Category: Musings And Inspiration

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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Most Gentle Gifts from Those You Least Expect

9/18/2015

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I have had a very interesting summer this year working at a farm stand in Massachusetts.

The customers have mostly been a joy to service and get to know. Occasionally there will be the needy or demanding customer or the lonely customer that just wants to buy one plant and talk.

There has been this one particular woman who is a regular. She comes throughout the week, but it seems like she comes often when I am there. At first I thought she was very needy, a bit of a pest. And if I'm being completely honest, I feel this most on the days that I am tired or have too many things to do and feel like I can't give my full attention to customers (which I've learned to stop doing what I'm doing and give them my full attention, because that is what good customer service is and that is what it means to me to Be Fully Present). So as the months have gone on and I would see this customer, I would feel, "oh no, I don't want to deal with her again."

And then just last month, I was helping her with a big order and I got to know her better. She shared some family losses she and her family have been going through this year. And what I started to see is a really beautiful soul. The more we talked, the more I started to really like her and not see her as a pest. I am a little ashamed for feeling this in the beginning, but that is what I was honestly feeling and it's important to honor our feelings as they arise, so all I can say now is WOW, what a Gift this woman gave me. The gift of seeing that things are not truly as they appear to me, that when I set aside my feelings of being tired and annoyed, she had a lot of wisdom to share and a lot of love to give.

She came in just the other day and surprised me again with a service she provides to people. I was taken aback at how she serves others and really cares for them and I'm starting to see her in a whole different light.

So, truth be told, she was showing up as herself this whole time. Her gift to me was in allowing me to drop my judgment of her, to allow my feeling of being annoyed to soften and to really see what a wonderful person she is.

I'm sure there will be more interactions with her and I look forward to the exchange between us, because she has turned out to be an angel and I thank her for the gifts she has given me.

Thank you sweet soul and may blessings continue to be showered upon you and all those
you touch with your life.
And thank you God for helping me to see and experience this.
It feels good to soften and loosen up on my judgments of others.
      Not easy at times, but so well worth it.

I hope YOU will be touched by many unexpected angels and gifts along your path
each and every day.

Blessed Be. And So it IS.

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What is Bliss?

1/29/2014

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What is your idea of Bliss?

According to Yogi tea wisdom, which come from the wisdom filled quotes that hang off the Yogi tea I like to drink,

    "Bliss is a constant state of mind,
                  undisturbed by gain or loss."

This is a powerful idea, belief system, statement, whatever you may want to call it.

The first time I saw this saying hanging off one of my Yogi tea bags, it left me speechless.  I had never thought that bliss could be a CONSTANT State of Mind. Sure, a fleeting state of mind, maybe even an occasional state if we are lucky. I suspect that most Americans don't think much about bliss. We are consumed with just getting through the rat-racey day, just surviving until the next crisis or until we have to begin the next jam packed day. So, I had to really let this concept sink into my awareness and permeate my being.

This took a while as most things do for me that challenge my usual way of thinking.
I don't remember exactly how long. Safe to say it was many months.

And then there was the second half of the statement, that bliss is "undisturbed by gain or loss." This was a much bigger pill to swallow or "allow" into my consciousness. This little phrase really shook up the way I thought about a lot of things and quite frankly mad me angry when I thought about it.

I grew up with the idea that more is better.  I was taught to work hard, to achieve success, acquire things, even degrees which of course make you smarter, right? So with that mode of thinking, then loss is bad. Loss means less, which means I am less, I have less, I am less important in the world, perhaps even less intelligent.

So all of those concepts began being challenged. Deep down in my core, I know that more is not better. And I know that less doesn't not mean that I am a failure.

So, what did it mean to me to "be undisturbed by gain or loss?"

     It meant to be at peace. It meant to remain neutral (not apathetic or unresponsive) to achieving something or losing something. It meant to be even keeled. And in the end, I found it to mean to be happy no matter what is happening on the outside or what I am thinking and/or feeling on the inside. For me, being undisturbed by gain or loss means that everything is going to work out. That I don't need to be afraid or panic. And that bliss could really be a natural and constant state of mind.

When all was said and done, this process took well over a year. There were a lot of questions, many inner challenges and arguments of long held beliefs and ideas. There was silence, contemplation, more questions. Then came the dismantling of old thought waves and patterns. And then came the re-wiring or introduction of the new more loving thought or idea. And this took a lot of care and watering like you would a new young tender plant or seedling.

A couple web definitions of bliss include:

noun: perfect happiness; great joy.

             synonyms: joy, happiness, pleasure, delight, ecstasy, elation, rapture,
                             euphoria
     2.  verb:  reach a state of perfect happiness, typically so as to be oblivious of
         everything else.      eg. "blissed-out hippies"

What does bliss mean to and for you?

      Can you try it on as a constant state of mind regardless of what is happening
      around you?

Be curious and see where your journey takes You!!!

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2014 - We Welcome Thee

1/1/2014

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I am so excited to share my new website with all of you and all the
        wonderful offerings I will have in the near future,
including great classes, products, services, recipes and promotions of special events and speakers. Please check the website often for updates and additions, www.onecosmicheart.net

It is my great pleasure to share this sacred journey with all of you.

I received this quote recently and have not been able to stop thinking about it.  The questions feel like a theme for me this year.

            "Do you have the patience to wait until the water is clear?
                             Can you sit until the answer arises of itself?"            Lao Tsu

I consider the Great Chinese Philosopher Lao Tsu, my brother, my friend and a very wise elder, guide and teacher for the Human race. Thank you for your wise words Great One. May we all be blessed and transformed by them.

And may 2014 bring you everything your heart desires. May we grow more loving towards ourselves, each other and the planet. May we experience peace, safety, health, abundance, inspiration, creativity, joy, love and infinite blessings. Love to you all.

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Could be Good. Could be Bad.

Are you Listening to your Own Rhythm?

Most Gentle Gifts from Those You Least Expect

What is Bliss?

2014 - We Welcome Thee

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