You Work on You :)

I think if we all took more time to work on ourselves the world would be a much nicer place. You cannot change anyone but yourself so why not start with yourself? If you have someone in your life who is bothering you with annoying habits etc. try changing your perspective about this person. Try giving him or her a compliment or just thinking positive things about him or her. I'm not saying you should become a door mat and be walked on by people, absolutely not.

I am reminded of a story someone once told me: Mr. Smith goes to his Rabbi demanding a divorce from his wife. The Rabbi invites Mr. Smith into his office and asks him to tell him more. Mr. Smith tells the Rabbi that his wife is horrible, she's always nagging him and putting him down, she never has anything nice to say, always complaining and he's had enough! The Rabbi thinks for a minute or two and says to Mr. Smith "I will grant you your divorce if you follow my instructions for six months." Mr. Smith agrees. The Rabbi says "Mr. Smith I want you to go home and start being nice to your wife. I want you to make a positive comment about what she's wearing or how her hair is, thank her for the meals she makes for you and the clean, folded clothes she launders for you etc." Mr. Smith says he can't possibly do this as he does not feel positive about her! The Rabbi says "Do it anyways and I will visit you in six months to grant you your divorce."

Mr. Smith goes home and reluctantly starts thinking about something positive to say to his wife. During dinner he comments on how nice her blouse looks on her and he thanks her for the very yummy dinner she has prepared for him.

Six months goes by and the Rabbi shows up at Mr. Smith's house and knocks on the door. Mr. Smith is excited to see the Rabbi and invites him in. The Rabbi asks where his wife is? Mr. Smith replies she has gone grocery shopping. Mr. Smith asks the Rabbi why he has come by for a visit? The Rabbi says "Well I'm here to grant you your divorce, it's been six months." Mr. Smith says "Divorce! Why would I want to divorce the most beautiful and wonderful wife ever? The Rabbi says "Good, my work is done. Good bye Mr. Smith!

I'm going to go think of something nice to say to my son when he comes home...

Adversity

According to the dictionary, adversity means - a state, condition, or instance of serious or continued difficulty or adverse fortune. Misfortune, adverse fortune, hardship, distress, suffering.

I suppose I've had my share of "adversity." I believe good things can come out of "adversity" if we allow it, believe in the possibility. Three people that come to mind who have definitely had their share of adversity are: Aimee Mullins, Patrick Henry Hughes and Nick Vujicic. Please google these amazing people and read about their incredible and inspiring journeys.

I believe if we can look at the hardships that we have or are enduring and learn from them then we can rise out of that state and go on to do amazing things ourselves. To survive and thrive it's beneficial to recognize the specialness about yourself. Please do not just "settle" for normal, what is "normal" anyways? Blaze your own path, make up your own rules. Remember to always be respectful and loving toward all other sentient beings.

There's so much fear these days about pretty much everything. There's still the mentality that you "should" go out and get a job and make money and be a drone and be a good sheeple, oops I mean citizen and go about your busy-ness. I'm guilty of being caught up in that game! Speaking of games, how do you want to play your game? It really is up to you. Decide right now how your would really like your life to be and do the best you can to act as if it already is. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I once told my family I was going to live on a farm and have a beautiful house where my horse could be and maybe even have a cow? They looked at me as if I'd lost my mind and asked me how I was going to pay for all that? Then I just felt bad or like I'd said something wrong. I was thrown off my balance. My inner guidance centre said you are o.k., keep dreaming keep thinking what you would like to have or be or do. At the time I didn't listen to myself I let my families fears and insecurities take over and be mine and let my dream slide. I thought "yeah, they're right how am I going to pay for all that?" Well, now I know better, I don't need to listen to anyone else and I'm certainly not doing anyone, including myself any good by doing so.

Back to "adversity." I decided, on an unconscious level, that I wanted to experience some adversity in the form of poverty. I now know what that's like, having lived it. I'm still not out of that state yet, but moving out of it in thought first, them in form.

This state I've been living in has helped me to have a greater appreciation for everything and everyone that's in my life. It's helped me to not be as attached to my stuff and not to identify with the stuff as much. To not judge people as much. Hey I'm human and I sometimes slip into old patterns. I am more aware of my patterns now and can catch them fairly quickly (minutes, instead of hours or days) and change my thinking, which in turn changes my life.

I give a big shout out to adversity! Without it I would not be the person I am today and would not be able to see that I do have something special to offer the world, as we all do, each and every one of us :)

You're Richer Than You Think

You're richer than you think, hmmm. I believe that quote comes from a bank commercial? It seems to pop into my mind a lot these days. When I'm not fully aware and my mind starts to wander into negative territory and I'm wondering how I'm going to pay a bill or how I'm going to buy groceries etc., etc., etc., just pick one LOL, I do my best to bring myself back into awareness and change my thoughts to more positive and empowering ones. Always when I do that an example of how I have more than I thought I did comes into my mind.

These days I have to be very careful what I think because it shows up pretty quickly! Yesterday I was at a workshop all afternoon and was thinking how nice it would be to go out for dinner afterwards as I had a sink full of dishes to do and then cook dinner for my son and I when we got home. I went to pick my son up at his Dad's and he had just finished barbecuing chicken legs and making rice and veggies. He asked us if we'd like to stay for dinner? Sweet! What a nice surprise, well not really a surprise because that was actually what I had asked for! These types of scenarios are happening quite frequently, I just have to learn to start thinking bigger and better.