When Life Hands You Lemons...

In reference to my last blog, written so very long ago, I am still in the situation I was talking about. 

Things have quieted down but I am still sitting with a loved one in the hospital. 

This is why I have not been able to keep up with my blog. 

Thanks to everyone who has shown genuine concern for me and my family. We're dealing with a head injury so there is no way to tell how long the healing process will take. 

Sitting there in hospital certainly gives one time to think and time to reflect upon their lives and the lives of everyone involved. This includes not only the patient, but other family members, the doctors and the nurses as well. These kinds of situations can bring out the best in people, but I've also seen the worst in people come up as well. 

It's been quite surprising. 

I guess we all react to life experiences in our own special way. 

However, I have met some really remarkable people on the neurology ward, and again that includes nurses, other patients and their families. Some of the stories I've heard about seem like they could only happen in the movies, not in real life. 

It kind of puts things into perspective. 

It reaffirms that you sure cannot take life for granted....it can all change in a heartbeat, as it has for most of the families we've met in these past few weeks. It's hard to understand until it happens to you or a loved one. 

"They" say that everything that happens, happens for a reason. I know I talk about that alot. 

The trick is to find the lesson. And it's difficult to do sometimes. 

How can a serious, debilitating, life threatening head injury possibly have a lesson to it? I don't know...I haven't figured my lesson out yet. 

Trying to see the positive side of a situation can be so hard...and sometimes I'd rather wallow in my self pity, anger and sense of helplessness. It's easier and sometimes it really makes me feel better to roll around in those emotions. 

I see those emotions on the faces of most of the patients and their visitors on the neurology ward, so I know they must be the usual feelings one deals with in these circumstances. It's a confusing place to be when you're faced with these real life experiences. 

Most days, I can pull myself up and send distance hugs to everyone I see with grief and weariness on their faces. 

Some days I can't and I search out my reassurances from others. 

Maybe that's my lesson. 

Maybe it's okay to rest sometimes and let others take care of things and take care of me. 

I've never been good at delegating and I've always been pretty independent. 

Letting go and letting others, including God, does not come easy to me. The old Let Go and Let God motto is a tough one for me to embrace. 

I'll talk about faith in my next newsletter once things calm down here a bit. 

I can see that maybe this is a lesson I can take from this situation. I have to figure out how to make lemonade from all the lemons coming my way. 

In the meantime, as I'm trying to work this out, please know that we are so grateful for all the hugs, support and well wishes. I celebrate your kindness and thoughtfulness!....~M

2009 So Far

I don't know about you, but 2009 has certainly knocked me on my butt many times. 

Seems I just get up and get my butt dusted off and I'm down again. That's why there's been no blog for a while. 

I know I'm not the only one feeling that way right now. 

My whole family and my community are all busy dusting off our butts once again. 

I'm hoping that we've gotten all the bad stuff out of way and the rest of 2009 will be incredible. 

On a happy note, however, it's been very inspiring to see how people have pulled together in times of need. I've witnessed this so many times in the past three, or rather six, weeks, it makes my heart soar! 

I don't know why it seems that we need a tragedy or an accident to pull people back together, but that's been the case this month. 

I guess we all get busy and forget. I know I've been guilty of that so many times. 

This month has made me look at all the people who are important in my life, and to realize that I'd be really lost without any one of them. Sometimes it does take something bad to happen to get us back on the right track, as sad as that is to say. 

The weird part is that sometimes it's really awkward to tell someone that I love them, especially when I haven't done so in a while. 

How crazy is that? 

It's like my blog on wishing people Merry Christmas. It's a little strange at first.....but then it gets easier. 

I hope to continue telling my people how important they are.....I hope I never get too busy to do that again. 

I've realized this week, also, that you can't really make up for lost time, but you can sure try. 

I believe this is the year to slow down and quit spinning around in circles. 

This is the year to read more bedtime stories and take more walks with the family. 

This is the year for middle of week calls, just to say hi. 

This is the year for laughter, picnics and heart to heart talks. 

I hope that's the lesson to be learned in what we've gone through this month so far. 

I do try to find the good in the bad things that happen and I believe if you can do that, it eases the impact of what's going on. 

We still have a long road ahead of us to heal from this month, but at least we seem to have found some soft places to fall when we need to. 

Blessings and Gratitude to everyone who has been there for us and for each other this month. 

I must quote my friend Anna here. I sent her an email when the next bad thing happened this month with the heading..."When it rains, it pours...." She replied back to me " After the rain, comes sunshine..." 

I'm holding on to that.....~M

Happy New Year to You!

Here’s to the new year... 

May it bring more joy and success And less grief and regret. 

To our dreams... May we never stop believing in them And taking the actions that will make them a reality.  

To our friends and loved ones... May we take the time to let them know How much it means to us To have them in our lives. 

Let us encourage more and criticize less, Give more and need less. And whenever we can, Let us create harmony and peace. 

To new beginnings... Let us start fresh, right now, To make this the very best year ever. 

A very Happy New Year to you! I cherish having you in my life as my family, my friend, my colleague and my inspiration. 

I'm excited about the new year!! I know it's going to be a year for fulfilling all kinds of dreams and intentions. 

I wish you an abundance of joy, creativity, gratitude and love for 2009. 

I'd like to share a another little poem from a dear friend of my mom's who is no longer with us. 

He was a bright flame in my mother's life and I know that she and his family will miss him dearly.

Although he had difficulty remembering some things, he was always reciting words of wisdom. 

This little quip is one of his favorites and I'll share it with you today to honor his memory: 

"The years may wipe out many things, But this they wipe out never; The memory of those happy days, When we were all together..." 

 In Memory of Lloyd P. ...July 12, 1922 - December 23, 2008 

May You Rest in Sweet Peace 

God Bless and have a safe New Year's Eve......~M

Merry Christmas Delights

I read an article recently about Christmas. 

How could I not, they're everywhere!! 

There seems to be more and more articles about the stress and the lack of the true meaning of Christmas. I do agree with them. 

I will write more about in my newsletter this month, but I thought I would touch briefly on spreading Christmas Cheer. 

One thing I have noticed, is that very few people wish each other "Merry Christmas". 

It's like we're too self-conscious or too worried about hurting someone's feelings by wishing them a Merry Christmas if they don't believe in Christmas. 

I think that if you are sending someone good energy in the form of a polite and kind greeting, it will boost their spirits, even if they don't believe in Christmas. It will also boost your spirits. 

That is my belief.....so I've been practicing it. 

When I first wished someone a "Merry Christmas" walking by them on the street, the look on their face was astonishing. You could tell they were very surprised, and the little smile they had told me they were delighted. 

The next time I greeted someone, it didn't feel quite as strange to be saying it. 

Also, each and every time I greeted someone, they ended up smiling....and so did I. 

Now, I'm a "Merry Christmas" addict. 

I'm saying it to teachers, cashiers, the gas pump guys, people on the street and so on. 

I not only do it for the satisfaction I get out of making someone's day, I also do it for the wonderful feeling I get from saying it. When I say it to someone, I am being genuine and sincere and I think they can sense it. 

I also feel good about teaching my kids how to make someone else feel good by spreading Christmas Cheer. We all have extra stress at Christmas, and we're all usually in a rush...but it takes no time at all to boost yourself and others by wishing them "Merry Christmas". 

It's not hard at all...although it may sound weird coming out the first time....but once you get that one out, the rest just pop out. 

So, go ahead....picture yourself being the "Merry Christmas" greeter in your community....then put it into action. Make sure to watch for people's reactions, it's quite enjoyable. 

I'm not sure I'll get to my blog next week, so have an amazing holiday season..filled with laughter, joy and wonder. From my heart to yours...Merry Christmas!!  ....~M

Happiness Balls

I was at Reiki share last night with my lovely group of people who continue to amaze me with their gifts, talents and intuition. 

At Reiki shares, we do Reiki on each other and talk about whatever comes to mind. It's often about spirits, energy and that type of thing. Many of the people who come are able to use their third eye to see things that I cannot. 

It's quite interesting to hear them speak about what they are "seeing" and to listen to them use their intuition to find lost things, predict pregnancies and all kinds of very cool things. 

I know we all have that ability... and I am working on developing my intuition further. 

We also talk about ways to heal ourselves and ways to find our peace. 

I love hanging with these people as they are all like minded and enjoy sharing their thoughts and ideas. 

Last night, a few of the girls brought their crystals. I, too, possess crystals, although they have never made it out of the shopping bag. 

As we were talking about where to place these crystals in your home, one of the girls started talking about Happiness Balls. She didn't go too much into as we were all focused on the crystals and how each one works. 

She did tell us that if the feeling in your house is busy, scattered and congested, it may mean that your house needs some happiness. 

What you do is imagine Happiness Balls in every upper corner of your house. It's your imagination creating the balls so you can decorate them and imagine them any way that seems to fit into your home. 

Just imagine those Happiness Balls radiating positive, joyful, happy feelings into your home. 

I know it sounds a little weird to those of you who may not practice energy work....but it worked for me today! I put those little balls in every corner of my house (imagined them there) and today, when my kids came home from school, they came in with smiles and in good humor. Usually my son walks in with 10 complaints about what went wrong in school today. My daughter also told me funny stories about school and she usually doesn't do that either. 

Whoa....can we actually raise our vibrations with imaginary Happiness Balls? 

All I know is that there is a different feeling in our home today and it feels really good. 

In fact, I've just realized that lots of great things happened here today...including making the plans for a trip with a friend that we've been talking about doing for 3 years. 

 Is it the Happiness Balls I've imagined stuck up in the corners of the house.....are they making my house (and its people) happier? I don't know but something definitely shifted today. 

Try it out and let me know if the "Happiness Balls" work for you!.....~M

Christmas Creativity

Each year at Christmas I vow to be more creative with everything...from hiding my gifts to wrapping them. 

I often dream about all the time I'll have to make my Christmas cards as well. I think I bought the supplies to make those cards about 5 years ago. And there they sit in my basement, still in the packages. 

Each year I know Christmas is coming and each year I still can't seem to pull it all off. 

The same goes with the gifts I buy. I stash them in the closet in my bedroom and think about how I should move them to a better hiding place as my kids know where all the goods are. I never seem to get around to finding that better place. 

I am so lucky my kids aren't snoopers like I was growing up. Maybe it's the police tape I stick on my door and the big warning signs I post that inform them of the dire consequences that will fall upon them if they should put even one foot in my room. It's now turned into a game for the kids, so I can't possibly move them. My daughter even made the warning signs this year. 

The gifts are now stacked on my floor with my clean laundry draped over them to disguise them (sneaky, hey?) and I'm naive enough to think my kids actually do stay out when I'm not home. I know I would have poked around when I was a kid. 

My brothers and I snooped each year. We just couldn't wait. I think mom got wise after a while because there were some years we just couldn't find those gifts anywhere. She got creative, I guess. Often the gifts we did find were already wrapped...how clever. 

I do have to admit that when I was 12 or so, I did unwrap one of those gifts to see what it was. I felt so guilty about it , and still do, that I didn't do it again. 

If you are one of those people that wraps your gifts immediately upon purchasing them, I do admire you! I spend the 2-3 days before Christmas in frantic gift-wrapping mode. I usually have no time to be creative. 

I remember the good old days when I had only one child. We took plain newsprint and I had my darling child dip her hands in paint and put her hand prints on the paper. It took hours but it was so much fun! And it was awesome to use that for our Christmas gift wrap. 

Now I usually use gift bags. Not much room for creativity there. I do lots of ribbon though to spruce things up a bit. Those gift bags do save time and they are reusable each year so I think they're a pretty good investment. 

One year, I bought 50 bags to make my own gift bags....ya, they're still downstairs in their packages as well. 

On a happier note, I am almost done all my shopping already so maybe this year I can get the gifts wrapped a little earlier.....I marvel at the people who have all their presents under the tree days and days before Christmas. 

Maybe this is the year for me!! Wish me luck....~M

Responsibility of Roles

Ok, so what is Goofy anyway? 

You know, Mickey Mouse's friend, Goofy? Is he a dog? What is he really? 

I wonder what it would be like to have no one understand what or who you are. 

Wait, I think that's a daily struggle for some. 

It's also a daily struggle for some who have no idea who they are themselves. 

I have met many people with that issue, and I've had that issue, myself, on and off over the years. 

I received an email from a friend this week who wrote about this very subject. She said it had come to her attention that the way she views herself is not the way everyone else views her. She decided to take a closer look and found that maybe she was like everyone thought she was. 

Unfortunately, what she thinks everyone else thinks is not very pleasant. 

It rhymes with witch and starts with a "b". She decided it was time to live up to every one's expectations of her. 

Yikes...but....how many of us have done that? 

We act the way people think we should instead of being true to ourselves. I know I have, many times over. I do it less often now but I know there are roles I played over the years--daughter, mommy, wife, girlfriend, sister, student, teacher, friend, aunt, cousin, healer, co-worker and so on. 

Up until recently, I know I took on those roles each time I played them and acted differently while in each role. 

In our society, it is pretty hard to find ourselves because we do have so many shoes to fill. We have so many roles to play. 

Until we become sure of ourselves and more confident in showing our true colors, we get very good at playing our roles, in the character everyone thinks we should be. 

I'm enjoying the journey I am on, in terms of finding my true self under the layers of costumes I wear. I enjoy being the same person with each character I play. 

I just AM......whether I am mommy or wife; friend or healer. I do realize that I have different responsibilities with each role, but I can continue being responsible without the assumptions that I have normally taken on. 

Take my mommy role, for example....I know I have to teach my children safety and life skills....but I can do that without being the "MOTHER" and without criticism, anger or blame. I can be a gentle teacher rather than a tyrant whose way is the ONLY way. If I'm open, my children can teach me lessons as well and how beautiful is that? I know it's easier to say than to do because the job of disciplining comes in there as well and I do have to remember that I am in training with the new me. 

Each blow up teaches me something about my kids and myself. Why did the argument happen? Why did I say what I said? 

Usually it's because I'd rather be right than happy. I want to "teach them their lesson" (not in a good way) and I tend to go about it all wrong. 

I am learning though and I'm grateful I'm learning who I am along the way. Trying to be who I truly am in each role I play takes some awareness and focus. 

I have to learn to put my Ego in the corner, that's usually the first step. Things often proceed pretty nicely from there...most times. 

I do like knowing the me underneath the acts I've put on for other people. 

Wearing those costumes every day gets pretty heavy after a while, so it feels wonderful to lighten the load! 

The cool thing is, I'm not so bad. I think I'd like to be my own friend. I know there's alot more to discover as I continue this journey and as I grow and age....but I like me better now that I am true to me, rather than who I have been over the years. 

It's a relief to be able to let go of caring what everyone else expects or thinks of me. Now, back to my original question...what is Goofy? ....~M