" Why Do We ... "

If the weight of this all is too much by now

The rest of my life might be too long.

I know I've changed I watched myself slip away.

I've compromised everything's going to be alright.

Why do we try? 

Why do we try?

Everything's going to be alright.

I compromised.

I compromised.

Everything's going to be alright.

~ Samiam ~ Why Do We ~ 

***

“Why do you blog? ... is it a creative release? ... is it self-promotion? ... is it narcissistic?” ... questions recently asked of me.  And it sure did make me think, 

why DO I blog?  

Well it has become a part of my life now, and although not for money, I started blogging in 2008 when I started a local walking club called WalkStrong.  At that time my intention was to promote health and wellness as I as pursuing my personal training certification.  Today still aligned, my intentions are to promote health and wellness.

Interestingly, blogging has become a profession for some where media events are covered as conduits of communication and associations of expertise.  In a way, bloggers have become the alternative media, less scripted and more raw.

Personally, I use my blog as a tool to convey my messages.  Some use public speaking, others home videos and vlogs ... I see my blog as a network to share and stay connected... in hopes that some of these ideas may provide knowledge and wisdom.  I also hope my blog is a place to keep a record of ideas, to stimulate conversation and even to make a difference.

I recently read that the quest for permanence is what really makes us blog and tweet.  It is what causes us to announce every minute detail to the universe ... the ability to create a permanent record in an non-permanent world.

“ Little by little, the camera in our brain and the pictures stored in our body’s memory have become antiquated. It is a romantic idea, but not a permanent one. The memories we store for ourselves fade. The context of the pictures is lost when we can’t explain it. So we created a hard record of ourselves using the most rock-solid, written-in-ink tool we have: the internet” ... 

I would rather be asked “what does your blog accomplish?” because therein lies an opportunity to make that difference.  Ultimately knowing that one day, all our permanent Internet words will slowly fade, the best I can hope for is that somewhere, some shred of truth and meaning lives in those posts ...

" Resistance ... "

Is your secret safe tonight? And are we out of sight?
Or will our world come tumbling down?
Will they find our hiding place? Is this our last embrace?
Or will the walls start caving in? ...

If we live our life in fear, I'll wait a thousand years
Just to see you smile again
Quell your prayers for love and peace, you'll wake the thought police
We can hide the truth inside ... 

Take us away from here
Protect us from further harm
Resistance

~ Muse ~ Resistance ~ 

***

Resistance is futile or is it?  The bigger the resistance the greater you potential.  You see the biggest achievers in the world got to where they are today only after overcoming endless resistance.  

Think about it ... whenever you face a roadblock it may be telling you that there is something worth going for.  Could it just make the end result even sweeter when you overcome and achieve your goals?

Obstacles are those frightful things you see 

when you take your eyes off your goals ... 

Sydney Smith

There are moments when I spend more time staring at the obstacles instead of locking my eyes on my dreams.  I get discouraged.  I get overwhelmed and all I want to do is hide.  Yet I know that negative thoughts will give me negative fruit because my thoughts are like seeds in my mind.  Hence to empower myself I try to focus on why I want to do something and what it means to me ... which spurs me to take action.

Resistance = Fear ...  we are afraid of who we may become, we are afraid of the unknown, we are afraid of change.  We may be ignored, we may be laughed at and we may even be ridiculed but it is important to go for what you believe in.  

I have learned that no matter how bizarre or out there your dream is, don’t fall into the common trap of prematurely deciding what is important and what is not.  It can be tempting to write it off as too mundane, normal or even boring.  I know I have been guilty of it ... or thinking that my vision is too complicated.  Fight for what you want and stand your ground.

We can always choose to do things the easy way or the hard way.  We can muscle through or we can let go of the oars and let the current carry us.  Being receptive and allowing things to happen is a skill ... surrender and know the universe is friendly and supporting you at every turn .  Focused energy that accompanies intention is magic ... just believe.

" Wisdom ... "

Out in the cold and tryin' to make fire.

Two sticks and stone, still got no fire.

Once I was shown, but I was inside then.

And spit on that good advice.

Wisdom, wisdom, where can I get some?

Wisdom, wisdo-o-o-om

Wisdom, wisdom, where can I get some?

Wisdom, wisdo-o-o-om.. o-o-o-om..

Wisdom, wisdom..

where can I get some?

Wisdom, wisdom..

I wanna trade my dimwits in for tips.

Tips are 'quipped with

wisdom, wisdo-o-om..

~ Mother Mother ~ Wisdom ~

***

The more you give the more you receive, but what you give is also what you receive ... so the quality of what you give matters as much as the quantity of your giving.  

It is about approaching someone as if there is something you want to give versus need to get ...

Personally, I struggle every time I hear of someone else facing a “diagnosis”.  That moment I know too well ... your life as you know it, stops.  So yesterday, at the request of a good friend, I had the opportunity to give ... give my time and share my experience regarding GT.  Was it passing on wisdom? ... hmmm perhaps,  but I looked at it as wanting something for someone else and coming from a place of wholeness, presence and compassion.  

And it was not just about self-confidence or altruism. It was about taking responsibility for creating positive energy around me, which inevitably multiples.  It was about sharing a little light at a dark time with the intention of giving something good.  It is about consciously choosing to share.

Love is the motivating force ... 

Wisdom is the guiding force ... 

When you share wisdom you tend to deal with the issue instead of the residual effects.  You have the opportunity to empower another by transforming and expanding their mind.

I found myself speaking words that I needed to hear too.  Affirmation about my path ... along with the empowerment to do even more of the greatest good.  I can choose to do what’s best and not less.  You see to do the greatest good of all, love must be guided by wisdom.

“ ... you can offer no greater gift than the spiritual and mental empowerment of others, because the inner world creates the outer phenomena ... “

We all need conscious knowledge because it brings everything else.  It allows us to know who we really are and results in enlightenment, healing and joy.

Also, I realize that the wisest people are the ones that acknowledge if the don’t know enough of the subject.  There were times I couldn't answer questions, I just didn't know.  You see others can only trust you when you have knowledge, therefore enlightened giving is to give when you have clarity.

I wanted to provide some compassion to another at a time when it was needed the most.  I wanted to give a little wisdom and help another with a real need.  An opportunity was presented to give because there was an opening to receive.  

And I realized that it truly is the size of my heart that matters 

more than the size of my act.

" Angel ... "

Spend all your time waiting

For that second chance

For a break that would make it okay

There's always one reason

To feel not good enough

And it's hard at the end of the day

I need some distraction

Oh beautiful release

Memory seeps from my veins

Let me be empty

And weightless and maybe

I'll find some peace tonight

In the arms of an angel

Fly away from here

From this dark cold hotel room

And the endlessness that you fear

You are pulled from the wreckage

Of your silent reverie

You're in the arms of the angel

May you find some comfort there

~ Sarah McLachlan ~ Angel ~

***

When I was younger my friends use to laugh at me when I talked about angels.  I would tell them that we all have a guardian angel, and some of us had more than one if we were fortunate.  My friends use to humour me and ask me if I could see them, or if they were communicate with me.  I would play along, a bit embarrassed as to being the only one at that time who really believed in them.  Secretly I felt connected to them.  I still do to this day.

As foreign as it may sound to some, Angel Therapy is readily practiced.  Angel Therapy is based on the view that communicating with angels is the key to healing.  Therapists believe that to help heal their patients, we can get in touch with the angel who guides the patient in the right direction.

This type of therapy intends to bring you back to your spiritual path in a way that is non-threatening and non-judgemental.  And not to be confused with replacing your chosen faith, this is a non-denominational spiritual healing method that involves working with a person’s guardian angels and archangels, to heal and harmonize every aspect of life ... and helps you to more clearly receive Divine Guidance from the Creator and angels.

You may or may not believe ... but there are probably many events that cannot be explained, or people that have come into your life for a purpose, only to leave without a trace.  Perhaps it is a coincidence, or just is, but I believe we can feel their angelic presence enfolding, guiding and helping bring comfort, healing and wisdom to us even when we are not aware.

Personally, it has brought me comfort, knowing that the angels are always there, offering their protection and bringing in the love and joy that surrounds us.  The sessions I have experienced have empowered me to be able to manifest what I truly want.

" Humble Me ... "

 " What do you say
When it's all gone away
Baby I didn't mean to hurt you
The truth spoke in whispers will tear you apart
No matter how hard you resist it
It never rains when you want it to
You humble me lord
Humble me lord
I'm on my knees empty "

~ Norah Jones ~ Humble Me ~

***

Yesterday I had an opportunity to visit a girlfriend of mine that is to me, my hero.  Her personal story of courage, strength and determination leave me in awe every time we connect.  Besides being a medical miracle, she was also one of the first people I shared my diagnosis with as I knew she would get it.  She has been one of my angels, guiding and supporting me during my journey this year.  I feel so blessed to have her in my life ... thanks Mary ♥

We had a good talk about humbleness and humility.  Mainly because these negative energies came up for me this year ... along with resentment and anger, and I wasn’t proud of it.  And I was trying to understand why.  Knowing that these were “stuck” and had to surface first and then I could deal with it.  I realized my ideas around immortality and invincibility were shattered when faced with an "incurable" dis-ease as stated by the medical profession.  I realized that anything can happen ... and it did.  I was immediately humbled.  I realized that I had to make the choice if I was going to let the cancer have power, have control.  Never ... as I have said before ... life goes on.  For some, smoother than others.  For some, no cares in the world, life is easy ... at least that was my perception.  I was trying to understand why I was angry watching some coast while I struggle.  Enter resentment and anger.  And I think their lack of gratitude, lack of humbleness were the triggers.  Because for me, I view life completely different.  I really try to appreciate all that life has to offer, initially from a place of fear as I thought that I wouldn’t be around much longer.  Now that I have a fighting chance, gratitude, gratitude, gratitude resonates with me.  There are endless outcomes, endless possibilities and we have very little control as to what happens ... just what we do with it.

So back to humbleness or maybe even humility ... question: when you visualize someone that is humble do you see them as meek, hunched over and barely noticeable?  Be honest.  The funny thing is that humility is not an inferiority complex or lack of self-esteem.  Humility means “living with the reality that nothing matters except doing the right thing.”  

The humble person is totally dedicated to the pursuit of truth.  And because his self-esteem is not dependent on approval from others, his choice may be the right, not popular one.  The arrogant person is concerned with his own ego, pride, money and power.  Preoccupied with what others think of him.  So even though his appearance is friendly and charming, he is really manipulating things to suit his selfish needs.  

Think of it this way ... humility thinks “what’s greater than me counts” and arrogance thinks “I’m all that counts.”  And the most humble person of all can also be charismatic.  Because humility is freedom ... concern about truth, living by it and being free to express yourself in the most authentic way.  A quiet confidence, not rattled by critics, earning genuine respect.  A humble person knows his place and helps others, as there is no threat to his ego.

So start by doing some soul searching.  Check in with your life goals ... is it truly meaningful or just some abstract notion.  Are you losing clarity on what is ultimiately important?  Doing the right thing may be difficult, because we don’t always perceive it as providing a great source of pleasure.  Material pleasures are necessary and nice, but they don’t compare to the higher pleasures of life and meaning.  True charisma comes when we disengage ourselves from the need for outside approval ... very powerful.  

Humility can open us up to wisdom because we don’t get stuck in our own subjective reality.  Humbleness can generate truth, objectivity, and pleasure.  Because until you know what you are willing to die for, you have not yet begun to live.

"Roam ... "

"roam if you want to 
roam around the world
roam if you want to
without wings, without wheels
roam if you want to
roam around the world
roam if you want to
without anything but the love we feel"

~ The B-52s ~ Roam ~

***

Recently, I came across a great article about "the cost of Roaming" ~ The compulsive checking of messages, staying connected because we are afraid of missing out, or answering a late-night work email because it makes us feel needed.  This can be powerful distractions from knowing ourselves.  I realized that prior to my diagnosis, that was me.  I worked hard, very hard and took pride in telling others " I am sooo busy, I work 60 hour weeks, etc...".  I always seemed connected to some form of technology.  And all of my gadgets and tech toys tempted me with endless stimuli that invited my attention to go off in a million scattered directions at once.  If you need to get a hold of me, no worries, just try my hand held device, or my laptop, or my pager or my .... and it goes on.  

We can avoid the roaming charge or "the emotional or psychic cost connected with the distraction and expectation associated with that phone, wherever and whenever it might be ringing - by remaining as attuned to your inner technologies as you are to your outer ones".  It can be a challenge to maintain inner calm in a world of constant connection, yet I have had the opportunity to practice perfect this during my therapy and it has been essential for my well-being.  Wisdom practices such as yoga and meditation, have allowed me to set matters aside, cut myself loose from my ego, and experience freedom from external affirmations and influences ... like breaking free from rapid-fire tweet and measuring my popularity from facebook likes ~ yes, we don't need our smartphones to discover nirvana, what a relief!

It definitely takes discipline ... we all have the urge to just check that email or message ... but introspective wisdom practices will result in higher productivity, greater inspiration, and increased creativity.  It allows us to maintain presence and inner connection in a world designed to pull us in every waking moment outside of ourselves.  We can live with the latest technology and still have a connected inner life.  Perhaps next time let your voicemail take that call, let your email go unanswered and evaluate your relationship with technology instead of blaming it when you feel distracted.  Feel the shift as it may be the next new wave of inner technology you may just be looking for.