Beauty

Beauty

One day you will be beautiful,
that is what she said to me.
She had a litany of reasons
she saw me as ugly.
Her reasons really do not matter,
what matters is I know I am beautiful
just as I am.
I was created by
and in the image of
the Ultimate.
What makes anyone beautiful
is not necessarily what is on the outside,
but the beauty that radiates from within.
Have I met people that the world would view
as ugly?  Sure.
However, I know there is more to them
then what is on the outside.
I look for the beauty within everyone I meet.
Are they loving?
Do they treat people with dignity and respect?
If nothing else,
they are blessed,
because they too were created in the image of the Ultimate.
We were all created to represent
the diversity of life.
Beauty is
in the eyes of the beholder.
I will look for your beauty,
regardless of whether you look for mine.

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Choosing Silence

Choosing Silence

There are times
I choose to be silent.
I know people who talk all the time,
but my life and teachers
have taught me otherwise.
My Bubby would say
after you say hello,
choose your next words carefully.
Socrates advised thinking before speaking,
and only if it is truthful, necessary and kind.
It is not that there are times I do not want to speak,
but at times
what I want to say
does not answer those questions.
Words are so powerful;.
They are like marbles once they roll out,
they can go places
and affect the environment
with minimal control over their potential.
There are times to speak
and times to choose silence.

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Good Will Hunting Lessons

Good Will Hunting Lessons

We all have favorite films,
one of mine is Good Will Hunting,
because it taught me a few lessons.
It taught me,
"Bad things draw our attention to the good things we've overlooked."
This past year has been filled with losses
which broke my heart.
The pain helped me to reappreciate
the preciousness of life.
A dear friend lost both their legs to diabetes,
reminding me I needed to get serious
about controlling my blood sugar.
I had someone try abusing me again,
and it reminded me I was now strong enough
to stand up for myself and say no.
It reminded me of a lesson from my Bubby,
who would always say
when you can see the good in a situation,
then you know you will be okay.
There was also the therapists story about his wife’s farts
and how as much as he hated her farts,
she would love for her to be alive so he could hear them
one more time.
It reminded me that there are things
about those I love
that get on my nerves,
but I would miss them
if they were no longer here.
The last time Zoe left for a few days,
there were things I missed her saying and doing.
My ex died this year
but I would give anything
to hear her forget I did not know
the people she knew
or have her ask me for a date from 40 years ago.
It also taught me to not judge people.
People are so much more then
we see on the cover.
We need to open ourselves
and see all of who they are.
May the challenges in our life
continue to remind us how blessed
we truly are.

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Find the Blessing

Find the Blessing

It is like it was yesterday,
when my Bubby said,
when you can find the blessing in a situation,
you know you will be ok.
I needed those words the day I was told,
we believe you have cancer.
It was like getting caught in rainstorm,
without an umbrella.
I could hear my Bubby say,
let the rain be your umbrella.
There is a blessing in this,
find it.
I began to prepare myself for the worst,
trying to figure out how I was going to work
while going through an invasive treatment.
I prayed for the best,
we were wrong you do not have cancer.
I found blessings in my rain of tears,
my pain of no umbrella,
my faith in the possibilities.
Then the rain stopped
and even though I was soaked
the voice came and said
Happy Valentine’s Day!
You do not have cancer.
My oncologist and I,
we found the blessings.

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Bless Them

Bless Them

Every morning I write in my gratitude journal
and I give thanks for at least 5 things in my life
I am grateful for/
However, this morning, it dawned on me,
that I never ask for those people, places and things
to be blessed.
There are so many ways and situations,
that my life has taught me wisdom.
My wisdom has come through the good times and the bad,
my wins and my losses,
my illnesses,
that which has bought me joy
and that which has reduced me to tears.
Everything and everyone
I have met on my journey
has helped me to understand myself
and life.
I have been blessed with the opportunity
to sit at the table of the included and the excluded,
the friend and the adversary,
and with my parents and those who call me mom.
So now I begin a new habit of not only giving thanks each day,
but asking the Ultimate
to bless them
for their part in my journey.

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surprise!!!!

Surprise!!!!

Do you have eyes to see
or ears to hear?
Are you ready for how the Ultimate is
getting ready to surprise you?
It is so easy to be focused on the chaos,
the pain,
the challenges, and
the things we have to overcome,
that we miss the surprises in our life.
We miss the amazing way Spirit is embracing us.
We miss the signs the Ultimate cares about us.
We miss all those who are sharing
their loving hearts, kind souls and
their willingness to be of service and
be kind.
The surprises are not always huge,
but subtle.
They don’t always say surprise,
they just stop by to say hi and ask how you are?
The surprises come in those notes
reminding us we are loved.
The surprises sometimes come
when people randomly perform acts of kindness.
There are always the big surprises
but let’s look for  the little ones as well.
With each one,
let us hear
the universe saying
Surprise!

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Appreciation

Appreciation

Every morning I write in my gratitude journal,
but one day I read what if you wrote about
more then what I was grateful for,
but why I was giving thanks.
What is it about that person, place, or thing
I appreciate.
What if I took a moment to tell each person
what I appreciated about them?
What if I lifted up a quality about them
that touched me and I valued?
I started with one of my paratransit drivers.
I told him I appreciated how
he always made me feel like more
than just a passenger.
He always asks about my life and my family.
I told him what I appreciated about him and
this husky man reached over
with tears in his eyes
and hugged me.
His response made me realize
expressing our appreciation,
not only touches others
but it touches us.
It helps us not only give thanks
but think about why we do.
It helps us deepen our connections
with others and with ourselves.

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My Tears

My Tears

The tears,
they flow down my face,
and remind me they are signs
from the Ultimate.
They are reminders that
my heart is working
and my soul is awake.
My tears challenge me to follow them
to the source
from which they flow.
My tears remind me to be
gentle, patient and kind with myself,
because I am working on healing.
My tears wash away
that which is no longer
or perhaps never was needed
in my soul.
My tears
are about my strength and courage
as I move out of my comfort zone
and into the challenge zone
where the Universe is leading me
to a higher and deeper place of understanding.
My tears
are what help me to
evolve and grow
and continue to be of service to others.
Who I am now
is because of my tears in the past.
Who I become
is because of my tears
in the present.

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Pillow Talk

Pillow Talk

Are you like me,
you like being able to lay in bed
late at night
and talk with the one you love.
We sometimes call it
pillow talk.
It works best when you
both go to bed around the same time.
Sometimes you miss it when that does not happen.
Can you imagine if God said to you
I miss it --
our pillow talk.
God is always willing to
have pillow talk with you.
What if we made sure
God never had to say I miss it
our pillow talk.

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Stop

Stop

Every morning I look at my to do list
and begin working my way through it.
There is something amazing
about removing things and seeing
my accomplishment.
Giving myself high fives for my accomplishments
is a habit I have added.
I used to suggest people think about
the habits they want to add
to their routines.
Now, I suggest they create a
stop doing it list.
Sometimes what helps us grow
is to stop doing things that are not helpful.
Some habits we need to begin,
others we need to stop.
Jonathan Waxman,
a master chef,
says less is more.
Edit what you put on your plate.
When you see a habit,
that needs to be removed.
Stop and let it go.
Stop yourself whenever you get in the habit.
Step on the breaks and stop.

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In the Ordinary

In the Ordinary

It was just an ordinary message.
Nothing special,
just a message from a friend.
However, there was something about it
which kept bringing me back to it,
like one of those ordinary candies that make you want another bite,
or anything plain that you keep eating as if it is more then it is.
It is.
When I am reading something defined as holy,
like the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita, or some other
holy text, I expect to find something
deep and inspirational in it.
However, sometimes it is
in the ordinary emails,
texts,
messages,
or post it notes,
that we find what we needed
at that very moment.
The Ultimate can speak to us
and through us in so many ways.
It is not that our prayers are not answered,
but that they are coming to us
in the ordinary.

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Tongueless

Tongueless

As my online classes begin again this semester,
I am reminded how much of my teaching is tongueless.
or if it even is.
It made me question
how much of my learning is tongueless?
Who are my tongueless teachers?
What am I learning in the silent moments of my life?
Who am I a tongueless teacher too?
We are so dependent on words to teach.
What am I teaching by my mere presence?
Does my spiritual presence exude the presence
of the Ultimate?
Does us just being together teach something
to each other
beyond the conversation we are having?
What do we learn by just
watching each other?
As I reflect back on my life
I can remember my tongueless teachers
and I wonder who have I been
a tongueless teacher for in theirs.
Am I mindful of all the ways
and spaces
in which I am a
tongueless teacher?

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Celebration Speech

Celebration Speech

Growing up
I have always felt like a round peg in a square hole.
I was told I was different
for so many reasons.
What made me different
was pointed out as something
which made me of less value,
not as good as,
not as worthy as others.
Then I came to understand
that my differences are
what make me original.
There is not,
never has been,
never will be
anyone exactlty like me
I am perfect just as I am.
I am who I am and who
the great I am created me to be.
It was once suggested I write an
acceptance speech talking about
how I have accepted myself.
I said no.
Not because I have not grown
in my ability to love myself unconditionally,
but to say I accept means there is something
to accept.
Instead I would write a celebration speech
where I celebrate all of who I am.
A speech where I celebrate all who I was created to be.
A speech where I celebrate all who created me
and all I have been,
all I am,
and all I am becoming.
I would write a speech
that did more then accept.
I would celebrate.
So when you are told
you won the God’s choice award
write your celebration speech
celebrating you and the won who chose you

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Crying

Crying

Crying,
I have happy tears,
angry tears,
sad tears,
grateful tears, and
a way of crying for just about every emotion.
Crying,
for me,
is a way to release the emotions
and make room for what is coming next
It is like the rain
before the sun.
The earth needs both to grow.
Sometimes we cry,
so like a baby,
others can feed us.
Crying
is like water for my soul.
it keeps my life fresh
and allows my other gifts to shine and glow.
Crying
is what keeps me humble
and growing.
it is what keeps me humble
and human.
Crying
is a gift
from the ultimate.
It is Crying

Crying,
I have happy tears,
angry tears,
sad tears,
grateful tears, and
a way of crying for just about every emotion.
Crying,
for me,
is a way to release the emotions
and make room for what is coming next
It is like the rain
before the sun.
The earth needs both to grow.
Sometimes we cry,
so like a baby,
others can feed us.
Crying
is like water for my soul.
it keeps my life fresh
and allows my other gifts to shine and glow.
Crying
is what keeps me humble
and growing.
it is what keeps me humble
and human.
Crying
is a gift
from the ultimate.
It is one way in which
I can say
I love you,
I need you,
I am so grateful for you and
thank you.

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I can say
I love you,
I need you,
I am so grateful for you and
thank you.

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What Did I Do?

What Did I Do?

Having lost 4 friends in the last week,
I have been thinking about my own death.
I even saw my own funeral.
Recently I was challenged to think about
what others might say
when I died.
It made me think about
what I have done.
How am I living my life?
What did I do?
What am I doing?
I may not be able to
do anything about
the legacy I have created
up to now,
but I can begin now to
create the legacy
I want to leave behind.
So that when I die,
others will say
they remember me
for always being loving,
positive,
inspiring,
motivating and kind.
They will say
I made time for them.
I respected their intelligence.
They will say I was an overcomer.
I believed in my own dreams
and I worked hard to achieve them.
What did I do?
I loved,
I listened,
I cared,
I believed,
I wrote from my heart.
I taught how to apply
theory to reality.
I was present,
I gave from my heart,
I was who I was created to be,
and encouraged others to
do the same.
this is what I did
and what I will continue to do.
What do you want others to say about you
and what you did?

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Having lost 4 friends in the last week,
I have been thinking about my own death.
I even saw my own funeral.
Recently I was challenged to think about
what others might say
when I died.
It made me think about
what I have done.
How am I living my life?
What did I do?
What am I doing?
I may not be able to
do anything about
the legacy I have created
up to now,
but I can begin now to
create the legacy
I want to leave behind.
So that when I die,
others will say
they remember me
for always being loving,
positive,
inspiring,
motivating and kind.
They will say
I made time for them.
I respected their intelligence.
They will say I was an overcomer.
I believed in my own dreams
and I worked hard to achieve them.
What did I do?
I loved,
I listened,
I cared,
I believed,
I wrote from my heart.
I taught how to apply
theory to reality.
I was present,
I gave from my heart,
I was who I was created to be,
and encouraged others to
do the same.
this is what I did
and what I will continue to do.
What do you want others to say about you
and what you did?

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Smaller

Smaller

Growing up my father loved watching
cowboy shows like Gunsmoke and Rifleman.
The part I hated most were the gun battles.
I hated the violence,
the notion that someone was going to get hurt.
I remember my father saying
that is why they turned
when shooting.
it made them a smaller target.
while I am about the same size
regardless of how I turn,
I realized there were other ways
I can minimize my vulnerability.
Being a smaller target
does not minimize my strength.
Smaller is not weaker,
but stronger.
Smaller is healing
and empowering.
Smaller is about respecting
both myself and others.
Smaller is about bringing out the best
in all of us.
Creating a smaller target is not about my body,
but about my emotional,
mental
and piritual well being.

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I am Rich

I am Rich

As a young girl,
I remember a church song
where they sang
let the poor say “I am rich.”
I asked a friend’s mother why
and she explained people get their riches in two ways.  
She said some people collect material wealth.
They collect riches from people, places and things.
She said others,
get their wealth
from what they see,
what they experience,
the treasures they discover in life,
the knowledge they gain,
the testimony they have
of the miracles and presence
of the Divine in their lives.
Their richness does not come from
what they own,
but what they know.

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Triggers

Triggers

Most people I know
avoid that which triggers them.
Some want to blame the trigger.
Some want to blame not being warned
about potential triggers.
However, the world is full of triggers
and most of us do not know
what our own triggers are
never mind others.
Triggers are not
inherently bad.
Triggers can be gifts.
Without triggers we may not know
what we need to work on next.
Triggers challenge us to work on us
so we can heal, grow, evolve and transform
and move on through the next set of
triggers

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Beginning with the Toilet

Beginning with the Toilet

That’s right
the toilet.
it is probably one of those moments
when the last thing you think about
is the Divine.
I didn’t until the day I could not pee.
then I began to see what a gift it is
to have one and to use it.
I began by giving thanks for the toilet
and the people who designed it,
created it,
manufacture it, and
install it.
then I realized without water
I could not flush it
and I began giving thanks for the water system
and all those involved
in making it what it is today in our country.
It's amazing how many people and things
we begin to be grateful for
when we look at the everday
with new eyes and see
the Divine in everyday moments.
I began with the toilet
what everyday routine might you begin with.  

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Breathing

Breathing

Have you ever heard or read
about a person in need and
felt called to do something?
Sometimes I do.
Then I take a moment,
and focus in on them
and breathe in and
breathe out love and support.
I take a moment
to listen to their distress
and breathe in
and breathe out prayers
for what they need.
I may not be able to
physically relieve their distress,
however, I can send them love,
support,
positive energy,
and courage
to make it through.
Even in the worst of my physical conditions
I can still breathe
and send others
breaths of love and prayers.
As the Universe has breathed life into others,
I can breathe healing and positive energy
to others.
When you feel moved to help
remember you can sit in spirit with them and
breathe.

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