Friday, June 4, 2021

Vigilance




Watching the skies on a warm Texas night
Each star becomes brighter as the sun fades
With a promise of yet another day
When earth awakens in birdsong serenades

New days bring new possibilities
To create in ourselves who we wish to be
Right the wrongs without ending
Look in the mirror we like who we see

Life throws curve balls in spades
Sometimes in singles sometimes in bunches
One truth remains for all of us
It's paramount to roll with the punches





 

Friday, May 28, 2021

Aloha! E komo mai!




Today, I found that I have over 100 viewers in Hawai'i! 

This thrills me, as it's one of my favorite places in the world. It's probably a favorite for so many people as a vacation spot as well as a deep desire to live there.

For me, it's more than that. So much more.

Hawai'i was a place I daydreamed about as a child, living in a small town in Michigan. Life was hard for me. When my situation was so bad after a beating from my father or not having enough to eat or being bullied & teased at school. Retreating, in my mind, to Hawai'i.

Click yo slippahs togeddah tree times. I was there!

Relatives plus family got a thrill from taunting me, playfully teasing me. Telling me to keep dreaming ~ so I did! In my heart I was determined to find a way. When the opportunity came to me I would be ready, so much determination to fulfill a dream.

The ticket to move to Hawai'i came to me via the United States Air Force ~ Hallelujah! 
I had done it!

It truly was a paradise for me, the home of my soul. Aside from the causes of PTSD/MST, I loved it, there. The local people were mostly very sweet. Nicer than people I had known, up to that point in my life, anyway.
It was so easy to leave behind my prior life. The dumpy little girl who was bullied and teased K - 12, referred to as "Vampire" in reference to my light green eyes that turned yellow in the sun. Leave behind a home filled with cigarette smoke 24/7. Leave behind the bitterly cold winters of Michigan. Leave behind, start anew.
It was also good fun to rub my relatives noses in the fact that even after all of their teasing, I had done it!

There was magic in the ocean water, I was sure of it. Hanauma Bay was postcard pretty. The beautiful, brightly colored fish that swam around the coral, nibbling on my skin. It was so surreal.
From a few chance meetings while sunning myself at Hickam Harbor, I met some of the local people who had access to Hickam AFB. After going to a couple of their family luaus, I met more of the people who called the islands home. 
A few of them talked to me about learning to surf. I was so naive! They wanted me to bring the beer & KFC! Ha ha!
I learned to surf on some of the roughest waves on the North Shore of O'a'hu! Banzai pipeline, baby! Sunset Beach, Mokapu!
I had my hot pink bikini top blown off once, okay, a few times! Even lost the bottoms, quite a few times! There was more to learning to surf than knowing when to lay, when to crouch, paddle or stand.

The way the local people spoke ~ Pidgin English ~ it was beautiful to me. It sounded like water flowing, sometimes crashing, all good!
An opportunity I took when I was invited to go to Ni'ihau, was the chance of a lifetime. I was unaware of what a rare gift this was. I might go back, someday.

The island foods, music, flowers, weather, kind people, I loved it!

I spent some exciting times as a single girl, in Hawai'i. When that time was up as I got military orders to relocate to Edwards AFB in the Mojave Desert, California. I went through some major depression, culture shock. From paradise to a desert. Oh, joy!

I married, then, as a married woman, I moved back to Hawai'i. My first 2 precious babies were born at Kapiolani Women's & Children's Medical Center. It was mostly a very happy time. Ya have to have some rain along with the sunshine for the flowers to grow!

When the time came to leave the islands again, due to military orders, it was just as hard to leave. A Honolulu City Lights feeling.
From time to time I still go back, as the song says. Each time Honolulu City Lights will bring me back again.


I love the whole malasada, in da islands. Later, I took my children to hula class to dance in a halau to keep them connected to the culture. My 2 eldest daughters have hula in their hearts. They danced so beautifully, even teaching others. I loved making some of their dance costumes. The kumu hula (teacher) taught the movements of another beautiful song to me that speaks volumes to me. 
One on one, just for me.

Na Leo ~ I miss you, My Hawai'i



Na Leo - Hana ho!
This one makes me cry bittersweet as I remember the days each of my 4 sweet babies were born. Moments etched on my heart forever.


The love for the music is still with me. I listen to Ke'ali'i Reichel, Na Leo. Also some of the older music from Braddah Noland, Kalapana, The Beamers, etc.

Love this Brother Noland tune the best. It holds sweet memories for me.


Brother Noland, the inspiration for the name of my only son, Nolan.

If you are living in Hawai'i or born & raised there, or born & raised there now living somewhere else, or have the same love in your heart for it, we are Ohana!

Thank you for taking time to read my blog. I am truly humbled by the many views, comments & private messages I receive.

To the ohana I have yet to meet.

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Me Spoiling Me

Who spoils you?
Who is going to spoil you? 
Have you ever been spoiled by someone who doted on you, lavished attention along with delightful gifts upon you? 
If you have not had this, would you accept it or, if offered would you even deign to want it?

The answer to all of these is ~ YES!

The one who spoils me as is the only one who knows my tastes most intimately, the desires of my heart. The one who knows what I like, how I like it, when I would want it, for how long I would want it?
My secret lover. Shhh!
(just playing)
The truth is,
It's..............





It's best for me to take care of myself. So - I - do.

Recently, after getting a bonus from work in a very tidy sum, I jumped on the Omnilux Contour wagon. It's a nice ride. 

Skin care, healthy practices. Lotions, serums, meditation music to calm the mind, soothe the soul. Yes. I'm a firm believer that taking care of myself, mind, body, spirit in each infinitesimal facet is very important.
Most of what I do is low cost with a huge impact. In place of pricey facial cleansers? I use honey. 
Yep. 
Honey is an all natural, antibacterial cleanser with nutrient for the skin without robbing it of crucial natural oils in the skin. It's been used for thousands of years. It can also be used to wash the hair. I use a sulfate free shampoo on my baby fine hair, with a honey wash every 3rd or so shampoo.
In place of pricey exfoliators?
Table sugar.
The meat, particularly beef & pork, that is served in many Asian restaurants that is so buttery soft? It's softened with sugar. 
If you want a super duper facial combined with exfoliation?
In the shower or the bath, squeeze some honey into the palm of your hand, sprinkle some table sugar on it, lightly massage your face with the honey & table sugar mixture.
I keep a jar of honey in reach of my shower, next to that is a sealable container of table sugar. 

FYI for you little sugar monsters - sugar does the same thing to your inner organs. 
Sorry to deliver that news. Not sorry.

Table sugar, used in the shower is like getting a massage in a medi -spa.
It does its job, then *poof*, it's gone.
Honey & table sugar quickly dissolve, then, wash down the drain, all natural, no residue.

Back to the Omnilux Contour. Every skin care maven, every beauty blogger is chattering about it. There is a soft bendable LED mask for the face, one for the neck & décolleté. 
Heck!
There's even a separate one for the hands!
I have to give the caveat, it's pricey! I did save $50. per item with a coupon code. Thank you, Kim!


As most ladies & some guys know, the backs of the hands are just as important to take care of as the face, neck, décolleté (chest area for guys as in male people, since all people are getting lumped together regardless of gender). As important as preserving the health of the body, health of the spirit.
By choice, I'm all I have, so, it's important to me to take care of me.

The Omnilux Contour is so popular right now that they are all on backorder. I received my work bonus, I ordered it on April 20, 2021. It was delivered on May 11. 
PEEPS!
I was so excited!
I was also exhausted from pulling an all nighter with work. Determined to stay awake, I sat up, following the progress of the UPS truck. Meeting the driver ASAP. Out on the street. 
The excitement gave me enough adrenaline to go to the gym for a quick workout. Then, I came home to crash in bed after brushing my teeth & nightly skin care, of course. 😍
The next day, I used it for the first time. I was hooked! The mask is really comfortable, super easy to use.
Connect to charger, let it charge, put it on with the Velcro straps.
(This seemed like a fitting drag & drop. Thank you, your highness!)




It goes through a 10 minute cycle, on auto turn off. Fudging a little is okay, riiiiight? I went for another cycle, or two. 😈
Today is May 19. Not only do I see a difference, someone I saw who I haven't seen in awhile noticed the difference, too. I worked for several years to get my skin so healthy that I didn't need to wear foundation or concealment cream. Now? My skin looks even better. The person asked me if I had started wearing makeup to the gym.
Ha ha. Nope.
Before I became a convert, I spent a lot of fun in the sun. Going to the beach, doing some shake & bake. 
Now? 
I'm a convert to sunscreen. 50 SPF baby!
There were 3 sun damaged spots on my face ~ gone! Like they were never there. A little melasma from prego hormones ~ gone, too. From my experience. It's not Mickey D's, I sure am loving it.

Of course, inner beauty is of utmost importance. Being kind, being happy, treating others with courtesy, with compassion. Still, looking in the mirror, seeing nicer skin? It's very suh-weet. 





Friday, May 7, 2021

Heartbroken




This may be hard to understand, it may seem trivial. That's okay, all people have the right to feel as they do. It's a kind, compassionate action to be thelemic toward fellow human beings.

When I received the news, the tears began to flow. Have you ever heard the song or phrase, "Cry Me a River"?
It felt like I had a river, flowing down my face. Sadness overwhelmed me in an instant. 
A deep desire I had was crushed just like that!
Dreams of all that we would do together, taking care of him, giving him a happy life. Discovering all the parts of his personality.
It all evaporated.
Just   Like   That

People who know me, know that I have always loved animals. All animals. Birds, dogs, cats..............Horses!
Animals love me, too! Possibly they sense my care & love for them!

In 2018 I went to Colorado for 2 months to house sit for someone I have known for a long time. When I lived in Colorado, I loved to go to the USAFA Equestrian Center. 
I'm a very experienced rider, I love to be with a very cheeky horse. Horses that are a bit sassy, energetic. Yes, please!

When I went to the USAFA, they had a relatively new gelding. I think he was proud cut because he had a lot of energy, he was very vocal. He was only 8 years of age, so, yeah, his name fit him, well.

✨ Spirit ✨

The USAFA Stable staff takes very good care of their horses. It shows. The horses are happy, healthy, they even get every Monday off, turned out into the pasture.
When I signed in, to ride, I asked the staff person if they had a horse that had some energy, that needed an experienced rider to handle their personality.
That's when I met Spirit.
He was just the sort of horse that does it for me. When I climbed onto his back, the position of his ears showed that he was listening, he was checking out who this hooman was. I leaned forward to whisper to him.
"Hey there, horse guy! Thank you for letting me onto your back"
He nickered then shook his head, which, in  horse language means "Can we get going, already?"
All I did was to relax the reins & made a light clucking noise. He was ready to go!
The rule at the stables, to ride, is to only go as fast as a quick walk. Just below a trotting gait, faster than a leisurely walk.




This is a great rule, as there are some people who care more about their own enjoyment even to the detriment of the horse. Part of why I love to go to the stables is that the horses ARE well cared for.

Spirit took me through the trails of the mountainous acreage of the USAFA, he was looking around, nickering in reply as I talked to him.




I felt something I hadn't felt in a very long time.

Falling hopelessly in love with this magnificent equine. 

I felt a connection to him, so much about him to love. He had a scent that was a mixture of light sweat, stream water, the liniment that is put on horses to repel flies. 
He smelled so good to me!
The dream I have for my life is to pay cash for a horse, a house & a dog (maybe 2 dogs).
When I choose to buy an animal, I have to connect with the animal. It's an aspect that is difficult to explain, when you feel it, you will definitely know it.
It's that feeling people have when they meet another person who they feel, right away, they know they will marry that person.
Connection.
I knew that Spirit was the horse I wanted to buy.

While I was in Colorado, I spent as much time as I could with him. Riding through the mountains, brushing him, (with permission from the stable hands) feeding him little treats, talking to him. Most horses love to be brushed. It makes them feel good, kinda like most people like to be hugged or to get a massage. Horses make friends with each other by lightly scratching each other. That itchy spot they can't reach on their backs or their necks. Horses carry a lot of weight in their necks. Brushing or scritching that spot feels really good to them.

Oh yeah.

I fell in love with him!

I planned to buy Spirit once I was in a position to be able to care for him. Something a person who is acting responsibly, does. There is an equestrian trail that spans the miles between Colorado & Florida. My plan was to move to Florida, to have a place for him whether it was a horse property or a boarding stable. I would buy a 1 way ticket to Colorado, then, ride him to our new home in Florida. The equestrian trail possibly starts in Washington state or maybe Montana. There are bunk houses with corrals & pasture for the horses along the way on the trail. There is also an on call veterinarian just in case.
 
To reach that goal I had been working 80 hours per week. Adhering strictly to a budget I set for myself, saving, scrimping, preparing to be in a position to care for him. 
Horses are expensive, time consuming, to take care of properly. Their teeth continue to grow, the teeth have to be trimmed from time to time. If the teeth go untrimmed, the horse will develop sores from biting themselves. If it's let go long enough, the horse will stop eating, eventually starving to death. Hooves have to be trimmed, cleaned out. Hay, grain plus other foods are expensive. Horses need these to be healthy. Many Veterinarians require the horse to be brought to them. Like people doctors, most of them no longer make "house calls". For this, I will need to buy a truck to pull the trailer I will need to transport my horse to the Vet if needed. 
I won't even go into sheath cleaning for a stallion or gelding!!!! Use your imagination on that one. 

Some people were a bit alarmed when I told of my plan to ride Spirit from Colorado to Florida. People do this all the time, it's why the trail with accommodations was created. There was concern about my safety being on the trail, alone, with Spirit.
HAH!
I can definitely take care of myself. Having just enough fear to be cautious, confident in my self defense skills. Military training goes deep into the brain. When I have been in serious jeopardy, in the past, I felt the skills kick in. If someone attacks me, I won't call 911, so there won't be anyone coming to save them from me. 
Too late to apologize.

When I received the news that he had been sold, went to someone who fell in love with him just as I had. 
I was happy for him, so deeply sad for me. I cried all night that night, cried all day the next day. The tears kept flowing. The loss I felt was so deep, letting myself FEEL the loss.

All I have, now, are memories of him, pictures, a lock of his mane.

I will be okay, eventually.




Monday, May 3, 2021

Go Slow




The words echo within my mind in the voice of each person who I have ever heard, saying them.

Go slow.

It's a lesson I had to learn, still, it's progress. 

As the world moves at such a frenzied pace around me, I learned to go slow. As I see people who are going, going, going. Forgetting how to just be.

They are more human doings than they are human beings. Constantly doing, doing, doing. Rush here, go there. 24/7.

People who rush around without enough rest are aging faster, noticing less, hurry, hurry, hurry. Their frenzied past with inadequate rest is more harmful to health than tobacco use, alcohol or any other substance abuse.

I learned to slow down at an age when many people are revving up. Perhaps I was initially attracted to needlework as I saw its beauty. As I began, teaching myself as there was no one to teach me. Really, needlework taught me more than I had initially imagined it would. It taught me to live life at a slower pace. Simply having a desire to create such beauty with an art form that was within my reach was the motivation.
It was clean (I hate to get my hands dirty), it was very portable. Initially, it was inexpensive, within 1 week of starting a first project, I was mesmerized at seeing the design appear before my eyes.
My crack was a needle, beautiful fabric, the DMC Floss plus the sparkling fibers that I discovered. 
Then?
The beads, the charms of little buzzy bees, charms that were painted in a porcelain medium. As I corresponded with a penpal who became my mentor in converting from Aida fabric to beautiful linens in a myriad of sizes, colors, textures. 
If I was only hooked in my pre-linen stitching? I was obsessed, now, with stitching. I am forever grateful to Lee O'Neil of Chalk Hill, Pennsylvania who taught me so much with her letters.

When I moved to Kaiserslautern, Germany to the village of Rodenbach, I walked through the village with my children. Many German homes had their large front windows decorated as such beautiful showcases. Many of them had Hardanger valances hanging above a beautiful window ledge arrangement. 
I didn't know what it was, yet!
Lee O'Neil did!
She put together a wonderful package for me, with such care & love.
She gathered small pieces as swatches of each type of linen. Different sizes, textures, colors. 
She wrote a long letter to me describing what each one could be used for, their names. There was Lugana, Floba, Heatherfield, Dublin, Cashel, Belfast, Edinburgh, Newcastle. All are made as a natural color as well as many different colors they are dyed & sometimes custom dyed with beautiful backgrounds.

My wonderful penpal, Lee, also gifted me such a beautiful heart shaped Christmas ornament that drove me nuts in a good way! Just as I taught myself to begin stitching, there was no one around to teach me to do this breathtaking beautiful form of needlework known as Hardanger.
Every time I take the beautiful ornament out, that Lee gifted me, I say a heartfelt thank you to her for her kind & beautiful gift along with the tutelage. The initial inspiration to learn Hardanger stitching to create my own beautiful works.




Lee also introduced me to the beautiful designs by Judith Kirby, Nan Caldera of Just Nan designs. So much more! Wherever she is in the world, I am deeply grateful to her.
The ornament that Lee sent to me was one in a series of 14. I have stitched 10, eventually, I hope to have stitched all 14. The ornaments are stitched on cream Belfast 32 (32 squares to the inch). So pretty!
Even better?
It was my pleasure to meet the designer. 
Emie Bishop of Cross n Patch designs. It has been my pleasure to go to one of the "Mecca" of needlework shops, Shepherds Bush, in Ogden Utah. Emie Bishop lived close by. 
She very gracefully entered the shop on one of the times I was there. She seemed to be a very quiet, humble, elegant woman who spoke barely above a whisper. 
When she walked in, I knew exactly who she was, immediately! 
She had some of her new designs in a wicker basket, bringing them in to be sold by the shop, Shepherds Bush.
It's a moment I remember fondly, happy that I didn't act like an idiot as my heart was beating so hard, so fast, at meeting her.

I have been so fortunate to have met some of these power houses behind the beautiful designs I love! As much as I admire the designs of Janice Love, I have most of her design books, have not stitched her designs, yet, I definitely could! After teaching myself the Hardanger method of stitching, it helped me to overcome being intimidated by the way it looks so complex. It's 4 different basic stitches repeated over & over. Sometimes other stitches are also used. So beautiful!



I have met: 

Alma Lynne Hayden of Alma Lynne Designs. She was just as fun, sweet, kind & was so generous with her time. I went to my first needlework retreat in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Alma Lynne's home as well as the place where cross stitch was reborn on St Pawleys Island spurred by Ginnie Thompson!






Pat Carson of Gloria & Pat Designs. An elegant lady who spends her time doing good works in the world with needlework.

Susan Greening Davis whose Quaker inspired needlework is the epitome of simple elegance.

Emie Bishop ~ Already mentioned.

Nora Corbett who is the designer of a few different lines of designs. Mirabilia, Little Stitches, Nora Corbett Designs. She was as kind, gracious & generous with her time. An elegant, artistic designer with a quiet voice & great sense of humor!

Paula & Dan Minkbinge of Crossed Wing designs. This wife & husband team create such beautiful designs of birds along with some insects interacting with birds. These 2, like so many other designers, were very down to earth, very kind, very personable. It was a thrill to meet them after having admired their beautiful designs.

Frances Johnson, whom I spoke with on the phone, didn't meet in person. Her Hawai'ian designs are well known by stitchers who love Hawai'i. The way in which Frances uses her art to capture the spirit of Hula, traditions, natural beauty of the islands is very heartfelt.




It's an honor, to me, to have met these designers. It elevates stitching their designs to a whole new level of enjoyment.

It has been said, in my presence, that it must take so much patience to do the stitching, I do. 
In reality?
Even if you have very little patience, stitching teaches patience. 


The greatest teacher of "Go Slow."


Sunday, April 25, 2021

Touch



With as hard as you try
To touch the heart of that guy
It's impossible

When you feel that this time you have won
Then shrinking away by the setting sun
It makes your heart hurt

You've learned so much about human behavior
All of your knowledge wasn't your savior
The setback is crushing

As time surely passes the world is turning
With all of your hopes all of your yearning
The truth dawns on you

Finally you learn to be who you truly are
Living in synch as your own guiding star
It becomes so clear

Speaking to yourself inside of your mind
Words to encourage words to be kind
As with one you love

The changes are subtle once you have started
Feeling the joy of becoming light hearted
A delicious feeling

In time you might look back in recall
Loving yourself is the greatest love of all
Well done






Friday, April 23, 2021

Creating Affluence

As one who has done the lifelong dance with insomnia, I need something to lull me into a quiet state of rest every night at bedtime. 

I speak a few languages ( other than English) so, the way a person's voice sounds, matters to me. The inflections, the subtle cadence of speech. The subtle variations in pitch, the range from a deep baritone (rawr) to a higher trill, I notice these. An East Indian accent is low on my list of favorites, however, Dr. Deepak Chopras voice on his recording is soothing, mesmerizing, even a bit sexy. To me.

When I entered the military, going through BMTS, there was one particular girl whose voice made my skin crawl, gave me the heebie-jeebies. As luck would have it, she was headed for OTS, Officers Training School shortly after. The TI put her in position to march the flight to chow & everywhere else.  

OMGooodness, as if BMTS wasn't hard enough. She made it worse!

Her shrill, high pitched voice combined with her strong southern accent. 

I had never wished to put duct tape over anyone's mouth, until then. She was a lovely person with a high thin voice. UGH!

Back to the OT (original topic).

When I discovered the recordings of Dr Chopra, my insomnia eased up immediately. I began listening to one CD consistently.

Creating Affluence A- Z



The wisdom, new ideas at the time, the ideas that have flowed due to his advanced education, his personal as well as professional experiences. These contribute to Dr. Chopras wisdom.

Even if the methods to reach affluence seemed hokey, the ideas he proposed made me feel more intelligent after listening to him.

In addition to defining affluence as more of a state of mind, life practices, thoughts, he shares some fascinating ideas.

What ideas?

Ideas such as the methods used by The Count of St Germain in the science of Alchemy. The theory that the similarity between an ounce of gold or an ounce of lead is that they both have molecules. The difference is the arrangement of these molecules.

He starts with:

"Affluence is the experience in which our needs are easily met and our desires, spontaneously fulfilled. We feel joy, health, happiness and vitality in every moment of our existence.
Affluence is reality and the true purpose of this course is to give us an insight into the nature of reality. When we are grounded in the nature of reality and we also know that this same reality is our own nature. 
Then we realize that we can create anything.
Because all of material creation has the same origin and nature goes to the same place to create a cluster of nebulas or a galaxy of stars or a rain forest or a human body as it goes to create a thought."


Deep stuff to some, hum-ho to others. I love it! I'm eating it up, every time.

Dr Chopra sprinkles poetry by Rumi & Tagore, his own observations plus some subtle humor which makes listening to the recording even more pleasurable.

After a fascinating introduction, he really does reference the alphabet to speak of creating affluence for yourself. He does speak of  lucrative activities, he also speaks of the state of being, "thinking bodies in a thinking universe" that is living in affluence has little to do with a bank account balance. He speaks of the attitude of worrying about money even if a person has billions of dollars, property, homes, vehicles, they are living in a state of poverty.

This makes so much sense. It also led me to stop worrying about money. To begin to enjoy life, within my means (whatever my means might be). There was a time awhile back when I had very little means to live on. 
What did I do?
Once I was at home, though the home was temporary, I listened to audio books from the library while stitching on my beloved projects, being happy to create beauty with my hands. Feeling happiness, peace, content to do so.

Some people follow the crowd by pronouncing bigoted attitudes that yoga, meditation, scientific ideas, as being evil, as being of Satan.
If this were true I would be scoping out virgins to sacrifice at my next party!

This CD also speaks of kindness to others as contributing to a feeling of wellbeing for the giver as well as the receiver. Having written about the promptings I feel to act, then, acting on those promptings, I'm feeling very happy right now!

In the past few days, when I had passed into a transcendent state during meditation, I felt the worry & suffering of an acquaintance. Most of the time I keep a $100. in my wallet for "just in case". The prompting told me that the $100. bill in my wallet was meant for this person. The time to do this was coming up.
Today, was that time. I went to the person, delivered the $100. to the person I was prompted to give it to. This person is so beautiful unaware of their aura of beauty despite their suffering. Still has a beautiful face, a beautiful soul. The person was surprised & so very grateful. I hope that the weekend is good for this person.

The words of the poet, Tagore is often rippling in my thoughts as a butterfly flitting on a soft spring breeze:

"The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day, runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures. 
It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves & flowers.
It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth and death in ebb and flow.
I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life. And my pride is from the life throb of ages, dancing in my blood this moment."

When I have proposed the ideas set forth by Dr. Chopra to others, in my ignorance, I received some serious bigoted backlash. 
Because the wisdom of Dr. Chopra was off their beaten path of  The Old Rugged Cross, was its own path far from the ones who cash in on God through organized religion. 
It was pronounced as wrong, as evil, could even lead to someone indoctrinating me into Satanism. Sacrificing me after killing me & eating my organs.
HAH!
I'm not a virgin, unfit for sacrifice, I think I'm quite safe.

Dr. Chopra states, also, that if people feel a need to look for a role model, looking to the positive teachings of God is a good place. Far from the human constructs of God. Every creation of living things has the seed of God within them. When a person takes the time to be in a still, quiet, comfortable place then reaches within to let the bliss of that seed of God be felt, it's there.
Knowing how it feels like to live without it, I know how it feels to live with it.

In conclusion, Dr Chopra says something so profound, it has stuck with me, sitting in the back of my thoughts, a butterfly on my  shoulder.

"Every person is a God in embryo. Its only desire is to be born."





Wednesday, April 14, 2021

A State of Bliss



Although I feel very rhymey-timey today, I will do my best to refrain. The mind of a polyglot, the soul of a child, a poet. It can be a lot of fun for me while irritating the #2 out of many people.

Some people sing in public or or as a part of a conversation with another person. That one irritates the #2 outta me! It's reached the fight or flight level with me if I speak up, most often, it's flight.
I'm more of a lady hawk, less of a prize fighter.

For me, I'm an empath, a sensitive soul, a very intuitive one who has had to work against my free spirit, often stubborn nature to listen to my gut instinct. In past times, often I ignored it much to my detriment. In present day? I would say that I listen to it. Heeding, then following it nearly 100% of the time.

People might wonder (didja just wonder?) what the end goal or eternal goal or even the goal whilst living 6' above ground, is exactly. A one word, one syllable answer.
Bliss.




When the promptings or warnings to do something or refrain from it are actualized, life is good! It's mega important to be listening as when one listens consistently, it becomes easier to sense. The promptings or warnings are a still, small voice. On rare occasions it will be somewhat louder, usually, it's calm, filled with love.

This is NOT to be confused with mental illness. Hollyweird has painted distorted versions of human spirituality. This has been done in such a way that most people have no clue what true spirituality is. Hollyweird has diluted spirituality in such a way that it became too difficult, too convoluted to understand.
Evil by design. 
Spirituality is often confused with religion. Religion is a construct created by people to control the population while bringing in money for those who have learned how to cash in on God.
Spirituality is something that most people are born with. It's dependent on their life experiences as to whether it's recognized or goes unrecognized.

One might ask, "What does it take to get to bliss? What does it feel like to be living in a state of bliss?"

You may ask, I will tell you my experience with the caveat that it is only my experience, it may be different for others.

These promptings & gut feelings are usually simple, day to day life, little decisions. The decisions are sprinkled throughout my days, sometimes nights, that lead (when heeded) to a continued state of happiness, serenity, security even safety. Safety in body - sometimes. 
The most valuable safety is one that keeps the mind calm, aware, little flashes of excitement.
Safety in the soul or spirit. In my experience, one of the most common soul harming elements is lies or lying. The harm to the soul affects the one being lied to almost as much as it does the liar.

Again, just little me sharing my own personal experience.

There have been three different long term life situations in which I had to lie to prevent a beating, preserve my career, counter the lies of another person.
When I ended a long term relationship, I became free to break myself of that terrible habit, it was a choice. It was also much more difficult than it would seem. Still, remnants of the habit still present a challenge occasionally. Hopefully someday, it will be moot.

Where does bliss factor into this.

As I live my life, the more often I am truthful & honest, the higher state of bliss I feel. It's far from perfect, still, you know, pizza & sex.

One observation that occurred to me several years ago was that many people want to feel happiness. Here's the main observation, when one person encounters another person  who is obviously, genuinely happy, it pulls said individual in.

"Well, dang! I want some of that, too! Break me off a piece!"

If said person is lacking in peace, in happiness, in any aspect of their life, when the one with bliss lets the one without, "in", the lacking one will usually choose one of two options. 
(It TRULY is a choice!)

1. Learn how to gain bliss for themselves by following the example.
2. Proceed to suck the joy out of the happy one.

Sadly, it is usually #2, it stinks just as badly.

From these life lessons which I suffered a great deal of pain to learn, it's an infinite gratitude I feel that I was given a chance to pick myself up, survive suicide attempts, become wiser, stronger.
Huli - Huli
It was a gigantic effort of work to get back to bliss, every time. It was my actions that got me "throwed off" it was my pain, work, struggle to get myself back in alignment. My own personal responsibility. My last four experiences with a counselor were detrimental to my mental health. Therefore, I say F that S to counseling.



When I ended the long term relationship, my choice, for my happiness, I was quite sure that I would eventually marry someone else, again. With the knowledge & wisdom I had gained, I would get it right. 
With every disappointment, every heartbreak, every cheating deceiver that I decided to care about, then, had to end it. I would start from the beginning, rebuilding my bliss all over again. I did it, it was my choice, my responsibility.
The perp would do a #2 on my bliss. I ended it until the next perp saw how happy I was, I would let myself care, only to have another one do a #2 on my life.
Maybe my picker was broken.
Thankfully, I was clear thinking enough to not be fooled by online romance scammers. The romance scammers exist in real life, too. I may have wasted time with those sorts, was not fooled into giving someone online or in real life, any money.

Finally, I was able to clearly identify this cycle, so as to break the cycle.

THIS TIME

While allowing myself to heal emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, the biggest step I took was to let myself adjust to being single & celibate by choice.
PEEPS!
Allowing myself the natural healing was/is a life changer!

When a guy approaches me or starts coming onto me, I walk away. Even when my hormones start ticking, even though it is so tempting. Even if a unicorn, Santa & the Easter Bunny tried to convince me. 

 Of course, I have male acquaintances, platonic male acquaintances. Minus the huggy-kissy-sexy time. 
True, platonic interaction which won't harm my peace of mind or knock me up.
(Yeah, I just wrote that!)
It's my personal belief that it was a gift that I could work myself back to the state of blissful being once again. This time would be different.

When one wants to see a change it's necessary to make a change.

I made a change.

Further change?

It became necessary to restrict my time on social media. Spending too much time on social media was (past tense) a hard habit to break.
That's most assuredly an understatement. While allowing, as I admit I was allowing, myself too much time in the fantasy online world of social media. 




From experience I know that it's important to replace a habit one wishes to stop, with a more productive habit. To neglect this, the chances are increased that a relapse into the latter is greater.

Creative pursuits, mostly couture & other needle arts, have been a constant in my life for a long time. Having travelled all over the world for the love of this passion, it will most likely remain a part of my life for the  rest of my time on earth. 
Hopefully afterward, too!

Having also learned that most people have little appreciation for the time it takes to create needlework objects of art, I rarely stitch anything for anyone like I used to. 
On rare requests, I still do, I keep it for myself 98% of the time.

As I decreased my time on social media I began devoting more time to a beautiful needlework piece in a trade art-for-art with a guy I served with when we were both active duty military.
The time, work, focus I'm devoting to this piece is making it materialize faster in completion, in beauty, right before my eyes!

The fact that I was working 40 - 80 hours per week for 18 months put some delay on my stitching. Now that the workload has eased up, my stitching projects have been nearing completion faster.
YAY!

In conclusion, it's my humble belief that self limiting time on social media, devoting more of my time to needlework is keeping me in a blissed out state of mind. Also, devoting time to more organizing, cleaning, ridding my home of clutter, also is a contributor.

While I do my happy dance, I wish everyone bliss in their life!


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