I am Beautiful

I am Beautiful

I was tired and stressed
and looking at myself on my zoom screen
and all I could see was this tired,
fat, person
with dark circles under their eyes
and all the physical imperfections
that have been pointed out to me over time.
Then I heard this voice,
which reduced me to tears,
saying you are my child
and you are beautiful.
You are my child
who is loving and kind,
thoughtful and considerate.
You are my child.
That, in and of itself,
makes you beautiful

So stop putting us down.
You are a reflection of me.
Honor us both and
remember you are beautiful.

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Getting to Know You

Getting to Know You

I was little when
my father took me to see
The King and I.
He told me it was a love song,
but when I woke up singing it this morning,
I realized that my life has been all about
getting to know the Ultimate.
This journey has not just been about
getting to know the Ultimate but
becoming who I was created to be.
There is a freedom that comes
along the journey
as I become increasingly comfortable
and familiar with myself
and my understanding of my own soul.
As we get to know each other,
the love and understanding
which comes over time
will happen between and within us as well.
May we spend our time
getting to know each other.

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Nodding

Nodding

I was young when my Bubby
taught me to nod towards others.
She would say it’s how you show reverence.
It’s how you see the gifts in them.
Then she taught me to nod to things
that were gifts to me.
So I nod at my computer in the morning
to my desk,
to my phone,
to my computer
to my wheelchair,
and to the appliances
which fill my kitchen.
Today my students
nodded at me in through their
first day of class reflections.
Their nodding at me
reminded me of all the authors
who have come before me and
whose work I have used in my own writing.
It is through my citations that I nod at them
and recognize the gifts others have shared,
the reverence I have for them and their wisdom
and how citing authors in my work
is yet one more way for me to nod,
give thanks
and honor their presence.

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ONE OF THOSE DAYS

One of Those Days

Yesterday was one of those days
where I found myself constantly
having to stop and think before I said anything
it was one of those days
when I was reminded that nothing in my life
was small or insignificant.
Everything I say or do
has an effect on some element in the universe.
Everything I do or don’t’ do
creates meaning
and so effects everything else

Sometimes it is easier to radiate love
then others.
Some people I want to be with because
we shower each other with reciprocity and love.
Others I just want to radiate love to
from a distance.
Some I can’t get enough time with and others
I say, as a nun taught me,
Go with God, but go.
Sometimes we have to think before we speak or act
because we want to radiate love
but in a way that maintains boundaries
and enables us to all grow and evolve
in the light of the Ultimate
because everything we do or don’t
is significant in the world 

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Discovering

Discovering

Sometimes I see things
and sometimes I have seen it so much
that I no longer see it.
Sometimes I fall into a comfort zone
when I connect with the Ultimate
and lose all the opportunities
to connect that require me
to step outside my comfort zone
and discover new ways.
When I open myself up
and find new ways to embrace
the beauty and sacredness
in this world,
I find things and see things
in ways I could not before.
Maybe that is why when I am struggling
my wife reminds me to take a nap.
It is in that time with the Ultimate
that I experience things I cannot
any other time or state of being.
There are times I hear spirit telling me
look again
and then I see something amazing
that I almost missed
or I meet someone
I never would have met before.
It's not so much about the what
but the openness to discovering
new ways of sensing the Universe
and all it has to offer and teach me.
Discover a new way to embrace beauty and connect with the sacred today.

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Becoming

Becoming

I close my eyes and think about my love
and how we have managed
to grow and evolve these past decades.
I close my eyes and think of her
and I think about all she has done for me.
She has given me everything I need
to grow and evolve,
to bloom,
to shed, and
transform.
She has given me everything I need emotionally,
mentally,
physically, and
spiritually.
She always seems to know
who I am and what I need
and the nurtures me
in a way that surpasses understanding.
Then I wonder if I do the same for her
and I pray I do.
All I want is to help her grow and
for the world to see her beauty.
I want to help her have access to
 everything she needs
to become all she was created to be.
When I look at her
I see a part of her that not everyone
gets to see and
I know that when she looks
in my eyes
she sees what I need
even when I can’t.
What if we each took the time
to gaze into our partner’s souls
and see what they truly need from us
and nurture each other’s souls.
What if we helped each other bloom
and share our beauty and gifts with the world
Let’s help each other
become the gift to the universe
we were created to be.

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Asking Permission

Asking Permission

May I have one of the crumb cakes?
I always buy them for my wife,
and she always says I don’t need to ask,
but I do.
I never know if she had a plan for them,
and I never want to assume anything,
so I ask
and it keeps me humble.
I try to remember that with
animals and nature as well.
I try not to pick a flower from
our garden without prayer
because it might be there
for a reason,
like leaving seeds I do not see
for the next season.
Just because I do not see the purpose
does not mean it does not have one.
In my conversations with other,
I ask permission to give feedback.
I don’t’ know if it is okay or even wanted
if I do not ask.
So now I practice the habit of
asking permission.

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Gentleness

Gentleness

Mr Mittens is our furbaby,
well the last one we have,
and he loves having his neck and head massaged,
but ever so gently.
There is something about gentleness.
The way someone speaks to us,
touches us,
hugs us,
gestures us,
or is just with us,
which makes us feel special
loved,
and wrapped in the arms
of the Ultimate.
There is something about those
moments of consideration,
when people approach you with
dignity,
respect,
a power
of softness
and compassion
It reminds us we are
in the presence of the holy
and standing on holy ground.

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In the Stillness

In the Stillness

So often we look for that space,
thar privileged location,
that special space,
that holy center,
as if there is a place
where we can be with the Ultimate
like we cannot be elsewhere.
The reality is that there is not one.
You are the space.
Where you are is the space.
Anything you need to know,
anything you need to see,
anything you need to experience,
can be done right where you are.
What makes a space that holy ground
is not the space,
but you and
your ability to sit
where you are
in the stillness
and be with the Ultimate.
when we learn to listen,
look,
and feel in the space
then where we are
becomes holy and
in the stillness
the holy comes to us.

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Shedding

Shedding

Change is never easy.
I have to remind myself
that growing and evolving,
requires me to shed
off the old skin,
habits,
attitude,
and anything else holding me back.
I have to shed the old
so the new can come.
Shedding is about me letting go
of all which kept me
from saying yes to the possibilities,
and the opportunities
Shedding is a process
of releasing and accepting.
it is not a one time process,
but an ongoing journey
where I welcome the newness
coming to as
ever time I shed the old.

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Vices

Vices

Vices are gifts for our journey,
we just have not figured out
how they can help us grow.
We all have vices in our lives,
which we may feel are undesirable
like greed,
anger,
lust,
envy,
gluttony,
pride,
and laziness.
But they can also be blessings.
The greedy person can benefit themselves and others
by focusing on a group’s tasks and goals
Anger can be motivation
to bring about change.
Lust is what often draws us towards someone,
but can also keep the flames alive.
Envy can inspire us to change
our habits and priorities.
Gluttony can lead to
greater life satisfaction.
Pride can lead us to care about
how we see ourselves and
how others see us.
As a result, pride can make us
more compassionate.
Laziness can help us be more productive,
because we focus on doing one thing well
instead of multi-tasking.
It is not about the vices in our lives,
but how we use them.

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Diving

Diving

I am sure if I wanted to
I could find someone to teach me
how to dive in everyday life.
For now, I will just dive in my own way
As a teacher,
and a student,
I am constantly diving
deeper and deeper into
the writings of others,
working to bring to the surface
pearls of wisdom,
nuggets of truth,
secrets buried in the
writings and wisdom
that came before me.
I know there are treasures to come
but as they are not yet here,
I go through the writings of those before me.
I dive into their work
and swim through the waters
and treasures surrounding them
learning with each moment
and growing from the gifts I collect
with each dive.

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Journaling

Journaling

I have a complex relationship with journaling.
I love it because it
challenges me to be open and aware;
mindful of my senses and life around me.
it reminds me to be grateful and
appreciate all around me.
it challenges me to be mindful of what
is inspiring me
what I intend to manifest
and what brings me joy.
It is a space where I clear my mind,
reflect on my life,
what I want
and begin to envision
how I am going to get there.
it is where I minister to myself
and affirm myself
for the amazing person
I am and am becoming.
My journal reminds me of my journey
and keeps me from forgetting what
I have learned.
It is like my lost and found.
If I think I have lost something,
most likely I can find it in my journal.

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why Am I Happy

Why I am Happy

Why are you always so happy?
One of my students aske recently.
I am happy because I am so blessed.
I am thankful for everything I am given.
it doesn’t matter whether it is big or small,
whether it was easy to get through or not,
whether I asked for it or not.
if it came into my life, then I am grateful.
Being able to give thanks
in any situation,
makes me happy.
What about when we make your life challenging?
I give thanks for the challenges.
I give thanks for the questions.
I give thanks for the chance to grow and evolve.
It is not about the situation,
but about how I go through it.
If I can give thanks for it
If I can see the blessing in it,
then I am happy and I am at peace.

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Curiosity

Curiosity

Twinkle, twinkle little star,
how I wonder what you are.
When I was little
I wondered about so many things
like what the stars were
and so many other things.
Over time others tried to teach me
 not to question,
wonder,
or be curious.
Not doing so
however,
made me feel like something was missing.
Curiosity,
keeps one
in a love affair with life.
It is about looking
for the mystery’s in life.
Curiosity
is what keeps life exciting.
It is what makes me feel
like a runner in a race,
constantly wondering
where I should be and
how I can move up.
Curiosity reminds me of the one
time I tried climbing a mountain,
constantly looking for the next place
for my hands and feet.
Curiosity reminds me
that each day is about
wondering,
asking questions
and exploring the mysteries of life.

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Interdependence

Interdependence

Imagine how you see it -
interdependence.
Imagine how the tree is connected to the sky
and the earth and the worms and what grows on it
and who gathers it
and who sells it
and who purchases it
and who hold memories of it.
There is not a moment that goes by
that we cannot witness and become aware
of our interdependence.
My thoughts and words
are interdependent on my body,
my nerves,
my muscles,
my fingers,
my eyes and more to just
type the words on my keyboard
and my computer
which I am also interdependent on
to work for and with me to share
the meanderings of my soul
as well as the internet which
lets you see what I saw
and read what I typed
and prayerfully feel
what I was thinking.
Whether we realize it or not,
even this moment of sharing
is about our interdependence.

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Size Matters

Size Matters

Size matters.
It is so easy for me to overlook
a behavior or action because
it didn’t appear to be a big deal.
Positive or negative, size matters.
Those little tiny acts of kindness
may not seem like a big deal,
but over time they build
something greater then
they may appear on their own.
It may not seem like a big deal
when someone opens the door for me,
or smiles at me,
or in some way, shape or form
acknowledges my presence.
The size of those actions may not seem important,
but overall they create a positive flow of energy
which flows into and through my existence.
They help strengthen me
and motivate me
in good times and bad.
Conversely, people’s negativity
may seem inconsequential,
but it only takes one match to
contribute to a five alarm fire.
it just takes one unkind word
to ruin a reputation.
It just takes the faith of a mustard seed
to move mountains.
Trees grow from seeds.
Movements grow from a single action.
May we keep collecting the positives
and enjoying their cumulative effect.
Conversely, people can die from a little poison.
People lose limbs from a small wound,
Reputations can be ruined by a single sentence.
All sizes matter
because they all have an impact on the world.
May we be mindful of the smallest of negatives
and address them before their cumulative effect
creates harm.
Size matters,
so let’s pay attention to all of it,
tiny and large.

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Priorities

Priorities

For the longest time
my life was out of balance.
I made time for my relationships
but often times it was
while working
or because of work.
I postponed reading for me
because I spent so much time
reading for work.
Sometimes I even prayed
when I needed to.
But life is about priorities.
It is about making time for those I love,
not just when my work is over.
it is about reading for myself,
not just for work.
It is about praying each day,
to give thanks for what I have,
not just what I or others need.
It is about remembering
what is important in my life.
The things and people we value we make time for
because they are a priority

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I Like This

I Like This
What do you like?
How do you know what you like?
Do you only like what you want
or do you like what you get?
I never know what I will get.
I don’t know what the weather will be
or the students I will have
or the experiences life brings to me.
I may not get what I like,
but I can learn to like what I get.
I can learn to like all
I am blessed with
and find qualities in all
life has to offer
which enable me to say
I like this.

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hospitality

Hospitality

Recently someone told me
“You are so hospitable and kind.”
They wanted to know why.
I explained that one had nothing
to do with the other.
Hospitality is not about being kind.
For me, it is about building bridges.
it is about building connections with others,
those I know and those I do not.
It is about building connections with
those we feel comfortable with and those we do not.
Hospitality is about remembering
we are all one.
It is about practicing the beatitudes.
It is about living the Golden Rule.
It is about opening my heart and
surrendering my fear.
Hospitality is about releasing that which divides us
and embracing that which unites us.
It’s not about me being kind,
it's about me being humane.

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