Peace, Solitude, Blessings & Light

"If a so-called religion displays any form of hostility or division within Its own ranks or toward another religious faith, if it doesn't generate Light and provide answers to our most challenging questions 100 percent of the time, then something is terribly amiss. Conflict, intolerance, and darkness cannot, by definition, exist in the presence of Light and true spirituality." ~Yehuda Berg; Quote is taken from page 35 of: The 72 Names of God

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The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.  ~Anne Frank

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"There was a man that hated his footprints and his shadow, so one day he thought that if he ran fast enough, his footprints and shadow would not be able to follow him and then he would never have to look at them again. He ran and he ran as fast as he could, but the shadow and the footprints had no problems keeping up to him. And he ran even faster and all of a sudden he fell dead to the ground. But if he had been standing still there wouldn't have been any footprints and if he had been resting under a tree his shadow would have been swallowed by the tree's shadow."  ~Benjamin Hoff, author of "The Tao of Pooh"

Many times we hate our problems and do our best to run away from them, but no matter how fast we run or how far we go, our problems follow, scurrying behind us like footprints and shadows. Little do we realize that if we will just stand still and wait, breathing deep and relaxing both body and mind, the solution, in similar fashion to the shadow of the tree, will swallow up the problem whole and leave us free to celebrate.  ~Today’s Heartfelt Blessing – Kate Nowak

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Today’s happy memory is one of tranquility.  When I was in my early teens, my mother would take us to a place to visit some friends.  These friends had a wonderful summer home directly on the beach (where? I do not recall lol).  Maurita and Walter were there names and they were the kindest people I recollect spending any time with.  

The house they had was a huge beach house with two or three levels and all sorts of nooks and crannies that children my age and my sister’s age could get lost in.  PERFECT for hide and seek ;)  We would bring books, comfy pj’s, swimsuits, and gear for a weekend of nothing but fun.  The only thing I didn’t like was all the spiders.  But I suppose that couldn’t have been helped much.

Every day we went to the beach.  I didn’t realize it at the time how pivotal a beach would come to be for me in later years, but at that time the beach was a place of pure solitude. Maurita and Walter owned a large expanse of the property behind their house so we had the beach for miles to ourselves.  Many a time we would take our inner tubes and just float listlessly on the water watching the shoreline recede and hearing the lapping of the water against our skin.  It was a moment or many in fact, that deserved the humble quietness of respect and tranquility.   It was then that I learned unknowingly to look into my heart for peace.  Nature teaches you these things I suppose.  But sitting there floating on the beach aware of so many dangers (the tide etc) and yet being at peace and alone gives you the freedom to truly wander in your heart and get accustomed to it’s inner secrets.

I do not have any particularly favorite moments that I can recollect in this memory I share with you today, but I know the whole experience of the time spent there was one of warmth and friendship and joy.  The detailed memory itself is in my mind but the “peace” surrounding the memory is the truly important reflection today; because even as a child going through the ever tumultuous years of puberty & youth, somewhere in the world, indeed in my heart, I found a place of peace in  nature surrounded by water...and it was good.

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DAILY INSPIRATION

Seeing Your Perfection
Letting Your Light Shine

We are each born into this world with unique gifts. Within us is a glimmer of the divine, a light that can potentially make the world a more beautiful place. But in many, that light lies dormant, snuffed out by fears and feelings of inadequacy. To spark it is to attract attention, face the possibility of rejection or the responsibility of success, and risk being labeled immodest. Yet when we undermine the light by hiding our aptitudes and quashing our dreams, we deny ourselves and others a wealth of experiences. Your abilities are a part of who you are and when you take pride in them, you affirm the love, esteem, and trust with which you view yourself. Moreover, as you express the light within, you grant others permission to do the same, freeing them to explore their own talents.

For some, we are taught to hide our light from the world since childhood. Relatives caution us that the professions associated with our aptitudes are unattainable. Our peers may be envious of our skills and thus overly critical of the activities we instinctively enjoy. And authority figures admonish us to be humble and avoid showing off. But there is a vast chasm that separates those who let their light shine and those who seek only to draw attention to themselves. When you dare to share your light with the world, the beauty and perfection of your soul become clearly visible. You become a whole being-the literal embodiment of your vast potential. Whether you are a wonderful dancer, a first-rate cook, quick with numbers, or a natural negotiator, you'll come to understand that you do the world no favors when you hold yourself back.

If you have hidden your light for so long that it has shrunk to an ember, make a list of everything you do well, however impractical, silly, or seemingly inconsequential. Then ask yourself how you can positively utilize those abilities in your daily life. The gifts you were born with were not granted to you arbitrarily. While you may never discover what impact your light has had on others, you can be certain that when you embrace your talents and share them with others, you will spread illumination in the world.

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WELL WISHES
May you find your peaceful beach today.  Even if you’re not near one, know one is in your heart.  You have untapped oceans of tranquility within you if you just choose to see them.  May you use your words wisely today too, saying truly what you mean and only when you mean it.   Peace comes not just through the discovery of quiet solitude, but also through the acknowledgement of honesty in your heart too.

You are a blessing to me today.  
XO

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AND REMEMBER
"Within you is one of the most beautiful oases you will ever find; it is absolute love. Seek the oasis within your heart, mind and soul. If you cannot find your oasis, you are living in a desert. Walk out of the desert, into the openness of your mind, and you will see your oasis. Start your journey by loving yourself each day. Fill your chalice with love from your oasis within so when you meet others who are thirsty on the road of life, you have something to share." ~Ron Rathbun; Quote is taken from page 141 of: The Way Is Within