Seedlings

Being Thankful

Last night although I seemed to have a wrestling match going on in my mind,
as I prepared for bed I began to surrender to simple things,  opening the
windows to let the fresh air flow in, finding a good book to spend a few
minutes with before sleep, taking exquisite care of my sweet feet. 
As I settled down, I heard the gentle patter of the rain and just imagined
how grateful a newly pruned bush was for the added moisture.

Nature is one of the fonts of gratitude for me.  It brings me back to
the simple pleasures.  Birds are a fascination.  This morning the birds
in the area were quiet, several robins and a flicker were rapt in search
of worms brought to the surface by the rain.  Stellar jays, the only ones
breaking the silence swooped overhead and lighted without agitation.
Harmony seemed to surround us all.

When I go to gratitude, harmony and abundance often follow.  I danced this
morning, the Five Rhythms to open my body to fresh flexibility and my mind
often follows.  The Fifth Rhythm is silence.  After about ten minutes of
silence, I heard the phone ring, and chose not to interrupt my meditation. 
And, I couldn’t help but hear a message from a colleague whom I had asked
for information from a couple of days earlier. From that space of well-being
and gratitude, good things were already beginning to flow.

Let’s take time throughout the day to:
Be still
Be aware, and
Be grateful.

The Power of Acceptance

The first time I heard that if I wanted to stop suffering, all I needed to do was accept, I didn't exactly "accept" that news with open arms.  Doing so would have required my giving up on having things be different!  And, I came to realize the freedom that acceptance can provide.

A simple example of the way acceptance can work is that every summer I find that I develop a bit of a "south of the border" disposition.  I don't work at the same pace all day.  I find myself wide awake at 5:15 a.m. and wanting a nap at 2:00.  I start to balk at the pattern until I remember that this is the way my body works during the hottest summer months.  Why fight it!  If I want to get as many productive hours in, just start earlier!  Fortunately, I am self-employed so this can happen.  And, I have heard of those in corporate settings who close their office door or go to their car for their siesta.

I saw a wonderful example of accepting the temperature and its impact when I traveled years ago in Europe, particularly in Greece.  In Greece people disappeared from the streets in the afternoon and then there was great activity and conviviality in the late afternoons and night.  They know how to accept the weather as a friend.

As women over forty-five, accepting that it takes more consist-ant effort to keep your body in terrific shape, gives me a sense of peace and control.  I can't always control how my body will respond, but I can accept that consistent effort on my part can make a difference.

Where in your life might acceptance make a difference?

Seeds of Compassion and Other Spring Choices

Spring has arrived in Seattle and blossoms of every variety proclaim the truth and beauty of that.

April also brings an outpouring of wonderful possibilities particularly for those of us in the Seattle area where the Seeds of Compassion Conference will begin this Friday, April 11.  His Holiness the Dalai Lama has joined with the Kirlin Foundation and others to create an amazing learning experience via panels, ceremonies, musical events, and workshops. The thrust is “How can we bring compassion into our lives and the lives of our young children and youth?”  Although the free tickets to the major events have been distributed, there are many other free workshops, music and events that will occur on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday that you can still attend.  Check here.

Many wise women leaders have convened to contribute to the Conference and other events.  Two of many are: prolific author, activist and visionary Sister Joan Chittister who will be on a panel with the Dalai Lama in the morning of April 15 and that evening will speak on Women, Power and Peace.  Wednesday night Linda, Popov, the co-founder for the Virtues, project speaks on Raising the New Idealislt, Transforming Tools.  Download popov_medina_flier_3_20_08.pdf .

Paradoxically just as I give you multiple options for how to enrich your life, I was reminded this week to choose carefully what I commit to so that I can follow through with effectiveness and satisfaction.  After listening to Stephen R. Covey talking about his book The Speed of Trust, this admonition is reconfirmed.  Stephen lists 13 behaviors which he considers the competencies of trust and one of them is Practicing Accountability. So, if we say we are going to do something, follow-through.

And trust like so many things that are important, is an “inside out” business.  We are to trust ourselves first before we can fully be trusted by others.  I find this thought stops me in my tracks.  I rarely have trouble being accountable to others, but keeping my word with myself (about getting enough rest, not taking on too much, etc.) is another story.  So, I will explore this further in another posting!

In the meantime, savor the choices you make in this and next week!  And remember, if you need a bit of “time out” to renew yourself, click here to receive my complimentary Gifts of Serenity to get started.

Clean and Clear, a Spiritual Practice

Advent is a rich tradition for me and it begins with the Sunday four weeks before Christmas. Being raised as an Episcopalian there were guidelines on what Advent is all about – clearing out, getting still and preparing for the birth of Christ. For me, that means preparing for the rebirth/renewal of the sacred within, at my core. Those traditions live on for me strongly even though I attend a different denomination. I believe there are many paths to the Divine. Christianity built a strong foundation for my being a spiritual person and my connection with the Divine is what sustains me.

During the Second Half of our lives many, especially those who have “burned out” through their personality bent and their lifestyle, turn to deepening their spirituality. I am one of those women, however, my interest in spirituality began as a teenager. This season’s call for clearing out, has been and continues to be a spiritual practice for me and countless others.

A spiritual counselor shared recently in a sermon that we may try to prepare for a sacred holiday, however if inside we are a toxic waste dump of self-criticism and the resulting depression and/or anger, our attempts at being in harmony spiritually probably won’t bear lasting fruit. This reminder helps me reflect on relationships, attitudes, areas of irritation and/or pain to see what I can do to address those issues that take me out of alignment.

Coaches can be excellent collaborators in clearing out old beliefs and behaviors that are no longer working for us. And, if there are things in our past to deal with, counselors can be a significant help. I find myself blessed with excellent resources.

Whatever spiritual tradition or practice you choose, find one that clears out the old, prepares for the new and renews the Light within you.