Do the work that you came here to do and let go of the rest.

What do I mean by that?

One can easily get overwhelmed by all that is going on in the world and consequently in our individual lives as well - overwhelmed by what we see going on in the the macrocosm as well as the microcosm. We may be especially overcome by not be able to control either one. 

Or, can we?

I am not implying that we should drop out of life or not work at all in the traditional sense. We all have our responsibilities and obligations to meet in this life. But, I believe that we can make a difference in both the larger world around us - and the smaller world of our immediate lives. We can have a profound impact on both.

How?

By being the best person we can be. By doing the work that we came here to do. And the best part is, that it's never too late to start.

Each of us is a unique expression of Divine Love and by striving to become the best that we are, we can make a difference. Each of us has a unique role to play and unique gifts to share. There has never been another you - or me. EVER!

We all have a deeper work we came here to do. You know that deep inside.

It's actually quite simple:

Be true to who you are, and share that.

It is all any of us can do.

If you and I - together vow to do this work of being who we are - over and over again - subtle changes within us will occur and lead to other changes that can be more significant. 

We will become more compassionate and love more deeply. That alone will have an incredible impact.

You matter. You can make a difference. Every major change throughout history began small. With one person. One thought. One act.

So, do the work you came here to do - that is, to be truly who you are at the core of your essence - share your gifts - and let go of the rest.

For FREE resources to help you in your journey, visit:
GIFTS 4 U! 

There is no perfect practice.

Read that again.

There is no perfect meditation.

Yes, read that again as well...

Your practice is YOURS. It is unique. Your practice springs from the depths of your soul - your spirit - your heart. It is what you make it be. It is what nourishes you.

What speaks to you and nourishes you - does not necessarily work for me. And that's okay. Because we are unique expressions of Spirit - of God - of the Universe - of Divine Love.

We can certainly enrich each other's lives by sharing our practices or techniques that work for each other. For example, my friend Mary Davis at Every Day Spirit has her routine and I have mine. But we like to share them and talk about them and what is working for us. There are some things she does that I don't do at all. And guess what? That's okay!

What works for one person, doesn't necessarily work for someone else.

You getting the drift?

I have a friend named Joe who plays golf practically every day. I know nothing about golf - except for what I learned watching and reading "The Legend of Bagger Vance." But he comes alive on the - field? Course? Whatever it is you call it. See what I mean?

Maybe you can't sit. Or do yoga. Maybe you like to go on walks, or sit quietly with a steaming cup of coffee or tea. That's enough. It is more than enough.

Start there...

But then go beyond. 

Find your thing and DO it! Why? Because it makes you come alive - it makes you most truly who you are. And that is what meditation is all about!

It will be PERFECT for you! And that is all that matters. You'll change. And in changing those around you will as well.

And maybe our paths will cross and  we'll see each other on a walk or somewhere!

For more info on meditation and some FREE gifts for you, visit:
​GIFTS 4 U!

Pause.
Breathe.
Practice self care.

That seems simple enough - right? Almost too simple.

But I can't think of a better way to start my day. Or, a better way to get it back on track if the train of my life has derailed.

In fact, just last night I was talking to a small group about something similar. I told them how I start my day. How I take two hours for a morning practice.

I know. That sounds daunting.

But I didn't start there. I started with ten minutes. Then twenty, and after I retired I added more time as I found myself more comfortable with it all.

This time includes breathing, affirmations, mantras, asking guidance from a litany of saints and beloveds on the other side, tapping, spiritual reading, offering blessings, and doing Lovingkindness, and not in that order. Some days I spend more time with fewer things. I let my inner guidance select the morning rituals.

But other days, I linger in silence, with eyes closed, and a hot cup of coffee in my hands. Yes, coffee.

I used to drink it afterward, but it's been part of my morning routine for a long time. now. Why? It makes me happy.

When I am traveling, I try to keep to this ritual as best as I can. Sometimes it is hard. So I do what I can, and don't worry about the rest. I don't judge any of it. Or, at least I try not to.

Why?

Because it is only over time that one notices the fruits of the practice - not in one individual session. Over time we change. And maybe, just maybe - those around us change as well..

So if this is all you have time for right now in your life - that's okay.

Just pause.
And breathe.
Because you are practicing self care.
And you are embracing Divine Love, and perhaps a steaming cup of tea or coffee.

Try it.
​All shall be well with your soul.

I have some other FREE simple practices for you here:
Gifts for Your Practice

And a simple course with other practices:
MeditationSimple

Walking is a practice.

Who knew?

It can be a spiritual practice as well as a sacred time for the soul.

Going for a walk can be a time to replenish your spirit, soothe your mind, and allow for your creative juices to flow. I often get so many amazing insights on my walks I can hardly wait to write them down!

This beautiful spring morning, as I went on my walk, I admired the lushness all around me: green lawns, flowering dogwoods and redbuds - fresh on the heels of the majestic cherries in bloom recently. The birds were chirping all around me - having a party - cardinals, robins and a pair of blue jays, joyfully flying from tree to tree.
 
Why do I say that walking is a practice, and perhaps a sacred one at that?

Because taking a walk is an invitation to dwell in the present moment. And that, is simply, the only time there is, and the only time we have. It is an invitation to experience mindfulness. Rather than rush through our day, we might find ourselves slowing down, and stopping to smell the flowers as it were. Taking a walk invites us to let go of worries and concerns, the news, and instead immerse ourselves in beauty.

There is something very healing about being in nature. 

During the pandemic, I was always amazed on my walks to notice squirrels frolicking about, and birds in animated conversations from limb to limb, totally oblivious to what was going on all around me.  It was a constant reminder that some things were all right in the world. 

Almost 30 ago, I had the privilege to spend a day with the Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. We walked mindfully, ate mindfully, and sat in meditation.

I remember being struck by how he ate - he was so present to the experience it blew me away - eating his rice so mindfully - that it seemed he was loving and admiring and consuming one grain at a time, while I had devoured my own lunch pretty quickly!

So here is the thing: We can choose to make our walks more mindful - and allow them to nourish our day and our souls - or, not. 

I am saddened when I see people on their phones as they walk, oblivious to the beauty all around them, instead multi-tasking.

How will you choose to spend your day? You can approach anything in life more mindfully and vibrantly, aligned with  all of creation.

I can't think of a more wonderful way to live.

www.meditationsimple.com

Today is a glorious spring day where I live.

I marveled, on my morning walk, how blessed I am to be able to step out of my home and access a myriad connection of pathways through meandering green spaces and parks.

And yet, I am also very aware of the many tribulations we are facing in the world. Still, to commit to seeing beauty and goodness in the midst of all that is not well, is for me - a choice, a need, and an imperative.

I also know that many of us live in difficult and challenging circumstances, fording a constant stream of anxiety and fear.

How could we not?

Just look around...

And yet, there is more to see as well...

We can focus on the fear and the steady diet of negativity the media feeds us - or we can choose other staples for our diet.

We must also feed our souls...

But, how to do that?

I can only share with you some of the things I am currently doing.

For example, I am limiting the content of news I am consuming. Recently, a dear friend of mine and I spoke of becoming "a headline kind of girl." It does not mean you totally shut out everything that is going on, but if your buttons are being pushed and your anxiety is peaking, perhaps rethinking your consumption is warranted.

I am also doing this practice which calms me in just a few breaths. Let me share it with you:

I place my hands over my heart, and begin taking deep breaths, in and out - making sure that my abdomen expands as I inhale, and draws in as I exhale.

I do this for a few moments or minutes until I literally feel myself relax. Then I say:

I breathe.
I release.
I am calm.

I repeat this mantra several times.

It reminds me of my connection to the earth, to all beings, and my heart, which is the seat of the soul.

Try this and let me know if it helps you! You can even turn it into a Lovingkindness practice. Just thing of someone who needs your love, your prayers, and your energy right now:

May you breathe.
May you release.
May you be calm.

This is my offering for all of you, today, and every day.

www.meditationsimple.com

One of my favorite morning practices is Lovingkindness, which is very powerful and is sourced from ancient Buddhist teaching and practices.

There are many things I like about this practice.

​First of all, it is SIMPLE.

Secondly, it is TRANSFORMATIVE. The more you do it, the more you will notice things shift around you - only because the shifts are occurring within you first.

If we CHANGE, the world also CHANGES. 

Yes, it is as simple as that.

But the thing is, we have to constantly work at changing ourselves. It is the essence of human nature, and of Buddhist teachings as well. Buddhists teach about the impermanence of all things. Nothing lasts forever. Many of us have heard the old adage, "The only constant in life is change."

But in order to change, we must be willing to open our hearts first, and then subsequently our minds. But I believe all change begins in the heart.

We could become disillusioned by all the violence in the world - the constant mass killings, the instances of war - and its displacement of of people - creating millions of refugees, the political strife present in so many places and the impossible battle between opposing philosophical systems and beliefs.

Or, we can resolve to change ourselves. In doing so, we change our little corner of the world, as I used to tell my students.

But first - we must open our hearts - ALL of us - everywhere.

And so, now I begin my Metta - or Lovingkindness practice with the phrase: "May my heart open."

Let us resolve to open our hearts - to what is - and then to what could be. Let us open our hearts to each other. We CAN make a difference - you and me - together. One person and one place and one situation at a time.

And let us ask: 

MAY ALL BEINGS EVERYWHERE,
OPEN THEIR HEARTS.

 I bless you.

Yes, you...

We ALL can use a blessing.

This is the second practice that I wanted to share with you.

Start with someone you love, someone who matters, someone you care deeply about or are grateful for. That one will be easy.

Maybe there are a few people you want to send blessings to - people you know who may need it right now.
Then, I am going to suggest you move on to people in your life that are most challenging. Start with one. And maybe add on another person tomorrow.

Maybe you will have to stay with the first person for a few days. Or a week. Or a longer while.

But do so. You might just find your hard feelings toward that person melting away. You may become more compassionate towards them and their circumstances. Keep working at it.

Then, consider people you read about or hear about who may need a blessing.

You will change over time. And you may also find that the ones you are blessing change as well .

Are you willing to give it a try?

Let me know how it goes and be willing to share this practice with others!

And here is a 90 second video on this topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pWmvQXFk4c&t=10s
​
#inspirational #inspirationalquotes #spirituality #love #compassion #kindness #healing #wellness #yoga #meditation #transformational #blog
#meditationsimple #mindfulness #spiritualpractice #blessings

Let me let you in on a little secret:

I begin each day with a blessing...

After opening my eyes, I give thanks for another day of living. And then I bless the day. It is gift that is denied to many. And so, I begin my day with gratitude as well. And that gratitude leads to my blessing the day and thus it informs and colors how I experience and process my day.

This day will never come again.

It is irrepeatable. Unique. It has never been before and will never be again.

This day will come wrapped in other blessings and gifts and challenges. If you are open to whatever the day brings and you know that it is for your highest good, you will be able to get it through it. If you are indeed open and accepting of the fruits of this day, you may find that it flows with ease and grace.

So the question is:

How will you meet this day?

How you do, will determine its outcome.

The choice is ours to experience it as a miracle or something else.

​How is this so?

Because in the end, we choose to see things as they are, or as we are.

How we show up for this day makes a difference and will determine how we see it and experience it.

So bless this day!

If you want a little more reason to explore this practice, check out this meditation. Just 90 seconds!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGVaLviMDg4&t=26s

#inspirational #inspirationalquotes #spirituality #love #compassion #kindness #healing #wellness #yoga #meditation #transformational #blog
#meditationsimple #mindfulness #spiritualpractice

Blessing others, yourself, the world, events and situations - is a practice.

You can bless just about anything that you think of. You can focus on someone you love or someone you are having difficulty with, or someone at work who is challenging.

And it is powerful.

It can change you slowly, from within and transform others as well.

In the next few days we are going to explore the practice of blessing EVERYTHING.

Because you can't bless and judge at the same time according to Pierre Pradervand.

He should know. He has practiced blessing for decades and taught others how to do so as well.

Are you ready to give it a try?

Here is a short, 90 second meditation on the practice of blessing that I made just for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6L2_hkr1kg&t=10s

#inspirational #inspirationalquotes #spirituality #love #compassion #kindness #healing #wellness #yoga #meditation #transformational #blog
#meditationsimple #mindfulness #spiritualpractice #blessing

For years, actually for decades - a man has worked at my Costco checking the receipts of departing clients.
Every time he checks a receipt he pauses. and looks into the eyes of the customer on his or her way out and simply says "GOD BLESS YOU!"

I don't know anything about him. I guess from his name tag, that he may hail from a Middle Eastern country. Over the years his accent has soften and blended more into its surroundings.

It is always a treat to see him and be in his line because he is so present, and genuine, and I know he has spent a lifetime offering blessings. I often wonder how this simple and humble practice began in his life. Perhaps I will know in due. time. But probably not. It doesn't really matter.

As I watched him bless the person in front of me, on this January 6th, which many celebrate as the Feast of Epiphany, when the Magi brought their gifts to a humble child they had been lead to seek, I decided I would give this man a gift. The same gift that he had given many. I waited for my turn, and then he took my receipt. Before he looked up and before our eyes met, I said to him:

GOD BLESS YOU!

He looked up, paused for a fleeting second and replied back:

GOD BLESS YOU!

Here we were, two beings, perhaps from opposites sides of the planet and experiences, but we stopped for a moment to acknowledge each other and offer blessings.

Today, and really - every day - stop for a moment and offer someone a blessing. Send it far and wide. You never know who may need it today. It might change their life forever.

​#inspirational #inspirationalquotes #spirituality #love #compassion #kindness #healing #wellness #yoga #meditation #transformational #blog
#meditationsimple #mindfulness #spiritualpractice #meditationsimple #blessing