~ Merry Christmas ~

I was glancing through a book this morning and came to this quote.....

‘Christmas is more than a date on a calendar,
it’s a state of heart’.
The Guideposts Christmas Treasury - 1972


You know that time, come the end of December, when everyone
nearly runs themselves ragged.  The true meaning and ~JOY~ of
the season sometimes gets  lost in the hustle and bustle. 

Join me and ~*CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS*~ everyday. 

I'm not talking about leaving up the holiday decorations, or
passing out gifts ....   JUST hold the ~SPIRIT~ in your heart.

Show love and kindness, even to the most unloveable. 

Try and live these words ................

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
Ebenezer Scrooge -
 Charles Dickens's 1843 novel - A Christmas Carol.




 
          Christmas Eve ~ Grammy and Pa's House - 2008

 

 

~ Watch Your Thoughts ~

I have my friend Drew to thank for the inspiration for this piece.   
Drew sent out this message on his Facebook page this morning....

Is going to have one of "those" weeks and is in need of prayers and smiles!

My comment response to Drew .....

I will gladly send prayers and smiles, but ~YOU~ must put out some

positive vibes and not attempt to define your entire week
on Monday
before you have even LIVED IT. ;)

He replied.....

Yes Ma'am...

Drew..... Bless your heart for the MANY years we've known one another. 
It's a darn good thing you will be trying to take this advice.  
Spoken like a BIG SIS...   Huh  ?

~ LOVE YA ~  !!!!!

Spiritual Drifts from The River of Karma

ROK had a slow down of posts for 2008, but in January of this year
he has returned with this post................

Return to essence

 I invite you to check out his blog.........


River of Karma ~ (Quote from ROK's front page)

A blog that captures the thoughts of a
Pranic Healer-in-training on his Spiritual path as he figures his place
in the world, finds more time for his sleep and yoga all whilst doing
his beloved religion justice. Life's a journey, and I'm on one. Cheers.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

"But I think I also get what this blog may mean –
As I post stuff to help others on their journey, it’s a guide point of
my own. Where I am, and where I’ve come from. The prospect thrills me.

If only I could figure out what “here” means, and where I stand in it.

Well, I suppose its part of the process."

Spiritual Drifts from The River of Karma

http://driftings.blogspot.com/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Beyond "Normal" - The Liquid Level Of Consciousness - By Wayne Wirs

Beyond "Normal" - The Liquid Level Of Consciousness

I am not enlightened, and yet, I am no longer "normal." Since you are reading this, I suspect you probably feel the same. Somewhere between the normal, Solid level of consciousness and the transparent, Ethereal level of enlightenment, lies a very fluid, Liquid level of awareness.

Just ahead lies a beautiful glen, a large clearing in the forests of the Soul. This glen is with you wherever you are, it lies just behind your mind, just behind your thoughts, just behind your emotions. This is sacred ground, the source of your true nature. Before proceeding, you must leave your beliefs, your opinions and your Solid ideals behind, for those are the traits of the Ego and the Ego has no business here. In the center of this glen lies a still, mirror lake, a lake where all your thoughts, emotions and dreams arise. Gaze down into this lake, into the image that stares back in fascination. See the reflection of your true face in all its natural brilliance....

Are you a "Liquid?" Do you experience the following symptoms?
   - When you see a tree, do you see living, breathing life, an integral part of something so much more?
   - When you feel the breeze, do you experience it as a lover, caressing your skin in a show of intimacy?
   - Do you see thoughts arise in your mind, glisten for a moment, then splash silently back into nothingness?

And the most important question of all...
   - Always?

Solid people rarely see the subtle. Ethereal people always do. And the Liquids? Liquids constantly flow back and forth between the two extremes. Like the tides of the ocean, they rise and fall according to their own nature. Sometimes experiencing the Solid, sometimes experiencing the Ethereal.

At times we'll see It. At times we won't. Back and forth we go. Sometimes caught up in our minds, our little story. At other times it's almost as if we didn’t exist, a "transparent eyeball" (as Emerson so aptly described), that looks out upon a world where boundaries fade and the words of Man are nothing more than moving air.

See this still and lonely lake. Its waters reflect the sky. Below the surface, nothing can be seen, and yet from its depths the entire Universe arises. Can you see this lake that lies behind your thoughts? Can you see the peaceful glen that lies behind your mind? Where do your emotions begin? What is the source of all your thoughts? Watch them arise and you'll soon find what you have never lost.

Many people, when they first start to experience the Liquid state, think that they are Enlightened. They think that they have achieved the realm of the Ethereals. They tell the world they are Awake - They teach, they write, they get a distant "I see God" look in their eyes. They mislead. It isn't intentional; they just don't understand. There is a simple test though, the test of Constant Consciousness....

Sleep. The night closes in around me. Thoughts arise from the stillness; I watch them, and the simple act of seeing them causes them to fade. Dreams arise, and I watch these. Sometimes I'll play with them, flying through the trees, walking on the rings of Saturn, chatting with the Buddha. Like the thoughts, the dreams gently fade back into the Stillness, the Emptiness. All is silent - no thoughts, no dreams, no ego story - but an aliveness just the same. I watch this Emptiness, too. I am this Emptiness. Without thoughts, there is no time here, only this moment, only this Awareness. Gradually, the world starts to form again, my chest softly rises as my body solidifies out of the Nothingness. I hear the sparrows outside my window and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin....

Constant Consciousness. The sign of the Ethereals. They are aware even in the depths of deep dreamless sleep. They are always aware. They are not fooled by the mind, they do not "forget" their True Face as we Liquids are so apt to do. They don't get caught up in a world of meaning and beliefs and ideals. Awareness during deep, dreamless sleep. I have only experienced it once. But then, I am not enlightened.

The awareness of the Liquid is always in flux, always shifting between two viewpoints, between that of the Solid and that of the Ethereal. Seeing the homeless man approach, his eyes fixed steadily upon you, you feel your body cringe, not wanting to be bothered, not wanting to hear a tale of woe. But suddenly a shift occurs, the compassion arises, and the feeling of oneness envelops you. Though you can't afford it, your hand reaches into your pocket for some change....

There is nothing wrong with being Liquid. Once you become comfortable with its dynamic nature, it can be almost magical. Everything has its normal, solid perspective, and at the same time everything is imbued with a spark of the Divine: Awareness becomes clear and filled with intuition; music takes on a movement and life of its own, and the rain dances happily to the symphony of the Gods.

The Solid "You" melts. The story gradually fades, and the Awareness that sees out your eyes, that sees out everyone's eyes, crystallizes. The drives, goals, and motivations of Man seem at once both silly and necessary. All Life acts in accordance to its nature. All is as it should be. All is well. On the lips of your True Face, a smile radiates.

---

Wayne Wirs is the photographer and author of Fading Toward Enlightenment - Life between the Ego and the Ethereal. A preview to FTE can be found at http://Fade2e.com. Wayne can be contacted at wayne@waynewirs.com or through his website: http://waynewirs.com.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~  ~   ~  

Download the free ebook - The Implications of the Soul 

Free Audio Track - Past Life Recall

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~  ~   ~  

I have been a FAN of Wirs since I ordered his book back in 2005.  
His spiritual journey is captivating without the - mumbo -jumbo.   

The outstanding photography invites you to.............
come live in the moment of each picture.  !!!!

XO XO XO

Deb  

UPDATE -

Wayne Wirs

1961 – 2017

https://realization.org/p/wayne-wirs/wayne-wirs.html

Mantra-Tasking

Mantra-Tasking

Sometime around the first of the year, I was washing my hands for about
the millionth time and I started thinking.....   There are certain mantras that I
wish to hold in my mind.    What a better time to repeat the mantra than when
I am washing my hands.   I also thought... heck I am even multi-tasking.    

Taking what is normally a mindless sort of event and giving it added purpose.

Just today when I thought of writing this post, I thought to myself...
'Hmmmm it's not multi-tasking........  IT'S Mantra-Tasking.

So if there is some thought you wish to hold near and dear in the day,
consider incorporating the thought as you go about this simple task.

This would also be another way to incorporate an
affirmation in your daily life.

My thoughts have been....

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.


So....... are there any mantras or affirmations that you might be
trying to hold near and dear in a day ?   




Daily Mantras Can Reduce Stress



* Not my bathroom - just a photo I found  :)

Stop Shooting Arrows - Words

 My friend, Patricia Singleton over at   Spiritual Journey of a Lightworker
wrote a wonderful piece last week......... 


Kindness.... Why Is It Easier to Be
Kind to Strangers ?

Patricia's has written this is such a way where you are stopped
right in your tracks and it gets you thinking.     Everyone can answer
this in their own way.    It's personal.   

If you are not familiar with Patricia's blog, she always shares
every bit of her authentic self .... the good and not so good.
The lessons learned from reading her writing is always powerful. 

Link to Patricia's Post

The words we speak can be like arrows.   

Here is a visual reminder.........






I have explored the kindness aspect in a previous post
titled ..... Tone.  

Sharing a Get-Away For Your Mind

~ Calm Sanctuary ~

 Just for a moment, take a few deep relaxing breaths  


Picture yourself sitting in one of these chairs.....

toes wiggling in the sand..... the sound of the water.   

Ahhhhh I am so there...Calm Sanctuary indeed.   


This morning, I had the Today show playing in the
background while I was at my computer. 
A segment of the show was talking about travel
destinations.    One that was talked about was Stephanie's Inn
located on the Pacific coast of Oregon.   

http://www.stephanie-inn.com/default.asp

http://www.stephanie-inn.com/images/video/video.asp

*Water* ~ Magical Connectivity

 

Photographs I took yesterday in my yard.

Don't miss the tiny fly having a sip of water
in the second picture.   

 

Yesterday, after an overnight rain, I started thinking about water.

Water is a thing that absolutely connects each and

everyone of us.  :)   

There can be a magic to it if we hold ourselves mindful
each time we come in contact with water. 

Please know that I will say a prayer of blessing for YOU,
when I am in touch with water.   Would you do the same ?  :)



http://tinyurl.com/Shower-Praying 

xo xo
Debs-E

Lining The Streets of Your Future

Would you drive down a road if you knew a truck

just dumped a load of these ?

HARDLY !!!

When you hold a negative thought,

you are lining the streets of your future. 

Thoughts are ~ things ~ just be aware of yours.

 

L@@K for the positive

L@@K for the positive .............

                   It's usually more visible anyway 

    

  

First Official Now Watch Fan ~ Me :)

I have been on a path of directed mindfulness for many, many years
and still
my mind can be like a wandering little child.   

I believe way too many of us live our lives  stressing about everything
EXCEPT the present moment.   

How many car accidents do you suppose happen because
people are not in the NOW. ?      

Distractions and the lack of mindfulness can even result in  rude and
and insensitive behavior towards the people who mean the most to us in life.

Along comes this simple yet beautiful idea of The Now Watch.

I learned of The Now Watch through my involvement in The Group
Writing Project –
Spread the Love Now. (You
can read my post linked to the previous  words)

 
6 Now Watches were awarded as prizes for the best entries in the
project.
Everyone who entered are winners. The stories of compassion and love were
just awesome. Even though
mine was not chosen, I emailed my hubby Michael a link
to The Now Watch web site and said….. ‘This is what I would like
for my birthday’.

Unfortunately, Michael will be traveling on that day in February, but
he ordered the watch
for me, and I NOW have it on my
wrist.

 
Honestly, there could be no better reminder for me…… I gently recall my mindfulness
every time I glance at the time. “Come here honey, come back to the present moment”.

 
Adam contacted me from a web post I had made about MY Now Watch
and in the
communications, he said to me yesterday…….

 

"I'm happy to have my first official Now Watch fan”

 

YEAH… I am honored and VERY thrilled to BE the First
Official Now Watch Fan !!!!

 Do
consider joining in the fantastic fun and get a Now Watch of your own.......

The time is NOW.   :))) 

 

 

The Now Watch

Our Philosophy --> http://www.thenowwatch.com/philosophy.html 



The Now Watch mission is to bring more presence to people's lives.



It's a simple goal but in a world where we are so busy and caught up trying to
get things done, we rarely pause and take a moment to just be where we are
right here and now. However, when we do appreciate the moment, we often feel a
relaxing sensation, followed by an ability to focus and actually get more done
in less time. In a sense, that's because it's always now. And when connected to
the present moment, we are able to use our time to its fullest potential.



We've decided that a watch or a clock with the word NOW appearing prominently
on the face is the perfect stimulus to help us access more presence in our
lives. It works so easily... when we check our NOW watches and clocks,
we'll find out the time of day as usual but will also be reminded that it is
the present moment initiating a collision of the mystical with the utterly
practical. Many people find it inspiring, some soothing, still others
motivating, while others just laugh... but that's what make our timepieces what
we consider to be functional pop-art left wide open to interpretation.

We believe we've hit on a radically simple concept that delivers a message in a
fun, cool, and affordable way. Since the present moment is fundamental to every
human, in every walk of life, our long term vision is to spread our products
all around the world. Here are some sample translations into other languages:

Our core value is simplicity which leads us to one final simple
idea. We believe that the present moment is the greatest gift that there is
here on earth. Therefore, our products seek to become the perfect gift people
can buy for themselves and share with others worldwide.



Please contact us to bring more presence to your life and your community.

Founders Story -- > http://www.thenowwatch.com/founders.html 



Perhaps The Now Watch always resided deep within its founder, Adam Rothenhaus,
a lawyer, writer, philosopher, and entrepreneur based in New York City.



Throughout his youth Adam repeatedly heard great athletes, great artists, and
great people in all walks of life attribute their good fortune to their ability
to remain focused on the present moment.  Yet he grappled to fully
understand why.  Then in 1996, after spending much of his early life
dwelling on his past and worrying about his future, a profoundly simple
truth struck him and explained the essence of their success.



It always was, always is, and always will be the present moment.



He decided to put this perspective to work and soon began harvesting the
infinite potential of the present moment.  In doing so he gained access to
an unlimited resource of sublime beauty, indescribable joy, and lasting inner
peace.  He determined that this resource was the key to a happy,
fulfilling, and successful life.  But much more often than
not… he just forgot about it.



In 2001, he played around inscribing the word NOW on a clock to remind
himself of this resource.  It worked, and he slowly began to
share the idea for his reminder with others as a mechanism to bring more
presence into more human lives.  By 2006, he officially founded The Now
Watch.

The rest continues to be an unfolding story of accumulating present
moments...



Please feel free to contact Adam at adam@thenowwatch.com

My HAPPY HAND, showing off my Now Watch  

 

 

 

 

 

~* Letting Go *~

The following is a post I had made to some military friends in
March of 2003.        

~* Letting Go *~

DO THIS RIGHT NOW...   REALLY.... DO THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!

Take both of your hands.
Turn them palms up, and make tight fists.

HOLD THOSE FISTS TIGHT.... TIGHTER !!!!!
KEEP HOLDING....

Your see your finger tips turning white....
You are feeling a painful feeling in your hands,
and the pain is now even being felt in the muscles up your arms....  
Keep holding,
your finger nails might even be digging into the
palms of your hands.


NOW -----------      ~* LET GO *~


Slowly open your hands....

Your fingers unravel as you extend and stretch them.
~* take a deep breath *~ and REALLY feel the letting GO.

Relax your shoulders and let go a little more,
a few more deep breaths.

Looking at your open hands, palms up envision the letting go.....

See the built up 'THINGS'

(garbage - crap - anger - frustration - guilt - hurt )

All just running out of your finger tips.........


That is   ~* Letting GO *~


You can use this exercise MANY times in a day to remind yourself to let go.
As you start out, you might have to physically grip your hands, after awhile you can mentally do the letting go.


I made up this ~* Letting Go *~  in 2003 to help my daughter Nicole through a difficult time.  She would stop in to see me, and in talking to me of her life issues, I could see the emotion and crap just building up inside of her.

She was like a tightly corked bottle .... under pressure that at any second was ready to explode.

One day as I was talking to her, I had my hands extended palms up, raising them up and down  and saying....

"Honey, you just have to let this go" !!!!!!!!!!!!

At that moment... it came to me to show her through my hands.... what she was doing to herself IN HOLDING IT ALL INSIDE eating away at her just like the pain you felt in the tight fist.

That was the ~*birthday*~ of ~* LETTING GO*~.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~



This came back to me yesterday when my daughter (age 25) was
talking to me and telling me how she had shared to a
friend that they needed to let something go.....
She even used the hands in a fist to illustrate  ~*Letting Go*~


That....... is parental pay dirt.  !!!

You are.........

*

*

*

You are beautiful

and here's a link to bookmark....

You are beautiful

* Self Worth *

I Wish You A ~*Happy New Day*~

Imagine folks walking around wishing one another a Happy New Day.

It's quite common place to be checking out through a store clerk and have
them say to you, "Thank you and have a good day", but has anyone ever
said to you..... "Thank you and have a happy new day"?    I can't recall it ever
having been said to me.   :)

Around this time of the year it's quite common for total strangers to
wish you....   Happy New Year. !!!     Hmmmmm all 366 days of 2008 Happy.
What a nice thought.    

Just maybe, the wish of Happy New Year from family, and friends, and total
strangers starts by waking up each morning and first off
wishing ourselves..........   ~*Happy New Day*~

And to all of you as you awake each morning of 2008.........

I wish you.... ~*Happy New Day*~

Spread The Love Now ! ~ Group Writing Project

Hey, That Rings A Bell

I believe that compassion is an inherent human quality tied to our

heart strings.   The pull of those heart strings rings a bell of sorts within

a human.   The pull of the heart string reverberates through our being and

triggers our consciousness into an emotional reaction.    

Bells are everywhere and they are certainly prominent at Christmas time.

The Salvation Army rings bells to inspire passers by to place donations of cash

inside red kettles.   In my ignorance, I assumed The Salvation Army was only

an American organization.   I’ve now learned it’s origin was in England in 1865 and

today The Salvation Army has offices in 131 countries.   

The movie, It’s a Wonderful Life is an exceptional movie showing the compassion

and caring of a community.    In the final scene, George Bailey is holding his young

daughter beside their Christmas tree……  A tiny bell on the tree magically rings by itself.

The daughter says….  “Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an Angel gets his wings.”

It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American film produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern.

The film takes place in the fictional town of Bedford Falls shortly after World War II and stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man whose attempted suicide on Christmas Eve gains the attention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers) who is sent to help him in his hour of need. Most of the film is told through flashbacks spanning George's entire life and narrated by Franklin and Joseph, unseen Angels who are preparing Clarence for his mission to save George. Through these flashbacks we see all the people whose lives have been touched by George and the difference he has made to the community in which he lives. (Wikipedia)

In by gone days, church bells were rung for many occasions.   One reason for the ringing of church bells was to spread the news of the recent death.    One of my very favorite quotations is from John Donne a Jacobean metaphysical poet.   
In 1624 he wrote Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions.

Meditation 17 - (In modern word usage)

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

His words speak to me of how we are all intrinsically tied to one another through our humanity. 

We are asked to have compassion for this person and their passing, whether or not we knew them.

In ending, let me tell you exactly how I know that compassion is inherent human quality.   

Step back in time with me to my ‘other life’.    ‘My other life’ are the words I use to describe my

first marriage.   The year was 1983 and my husband Mark and I had been married for 5 years and we lived in a town less than 10 miles from his Nonna (Grandmother) and his Aunt Edna.   

Auntie Edna was a single lady who had never married.   Edna lived with Nonna and worked a full time job.

Nonna was a quiet, shy sort of woman of Northern Italian decent.   At this time in 1983 Nonna was 82 years old.

She had been in exceptional good health, not an ache or pain to speak about.   
Then in a matter of only a few weeks, she was not herself.   The clinical diagnosis was dementia.    Her mind was slipping away.

Edna was only a few years away from retirement, but quitting her job early to
take care of her Mother would have been a great hardship upon her life.   

In May of 1983 Mark and I had one child, Nicole, she was 15 months old.

I suggested to Mark that we move in with his Grandmother and Aunt.   
I was working a part time job and my hours could be adjusted to be with Nonna as
not to leave her alone.    I realized the ramifications of such a move, and was willing to do this to help out his family.   He at first was not.   I then convinced him that it was
in the best interest of his family.   

Sadly, within a matter of only a few weeks of our moving in with them, Nonna’s mind deteriorated so that not even a house full could not have cared for her, unless we
were trained nurses.   She would sleep only in increments of a couple of hours.   
She attempted to leave the house and it was also apparent she had no conception
of who we were.   Nonna was moved to a nursing home.   
Within a matter of months, she passed on.

The point of relating this story to you is something that happened during the
short time we were there.

Auntie had come home from work, we had dinner and had settled Nonna into bed.

Nicole was happily playing with her toys on the floor of the living room.   I was in the kitchen

area cleaning up.   I had a view into the living room.   
Auntie Edna was sitting on the couch.  I glanced towards her and could see her hands to her face in quiet tears.  Then the weight of the world  burst forth and it was full blown sobs.    Before I could advance towards Auntie, Nicole jumped up and RAN over to her Great Aunt.   
She laid her tiny head down in Auntie’s lap and was  patting both of her legs.   
I was stunned.    Here was this child, barely in this world one year and

three months and she was compassionately comforting her 59 year old Great Auntie.

After Nonna’s passing and for many years to come, we fondly remembered that moment. 

At 15 months old, the only explanation is that Nicole arrived with this ability, as do we all.

Compassion is a necessary component within our humanity.    

I look forward to seeing how others ‘Spread the Love NOW!’ through their blog writings.   

Thank you, Wade, Kenton and Albert.   

Three cheers for thee Three Monks. !!!

 

My Tattoo For Personal Strength

Here is a picture of my tattoo.

Hmmmm well first off I will explain that it's one I

drew on myself this past week.   :)

My folks have been through some serious medical

issues and both are on the healing mend.

The emotional strain of caring for them and also

taking care of my family and myself was starting to wear on me.

I have a fabulous support system not only in my immediate family,

which I am most thankful for.....

Hubby Michael, children and extended family and friends,

but also in my community of ~online friends.

I was having a down moment this past week,

and I drew the heart on my wrist to remind myself

of how well I am loved, cared for and prayed for.

I took care in choosing where to draw the heart.

It is the place that one will reach around with your

other hand to take your pulse.

The place is constantly in my view and a reminder

of those who love me and care.

THANK YOU to those whom this heart represents.

You ARE my lifeline. !!!!!

LOVE

Deb

~ Spirit ~ - quote

"Whatever liberates
our spirit without
giving us
self-control is disastrous."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
1749 ~ 1832

Hawk
Twinsburg, Ohio
March 20, 2007

"The Miracle of Mindfulness"

This was a post I made on an Air Force Parents
support site back in early 2003.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The Miracle of Mindfulness"

This is no magic wand that we can wave to disperse STRESS
from our lives. If that were the case, I'd be your fairy godmother
and take it ALL AWAY. :) Bippiti -- boppiti -- BOOP

But what I can do is offer some words to you in hopes that
IF you embrace them and the precepts, you will find
moments of peace.

Many of us in these times turn to God in prayer.
'Dear God, help me to process this' 'Amen'
I have no doubt that GOD does help us in a BIG WAY,
but we are responsible for the MOMENTS of our lives.

The Miracle of Mindfulness,
by Thich Nhat Hanh was a very important book
in my life journey.
I would like to present this to you as a quickie version of the
concepts of mindfulness, but for further understanding I highly
recommend
you pick up a copy of this book for yourself.

Answer this question with ALL honesty ....
How many times have you been behind the wheel of your
car, driving down the street and you pass under a traffic light.
Almost immediately you say...
"Ohhh MY GOSH" ... "Was that a green light or a red light" ???
IF you answer honestly, I think you might say...
"WOW", I have no idea what color that light was."

The reason is.... a loss of momentary mindfulness. !!!
You were 100 million miles away.
It happens ALL the time, many times in a day.

Have you seen the movie the Karate Kid ?
Mr Miyagi, the wise teacher has Daniel, the kid, wax the car.
Over and over he says....
"Wax on, Wax off". The purpose of that 'mantra' is to keep
ones mind on the task at hand.

Mindfulness is about developing a continuous awareness of all the
tasks
we do and the thoughts we have during the course of a day.
The mindfulness comes in when your awareness is held to the moment
of each task you are doing.

In the morning when you make your coffee, and have your breakfast,
you hold your mind to the task you are doing.
It is as IF you are doing this task for the very first time.
Actually feeling the items you are touching and processing
everything in just that moment.
All through the day, paying direct attention to what you are doing.

I explained the ideas of mindfulness to my coworkers.
So many times I when I was at work my mind wandered away.
I was house cleaning, grocery shopping, DOING all the things
in my mind that needed to be done in the future.
It's no wonder you get home from work and just don't feel\
like doing some tasks. How many times did you do them
over and over in your mind without even noticing where
your thoughts were.
There is a huge difference between planning out mentally what
you are going to do, and allowing your mind to aimlessly wander
off and do those things.

We have all said, "I'll just keep myself busy and that will get me
through this time." It will get you through, but if you are not
aware, even when you are busy your mind will be racing along
to other things. If, you do not hold your attention to the moment.

In ending I would like to say.....
You will NOT read my posting here one time and have
a full and complete command of mindfulness.
It will take your attention and practice.
Look how many years your mind has been
on vacation. Ha, no wonder it's going to take some time
to really embrace this into a daily practice.

When I first started to 'practice' mindfulness,
I made myself small cards that said.....
"Wax on Wax off" "breath in breath out".

I had one at work, one on the kitchen frig, one in my car.
These were reminders to myself to be mindful of the moment.
If I caught my mind wandering away, I repeated those
lines to myself I could actually feel my whole body relax.
I then returned physically and mentally to the moment, experiencing
totally just what I was doing at the time.

I think I am going to print out a copy of this for Vinny.
These would be great words of wisdom to send to him. !!!
Of course he has heard me speak of this, but I am not so sure
that it is a part of him.

(by the way... The Karate Kid movie made it's debut in 1984,
just like my Vinny)

~ Welcome to my ~Deb~utante ~

~ Welcome to my ~Deb~utante ~

Debutante, technically what does that mean…….

A debutante (or deb) (French word for "female beginner") is
a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family
who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult,
is introduced to society at a formal presentation known
as her "debut" or "coming out."

The KEY words are debut or coming out.    Not much of
the rest applies to me, other then Deb and female.   

When I started this blog back in February of 2005, I had

to come up with a name.    I choose Deb_Inside because
I felt as IF I was sharing my insides to the world.   

I have been sharing only a part of my Insides.  There has been

a part of me that I have kept in the shadows.   

I'm happily married to Michael, the man of

my dreams.   I mean that literally,  there are times when I am

certain I dreamed him into my life.   

Thank you Michael for sharing this lifetime journey.   

I know honey, there have been times when THIS

journey seems like QUITE A TRIP.   LOL

May you always know my ~heart is with your heart~.

But what has then been in the shadows ?

Where do I start…….  I hold beliefs that are considered

a bit left of center in our society.    I embrace many things

paranormal.    I LOVE that word para--normal.

If I could easily redo my name I would choose paranormal

as my middle name.    Heck…… you get a RAISED eyebrow

look when you talk with some folks about paranormal,

so why not have it as part of your name.   LOL

God – Jesus Christ – Holy Spirit - Angels

ADC - After Death Communication

Paranormal

Clair-audience - (hearing)

Clair-sentience (feeling-touch)

Clairvoyance (seeing)

Coincidence

Elves-Faries-Trolls-Little People

Gratitude

Empathic connections

Healers

Affirmations

Meditation

Indigo Children/adults

Intuition

Law of Attraction - Manifesting

Native American - wisdom, quotes, beliefs, etc

Near-death & Out of Body Experiences

Palmistry/Astrology/Tarot/Numerology

Past Life or Reincarnation

Psychic Experiences

Releasing attachments / psychic cords

Shamanism

Soul Mate Spirit Guides Soul Group

Saints

These are some but there could be oh so many more.

There was a time within the past few weeks that I had

considered starting a second blog.    That blog would

be more open and more ME.    Then the thought came

to me, IF I were to do that, I would divide myself.

In this lifetime we need to keep it all together and that

would have been harmful or not productive for my ~spirit~.

The best thing I can do here is to ~invite~ you along
on this INSIDE and more open life journey.   

If what I write about resonates with you or to you,

please DO join in. 

If what I write about is distasteful or objectionable,

and you choose to leave  –
I wish you all the very best.  !!!

Blogging will be looked back in times to come as

an interesting phenomenon. 

When I first started reading blogs, the attraction

for me was to – BE inside another person’s brain

as they shared their world. 

How fascinating to read the thoughts of a complete stranger.   

If a blogger is being less then open, as I have been,

then there is a degree of dishonesty.   YUCK. 

The best thing is to read someone’s words and say…

“Ohhhhhhhh YEAH …. Ohhhhhh YEAH… ME TOO”

I have linked around from blog to blog and come upon

some of the most incredible people. !!!!   

Bloggers invite and encourage the input of their readers.

It is in the sharing of one another back and forth that we

come to know we are ~kindred spirits~.

To Slade.... for the inspiration to blog WIDE open.

I was sharing to my newest online friend, Damian

that I had planned on making this coming out post….

and his response to me was, the phrase…

'Hiding your Light under a Bushel comes to mind’

So here’s to no more … hiding…………. *

                                                    afmomdeb@gmail.com

Coming Un-glued is GOOD

We've all had moments where we feel like our shoulders are glued to our ear lobes. 

Most times we don't even realize this is going on. !!!


Many moons ago I came upona quick and easy relaxation tecnique.   I even taught my young children this and together we 'went to level'.


Hold the thought that your body is an elevator.   Your stress has you on an upper floor.


As soon as you recognize the stress take a breath and start thinking of bringing your elevator to a lower level.


Repeat the following to yourself...


#3  #3  #3
#2  #2  #2
#1  #1  #1


Deeper healthy level


Now take the elevator lower....
Breathe again.


Slowly count down from 10 - 1
feeling your body relax as you
~Go to level~


Do you feel it ?   :)))))


Your shoulders are UN-glued.


I've created a graphic that
you can save and print out
as a reminder for yourself.


My children were elementary
school age when we first started
doing this....  Over time and with
repetition....  I could just say...


'Go to level' and instantly they
calmed their bodies AND minds.





I just came across a tiny card of this
that I had taped to the dash of my car.
Something I need for my OWN shoulders
and no doubt my now adult children's.