Keys to Harmony

I am learning the keys to harmony.  Perhaps in the back of my mind, I have known the tune all along, but had resorted to humming, instead of learning the lyrics.  I think that may be what many of us do in life.  We either stay silent or we hit a wrong note in an attempt to be heard.  Or we hum the melody without using our words.

And sometimes this serves us.

And sometimes, it does not.

The keys are to know the difference.

Often attempts at harmony are not met with enthusiasm for various reasons.  We sing in different keys and therefore to be in harmony with others, we need to compromise and find the middle ground in order to communicate easily.  One wrong note and the harmony ceases.  It’s often difficult for each person to be themselves, to sing their own part and somehow find harmony with those around them.  It takes practice, patience, understanding and listening from a place of love in order to harmonize with others.  We cannot come to the piano bench expecting to play life’s keys perfectly without listening for those around us as they play their tune as well.

Listening to others’ tunes, hearing how they hit the notes, noticing which ones they miss and how they feel about harmony takes practice.  Being in an observer mode, hearing our own notes and seeing the whole orchestral piece of music helps the players get along and helps the musical piece rise to new heights.

To be in tune with ourselves is a gift, like The Presents of Presence.  To appreciate the music in others is a precious gift as well.  It takes courage to play our own tune.  It takes love to harmonize with others.  But when it all comes together, love shines through the blended piece!

Today, listen to your song.  Take a moment to listen to Nature.  As you pass through the lives of others today, whether it is a brief encounter or a lifelong relationship, hum your song and listen as others tune in with harmony!

Shine On!

xo

 

See the Light In Others

and treat them as if that is all you see.

~ Dr. Wayne Dyer

I love this quote by Dr. Wayne Dyer and it goes with the theme of my past few posts.  When we see with our heartlights, our hearts are filled with warmth, love and peace.

May you see everyone’s heartlight shining today and everyday!

Shine On!

xo

Smiles Are Contagious

Recently I had an experience with a friend which put a huge smile on my face.  It was her enthusiasm for her circumstances that allowed me to raise my own happiness quotient to match hers, which in turn, raised my own vibrational thinking and I am ever grateful for her sharing her story with me.  Perhaps this sounds corny to you, but haven’t you ever noticed that when someone smiles at you, you smile back?  It’s like when a person yawns next to you, sometimes even if you aren’t fatigued, you catch the yawn yourself.  Surely there’s a biological cause to this which I can’t tell you in medical terms, but hopefully you get the gist of what I’m writing.

To hear, feel and know the happiness of another person is to be with them in that moment of joy, even if your situation is not as positive.  Joy raises our vibrations when we allow it and it allows us to stand on the peak of life instead of being stuck in the valley.  As we all have experienced, life is full of peaks and valleys, darkness and light and all that in-between grey areas where most of our processing takes place.  Without the darkness, we can’t see the stars, so for me, I’d prefer to experience the darkness so that I can see the light.  Does that make sense?  Do you feel the same way?

There is always a bit of joy to be found in life as are the stars in the darkness of night.  Sometimes you have to get out of the clouds in your mind, heart, body and soul before you can actually experience the starlight, but it is always there even when you can’t seem to see it.

So today, I hope you find the smile photo like a yawn ~ catch the joy please!  From my starlit joy to yours!

Shine On!

xo

P.S.  The photo above isn’t of me.  It’s actually a card from here!

The Shift

Please click here  to watch The Shift for free.  It’s an amazing opportunity that I received in my email last night.  I have watched this myself and it was life-changing.  I hope you enjoy the gift from his family.

Shine On!

xo

Encouraging Thunder Award!

Elizabeth Cottrell over at Heartspoken  kindly honored me with the Encouraging Thunder Award for which I am ever grateful.  I’ve never heard of this blog award before and quite frankly had not accepted any awards in quite awhile, but for this one, I’m making an exception. ♥

Elizabeth’s website Heartspoken shows how connecting with others leads to a life filled with love.  There is much to do and to see on her website and I encourage you to visit.  Writing heartfelt notes, connecting with others and encouraging people are just a few of the ways we are alike and I just know you’d enjoy reading her story.

So…here are the rules…

The Rules for the Encouraging Thunder Award:

• Post it on your blog.

• Grant other bloggers the award.

What you cannot do:

1. Abuse or misuse the logo.

2. Claim that it is your own handmade logo.

What you should do after receiving the Encouraging Thunder Award:

• Enjoy the award!

• At least give thanks via comments, likes and/or mentioning the blog that you received the award from.

• Mention your purpose in blogging

 

I think I’ve done everything except to tell you my purpose in blogging.  Instead of rewriting, I thought I’d give you a list of some of the posts I’ve written that have to do with why I blog.  Enjoy!

dp-blogging-addiction

daily-prompt-help

in-harmony

why-do-you-blog

follow-the-yellow-brick-road-with-me

how-to-find-gratitude-in-having-a-tough-life

why-do-we-blog

I am honored to be able to pass along this award to a relatively new blogger who has encouraged connections within the community.  Let’s hear a thunderous round of applause for Danny over at Dream Big Dream Often  who in a short amount of time has made a big impact here in helping others and encouraging bloggers to connect by opening his blog to guests posts, to reblogs, pingbacks, etc. all in the name of positivity, encouragement, kindness and understanding.

Shine On!

xo

P.S.  Today’s the first of September ~ don’t forget to say, rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit!

 

What Love Is Not

We write, speak and throw the word LOVE around often.  You’ve heard the saying, love makes the world go ’round and you get what you give.  But what isn’t love?  Do you know?

Growing up, I knew I was loved for I heard the words many times.  I have friends who didn’t hear those words from their parents’ mouths and yet, they still know that they are loved.  But I believe there are all types of love in our world.  There’s the burning passionate love and there’s the quiet acceptance of another person known as love.  There’s the love of your child, the love of a friend and there’s the love of mankind.  There’s loving a pet, loving what you do and loving life!  Most importantly, there’s self-love.  These are just a few examples of different types of love that are good.

But sometimes, what is perceived as love, is not, in fact, love because there are subtle differences.  There are disguises in love that I’ve learned in my lifetime.  Here are a few examples of What Love Is Not.

Love is NOT:

Repeating I love you constantly in order to hear it back,

Nor is it withholding the words I love you in order to hurt.

Expecting someone else to make you happy,

Nor is it being responsible to be another person’s everything.

Refusing to connect, share and speak in order to increase understanding,

Nor is it talking without listening.

Pointing fingers at mistakes,

Nor is it refusing to forgive when mistakes are made.

Holding back,

Nor is it pushing away.

Being in control of another person,

Nor is it being controlled by another person.

Shallow, superficial or pretentious,

Nor is it temperamental and able to be whisked away at the slightest provocation.

Suffering in silence,

Nor is it lashing out with undue violence.

Holding grudges, getting even,

Nor is it keeping track, tit for tat.

~~~~~~~~~~~

What Love IS:

Love is compassionate.

Love understands.

Love listens.

Love shares.

Love forgives.

Love is kind.

Love takes time.

Love supports.

Love gives.

Love grows.

Love holds hearts, minds and bodies tenderly.

There are so many more examples of love, but I will leave you to add to the list in the comments section below.  Loving another person is simple even when life is complicated at times.  Recently I was told that I love with my whole heart and that’s my problem.  Perhaps it is, but it’s the only way I know how and the love I feel for all of you has brought me much peace in my life.  I want you to know that you are loved, every single one of you, for who you are.

Shine On!

xo

 

Caregiving

 

It takes infinite patience to talk with someone with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.  As a daughter and niece, I speak everyday with them.  It is a part of my morning routine which for the most part, I enjoy.  However, there are days when I have to muster the courage to call.  I won’t ever not call, even though I am not sure they would realize that I hadn’t talk with them.  But on that slight chance, I won’t take the risk.

Our conversations are repetitive.  It’s not easy to answer the same questions multiple times.  But patience is a virtue that I am trying to limitlessly attain.  I admit I lie sometimes because they want me to be doing exciting things everyday and I simply don’t have that lifestyle.  I know she worries about my safety because that’s who she is, so I always bend the truth to add that someone else is driving when I hear her begin to be anxious.  It’s not that I’m trying to lie, but that in her state, it’s easier for her to imagine I am having a lovely time all the time, instead of hearing about my reality.

Surely she gets tired too of my questioning what they’ve done today or what she’s eaten as she never remembers.  It’s funny how she can never recall her meals and yet I know she eats 3 a day.  It’s got to be so difficult to be in her position although I think we have crossed over to peace with our lives at this point.

But it’s not easy to stand by and watch helplessly.  The good thing is she still knows who I am.  Still recites that she loves me multiple times and of course, I say it as well.   It’s always been important for her to hear and say, “I love you” to her family.  That is one part that I cherish during our daily conversations for I know that life is short, the future is unknown and it’s the present of the moment to hear those precious words and know she means them and vice versa.

Today’s post is dedicated to those who work in memory care or are caregivers for those who have lost their memories.  Please accept my heartfelt hug.  I understand.  There’s a special place in Heaven for you.

Shine On!

xo

We Are All the Same, Yet Different

It amazes me how people can disconnect and forget that we are all humans.  It frightens me to listen to the news sometimes when I hear how some people treat others, wounding and killing without seeming to care.  We are all connected as energy, as souls, as humans.  Our planet is the only one we’ve got.  We all need oxygen to live and we all need food and water to survive.

We are in this together, here in the same boat, on the same planet, breathing the same air and drinking the same waters and yet there are those who forget.  Yes, we are different.  Each and every one of us is like the flower above ~ all flowers, but all seemingly different in how we look, think, act and perceive life.  Our experiences are different.  Our families, our work, our goals may be different.  Our strife may be different.  But the commonality of humankind is apparent.

So how do we make this planet better?  By seeing the world through loving eyes, ears, hearts and souls.  We are not just humans with souls, we are souls with bodies.  We are born with a life energy that has an expiration date which we do not know so we must live each and every day to its fullest.  When we shine our heartlights, we raise the energy and vibrations in this world.  We make the world a better place and in turn, we make it better for ourselves.

Perhaps, ‘love thy neighbor as thyself’ is hard when you don’t love yourself or harder still, when the neighbor is a pain in the neck.  I get it.  Dealing with others can be challenging at times.  But to forgive, to do our best and to observe with understanding makes the commandment easier.

So look around at the millions of flowers in our world.  Bless each one in the garden of life.  Know that each is doing its best to grow, to flourish, to blossom and to bring beauty to the world.  As each one begins its withering journey, find compassion in your heart to make the journey as beautiful as you can for everyone around you is doing their best.

Shine On!

xo

Loving Embrace Needed

“Respect yourself enough to walk away
from anything that no longer serves you,
grows you, or makes you happy.”
-Robert Tew

The above quote came to me as many of them do, in the right time.  Have you found that quotes, people and events come to you when you feel you are at a crossroads and don’t know which way to turn at times?  What examples can you share with us?  Please feel free below in the comments!

I’m at a crossroads in my life.  It is not easy to know which path to choose although I know what path has been chosen for me and I don’t like it.  But then growth happens when we emerge out of our comfort zones and I know in my head that this freedom is a gift, but it is a gift I’d like to return so that I may stay in the comfort of my cocoon where I know how to live.  But it is time for rebirth much to my chagrin at the moment and I am finding it difficult to say the least.  It’s why I haven’t been blogging as much lately for I am lofty in my thoughts, but my essence is suffering.  It is easier to speak/write in higher vibrations than it is to live daily this way when I am feeling lowly.  But I have lived through painful experiences before and I will live through this now as well.  It’s what I know I can do.  I know I have the innate ability to survive even though my heart is breaking.  I will get through this chapter in my life as well, perhaps not unscathed, but with the growth that comes from this experience in my life.  I long to see a crystal ball at times to have some chance at seeing the good that will come from this, but you and I both know that crystal balls don’t exist and that even if I could see, I may fall apart at the result.  So I just keep plugging away, day by day, doing the best I can at the moment.  Many times, it’s a moment to moment readjustment of how I strong I feel and how positive, for creating a new life can be daunting ~ even when I know it is a clean, new page in my life’s book.

We all struggle at times to do the right thing for ourselves and for our loved ones.  At times, we must look plainly at our lives to check in with how we are treated and how we are treating others.  It is in this honest evaluation that we can see with the clearest of eyes and hearts what is going on.  We must protect ourselves at times and hold dearly our self respect and release what doesn’t serve us.

I ask you to remember me for my heart has been breaking for awhile now and I have been trying to keep going, but I am losing a bit of ground lately.  Being compassionate, respectful and kind with others has worn my heart thin and I am grieving.  Perhaps it is just a low point today and we all have them.  I have always been grateful for how supportive you all are to me and I am asking for your loving kindness and understanding.  My future is not sure these days and I need to make my own way in this world again.  I know that someday I will be grateful for the growth that this unexpected experience brings, but for now, I ask for your loving embrace.

Shine On!

xo

P.S.  I posted this and then poof, Lorrie’s post appeared If Only…I Would!  I’m ever grateful that our loving heartstrings connect so quickly!  Make sure you stop by to get your loving embrace from her ~ and here’s mine. ♥♥♥

Michelle’s Weekly Pet Challenge ~ Kitty Komfort

Tiffy in my arms, wrapped in my fuzzy sweater.

Now that the weather’s a bit brisk, my feline companion, 5 year old American Bobtail Tiffany, affectionately referred to as Tiffy, follows me around when I wear my morning comfy sweater.  There’s an urgency in her meow, a plaintive cry that demands being snuggled like a baby in a papoose for a few minutes every morning.  Usually I am able to get a swig of my first cup of coffee before she insists on being present with me for awhile.  And I must say, I do not mind at all.  It is our bonding time.  Her little furry body nestles in my arms, purring quite unabashedly as we simply breathe in the same rhythm and bond.  Her whole body resonates in that purr, vibrating at a timbre that my heart actually feels.  As her eyes close in bliss (and mine do as well), we just enjoy the Presents of Presence, the peacefulness before the hubbub of the day begins.

We just are ~ 2 souls who connect.

And isn’t that the way it should be with all of us, human and animal alike?  I unashamedly tell you this story, with the nagging feelings that you may name me ‘Crazy Cat Lady’ but I don’t mind.  The truth is that it’s a special moment that I cherish.  It’s the blessing of being open to accept and to give love unconditionally and I relish the daily feeding of my heart and soul.

It’s not to say that I don’t feel that way about my human family/children because I do.  But they are bigger now and don’t quite fit the same way anymore as Tiffy does in my arms.  Being teenagers, they are bigger than I am ~ and I’m not quite sure how they’d feel about me hopping up into their laps to be held baby-like wrapped in a soft sweater! LOL

So this morning, as you sip your tea or coffee, take a moment to imagine the universe embracing you with loving arms, snuggling you in its fuzzy sweater, a cherished soul wrapped in love.

You are special.  You are loved.

Shine On!

xo

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