Another Belated Rabbit Rabbit

Well my friends, it’s another belated Rabbit Rabbit post.  I have been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to tend to my blog, nor to check in on my sweet blogging friends.  I hope that all of you are doing well!  One of these days I will be able to have some time to catch up, but in the meantime, please know that I still am saying Rabbit Rabbit every first of the month and I hope you are too!

What I’ve learned recently (and I’ve known for quite some time) is that change is inevitable and it pushes us out of our comfort zones in ways in which we would never have learned those life lessons.  Even when we are in the midst of an upheaval, life goes on.  Daily life continues with all of its responsibilities.  Onward marching as the days go by and we are just a blip in this big Universe.

To those who are close with us, we are not just a blip, but an integral part in the world that we’ve created.  A microcosm in our soul family unit.  Our place in that small portion of the Universe is important and for that, I’m grateful.

Situations challenge us to learn those soul lessons of forgiveness, empathy, compassion, kindness and loving acceptance even when the struggles to find them are real.  Holding onto the poison of the past helps no one, especially those of us who find that allowing and letting go are the keys to health, peace and love in our daily lives.  Counting our blessings and appreciating all that we have spiritually helps beyond measure in healing.  Expanding our hearts to hold the heartlights of those who have taught us these life lessons is key to moving forward in our soul journey towards the light.

Allow me to embrace you all as we continue to shine our heartlights!  I hope that what’s left of June continues with peace and love for you.  If you’re having some challenges, remember that change is inevitable and can many times be helpful even when we can’t see how or why at the present moment.

Shine On!

xo

 

Making Friends Through Blogging

I like my friends like I like my M&M candies.  (My old English teacher would have hated that sentence because for a full year he wouldn’t let us use the work like!)  Sorry, but I couldn’t help getting off task for a moment…ahem…let me begin again.

I don’t care about your candy coated color, I just care that you are sweet inside.  Oh boy, does that sound goofy when I reread it!  But it’s true.  Honestly.  That’s why I love blogging.  We meet people from all over the world and what’s the tie that binds us?  Blogging.  Being kind to others.  Taking the time to read someone else’s work / life / poetry / photography / philosophy /short stories, etc.  Blogging unites us in ways that we may not have had the chance to bond.  I’ve met hundreds of bloggers and many hold a treasured place in my heart, as real as my own soul family, even though we’ve never met in person.  With technology these days, this is not a remote possibility anymore.  It’s factual.  It’s friendship without borders.  It’s friendship through blogging and making global connections.

We share our lives through blogging and through those connections, we become friends.  Well, maybe better said virtual friends, but friends all the same.  It’s funny how some of us now talk on the phone, text and email as well as comment on each other’s blogs.  It’s a community of sorts with blogging friendships.  We’ve shared triumphs, failures and lessons learned.  We’ve shared advice, companionship and understanding.  We’ve shared good times and bad times and even been there for each other when we’re grieving through life’s hurts.  We’ve shared heartfelt hugs, prayers and love.  We’ve shared inspirational tidbits, learned new things and have grown our minds, hearts and souls by opening ourselves to others’ points of view.  How awesome is blogging when we use it universally for positivity and for connecting with others!

Your blogs entice me to learn.  You inspire me to be a better person.  Your photography makes me smile.  Your poetry makes me feel deeply.  Your camaraderie promotes peace and connections.  Your heartlights shine brilliantly and I am truly grateful!

I just want to thank you all for being exactly who you are!

The perfect M&Ms who sweeten my days!

Shine On!

xo

Saying Goodbye Is Never Easy

Being in a memory care facility, like the one that my family members were in Savannah, is like being with family.  Residents all sit at the meal tables with the same group and become, over time, a soul family.  A family of people who aren’t related by blood nor marriage, but are family all the same in the best sense – the sense of belonging together, sharing meals, supporting each other and caring with kindness that goes beyond, goes deeper than simple connections.

One might say that in a memory care facility, residents don’t always recognize other people nor interact, but we were truly blessed.  Not only did the residents bond with each other, sharing stories (sometimes repeatedly – it was always a joy to hear them), but the families of the residents bonded in ways that we couldn’t have foreseen.

What binds us together is a love connection – the innate understanding that we get it – we know how it feels to have a loved one living in a memory care facility and all that goes along with it and we’re grateful for the unexpected friendships that accompany our experiences.

So when I got the phone message that my friend’s Mama passed away the other morning, the tears burst out of my eyes and I began to cry while listening to her message.  My phone volume had been turned down and because it was in the bottom of my purse, I missed her call.  Immediately I called her back, but she didn’t pick up.  I tried not to weep too much, but I left her a message telling her how sad I was to hear the news.

You see, her Mama and my loved ones were best friends, having lived in the same home for two years.  Every meal, they ate together, shared stories and smiled.  They bonded in the most beautiful way.  I am getting weepy remembering how in the last few years of their lives, these strangers shared a bond, connected and loved one another as if they were family.  I could regale you with so many stories of special moments we shared together.  My friend and I took special care of each other’s loved ones when we were visiting them.  It was truly a blessing.  I pray that someday when I’m older, if I should go to a home, that I find such loving residents (and caregivers) to call my soul family.  That’s how strongly I feel and why I am so sad about her Mama’s passing for it is the end of a chapter in our lives.

Her Mama is at peace now for which we are all grateful.  But there’s that part of me, the one that wants one more hug, one more smile from Wilma and one more story.  I want to see her needlepoint again and hear her laugh.  I know for sure, that she is up there in Heaven, happy to be reunited with her family, her husband and my loved one again.  I know I now have another special angel looking out for me from Heaven and I am ever grateful that we connected so long ago.   Rest in Peace Miss Wilma.  God Bless.

Shine On!

xo

When You Don’t Have A ‘Valentine’ To Love

When you don’t have a ‘valentine’ to love on Valentine’s Day it can feel awkward, especially if in years past, you did have someone whom you loved, but for whatever reason, you are not together anymore.  Separations can be due to a variety of reasons which makes it hard when it seems like the whole world is celebrating a day of love with their sweetie.

But, I like to think of Valentine’s Day as a holiday for cherishing the relationships we have with others!  It doesn’t need to be only romantic love that we celebrate that day!  Not at all!  For me, since my circumstances have changed, I celebrate Valentine’s Day with gratitude for my children, my family, my soul family and my friends who have filled my life with love.  In fact, let’s celebrate Valentine’s Day together as you’re a part of my blogging family filled with love!  Thanks for being here with me.  I celebrate our connections today too!

So tomorrow, when the heart rises to meet the day, smile!  Greet the hearts and flowers day with gratitude for all of the love you have shared on your life’s journey!  Give thanks for the past loves, the present loves and look forward to the future loves!  But above all, enjoy the present love which envelopes your heart and soul today!  Enjoy the little kindnesses that are shown to you and smile to pass along those kindnesses as well.  We could have a lovefest here on Planet Earth if everyone, for just one day, loved all humankind.  Wouldn’t that be the very best Valentine’s Day ever?

So how about you?  How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day?

Shine On!

xo

Just The Way You Are

I Love You Just The Way You Are

To be true to myself, I must admit to you, that I love with my whole heart.  When I say those three words, I mean, I love you, just the way you are.  It’s in loving the whole person, accepting who they are, that you truly love them.  I’ve learned you can fall out of love, but many times, that doesn’t change the love that you share.  The loving acceptance of truly loving another person is timeless and a priceless gift that when shared, is exquisite and precious beyond all measure.

I have had a few precious moments recently which have helped me tremendously on this life path.  To hear that another person loves, accepts and understands you is a gift of enormous proportion.  To connect with another soul on this level is a ‘present of presence’ whose healing properties know no measure.  It is here where I sit this afternoon, heart full of gratitude for the gifts I have given and received.  In trying to process, I find it difficult to express with words how my heart feels completely broken open to receive the heartlights of others who have shared these connections with me.  Words seem so small to the enormity of the situation and yet they are all I have to express how I feel.

Perhaps I can share with you that the everlasting legacy of those who have gone before us stays lit by the memories of how they lived their lives, how they inspired, were they admired and how their presence in our own lives made us feel.  We remember the good and the bad in life.  We can be angry or we can find peace.  We can blame or we can forgive.  But in loving without reservation, there is no good or bad and there is no blame nor need of forgiveness.  There is simply love which heals and knows no boundaries.

One of my favorite songs is by Billy Joel, Just the Way You Are.  They lyrics meant something different to me long ago, but now the song means even more to me ~ its depth and richness of meaning has increased by all the experiences in my lifetime.  I will leave you with the tune below ~ stop and listen to the words, for when we take the time to love someone just the way they are, that love continues soul to soul, spirit to spirit forevermore.

Shine On!

xo

How To Find Gratitude In Having A Tough Life

Many of us have had difficulties in our lives, some not of our own making, but all the same, ours.  We’ve had health problems, family issues, dysfunctional relationships, financial difficulties etc.  You know who you are and what you’ve had.  So when you want to raise the white flag in surrender after you’ve hit the wall crying, “UNCLE!” I understand.  I’ve been there.  When you want to toss your toys from your crib like a toddler with a tantrum, I understand.  I’ve been there.  You may even want to throw a pity party the size of Yankee Stadium,  I understand.  I’ve been there.  When you want to cry, “Why me, Lord?” and fall to you knees, I understand.  I’ve been there.

It’s frustrating.  It’s depressing.  It’s mind-blowing.  It’s all encompassing and exhausting.  You can drag yourself through life feeling overwhelmed and bemoaning your difficult situations as having a tough life.  You can just add up everything and proclaim “I’ve had a hard life” and allow that blanket statement to define you.

Or….you can find gratitude and use your power for good!

You can inspire others to keep shining their heartlights!

What????  Some of you may be asking ~ Has she lost her mind?  Feel gratitude for the poop I’ve endured?  Does she not know what I’ve had to deal with?  Blah Blah Blah…(Insert complaints all around).  I didn’t deserve this, I didn’t ask for it!  I’m not finding the good in the poop, etc.  This was awful.  She doesn’t understand.  Use my power for good?  No way! Etc.

Slow down dearest readers.  Deep breath.  We’ve all gone through hardships, heartaches and endured what we deemed awful.  We can let those things define us or we can define ourselves by what we’ve endured and use our wisdom from living through hell for good and be grateful that our suffering helps others who may be walking similar paths.  We can use our power for good.  We can inspire others and help them when they stumble.  For you are here, right now!  You’ve endured unthinkable things and yet you are still here reading my post!  I’m so proud of you for sticking with this life and continuing on!  (Or have you left and stopped reading?)

Does that make sense to you?  Or do you still think I’m full of hooey?

It’s what I try to do everyday when I write my blog.  I choose to continue to inspire those around me.  So come along, connect with me.  Reach out your hand.  We are a Soul Family.  We are here for each other, to support, to love, to praise, to respect and to find kindness at every turn.  Use your power for good in this world and you will remain happy in this life.  Turn on your heartlights so I can see you!  We learn from each other’s mistakes.  We hold hands and move forward, one baby step at a time. ♥

Shine On!

xo

What To Do When You’re Wounded

Turn your wounds into wisdom. ~ Oprah Winfrey

Wounds hurt, whether they are spiritual, mental, emotional or physical wounds and it takes time to heal them.  Not all wounds are alike and the same type of wound on one of us can heal faster on one than on another with no clear rhyme nor reason.  It just happens that way.  You can help your wounds to heal faster and better when you choose to connect with yourself and with others.

I’ve been wounded.  I don’t think there’s anyone who has escaped being wounded in one form or another.  Sometimes the wounds are small and at others, they are gaping holes in our psyche.  But what do you do when you’re wounded?

For me, I’ve turned my wounds into wisdom as Oprah so aptly puts it.  I’ve reached out to connect with my soul family and I’ve looked inward while the stillness in my heart, soul and mind searched for my dimmed heartlight.  I embraced my wounds, bandaging the gushers until the flow of sadness ebbed and I could take a moment for observation at the entire scenario of my life.  When I was ready, I was able to look at my wound with a fresh perspective.

And I chose to heal.

Honestly, I am not fully healed.  I am somewhere walking on life’s path, neither in the light nor the darkness of negativity.  I’m in the grey area of healing.  But I am here, choosing to face the light and turn my back on the abyss.  The wounds prickle and tingle as they heal and sometimes are freshly poked, causing more wisdom to flow as I re-bandage the sores.  The shallow ones heal as lessons are learned.  The deeper wounds remain, but I do not allow them to be infected with negativity.  I draw out the venom when needed so that the cuts stay clean and the opportunity for healing compassion remains alive and well.

It’s a process.  It’s slow at times and at others, I feel the impact of miraculous healing.  But the wisdom I’ve extracted from my wounds has been a priceless gift, one that I don’t recommend enduring, but I am willing to share my wisdom from it.  It has been enlightening.  It has been memorable.  It has been a gift that I never wanted, but I was taught to never look a gift horse in the mouth, so I did the best I could to accept the gift with the gentleness of a compassionate heartlit soul.

And so my heartlight shines on…and I am ever grateful.

Shine On!+

xo

Who’s In Your Family?

When asked the above question, most people will, without thinking, rattle off a list of names which includes parents, siblings, spouse, children, grandparents, inlaws and may even begin to delve into further branches of the family tree.  An occasional animal lover may include pets, both present and past as leaves in the family tree.  We consider family as the blood-line or those connected through marriage or living situations.

I get it.  Because that’s what we’ve been taught.

But what if everyone in the world were a part of your family?  What if your family wasn’t confined to your DNA gene pool and instead based on loving connections with other souls?  What if kindness, understanding, friendship and love were the basis of family?  Could you imagine your soul family then?  Would it include those in your traditional family unit?

I am a leaf/branch/part of a traditional family unit.   I could rattle off names of family members both past and present with ease.  But I am learning about soul family units as well and I’m finding it really interesting so I want to share what I know from connecting with others.

A Soul Family is one which may or may not have DNA included in the dynamic.  In fact, many times, those who are part of a soul family do not share genetics nor any other branch of the traditional family unit as we know it.  They are souls who connect on a deeper level if you will.  I’m not saying that traditional family members do not have the ability to do this as well, because I have witnessed it myself.  But there are ties that bind us in a soul family that defy earthly rules.  For we are all souls with earthly bodies.  Just because you aren’t related to someone doesn’t preclude being a part of a soul family.  We are all connected as energy and expanding our loving connections only helps to heal and raise the vibrations of peace to this world.

Have you ever heard of a soul family?  Do you have anyone in your lifetime with whom you’ve connected like family and yet there’s no traditional family tree involved?

Shine On!

xo

 

When You Feel Alone

At times, there are fleeting connections which remind us of our place in a soul family.  Sometimes there are life long relationships.  Either way, when we connect with our heartlights, the soul family connection emerges and our souls are forever touched by the warm embrace of FAMILY.

When we feel alone, we disconnect.  It’s a natural reaction to fear.  We may turn inward, walling off any connections with ourselves and others in what we deem self-defense.  It is a choice to close ourselves off from connecting with ourselves and others.  Embraced in our own self, we retreat, we stumble and we are lost.   We sever ties and connections through fear.  We disengage from life’s precious gifts.  We grasp onto our fears and uncertainties with drowning panic, reaching out for a life preserver ring and ride life’s hurricane, barely hanging on.  We fill our mind, body and soul with the toxic mix.  We do not understand how with the release of the fears and with making connections to our own soul and our soul family we may heal.  We turn a blind heart to the sun and expect and therefore manifest a storm of epic proportions.

Our soul’s loving energy knows how to instinctively heal us.  But when we disconnect, we drown out the precious gift of healing.  It is during the eye of the storm that we are most disconnected and yet it is the most open time to reconnect ~ for the floodgates are opened and we are vulnerable to what we choose.

When all around you is in chaos, when your world feels as if it is crumbling, when you feel as if you are truly alone in this world, your precious heartlight albeit dimmed, still glows.  Sinking into the black sea of negativity and hurt is a choice.

Finding and igniting your heartlight is your destiny.

Perhaps I’m writing gibberish to you today.  After all, in rereading what I’ve written, I realize that this may have been channeled.  It happens sometimes and when I allow my fingers freedom, it seems my post helps others.

Take my hand.  I am here for you.  Connecting together a dimmed heartlight gains energy, heals wounds and glows brightly for all to see.  Walk with me on this path of life, allow our twin flames to embrace and…

Shine On!

xo