahead of your dog to show him who is boss. This is very important as it sets the tone for the rest of the walk. Dogs like to lead and if you let him, he will take over as the pack leader and whose job is that? Yours!

3.  Do not use a flex leash.  You need a leader collar and regular leash. I've never used a flex leash because I live in Arizona and if I let my dogs have too much leash, they could run into all kinds of dangerous creatures such as rattlesnakes, biting lizards, cactus, etc. Even if you don't live where your pet could experience these dangers, a regular leash is the best tool for walking, even after your dog has learned to walk at your side. You can always stop and let them sniff, water the trees and fire hydrants at a later time after they've learned the art of the walk.

4.  If your dog has too much energy, get a doggie backpack and weigh it down. This works extremely well for the high-energy breeds who need to burn off that excess energy. You can use plastic water bottles filled with water. We have an 80-lb. mixed breed who can handle two bottles on each side and our smaller dog, a border collie mix, does well with one bottle on each side. Start small and work your way up if you have to. Keep an eye on your dog for fatigue and you'll know if the pack is too heavy. The first time you use this method, you will probably notice that, after a short time, your dog will feel that he has a job to do and just start moving forward with his pack. It's amazing to watch this take place.

5.  Keep a loose grip on the leash. If you keep tension on it, your dog will feel it and keep pulling. Think of the leash as an extension of your arm. Send positive energy down your arm, into the leash and into your dog. If you find yourself being tense for any reason, stop, have your dog sit by your side, take a couple of deep breaths and then continue on more relaxed.

6.  Reward your dog with treats. Buy some of those small training treats at your local pet store to use on your walk. When your dog does well, reward with a treat. Any commands you want to teach your dog can be practiced on the walk. For example, you walk 30 or 40 paces and then give the command to sit. Reward with a treat as soon as he sits.  Walk 30 or 40 more paces, give another command. Reward again with a treat.

7.  Be patient with your dog at all times. Depending upon your dog's age, limit your training time to no more than 10-20 minutes at a time. You'll be surprised how soon your dog will pick up on what to do and how to please you. Don't give up and remain consistent.

Follow these steps and Spot will be walking side-by-side with you in no time.  Enjoy spending more quality time with your newly trained four-legged friend.

Five Photography Tips for Everyday People

Anyone who can operate a simple digital camera is capable of taking wonderful pictures. Photography doesn't have to be done by a professional to be considered great.

Step One: Find a spot with multiple sources of shade and natural lighting, such as a grove of trees or even buildings.  Trees make a great backdrop for any picture of people.  The color green, whether in the trees or grass, seems to fit any mood or scene.

Step Two: Always try to take pictures spontaneously as opposed to having people pose. I've found that it's easier to get people to have a natural smile if you're having a conversation with them as you're snapping your photos. For example, what if you asked them to name their favorite dessert or their favorite funny movie. Both of those ideas will automatically bring a natural smile to someone's face. My other favorite is to ask "what do you love the most about your sweetheart?" or "grandchildren" or "child." You get the idea. Start a conversation.

Step Three: If you're just beginning to start your photography, get into practice by taking lots of candid shots. With a digital camera, there is absolutely no excuse for not taking tons of pictures. Challenge yourself to take one new picture a day. It doesn't matter what it is; just do it. Lots of candid shots!

Step Four: Most of the point and shoot digital cameras these days have many settings to assist you in getting just the right shot. Take a look at your camera's manual to see all the things you can accomplish using the various settings and then practice with each one.  I got a prize-winning photo (see above) with my Epson Point and Shoot of a flower that blooms only at night. I used the camera's macro flower setting and it was just gorgeous.  So find out what your camera's settings will do and then become very familiar with them.

Step Five: Only your mind can block your creativity. The other day I was chopping the end off of a bunch of celery and the bottom looked like a flower so I took a picture of it. Then I posted it on my blog and Facebook and asked people to guess what it was. Amazing the answers that came in; everything from a desert cactus to a crocheted slipper. Huh? Only the people who cook guessed it right. 

Remember not to analyze too much. Just let your natural talent flow. The point is to allow your mind to play and have fun with pictures by enjoying yourself and others will enjoy your photos, too.

Now that you've read the photography tips in this post, I trust that you will feel more confident in taking more pictures.

Tips for Taking Great Pictures

Almost everyone has used a camera at some point, but not everyone has used a camera correctly. Photography can be a really satisfying hobby or you can make a successful career out of it if you have the patience and willingness to learn. If you give yourself enough time, you are sure to see a vast improvement in the quality of your pictures. With today's digital cameras, you can literally shoot thousands of pictures and if you don't like them, you only have to press the delete button. Having a digital camera can really shorten the practice period for any budding photographer.

It's probably safe to say that almost all professional photographers started out with photography as a hobbyist and then moved forward as they learned the basic techniques and then became more creative.  One of the most creative ways to take beautiful photographs is to learn the art of identifying the right lighting for each picture you take.  For example, if you're shooting a photo of a landscape, it will look dull and flat if you shoot it at high noon, so use the golden hour(s) to your advantage.  What are the golden hours?  These are the hours when the sun comes up in the morning and when it sets in the evening. In the morning the sun's rays emit more blue and in the late afternoon and evening, you'll notice more golds and reds.If you're shooting a photo of a person, make sure they're not looking into the sun (so that they don't squint), or that the sun is at their back.  That will create darkness on their face because your camera will compensate for all of that back light. I suggest getting them into a place where there is some indirect light, which will give their skin a more evenly lit effect.

If you can't find some good indirect light and find yourself out in direct sunlight, you can use a reflector panel of some sort. These can be purchased at a camera store, online, or just about anywhere photo equipment is sold. Go online to see if someone is selling some used equipment. If you can't find one, you can always improvise by using a white poster board, which will reflect the light to fill in shadows on your subject's face. Have them hold the board or reflector on the side opposite of the sun's light so it's not in your viewfinder but close enough to their face to reflect the light. Take a picture with it and one without it to compare the difference. Practice with this and you'll be thrilled at the results.

One of the best ways to learn photography is to simply focus on your subject. I've always referred to this as "fill the frame." What that means is this: don't have a lot of background in your picture if you're photographing a person or a pet, for example. If you're at an event and you want to capture the essence or flavor of that event, then it's fine to have a lot of things going on in the picture. And don't forget to practice with your lens, moving it forward and backward to see what the shot will look like up close and further away.

Photography is a fun activity to learn and improve your creative skills. If you give yourself enough time, you will love the feeling of taking an excellent picture.

To learn more and see samples, visit www.reginaarnold.com

Can You Guess What It Is?

Can you guess what this picture is?  Hint:  it's edible. And I might have added a special effect :-)

Namaste!

Happy Halloween

This is great!  Even the animals in the Disney Kingdom get treated to some Halloween pumpkins:

Beware!  There might be a lot of trickery going on tonight.

Namaste!

God Bless Rose

Our dear friend, Rose, (see post of Oct. 25) just had to undergo a 4 1/2 hour surgery to clear a blockage from the port in her arm.  The port was inserted a couple of years ago for dialysis.  She only has one kidney functioning at 5% now.  The surgeon cleared the blockage and apparently she had her first dialysis today.  We were all hoping she wouldn't have to do dialysis at all but it seems it might be the method that keeps her with us a lot longer.  We sure hope so and hold her up in prayer, light and love.

Here's a rose for our dear Rose:

Namaste!

Jump Start of Creation

The jump-start of creation is gratitude.  Neale Donald Walsh said that and I believe it's true.  As I had a conversation this morning with my daughter, we both found ourselves being grateful for all kinds of things.  One led to another and another and another.  You get the idea.  We could have both stayed on the fast track to complaining but decided to go in the opposite direction.  And what's strange is that we both veered into the gratitude lane at the same time.  As the conversation ended, I realized how grateful I am to have her in my life.  I've often said that even if she wasn't my daughter, I would choose her to be my friend.

There are lot of synchronicities going on everywhere around the planet.  But not many that you'll see in the MSM (main stream media). 

When was the last time you made it a point to think of things that you are grateful for?  If it's been a while, why not do it now? 

Today's picture is worth a thousand words.  My grandson, Blake, and I'm grateful for him, too.

Namaste!

Abundant Supply

Sourced From: The Code ~ 10 Intentions for a Better World
The source of your supply is so immense.
It's all there just waiting for you to tap into it

Most people don't realize it, but hoarding always shuts down the flow of our abundance, while giving always comes back to us in great measure. The mechanics of this phenomenon are easily apparent once we get past our old attitudes about "saving for a rainy day." It works like this: when we hoard something, whether it's our money, our time, our resources, or our energy, we're actually doing it because we've pictured ourself in a situation where we've run out of things. We've envisioned ourself down and out, perhaps even destitute and depressed. Now, this vision is a thought, and it will work its way into physical manifestation just like any other thought we keep our attention on. In other words, by saving for a rainy day, even though our motivation is to have extra resources for later on, we sabotage our future and create the exact opposite of that which we truly desire for ourselves.
 
Lee Ching told us one night in our spiritual guidance session that followed our Intenders Circle that it furthers us to bring our limiting thoughts to light so that we can replace them with thoughts which will bring our abundance to us. There's a good example of this, he said, by looking at how the kitchen faucet works. When we open the valve, the water comes in and the water goes out. But when we close off the valve, the water can't come in, so it also cannot flow out. It's the same with our money and our resources; we close off the flow of all good things coming to us by our thoughts of lack and our subsequent acts of hoarding. By the same token, we open the faucet of our abundance and keep it open by spending, not frivolously, but responsibly. 

When we spend without worrying about it, we send a message to the Universe that we have enough of everything we need, and that we trust that there will always be more when we need it. It's this posture which delivers our abundance to us (if it's for our highest good), and provides us with enough to spare and enough to share.

My Intention for today is:
I intend that I always have enough to spare and enough to share.

P.S. Love yourself; enjoy your money now and abundance in the here and now.  You can't take it with you. 

Namaste!

My Favorite Ghouls and a Goblin

The moon will be full on Tuesday, Oct. 11, so I'll be out there with my E-420 and my tripod. 
Beware the full moon of October.
Here are my two favorite ghouls:

And here's my favorite Goblin:

 Just a warning - stay away from the graveyard!

Those Were the Days

A friend of my husband's sent these pictures of woodies.  Ahhh, remember these?  Almost every car manufacturer made their own version of a woody back then. 

When I was in high school, we would trip down to Santa Cruz on the weekends and go surfing (for those of us who could afford to have a board).  I usually watched but did try it a couple of times.  What fun! 

Surf's up!

This one is a Ford

Even the Brits had woodies! 

I'm thinking of getting a hula hoop. In the 50's I was the hula hoop champion of my school (4th grade).  The local newspaper even came and took my picture. So I think I'll go back to that because they're great exercise if you do it in two-minute sessions. If anyone wants to join me, post a comment and let's get this movement back into our lives. 

Back to the 50's, my friends.  Hula hoops, Pepsi in glass bottles, surfboards and woodies!  Doesn't get any better than that :-)

Namaste!

The Help

I just bought this book today. I've heard that it's really good.  After reading only a few first pages, I'm already hooked.  From what I understand it's her first book.  Bravo!  Way to go, Kathryn.

I also learned that my stepfather has prostate cancer.  He had it once in his forties;he is now 88.  Scary business but I pray for the right outcome that's best for him.