Just Be Friendly

I signed up and showed up for another class in knitting.  I don’t think I have ever been as stunned as this woman who taught the class.

First of all, the yarn shop is selling very “high” end yarns that have been imported from all over the world and, to me, seemed very expensive.  All fine and good if you are creating something that you want to keep and treasure.  But I just wanted to practice on some plain, domestic wool.  Not to be had in this store.

We gathered in a room of about 12 women and suddenly, this woman is telling us what to do.  I had not ever seen her before so had no idea that she was the “owner” of the shop.  She didn’t introduce herself, nor did she introduce any of us to each other, and just assumed that we all knew each other.  She had one of her employees assisting us and told her to “teach” our table and she would take the other.  Then she constantly came over to “take over” and tell us what to do.  I found her very rude and overpowering. 

I left the class wondering if I ever wanted to shop with her ever again. 

When I signed up for the class, I specifically asked what supplies I needed to bring.  I did.  All of it wrong for the class.  Needed circular needles instead of the straight ones I had, and needed to bring a cotton yarn/thread to use as a guide thread.  Fortunately, I had a very nice young lady sitting next to me and she supplied me with what I needed in order to be in the class.

I kept wondering what it was about not giving the correct instructions on what to have or bring.  I, like most knitters, have duplicate and triplicate needles of all sizes from steel, to bamboo, to plastic.  I didn’t need to “buy” any more.

I realized that as I was driving home that here was someone who had built up a business but had no “marketing” skills at all.  But then I realized that it doesn’t take any marketing skills to be friendly and make someone feel at home.  This was a great lesson for me and reminded me that I need to smile more at all people.  I just need to be friendly.

Learning Lessons

While reading a book yesterday, I came across this quote from Peter  Ouspensky, a prominent Russian philosopher and writer of the early 20^th century, who use to ask his students who got upset about the insults, gossip, and actions of other people (I translate “criticism”), “Is there truth in what that individual said?”  If the answer was no, Ouspensky would say, “Well, then, why should you be disturbed?  Stay focused on your purpose.”  What is your purpose?  To identify mentally and emotionally with harmony, peace, wisdom, understanding, success, right action, and beauty.  It’s as simple as that.

In other words, what people think or say about you is none of your business and what the above tells me is to pay attention to what my truth us and to stay focused on what I need to do to feel good about myself.

I have noticed that I  sleep better when I have done something that feels good, done something where I have learned something, moved my body in exercise, and when I feel that I have completed what I needed to do that day.  And it really helps if I take the time to record some of what happened during the day in my journal.

It is said that every night Columbus recorded the activities of the day in the ship’s log and then added, “Today, we moved westward.”  He paid attention not only to the complaints, illnesses, mutiny threats, but also the progress they made.  I sometimes forgot that the most important thing to record is the “progress” I made. 

How soon we forget but it is the most important thing to record.

Yeah for May

(I wrote this article for a recent newsletter submit.)

The month of May is a favorite for many of us because it celebrates and stimulates us to colors, growth, and mild temperatures.  All of which makes me want to walk the parks, listen to beautiful music, play with my puppies, and do what gives me pleasure.  All of this in an effort to remind us what is important in our lives – to nourish, nurture and support ourselves into our highest and best.

The April issue of the Science of Mind magazine has an article by Dr. James Rouse in which he mentions a line, “Live by design.”  How wonderful!  How many of us know don’t know what that is? Do we live our lives by design or by default? 

Sarah Ban Brethnach reminds us that, “We may need to reacquaint ourselves with the material and deeply comforting dimensions of Divinity, in order to learn how to mother ourselves.  And the best way to start is to create, as an act of worship, a comfortable home that protects, nurtures, and sustains all who come there – including you!”

We need to nurture ourselves in order to enrich ourselves and others, to have reasonable expectations, to give more than we receive, to feel comfortable in receiving, to receive with great feeling and gratitude, to indulge and take pride in ourselves and others, and knowing that the good we receive is deserved and owned.  The more alert and sensitive we are to our own needs, the more loving and generous we can be toward others.

“Learn to praise yourself for the qualities you want to develop,” Ernest Holmes tells us.  “Be as kind and encouraging to yourself as you would be to anyone else working to improve.  Your whole life - thought, body and emotions – will soon respond to the praise you give it and you will develop the good qualities desired!  Remember, you are always planting something.”

In order to take better care of yourself, here are some points to think about:

1.    Believe in yourself.  Make a list of your best qualities and focus on them.  Read it often to remind yourself how wonderful you really are.

2.   Do something new.  Doing new things reminds you that making changes are in your hands.  You are in control. 

3.   Laugh and play a lot.  Laughter jump-starts the immune system, so never feel guilty about having a good time or having fun.  Put off the chores if necessary, they will always get done – eventually.

4.   Treat yourself.  Doing something special for yourself sends a powerful message, “I am so worth it.”  Pedicures and foot massages are wonderful.

5.   Renew relationships.  Call a long-forgotten friend.  Remembering your past is like renewing your soul.  Take advantage of it.

“The essential element in nurturing our creativity lies in nurturing ourselves,” teaches Julia Cameron.  Through self-nurturance we nurture our inner connection to the Great Creator.  Through this connection our creativity will unfold.  Paths will appear for us.  We need to trust the Great Creator and move out in faith.” 

All of this assists us to “live by design.”  And all of this helps us to create a higher quality of living.  Take the time to think about your life and where you are headed.  Create a life that is worthy of living.

Growing Bones

While at a Minister’s convocation, I got into a conversation with several people about my niece who was born with her hipbone out of the hip socket.  She was put into a body cast and even it with, she managed to “crawl” around the floor. 

One of the women there then told me of a story about her daughter and the bone she grew because she was born without the supporting bone for her leg.  She said to me, “I wrote it for “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series and I will send you a copy.

I got home and while going through the mail, I opened my issue of Woman’s World and there in the weekly series of “Chicken Soup for the Soul” stories, was her story.  I emailed her and said, don’t bother sending it.  I already have it.

The Universe arranged for it to be published just for me right after we had had that conversation.  How wonderful!

It doesn’t matter what the “thing” that is asked for, the Universe always supplies.

Consciousness

"Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at this moment."

-       Eckhart Tolle –

I know the above statement is true but it sure does bug me at my innermost being.  Since this is true for most people, how do they handle all this with ease and grace?

Since being in Oklahoma City, I have gone to church and have been a guest speaker there.  At the end of the service, some woman came up to me and told me that the area I was living in did some great things in recycling and could she bring her recycling to me to take home to dispose of properly?

Wow!  How apropos!  Most people bring their garbage to their ministers to change, handle, or dispose of. 

My answer to her was that “I would certainly think about it.”  Think about it I did!  And I almost rolled on the floor laughing when I got the cosmic joke. 

In the evolution of my consciousness, I am having to rethink some of the instances that have come up for me.  I really wanted to tell her that I have enough of my own garbage to handle that I really didn’t need hers too. 

And don’t we all.  Some of what we have may not be garbage but we certainly have memories, beliefs, attitudes, habits and all else that we could do without because most of them no longer serve us. 

I have jettisoned about half my books before we moved and I have gotten rid of more as I unpacked.  Some of them just went into my recycling bin, some to Goodwill, and some to the garbage.  But even then, I would not have the courage to ask someone else to dispose of them properly for me.  I have decided it takes a lot of audacity to just even think its okay to ask someone else to take care of my junk.

The lesson for me is to be aware of my conscious thoughts around what I have accumulated and to really see what can be disposed of properly.

With unpacking from our move, I am down one last room – our guest room, which has been the depository of whatever doesn’t fit anywhere else.  So, now it is time to find hidey holes for additional linens, pillows, extra patterns for woodworking, a fine set of wooden TV trays and more than enough extra of everything. 

Time to clean up my own consciousness.

May

The month of May is a favorite for many of us because it celebrates and stimulates us to colors, growth, and mild temperatures.  All of which makes me want to walk the parks, listen to beautiful music, play with my puppies, and do what gives me pleasure.  All of this in an effort to remind us what is important in our lives – to nourish, nurture and support ourselves into our highest and best.

The April issue of the Science of Mind magazine has an article by Dr. James Rouse in which he mentions a line, “Live by design.”  How wonderful!  How many of us know don’t know what that is? Do we live our lives by design or by default? 

Sarah Ban Brethnach reminds us that, “We may need to reacquaint ourselves with the material and deeply comforting dimensions of Divinity, in order to learn how to mother ourselves.  And the best way to start is to create, as an act of worship, a comfortable home that protects, nurtures, and sustains all who come there – including you!”

We need to nurture ourselves in order to enrich ourselves and others, to have reasonable expectations, to give more than we receive, to feel comfortable in receiving, to receive with great feeling and gratitude, to indulge and take pride in ourselves and others, and knowing that the good we receive is deserved and owned.  The more alert and sensitive we are to our own needs, the more loving and generous we can be toward others.

“Learn to praise yourself for the qualities you want to develop,” Ernest Holmes tells us.  “Be as kind and encouraging to yourself as you would be to anyone else working to improve.  Your whole life - thought, body and emotions – will soon respond to the praise you give it and you will develop the good qualities desired!  Remember, you are always planting something.”

In order to take better care of yourself, here are some points to think about:

1.    Believe in yourself.  Make a list of your best qualities and focus on them.  Read it often to remind yourself how wonderful you really are.

2.   Do something new.  Doing new things reminds you that making changes are in your hands.  You are in control. 

3.   Laugh and play a lot.  Laughter jump-starts the immune system, so never feel guilty about having a good time or having fun.  Put off the chores if necessary, they will always get done – eventually.

4.   Treat yourself.  Doing something special for yourself sends a powerful message, “I am so worth it.”  Pedicures and foot massages are wonderful.

5.   Renew relationships.  Call a long-forgotten friend.  Remembering your past is like renewing your soul.  Take advantage of it.

“The essential element in nurturing our creativity lies in nurturing ourselves,” teaches Julia Cameron.  Through self-nurturance we nurture our inner connection to the Great Creator.  Through this connection our creativity will unfold.  Paths will appear for us.  We need to trust the Great Creator and move our in faith.” 

All of this assists us to “live by design.”  And all of this helps us to create a higher quality of living.  Take the time to think about your life and where you are headed.  Create a life that is worthy of living.