" Cosmic ... "

“ ... I put these things aside for years

'Til laughter took the place of tears

It's like I was asleep yet now I'm here

I'm here ... 

I put these things aside for years

'Til laughter took the place of tears

It's like I was asleep yet now I'm here

I'm here

I'm here (it's cosmic) ... “

~ Kylie Minogue ~ Cosmic ~

***

For those that believe in the concept of karma, believe that our loved ones appear in our life due to karmic debt.  At least that is the Buddhist view.

“At present, we are closely linked with our parents and our children.  We feel great affection for them and have incredible aspirations for them.  When they suffer, or anything undesirable happens to them, we are more upset than we would be if such things had happened to us personally.  All this is simply the repayment of debts for the harm we have done each other in past lives.”- Patrul Rinpoche

Imagine ... the person you love in this moment, may have been someone you loathed in a previous life.  And they may become your rival in the next life.  As my teacher explains to us, this is the cosmic joke.  The endless cycle of attachment and aversion that eventually causes suffering for everyone involved.  And if you aren’t sure, observe how children turn on their parents and how your greatest love can become your ex-partner.

Equanimity ... loving all sentient beings equally.  It is about boundless love, which has the power to heal and transform.  And you begin by consciously expressing your love to your special ones ... and spreading this outward to those in your life.  

A practice, with a sense of humour that helps to deal with life on life's terms.  Personally, I am finding that a sense of humour is essential.  It keeps me from taking myself too seriously.  It helps me realize it is a cosmic joke and not a serious affair.  When we get serious, we are praised, respected and honoured.  But are we having any fun?

A sense of humour seems to be far more sacred than some other practices.  It requires a presence of mind, and the ability to stay present.  When you laugh like like a child you are ego less.

And so the cosmic joke continues ... there seems to be nothing more valuable than laughter.  Laughter brings you to the earth.  Laughter bring you to reality as it is.  Life as it is should be enough of a reason to laugh ... ridiculous and beautiful, absurd and wonderful ... all sorts of things together ... a great cosmic joke.

www.walkstrong.ca

" Rainbow ... "

We're the colours of the rainbow (yeah, yeah)
Let's share our pot of gold 

We're the colours of the rainbow (yeah, yeah) 
Everybody's on the yellow brick road 

But you feel blue sometimes 
And you're blood bleeds red like mine 
The grass is greener on the other side 
What I'm saying is we're all alike ...

There's enough for you, you, you 
There's enough for me, me, me 
We're the colours of the rainbow (yeah, yeah) 
We're the colours of the rainbow (yeah, yeah) 
Rainbow 

~ Jesse J ~ Rainbow ~
***

This past weekend, my beautiful girlfriends and I, had the honour, privilege and blessing to experience a talk with Dr. Maya Angelou.  Yes THE Dr. Maya Angelou ... and if I had one word to describe it ... phenomenal.

She spoke of the importance of rainbows ... "When it looks like the sun isn't going to shine any more, God put a rainbow in the clouds. Each one of us has the possibility, the responsibility, the probability to be the rainbow in the clouds."

“Whose rainbow in the clouds are you?” ~ Dr. Maya Angelou

At the age of 84, you could say that Dr. Angelou has lived a lot of life.  As she candidly shared her life story, we understood that her lack of formal schooling was made up by her continuous learned lessons about humankind.

At an early age, she was sent to her paternal grandparents.  And since her grandfather was one of a few black business owners during a difficult time, everyday was a lesson in his store.  She shared great stories of individuals who at a young age were influenced by her grandfather ... only to become influential in their own way ... thanks primarily to that influence.  Her loving grandmother raised her with the idea of never being a victim and to stand tall with the love poetry as poetry gave you “starch for you back”.  And her grandmother was the one that told her she would be a teacher one day and teach the world ... and so it is.

Dr. Angelou has great wit and a voice that resonates with all present.  You could listen to her for hours as she recites many of her poems, some in song, which enlightens and comforts your soul.  Her emphasis of laughter was present throughout her message as she shared many jokes ... resulting in those beautiful belly laughs.  Yes indeed, very good medicine.

“Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud.” ~ Dr. Maya Angelou

And as she continued to share her story, you understood her sadness during the early years, specifically surrounding sexual abuse.  She led us through the events proceeding from that time to her life at the age of 16, standing in front of the UN in San Francisco, as a young black, 6 foot, unwed, uneducated pregnant girl.  Dr. Angelou told us of her teary wonderment of whether she would ever have the opportunity to be present in an important place like that.  And of course for those that follow her life, she was asked to recite a poem for the 50th anniversary of the UN.  Yes indeed, she was very present.

Her appreciation for those people who cared for her, who said “I believe you can do it” was more evident as she noted she had many rainbows ... many teachers, and they are always with her, pointing to the invisibly "crowded" stage in front of her.  And then just as we were about to thank her, she thanked the audience for letting her be a rainbow in our clouds ... one word to describe it ... phenomenal.

" Get Real ... "

"What's up? 

What happened when I wasn't around? 

Who did what? 

What went down? 

Get real, Get real 

Think about myself it happens to me 

It happens in the tunnel when I let myself feel 

Get real, Get real"

~ David Bowie ~ Get Real ~

***

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and enjoying the holiday break.  We had an opportunity to visit with out of town family and friends.  Such a beautiful time to just be together with loved ones.  And this year in particular, I really enjoyed every moment.  Moments of laughter, silliness, joy, reflection, giving, receiving, sharing, love, bliss, tears, rememberance, and gratitude.  All these emotions and experiences jammed packed into 5 days can also bring on a truckload of expectations.  But this year, I managed those ... expectations that is.

You see, with expectations can come happiness but almost always comes disappointments.  And with disappointments comes anxiety and with anxiety comes stress ... and so on.  A stressful time no matter how you slice it.  In addition to the usual family issues to handle and all the reactions therein, the media tends to portray how our holiday “should” be.  Mix in the financial pressure and over spending issues ... this can be a challenging time.  

Reflecting back on my previous blogs about the “perfect gift” ... understanding that receiving what is provided with no expectations is just as important.  Not getting caught up in what the holiday should look like, how it should feel, and what you’re going to get or how people are going to react to a gift you are giving ... all of which can dominate our minds ... bringing so many feelings of deep anger and resentment.

So how do I keep it all in check but still make the most of this glorious time?  

First, I stay away from romanticizing the holidays.  I keep my levels of expectations quite low and accept what was right in front of me.  Light bulb moment ~ I have realized that instead of wishing what could be, I accept what is ... sometimes what is provided by those you love is all they can give.  Acceptance. 

Second, I Get Real.  I know that I am blessed to have those in my life who love, respect and support me.  I know that  at the moment, I cannot fully indulge in the delights of the season due to my therapy but my loved ones understand and work around it instead of feeling sorry for me.

Third, I have an Escape Plan.  Yes you read that right .... as you know I am all about detox! detox! detox! and that goes for my external environment just as much as my internal environment ... so if I find I am in a situation that I find overly critical, I remove myself from that environment emotionally and literally if need be.  Meditation, Hot Yoga and Writing are my outlets.  Find a safe place, a sanctuary, for you to retreat.  

Fourth, Breath.  Being mindful of your breathing ~ deliberate and deep.  Sometimes just letting it all out, a sigh of relief, can make a big difference.  Shallow breathing and fight or flight situations go hand in hand. 

I know that I am not alone when it comes to the potential stress holidays can bring.  Yet remembering that YOU have to take care of your emotional, physical and spiritual well being because if you don’t, who will?  

"Two Kinds of People ..."

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850 - 1919)

THERE are two kinds of people on the earth to-day;

Just two kinds of people, no more, I say

Not the sinner and the saint, for it's well understood,

The good are half bad, and the bad are half good.

Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man's wealth,

You must first know the state of his conscience and health.

Not the humble and proud, for in life's little span,

Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man

Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years

Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.

No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean,

Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.

Wherever you go,you will find the earth's masses, 

Are always divided in just these two classes.

And oddly enough, you will find too, I ween,

There's only one lifter to twenty who lean.

In which class are you?  Are you easing the load,

Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?

Or are you a leaner, who lets others share

Your portion of labor, and worry and care?