" Bad Things … "

When you came in the air went out.

And every shadow filled up with doubt.

I don't know who you think you are,

But before the night is through,

I wanna do bad things with ...

I'm the kind to sit up in his room.

Heart sick an' eyes filled up with blue.

I don't know what you've done to me,

But I know this much is true:

I wanna do bad things with ...

~ The Radiacs ~ Bad Things ~

***

I use to believe that bad things happen to good people.  That is just the way life is.  Now I believe that things just happen.  And it’s your viewpoint, your perspective that determines if it is good or bad ... because these things that “happen” can be considered as neutral ... and your reactions determines it all.

When my body was designated with cancer, I believed I was being punished for all the “bad” thing I did in this life ... and maybe even paying for from previous lifestimes.  So I believed that if I prayed hard enough, I could reverse all of that.  

But if you aren’t buying any of this ... why DO bad things happen to good people?  Well, bad things happen to EVERYONE.  

It is naive to believe that one is going to cruise through the human experience without facing evil in some of its severest forms ...

Culturally, I’ve grown up with conversations within the East Indian community such as “it is not far that so much has happened to our family recently”.  But don’t we all get what we are meant to get and what is fair?  Personally, I have come to a place where NOW I can be grateful for all my challenges as I wouldn’t have stumbled upon my strengths if not so.  

Remember, these are the times you find out what you are made of ...

And do we really need to compare ourselves to a less fortunate one to appreciate and be grateful for what is present in our lives.  Do we feel “if only” and things will then be good?  And how can we be so sure of that?  There are times in life we are smaller and other times we are bigger.

I do believe that everything that occurs in life is meant to bring us closer to our soul’s purpose, and everything we are given is a tool to help us.  Every one of us has a unique mission and sometimes we veer off course.  A terminal illness, a divorce, a death of a loved one ... moves us closer to our mission, as painful as it may seem when it occurs, are the cloaked difficulties full of lessons and messages.  

The question is are you paying attention 

because you don't need a major event to listen ...

Personally, when I now speak about this designated dis-ease, I believe it was Divine’s act to shift me out of the thinking, being and living in a different direction ... a direction that required a re-alignment with my higher self, bringing happiness, joy & contentment with no attachment to an outcome.

I do believe EVERYTHING that occurs in my life is for my higher good ... 

Although this one thought has helped me trememendously, I don’t pretend to have a wide angle view on why things happen to me, let alone to anyone else.  Yet personally shifting from a place of “why me” to “why not” allows you to surrender to the process and be open to all the miracles around us.

www.walkstrong.ca

" Drive My Soul ... "

When you are gone

Will I lose control? 

You are the only road I know

You show me where to go

Who will drive my soul? 

You make the street lights reappear

I feel bright when you stand near

I know what I am when you are here

My place becomes so clear

Will I lose control? 

You're the only road that I know

You show me where to go

Who will drive my soul? 

Drive my soul

~ Lights ~ Drive My Soul ~ 

***

I strongly believe in Divine Guidance and I know it can come as a song on the radio, a conversation with a stranger, an article I have read, voices in my dreams or inspired ideas.  Simply a message.  But what is not so simple is knowing if it is truly a message from the Divine.

Over the years, I have awareness in seeing it as a natural part of my daily life ... I recognize, trust and act on this guidance.  Yet my ego does like to mess me up time to time and settle me in a place of confusion.  

Thankfully there is a great deal of resources around me as well as online.  Doreen Virtue, Ph.D speaks clearly in her book called Divine Guidance about this very thing.  Distinguishing true guidance from false guidance and how to more fully open up your channels to receive Divine messages.

She talks about the difference between true higher guidance and false lower/ego guidance.  Here are a few to consider:

• True Guidance is supportive and motivational
• False Guidance is fearful and inspires doubt

• True Guidance is consistent
• False Guidance switches impulsively

• True Guidance refers to your life purpose or mission
• False Guidance refers to competition with others

• True Guidance wants joy in the present
• False Guidance wants to delay happiness for the future

• True Guidance is strong and powerful
• False Guidance is insidious and sneaky

• True Guidance is familiar
• False Guidance is out-of-sync with your lifestyle

• True Guidance speaks in second person
• False Guidance uses the word “I” constantly 

• True Guidance empowers you
• False Guidance weakens you

• True Guidance comes suddenly and completely in response to prayer/meditation
• False Guidance comes gradually in response to worry

• True Guidance never puts you above or below others
• False Guidance says you are better or worse than others

Ultimately knowing that Divine Guidance is available to us at all times is comforting ... these messages are always loving, uplifting and peaceful.  Our willingness to receive and be open to hearing in a way that we can understand is the key.

I have been told to have the intention to receive guidance that is for my highest and greatest good and trusting that the answers will come.  And of course be grateful for the Divine assistance.  Regardless, you have to just believe intuitively what is right for you ... 

" Ahead Of The Curve ... "

I had shoes to fill

Walking barefoot now

Can't tell north from south

But no split hair's gonna get me down, no

I'm stayin' above the flat line

And I'm ahead of the curve

Take a piece of the sunshine with me

On a red-eye flight to another world

~ Ahead Of The Curve ~ Monsters of Folk ~

***

Life throws you so many curveballs when you least expect it.  One day can be almost perfect and another day leaving you wondering where you went wrong.  Wouldn’t it be nice if life had a pause button?

I will say it is easier to block out everything that makes the world not seem like the great, fantastic place I want it to be.  Hide from the bad stuff because I just want the good parts.  I wasn’t sure if I was strong enough to take it on ... turns out, I am stronger than I gave myself credit for. 

The never-ending struggle of knowing things that I actually have control over and those of which I cannot change.  The wisdom part is what I struggle with the most ... knowing when to keep going and when to stop.  Knowing the difference is a life-long process.  And through these distressful moments, I strive to be braver than the times before, armed with courage.  I realize that there are times for me to just close my eyes and let everything go.   I need to let the Him have control ... believing that the greatests lessons are given to his best students.

Without a doubt, having a balanced relationship with Russell has allowed us to tackle most issues together.  We trust that each other is looking out for the other.  Individually we are strong, yet combined has made us a force ready for anything.  Every step in unison ... I realized that if we can deal with cancer, we can really deal with anything that comes our way. 

No matter what we may be going through, there is always beauty that surrounds us each and every day ... remembering to find it and take some time out to savor it, even briefly.  I believe this beauty has a positive energy and vibe that we can tap into when we need to... to recharge ourselves in the midst of a difficult situation and replace negativity with the healthier alternative.

Nothing is always perfect and I believe there is a greater plan in play.  I can be the one who decides how full or empty my glass is while life continues to throw these curveballs ... choosing to hit it right out of the park.

" Give Peace A Chance ... "

"Ev'rybody's talking about
Revolution, Evolution, Mastication, Flagelolation, Regulations.
Integrations, Meditations, United Nations, Congratulations
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance"

~ John Lennon ~ Give Peace A Chance ~

***

In our city, on November 11, Rememberance Day, memorial ceremonies have been scheduled.  The community at large it requested to attend with their poppies vividly displayed on lapels.  Some ceremonies will be televised, others will be private.  And red poppies are a familiar sight in November on ordinary folk, veterans, businessman, school children and politicians.  Funds raised from these poppies are to support the veterans, those that survived and families of those that didn't.  The poppy is a symbol to aid the living and honour the dead.  The poppy promises an end to pain.  For many, this act of rememberance is a way of healing the trauma.  

What I didn't realize is that there is a White poppy as well.  White poppies use to offer an alternative way of remembering.  Remembering that the sufferings of war are not confined to soldiers but to thousands of children whom die of starvation and dis-ease as a direct results of war ~ worn to avoid the outbreak of another wear ~ worn for Peace ~ an end to war and giving peace a chance ... the pledge for Peace.  And really are we not looking for peace in our lives ... in our hearts and in our minds.  Peace in knowing that the choices we make or that are made for us are ultimately for a higher good.  Peace in any situation that we find ourselves facing ... and instead of criticizing the world that is, working towards making a world that could be more compassionate, more loving ... more peaceful.  

One with more life and less dis-ease.

So this year, alongside your red poppy, consider a white one as well.  Knowing that the white poppy symbolizes Peace, Morality and Decency ~ ask for a stronger statement, an admission that lasting peace can not be achieved by human conflict .... Knowing that reconciliation and tolerance could unite rather than divide nations and religions of the world, a call for peace with justice.  

Giving Peace A Chance