And then I grew up...

Lately I've been saying that a lot ... and then I grew up.

If you asked me 28 years ago, I would have had the typical twenty something answer to everything "I know."
Yup, I knew it all. I was on the path that I clearly had chosen. In spite of everyone else. I was happy. So I thought.
The next ten years would be a dogged attempt at sustaining what I thought was a happy life. But the powers that be, who sat patiently waiting for me to get it, had to intervene and knock me over the head to wake up.
And so I did.
A new path.
A new journey.
Not without many trying, anxious and downright dirty days.
The cost of waking up I understand.

With ten years of many experiences, I knew it all.
Can't believe I said eh?
Well, I did.
I knew it all.
Not.

The next 15 years though was much different.
So I'm going to just put it out there...
that maybe I did know..some things.
I was happy.
But (you knew the but was coming) I was holding on to many of the 'I know' ideals. These were not minor stumbling blocks. These were colossal walls that I kept running into because I just wasn't 'getting it.'

...and then I grew up.

How liberating.

Now, don't get me wrong. I still have lots and lots...and lots to learn. But (and this is a good but), I have begun shedding all the notions, supposed to be's, what if's, what will people think, I can't, have to please everyone, and I've adopted a state of mind that let's me ... be me.

Like everyone, I am and will always be a work in progress, but it's not laborious. I'm not perfect; and that's okay.

So many subtle messages have helped me to gain this new perspective. And so I continue to listen, read, explore and share.

So when I trip and fall, or walk into a wall, the landing is softer and I bounce back quicker.

I guess that's the price of growing up.

Patience, patience, patie...

How would you define patience?

The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

Hmmmm...there are two key words that jump out at me.

CAPACITY and ACCEPTANCE.

I'm thinking if you can create an enormous capacity of acceptance all the 'stuff' becomes trivial.  Too easy eh? It's the waiting...that's the challenge. Waiting tries every ounce of energy when you are anxious, tired, suffering or worried. It's the voice that keeps bringing up the doubts, that keeps chipping away at that capacity, that knows just what triggers you to give up or give in.  

IF ONLY we could see what is just ahead. Wouldn't that be ideal.  You know you have a few stumbling blocks, but not to worry, just down the road is what you've been working so hard to achieve. 

BUT NO, we only get to see the step we are taking and even then we aren't sure how we are going to land.

Our perception of time is limited... actually crippling.  We want what we want when we want it.  

It doesn't work that way.

So it all comes back to capacity and acceptance.

It all starts with you.

Live in the moment. 

Hold steadfast to your dreams.

Pay attention...to everything...especially the NON-things.

Be patient.

Enter with an open mind...

It's not a secret...it's been there for thousands of years.  We're just not listening...close enough.

"Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you."

Skepticism rears its ugly head and so what is the universe to do?

It delivers.

Everything you DON'T want.

You don't have to be of a particular denomination to be compassionate, loving, peaceful...human.

Be kind.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Be generous

"What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?"

Don't judge.

"Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."

Love

"Love others as you love yourself."

Be Humble.

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and who whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Shine

"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place that is well hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on his stand so that those who come in may see the light."

Forgive

"Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

BE Peace

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you."


Look around.  This world is a phenomenal creation.  We are phenomenal creations.  With just a simple change of perspective we CAN live peacefully and harmoniously.  Shed the past, the hurt, the regret and embrace the moment; then the universe will deliver ... EVERYTHING for EVERYONE.

Blog, blog, blog, blah, blah

I took a bit of a hiatus ...

Contemplate ... not my navel ... but this whole blogging world I've taken the liberty of becoming a participant . Willingly.  No arms were twisted in the making of this blog, or any blog for that matter.

Like all other bloggers, I've got things to say.

I want to share, engage, laugh, walk away feeling like ... I've written something that has got someone, somewhere; thinking.

Amongst the sea of blogs, I stand, well actually sit.

So many to read. Which to follow...or not.  Technology has certainly afforded us the perfect forum to talk, talk, talk. But it's all kind of become like white noise.  hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Except, those rare gems that just feel like an old friend sharing a thought over a cup of coffee.

Those blogs, yes, those are the ones that get me thinking.

Wondering if I have been able to achieve that.... hummmmmmmmmmmmmm

What's RIGHT with this world?

Take a look around ...

A really good look around ...

Can you see it?

It's there,

Waiting to be noticed.

Is it coming into view?

Clearer?

That's right...

It's everything that is RIGHT with this world.

Embrace it.

Breathe it.

Be it.

Imagine what would happen if  7+ billion people thought that.

What a Wonderful World.

Guest Blog onThe BenAPod Podcast

The BenAPod Podcast

Pssst....

Ever had one of those moments when the light bulb goes on...just like in the cartoons.  All the stuff that was getting in the way suddenly disappears and there you are, staring right at it, that epiphany, which had been there all along waiting in the crowd of thoughts and distractions, to be noticed. The feel of excitement and exhiliration takes your breath away.  You grab a hold of that feeling and you run with it, doing whatever it is you wanted to do. If only we could have a dose of that feeling everyday. Taking ordinary tasks and making them extraordinary. Finally looking at all the sideline stuff and really appreciating that it's that stuff that is your life.  Yes there is gratification in the moment when you have reached a goal or accomplished something, but that's just a moment.  The countless moments that led to it make up the 99% of your life.  So just remember to BE present in every moment; savour them; appreciate them and never, ever, regret them, because they are you. Good or bad, those moments are packed with the tiniest of fragments that have created who you are.

And with that said, while basking in the moment, it's time to move on ....

God Bless.