Embracing Life

Iroquois Memorial Hospice recently noted their 15th anniversary in providing end of life care to our community.  How privileged we feel to be asked to experience that journey with the patients and their families.  The dying teach us so much about life and living.  I often think if we only had that knowledge at the beginning of our life instead at the end of our life, what a difference our lives might be.  We might take more time to know our neighbor, to understand someone's pain, to be present when someone needs a hug.
The sky might be bluer, the grass greener, the flowers prettier.  Our goals and values might be better, and we may pause to experience life and all its joys, love and wonders.  I think periodically I need to stop and smell the roses, appreciate those around me who offer their love endlessly, and thank my Greater Being for the blessings I so abundantly have been given.  We use 80% of our Emotional Quotient and only 20% of our intelligence quotient..... and that is not all bad.  It shows me that we do embrace life, use our gifts and have a spirit of belonging and love.....and that we often follow our heart.  God Bless.

Star's End

Prior to this week, I had been questioning where my star was leading me and if I should follow a star that led me into uncertain territory.  I turned to my Greater Being for guidance, asking for a directional sign, one of purpose,  one that I cannot misinterpret.  Several days this week I was placed in the path of misfortune and tragedy of others who so desperately needed support, understanding and love. Although it has been an extremely emotional and draining week, I undoubtedly know that God has shown me my star's trail.  I am meant to use whatever talents I have been blessed with to be present for those who are experiencing life's difficult trials.    In this search of life and self, I am reminded of something Friedrick Nietzsche wrote: "On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain; either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow."  Where are you in your search for your star of life and self?

Our Role

Have you raised your face to the stars and looked for your guidance?  It leads me to wonder what my role will be once I find that star and follow it.    Does this inner feeling that I am to “move on” have anything to do with the star I am looking for?  More importantly, am I capable of changing roles from something familiar, to something unknown?   As I sit in “My Room” and ponder these questions, I reflect on our grieving families.   Their family structure and roles change as a disease progresses and death becomes reality within the family unit.  As a rule, there is always a “pivot” person…. the go to person….. the in-charge person…. the organizer…. the consoler.  My role now is to console the consoler and support that pivot person throughout the process.  It feels natural for me to be in this role.  Could I change to another role?  All good questions for which I have no answers.  Where are you in your star search?  Share your thoughts.

Your Star

This blog stems from a thought which appeared in our Missalette this morning and I felt it was worth sharing.  It was about the Christmas Star and how men traveled a long journey to find unknown joy where the star led them which changed lives forever.  What if you have a star that is prompting you to take an unexpected journey to an unknown destination.  Would you seek out that destination?  Your destination could be something wonderful such as a new job, new member of the family, new friends.....; or it could be a hurtful destination such as illness, lost relationships,  etc.  Perhaps your journey is an internal one.  As we begin 2011, accept your journey with enthusiasm and see where the star leads you.  We always have high hopes for any new year, so I encourage you to look to the sky for your star....embrace it and have faith that the end of the journey will be worth the obstacles you encountered in getting there, and your gifts are the lessons you learned along the way.  Look for your star!  God bless!

Tis the Season

Today is December 21, 2010,... the first day of winter and four days before Christmas.  As keeping with the season, it has snowed leaving a beautiful blanket of white fluffy topping which enhances our vision and enthusiasm for this time of year.  So what is your favorite part of this holiday season?  Is it the decorating and the baking?  The children and their eagerness for the jolly old elf to arrive?  Is it the Christmas pageant at church or the cantata?  Or is it having family and friends that bring the magic to your holiday?  I think it is all of the above.  It is our belief system and what the season represents.  The Christmas star that graces the evergreen and the manger's prestigious place on the mantle.  It is Christmas morning (or noon in most cases) when the family arrives all excited to see what is under the tree; to see what delicious food awaits their arrival, and to show everyone what they received earlier that morning in the form of gifts.  It is singing happy birthday to a very special baby renewing the reason for the season.  It is thanking our Greater Being for all the blessings in our lives.

So today before I sign off, I want to thank each and every one of you for visiting my blog,  sharing your insights, and being a friend to someone needing your support.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  May you be blessed with peace and love this holiday season.

A Penny For Your Thoughts

Napolean Hill said, "Thoughts are things and that whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, he will achieve.  Think well and you will grow rich."  Did you realized that everything in the world starts with a single thought?  The Declaration of Independence started with a thought as did the automobile, the TV, the computer,  and something as simple as a candle. The mind is incapable of not thinking and it is estimated that a person can have as many as 50,000+ thoughts per day.  Perhaps this is where the saying, "A Penny For Your Thoughts" came from....imagine how much money one could make from just thinking without effort? 
Today my thoughts embrace the beauty of the snowfall which enhances the holiday season. I laugh at the dog who tries to catch the snowflakes in her mouth; I relish the peace that encompasses my being; I enjoy the laughter the first snowfall brings to neighborhood children; and the beauty which graces the earth.  The simplest thoughts make life rich.

Thanks for the Heroes

It is hard to believe that my last blog post was almost a month ago.  Apologies to my followers and readers.  It has  been a few very hectic months preparing for community outreach programs, etc.  One of the programs was the Holidays and Heartaches Program during which we had a panel consisting of people who have experienced losses in their lives.    A griever graduates very slowly from the one to be healed to the one who is helping heal.  I have been with most of these panelist from onset of their grief, and I breathe a sign of happiness when I recognize  them advancing in their journey.  When they begin to help others, I know they are not stuck in their grief but moving forward.  Their testimonials of the process are invaluable as it also promotes continued healing for themselves.   As we near the day of Thanksgiving, I give thanks for all these heroes who have done the work, who have gone through the pain and who recognize the need to support others.  I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and am thankful for those allowing me to be part of their journey.