Sources of healing

I was restless in the night and so I began to pray for each of the members of my family and community that I know is suffering in some way.  As I prayed for each person to heal and find peace, I realized my own sources of healing and peace. As my prayers turned into naming my blessings, I fell into a deep and restful sleep. I awoke this morning to become inspired to write about my own sources of healing so that you too can begin to think and practice your own sources of healing. My prayer life is healing in that it gives me a place to express my worries and intentions. My yoga practice is healing in that it enables me to move, stretch, strengthen, meditate and be with a community of peaceful warriors.  My St Vincent de Paul home visits to the poor allow me to appreciate the goodness and generosity of our parish and the hope it brings to those we serve.  When I participate in mass and sit with faithful followers of Jesus Christ and receive Christ in the body and blood, I find healing. My home is a source of healing as I keep it orderly and minimized primarily because the clutter of my mind is overwhelming enough.  Today, I shall do a yoga pose, visit the poor, and sit in the calm of my living room and express gratitude for this day of healing.

Rain, Rhubarb and Renewal

This morning I woke up with the blahs, overwhelmed with work, worn down with unending to do’s and a lack luster attitude. In a single instant, in the dark and quiet morning hour, with my bleak outlook, I heard the rain drops falling gently, lightly and my outlook changed. I ran to the door, turned on my outside light and watched the drops fall and my thoughts cleared, I am inspired, motivated and delighted with today. I popped an English muffin in the toaster, took out some of dad’s homemade rhubarb jam and savored the flavor, the moment and the cozy feeling of calm.  The mind’s power to overcome is only trumped by nature in her mighty and in her gentle ways to embrace, to awaken or to move us into action.  Nature has been hard on the Philippines and yet so many are inspired to move into action to help them rebuild and renew. Be mindful and allow mother and human nature to heal.



A little wave made my day.

Yesterday morning as I was leaving my home to go to work, I heard a tap tap tap coming from the direction next door, I turned to look and there standing in the window was my little neighbor, age 5, ready for kindergarten, one hand on the window and the other hand waving to me with a big smile. I am sure that was God and her name is Rosie.  In my days filled with working, and doing and sometimes just surviving, recognizing these beautiful moments like Rosie waving are tremendous gifts that last the whole day. Even this morning I reflect on the beauty of Rosie’s face, her little green jacket and stance as she just smiled and waved from her window. There are no words to express the preciousness of that moment of connection between two human beings who love each other. Love heals all, thank you Rosie.

Stepping into our full potential

“This is too much, I am overwhelmed, and I have to get out of here”. These are mental statements I have noticed that I have played in mind recently, mostly related to work matters that are extremely challenging.  On my much-needed walk yesterday, a new mantra entered my mind: “step into your full potential”. Even this morning it continues to be pervasive enough to write about for today’s blog. Step into your full potential is telling me to play big, elevate your game, and be all you can be and don’t let your mind stop you. Our mind is powerful; look at Dr. Viktor Frankl who survived the Auschwitz concentration camp.  He survived by choosing a positive attitude and turning his suffering into meaning.  Look at Mother Theresa’s ability to joyfully help and live with those in India dying on the streets of extreme poverty. These are just two examples of people who reached their full potential, how many others can you name.  Step into you full potential by embracing a positive mental attitude, accessing resources, learning new skills, taking action towards self-improvement. Stepping into your full potential enables you to reach higher levels of being and change your view of life: trading in desperation for triumph and more likely for most turning frustration into achievement. I need not to become a Mother Therese to find meaning in work and life. I must recognize the free will that starts in my mind to reach my full potential. My life is better as I focus on work and commitment, practice loving more deeply and change my mental chatter to “I can, I am able, and I rise to the occasion”.

Memo 9: Find a penny pick it up and all lifelong you’ll learn to save.

The real quote, known by most is “find a penny, pick it up and all day long you’ll have good luck.”  I am not sure who coined, punned intended, this phrase, alas it brings to mind that a penny saved is a penny earned.  Mostly as I pondered my habitual way of finding pennies, and other coins and actually saving them either reflects my frugality or my interest in savings, probably both.  At a more rudimentary level, this concept of saving pennies is actually the essence of today’s financial coaching memo: developing the muscle of saving.  Saving and learning to save is like anything else you must practice doing it and it will become part of your way of being.  In my own family, I know that people toss aside pennies as meaningless and yet I know someone who saved every penny and other spare change from the time his daughter was born until she was 16 and bought her first car with the change that had been saved over her 16 years.  I know for myself, I frequently turn 5 pennies into the bank for a nickel so that I have the parking meter money. How often have you needed parking meter money and wished you had not tossed aside your odd change. I am sure many can attest to paying a parking ticket for not having change available. Pennies to parking money, pennies to cars, what can you turn your pennies into? Start saving your pennies and you will learn to start saving. 

Memo 7: Simplify as a way to peace

As I reflect on Mahatma Gandhi’s quote and my mantra over the past several years, “live simply, so that others can simply live,” I appreciate the gift that living simply has become. I have a heart of gratitude for all that is, and I have become more aware of the great need that exists in our world. Living simply has enabled me to move more freely into life. For example, I literally walk out of the house with very few things in hand, most frequently just my house key and sweater. I keep my home and possessions organized in a manner that enables me to be free from clutter. I open my mail, purge what I don’t need; pay as I can, and keep good records so I know where I stand. I am lucky as my nature is organized and this in and of itself is a useful trait. Every women’s magazine has article after article, tip after tip on how to organize.  Simplifying includes organizing, minimizing and reducing stuff. Simple living is doing less laundry because you reuse a towel, using less shampoo because you let your hair go a few days between washing, buying less food because you create things out of what’s in the cupboard and fridge. Simple living is not wasting, it is reusing, recycling and reclaiming your life. Simple living is driving less and walking more and finding that you get your exercise in the process. Simple living is awareness and removal to the clutter of the mind, the car, the backpack, the home, the shelves, the drawers, and the excess weight both literally and figuratively that weigh us down. Less is more and simplicity creates abundance in ways beyond what I can describe in words. I will add to Mahatma Gandhi’s quote, "'Live simply so that others can simply live,' and find your life more abundant and peaceful."

Memo 6: Transparency to Transformation

I have always said that what I can distinguish, and or name, I can begin to change. In the context of this conversation on financial awareness, I truly believe that as you become more transparent to your financial situation be it good, bad or status quo, you can begin to transform in to something more, less, better, and or remain aware of your status quo.  As I put energy into transparency in all areas of my life, I am able to transform areas into something different, in this case, financial freedom. In essence, what I am trying to articulate is look at your situation, be transparent to yourself regarding your debt, your spending, your frugality, your hoarding, and or your disinterest in financial information, wherever you are in your financial being. Notice it, be transparent and write it down, name it e.g. indebtedness, poverty, over spending, hoarding, austerity, as you distinguish it in that moment you can begin to transform it.  I myself realized that I am becoming so caught up to the idea and practice of austerity; I am being transparent to an austerity addiction. Naming this addiction to austerity and being transparent to what is, gives me the power to choose to be more generous to others and myself today. What can you name and do today to transform your financial being into financial well being?