AWAKENING II

AWAKENING II

You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did
to you - or didn't do for you - and you learn that the only thing you can
really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what
they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that
everything isn't always about you.

So you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself...and
in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as
they are and to overlook their short-comings and human frailties...and in
the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view.
You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for...

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to
discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown or should never have bought into to begin with.

You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you
stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated
ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the
foundation upon which you must build a life.

still more to come...

TRUST

Stop second-guessing yourself. You know what you know, you know? That inner tickling is your highest truth. It will serve you well; the backfire comes when you deny or discount it. Take in information from all sides and yet trust, in the end, that you - and you alone - know what's best for you. If all day you pine to paint then that is what you must do. If you ache to walk beside the ocean, find a way to get there. Trust your own instincts against the education of any doctor, any lawyer, anyone who spouts facts and platitudes and absolutes. Learn to listen to your gut. Without complete trust, you are left only to rust.

Five Weird Things About Me

Well, I was "tagged" by Porta's Cat.

So... in fullfilling the "tag", here goes...

First off, I told PC that it wouldn't be easy to come up with five "weird" things about myself! He laughed, better yet, I thought he was going to go in to a coronary from all the laughter!! Apparently he feels and thinks that I exude "weirdness".... Go figure!!! lol... yet, I'm a Queen! HA!

Ok, ok...

1. I can not sleep with the closet door open, and if there is a door facing my bedroom door, one or the other has to be shut, not both of them, just one of them. I can sleep with my bedroom door open, but the bathroom door faces my bedroom door, so... the bathroom door will be closed. This all comes down to being scarred as a child, told that the Llorrona would come after me. I just somehow, always pictured her standing by the doorway, waiting to take me.

2. I also can't sleep with the window shades drawn or the curtains open, cracked, you name it.... Again, my parents had buried one of our pets, right under my bedroom window... Call it brotherly love, they use to always tell me that "PeeWee" was going to dig himself out and appear at my window. *PC feeds on this scarred tissue of my younger years... lol...

3. I have this "thing" about washing my hands, constantlly... no matter what I'm doing, before I start on to something else, I have a tendancy to wash my hands, and if I forget.... I immediately go wash them.

4. There's this thing about coffee and me... I'm told at work that I am surgically attached to my coffee mug. I love coffee.... Give me coffee all day long, breakfast, lunch and dinner. I even drink it room temp... yes, ROOM TEMP! I love the "fufu stuff" in my coffee. Although, I've been told that my Starbucks Caramel Machiato is not good for me "calorie wise" and if I keep drinking them, I'm going to end up with a "Ramen Butt"... lol... Don't get between this Queen and her coffee!!!

5. I can not, I repeat... CAN NOT, leave the house with out making the bed. I keep hearing "You're just going to end up right back in it... Don't care! The bed has to be made! If it doesn't get made up, it's cuz I'm running extremely late, the apt is on fire, or Useless is climbing on the Christmas tree!!!

lol... I'm worried, that was too easy for me, I can still think of a few other things...

So, now I have to tag a five other people!!! Here is where paybacks come to play!!!

Suzanne - My Path

Sues Views

MUSHY'S MOOCHINGS

Katey's Kafe

Ebyjo

I can't wait... ;)

LIVE

As long as you’re alive, why not live? Live life to the fullest. Live it up. Live in the moment. Live as though you had only twenty-four hours to live. Live the life you’ve always wanted. Live for yourself-not for others, alive or dead. Live on the edge a bit; it’s the only place from which you can take a leap. Live the life that is yours alone. Live wherever you want, with whomever you want, however you want, but live! Don’t just get a life – create one. Don’t just step into someone else’s life – design your own. Don’t confuse real life with what you see on TV or at the movies. Live free or die (even if you’re not from New Hampshire). Live so that when you’re dead, people will remark less on what you did in life – and more on how you lived.

"A Life Entwined"

Carn Drexl

LOVE

Love freely love deeply. Love purely. Love yourself the way you’ve always wanted to be loved, and love others the same way. Love well, love often. Find it in your heart to love those who have never shown you love for they need it most of all. Give so much love that you’re certain to get some back. Open your heart to the woman who lives on the sidewalk with her two daughters. Love her. Have compassion for the man who fired you from the job you loved most of all. Love him. Love all the earth has to offer – her people, her birds, her stones, insects, trees, mice, and oceans. Love something larger than yourself. Call it Goddess, call it God, call it Nature, call it Source, call it Betty.

Christmas Poem

I found this beautiful winter poem and thought it might be a comfort to you.
It was to me, and it's very well written.
ENJOY!

" WINTER "
a poem by Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre

SHIT!
It's Cold !

Definitely interesting...

Found this over at Sues Views. Couldn't resist, curiosity got the best of me...

You are The Tower

Ambition, fighting, war, courage. Destruction, danger, fall, ruin.

The Tower represents war, destruction, but also spiritual renewal. Plans are disrupted. Your views and ideas will change as a result.

The Tower is a card about war, a war between the structures of lies and the lightning flash of truth. The Tower stands for "false concepts and institutions that we take for real." You have been shaken up; blinded by a shocking revelation. It sometimes takes that to see a truth that one refuses to see. Or to bring down beliefs that are so well constructed. What's most important to remember is that the tearing down of this structure, however painful, makes room for something new to be built.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

"The Pivotal Moments In Life

I ran across this article as I was trying to sort out all the flurry going about in my brain with the new direction that my life is going and where it's been... I feel like I need to really stop and smell the roses, and take some time to focus on alot of the flurry and God's will.

I will share the article.

I attempted to find something online that would directly link you to the article itself, but nothing was found, so credit is here. I am so glad I ran in to her column...

Column

RIGHT Brain

by Karen Price

Once upon a time there was a little girl. Her parents loved her dearly and taught her many things. She learned right from wrong, how to be kind to others and to do her best. She matured and grew into a lovely young woman.

However, even the best parents in the world cannot prevent some bad things from happening in their children's lives. So, in high school, this young woman suffered her first big tragedy when a male friend and classmate died in an automobile accident. Then, as if that was not enough. Her heart was broken by the first boy who professed his love for her. Disillusionment set in, along with a dose of self doubt and questions about life. There was no protection and nowhere to hide. Life had dished out a pivotal moment and a process was set in motion.

Pivotal moments are events that shape and change our lives. They can be positive or negative, but are almost always life altering experiences that have a substantial impact.

Our internal and/or external worlds are usually dramatically different as a result of the event. Whatever the situation, we are confronted and challenged in ways we never imagined and in the process we are transformed. Our view of ourselves, others or life itself is altered and we have to scramble to to integrate our new world view. Throughout our lifetime we, as humans can expect that there will be significant events. No one or nothing can prevent or protect us from the ups and downs of life. How we deal with these events and how we incorporate them into our lives determines the kind of human being we will be, the quality of relationships we will have and the kind of life we will live.

While major life experiences can be positive or negative, generally it is the grave, difficult times that really make us feel chaotic and challenge us in ways we never thought possible. This turmoil forces us to evaluate our philosophies, relationships and beliefs or risk being stuck in unpleasantness. Although we may not ask for the event, we have to deal with it. In retrospect, the tough times often spur us to enormous growth. Likewise, when significant positive events occur, we must learn to completely experience and treasure the wonderful aspects of these times.

The reality is that we cannot always control people, places or things and the stories of life are not always happy. We must learn to "take the bad with the good." While we cannot always write the story and while we might not even like it, we do have the ability to create happy endings. It is up to us to make the outcome one that is favorable. The pessimist might respond to a difficult event by saying, "what's the point, what does it matter, why should I keep trying." The optimist might say, "good will ultimately come of this, I will do my best." Most likely the person who is bitter is blaming, unforgiving and does not forget. The person who is successful at surviving major life occurrences is flexible, loving, understanding and forgiving.

One of the cornerstones of mental health is resiliency, the ability to recover after life deals us a blow. It is a kind of elasticity, the knack of bouncing back after adversity, of returning to a solid state after being crushed. Those people that possess this quality are likely to roll with the punches of life. Being resilient does not mean being in denial or beign impervious to events. People who are resilient cope and develop philosophies to help them through the tough times. They overcome adversity. They adapt to change. They build alliances an dallow themselves to be supported. They trust the process of life.

Life in and of itself is a beautiful gift. Each and every one of us is personally responsible for how we handle life's challenges and rewards. When those pivotal moments occur, we have the opportunity to make choices. Moment to moment, we can impact life simply by the choices we make. Let us be good custodians of life and leave the world a better place for us having been in it. Let us seek the truth and live fully!

Karen Price
M.A., L.P.C., L.M.F.T., N.C.C., A.T.R.

Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice.

AWAKENING IV

I've had my fun these last few days, so here I am posting the last part to my repost of The Awakening... You'll have to follow it all together at one time, but again...it is worth every minute.

AWAKENING IV (last)

You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that

sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people...

...and you learn not to always take it personally.

You learn that nobody's punishing you and everything isn't always somebody's fault.

It's just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to
build bridges instead of walls.

Finally, with courage in your heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you

begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.


~ Victorya Casanova ~
THE AWAKENING


My sincere and deepest love to everyone going through their own AWAKENING...

AWAKENING III

AWAKENING III
As I mentioned, this is lengthy, but very well worth it...

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world
and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn that the only cross to bear is
the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

You learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are
and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish
between guilt and responsiblity and the importance of setting boundaries and...
learning to say NO. (Tuff enough...)

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things
over and ignoring your needs.

You learn that your body really is your temple.
You begin to care for it and treat it with respect.
You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water,
and take more time to exercise.

You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear and uncertainty...
so you take more time to rest. And just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul.
So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve
and that much of life is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for
something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction,
discipline and perserverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone,
and that's OKAY to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself...You learn to step right into and
through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to
give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.

yes... more to come.... one last part.

AWAKENING Repost from an old archive of mine

AWAKENING – Repost from 360

This is a favorite of mine and a reminder for myself as to who I am and what I am working towards in my new life…

Upon browsing the net... I came across this poem that seems to scream quite a bit of what my life has been in the last 9 months... I felt compelled to just share it with those around me as I know for a fact that I'm not alone in this world and that we all have our own stories...
These thoughts are lengthy, but very well worth the reading. I assure you! At the end of it all, I will direct you to the website, but for now, I'll relay the message in spurts... so much of Victorya Casanova's words have already been experienced by me, so much that I sat here and nodded and smiled. Yet, many of her thoughts and words are still to be experienced and learned and my arms are wide open to my full AWAKENING! I think I'm more than half way there...
An AWAKENING is not a short synopsis of sorts. It is something very real and well worth the fight, the struggle, the tears and even pain!
Because at the end, you'll find yourself in a peaceful place...

AWAKENING
A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when,
in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead
in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out...
ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on.

Then like a child quieting down after a tantrum you blink
back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.
This is your AWAKENING.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something
to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically
appear over the next horizon.

You realize that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale
endings and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin
with you...and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone
will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are...
and that's OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself...and in
the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.

more to come....