Happy New Year

The year 2016 is officially over. It was a 9 year. Nine years are years of endings and conclusions. They are times to reflect back on what the last nine years have brought into your life. It is a time to sort through the baggage you don't want to take forward and that which you do.

The year 2017 is a 1 year and it is the start of a new 9 year cycle. As you move forward now, you definitely want to leave that unwanted baggage behind. Start out fresh. With new intentions, not resolutions. Intentions are for how you want to live, whereas resolutions are the things you want to change. We all know resolutions are hard to keep.

My intentions are to live my life with more dedication to peace and understanding. I will embrace my path more and seek a higher level of life. I am going to eliminate the word "want" and replace it with giving thanks as if I have already received what I seek. I will be more open to what Spirit is trying to tell me so it doesn't have to give me the proverbial head slap to get my attention.

I want to wish those who read this a very blessed and Happy New Year.

Another day

Wow - two days in a row with time on my hands. Definitely a shock to my system.

This year was the first Christmas, in several years, that I didn't have to work. So I spent it with a very dear friend who beat ovarian cancer this year.

We have known each other for 45 years come next month. That is a long time in human years let alone cat years. There have been times we have fallen out of touch and then all of sudden we are drawn back to each other and it is like we never missed a beat.

We can make each other laugh till we are crying and discuss things like the TV program Ancient Aliens.

Where I started out the science/psychology major and found spirituality, she started out moderately religious and found her path to spirituality as well. While I find meditation a must do, for her meditation doesn't pair well with her attention deficit. It is hard to focus on breathing when there are bright shiny objects. Our joke has been "oh look a squirrel".

She is an excellent dancer and I have murdered more men's feet then ill fitting shoes.

I had the best Christmas I could possibly have. Friendship, laughter and love. 

How can life get so out of hand

It never ceases to amaze me how out of hand life can get. Just when I think all is well life just jumps up and smacks me upside the head.

The last two months at work have been that way. People leaving, people on vacation and just me to cover. I went beyond toast. I was to the stage that I could be carbon dated. I kept holding to thinking positive. Everything was going to come together in a way that would benefit everyone.

And then it started. A person slated to be laid off from another department was transferred over. Another who had applied a few months back, but was hired by another company, contacted me to see if I was still hiring. One of the graveyard folks wanted to come to days real bad but no one was applying for that position. Then all of a sudden here was a person who actually wanted that specific shift and nights. Everything began to come together beyond my wildest dreams.

 I kept thinking that things would all come together - they did. 

Now I am focusing on my two passions - travel and photography. I got into being a part-time travel agent to help me afford to travel. I love to travel so I can take pictures. Now to start thinking about making that my new career. Power of positive thinking. Let's see how long it takes.

Post election

Another day has dawned. For many it isn't what they hoped for. I know it wasn't in my wildest dreams. But life goes on. I have animals to feed and care for. A job that, maybe isn't the best, but it provides me a paycheck.

Some are wringing their hands and saying now what. Well I know for myself what I will now be doing. I will be focusing on the bright light of Spirit within me to guide me through what will be ahead. I don't know what is ahead of us. I don't foresee the total devastation of the civilized world as some feel. I don't think it will be a kinder or gentler place as one of our former presidents hoped for. But I will live my life with that focus. I will focus on kindness and gentleness. I will lift up my spirit to a higher calling. I will use my Tarot and Oracle cards to keep me aligned with that purpose. When I read for others I will hold that in my heart that my readings will speak true and with kindness and gentleness.

Each of us is required to make things work. Reach within and find that spark of Spirit that you can share with others. Let us shine that light for others to see by.

Life can be rough

Can't believe it has been over a month since I last posted. How time flies when you aren't having fun.

It has been a rough month.Short of staff at work. Volunteer commitments that were shear torture. RA flares. Bronchitis. You name it things happened.

There have been some days that were just a pain in my ass. On those days I can honestly say there wasn't anything positive that I could find.

But I kept plugging away. I refused to turn the rut into a grave. I kept meditating - although there were times it was like - what's the point.

But today is another day. Still short staffed but everything else has quieted down.

Keep hoping that staffing will resolve and that I will be able to spend Thanksgiving with my family for the first time since Bob crossed over. I am keeping very positive thoughts that will be the case.

Otherwise - life rolls on. No one ever said there wouldn't be bumps in it but man I can do without the boulders that someone dropped in it last month.

The size of the rut

There are times that I feel like my life is stuck in a rut. Same song - different verse. Over and over. Doesn't matter if I change things it just keeps going along the way it was.

Seems to be the way things have been going here lately. Improve my eating habits - weight stays the same. Increase my workout - weight stays the same. Hope that health improves from changes - nope - come down sick, break a tooth and things like that.

Darn. Of course frustration sets in and I almost threw up my hands.

But then I read something that made me stop and think. The difference between a rut and a grave is the depth. Well okay then. I may be in a rut but I am sure not in a grave. So there is still hope.

Where are you at in the depth of your rut?

Laughter

Over time numerous studies have backed up the quote "laughter is the best medicine". Sometimes we laugh out of embarrassment or because we are uncomfortable in a situation. So those situations don't count.

But actually laughing at a funny movie or comedian releases tension. Laughing with friends not only releases tension but also brings a closeness.

I can remember sitting up one night till the wee hours of the morning joking and laughing with an old roommate. I don't remember what we were laughing about all those years ago but when she and I vacationed together almost a year ago we found ourselves laughing over silly things all over again. One night in a restaurant we were laughing so hard we both had our makeup streaming down our faces mixed in with our tears.

I don't have many friends like her. We just sync it seems like. Might not have seen or talked in years but then we are back together and it is like we haven't been apart. We can laugh over the simple things as well as the complex. We have seen each other at our best and our worst.

Think of the last time you and a friend had a good laugh. Maybe it is time to do it again?