Ponderings #12a

Ponderings #12 A

                                            Everyday Spirituality

Dear Fellow Travelers,

During this season of mystical and magical miracles. I am drawn to the spiritual truth WE ARE ALL ONE at our most inner being. We all want to be loved and to feel loved.

I have noticed signs of oneness, a Religious Science church, metaphysical in beliefs, (beyond the physical), is holding a Christmas eve service at a Jewish Temple:

WE ARE ONE!

The Chinese Cultural Center has on its sign,

"Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah",

how beautiful!!

WE ARE ALL ONE !

And to me one of the most beautiful songs that is sung at the end of a yoga class is

from an Irish Son Blessing:

May the long time son shine upon you.

All love surrounds you and the pure light with in you

Guide your way home

May the long time son shine upon you

May the long time son shine upon you

And the pure light with in you

Guide your way home.

Guide your way home.

All love surrounds you and the pure light with in you

Guide your way home. Guide your way home.

May many blessings be bestowed on you, you are a blessing to me and many many others.

Love and Peace.

Just Pondering on my blessings and love,

Linda

RScP  ENTC

Ponderings #12

Ponderings #12

---

---

Everyday Spirituality 12

Dear fellow travelers,

To you: you, who are my many blessings. Thank you!!

I have been pondering about synchronicity!! Yes, what some may call coincidence.

One incident which happened a few days ago, was another opportunity for me to learn another lesson:

On my way to volunteer at an organization, I was uptight most of the way there: I was attempting to remember how to do this and that. Fear was invading me that I would not know how to do certain tasks. After I was there about an hour, an employee, a women who exudes warmth and friendliness, came in to stuff envelopes, I offered to help her and part way thru, she exclaimed; she had put some of the labels on the envelopes upside down! and she didn't know how to print more of them.

Inside me, I felt this great sense of relief sweep over me. She didn't feel she needed to be "perfect"! Then it occurred to me, "What would happen if I didn't feel I had to be, thru my eyes, "perfect"? It was really OK for me to forget certain facets of an assignment and ask again how to do them! If I didn't feel I needed to be "perfect", maybe some other people could possibly feel a sweep of relief and relax ! the lessons just keep coming!!

How perfect this situation was, it allowed me to put away my fears and have FUN!!

I needed this lesson, and the teacher appeared.

Synchronicity!!

Synchronicity is a WOW factor, this happened and then that happened!! How magical!! How mystical!! When everything happens in precise sequence and order.

This transitioned to my thinking about another time that intuition and synchronicity joined hand in hand:

I was talking to a friend the other evening, and we discussed how our lives, with intervals of absences along the way, always seemed to migrate back to each other. One time we reunited was thirteen years ago. We had been at that point, out of touch for a few years. It was on a Black Friday, and listening to my inner voice ( intuition). I had this knowing I had to go to Mall, as I was driving there, "I keep verbally saying to myself, "Why are you doing this, mobs of people, you never go to the Mall on Black Friday!! What are you doing??" and I kept on driving to the Mall. When I got there, after parking which seemed like a mile away, I walked into the mob at an anchor store and, YES, right into her!!. She explained to me that she never went to the stores on Black Friday either!! This started one of our reunions that lead us both on life changing experiences and adventures.

Synchronicity and listening to that inner voice, of intuition!! a double WOW!! factor.

Life is about being open to growing, learning, believing and knowing. And one knowing I have is that people come into our life's: The student and then teacher, interchangeable, we are both: And some people stay forever; some come and leave and come back, and some just past by. But everyone is and has been and will be there for a reason. I Believe it!!!

This is to me the great tapestry of life. How these people in our lives add another strand to this tapestry, is one of the greats gifts of the weaving. We are all interwoven, and if we could see this tapestry from the underside, we probably would see a very tiny segment, with the strands hanging, and Yes, some of the knots, but if we were able to be way up above it, looking down, we could see the majestic design of the whole from the top. An exquisite design of our perfection, everything and everyone interconnected, a magnificent array of colors and beauty of what our lives are and how majestic the design is. The miracle of all that is. The synchronicity of all that is!!

I have written that miracles happen every moment.

Every breath is a miracle, every blink is a miracle, every heart beat is a miracle.

Every life is a miracle.

Now, what we choose to do with our miracle of life, is our choice.

What we choose to do in this moment may have far reaching effects.

Let's choose the best we can. And know where ever our life's were and are, have lead us to exactly where we are today.

If we do not love where we are. We can always choose again.

Choice is always ours.

In this season of acknowledged miracles!, let us know that what ever we desire is not only possible but probable, maybe not in our time frame but when everything in the tapestry of life is woven in precise alignment. It does manifest.

We need only to have clarity on what we truly desire.

Be focused, take what action we need to take, and then LET GO.

The how is not ours to decide.

Just believe!!!

Be grateful for all you do have!!

and be open for the miracles to flow!!

Believe in the inner voice of intuition, it will always lead us to where we need to be.

What are we grateful for?

Where are we in this moment?

What choices are we making?

Just Pondering,

Linda P

RScP--ENTC

Ponderings #11

Ponderings #11

---

Everyday Spirituality

Dear fellow travelers,

The Thanksgiving festivities are over; the dishes are clean and the house is now quiet. I am spending time reflecting; and I can honestly say that you are my most cherished blessing. You, who trust me with your private thoughts and dreams. I honor that gift.

You are also an inspiration to me.

Yesterday, while cleaning up, I found an old newspaper cartoon clipping, it was of a little caterpillar saying to a dog, "I had a dream that I could fly".

If this little caterpillar was told in that moment that his dream would be a reality, do you think he would believe it? or would he doubt it?

A week ago I took myself on a short retreat, I read, journaled, and visioned. (to vision, if you are in question, is setting an intent, such as "What is the highest outcome of my retreat ?" without a predetermined agenda, and then you meditate, and write down everything you see or hear, Yes, everything! -- I trust I wrote a good general description, there are classes on this process)

One image that I saw, I must say I doubt or question its possibility. Do you think I have some human work to do to believe and imagine and not doubt? One is not to question the "How" just believe.

Part of the vision process is to list what would have to be released to have it manifest.

I would have to release doubt and not believing in the potential, and embrace that the possibility that all things visioned or imagined are possible. That I can also fly, like the caterpillar is to do one day. We all can.

Since I am (up until, now, somewhat of a perfectionist) I can just go back a few days to my doubts about Thanksgiving dinner turning out just fine. At 12:30 the pre-baked turkey was picked up and it was still partially frozen, Yes, I did what I would caution you not to do. I panicked!! -- What!!-- yes, I did for a brief time. But at 4;00 with a house full of people laughing and having a wonderful time, the turkey was ready with all the trimmings. It was a joyous time.

Lesson learned, ask more questions up front, Don't panic, and don't doubt, everything is in perfect order.

I trust you would have handled it with more ease.

Since our life's here are finite in relative terms, after all the earth is millions of years old, how we choose to live our life's, moment to moment is our choice! Every challenge, every situation is an opportunity to decide--do I handle this was grace and love or with worry, anger and doubt, or at different moments, differently. This is our choice!

Do we need to trust in the process more, doubt less, accept more, live one day at a time?

Everything is in perspective, for some of us, past situations in life may be used as a barometer on what is deemed important enough to fret about, if anything.

One person has told me that once you lose a child, nothing else is worth the energy of becoming upset.

Everyone's challenges are important to them. But at some point all challenges will be a memory, how we choose to remember it, is also our choice.

I had a boss who frequently said, "Will this be important five years from now?"

This question took the anxiety out of most issues.

Fear of the unknown, maybe what is keeping us from flying, and it also keeps us imprisoned,--- shackled !

Many of us may do the same routine everyday to help keep us away from the unknown. Keep us in our comfort zone. Lets release doubt and worry and just be willing to move out of our comfort zones. Lets allow ourselves to fly, to soar and be open to possibilities.

Just suppose the unknown is something magically wonderful, like the butterfly?

Would that be worth, taking charge of our lives and releasing the doubts and worry we may have of the unknown?

Allowing ourselves to float in the darkness until the light appears? It always does.

Our lives are finite, at sometime we will all be watching over others as we are watched over now, but until then we have choice as to how we live the life's we have.

Let us live every moment with grace and peace, releasing everything other than that.

Miracles happen, every breath is a miracle.

You have touched someone with yours. Believe it!!!!!!!!!! Live in the moment and don't be afraid of the dark, or doubt, and fly.! Lets allow ourselves to live in this mystery of the great unknown.

Focus on the caterpillar with an unimaginable dream that is to be a reality. Believe!!

Do we need to release anything to fly?

What are we not allowing ourselves to do to reach our dreams?

Are we choosing to live in grace, love, and peace?

Just Pondering,

Linda

RScP, ENTC

Ponderings #10

Ponderings #10

---

Dear fellow travelers,

After my decision to make a change in my life, many doors have opened, and many people have offered kind words of support and love.

Thank you so much, very much appreciated.

Life, as I have written before, is always changing, life may go along with the same routine day after day and then in an instant or yes, over a period of time, change happens. From the seasons, to our chosen life tasks, our activities, and our attachments, attachments be it people or material; change happens. How we choose to deal with these changes are our challenge.

The period in between change and then our rebirth, our re-creation, can be exciting, sad, or frightening, or all emotions, depending on the moment, -- again, it is whatever we choose it to be. It is our choice, how we choose to perceive it. We will be reborn, we will be recreated at our level of acceptance. Acceptance to change is the key, I didn't say it was always easy. just important.

I know from one job I had which dealt with locating 150 families from their homes of many years after the state bought their properties, change is perceived differently by everyone.

The people who came in with the attitude of, "Great, I can start over", to the others who at our meetings were furious and/or cried and told their stories of how attached they were to their homes, their neighborhood, their friends, seemed to be the ones over the months of negotiations that manifested heart attacks and many other health issues. I know these illnesses could have happened anyway. But I cant discount the fact that having this major change in their lives, which was unwanted, contributed to their health issues.

It was really sad at times to witness these events, but it was a great lesson to me of how a persons good attitude can be a steady anchor. The people who choose to happily accept the change seemed to move on with much ease and quickly.

Another awareness I personally realized, up close and personal, even though I knew it was there in my emotional makeup, on the back burner, was my issue of having outside approval. How much having outside approval for my own decisions meant to me. My teachings, as I know many of you know, is that the only approval we need is our own. It is inside job, we are pre-approved!!! honestly!! pre-approved. As we enter this world, we are already approved of, maybe not always by our caretakers but from our master creator.

And I claim I am releasing this need for outside approval for myself here and now! The only approval I need is my own!! YES!!!

Using my intellect, when I think about outside approval, , and the facts: 7 billion people on earth, all different countries, cultures, ethnic groups, languages and experiences. Approval, outside myself: Wow, what was I setting myself up for! Yes, Acceptance as a child of the universe, we are all entitle to that, and we can choose to accept our differences. That to me would make a wonderful world.

I believe, we are here to serve each other with love, understanding and forgiveness.

I was at a wonderful retreat a few days ago and the speaker told us of his favorite guru.

She is a witness at a diner. She comes into work every morning and makes a large industrial pot of coffee, then fills two coffee urns. She walks around to the diner's customers and asked each one if they want coffee, some accept, others don't, and some even ignore her. She then goes back and refills her urns, and then again goes to all the customers and asks if they want coffee. Some accept, some don't and some still ignore her.

She never goes behind the counter and to cry and berate herself for not being enough or approved of, or what ever else she could say negative about herself, because not everyone wanted her coffee.

She serves it to who wants it, and always offers it to everyone. A great guru.

I say, Yes, we are pre-approved, and here accept and to serve. and we need only our own approval.

We are here to offer support to those that will accept it and to keep on offering, like this wise coffee guru.

And Love and smiles may be the greatest gifts of support we can give to many.

We really may not need to say anything. Our heart to heart vibration is enough.

Yes, it is pre-approved!!

I say, let's follow our hearts, approve of ourselves, we are perfect! just the way we are. and always be willing to serve.

How do we serve?

Is there anything you need to release?

Are there any changes you need to make? even if it just in attitude?

Just pondering

Linda

RScP

Ponderings #9

Ponderings #8

---

Dear Fellow Travelers,

Again thank you for your responses, they are a blessing to me.

When I first started "Ponderings" and then stopped, it was ten years ago. How the world has changed since then.

Ten years ago, to me, there was no Face book, texting, twitter, blogs, Iphones, IPads, etc. Now by choice, by email, I receive five spiritual messages a day. And not by choice, numerous emails to join various link up groups.

I have to laugh now when I remember when I purchased my first answering machine in my group, and one of my friends refused to leave a message and berated me for buying such a contraction. My father never did have one.

Yes, how times how changed. When I worked for what is now Verizon in DE. Carolyn Berger was the first women CEO of our Co. and asked at a meeting what we visioned the telephone would be like in twenty years. No one visioned the

Cell Phone. No one actually really visioned Dick Tracey would be our destiny.

All these new innovations, inventions, the world of information, which I know some of you are saying-- this is all so good. And I can really say I like goggle for information that I need. But wasn't this toted to make our lives easier and to use less paper?

Sometimes I feel like my life is way over scheduled, -- I know my choice.

All the people through history who have changed the world or the world view, and the thoughts of people (the race consciousness) were visionaries, leaders, they weren't followers.

They walked to their own beat, and it wasn't always easy.

There are thousands of examples, from Joan of Arc, Galileo, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, just to list a few.

But one action, one small action can also change the world. When Rosa Parks in 1955, decided not to give her seat to a white man on the bus , as the law stated at that time, to me, lead indirectly to our first black president.

Like a pebble thrown in a stream, the ripple effect can spread to far unknown places.

We all don't have to be great visionaries, but we can do one small act.....

With the transition of Steve Jobs, a great visionary, and DE icon artist Edward Loper, two great leaders. Our world was blessed for them being here. Who will be our next great visionaries ?

But we only have to be a Rosa Parks, one small act, maybe we already have done it and don't even know it, can change the course of some ones life.

But, I do feel a little melancholy from the recent transition of these beings, even through I didn't know one, I have had several other long term friends that have transitioned recently, I may need to reevaluate what I have as my priorities, I really want to spend more times with friends and family.

And if you sometimes feel like I do at times, over scheduled, maybe we need to just exhale and be good to ourselves, or call on the phone, (that old fashion machine,) that person we think about. Our lives do pass quickly, we need to do for ourselves and for others, we need to be kind. To listen, to be there for them, And in the end that is what is important to me, what I have contributed to others, and how I feel about my self.

Let's also enjoy time with others, maybe actually spend time with others. The people in our lives that we know we can count on. Those special people. Just to say Thank you for being in my life.

Do you think you have done that one small act?

Who do you need to call?

Who can you count on?

Have you exhaled lately?

What are your priorities?

How do you vision the future?

Just Pondering

Linda

Practitioner

I

Ponderings #8

Ponderings #8

---

Dear Fellow Travelers,

Again thank you for your responses, they are a blessing to me.

When I first started "Ponderings" and then stopped, it was ten years ago. How the world has changed since then.

Ten years ago, to me, there was no Face book, texting, twitter, blogs, Iphones, IPads, etc. Now by choice, by email, I receive five spiritual messages a day. And not by choice, numerous emails to join various link up groups.

I have to laugh now when I remember when I purchased my first answering machine in my group, and one of my friends refused to leave a message and berated me for buying such a contraction. My father never did have one.

Yes, how times how changed. When I worked for what is now Verizon in DE. Carolyn Berger was the first women CEO of our Co. and asked at a meeting what we visioned the telephone would be like in twenty years. No one visioned the

Cell Phone. No one actually really visioned Dick Tracey would be our destiny.

All these new innovations, inventions, the world of information, which I know some of you are saying-- this is all so good. And I can really say I like goggle for information that I need. But wasn't this toted to make our lives easier and to use less paper?

Sometimes I feel like my life is way over scheduled, -- I know my choice.

All the people through history who have changed the world or the world view, and the thoughts of people (the race consciousness) were visionaries, leaders, they weren't followers.

They walked to their own beat, and it wasn't always easy.

There are thousands of examples, from Joan of Arc, Galileo, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, just to list a few.

But one action, one small action can also change the world. When Rosa Parks in 1955, decided not to give her seat to a white man on the bus , as the law stated at that time, to me, lead indirectly to our first black president.

Like a pebble thrown in a stream, the ripple effect can spread to far unknown places.

We all don't have to be great visionaries, but we can do one small act.....

With the transition of Steve Jobs, a great visionary, and DE icon artist Edward Loper, two great leaders. Our world was blessed for them being here. Who will be our next great visionaries ?

But we only have to be a Rosa Parks, one small act, maybe we already have done it and don't even know it, can change the course of some ones life.

But, I do feel a little melancholy from the recent transition of these beings, even through I didn't know one, I have had several other long term friends that have transitioned recently, I may need to reevaluate what I have as my priorities, I really want to spend more times with friends and family.

And if you sometimes feel like I do at times, over scheduled, maybe we need to just exhale and be good to ourselves, or call on the phone, (that old fashion machine,) that person we think about. Our lives do pass quickly, we need to do for ourselves and for others, we need to be kind. To listen, to be there for them, And in the end that is what is important to me, what I have contributed to others, and how I feel about my self.

Let's also enjoy time with others, maybe actually spend time with others. The people in our lives that we know we can count on. Those special people. Just to say Thank you for being in my life.

Do you think you have done that one small act?

Who do you need to call?

Who can you count on?

Have you exhaled lately?

What are your priorities?

How do you vision the future?

Just Pondering

Linda

Practitioner

I

Ponderings #7

Ponderings #6

---

---

Dear fellow travelers,

Happy Labor Day the day after! I honor you, you, who allow your full potential to express in your work place and in your volunteer endeavors.

For those of us, who commit and extend beyond our comfort zones, and feel we can't say, No, or don't want to: We need to remember that balance is always the key to peace, taking care of ourselves first is when we are able and available to give our full potential to our work, to the other people and other areas of our lives.

Along my path I remember several individuals who seemed to me to have created their work areas to be a place of delight, joy and engagement for themselves:

For many months, a gal, who gave me my breakfast orders at the fast food drive though, was not just a blank stare; she was jolly, she laughed, she joked, she was engaging with all her customers, she was fun. I asked her one morning if she planned to stay there. She said no, after she had saved enough, she was going to go to school to be a radiologist, I trust her vision was fulfilled and she is now an asset to whatever medical center was fortunate enough to have employed her.

During my drive to work for a while there was extensive road construction. The guy who held up the "slow", "stop" sign, smiled and waved at every passing car! He impressed me so much, that I wrote a letter to the editor acknowledging what a delight he was along my drive.

Several other people wrote in , saying that they had seen him also.

I actually started to look for him in the mornings. He had turned his somewhat routine to me job into a Joy! and also my drive.

A few weeks ago a gal named Michele, went a few steps beyond her bank duties to reverse a $500 charge that had been applied to our checking account. This charge had happened after I had canceled a visa merchant acct. I wasn't aware that there was a penalty.

She seemed as excited as I was, when she called back to tell me she had done it!! Yes, she had; she was to me a delight and joy!!

Yes, there are those people who go that step beyond, and I trust we all fall into that category. I remember those people, and use them as examples for what I can do in my own jobs, to keep myself engaged. I do and Im sure most people remember when they have been treated well, and are grateful.

At our work places, we can all keep the joy going, engage, and have fun!!!! Work needs to be fun!! You may be saying, Not my job. If this is what you are thinking, let your inner voice, I call this spirit, guide you with ideas on how to create joy and fun, and see what happens. It will work.

It may seem like I am shifting gears to a totally different direction, but this was a very special happening for me, and this image keeps coming up for me to share. This was an opportunity for me to expand, experience more joy and to learn.

Several years ago, at the Special Olympics, our volunteer job was to organize the track and field events. One year when I was helping, in one of the events;

Eight little guys were on the start line to run the 100 yard dash, the signal went off, they all started to run but part way down the track; one little guy tripped and fell. A team mate saw him fall, and he stopped running, turned around and went back to help him get up, then another did, and another; Then all the runners did the same.

With their arms around each other, all eight walked across the finish line together!! Not one of them cared if they had beat the others because they were:

All winners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still can feel the wonder of that moment. Just imagine watching that event !!!

Jesus said, "A little child shall lead them!!"

Even though I admit, I am a some times reality show watcher, but I really think:

Wouldn't it be wonderful, especially in the areas of business and government, if we, this country, and this world would change the

dogma of competition to co operation!!! What a wonderful world it would be,

SPECIAL!!!! All winners!!! All going toward the finish line together in perfect harmony!

How would this idea of cooperation play out in your work place, or are you already a team?

What do you do special to make your job or tasks more fun and engaging for yourself and others?

What can you do to take care of yourself, to be able to give more to others?

On a personal note,

I will be traveling for a few weeks in Sept, but I will answer all your emails when I return, and since I am back to my fall/winter schedule, and to follow my own to take care of myself, I will be writing to you every other week. But thinking of you often.

Just pondering,

Linda

Practitioner

Ponerings #6

Ponderings #6

---

---

Dear fellow travelers,

Happy Labor Day the day after! I honor you, you, who allow your full potential to express in your work place and in your volunteer endeavors.

For those of us, who commit and extend beyond our comfort zones, and feel we can't say, No, or don't want to: We need to remember that balance is always the key to peace, taking care of ourselves first is when we are able and available to give our full potential to our work, to the other people and other areas of our lives.

Along my path I remember several individuals who seemed to me to have created their work areas to be a place of delight, joy and engagement for themselves:

For many months, a gal, who gave me my breakfast orders at the fast food drive though, was not just a blank stare; she was jolly, she laughed, she joked, she was engaging with all her customers, she was fun. I asked her one morning if she planned to stay there. She said no, after she had saved enough, she was going to go to school to be a radiologist, I trust her vision was fulfilled and she is now an asset to whatever medical center was fortunate enough to have employed her.

During my drive to work for a while there was extensive road construction. The guy who held up the "slow", "stop" sign, smiled and waved at every passing car! He impressed me so much, that I wrote a letter to the editor acknowledging what a delight he was along my drive.

Several other people wrote in , saying that they had seen him also.

I actually started to look for him in the mornings. He had turned his somewhat routine to me job into a Joy! and also my drive.

A few weeks ago a gal named Michele, went a few steps beyond her bank duties to reverse a $500 charge that had been applied to our checking account. This charge had happened after I had canceled a visa merchant acct. I wasn't aware that there was a penalty.

She seemed as excited as I was, when she called back to tell me she had done it!! Yes, she had; she was to me a delight and joy!!

Yes, there are those people who go that step beyond, and I trust we all fall into that category. I remember those people, and use them as examples for what I can do in my own jobs, to keep myself engaged. I do and Im sure most people remember when they have been treated well, and are grateful.

At our work places, we can all keep the joy going, engage, and have fun!!!! Work needs to be fun!! You may be saying, Not my job. If this is what you are thinking, let your inner voice, I call this spirit, guide you with ideas on how to create joy and fun, and see what happens. It will work.

It may seem like I am shifting gears to a totally different direction, but this was a very special happening for me, and this image keeps coming up for me to share. This was an opportunity for me to expand, experience more joy and to learn.

Several years ago, at the Special Olympics, our volunteer job was to organize the track and field events. One year when I was helping, in one of the events;

Eight little guys were on the start line to run the 100 yard dash, the signal went off, they all started to run but part way down the track; one little guy tripped and fell. A team mate saw him fall, and he stopped running, turned around and went back to help him get up, then another did, and another; Then all the runners did the same.

With their arms around each other, all eight walked across the finish line together!! Not one of them cared if they had beat the others because they were:

All winners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still can feel the wonder of that moment. Just imagine watching that event !!!

Jesus said, "A little child shall lead them!!"

Even though I admit, I am a some times reality show watcher, but I really think:

Wouldn't it be wonderful, especially in the areas of business and government, if we, this country, and this world would change the

dogma of competition to co operation!!! What a wonderful world it would be,

SPECIAL!!!! All winners!!! All going toward the finish line together in perfect harmony!

How would this idea of cooperation play out in your work place, or are you already a team?

What do you do special to make your job or tasks more fun and engaging for yourself and others?

What can you do to take care of yourself, to be able to give more to others?

On a personal note,

I will be traveling for a few weeks in Sept, but I will answer all your emails when I return, and since I am back to my fall/winter schedule, and to follow my own to take care of myself, I will be writing to you every other week. But thinking of you often.

Just pondering,

Linda

Practitioner

Ponderings #5

Dear fellow travelers,

I am in great gratitude that you trust me with your thoughts and concerns. I do pray for the highest and best for all outcomes and for your loved ones.

Currently, I have several friends that are experiencing health challenges. And all Pronderings #5are going thru their challenges with much grace, courage, strength, and optimism and holding up the spirits of those around them. I admire their attitudes, these "lights" are very special to me.-- My mentors.

We all at one time or another have challenges, I admit, I sometimes have questioned "Why?" this person? I don't question the "Why" anymore, because we all have our own paths to follow. And we can learn from others. Their gifts to us.

I know we are each other's teachers and when I choose to learn from the challenges of some one else, I am a better person. I can love more, extend myself more, and I can choose to view my world from a higher vibration al level (an Abraham Hicks teaching).

I have been taught that my early life experiences have created my concept of life, these early thought patterns (beliefs) have created my perception of what life is.

When a challenge happens to me, if I go to "Ain't it awful!" I can go to "What is my lesson in this, and how can I do it better or different?" This is possible with much introspection and willingness to change my beliefs and view situations and people differently, and to forgive others and myself.

I didn't say it was easy to change concepts and belief systems, but it is possible.

One concept of my life, is that I have always felt protected, I remember,

(interesting how my thoughts go way back) when I was involved with race cars. Before electronic technology, people were next to the race tracks, me being one of them.

I would at times "flag", stand by a turn and hold up a colored flag which signaled a driver to "go", "oil", or "stop".

One time a car hit the wall at top speed and spun across the track, parts flying, and cars were veering at great speeds to get out of the way. It never occurred to me to run, or even move. I felt Protected.

I can hear you say "What!! you are just sounding naive."

But reviewing it and other situations, I have asked myself why didn't I feel scared? I, just again, felt "Protected". I view most challenges in my life from that perspective. It is not an up front conscious thought of this wont happen to me, because to me, its not the challenge now as much as the way I handle it.

And I do know that whatever challenges I have, it is exactly what it needs to be so I can continue to grow and learn. I still have much to learn. And I am glad you are my teachers.

However, that sense of being protected has never left me, and I trust spirit is always guiding me thru what I need to learn and to do. I have dropped the "Why".

A few other people and how they view life came to my mind.

Many years ago, I was at a weekend conference, and Saturday night over the loud speaker came the announcement that Israeli Prime Minister Rabin (a man of peace)

had been assassinated. The next morning a Rabbi was the speaker and he began his talk with, "What a wonderful time to die, after you had completed your vision", and then he went on with his speech.

I thought how gracious his comment was! and what is my vision?

My former co worker and friend who transitioned a few months ago was a wonderful, and fun grandfather, father, and husband. A good friend to many.

I was wondering if I had asked him what his vision for his life had been; he probably would have laughed and said, "Well!, take care of the old family, you know, check out the horses at the track, just hang loose, do a little gardening, this and that."

A pretty good vision I think: Take care of what needs to be taken care of, have fun, don't worry, and laugh. Laugh a lot!!!

Life is a gift.

How do you view your life; what do you think you are teaching others?

What have others taught you?

Do you have a vision for your life? How's it going?

How do you handle your challenges, do you learn from them?

Just Pondering,

Talk to you soon.

Linda

Practitioner.

Ponderings #4

Ponderings #4

---

Dear fellow travelers,

The former leader of a group I attend, always said at the end of the meetings, "You are a blessing to me!", and I pass that on to you. You are truly a blessing to me. I thank you for your kind support and your responses and questions. I received several on the topic of Joy. One long term friend said she could identify with the person who had written that she had lost her joy.

When I hear the many challenges that people have, it does or can feel like there is no end to the tunnel, especially when things are not as we have planned or, when we are ill, or so many things are in need of our attention that we allow ourselves to be stressed beyond what we believe we can handle, but ...

please believe that Joy is never lost , it is like the sun always there, maybe covered over with clouds, or darkness but it is waiting for the moment to pop thru again. Trust the principle that it is there, ready to appear again. Really truly...

Life is hills and valleys. that is what our human life is.

One suggestion I have is to just remember to breath, breath deep, and also for me when I am in those times, I think of one little thing to be grateful for, then another, and then another, it may not be easy at first, but it does become easier. Remember the sun is always here..., shining as joy is, waiting for you.

I had gone thru my former Ponderings which were written about 10 years again, time does seem to go quickly for me. I came across this one which I can still relate too, a really small incident now, but not at the time when I allowed myself to lose my joy and almost ruin my experience.

This was a lesson for me.

I had found these notes from a talk by Wayne Dyer:

A women was in a train station and she had bought a small bag of cookies at the little stand in the station. Since, she had some time to wait before her train, she sat down on the bench with her belongings and started to read her book. A man came and sat beside her, and in a few minutes, out of the corner of her eye she saw him look at the brown bag and reach inside and take out a cookie, She was so shocked and annoyed, she froze and couldn't think of thing to say. He ate the cookie, with my regard for her. In retaliation, she reached in the bag and took out another cookie, ate it and gave him an irritated look. A minute later, he again reached into the bag and took out another cookie, smiled at her and ate it. and then she took out a cookie and ate it. She was furious. She was thinking "What nerve!! How inconsiderate" and then he reached into the bag--He was going to eat the last cookie!!!!!!!!. He broke it in half, smiled at her and handed her the one half. kept the other for himself and got up and left. She was so angry, she was beside herself. She was thinking of all the things she should have said and didn't. A while later it was time for her train and still in a huff over this rude stranger, she grabbed her pocket book and knocked over a brown bag which was behind it. Yes, another bag of cookies. Hers.

Now to tie this to a real life event, a few years ago, I had started to go to the U of DE basketball games. That year the team was in the playoffs. I had stood in line for a long time a week before the final game and bought two tickets for the final game. I was so excited, we had tickets for the sold out game!

As we were standing at the doors waiting to go in, I casually mentioned what row are we in and in response was "I don't know, you have the tickets", WHAT,

No, I don't, I gave them to you!" How could you not have bought the tickets!!!"Now we probably wont get in." After my hysteria, the tickets were reissued. Delaware did win. Everything did work out. But I had allowed my hysteria to tarnish my joy, my enthusiasm. My joy had been clouded over.

When I got home, the tickets were on the counter, not only had I allowed myself to lose my joy, I had been the cookie thief!!!

I know none of you have ever experienced this type of situation, but just in case, I trust you handled it better than I, for me I need to remember that other people just may be right some of the time.

And I am grateful.

What are you grateful for?

What have you viewed as an awful time or experience and later, maybe even years later, found a blessing or many in it?

What are you joyful about?

I have a great life, and you are one of the reasons. that's a joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Talk to you soon

Linda

Practitioner

Ponderings #2

Dear fellow travelers,

Once again thank you for your comments and questions.

One person wrote and asked me, (paraphrased), "How do you keep your joy, I have lost mine?"

Initially I had written in response a grocery list of things that created joy within me from being at one with nature to knowing self actualized creative thinkers, like many of you are.

Then my thoughts unexpectedly turned in a totally different direction, to what I would now call my guardian angels, the people who guided me on my way.

With joy and now great gratitude for having known them, and to thank them and everyone who has helped me along my path.

Most of these thank yous go back many years, almost 40 if not 50. I worked in a male dominated company which was typical during the 60's. but it had that old fashion family atmosphere. I was in my 20's, divorced and a mother of a young daughter.

My co-workers looked after me, I didn't realize how much, until now, so many years later.

One, I remember well was named Harvey, he had spent his adult years caring for his invalid mother. He was then 40 and had gotten married the year before and he had just been diagnosed with lung cancer.

He told me and I can still hear his voice clearly.

DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, WHEN YOU WANT TO DO IT, DON'T WAIT LIKE I DID, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE TOO LATE.

Harvey died some after, with his many unfulfilled dreams.

I do follow his advice with BALANCE. and I don't have a bucket list of things that I want to do. I do what appears and feels right to do at the time. One could say I go where spirit leads me.

Another incident that happened was when a man told me I had to save a portion of my salary for my future (the company matched the %). and he wouldn't turn the papers in until I signed them. I eventually gave in and signed them. I did live quite well on the remaining balance of my pay check. This should not be a surprise to anyone. The Universe is abundant in all ways. I now trust that principle.

And another time a manager while I was in his office told me to sit down , and then he told me I needed to buy a house instead of renting, and listed the reasons why.

This was during the time when very few women owned their own homes, most didn't even have credit cards in their own names. I eventually did buy a house and the tax savings and the increase value of the house was well worth the fifteen minute conversation of encouragement and guidance.

When the EEOC law came into play, jobs were created at higher pay levels, and I was moved up the ladder. When I was to be moved into a traditional male job, I was shocked that I was expected to do what a man did. I was reared in a traditional home where women were not even suppose to work! Much less do a Man's job.

For this job move, I can ,now, just imagine the behind the door discussions that went on. But I was encouraged by some male mentors to take the job. I did. and I did do it.

The work place seems to be much evolved today for women and for that I am grateful.

One of my most cherished male friends for about 20 years, during my work years and after , was instrumental in helping me acquire other jobs after I retired from my long term career.

We worked together in perfect sync on several projects. We were totally different in work styles but somehow we were a great work team. He was also my confident and the one who was always really to hear my latest adventure; with the "I cant wait to tell Donal ( his wife) about this!"

He recently died ( transitioned), and at the funeral his wife was excited to see me and said to me, " I'm so glad you came, he really loved you."

I was momentary surprised by her comment, and I thought: yes, that is exactly what LOVE is, what our work relationship was: total support, caring, giving, going that extra mile for each other, absolute trust and fun.

He was special to me and to everyone who knew him.

I miss him.

I could write and probably will about many of you who have graced my life with your unique selfs, for some reason this pondering went way back to reflect and honor some of those special people in my life who helped me mold my life and give it substance and direction.

These people gave my joy, their memories give me joy, and the joy has turned into great gratitude.

What gives you joy?

What and who gives or gave you joy?

Who are those special extraordinary everyday people who helped guide and mold your life?

Who and What supports and guides you?

Do you think it is by accident? these special people that cross our paths and help us when we don't even know we need it, or by Divine guidance?

As I reflect, I would prefer to think the latter, I have always felt I was protected and guided.

Just pondering,

Linda P

Practitioner

With much joy and gratitude.