A heart wide open

My heart is wide open and I feel so loved and in love with all. This morning I taught my yoga class focusing on heart openers also known as backbends. WOW. The experience during the class was so lovely and all day, even now at 5:31pm I am experiencing a sensation of well being and love. This day has been filled with love. I did almost all the things I love including making love, gardening, eating out, sitting in my garden, baking brownies, having my old neighbors just drop by to say hi, slow dancing in the kitchen while making a romantic dinner with Joe. The only thing missing is spending time with my family who I love. I am sending love to all of you from a heart wide open.

Weeding my mind

Several weeks ago while on my daily walk I noticed that my mental chatter was very negative, filled with criticism and frustrations. Suddenly I heard a bird's song that inspired alertness and being present to each step on my walk. In every step that followed I began to weed my mind of the negative thoughts. I just literally changed my thoughts first from what I needed to rid my mind of: criticisms of others, even as I write I did such a good weeding I can't remember what I all I weeded. My thoughts then changed to what reflecting on the many many good things in my life. What I do remember and still feel is that it worked. In weeding out the negative thoughts, I had space for mindfulness. Mindfulness enabled gratitude and a desire for kindness and joy. Peace followed right along and is still present. I will continue to do my periodic weeding as necessary and also water seeds of kindness, gentleness, compassion and service. I have noticed that I have had renewed energy for my St. Vincent de Paul case work and for important matters of my faith.

Reptiles

Sunday Johnny invited me to the Reptile exhibit in San Mateo. Not something I would normally consider alas how could I say no to my little 3 year old friend Johnny, JP as I call him. His middle name is Philip. His sister Sarah joined along with his mother and father Shannon and Brad. We got to see many colors and sizes of snakes, lizards some with beards, tarantulas ugh, and of course tadpoles and frogs. Johnny was delighted with everything and without fear touched snakes, put his nose right up to the glass terrariums to see lizards and other little slimy creatures and his joy became mine. He went to each booth, studied each creature with a delight that made me realize that as awful as these little reptiles were to me, they were of beauty and magnificence to Johnny and to those who ran each booth. I realized that all creation of the world really is awesome in the eyes of someone in this case Johnny. Thank you Johnny for inviting me and for letting me see through your eyes the beauty of the reptile world.

Finding time for the best parts of life

Enjoying the fruits of our labor is not an easy task in these times of much work and the many opportunities to do service whether it is for schools, church or other passions. However, carving out time to enjoy life is a key to making the other commitments a more joyful endeavor versus the feeling of being burdened. I myself say yes too often to many requests and then have a sense of frustration/irritation for not having time to be with friends and family. Over the past weeks I have made an extra effort to find time to be with family and friends and in doing so feel literally invigorated and joyful about being of service to my other commitments. Life is full and I know that in the fullness we miss some of the best parts of living. My best parts of life are being with family and friends and that has led me to more joy in all. Do you know the best parts of your life? Are you creating time for those best parts?

The changed life of a family

My sister Bridget has shared a sad story with us and asked for our prayers. One of her employees, while vacationing with his young family in Mexico, experienced a tragedy that no doubt has brings deep sorrow and pain for him and his family. While his 14 year old triplet children were jet skiing one of them crashed and was killed. Far from home, and now with the loss of a child, a changed life for this family begins. I was praying last night and thought about his daughter that died, she is at peace passing from this life into heaven. For those us that believe in heaven, we think of a place of deep peace. If only this family will see that their daughter's tragic death has enabled her to move to the peace of heaven, maybe their own suffering might be lessened. Nothing anyone can do will change what has happened. I ask all of us that believe in the power of prayerful intention, to pray that this family will not allow the loss of their daughter to bring their own lives to death here on earth. So often when one loses a child, the whole family dies from the agony of the depth of what I see as the greatest suffering, the loss of a child. I pray that they will live more fully experiencing life as the gift it is and see their daughter's new life in heaven as inspiration for creating LIFE here in this changed family. Bridget, I am continuing my vigil for this family to experience more peaceful moments than sorrow.