Christmas Past

Today’s Weather in Paradise  

Sunny

Morning 32°  

Afternoon 42°  

 My favorite quote for today:

“"People of character do the right thing, not because they think it will change the world but because they refuse to be changed by the world." Michael Josephson

Day 06:

I am upset because I see something that is not there.

Day 07:

I see only the past.

So I missed a day or two on my blog, but I’m back. The last two day’s lessons, have four practice periods.  The first on was not too hard.  Then I went to work and now the second one is tougher because people and piss me off when they don’t do their job on time which makes me work harder than is necessary to meet deadlines. Oh well. 
 
I do see everything with a pass point of view and something are go and other I judge as not so good.  Christmas is one season where I notice that the past really comes into play. The good old movies, stories and food.  The site sounds and smells of the holiday.  I guess I was one of the lucky ones who equate the holidays with a warm and loving family and childhood.

I’m listening to great Christmas music.  Who could be upset when Amy Grant, Josh Groban, Kenny G and Michael Buble are singing? Not me.

Gratitude Space:

• I am grateful Christmas music. It just makes me warm and happy inside.
• I am grateful my beautiful Christmas decorations.  I just added photos below.
• I am thankful for leftover.  I just love a good turkey dinner without all the work.
• I am so grateful for my parents again who gave me love and made a happy life for me.
• I thankful for eggnog.  Yum!

Until next time,

Namaste

Happy Thanksgiving

Today’s Weather in Paradise  

Overcast but warm

Morning 37°  

Afternoon 49°  

 My favorite quote for today:

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Winston Churchill

Day 3:

I do not understand anything I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place].

&

Day 4:

These thoughts do not mean anything. They are like the things I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place].

Happy Thanksgiving

Since I did not post yesterday I thought I should share both lessons.  They both are along the same lines but it is interesting with we think and place value on our thought as well as the things in our lives.

 

I found a couple of thing on TED that I want to add to that kind of go along with this.  First is a list of 10 things   to ask your family (friend) around the table by Dave Isay.  Perfect for Thanksgiving Day preparation.

• What are you grateful for?
• What are you proudest of?
• What’s been the happiest moment of your life so far?
• What’s been the hardest moment of your life, and how did you get through it?
• What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in life?
• How would you describe yourself as a child? Were you happy?
• Who has been kindest to you?
• How do you want to be remembered?
• If your great-great grandchildren could listen to this years from now: is there any wisdom you’d want to pass on to them? What would you want them to know?
• If you could honor one person in your life — living or dead — by listening to their story, who would that be, what would you ask them and why?

Second is a TED talk by Louis Schwartzberg who does beautiful cinematography work. The title is   Nature Beauty Gratitude

Gratitude Space:

• I am grateful good friend.
• I am thankful for my  Children
• I am grateful my family, my brothers and sisters
• I am so grateful how bountiful my life is. I sure don’t go without
•  I am blessed with great health.

 Until next time,

Namaste

Today’s Weather in Paradise  

Cloudy with some rain showers

Morning 22°  

Afternoon 40°  

 My favorite quote for today:

“The highest expression of Love is to give without expecting.” India Arie

Day 2:

I have given everything I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] all the meaning that it has for me.

Today’s as I was doing the lesson I thought how even the dust in the corners of where I was sitting had meaning to me.  Dust the baseboards. 

They shape texture and colors I use for my décor of my home meant something to me.  The meaning I place on this is comfort and hominess to a golden glow of my house in the morning.  I place meaning on that my items will make people what to come back and stay with me again and again.  My home does say something about me and what I value.  

As I sat there in my mediation spot I also thought I should go over the Introduction to the Course each day and see what meaning I place on it.  So here it is and also the link to the ACIM website.
http://www.acim.org/

“This is a course in miracles. It is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary. Free will does not mean that you can establish the curriculum. It means only that you can elect what you want to take at a given time. The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love's presence, which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite.

This course can therefore be summed up very simply in this way: Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God."

  

Gratitude Space:

• I am grateful my cozy home.
• I am grateful for a good man in my life (Kevin) who helps me with our property and home. I am grateful that he too has similar visions of a great life and the desire to sharing it with our family and friends.
• I am grateful for my health.  I am so blessed to rarely get ill. 
• I am so grateful for the county life.  It may not always be simple but it is a good life.
• I am love a good glass of wine.

Until next time,

Namaste

Day 1- One Spark

Today’s Weather in Paradise  

Sunny and Cold

Morning 22°  

Afternoon35°  

 My favorite quote for today:

“One spark is enough to burn down a whole forest” Unknown

Day 1:

Nothing I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] means anything.

Here I go… day one again. When I sat to meditate on today’s lesson I knew what I was in for.  I have started this journey many times before. I as I looked around the room I tried to take in what these words are really trying to teach me.  Until I place a meaning on something it has no meaning. 
 
I looked at my dogs and recited the lesson. This is always tough for me.  I thought of how much they do mean to me and how I use them and all my other worldly things to define me as a “good, worthy, successful and loved.”   What we think of ourselves and items we have can be so transparent.  Who would I be without all I have?  I think it is interesting, the word “see” in this lesson because we do place so much of our value on our five senses.  

Quit a few of our values and meanings are place on us by outside forces.  We don’t even think if we really like the look or the items. We don’t think if we have been persuaded by other opinions on what is meaningful.   We go with what in.  Now don’t get me wrong there are THING that I defiantly make up my own meaning. I know I go around blind most of the time on if I have chosen the meaning or if the meaning was installed in my by my parents, friend, educators, lover or child.

I know that when I give things too much meeting I cling to them and as I have learned they will all be gone at some point.  I also wonder too that if I cling to them to much if then I don’t enjoy them as much?   Tonight during my night mediation I will look at things, say the lesson and this time see if I can see if the meaning is adopted from another or if it is mine. Remember nothing means anything.

Gratitude Space:

• I am thankful for the time I have to think.
• I am grateful a warm pair of slippers
• I am grateful  my style
• I am so grateful to have had the parents I had.  I was one of the lucky ones. I had a loving father and mother who just wanted me to be happy.
• I am appreciative a news story that shows the kindness of  humanity.

Until next time,

Namaste