The Angel

The Angel in my room, the one that lights up, twinkles, and sends dancing patches of light around the walls every night has stopped.

I could take this as an ominous sign: The Angel has left, its light extinguished.

Then again, its absence of light can serve as an example of faith: We must believe even when our path is not lit. The Angel is clearly still there. Its lack of illumination only indicates that we must believe in what we can not see, have faith through the darkness.

Then there's the reality that I am just out of C batteries. As soon as I put the new ones in, it will light up again.

What's really real is that I can put C batteries on the grocery list, but that light will not go on until I actually put them in and flip the switch. It's on me.

Blessed week...

Love,
T

The Complaint Department

What if we were our own complaint department? What if every time we complained about anything, we had to answer for it?

I'd like to imagine a world where, instead of complaining, we all DID something toward positive change of the things we don't like. If we're not sure WHAT to do, we would LEARN.

I watched two documentaries this week. One was about Trump, the other about Clinton. They can both be found on demand at CNN.

Click here to stream "All Business: The Essential Donald Trump" and "Unfinished Business: The Essential Hillary Clinton" on CNN On Demand (click on "Shows" in the left-hand column)

How many of us complaining about one candidate or the other have visited each of their websites, or learned more about them, have taken any kind of stand on the issue that we complain about, have written our congresspeople, have volunteered for a cause?

Click here for Donald Tump's Website

Click here for Hillary Clinton's website

I found myself complaining this week (unrelated to the candidates or the election) and it was not pleasant. I had to make a conscious effort to ask myself what I could do to change my situation. After taking some action toward accomplishing some goals, I felt better. It seems as if to complain is to sit back and put blame on others, while giving our power away to them. We have our own power. We can do SOMETHING. In activating our own personal power, we can generate a more positive outlook within ourselves. If THAT is our state of mind, then we can open up our own creativity and be a part of solutions instead of just being a part of a chorus of complaints.

I'm going to put a complaint box on my dresser. I'll be responsible for what goes in, and I'll be responsible for answering all complaints as well.  #LetsTryIt

Namaste,
T

The Blame Game

Early in the week I heard a news broadcast in which one of the featured guests said something that really caught my attention:

"You're not just responsible for what you say. 

You are responsible for what people hear."

- Gen. Michael Hayden

We have ALL played the blame game. We do it all the time. Examples of it are EVERYWHERE. What if there was absolutely no one else to blame for anything? What if we had to take complete responsibility for everything we experience and every feeling we have?

Alright then... I'll make a conscious effort to notice when I lean toward pointing a finger at anyone else for the way I feel. I'll ask myself what I can do within myself to work toward a better outlook.

Namaste,
T

All About the Journey

Last week, the day I posted the blog about that new house in the neighborhood, the water went out. While Russ was walking the dogs, he discovered why. While working on that new house, workers hit a water line, interrupting service for the whole neighborhood. Russ knew this because as he passed by that house, he saw the water and electric company trucks in front of it, and overheard workers and water representatives saying things like, “that should have been figured out before” and “that isn’t our responsibility.” All I knew was that I had to go to the gym to shower that day.

It was funny. I had just used that house as a model example of how to build our own selves, and there it was with a major problem disrupting the whole neighborhood. I realized that change isn’t always smooth and there are bumps in the road of our journey. That’s OK. It’s natural.

It was interesting that people were looking to place blame and not take responsibility for their own actions though. Don’t we all do that sometimes?  :)

I got this pendant over the summer…

It serves as a reminder to me that life is not about the destination, but the journey. This week, I’ll try to remember not to place blame for any aspect of my life on anyone else. I’ll take personal responsibility for my feelings and know that outcomes don’t matter as much as how you play the game. Being the kind of person you want to be is our own personal journey. Our outcomes reflect our choices, and what’s really important is what we learn along the way and how we live our lives. If we strive to make every decision from the standpoint of being the kind of person we want to be, we can trust that we’ll arrive at our perfect destinations.

"Every day is a journey

and the journey itself is home"

- Matsuo Basho

I looked up songs about journeys. This one came to mind, and this version… OOOH! 

Have a most Blessed week.

Namaste,

T

The Gray Area

"Throughout history, 
it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; 

the indifference of those who should have known better; 

the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; 

that has made it possible for evil to triumph." - Haile Selassie

I believe there exists in all of us a deep-seated spark that motivates us to act - or not act. It is uniquely our own. It is part of our journey through life that we confront the forces within that speak to us, and that we learn to listen and understand our own motivations in order to improve ourselves - and the world.

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, 

a quickening that is translated through you into action, 

and because there is only one you in all of time, this expression is unique. 

And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. 

The world will not have it..." - Martha Graham 

(This quote appears in the booklet of my album)

We all have our own unique passions, fears, desires, and experiences that drive us to do what we do. What specifically motivates us into action can be deeply personal. We are responsible for our own actions and our motives are for us to examine. We push our own selves to new levels as we hold ourselves accountable and to higher standards of truth, integrity and honor.

Whether we realize it consciously or not, we know the truths in our own heart as God does. Do we accuse others of hate with hate in our own hearts? If we "hate" another for "hating" - we still hate. Do we taint our own causes by contaminating them with our own personal objectives? Do they become vehicles for our personal anger or need for approval, or do they become agendas for some reason less honorable than genuine commitment, purpose and love? It is only for us to answer.

"You can see the speck in your friend's eye. 

But you don’t notice the log in your own eye. 

How can you say, 'My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,' 

when you don’t see the log in your own eye? 

You show-offs! First, get the log out of your own eye. 

Then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend’s eye." – Luke 6:41-42

I believe there exists inside each of us - a gray area. A place we have not yet clearly seen. A truth we have not yet completely uncovered. As we all flounder along trying to do the best we can, I hope and pray that we will each be informed enough to actively excavate a little more of ourselves so that we can move ourselves forward, progress in some way that is uniquely our own - toward a better self and a better world by extension.

The death of Freddie Gray and the events in Baltimore last week have inspired some amazing tests and testaments of courage, strength, faith, action, leadership and community. I've been moved to great sorrow and tears by tragic injustice and burning anger - and also to great pride as exquisite leadership and inspiring forces stepped up to the plate with unparalleled passion and conviction to overpower hate with love, prayer, and God.

"Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation." - Oscar Wilde

"What you are must always displease you, 

if you would attain to that which you are not." - Saint Augustine

As the days, weeks, and even years relentlessly march on and we continue to face underlying issues surrounding these events and more... may we respect and honor ourselves and each other by shining some light on our own understanding and move ourselves to act, in our own unique ways, to better ourselves, our global family and the world we live in.

With deepest love and respect,

Namaste.

T