You Are A Best Seller

Don't you just love it when you come across a really good book?  Isn't it great to sit yourself down and spend the time to get to know the book and get to know what all of the chapters in the book say?  Is your life a best seller?  What would it take for it to be a best seller?  Not much.  If you begin at the beginning and write the chapters of your life, you will see that the book you are writing about yourself is a best seller.  With each chapter, the reader turns the pages and becomes more and more interested in what lies within this amazing book called your life. 

You are a best seller, so don't sell yourself short, and believe in yourself.  Believe that you have a story to tell.  A story that people want to hear.  Your story is worthy of being heard, and your story is unique.

Do you have enough to fill the pages of the book?  Yes you do.  When you put your life out there and let people know who  you really are, then you are allowing them into your private life, and into your private thoughts.  When you share yourself you are sharing yourself not only with the one who is learning about you, but with everyone you come in contact with.

Life is like a poem, it sometimes rhymes, and sometimes doesnt.  Tell your story, I'm sure it's a good one  and I know there are people who want to hear it.

Loving Kindness

Here is a project for you.  I would love it if every day, every one of you would send kind loving thoughts to the people in your life.  I would love it if you would send these thoughts to the people you love the most, but also to the people you have conflict or difficulty with.  If we are meant to do something great in this life, then the greatest thing we can do is to love every single person in our lives.  If you can't love them, if they have caused you harm or trauma, then start small.  Start with a wish that their day would be a happy day.  That they may find peace on this one day, Joy on this one day and Love on this one day.  It doesn't have to be much but no matter what they have done in their lives, they are still a part of the human race, and everyone, no matter who they are deserves  loving kindness sent to them on this day and on every day.  The reason people are so angry and alone, is because they think no one loves them in their lives.  So it is up to you and me to send loving thoughts to them so that they can feel something.  We are all connected, and so if we all begin to send our loving kindness thoughts to the whole world, including those countries who are fighting, those people have been abused and tortured, they will feel it.  I know they will.  They may not know what hit them, but for one moment, maybe two they will feel a warmth like they have not felt for a long time or maybe even ever. 

I shall continue to preach love to the whole world.  It's high time, that those who have had nothing but trauma and negativity get some relief.  We all need to reach out and love even the most unloveable.   There is always a way.

I love people and I will always, always give my love cause that is what we are all here for.  Nothing else, just to love each other.  And if you feel unloved, try giving some out, and see what comes back.  It's amazing. 

Go for it

Have you ever wondered what your purpose is?  Ever wondered if there is more to life than the way you are living it today?   If you have, you are one of millions who is in search of the type of work that fills you up, makes you want to jump out of bed every day and makes you feel like you just can't wait to get to work and spend the day doing what you love.  There are people out there who are living their dream and who feel that way every single day of their lives.

People just like you and me.  So what stops us from fulfilling our dreams related to our work?  Are you resisting the changes that you need to make to be able to do the kind of work that makes you happy?  Are there issues around money, time, family?  Or could it be that people are resistant to what you are wanting to accomplish? 

When you are looking for your life and looking for your passion, what you want to do with your life, don't let others dictate what that will look like.  The only one that knows what you want, and what you need to make it work is you.  Yes, others will give you input on how they feel about the subject because they care about you and want to see you successful.  But what is success?  Success is something different for everyone. To me the most successful people are the people that have an open heart, a mind that wants to learn, and a willingness and desire to do more in this world.  To others, success means money, how much you have and how much you can spend on keeping up with the Jones family.  It's all relative.

Find your dream, not what others are dreaming for you.  Take the time to find out who you are, what you want and then go for it.   You can achieve anything.  When you find it you will know, because nothing will stop you from going for it.  Nothing will stand in your way.  You may have a few bumps in the road, and sometimes it might look like it isn't going to work, but then there is that feeling inside of you that will not go away.  The feeling that you know like you have never known before that this is it.  This is the passion, this is what you want to do for the rest of your life.  So open up your heart and your mind to the possibilities.  It's all out there, you just need to believe.

The Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us.  It’s  such a busy time of year for most of us, lots of events to attend, lots of friends to see and lots of baking, cooking and eating to be done. 

It is also the season to give to your fellow man. It doesn’t have to be about giving material gifts, or something big, it can be something as simple as sitting by the fire, or having people around you that you love.  Enjoying an evening walk, giving someone a hug, being an angel and listening to someone’s problems, making gingerbread houses, playing in the snow. 

One of the most important things we are missing these days is human touch.  That is why Reiki and other alternative healing practices have become such an important part of our world today.  It’s all about energy healing through touch.  While Reiki may help you to sleep better, have more energy, be more joyful, find hope when you have lost it, there is also a lot to be said just for the act of touch itself.  Hugging and shaking hands have become a thing of the past, and It would be so great if we could all begin to touch again.  Human beings need love, and a hug or shaking someone’s hand at Christmas is a good time to begin to bring those things back.  It’s time we all reached out to each other again. 

My gift for you this Christmas and every day of the year is to wish you lots of hugs and lots of love.  We all deserve it.   Merry Christmas

It's a Good Morning

It's a good morning.  Every day, it's a good morning.   These are the mornings that I love.  I love it when the sun is streaming through the window and the sky is blue.  I love it when the rain is making itself known by the sound of the drops falling onto the roof.  I love looking out and seeing snow quietly and gently covering my world with white snowflakes that look like little diamonds when they glisten.  And sometimes, I love it when it is still dark outside and the very next thing to do is to get cozy in your bed, roll over and sleep some more.

The first thing I do every morning is be grateful.  Grateful for the roof over my head, the clothes on my back, the food in my belly and the people who come and go from my life.  I love that I am confident in who I am, and what I want.  I love that I care about me and that I care for everyone who touches my life.  No matter what that looks like. I love that people come into my life to show me what I need to learn in this life.  I love that I am constantly experiencing new things and that I am open to experience more and more as life goes on.  I love being able to help people with my gift of Reiki, my gift for bringing calm into peoples lives and my gift for loving people and accepting them for all they are and for all they are not.  I love that I have family and friends who support me and love me.  I love that I am adventuresome and try new things.  I love the plan for my day, my week, my year and my life.  Sometimes there is no plan and I think that is a good plan. I love that each person that I meet adds to my life in some way.   I love that I can take each new experience and no matter what that experience is, learn from it and grow from it, and be able to share with others so that they may grow and learn too.

When I get out of bed, I love that my feet and my body will carry me for the day.  Sometimes, I feel my bones, but it doesn't matter, It's great to be alive and its great to experience each morning.  When things look dark, wait till the next morning.  Things will look brighter, its just the way things are. So when you wake up in the morning, don't look for what's wrong, don't use your energy to make it a dark day for those around you, make it a day to be grateful for all you have and for everyone and everything that enters your life. It's a gift.

It's Your Turn

It's your turn to live the life you have always wanted to live.  It's time for you to find joy, peace, love and live a life of abundance.  So, what is it that stops you from doing that?

Are there past hurts that you are still holding onto?  Now is the time to let those hurts go, now is the time to forgive yourself and to forgive all of those who have done you wrong. 

Because once we can say that we have forgiven the people in our lives who have done us wrong, because often they don't know better, when we forgive ourselves for doing wrong, then we can move into the sun and see what great things life has in store for us.

Believe in yourself.  Believe in what you have achieved in life.  Believe like you have never believed before that your life can be one filled with true happiness.  We all deserve that out of our time here on earth. 

Life is short and holding onto hurts of the past, things that were said in haste, situations that came your way that were not easy leaves us drained and not able to see the good in life. 

So if you can leave the past behind, remove toxic people from your life, embrace whatever is good in each and every day, then you are well on your way to having it be your turn, your time, your life the way you want to live it.

'Tis the Season

I love the Christmas Season.   I love everything about it. To me, the Christmas season is what life should be year round.  It's when old friends and new friends get together to enjoy each others company.  It's when people do special things for each other.  The Christmas season is the time for going to the Symphony, plays, Christmas parties and fundraisers.  It's a time for woship, whatever that looks like for you.  It's my time to bake sweet treats for my friends and family.  I don't have the same kitchen that I used to, but what does that matter.  My hands will still create things with love.  This time of year reminds me of the time I spent in Europe as a child.  I loved it because the sights, sounds, smells and tastes are still with me in my memory today.  I remember when the snow would come down soflty on the cobblestone roads, old lanterns lit up in the streets.  I remember when I would smell all of the great baking and cooking as I would walk around my neighbourhood, wherever I was at the time.  I remember get togethers, where we would sit and share baking, very good coffee, and have the candles lit on the advent wreath.  I remember Christmas music.  I remember love and laughter at this time of the year.This time of year is about candles, fireplaces, decorations and while the weather can be cold and miserable outside, I sometimes rejoice in those days, because those are the times we can relax and reflect on what our lives have brought us.   It's almost like we need Christmas to remind us that we are all connected and that we all need love.   It' like we need a reminder of how it all began.  We need to remember that while Christmas is love, love should reside in us year round.  People hug each other more at this time of year.   They treat each other with more respect, they reach out more to others who are in need.  Have you noticed?  Are you a part of the giving season?

Christmas should not be about how much money you spend on someone, or how big the gift should be or how many gifts you give.  I love giving, but for me, giving of myself is the best gift I can give someone.  Giving material things used to be what I thought would make people happy, but I think that being there, listening, loving, hugging and reaching out to my fellow man is an even bigger gift.  So, reach out to those who need you and reach out to those who don't need you.  We all need each other, especially at this time of year.  Enjoy the season.  It's all about love.

Connection

When you have a deep connection with someone, and a strong desire to be with them, then you need to ask for what you want out of the relationship.  Whether you live far away from each other or around the corner, it doesn't matter.  Life does not give us those connections every day, it is so important to recognize that and so it is important to make sure that you ask for what you want. History does not need to repeat itself.  Rewrite history and make a future. 

When I was in my 20s, 30, and 40s, I could not and would not ask for things that were important to me.  I was too shy and I was too afraid of what the outcome might be if I asked for something that I desired or that I wanted.   I believe in flow, but I also believe in letting others know what your needs are.  Now that I am in my 50's I have seen some of life, and while I may still feel shy about asking for what I need and want, I know that life is short and that I want to be able to do as much as I can for others and for me at the same time. I know now that when it's real, it's real nd you shouldn't let something like shyness, or distance, or whatever else stop you from asking for what you want.  I think it is better to ask than to let things slip away, and to have given up something that could be great.

Recently, I was working with one of my young clients who has become a friend to me.  She was very concerned about talking to her boyfriend about an issue that had come up for her.  I was lucky enough to help her to understand that walking into the fear, taking control of your life and going for something that might actually be the best thing that has ever happened to you is worth the risk.  When we fear the outcome of something it can paralyze us to the point where we loose all feeling in our hearts.  And at the end of the day we are asking ourselves what happened?  Where did the time go?  We then live with
regret for decisions that we have made in the past and things that we are now missing because we didnt go for it when it was there right in front of us waiting.  So ask for what you want in life.  Let the chips fall where they may, but ask. 

I recently worked with a friend on family issues and what to do with a family that has really drifted away from each other.  Ask for what you want.  Ask because you deserve to have what you want in your life. 

There are many things in life that you could have wished might be different, but today is a new day.  Ask for what you want,for what you need and feel how empowering and wonderful that feels.  No matter what the outcome, be ok with you and proud of being brave enough to ask.

Because if you don't go for what you want in your life, you may never have what you wish for.  The past is the past, today does not have to repeat history.  Today is a new day, and each day I am a new person.  I am proud to ask for what I want because I deserve it.  And so do you.

Back to Basics

I lived in Europe  as a small child and I can still remember the sights, sounds and smells and tastes of the towns I lived in. Is there a smell in your memory that is just so wonderful and when you smell it now you just have to stop for a second so that you can smile at the memory of what it meant for you in the past?  Do you remember when we didn't have cell phones, computers, or even portable phones?  When you had to be attached to the end of a phone that was plugged into the wall?  If you wanted to have a conversation with someone, you would actually have to sit where the phone was and talk there.  Do you remember having to physically write a letter, go to the post office get a stamp and then mail it?  There is something to be said for these traditions and rituals.  I love technology, and I use it every day, but sometimes just sometimes, I miss the way things were in simpler times.  One of the things I love best is to make a meal for my family and friends.  I make everything from scratch.  Partly because I like to know what is going into my food, but also, I have discovered, it's about being in the moment, the moment that allows me to create something for my loved ones with my own two hands, to take the time to put loving energy into what I am making.  Food is love too.  Is there a childhood food that you love and look forward to having again and again? Is there a special holiday treat that you look forward to every year?
What about the sounds around you? When you were younger were there sounds of music, laughter, and joy around you?  What about a nice walk in the country?   I am lucky enough to live near the ocean these days, and walk by the water frequently, but when you live in the city, with all of it's concrete, sometimes it's hard to take yourself out into the country breathe fresh air and just be in the beauty that surrounds you.  I think it's so important to be able to get out of your environment and just go somewhere that makes you be still and take a breath.  We live in a fast paced society, everything is instantly at our fingertips and we are constantly bombarded with the bad news of the world.  Lets get back to basics, find someplace and find some time that makes your heart sing just for a bit. 

So remind yourself of the things you loved when you were a child.  Even if your childhood was not a good one, there is probably something that you remember with great fondness.  Lets get back to the basics, treat yourself to something lovely from your childhood.  It will put a smile on your face.

On your last day

If you left this world today, would you be happy with how you were leaving it? Would you be happy with who you were on earth? Would you be happy with the way you treated others? Would you have done all You could to make this world a better place? Something to think about isn't it? 

I know that we all get caught up in our own stuff, our own story, but I really believe that we are so connected.  We are all here to learn the lsame esson.  Its the lesson of love.  To learn to love those who are not loveable, to love those who make our heart sing and to love those who need to be loved.

There are many kinds of love, but at the end of your last day, will you have reached out and loved as many people as you could?   What is the lesson of love?  For many people, life has thrown them so much that they have forgotten how to love.  They have a heart that is not able to open up to love others or to accept love. 

When my last day comes, I want to be able to say that I was there for anyone who needed an ear, there for anyone who wanted to learn how to love again, there for those who are less fortunate, there for those wo have not experienced love in their lives, there to help people realize they are good enough, they are loved, they are worthy. 

On my last day, I would hope that I have connected with as many people as I can, and I hope that my message of love has reached people all over the world.  It doesn't have to be that big for you, it just needs to be everyone who touches your life.  And then when you give love to someone, it creates a ripple effect because they will send love to someone, and so on.

So today, take stock of who you are.  You are love whether you know it or not.  You were created to make this world a better place in whatever way that works for you.  It is always possible to start at the beginning.  If you don't think you know how to reach out and love people, start with random acts of kindness.  That alone is an act of love.  Be in service to others, it will  make your love grow.

Love yourself, for you are worthy, you are a part of me and I am a part of you.  We are all connected.

Hugs

HUGS

In my whole entire life, I have always believed that people are all the same in many ways.  It doesn’t matter if you are homeless, if you are unemployed, if you are mentally ill, if you have had trauma in your life, if you are from “the wrong side of the tracks”, or if you are employed, wealthy or very well educated.   We all share the similar feelings about life.  We all love sunsets, sunrises, warm summer days, cozy fireplaces, shared experiences, good friends and hugs.  Hugs are so important.  I think hugging is one of the best things you can do for anyone.  The human touch is something that can’t be replaced by our instant society and the way we communicate today.  It is a form of communication that says, how are you, I care about you, I am reaching out to you.  I accept you.  I love you.  You are important.  I have always said that people need 7 hugs every day.    When I can’t actually be present with someone who needs hugs, I will often write a text or email that simply says “7 hugs”    

When you come into my life, you will be seen for whatever you bring.  There is always something good to discover about everyone.  Their life may be filled with drama, chaos, fears, abuse, loneliness, economic difficulty, or whatever their life story is.  The thing to remember is that they were born just like you and me, with hope for a future full of love and happiness..   Some may feel that they have been robbed of this, by their life experience. 

When you feel you have been denied a happy life, with love, friendship and kindness, find a safe place to express your feelings so that you can learn to let them go, heal and move on to a happier way of living.

The trick is that the people who need healing the most are often not ready for it or are afraid of it.  Be gentle and kind with them, love them, let them find their way.  Listen, don’t talk, they need to tell their story.  It is their journey, but it would really help to have someone by their side to guide them, support them and love them.  So whether someone looks happy, or sad, it doesn’t matter.  People are good at presenting a mask of happiness even when they are hurting.  Hug them, hug them all, and maybe you will make a difference, just cause you reached out and hugged someone today. 

What if....

What if?  What if you could forget about all of the things that have gone wrong in your life?  What if you could wipe the slate clean and start new?  What if you could stop worrying about what might or might not happen tomorrow or the next day or the day after that?  And what if, just for once you could live in this moment and in this moment?  What if you could be present for all of what life has to offer you today, this minute?  It would be such a great gift to be able to do that.  Not only for you, but for your children, your loved ones, friends and the world at large.

So, let go of the past, you are not your history, you are not your circumstances.   The things that went wrong, the terrible childhood, or trauma that you had to endure were all there to give you a lesson to love, to tolerate and to accept the same in someone who is on a similar journey.   Let go of people who have hurt you, who have let go of you and who you have let go of.  Let go of the feelings that leave you insecure, fragile, negative, and unloved.  When we haven't learned the lesson, when we have been beaten down enough, then we can become lost.  But remember something, you are stronger than you think you are.  So look at yourself carefully, reflect on the past, and be amazed at what you have overcome and think of it this way, If I can get through that, I can get through anything.

Look in the mirror.  What do you see?  Do you see someone who is truly happy?  Or do you see someone who has worry lines on their face, or are you getting some wrinkles that you had not seen before?  Do you see someone who is depressed?  Fat? Or do you see someone who has earned every laugh line, every grey hair, and every wrinkle?  Look at yourself carefully.  The outer shell has absolutely nothing to do with what is inside you.  Inside of each of us, no matter how damaged, there is a heart.  You may think you have nothing left, no family, no friends, nothing to be proud of and nothing to look forward to.  But if you begin to be in service to others, you will be surprised at how fast your heart will start to sing.  Be there for others, reach out and help someone else up when they have fallen.  Be there to listen, wipe away the tears, and then watch the sun come out.  Be grateful that you have made it so far in life. When you think there is no one, look around, reach out, there is someone, there really is.  It just takes you.  It takes you to begin to trust, to begin to live life the way you are meant to live it.

Some have had to endure so much in their lives and yet they are able to live life to the fullest and let go of the past.  These people are the ones who know that life gives us what we bring to it.

If you bring worry, negativity, hatred, rage, and hold on to bad memories of the past, then you will keep collecting more of the same.

The saying goes that it takes less muscles to smile than it does to frown.  If we could all just smile a little more, and help others to feel better then in turn we will feel better.

We are all here to love one another.  We must begin to be there for each other again. It has become a lost art.  So begin today, one small step at a time.  Reach out, help someone up, and you will see that the what ifs become something completely different.  Have a great day.

Mistakes

Mistakes

Mistakes are just an opportunity for growth and for learning and for discovering new things about yourself and others.  Mistakes, are the lessons you need to learn to become better at knowing when to do something and when not to do something. 

Think of mistakes as a kind of resume.   You could put down all of the mistakes that you have made for your entire life, that would be like the job title and then write down what it is that you learned from those mistakes, and that would be like the job description.  You can then try to teach others or at least tell them about those mistakes in hopes that they will not repeat the same. 

However, we are all on this journey called life, and sometimes, we need to find out for ourselves.  Sometimes, even though people will tell you `you shouldn`t do this, or you shouldn`t do that`` it is up to us to discover what works for us and what doesn`t.   And sometimes, we really cannot hear what they are saying.  That is why we are all individual, and yet all so similar.  If I never made a mistake in my life, and if I never tried something new, then I would not be first of all very interesting, I would not be generous in my acceptance of who you are and where you have travelled, and I would not be able to move on, get out there and try new things, because I would not feel like I had the courage.  I think mistakes help build courage in people.  It helps us to see that when we make a mistake it isn`t the end of the world, it`s just the beginning of a new road to take us to the next part of our journey.

You can look at the mistakes you have made as a confidence builder.  The more mistakes you make, the wiser a person you will become and the less afraid of making mistakes you will be. 

So, don`t beat yourself up if you feel you have made a mistake.  Look forward with great expectation to the next adventure. 

www.reikihouse.ca

Loving people for who they are

I have had so many questions recently about relationships.  It boggles my mind that when people get into a relationship with someone, that they want to change them.  It also is amazing to find that when people get into relationships there seems to be a power struggle going on.  I have never understood that.  When people get together, they get together because they like who the other person is.  And actually, if you want to know the truth, if you are ok with who you are, then you will more than likely be ok with who they are.  When you start dating someone, you are attracted to them in many ways.  It can be on a spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical level.  If you are finding yourself in a relationship where you want to change your partner, or you can see the potential in them and you feel like you are going to mold them into all that they can be, you are probably with the wrong person.  Let them be who they are every single day.  No matter how you think you are going to change their habits, their way of doing things, remember something.  They have lived many years without you before you came along.  They have habits and ways of doing things that are set routines, and that are part of who they are. If you can accept that then you are well on your way.

Remember when you first met?  What attracted you to that person?  Was it the way they looked, the way they talked, or was it what they believed in that made the difference?  Was it their intelligent conversation, their cute way of doing this or that?  What about the things that bothered you?  Did they have strong opinions that didn't quite match with yours?  Did they have friends that maybe were not up to your standards?  Did they do certain things that you wish they didn't?  I know a lot of people both men and women, who say things like "That's ok, I will fix him/her". 

I think that when people meet, and when they get into a relationship, they need to remember what attracted them to that person in the first place.  I have been in relationships with friends and lovers and family, where I have been able to completely and I mean completely accept who they are and what their journey is.  I am not about to try and change anyone.  If we don't like who we see in front of us, then we probably should not be with them.  If the values and morals don't match, then that is not the place for you.  I wish more people thought that way.  I think people would be in happier relationships, if they could just accept and love everything that the other person is.

I was recently working with a client who is very much in love with someone that just does not fit for them.  This client told me that they would love to see certain changes in their mate.  My client told me that if their mate just didn't do this that and the other, then the relationship would be perfect. Sometimes the differences are just too great. 

Well, I'm here to tell you that no relationship will ever be perfect.  There will be things that you don't like in your mate, but there will be other things that completely outweigh those things.  Those are the things that are important. 

If your mate needs to do things that don't fit for you, then maybe that isn't the place for you to be.  But trying to change them will never work.  Don't you think it would be amazing to let go of those things and come together at the end of the day and say " hey how was your day"?  What did you do today?  Let me tell you about my day."  Don't you think that it would be amazing to be in a relationship where you could feel free to be who you are and do what you need to do for yourself and then come together as a couple.  We don't need to have so much in common that we are like twins.  We need to have a common bond, some common interests and lots of love to see us through.  What we need is to be able to accept the person for all they are and for all they are not.  If it fits for you and you can be ok with some of your mates interests that are not your own, then good. 

I have an amazing friend who is married to someone that is not very much like her at all.  And yet they are very similar.  They have their differences, don't see eye to eye sometimes, but they know that they are connected to each other with love, deep connection  They know that no one is going anywhere and that they will always work hard at their relationship because they love each other just the way they are.  This couple has been married for over 20 years and the love that is shared between the two could make you wish for the same.  He loves to go and camp on his own in the hills, and she loves to travel the world.  He loves to renovate and do things around the house and she loves to worship and give her gift of love to young adults and teens.  But I have seldom seen such love between two people.  They accept each other for exactly who they are, together and apart.  

Here are a couple of things I really believe.  If you can connect on many  levels, then that is a blessing.  The physical is usually what attracts people in the first place, but being able to connect on many levels is what will sustain your relationship over the long run.  The physical body eventually looses its shape and sometimes it's beauty, but what lies beneath the outer shell is what counts.

It's important to take your time to discover things about each other.  Don't rush, allow things to unfold as they should.  Don't worry about how it will all come together.  There is a greater plan at work here.  Everything that is meant to be will be.  If you love someone, love them with all your heart.  Be emotionally, spiritually and physically available.  Work on the things that are important together but don't try to mold your partner, or change who they are.  The way they are is what you fell in love with in the first place. 

I may not always love everything about the people I love in my life, but I will always, always want to be able to take my journey the way I want to and I will always, always let them take theirs the way they want to.  Friends, lovers or family, doesn't matter, whoever they are, whatever they are, they are loved.

What are you waiting for

When you love the people in your life, let them know.  Hug them, kiss them do something special for them, and let them know that they mean the world to you.  If you love someone with whom you are angry, let it go.  Life is short.  We are only here for a while and then we have to move on.  So when you are arguing over small stuff or big stuff, what difference does it make?  Find a way to talk about it, work through it and then Let it go.  There is no better time than right this moment to reach for the phone and call to say hello, I miss you, or can we talk or I'm sorry.  If you are lucky enough to have love in your life from someone then keep the lines of communication open. 

Does pride keep you from reaching out?  Do hurt feelings keep you from the people you love.  What on earth for?  You may say, "Ah but you don't know my situation".  Well I say to you, "try to look at it from a different perspective.  If your friend were having the same thing happen to them, what would you advise them?  I bet it would be completely different than what you would do in your own shoes. 

The reason for that is that sometimes we are so close to the situation or our feelings are so close to the surface, that we can't think of the the good things, the good memories, the warmth, love and support the other person gave us.  Sometimes, we can't see the things that go on in the background, behind closed doors.  Sometimes, we judge and assume things that are just not so.  Nothing on earth would ever make me want to let go of the people I love.  I would always want to reach out, and confront the issue with love and kindness.  I would always want to see their side of things, and I would always want them to know that I love them and they are important to me.  If however, they cannot come and meet me halfway, then I will love them and let them do what they need to do.   So what are  you waiting for?  It's all about love. 

You can, I can, Everybody can.

When you think you can’t, think again.  When you think it’s too much,  think again.  When you feel you can’t bear another moment of it, think again.  Think a different thought.  Turn your negative self defeating thoughts into possibility.  Turn your thought to what would be the better outcome, and begin to believe in it strongly.  When you think you can, when you know you can like you have never known it before, that’s when things will change.  Let those thoughts that hold you back go.  How are they serving you?  They are not.  Some have found that they remain where they are because it has become a safe place.  It’s what they know.  Your life can change in an instant if you use your thoughts.  You may want to pray on it, meditate on it, or just think about it but change your thoughts and you can change your life. 

One of my friends is moving into a new place of her own this next week or so.  When we move on to something new in life, it can be frightening, because it is the unknown.  I look at moving this way.   Moving is all about evolving.  It’s new, and there are no rules, no prior traditions.  It’s all brand new, you get to make it what you want it to be.  Make it wonderful.  Moving into a new space, to a new country, to a new job, to a new relationship doesn’t have to be scary.  Make it an adventure, a new wonderful surprise each day.   We can let go of our old thought patterns and realize that no matter what, life is amazing.  We have been given an incredible gift to live each day to it’s fullest.  So what’s holding you back from living your life to it’s fullest today?  So when you think you can’t, think again.  You can, I can, everybody can. 

Intention

Intention

What is your intention for today?  Is your intention to help make this world a better place by doing one small thing each day?  My intention is to bring positive thoughts to everyone I am in touch with in my daily life.  My intention is to reach out and touch someone’s hand and heart that may be in need of it.  My intention is to listen to and to hear what people are saying to me not just verbally, but physically.  You know yourself that you sometimes have a feeling that someone’s day isn’t going just right, or you can see the pain in someone’s eyes when they are going through a tough time.  Now is the time to reach out to each other, hold on and give love wherever you can.  Our world is in serious need of people are not afraid to make it their intention to reach out and be there for others.  When you leave your home in the morning make it your intention to reach out.  I have had a very large gift given to me in the past few weeks.   Someone who is very close to my heart recommended that I check out a community church here in the Langley area.  I have been going for a couple of weeks, and this place feels like I have arrived somewhere wonderful.  My intention for years has been to find a spiritual community that fits for me.  I think I may have found it.  Within the walls of this place, people talk the talk and walk the walk.  I have been to many churches, and have never found people as close to what I believe Christians should be as I have found in this place.  In this place, there is a feeling of peace that is so awesome, I can’t tell you.  In this place there is true fellowship, real help for those who need it.   In this place, there is kindness, love, and the intention of the people in this place is truly to reach out and make other lives better.  This community gets involved with all who need them.  My intention is to continue on my spiritual journey and welcome anyone who is searching as I have been.  If you find yourself without hope, without love, without kindness, reach out to a place where you will find it.   Make it your intention to change your world.  Make it your intention to make a difference for yourself.  Find what works for you, but find it soon.  The world is a changing place.  We need to begin opening our hearts and minds again.  We need to pull together as a community, as a nation, as the world at large.   The best is yet to come.  Have a wonderful day.

Gratitude

This weekend is the Thanksgiving weekend in Canada.  What perfect timing to talk about being grateful for all that we have.  What a perfect time to reflect on the gifts that have been given us through our lifetime.  Take a look at your life today.  Think of anything that makes you feel gratitude in your life.  What are you grateful for today?  Are you grateful for the sun that may be shining where you are?  Or are you grateful for much needed rain? Are you grateful to have had the privilege of being a mom, dad, grandparent, son or daughter?  What about your pets?  Are you grateful for the roof over your head, the food on your table and the clothes on your back?  When we come from a place of gratefulness, every day, the world is just so much better, so much brighter, and brings us more to be grateful for.  When we come from a place of gratitude every day, our life will look a whole lot different than when we don't. 

I am so grateful for those lessons that I have been given to learn over my lifetime.  I feel that we should be grateful for the lessons that present themselves in our lives, because once a lesson is learned and once we move on from that lesson to the next, we are evolving and becoming more tolerant of others, more accepting of the lessons that others are learning and ready to take on the next lesson that is given to us.  We become more loving and compassionate, because we can recognize that others may be in the midst of their own lesson. Learning lessons along the way, helps us to be less judgemental, less negative and less afraid of the next lesson.

Let's be grateful.  Let's be thankful for every day.  When you wake up in the morning, be grateful for the days gone by and for the day that lies before you.  When you go to bed at night be grateful for the events of the day.  Because no matter what that day looked like, the next day will be a better day.  Faith is an amazing gift,  I am grateful for my faith in human kind.  I am grateful every day for the people in my life, and the people I have yet to know.  Happy Thanksgiving all.

Happy thanksgiving.

True Friendship

True friendship is my topic for today. 

As a young person, I moved many many times, and it was sometimes difficult for me to create lasting relationships, because as soon as I began getting to know people we would be moving to another place.  It took such a long time for me to understand the basics of a great relationship.  A great relationship is one where the two people involved are there for each other through thick and thin.  It is where one friend can tell the other friend honestly what they need to share from their heart.  Its a safe place for both people to express what they want and what they need.  A place where you can laugh and a place where you can cry.  When you are in a true friendship, there will be all of the emotions that you can feel.  For years I thought that being in a friendship with someone meant that they would only agree with me about everything, that they would always agree with me even when some of my ideas were not very good ones.  Well, I was wrong.  A friend is someone who will tell you if you have made a mistake, if you are doing something wrong, if you are on the wrong path.  A friend will help you back on the right path with all the love they have in their heart for you.  A true friend, will be there for those days when your life has been hit by a truck and also when your life is blossoming.  I have had a few good friends who are this way.  So remember, when your friend is telling you something that may be hard to hear, listen and hear what they have to say.  They have your best interests at heart. 

You might wonder how this relates to Reiki or how any of my articles relate to Reiki.  I have found that in my practice people are often looking for answers to life's questions.  These articles are here to answer some of them. 

So if you are in the White Rock area, please consider coming to see me for Reiki.  I would love the opportunity to work with you.  My number is 778-877-0682.  You can check out my website at www.reikihouse.ca.

An interesting evening.

Hi everyone: 
So, I've been blogging for 2 days and it's amazing how many people are taking notice.  I am thrilled to have people from all over the world checking out my posts.  Thanks to everyone who is taking a look.  I want to continue blogging and bringing you all messages of love and hope. 

From the time I was a young child, I thought that all people no matter what their story were special, that they were gifts, and that they were deserving of love. 

The people in the world who are the angriest, the most hateful and the most revengeful are the ones who need our love the most.   They are the ones who need to see that there is love out there for them too.  We can easily give love to those who are sweet, kind, loving, tender, accepting and all of the good things in life.  Of course, because that is easy.  But how easy is it to love those who may have done wrong in life?  How easy is it to look past the the outside portrayal of a person and go inside to see who they are in their heart?  It can be tough sometimes. 

Last night was a reminder of that for me.  I have always enjoyed doing volunteer work and was checking out a community event where I will be volunteering in the near future.  I was sitting at a table with a group of people and with an individual who had a very obvious mental illness.  This person was angry and so mistrusting, it took me a minute to figure out how to deal with it. 

When you are in an environment where there is someone who has many issues like that, sometimes, you just need to focus in on them.  While I was able to get to know other people at the table, my focus was on this particular person.  I did not care how I would be perceived by others I just wanted to get to know everyone. People who are truly lost, just need someone to pay attention to their every word.  Some of the things they tell you will be unpleasant and they may not treat you the way you would wish to be treated.  But last evening I had the pleasure of witnessing something special.  At the beginning this person was talking to themselves, laughing in spurts, and then giving angry looks to those around them.  I happened to be sitting at the same table.  There were others I could have interacted with, but everyone looked just a bit uncomfortable, so I chose to make everyone feel comfortable.  I chose to speak to the one who stood out. 

When we began our conversation, this person was angry and not pleasant.  I focused in on what they might be interested in, and soon a conversation began.  We spoke of many things of interest, and I could feel everyone at the table beginning to relax.  By the end of the evening, I felt like my new friend had been able to come to the dinner table with more than just what was in their memory, in their past, but they were able to communicate on a comfortable level with me.

I appreciated last evening, because once again it reminds me that while we all have a story, some are just so much tougher than others.  But listen, and hear what they have to say.  There is more to what lies on the surface.

They can only bring to the table what they know.

They can only bring to the table what they know.

When I look at the people I know in my life, I have often questioned why people do the things they do?  Why does one person feel at peace when another is filled with hate, anger and rage?  Why are some able to overcome huge obstacles and move forward while others will never let go of their anger, fear and resentment?

I am not saying that just because a person brings to the table what they know you need to live with it or be with it.  I am saying that if it does not work for you, move away from it.  Find like minded people who can bring to the table the same amount of what you know or more.  Let those who do not have the capacity for being on the same page go.

Tragedy, trauma and grief, can either make you or break you.  It’s up to you how you handle it.  I have proven in my own life over and over again that whatever comes my way is a lesson that needs to be learned and how I react to it is up to me.  If I react in a way that does not serve me, and does not serve the ones I love, then I will be with it for a very long time, but if I choose to react with a different thought, then I can move beyond it in no time.  We must remember to try and live in the present moment.  That is all there is.  The past is gone, and the future is completely unknown, so why not let go of both and live in this moment, and this moment.  As the saying goes the present is like a gift. Look at each day as a gift.  The ones who love you want to be present with you, want to love being with you and want to enjoy what little time we all have together.  Be present with those who love you, those you love and there will be much more joy.  Let go of anger and resentment.  Why not speak to each other with love and kindness, it takes much less energy.  Empower each other, not just once in a while or when someone is looking, but always.    

If you feel that someone has done something to you, look at how to move past it and forgive and forget.  Forgive yourself first, then forgive them, for they can only bring to the table what they know. 

When we are born we are an empty canvas, and as life unfolds, there is so much that can make us a masterpiece.  I recently went to the Art Museum and I loved many of the art exhibits, but there was one, which was very disturbing to me and so I chose not to spend much time there.  It was a very contemporary exhibit which left me feeling almost panicked and nervous.  These were the expressions of young artists who were putting to canvas what I believe to be their emotions.  There seemed to be anger, confusion and tortured minds in some of these pieces of art. Art and music are emotional.  They can evoke emotions of all kinds from people and this exhibit sure did that for me.  I was so happy with the innocence of some of the art I had seen only moments before, and it felt like something hit me hard when I looked at some of the contemporary paintings.  We are continually being bombarded by things that are unpleasant everywhere around us.  To me that means that people are bringing to the table the things they are familiar with, and in my way of thinking there is too much negative being promoted in our world today that I think it’s time to get back to the basics.  Years ago, television was fun to watch.  There were wonderful stories that made you think, but didn’t necessarily hit you in the face so hard that it made you sad.  Today, we have reality shows, dramas, murder mysteries, and so on.  We may have always had murder mysteries etc, but in today’s society it seems that the need for death and destruction is huge.  The bloodier and the gorier it is the more people will flock to it.  .  We need to get back to the good things, the simple things.   As a result, I rarely watch tv unless there is an event I wish to see.  If there is something violent on tv, I will either pass, or close my eyes to most of it.  I have chosen not to bring to the table any violent attitudes, or ideas.  I know that it is possible for all people to step back to the basics. 

I believe that people can only bring to the table what they know unless they are willing to evolve and work through what they know to gain a better understanding of themselves, others and the world around them.  Otherwise, it is possible that they will stay forever stuck.  

I know people who are so at peace, because they have found some way to overcome the traumas that life has given them.  There are a variety of ways to overcome.  Through counselling, spirituality, art, music, meditation, almost anything that you are passionate about, really.  When you find something that you are passionate about, then you can use it as a tool to be able to move past your grief, your fear, your loneliness, and a host of other problems that you may have.

I am always open to finding out what works best for people, and it is surprising how many of us find something that we become passionate about. 

Here are examples of what I know for me!  I know that the more I am in tune with my intuition, my spirituality, my loving nature and my meditation practice, the more I am able to let go and let things unfold as they should.   I don’t worry about what has happened or what will happen, because if I do that, then I will be constantly on the worry path.  I know people who worry their life away, I used to be one of them.  Then I found that worry is just another way to avoid being in the moment, to avoid being present with your life and your loved ones.

Every thing you do matters

October 4, 2011

Everything you do matters.  It can be something very small, or something very big.   Think before you do.  Remember we are all connected, and really we are all one.  Before you do something, think about how it might impact you if it were coming in your direction.  Think with love about all of the people who come into your life every day (not just those you know personally) and think with love how to react to them, their circumstances and their stories.  Think with love when you make any small or grand gesture.  How will this affect someones life?  How will this make them feel?  Will this make their day better?  What can you do to  make someone's day better?  Love has a ripple effect just like hate does.  Let's choose love.  Smile, listen, love and be there.  When I say listen, don't just listen but hear every word they have to say.  Hear what is being said.  Be in the moment so that you can clearly hear.  Hear without an agenda of your own.  Hear what is being said for the sake of hearing it.  You know I see so many who have worry lines on their faces these days.  So many things affect people these days and so when I see someone who is looking worried or sad, I send them love, I send them a little bit of me.  I know that I will always have enough love to give, so I give it.  I think that we all have enough love to give.  If it is hidden under the scars of your heart, take another look, love is there, love resides within you.   It's up to all of us to let our love for this world shine, let it out there, it doesn't hurt to give a smile, to help pick someone up when they are down.  If we could remember that when someone tells us their story, it is not about us, it is about them, what they need in that moment.  It is not my place to judge, to hate, to ridicule anyone.  It is my place to be there to love all and make sure that each person I meet every single day gets that.  It's your job too. I think if everyone in the whole world would try that at least once a day then the world could change drastically.  Have a wonderful day. 

We are all connected

We are all connected.

I have been doing some travelling over the past few weeks and I am finding more and more that we are all connected.   There have been many coincidences for me along the road and it is amazing what is happening in my life.  I have always believed that when someone comes into your path there is a reason for it.  So I have changed my thought pattern over the past year, and now, I only seem to have great things happen.  On the odd occasion where something happens that does not serve me, that does not help me to serve my creator or serve the people I encounter, or if it is something that could make me very unhappy, I treat it with a whole new kind of thought pattern.   I have control over my thoughts and my reactions to what is happening around me.  I have the option to let things really bother me, or to be in the moment and move on to the next moment with joy and with great expectation of what is to come.  When you finally get that life is to be lived with great joy and love, and really believe it, then nothing can come your way to take it away.  Yes there may be small dips, but for the most part it’s all good.  I have a bumper sticker now that I picked up in Chicago a couple of weeks ago that says  IT’S ALL GOOD.  And so it is. 

The whole world seems to be spinning out of control for so many people, and if everyone of us could reach out and touch someone even just for a moment each day, then the world would change.  It’s like a ripple effect.  If you are working with toxic people, find a way just for a moment to give at least one person a reason to breathe easier even if it’s just for a moment.  If your relationship is suffering, meditate on it, pray about it, whatever works for you, and find a way to turn things around one step at a time  What happened to the days when we were able to shake each other’s hands, give hugs, kiss each other on the cheek and wish each other well?   When we reach out to each other, remarkable things can happen.

In my practice, I have seen so many whose hearts have closed because they could not bear another moment of the life that has become their reality.  We must choose a new reality.  If we can change our thoughts and then our lives can change almost instantly.   It really is that simple and yet it really is that hard.  

If there is something in your life that is not working for you or not serving you, then change your mind, simply change the way you think about it and your whole world will take on a new look and feel.   It only takes a moment to be able to do it, but because we are all creatures of habit, we will reflect on the old, and not be able to be in the moment, to live life to its fullest, because we are stuck in the same old thought patterns.  If we can finally live in the moment, then we are there for our children, our families, our friends, and our fellow man.

There is no need to suffer, there is no need to relive history.  You deserve to live life to the fullest, to experience everything you want to experience, because you were made in the image of God, whatever that means to you.  So why not make it something wonderful.  Let go of those thoughts that do not serve you, because you are not your circumstances, you are not your body and you are not your history.  Make new history.  Reach out to everyone who crosses your path.  A smile or kind gesture.   Every day.  Let’s allow those connections to happen, it will open your hearts and your minds.  As I have said before, we all have a story to tell, some are more traumatic than others,  but we are all connected.  If I meet someone new, you can bet there is a connection in some way with that person.  Once we begin talking to to each other  it is amazing what the similarities are.  You may say to yourself, that you couldn’t possibly have something in common with that person or that person.  If you ask them questions about their life, you will find that there is some common thread somewhere.  No matter what that persons life looks like.

So every day, I say to you, the God in me bows to the God in you.  Namaste.

Home

What does home mean to you?

Does it mean a warm cozy space to call your own? 

Somewhere where love resides? 

Is home where all of your possessions are? 

What about all of those people in life who do not have a home, either physically, emotionally or spiritually? 

These are the people who need a home the most. 

These wonderful people who have just forgotten where they belong are the ones who come to me and I help them find their way home. 

Once people remember what home feels like and how safe it is, then they can move forward.  They will feel more at ease, relaxed and can see life with the sun shining and not with a cloud that is over it.

I have often in my life felt like I am not at home.  I think the experience as a  young person of moving many times within a military family, made me feel like there was might always be a new home just around the corner.

 I lost the feeling of home, because I thought it had to be a place. 

I thought it had to be a solid structure where I could lay my head at night in the knowledge that I was safe and secure within my home.

I often thought that also meant family friends and loved ones. 

As I learned Reiki I learned that when they say home is where the heart is, it means where your heart is.  Where your love is.  The love for yourself.  

I may not be finished with the geography of home yet, but I feel I am getting closer to it. 

In my heart, and in my soul I have found home.  The love that I have for me at this point in my life has shown me that I will always be at home no matter where I go. Wherever I travel, or decide to move my life again, I will always have me with me.

 I will always have my memories, my gifts, my love for myself, my love for all who touch my world, my desires, and my intelligence.  I can never loose those things.

That is what home is about.  Feeling at home with yourself.  Feeling ok with what is.

Beyond that, it’s all just geography.  Having the ability to help anyone feel at home around me is something I have loved to be able to do for others.  What better thing is there to do than help people feel like they have found home. 

For those of you who feel like you are not home, where it is and what it feels like, it’s all about the love you have for yourself.  When you are cold and tired when you are hungry and you feel like you are a long way from home, remember, to find joy in the things around you, find joy in your heart and your soul.  You won’t find home by looking for it outside, look inside of you, it’s there, I promise.  And then I feel like I am on a mission in this life.  To love everyone for who they are and who they are not, and to help those who don’t know how to love themselves remember that home is with them wherever they go.  So welcome home my friends, welcome home.  In every minute of every day. .  For you are love.  

Hope

Each of us begins our life as an innocent being full of wonder and full of hope for the future.  As we grow and expand and spread our wings, sometimes life will see us closing our hearts and our minds to the possibilities and so we become stuck with our negative feelings, worries and fears.  We can become immersed in our problems, so deeply that we cannot see a way out.  There is always a way.  Always.  When we feel like we cannot see beyond our grief, fear, loneliness, and misfortune, that is when we are closest to a new beginning.  That is when we have the opportunity to make a new day, a new life.  It is always darkest before the dawn.

And so, let today be the day when you begin to heal.  Let today is the day that will bring new hope to your heart, soul and body.  When we change our thoughts, we change our lives.  I am a firm believer in this.  No matter what you are facing, there is always a way.  Just for this moment, may you feel peace, may you  feel joy, may you feel love.  Just for this moment.  Then together we can build on these precious moments until they become a minute, an hour, a week, a year and then a lifetime. 

Masks

Have you ever seen those beautiful masks people wear at a costume party or the Mardi Gras?  They are beautiful and they give a person the illusion of being something or someone else, just for a little while.  Isn't it interesting that when we take the beautiful masks off, some of us don't like what we see underneath.  Some of us are comfortable with who we are and have no need for the mask.  Others will find various ways to put on a mask so that no one can see who or what they are.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all shed those masks that we put on for ourselves and others and just be ok with what is.  But for some, this is a very scary thought.  Leaving the mask behind might make them feel vulnerable, naked in the eyes of others.  The way people hide is by having others believe things about them that are not true, regarding income, age, sexuality, relationships, wants, needs, desires.  It’s a form of denial.  When you age, go ahead, age.  Every wrinkle, every gray hair, is earned and should be proudly worn.  If you want to make money or keep a certain balance in life, do it.    When you want to build relationships, do it.  Life gives you tons of opportunity to build lasting trusting relationships with people who come into your world.  Do you think it is an accident that they come into your life?  Not possible.

So ask yourself this.  Do you hide behind a mask?  Do you put a face on for the public, the people that love you, your friends,  that does not truly show who you really are?  Are you afraid f what people will think of you if you are true to yourself?  Are you afraid of judgement?  WHY?  The truth will set you free.  Don't be afraid.  Now is the time to be the most honest you can be.  Why not be happy with who you are and blossom into everything you can be.  The true you.  The you that longs to be a part of this world.  The you that wants to say to the world, "Here I am, As I am".  Let your inner self shine.  Let the people, circumstances and things you want in your life come to you by way of being your true self. Hiding behind the mask you wear cannot make you happy.  Being naked in front of everyone by taking off the mask takes courage but it will bring a much happier life.  Is a dog not a dog?  Is a bird not a bird?  What are you?  Who are you?  What brightly coloured feathers are you hiding?  People in your life love you.  These people will support you and see you through.  Always.  Being true to you will be honest and will change your life for the better. 

Todays topic is masks and the masks we put on for other people.  If we truly love ourselves then we will be loved by others.  I took a class a couple of years ago with Dr. Carol Carnes,  who is the spiritual leader at the Centre for Spiritual Living and there  was an excersise she had us do that I would like to share with you.  If you cant look in the mirror each day and say I love you, I would encourage you to try this exercise.

Have someone in your life sit with you and for five  minutes, shorter for the first time if you must, have the oter person ask you, what do you love about yourself.  Take your time in answering and then as soon as you give an answer have them ask you again.  And again.  Then when you go to the mirror say I love you to yourself and remember each day one of the answers you gave in that exersice.  Each day while you are looking in the mirror say  I love you because you are…. You can fill in the blanks. 

I have used this excersie on many of my clients and have found that where they did not see how they could love themselves, suddenly the lightbulb goes off and they can see that there is something to love about them. 

Try to remember when doing this excersise to keep only the positive thought.  If I say as an example, I love you Caterina because you are forgiving, don’t add something like but that makes you a door mat.  Keep the positive thought and disguard the negative.  Repeating the positive will change your vibration forever.  It will bring you to a higher vibration and after you practice this you will start to feel lighter and you will notice peoples attitudes change because yours has changed.  The mind is a very powerful thing and it is amazing what you can do with it.  It is never too late.

The Empty Nest

The Empty Nest

When we bring our little bundles of joy into the world, we think that we will be different, that we will not repeat history.  We think that no one could ever have loved their child as much as we love ours.  We think that whatever wrongs we did as children growing into adulthood and whatever wrongs we perceive our parents did will not be repeated and that we will be the kind of parent who brings up the perfect child.  Then as our babies become toddlers, we see a glimmer of the character that will eventually become their own.  As they reach the pre-teen years, there is even more of their character to see.  What we sometimes forget is that as small children they are completely dependent upon us for their every need.  As they grow, our job is to let them spread their wings, to empower them to be all that they can be.  When they are doing great we are there for them.  When they are falling down, we pick them up.  If we do our jobs well, then these precious gifts will expand their horizons and will naturally want to step into their own.  Yes, they will give you grief, yes they will test you in every way, and yes you will always love them for who they are and who they are not.  There is a natural separation that begins to occur when children become teens and then become adults.  They must separate from the parents to make their own future.  This is the time when you can become the most proud of the journey you have travelled together.  When your child finally leaves the nest and is on their own, you can rest assured that this is their journey now, just as you took the same journey when you left home for the very first time.  It doesn’t mean that you never have the opportunity to be with your child again, it just means that there is a new chapter in their life, and yours.  Be proud of a job well done, and enjoy the empty nest, for soon their nest will be filled and you will reap the rewards of it by taking a new journey into  grandparenthood.  Enjoy an embrace the empty nest.  You may feel like they will never come back, like they don’t care, but as my son says “I have become the person I am in great part because of you”.  What a compliment.  So for all of you who are struggling with the teen who is giving you grief, breathe in and breathe out, one day they will become your friend.  Namaste

Love

Where is love?  Love is in everything and everyone.  Look at a flower and see love, look in the eyes of your lover and see it.  A baby’s laugh is love and so is the sun in the sky.  But the most important place to find love is within you.  When you can truly look at yourself in the mirror and say “I love you” to yourself, that is where true love begins.  Loving yourself is the greatest give you can give to yourself and others.  Once you find the love within it will radiate to the rest of the world and you will attract more love.  Love will come from everywhere.   When you think that there is no one in your life that loves you, when you think that every one has left you, when you feel empty that is the time to reach inside and find the love within.  Love is in everyone and everywhere you look.  Believe in yourself, love yourself and watch what happens.

Today would have been the birthday of someone who is near to my heart always.  My ex father in law was a Christian man who loved everyone that ever touched his life.  He was an amazing gift.  Open heart and open hands, non judgemental.  He always had a wonderful smile, and treated everyone as though he were already their friend even though he didn’t know them well.  He was always willing to lend a helping hand and he was always loving and kind.  Here is an example of a man who loved himself, and who was able to radiate that love out into the world.  Is there someone in your life that radiates love?  If you feel like you would like to be more like that, then maybe ask them a few questions.  What makes you so loving?  What makes you be so kind to others, understanding and giving?  Many of you have probably had experiences that have maybe closed off those parts of you.  If you will just let small great moments happen, they can be built upon.  That is why I choose to do random acts of kindness every day.

For me Random acts are an every day occurrence.  I have no idea how it first began, but I have been performing random acts of kindness most of my life.   It can be the smallest thing, like buying extra grocery bags at the checkout and giving them to the next family in line.  Or like giving a smile to someone who doesn’t look very happy, or like saying to someone, wow your hair looks great today.  Then there are the bigger acts of kindness .   Giving an extra large tip to a wait staff member who looks like they are struggling.  Telling someone that they would look awesome in that dress that they are looking at in a department store.  When I go to a restaurant, I always ask the name of the waiter or waitress that is serving me,  and I introduce myself.  If there are others seated at the table with me, I will introduce them too.  It makes the person serving me feel like they are part of the dining experience, like they are completely part of the event in some small way.  You would be surprised what an effect that has had on some.  Most of the serving staff that I have met over the years, have been grateful for even a small amount of recognition that doesn’t include a complaint.  And the best part is their day just gets better after that event.  It’s like a ripple effect.  So if we all tried to perform one act of kindness in our day, we would see the ripple effect, because each time you do, that person will be affected in a positive way, and will hopefully go out and do something small for another person in their life.  Try it and see what happens.

Don’t forget to check out my website at www.reikihouse.ca .  I am a Reiki Master who works in White Rock at the White Rock Wellness Centre.  If you are in the area and you would like an appointment with me, please call the office at 778-877-0682 for an appointment.