Best Gifts

Hello, I hope you are enjoying your weekend. Yesterday I turned 49, and as I get older Birthdays have a different meaning to me then they use to. To me they are not about the gifts I get or didn't get, who remembered or who didn't. My Birthday's have become a day that I reflect on my life and where I am at. I think of life as a constant work in progress because we all have room for growth. So as I reflect each Birthday, I think of how have I progressed this year, if at all, and how is it going to add to my life in the coming year. I think this year my personal progress was acceptance. I have come to accept the circumstances of this past year with less anger, less need to control all of it. The circumstances that brought about my anger and/or frustration were job gain and then job loss, but with the acceptance of that one job loss, along came a better job. This year, I know for sure, that the hardest thing I learned to accept was Death. I no longer question why, I no longer curse the Gods for it. I've always known Death was a part of life, but at this point in my life, I didn't expect so much of it, and it angered me, hurt me, but with acceptance, I can now have peace with it. So as I head into the next year of life, I can honestly say, I get it now when they say your middle ages bring you more freedom. Learning true acceptance has helped to let go of so much, and in letting go, I've got peace and personal freedom. Who could ask or want for better gifts than those! Not me, not at all.
Thanks for reading my deep thoughts!
Janet :)

Open The Box

Hi Everyone,
I hope you are doing well. I am doing good. When I came across this loving kindness meditation I was filled with peace right away. These past couple of years I was consumed with loss. Family members died, some of my friendships turned out to be not what I thought they were. I truly believe in that saying now, when your down and out you find out who your true friends are. This loving kindness meditation put it into perspective for me. Every time I had loss or a change that was not expected it always brought me fear. I now know I can let go without having to fear, and I will still be ok, I will still be connected to the world and to the ones I need to be. I hope this helps you feel the same if you need it. No matter what you have lived through, no matter how scary or difficult your life has been,no matter what harm you have caused others or they have caused you, you are still intrinsically whole. We are all complete and connected to one another. Showing loving kindness means embracing all parts of ourselves and the world around us. Through practice we stop denying different, "unlikeable" parts of our experiences. The goal is to accept what comes into our lives and accept what leaves our lives without fear, desire, or aversion. You can learn to access this natural goodness within you and others simply by doing a formal or informal loving kindness meditation. By repeating these loving kindness phrases, you can access this loveliness, this perfection that rests within all of us. Our original goodness is like a gift in a box just waiting to be opened. Let the loving kindness mantras be the force that pulls open the bows on the box. Let the light in by saying these phrases to yourself.
"May we be filled with loving-kindness"
"May we be healthy and strong"
"May we feel calm and at ease"
"May we be happy"
Thanks for visiting my blog,
Take Care,
Janet :)

Melt the Ice

Hi Everyone,
I hope you are doing well. I am doing good. Today I wanted to share
another loving kindness meditation with you. The next time you can't
stop thinking that you're a terrible person who hasn't contributed
anything of worth to the world. As we often are our own worst enemy
and put many expectations on ourselves. Chose either a informal or
formal way of meditating and notice the painful or uncomfortable
thoughts that are vying for your attention. Let them pass through
your mind like clouds. Begin to think of someone from your past who
loved you. For example a school teacher who recognized you had a gift
for language, or a mentor who helped you develop a craft for art. Picture
that person sitting in front of you smiling. Feel this person extending
love and care to you in the form of radiant light like the rays from the sun.
Let your heart open up to receive this warm light. If your heart feels
blocked imagine this barrier as a thin layer of ice melting to make room
for this love. As you let this warmth from this person into your heart
let it overflow with love and gratitude. Let this feeling flow throughout
your entire body, filling you with the sensation of peace and ease.
After feeling this way for a couple of minutes bring yourself back to
your day. Try to hold on to these feelings and as you go about your
day and share them with the world. You will make it a better place.
Thanks for visiting my blog,
Take Care,
Janet :)

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

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Hi Everyone,
Today I went to the graves and I did better than I thought. As I drove from Kingston to Braintree in three different locations I saw swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circling flight. Which is from the poem I had read at my mothers funeral. I am sure you know the poem Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep, I Am Not There I Did Not Die. It was the weirdest thing, I saw two sets of white birds and one set of dark birds. Which made me think of two women and one man. Which is what I visited today. The last set was a group of the white ones as I entered the graveyard. They looked so beautiful that by the time I got to the graves I felt peace, I felt it was a sign from them. This Christmas they are free,they are at peace, and their spirit is still all around me. As I drove home I did not see that again. I even went to the waterfront in Plymouth to buy a gift certificate and I sat by the water for a few minutes, I only saw one pigeon. So I truly believe their spirits surrounded me today to help me through this Christmas. Weather you believe is signs or not, I had no choice but to believe, because I truly feel happiness when I thought I could or would not this season. I wish you all the Happiest Christmas and keep in your heart all your loved ones, and the loved ones who have gone before you, they are still loving you from afar.
God Bless,
Janet :)