Category: Emotional

Could be Good. Could be Bad.

7/20/2018

   Roughly ten years ago a friend shared a story with me. The message was very strong and also perplexing for me. Over the years I had wanted to remember the details of the story in order to be able to remind myself of the strong message.  Although I had lost touch with the friend who first shared it, I still kept hoping that I would come across the story again.

      And several years ago, I was in a class and came across the profound
story in our student manual.

Here it is:

The Farmer's Story    (said to come from Eastern folk lore)

There was once a farmer who had a horse. One day, the horse escaped
from the corral and was gone. His neighbors came over to tell him how
sorry they were that his horse was missing.
"Oh how terrible!" they said. He simply answered, "Maybe."
          (or as I like to say, "Could be good.  Could be bad").

The next day the horse returned with two other wild horses and
now the farmer had three.
"Oh, how auspicious!" said his neighbors.
Once again the farmer simply answered, "Maybe."
       or "Could be good.  Could be bad."

Two days later, the farmer's son was trying to ride one of the
wild horses and was thrown to the ground, breaking his leg.
The neighbors rushed over once more to declare, "Oh, how terrible!"
Yet the farmer still answered, "Maybe."
       or "Could be good. Could be bad."

A week later, the army came through town, conscripting all the able
bodied men into their service for battle.
Because his son had a broken leg he was passed by.

The End.

The reason I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this story is that the man responds with no
judgments as each event occurs.
He is at peace with the seemingly "good" or seemingly "bad."
   He doesn't react and get all riled up.
   He doesn't make up stories, start fretting and panicking.
   He doesn't waste his time with 'What ifs.'

What he does is Stay PRESENT!!!!!
     in the Moment.
He remains calm. Watching, witnessing and experiencing life as it comes.

What a wonderful way to Live and Experience Life, wouldn't you Agree?

I truly wish this for you.
And perhaps you will remember this story and the "Maybe" Man, or
   as I like to call him, " Could be Good, Could be Bad.

Stay Present my Friends.

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Are you Listening to your Own Rhythm?

7/9/2016

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Do you know how important is it to listen to your own inner rhythm?
the inner rhythm in your body that says oh yes, this is a good thing for me to do, or, it's time to rest now.

How many times a day do you hear these small voices in your head, your heart or somewhere else in your body? And how many times do you ignore them? no worries if you ignore the message once, twice, twenty seven times or even a million times. Your soul will knock again with the same message until you get it. That is a guarantee.

I have most certainly been experiencing this dance of the back and forth of listening, ignoring, listening, ignoring and then finally realizing I need to listen to my inner knowing. I have been experiencing this for so many years now, but like many people, with some things, I am slow to learn and slow to make necessary changes that are for my highest good.

So I take some time now to share with you how critically important it is to slow down enough to listen. To really listen to these messages, to your inner voice, your inner knowing, to your body. Oh, by the way, just in case you need a gently reminder, your body is constantly sending messages to you. It says things like, "I like this. this doesn't feel good, please don't eat that -it's way too processed, slow down, spend more time in nature, spend more time with family and friends, be gently with yourself." My personal favorite is "REST," and "REST NOW, your body is in desperate need of rest and rejuvenation." And, "If you don't Rest, you will have nothing to give to anyone, including yourself."

That one has been particularly difficult for me to allow. When all the childhood voices in my head are saying, "achieve, keep going, more responsibilities, more projects, more hobbies, more emails, more phone calls, etc., etc., etc." Oh my. Who is that crazy person in my head. oh, yeah, it's me, repeating what I've heard at home, at school, in the news, in the world. So I'm learning to send that crazy voice on vacation or better yet, retire it completely. I recognize this is not My Natural Rhythm. These things/tasks have nothing to do with my calling or what brings me joy.

So, when I wake in the morning, I take some time to check in with myself. I ask myself how I'm feeling. Am I ready to get up and begin my day, or do I need to rest more. That's the first check in. Once I feel rested enough from the day/night before, I tune in to my body and ask it what it wants to do today. Is today the day I clean, do laundry, water the plants, pay some bills. Do I spend some time writing in my journal? Do I reach out and call a friend? What needs doing in the garden? What herbs do I need to harvest? What herbal products do I need/want to spend time making today?

I know this may sound simple and in fact these questions come automatically and like a bullet train for many of us. The questions really don't end. What I've been able to do over the years is hone all the questions so that they are things I want to do. All these questions and respective projects bring me joy. All the tasks will get done, it's just a matter of when will bring me the most joy and least resistance to complete them. And for that, I tune back into my body for the information and answers. And it always reveals what is appropriate and most beneficial for me at the right time.

Sometimes I find myself starting the dishes. I stop half way through, get the mail, make a phone call, then go back to the dishes. And no I'm not ADHD or ADD, I'm listening to my body and sometimes it says I'm a bit bored doing the dishes right now and I'm starting to get irritated (feeling less joy than when I started), so go do something else, come back in 5 minutes and you'll feel that joy again washing the dishes and completing your tasks.

This may sound silly or even frivolous or a luxury in our fast-food, drive through world. For me, it has brought me great peace. This "listening" has grounded me, helped me to focus. I'm more present in each moment, there is more joy in my life and there is more joy in the moments I undertake each task throughout the day.

And just if you are wondering I can spend a good half hour, hour on any given task, but I'm listening to my body and what it is telling me.

What is your Body, Mind, Heart, Soul saying to you?
What is your Own Rhythm saying to you?
What are the gentle messages you are receiving?
And are you listening?
Are you open to listening?
That's a great start, being open.

I invite you to start listening, really listening and honoring that
Still, Small voice inside that only wants the best and highest
good for you and your soul.

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Could be Good. Could be Bad.

Are you Listening to your Own Rhythm?

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