Tests
Isn’t this the truth, that life tests us with nothing and everything? I was thinking of the time when I was looking for work and putting out feelers and nothing was happening, so of course I was stressing out that I would never find work. Then all at once I get multiple offers, and then I was stressing out on how to decide which one was the best job.
So many things are like this – feast or famine. Like the teeter-totter we are down on the ground or high up in the air = but never evenly balanced. Balance in and of itself seems to be something that we are always chasing after – an elusive butterfly that lands on us for a moment and then flies away.
Sometimes if feels like balance just eludes us – and it is usually because we are not living in the moment. Instead we are buried under the weight of our past, or we are busy digging a new grave out of what might be happening in our future.
Instead, wouldn’t it just be so nice to live in this very moment – with this breath – letting go of the past (which you can’t change anyway) and not projecting fears into our future. I love the Mark Twain quote “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”
I think that living in the moment, is the moment we have balance. It isn’t that fable that we all believed of work and home life balance, or being wonder woman with being the perfect employee, the perfect wife, and the perfect mother. Most of us who tried that remember what the fall of burnout looks like – it is not a pretty picture.
Balance, is remembering to just take in the breath and check in with ourselves. From moment to moment we can bring it in and just enjoy it. Hahhhhh, I was reading an article today that said it takes 10 breaths to ground and that is exactly how we achieve balance. Allowing in those deep belly breaths and grounding. Hahhhh, then we are connected to our bodies and receive in the earth mothers energy to recharge us.
Rekindle
We all have those bad days, when the shadow overwhelms us. How wonderful is it when fellow LemonadeMakers rekindle our flame. If your light feels dimmed today, that is okay. You can borrow some of mine.
disaster
When disaster happens, it is important to be able to think clearly. Reaching out for help can take many forms. Quick thinking and thinking outside of the box possibly saved her life and that of her children.
http://www.wfla.com/story/28984148/highlands-woman-held-hostage-sends-message-in-online-pizza-order#.VU-Yrhd2ZsU.facebook
Junior Lemonademakers
Junior LemonadeMakers. How wonderful is it, that this girls who have been rescued are in turn helping those in need. When you read the full story the other thing that really stood out for me was how the Girl Scouts had just donated all of these first aid kits two weeks ago to these girls, so that they had them to give to those in need in their town. Divine influence in that the universe was already moving things around for the future needs of the town.
Filling Needs
What else would be possible if we all took the time to fill one need that we see in the world? The world would be filled with LemonadeMakers and that would be a wonderful thing!
Resilience
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Dr Suess
Has anyone ever asked you what the one thing in your life you would change in your past if you could? What did you answer?
When I have been asked this question, my answer is while there is pain in my life I would rather had not experienced, I would not change it. I think about changing some of the pain that my kids suffered, but then I think about it more.
The reason I wouldn’t change it is because it made me the person I am today. In each storm, the thunder and lightning and the pouring rain made a change in me.
I got to see that suffering is truly optional.
I experienced an deep understanding that you don’t die from tragedy.
I gained empathy for others. I saw the steps that led them to create tragedy in someone else’s life, and I saw that most people don’t realize the consequences of their choices until they have created the hot mess that results. I have seen people fall down a metaphorical cliff and then climb back out.
I am inspired and amazed by other people’s stories. How they take personal tragedy and create an amazing life. A girl goes blind and becomes a marathon runner. Someone who is born without arms or legs goes to high schools and talks to kids about living life to the fullest and how suicide is not the answer. People who would have every justifiable reason to rail against god, turn what we would think as a tragedy into an inspirational journey through life.
So when I think about would I change even my children’s suffering, I pause. I don’t know what that tragedy has changed in them. I don’t know what that tragedy will mean for them in their future. If I took that anyway would they be a weaker person and not able to face something that is still to come?
So my answer is like Dr. Suess, Don’t cry over what has happened, because this tragedy is like a building block. It creates a foundation not upon sand, but upon rock, so that whatever is coming through life’s storms will not be able to tear you down, because you are strong. You have learned from life’s storms to lean on the divine, to ask for help and support from true friends, and that what doesn’t kill you, really does make you stronger.
Life’s tragedies, these storms, may create rough seas, but after the storm is calm water. The sun comes out, the winds die down, and life once again becomes beautiful. Smile because you are victorious and something made new again. Smile because life really is a joyous journey, and you are somebody’s inspiration that they too will survive and thrive.
It is really hard to say this when you are still bleeding from the wound. But as time passes and you heal, that is when the recognition comes. You will see the broken places have healed and altered who you are and you will see the blessings that are there should you choose to accept them. I know that my sister is just now getting to that place from the murder of my nephew.I can see how she has changed, and it will be up to her to choose the blessing his death has brought her. I know what he death brought to me, an awakened spirit that is realizing how much she has yet to do on this earth. The beauty of LemonadeMakers, which has in turn stretched and grown me into someone I never thought I was capable of being, and the knowledge that I am continuing to grow and stretch with this new book I am writing. I can honestly say that without his death, I don’t think that I would be the person I am today.
Shankar Naidu
A true hero and Lemonademakerhttps://www.facebook.com/shankar.naidu/videos/10151464452687242/
Andre Sobel Award
The 2015 Andre Sobel Award for teen survivors of catastrophic illness is now open for entries.