" Too Much ... "

“ ... Sorry about that. Honey, I love you too much

Need your lovin' too much

Want the thrill of your touch

Gee, I can't hold you too much

You do all the livin'

While I do all the givin'

Cause I love you too much

Ev'ry time I kiss your sweet lips

I can feel my heart go flip flip

I'm such a fool for your charms

Take me back baby in your arms

Like to hear you sighin'

Even though I know you're lyin'

Cause I love you too much ... “

~ Elvis Presley ~ Too Much ~

***

There is something that many of us have felt.  The fear of loving too much.  When you form an attachment to a living being, eventually one will die.  Perhaps why we feel life is so precious and unpredictable at the same time.  These attachments are always changing and the change it brings can result in fear.  

We choose to love and take the risk of loss.  I am understanding that the way we deal with loss has a lot to do with whether or not the loss heals and strengthens us or harms and weakens us.  Reactions and responses to loss are so individual where there is no place for judgement.  Allowing to be what it is, a process.

Dealing with loss in your own way is true to your being ... 

Dealing with loss in harmony with your deepest truth begins to diminish the mysticism and in turn the fear ... 

From a spiritual perspective, suffering and loss can open our hearts.  When we begin to look at it at a global level, suffering is a part of human incarnation, as is death.  Death is not the end, but part of a process.  

Asking for wisdom to understand 

and strength to continue is more purposeful ... 

So where is the fear coming from? ... Our ego.  To our ego, love is dangerous.  Rejection and conflict can be threatening and cause pain.  The idea of too much love is our ego’s way of protecting itself, shedding doubt, and becoming defensive or offensive.  Ego becomes uncomfortable and therefore reacts in a way of either attraction or aversion.  Ego fears we will abandon separation and self- protection and it fears its own undoing in love.

Yet the ability to love unconditionally and lose completely is necessary in our own spiritual growth.  The experience allows us to be aware of our own true being, our soul speak.  And this awareness is critical to our evolution.

www.walkstrong.ca

" Gifting ... "

" ... It's funny how it starts, just how it all begins
You get your sights on dreams, and man a thousand different things
You are on for yourself, you're chasing cool desire
You get addicted fast, but man you're playin' with fire

Then there's a day that comes to you
When you get all you want, but there's a space inside that's still as empty as it was
'Till an angel comes your way and man she's fallin fast
You know she's so in need but she is to afraid to ask

So you hold on out your hands and catch her best you can
And in givin' love you feel a better man

And the gift is what you get by givin' more than you receive
And you're learnin' fast that maybe this is how you'll be happy
'Cause in takin' everything you lost, the air you need to breath
But in givin' it away, you found the precious thing you see ... "

 

~ Blue ~ The Gift ~

***

Purchasing the perfect gift, tis the season … the practice of giving extends to all forms of giving.  Yet I believe there is no separation from givers, receivers or gifts.  I believe all of life is always giving and receiving at the same time. 

Yet, if a gift is not in material form, is it still a gift?  Can the gift of listening, the gift of love, the gift of creation, the gift of attention and the gift of effort satisfy?  Is that too easy, too simple, too trivial to be considered a gift …

There can be a few ways to practice unconditional giving … giving the gift of kindness, compassion and generosity … giving fully and without reservation the gift of your presence and respect.

My spiritual teacher told us recently that if you needed something you would have it … therefore if you don’t have it, you don’t need it … simple to consider but not so simple to practice.  Because we are told how, why, when and where to buy that special gift for that special someone … can your presence then simply be enough …. Yes!

Gifting those that have - have everything.  Have everything … everything they have.  Something to consider when fighting the crowds for a parking spot, or a sale item, or the latest gadget, or the newest trend.  Because you are enough and you always have been.  Realizations set in that you cannot buy love and friends.  You just need to be … be real and be present.  Gifting is a beautiful gesture if there are no strings attached … unconditional gifting.

And there it is … the gift is within YOU!

Do we give from the heart or give to get the best reaction … do we give because we love or give to win them over … questions best to be considered in stillness, where the answers are always available.  Regardless of your gifting choices, most of us know the more you give the more you receive as the opportunity is the gifting itself.

" Unfold … "

It doesn't lessen my hope

You know our time and all

Oh let it unfold

I won't leave it untold

The feeling goes on and on and on

You tell me things you've never said

Oh, the illusions getting old

I would have given you it all ...

The feeling goes on and on and on

~ The Xx ~ Unfold ~ 

***

Unfold ... allowing things to unfold is about noticing what is, as it is, in its absolute perfection by surrendering our personal need to control things.  When everything in form falls away, we realize this is who we are.  By simplifying life itself with no effort to do, just pure being ... 

Oddly, with all the efforts we put into resisting life, we actually miss it.  We get caught in the should be’s and might have been’s that only support anxiety and regret.  

But if we at the same time, realize that here is LIFE ... perfect as it is ... effortlessly unfolding ... if we put aside the fight with what is and just ... notice.

Personally, by letting go of my self-berating and story-telling, I have opened my heart and mind instead to ... what is present, what do I know to be true, where is the gift, where is the compassion ... and guess what showed up ... LOVE.

And what is LOVE? .... Love is almost always defined through our parents, how they interacted with one another and with us.  The imprint of these interactions are often unconscious, yet they are ever present in our day to day lives.  So we play out these same patterns all our lives.

 ... but what if we become aware of what is running our unconscious that is resisting to what is and resulting in suffering ... 

Simply ask yourself ... Are you generous, open and compassionate to yourself? Are you unavailable, thinking only of yourself and withholding love unless it is proven worthy or your expectations have been met?

Allowing things to just unfold requires you to have faith ... real FAITH ... in the uncertainty ... dropping judgement, dropping expectations.  Nothing is how we perceive it, nor is it possible for our perceptions to be accurate, because our past experiences and our judgements are always influencing what we perceive.  Therefore, if you can release the ideas you have created around yourself and others, you can be free of the drama within your life.

Love is evolving and unfolding all around us ... it naturally feeds our soul and evolves our consciousness.  By focusing on the GIVING of LOVE and not on the receiving of necessary needs and controlling expectations, we can BE.  And when we can BE and let life unfold, we give unconditionally of our heart and let love flow freely …

www.walkstrong.ca

" Willing ... "

I wake with the wings of morning

To the light of a new day

Now my eyes are open

Through the darkest times

I find you

I find you always ...

I could break

Fall back into sorrow

Give me life

Make my faith much stronger ... 

Though I stumble ...

Though I fall

I'm willing

~ Times of Grace ~ Willing ~ 

***

Recently I heard a definition of the word Will and it resonated with me.  Understanding your personal will or willingness was defined as “the moment you realize that nothing outside of you can make you small”.  How powerful that statement really is ...

You hear about people losing their will to live, when they couldn’t hang on anymore, when there had no “reason” to go on, or when they lost their appetite for life.  I think if we are really honest with ourselves, we have all experienced times of despair, doubt and desperation.

So how do you get the space described above ... how do you regain the will to live?

By starting with acceptance.  Resistance to what is IS the source of suffering, therefore allow the natural flow of life to occur.  The reality is that it will occur with or without your participation.  And trust that there is nothing “wrong” with you.  The Divine did not place us here to suffer ... consider every experience a lesson, where victims are replaced with students.

The past is just a memory, a thought in the present.  The future is just anticipation, a thought in the present.  The only moment we have is this one, and this, and this and ...

Those who survive the most threatening situations find a reason to live ... they dig deep and have the will to carry on.  They realize the reason is not external and not temporary.  They understand unattached, unconditional joy.  And, they make a choice because in essence, life is a choice.  A choice to participate or sit this one out ... similar to walking in an amusement park without entering any of the attractions.  

Living day by day allows you to become less concerned about why you are here and what to do next ... and more appreciative about the NOW experience.  

There are two ways to live ... 

you can life as if nothing is a miracle; 

you can life as if everything is a miracle 

~ Albert Einstein 

" Another Year Has Gone By ... "

I know you can still remember
Things we said right from the start
When we said that this could be special
I'm keeping those words deep down in my heart

Another year has gone by
And I'm still the one by your side
After everything that's gone by
There's still no one saying goodbye
Though another year has gone by

~ Celine Dion ~ Another Year Has Gone By ~
***

Another year has gone by and I can’t help but wonder how the heck did I get this far?Did I think I would make it, no.  But here I am.  Year two of GT.

I guess I could write about the pounds of carrots and greens we juice, or the pounds of potatoes we eat, or the number of coffee enemas, or ... but instead, I think I’d rather write about who I am today.

Looking back at two years ago, I don’t recognize that person anymore.  Yes, on the outside, I look a bit different.  But what is so cool is on the inside, I feel like a whole other person.  Hopefully kinder and more loving than before.  Hopefully a better me with what I choose now ...

if you constantly compete with others, you become bitter...

but if you constantly compete with yourself, you become better ॐ

For me ... 
I choose to take responsibility of my life.  If I want change, it is up to me to do it and no one else.  I stopped blaming other people and external conditions.  I choose to make room for growth as well, and this starts in my mind.  I have to believe in myself that I can grow and make the changes I want ... aiming to be the best that I can.  I choose to have realistic expectations, because it takes time.  

I choose to extract lessons from my experience.  Trying to keep my eyes open and grab every possible learning opportunity from challenging moments.  I choose to write about my journey to share with others who may find themselves in similar state.  I choose to build consistent habits such as prayer, meditation, playing music, reading and yoga to help my growth.  I choose to feed my mind with daily uplifting thoughts because my input determines my output.  I choose to have people in my world that are provide positivity, unconditional love, encourage me, act as a source of energy and inspire me.

Becoming a better person is a real process, something that doesn’t happen overnight.  What I realize is that it is important to grow every day, because growth provides progress ... so I choose to be a work in progress ... and yes, Happy 2nd Birthday to me !

" Give It Back ... "

Give it back

You need to give it back ...

I let you in and showed you all of me ...

Give it back ...

You need to give it back ...

My time and devotion ...

Give it back ...

The love that I gave ...

Give it back ...

Give it back ...

You need to give it back ...

~ Hoobastank ~ Give It Back ~

***

Keep the cycle going, Pay It Forward, Give it Back ... 

Most of us have heard these phrases but do we understand and regularly put it into practice?  And I think most of us have expectations of receiving something in return ... getting something back.

Yet perhaps for a moment, visualize the wide-spread effect this movement could have ... at any time, by any age, gender or culture group, it can be implemented in anyone’s life.  All we have to do is something nice for someone else ... the catch? with no strings attached.

Yes we can because the wonderful thing is that we do this more often than we think we.  How so?  Well these acts of kindness don’t have to be big.  You see, the act of sharing daily gratitude doesn’t cost a lot or take up very much time, but does have an everlasting effect on the person who receives it.

We live in a world that recycles the gift of positive energy ... 

what you give out you will receive back.  

It just happens.  

Gratitude and abundance are intricately intertwined ... 

one cannot exist without the other.

So need some cool ideas on how to give it back?

• pay for a stranger at the drive thru
• put a quarter in the next parking meter you pass
• downsize your closet or furniture and donate to charity
• share your youthful self by helping the elderly
• carry their groceries, run an errand, or clean their yard
• SMILE and greet the next random person you meet
• dedicate your yoga practice to someone else
• pray for someone who may be in need
• let someone else take the “best” parking spot this time
• donate your old books to the local library
• tell someone how much they mean to you
• let go of your own self-worries and celebrate courage
• someone else is ALWAYS fighting a bigger battle than you

Now either this sounds too easy or you may be skeptical.  Can we all really coordinate, communicate and cooperate?  Well we all have the capacity to experience gratitude ... and the true benefit from the power of gratitude is understanding it's about paying it forward instead of paying it back.  It is not about evening the score or owing someone something.  It is just about gratefully receiving.

When we pay it forward, nobody gets left out.  Unconditional deeds mean that regardless of what someone might have done to you or might not have done for you, the kind act will always exist.  You still may think this is too idealistic, but why not give it a go?... You may be surprised at the emotion you experience ~ LOVE ~ the best emotion of all.

" Willing and Able..."

Said I'm willin' and I'm able 

I'm ready 2 place my cards on the table  

I been holdin' back this feeling 4 far 2 long 

And now that I'm willin'  It's a fact ?

it's truly mighty strong ...

Oh Lord, I'm willin', willin', able (Willin', able) 

I wanna dance and sing, somebody watch me do my thing...

~ Prince ~ Willing and Able ~

***

The other day I was having a conversation with an individual from the oil and gas industry, where I have spent the majority of my working career.  I found myself telling them that I have been on “dis-ability” for the last year ... immediately they responded with “I am sorry to hear this”, for which I replied “oh no that’s okay”.  

As solemn as they were, I was the opposite.  My upbeat, positive expression stemmed from all the that I have gained from my illness experience.  Good things always come out of bad.  Along with the valuable lessons I have shared, my cancer diagnosis is an “ability” or “this-ability” and not a “dis-ability”.  

Cancer has given me the ability to re-address what matters in my life.  It has shown me my husbands true unconditional love.  It has given me the opportunity to improve my relationship with my family.  It has helped me appreciate life and the beauty around me.  It has allowed me to learn and grow as an individual.  It has helped me face my fears.  It has allowed me to find acceptance, courage and strength I didn’t know I had.  It has given me new confidence.  It has helped me further build character.  It has made me grateful for every day.  It has increased my faith in a Higher Power.  It has given me the ability to enjoy a break from working.  It has given me the push I need to do the things I had been putting off.  It has made me not waste time.  It has allowed me to see things with more clarity for what they really are.  It has aligned me with the right people in my life ... blessings.

We are all one day closer to dying, yet the difference is that someone in their great wisdom has given me an expiry date.  So it begs to differ, is better to know when and how or is ignorance bliss?  If you knew your expiry date and more importantly believed it, would you do things differently?  Would you be willing and able?

Prior to my diagnosis, I was reluctantly living my life, easily accepting defeat, and believing that I was unable to be whom I wanted to be.  Looking back, that was when I was living a real “dis-abled” life. Now more than ever, I am ready, willing and able.

“Dis-ease is solely and purely corrective; it is neither vindictive nor cruel, but it is the means adopted by our own souls to point out to us our faults, to prevent our making greater errors, to hinder us from doing more harm, and to bring us back to the path of Truth and Light from which we should never have strayed.” 

~ Edward Bach, creator of Bach Flower remedies

" Newborn ... "

Newborn ...

I've got someone seeing grace in me

Someone respecting me

I've got someone who's there for me

Someone saying prayers for me

For all the right reasons

~ Depeche Mode ~ Newborn ~

***

This weekend, I had an opportunity to celebrate the upcoming birth of a newborn.  My girlfriend Jasmeen and her husband are expecting their first baby this spring.  So exciting ... bringing so much joy in their lives and for those of us touched by them.  Thanks to my gorgeous girl, Rupi who hosted a wonderful afternoon, we showered Jasmeen with happiness and love ... keeping her body, mind and spirit in a blissful state.  Precious ♥

In the spirit of babies, recently I read that the expectant mother needs to sacrifice many things during her pregnancy, as she is being a given a gift of a lifetime, her precious newborn.  I read she should hear melodious songs, read revered books or beautiful literature, wear comfortable clothing, adorn herself with fragrant flowers and always be in a happy and serene atmosphere.  This increases her chances of giving birth to children who have better cognition, spatial and depth perception.  As well as avoiding packaged foods, restrict animal products and alcohol ensures a healthy baby.  And lowering stress and anxiety is crucial as this can lead to subtle changes in an unborn child’s development ... high signs of stress such as high blood pressure increase heart rates of their babies.

All this literature made me think ... why does this have to apply to only expectant mothers?  Just think ... apply the above to yourself as often as possible ... *sigh ... pure bliss!  We are just as important as our newborns.  We too are a gift and it is never to late to treat ourselves with a mother’s kindness and love ... loving kindness, the feeling of love, warmth and caring as the object.  You see, a mother’s love is unconditional - there are truly no strings attached.  So why do we attach strings?  Why do we beat ourselves up, tell ourselves it is too late or we are not good enough?

When we truly take care of ourselves and our bodies at all times, not just times when we are “suppose to”, we will have the same effect on ourselves as we would on a newborn ... for example, you wouldn’t feed your baby junk food, so why do you feed this to yourself?

So start off by imagining yourself as a kid ... wouldn’t you want the best for that kid?  Imagine showering that child with comfort, security, safety.  Continue to positively nourish that child's internal and external environment.  Now use that image as a way to cultivate a sincere wish for happiness for yourself ... a wish held within every one of your cells ....a wish to be truly happy ... a wish to embrace yourself with feelings of peace, bliss and joy ... unconditionally.  Precious ♥