" Truth ... "

“ ... Can't Believe how you set me free

The way you purify this soul don't you know

Ohh, Tell me what you want

Lose it all take the fall

Let it ride

As long as I have you at my side

Tired of singin to myself

I need a lesson

I need a blessing

Ohh, tell me what you want ... “

~ Bamboo ~ Truth ~

***

It can feel at times that our environment is one extreme or another.  It can feel busy, overwhelming and chaotic.  So what if we adopt the idea that the truth can be found in the middle, right in the heart of this chaos?  What if we can find stability and a sense of peace in the center of problems we encounter?

Emotionally charged conversations and opinionated views fill our lives.  With this, it is hard to distinct and understand what IS and many triggers can result in blaming others.  If powerful enough, it can damage and destroy years of connection ... or it can dissipate altogether from a lack of emotional energy or changing the environment surrounding it.

The middle way begins with courage and patience and can result in love, compassion and clear thinking.  This begins with probably the one of the most difficult things I am trying to practice ... not taking things personally.  When we are comfortable with who we are and our life, we become less affected than someone who is at odds with themselves and feels insecure.  Because when we are unsure, we feel the need to prove a point.  The more comfortable and secure we are within ourselves, our hearts and minds, the less we will let external events or the opinions of others affect who we are.

Patience and love for oneself and others can help us learn to step back and find that truth, that middle way.  The middle way  provides a means to the center of calm, that it is accessible, regardless of your challenge.  

... Spending time looking within has helped me to see the baggage I’ve been carrying around so long.  They are old and heavy and stuffed full of old habits and self doubt.  They cloud my vision and cause me to react before I’ve had a chance to look at a problem from another perspective ... 

And so the middle way is between the extremes of indulgence and self-denial, free from sorrow and suffering.  It is about learning to embrace the change rather than seeking resolution.  We let ourselves open and relax in the middle and we discover, life is manageable. We realize that it is not our task to create the ideal, it is our task to see how it is and to learn from the world as it is. And we understand that for the awakening of the heart, conditions are always good enough. 

www.walkstrong.ca

" Thank You Mom ... "

And all the times we laughed with you, 

and all the times that you stayed true to us ...

There's nothing I won't do, 

to say these words to you 

That you're beautiful forever ...

And even when the times got hard, 

you were there to let us know...that we'd get through ...

You showed me how to love my God, 

you taught me that not everyone knows the truth ...

And I thank you, I'll always thank you 

More than you could know, than I could ever show 

And I love you, I'll always love you 

There's nothing I won't do, to say these words to you 

That you will live forever 

Always, always and forever 

~ Good Charlotte ~ Thank You Mom ~

***

It may seem odd to write about Mother’s Day when I am not a Mom because I don’t know the first thing about being one.  But I do understand the bonds and influence of Mothers from family and friends.  And of course have experience the unconditional love from my own Mother.

Mother’s Day is a celebration.  We honour motherhood.  But where did it get started? 

Well in North America it dates back to the early 20th century.  And although it is not related, the Greek cult of Cybele, the Roman festival of Hilaria and the Christian Mothering celebration, they have all become synonymous with it.

So back in 1908, a woman named Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in West Virginia.  She began a campaign to make a recognized holiday in honour of Mothers.  By 1914 she was successful, only to be further commercialized by the 1920s.  Soon other countries adopted the holiday and as we know it is pretty much celebrated around the world.  Mothers, grandmothers and maternal figures are all remembered on this special day.

Where would we be without our Mothers?  

Well not here ... 

no matter what your relationship with her, 

she gave you life.  

And many of the females tell me that although Dad’s are just as important, they do most of the child rearing during the early years.  Just think about it ... there is something special about the bond between Mother and child.  Probably because she carried us around in her womb for nearly 10 months.  Mother’s take care of all our needs when we are infants.  They heal our wounds by offering gentle comfort when we are hurting.  They lend an ear when we need it the most.  They know us all to well at times when we don’t know ourselves.  And they will do pretty much anything to make our lives better than their own.  

As we get older, it doesn’t stop.  In their eyes no matter what age we are, we are still their child.  Once a mother, always a mother ... 

And for those whose Mother’s are no longer with us, say a little prayer for them.  Spend a few moments reflecting on all she did for you when she was alive, which keeps her memory alive.  A Mother’s ... love, care, help, worry, energy, encouragement, sacrifice, compassion, kindness and warmth ... never leaves us.  She is always with us as we are with her, deep in our hearts, unconditional love.

My message to my Mom ... I’ve silently celebrated YOU for the last 364 days because I don’t need a “special” day to know that I love you EVERY day ...

♥ Happy Every Day MOM ♥