Begin To Notice

Sooner or later a person begins to notice that everything that happens to him is perfect, relates directly to who he is, had to happen, was meant to happen, plays its little role in fulfilling his destiny.

When he encounters difficulty, it no longer occurs to him to complain- he has learned to expect nothing, has learned that loss and frustration are a part of life, and come at their proper time- instead, he asks himself, why is this happening?…by which he means, what can I learn from this, how will it strengthen me, make me more aware? He lets himself be strengthened, lets himself grow, just as he lets himself relax and enjoy (and grow) when life is gentle to him.

Strengthened by this simple notion, simple awareness, that life is perfect, that all things come at the proper moment and that he is always the perfect person for the situation he finds himself in, a person begins to feel more and more in tune with his inner nature, begins to find it easier and easier to do what he knows is right. All chance events appear to him to be Intended; all intentional actions he clearly perceives as part of the workings of Chance.

Anxiety seldom troubles him; he knows his death will come at its proper moment; he knows his actions are right and therefore whatever comes to pass as a result of them will be what is meant to happen. When he does feel anxiety, he realizes it is because of that thing he’s been meaning to do but hasn’t done, some unfulfilled relationship he’s been aware of, but…he perceives the anxiety as a message that he’ll have to stop hesitating if he wants to stay high…he knows he is out of tune because he lets himself get out of tune; and because he knows he can, he begins to take action.

He enjoys his high life; does not enjoy anxiety; so he stops hesitating and does what he has to do. He does not live in a state of bliss, though perhaps he feels himself moving toward one- or toward something, he doesn’t know what it is but it is the way he has to go, the journey towards it is the only life he enjoys .

It is hard, it is exciting; it is satisfying, lonely, joyous, frustrating, puzzling, enlightening, real; it is his life, that’s all. He accepts it.

Sooner or later a person begins to notice…

-Excerpt from Das Energi by Paul Williams

NOTE: Reread this piece, but replace “a person” with YOUR NAME.
Example: Sooner or later, Cheryl begins to notice that everything that happens to her is perfect…
See the effect it has on your psyche and share your thoughts here.

Be Convivial.

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Awake by Rumi

Whenever you’re feeling restless, instead of worrying about all the sleep you’re missing out on, realize that perhaps you need to be awake to get started on what real dreams are made of – YOUR dreams. Take this time to cultivate your passion…and if you don’t quite know what it is yet, simply trust in the power of the morning breeze and the answer will come to you.

Poetry by Rumi:

Awake

The Breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
Where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.

Trust…

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Claim Your Life

“You need only claim the events of your life to make yourself yours.” – Florida Scott-Maxwell

We alter our lives by the opinions we hold of them. If we see ourselves as daring, we will dare. We can change our lives by changing our perceptions. We can identify those plots and patterns we wish to alter. While it is important to have the faculty of self-scrutiny, it is equally important to have the gift of self-appreciation. We can identify and cherish those character traits which are our strengths. I acknowledge and appreciate my own accomplishments and talents. I note when I do well and applaud myself for my merits. Such self-appraisal is not mere narcissism. It is the bedrock of solid self-worth.

I become the person I choose to be.

-Julia Cameron

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Get Up. Get Out.

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Tour The World. Then Recreate It.

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Stop Waiting

Wishing is easy. Doing is harder. Different, better, more memorable experiences call for different, better, more memorable intentions, efforts and language.

Stop waiting for others to make YOUR move.

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Life…An Every Day Celebration

One of many songs I can relate to and one that inspires me to be true to who I am.
It depicts a convivial spirit and strength to live by…

ONE TRICK PONY – Nelly Furtado

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Speak in declarations. Which is tantamount to living by them. And others will take you seriously, because they know you mean what you say. –The Princessa, Harriet Rubin

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The Order of Love

“If I love myself, I love you. If I love you, I love myself.” – Rumi

In hearing Rumi state this in his poetry, I immediately think of the order in which it was written:

I…love…myself…I…love…you.

I…Myself…You.

There’s no other image reflecting in the mirror but the one of you, therefore the reflection is all yours to consider. Put yourself first and all falls into place. If you love yourself, do for yourself, take care of yourself, live for yourself, then you automatically offer the benefits reaped to the next person, to the world.

Recently, I was chatting with a friend and mentioned I would soon be heading out for a girl’s night out. She later said in conversation,”You know, I wish I could do that,” and confided in me about her desire to have more time for herself, to express herself, time for friends, for new experiences, for joy, all on her own. This sentiment is nothing unique to her. Many people go through this and it all boils down to a personal choice. What you decide you can and want to do in your life is your choice and no one else’s. It’s your call to let someone else make you believe you don’t have a choice in the matter, that you are powerless and must be granted permission to live. No one hinders you from your own joy except yourself. We struggle to please others, to remain obedient and not rock the boat when the opposite is far from disobedience but rather simple pleasures we all deserve to have, to experience, to gather and store in our heart’s memory for later recollection. Is there such a thing as selfish love? Love is pure and true, so when you are simply seeking to be pure and true to yourself, an endeavor that requires your time, energy and attention, what harm does it bring to others or to you? It doesn’t. Ever.

How often do you allow others to impose guilt on you, thus negatively affecting your plans for living? Why do you permit such feelings to permeate your spirit, to grip your anxious wings and hold you down from naturally taking flight? The reasons and excuses aren’t good enough. You deserve to be happy, to be free, to be you, to savor the joys of life, to have friends, to laugh and be carefree, to feel the sense of what it means to be supported and loved. Schedule time for yourself and defend your need for it. There’s nothing to explain, nothing to feel bad about. You were born free-thinking, a free-spirit, and that won’t change. You are free to be whoever you were born to be. Get out of your own way and others will, too.

Experience joy and without effort, you will spread it. The effects of self-love are of epidemic proportions.

To enjoy the full poem read by Demi Moore, click here Rumi – Desire – Demi

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You are a Story

…she is a story whether she wants to be or not.
Because she is a woman.
People watch women as if reading them.
They watch them more closely than they do men.
Because they are more interesting.
Women have been the subject of so much objectification because of their intrinsic mystery.

Some of the greatest figures of worship are female:
the virgin mary
mother nature
earth goddesses
madonna…

people study women the way the devout read books; not so much to learn material as to surrender to a word or phrase that captures ones attention. That is how others perceive women. And that is why non-verbal symbols become weapons.

A strength you don’t use turns destructive.

– The Princessa, Harriet Rubin

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Clarity, Order and Women

I’m always interested in clarity
It should be clear, readable, straight-forward.

Creating order is typography.

It should be neutral. It should have a meaning in itself.

-Wim Croewel, Helvetica

“It” is Woman.

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The First Gift

On the way to San Miguel de Allende, my husband and I met a man named Bruce who lived in San Miguel with his wife, Jennifer and two-year-old son, Blaze. First of all, what a cool name for a kid! Second, the parents were even cooler.

There was an instant connection with Bruce and my hubby, so they exchanged numbers and we met up for breakfast a few days later. We were going to eat at Buena Vida Cafe across from Bellas Artes, but they were closed for construction, then headed to La Parroquia Cafe nextdoor to El Tecolote Bookstore and the same story, so we ended up at El Pegaso Restaurant and Bar located on Calle Correo.

I felt just as comfortable with Jennifer as Martin did with Bruce, so the conversation was on! Of course, Martin and I were so curious to hear about how this American couple with a nice, big American baby made the journey to this foreign colonial town to live life. The journey started with just the two of them wanting to visit San Miguel de Allende to learn Spanish and the bigger decision to make a life there was as simple as a moment when Bruce and Jennifer,(newlyweds then) were sitting on a bench at the Jardin, and Bruce turned to Jennifer to say, “Just get me here, ” and Jennifer replied, “Okay. ” It’s been three years since that fateful moment.

In between a few bites of my delicious breakfast of Chilaquiles Verdes, Bruce said something that stayed with me.
In discussing their life raising Blaze in San Miguel, he said, “This is our first gift to our son…dual citizenship in two countries, learning two languages, and being immersed in two cultures so opposite from another.” What a broader sense of the world he will start off with all thanks to a conscious choice his parents made for him.

Martin was able to see how happy they were living in his hometown and he said, “I’ll be honest with you two…I’m jealous,” and that’s when I lovingly interjected and said, “Don’t be jealous, join the club!”

I admire this couple’s courage to try something different, to step outside their comfort zone and give something so unfamiliar a shot.

There are so many choices on how we can live our lives; our kids have little say in the beginning stages of their lives, so considering the benefits they will reap from the conscious choices we make on a daily basis is undeniably courageous and admirable.

Choose wisely.

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