" Amazing Grace ... "

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I'm found

'Twas blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed ...

~ John Newton ~ Amazing Grace ~

***

Grace ... is it something we deserve or is it a gift?  And does giving grace to other guarantee that they will offer you the same?  Probably not ... but the one thing you will receive is peace of mind because the energy we expend on frustration and anger is a colossal waste of time.

This becomes apparent in various situations ... driving in traffic, dealing with co-workers, strangers we pass on the street, and of course our closets relationships.  People frustrate us because they don’t do what we think they should, say the proper things or just rub us the wrong way. It’s easy to get angry, real easy.

Perhaps believing that part of unlocking our best selves has to do with how we treat others.  It is just so hard at times to extend grace, to recognize that others, ourselves included, are not perfect, will not be perfect.  So for that reason exactly, we need to start to give them a little extra room. 

People need room ... room to account for their imperfection, room that chooses to forgive and forget, room that accounts for the fact that they irritate us but are still worthy of respect, kindness and love.  When people cross our paths, we don’t know where they are coming from ... their background, history, personality or story.  Practicing grace allows us to be merciful or compassionate in nature ... show an act of kindness, courtesy and an exemption. 

It is just as important to give ourselves grace.  Be kind with your words as the power of the tongue can actually bring things into being amazing.  We have the power to build ourselves up or tear ourselves down.  Remembering that everyday we can choose to step down so someone else can step up.  That is, to be kind and merciful towards others. To forgive someone, ourselves and just let go of the past.

" Synchronicity ... "

With one breath, with one flow

You will know

Synchronicity

A sleep trance, a dream dance,

A shared romance

Synchronicity ...

A connecting principle

Linked to the invisible

Almost imperceptible

Something inexpressible

Science insusceptible

Logic so inflexible

Causally connectible

Yet nothing is invincible ...

If you act as you think

The missing link

Synchronicity

~ Synchronicity ~ The Police ~ 

***

I think everyone experiences synchronicity more that once in their lifetime ... maybe even even several times per week.  Yet most people say that 95% of the world does not pay attention to this confirming event.  

And even though there may be an energy that is sending us loud, bold, neon signals to look or move in a particular direction with our lives, most of us choose not to follow ... maybe because we don’t trust ourselves, we have fear of the unknown and we are unsure if it is a coincidence or a true synchronicity.  

But if you don’t know what to look for how do you know if it is happening?

Synchronicity ... when things feel like they are finally falling into place.  Similar to when the storm settles, every fallen leaf and flower have been stored, tucked neatly away.  Or when you listen to what’s in your heart, things start connecting and inner peace is found.  In my own experience, I have had many synchronicities guiding major direction changes.  I have found that if you follow these strange events they move you on to your goals and life’s purpose much quicker with fewer bumps in the road.      

So what are some examples of synchronicity ...

* Having just received your last check from unemployment, you receive a job offer

* You walk into a book store not knowing what to buy, and the book you need falls from a shelf and practically hits you over the head

* You finally end a bad relationship and immediately another partner comes into your life as if by synchronicity.

* You have been feeling ill with no clear diagnosis, you meet someone who knows a doctor or healer with the answers. All physical problems stem from emotional issues. Your soul will point out the patterns and hopefully the solutions ... when the person is ready to heal, the doctor will be there, often showing up by synchronicity. 

You meet someone who touches your soul, through synchronicity that person seems to come into your life over and over again. You begin to feel a destiny with that person and to think with your heart instead of your head. You connect with that person. In some cases the karma between the two people is positive but in many cases you have attracted that person into your life for a learning lesson whether you are aware of it or not.

Where synchroncisities come from, we may never know ... but the quicker we pay attention to this event, the quicker we can benefit from the directions the compass of the universe is trying to give us ... intoxicating us into a new direction.

things fall apart so that other things can fall together ...

" No Boundaries ... "

Seconds, hours, so many days

You know what you want but how long can you wait?

Every moment lasts forever

When you feel you lost your way

And what if my chances were already gone?

Started believing that I could be wrong

But you give me one good reason

To fight and never walk away ...

Just when you think the road is going nowhere

Just when you almost gave up on your dreams

They take you by the hand and show you that you can ...

Yeah! There are no boundaries

There are no boundaries!

~ Kris Allen ~ No Boundaries ~

***

I’ve been reading Deepak Chopra’s awesome new book, Spiritual Solutions.  Yet as fascinating his work is, I must admit it is extremely deep.  I usually have to read and re-read sections to understand his points.  There is a section in this book where Deepak answers letters ranging from health issues to relationship concerns.  One in particular got me thinking ~ Enabling Behaviours.

So what is to enable?  “In the true sense of the word, to enable is to supply with the means, knowledge, or opportunity to be or do something -- to make feasible or possible.”  Therefore enabling means something positive because it is our natural instinct to reach out and help someone we love when they are down or having problems.

Yet there is a fuzzy boundary between helping and enabling.  How so?

Well, when you help someone you are doing something that they cannot do for themselves ... but, if they can and still keep asking you and you are going out of your way to do it for them, then you are enabling them to be dependent on you.  Hence, when a person is capable, and their responsibilities are handled for them all the time, they are not being responsible.

Enabling prevents consequences, regardless of what they are.

So how do you stop enabling?  Enforcing boundaries is a good start ... draw the line when you need to and consider the following tips: 

• Do not lie for anyone
• Do not make excuses for others for not keeping their obligations
• Stand up for your self, but don’t say anything that you don’t mean
• Stop trying to fix others. Work on yourself

If you are quick to create a context in which another person can play out their script, you may trust too easily, have a poor sense of your own value and seek validation through your actions.  Ouch!  

Yet as harsh as that may sound, It is important to maintain one’s sense of oneself and place in the world within the context of our connections.  Relationships are not about compromise, they are about cooperation.  By definition, the enabling relationship is all about compromise - specifically, the compromise of self.  The attitude of cooperation and balance promotes mutual respect.  

So be vigilant about how much you are investing of yourselves in a relationship ... and honestly as if that investment is feeding you or bleeding you.

" How Long ... "

Every time I see you and I look into your eyes 

There's a feeling that I get 

And it's way down deep inside, girl 

I've been trying to hold on, but you say that you're not sure 

I just hope you realize what my heart is going through 

How long, must this feeling go on 

How long, must I stand the pain and 

How long, must this feeling go on 

Waiting for the night 

Waiting for the right time to come 

~ Lionel Ritchie ~ How Long ~

***

Recently I was asked the question “how long are going to do this thing?” ... and I wasn’t sure how to answer as this “thing”, being the Gerson therapy, is really as long as it takes.  This is my plan going forward, pending unforeseen circumstances, and I will continue until I am in permanent remission.  Their response  .... silence and confusion.

Yet, I am wise enough to not take it personally because I know that it was coming from a place of love and compassion.  I guess I was just a bit surprised by the words used to ask the question.  And really this isn’t the first time I have heard this.  Yet usually it is via someone else ... asked to my family.  I even heard of someone saying that I took he wrong steps and this is just taking too long.

So how long is too long when dealing with cancer?  Of course the sooner the cure the better, as that is something all streams of medicine agree on.  Yet the reality is that once you have been diagnosed, you live with it for the rest of your life.  Even after being “cleared”, the fear of recurrences can live with you.  

So back to this “thing” ... as mentioned before the Gerson Therapy is a minimum of 18 months, with most staying on the programme for close to 2 years.  And if you have had prior conventional intervention, it may be longer.  There are many reasons why it takes “so long” and I would direct anyone interested to the the Gerson Institute’s website for information.  

I was happy to know that once officially off the therapy, life resumes back to normal, but it is a new type of normal.  What I mean is that the strict schedule (freshly pressed juices every hour) is modified to a few juices in the day ... the coffee enemas are recommended to once a day ... food restrictions are lifted for the most part with the choice to introduce seafood, etc.  Yet going back to eating the way you use to can surely bring you back to current health issues.  It is highly recommended to eat organic, non-processed, real food.  Using the 90/10 rule ... eat healthy 90% of the time ...

Some may argue, well is this really living?  Definitely an individual decision to make ~ maybe another question to ask is what is really living? ..... of course, the challenge is to live your life fearlessly, regardless of what the future will hold.  Oh and yes it has been pointed out to me how many people die while on alternative treatments ... but if we are being completely transparent, the mortality rate for those pursuing conventional treatment is just as depressing.  

How you manage your health is up to you, it is your right, it is your life ... my heart intention is to fully live my present life, regardless of approval of my “thing” I choose to help me do so ...

Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live  

~ Jim Rohn

" Hope ... "

Shadow walks faster than you

You don't really know what to do

Do you think that you're not alone?

You really think that you are immune to

Its gonna get that the best of you

Its gonna lift you up and let you down

It will defeat you then teach you to get back up ... 

It will teach you to love what you're afraid of

After it takes away all that

You learn to love, but you don't

Always, have to hold your head

Higher than your heart ...

You better hope you're not alone

~ Jack Johnson ~ Hope ~

***

What is the purpose of telling someone how long they have to live ... to “prepare” them to die?  Does that really help anyone?   Yesterday, that was the question asked to me by a fellow cancer patient receiving intravenous therapy along my side.  I sat at the naturopath clinic and experienced profound sadness.  Sadness because the three other people in the room were considered stage IV, were told to get their affairs in order ... as they were completely written off at our famous cancer care centre.  

But here’s the difference ... they are still alive, beating the odds.  

They are awesome in my eyes.

First I met awesome#1: Greg.  Greg openly shared with me how he had surgery last September and was told that “we didn’t get it all ... and unfortunately you have about a month left to live”.  Greg has pancreatic cancer.  Greg told them “hogwash!” (yep, his words) and comes to the naturopath clinic twice a week for vitamin C IV therapy.  9 months later, Greg is struggling, but he is alive.  He said his oncologist doesn’t know what to do with him because he should be dead by now.

Next I met awesome#2: Liz.  Liz was diagnosed with breast cancer and after conventional treatment, it has spread throughout her body.  And every time Liz goes to see her oncologist, she is given 1 to 2 years ... she has been told this for 17 years, as that is how long she has been living with cancer.  Liz continues her vitamin C IV therapy twice a week, unless the weather is good, then she said she golfs instead.  

Finally I met awesome#3: Pauline.  Pauline has chemotherapy once every three weeks for her cancer.  Her initial diagnosis was breast cancer and after a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation then followed with a double mastectomy, Pauline now has secondary cancers in her bones and liver.  Three weeks ago she could not get out of bed, yesterday she told me she could finally walk around, assisted with a cane, and felt 1000 times better.  Pauline receives vitamin C IV therapy once a week, but due to the chemotherapy treatments she experiences severe nausea.

In some regard it was comforting to be in an environment where the doctors are heart full and not preoccupied with their cash register ... it was comforting to be in an impromptu support group, all of on different paths converging to the same place.

Besides the details mentioned above, all three had one thing in common.  They had been robbed of hope.  Hope that there was and always is a chance to defeat this illness and live.  Conventional doctors will openly tell you that there is no cure and within their scope, knowledge and medicines they are right.  So by the time the doctors send a cancer patient home to die, they have no immune system left ... and usually this is the time the cancer patient begins alternative treatments ... starting over, rebuilding and looking for new hope.

I believe the universe is always giving us messages ... it just depends on if we are paying attention.  I’ll leave it up to you to sort out how you interpret the above as I too dabble with the “what if” world and if this really means that and that really means something else ... regardless only we can decide if the path we take is the right one for us.

When the world says Give Up, 

HOPE whispers Try It One More Time ...