Isn't it interesting how people can see the same event, listen to the same speech and each have a different interpretation? No doubt it is one of the fascinating experiences we have here on Earth that keeps us curious, asking questions and often scratching our heads! What causes us to see things differently? Perhaps it is our family of origin teachings that effect the way in which we receive information? Maybe it's the media? Could it be we have relied so heavily on what they report that we have forgotten how to process information within ourselves? 
     I am curious as to how many other people feel the same way. It never ceases to amaze me how something said or done can be so twisted and contorted to fit a completely different view then the sender intended. This has recently been in my face and I gratefully accept the opportunity to simply step back and observe. What a delicious place to be, it sure beats the heck out of explaining what my message really meant. I am grateful for the gift of compassion that helps me move through life knowing the only thing I really am in charge of is myself. How someone else interprets it is up to them. My job is to pay attention to how I deliver message. 
     Simple misunderstandings are common, I recall a situation when I was working for the Indiana State Senate and a page asked a Senator if he could get him anything. The Senator replied to the young man, "yes, I'll take an orange." When the young man returned with an "orange," the Senator looked at him strange and said, "I meant an orange soda." 
    I've never forgotten that story because it shows how simple words can be misunderstood, even when each party had great intentions. And so, I make every attempt to consider what my message is, then notice how I feel before delivering the information. I do not have control over how it is received; rather, I'm only responsible for my actions. It can be a very perplexing situation since emotions are easily stirred. What a perplexing situation . . . think I'll sign off and get an "orange," at least I know what I mean!

    The inner chatter seems to be more gentle these days; boy am I grateful! There was a time when my thoughts were loud and boisterous. Of course, they rarely had nice things to say to me; mostly, they were questioning my choices and "encouraging me" to second guess my decisions. How very grateful I am they have become my friend! Now when they speak to me they are in smooth, round words and more in the tone of a whisper...like a gentle reminder to "pay attention." Whew, what a relieve!
    These whispers have become my friend, they seem to have listened to my request to assist me with the changes I select and offer guidance with decisions. They also serve as a grand mirror to show me how much more loving and gentle I am to myself.  With soft words of love they guide my path in whatever direction I choose . . . I am most grateful for these Whispers!

      It's a slippery slope to really love each other. Books are written, movies made, songs created to describe what it feels like to love someone; to actually allow someone to enter the most sacred place of our being. Of course, trust is the key element, for if there is not trust, a wall surrounds our heart that keeps watch for suspicious activity. It is a natural reaction to protect one's heart, for that is the place where our core human need resides - Love! 
     Every person alive needs love above all else. Food, shelter, a place to reside and feel safe are basic needs that make life more comfortable, but without Love, nothing is important. As much as we talk about love, it takes tremendous courage to really share it with others. It all begins within. Each of us must love ourselves before we can really love someone else. We have to know what love feels like, what it means to be listened to and acknowledged as a sacred human being. To do this, we must take time every day to simply "be" with ourselves. Whether it's in the silence of the drive to or from work, or in the quietness just before rising in the morning or concluding our day, each of us must pause and reflect on our actions. Did we think and do something that added more joy to our heart and to the world around us, or did we simply do what felt best for us, without regard for those around us? 
     Loving each other is a great goal for this Holiday Season, in fact, it's the best gift you can give yourself and those around you. I choose to pay attention to what strengths I have that can add joy to the world, and to change those traits that do not serve me or those around me so that they do add more love to the world. It is marvelous to realize the power we have to BE what we want to see more of in the world!

    As the holidays quickly approach, I am reminded of the importance of gathering together. The world is connected through the multi-media in such a way, few things are private. We know what people are doing all over the world. The actions of someone half way around the world are displayed for all of us to see - every detail of people's lives are open for public "critique." Social media sites offer a way to stay connected with people we know, care about, and or simply want to know more about. It is, indeed, a marvelous way to stay abreast with people's lives.
    This holiday season offers each of us the opportunity to get out from in front of our computers and really "see" those individuals. To hear someones voice, see their facial expressions, watch their body language, and hear the intonation of their words, offers so much more than social media. It takes people skills, real human emotions, and strength to talk face to face with people. Writing words is one thing, seeing the reaction of those words is quite another. Good communications that deepens relationships is one in which clarity of the message is known. You cannot tell if someone "heard your real intentions" by only using email, texting, or social networking to communicate. I know of some very sad feelings that were felt by recipients of predominately multi-media forms.
    So, consider the real gift you can give your friends and family this holiday season by taking the time to pick up the phone, or, better yet, arrange a face to face meeting if only for a few moments. Heck, aren't you curious how your friends or family look? I, for one, would like to think other people are showing the signs of age that I am! Life is so very precious, and it seems to be moving at light-speed, so give the gift of your time to those you love and care about and see how it feels to really connect on a personal level. It just might be the best holiday gift you give and receive this season. 

     Yesterday a dear friend called early in the morning to share a teaching she had just received. She is part of an online program organized by Neale Donald Walsch (or maybe he just promotes it?) however, it's called the Master's Series. Various well known inventors, explorers, healers, wisdom keepers, share what they have discovered. Yesterday she heard a teaching on the way men and women approach business endeavors. The lady who spoke (I believe it was Dr. Ellie Drake) had done extensive research study to discover why, overall, men seem to be more successful with new endeavors than women. Now this is a very, very short version of what she heard; however, it seems that overall men excrete more adrenalin which brings excitement and full blown energy to catapult them full-blown into projects. Whereas, women approach such endeavors with a "fight or flight," which causes them to move into the endeavor with some hesitancy. That is to say, they approach it with more caution and at a slower pace, whereas men jump right in and go for it.
      Of course, these are just generalities, and I am giving you a very, very short version. If you are interested in the more in-depth information, let me know and I'll find a link or some reference point for you. Dr. Ellie continued that for a woman to be successful (and she most certainly knows they are!) they generally have to identify with the project like she would a child. That is to say, she needs to "bond" with the project as she would a child. Once this is securely connected, the sky's the limit!
     As I walked yesterday, that teaching came back to me, wrapped in a rainbow colored blanket! What I know from what I heard is the teaching is certainly not gender-related. What the teaching is about is understanding the importance of Love! Whatever word we put on finding excitement in life that will move us to taking action, feeling the thrill of a new adventure, being willing to put all our efforts into something that stirs our heart, requires we listen and respect our heart. While our head also needs engaged to help with the "organizing" of action, it is the project that comes from our heart that becomes the catalyst for action. When we take action according to our heart's dream, we have the energy, tenacity, perseverance, whatever accolade we want to us to put all the blood, sweat and tears into seeing it to completion.
     What an amazing Truth! It does not matter what your gender, what matters is what "passion" you have that waits for your attention. There is a respect that must be maintained between our Head and Heart that allows both to work together with the Spirit of cooperation. If we only have dreams with no support for seeing them through, then it will never manifest. If we are only action oriented we will fill our days with "tasks" that keep us busy checking off our list, and never really hear our heart's dreams. Sorta like the "bucket list," it would be helpful to check in weekly, or even daily, to see what our dreams are and plan accordingly. Like most of us humans, if we are recognized each day by those we love, we're pretty happy. We require less attention when we know we are really "seen" and loved! It's something to think about today. Let us know what you notice, we are here to help you realize your dreams through community! We have a very rich community filled with a plethora of resources!

    Woke from a dream that had Brad Pitt and Val Kilmer reconstructing an old home. They had patched holes in some walls and were painting them a lovely green. Really didn't want to wake up since the "scenery" was so great. However, as all too often happens, despite keeping my eyes closed in hopes of staying with the experience, my brain woke up. I immediately started analyzing the meaning of the dream and before you know it, I was wide awake with my brain fully engaged in all sorts of fact finding activities. Rather than continue lying in bed, I chose to take the thoughts from my head and put them down in print. For me, seeing the words on paper helps my mind release them from my brain. I have such an amazing brain that kicks into gear at a moments notice, regardless of my hearts wishes; it wants to offer it's services.
     My mind is grateful for the quietness of night, since daytime is so busy with other external noises. I have noticed as I get older these noises tend to be more distracting. As I hear faint sounds of the middle of the night traveler, truck driver, or delivery vehicles to the nearby Publix store, I wonder about life. How is it the business of life becomes so focused on doing? And at what point did the doing become more important then just being? Why is it we are driven to find more ways to make money? When did figuring things out become so time consuming? I remember when people just did what was necessary in order to stay up with common chores. That was, of course, when manual labor and self-sustaining activities consumed your time. Back then, you went to sleep as soon as your head hit the pillow from exhaustion. Now days, we have things we need in a box, online, delivered to us, or someone else to do it for us.
    With these conveniences more time is freed up to "think." We think of ways to get, create, obtain, manage our "things," then we spend time figuring out how to use it, keep it, even maintain it, which, of course, requires our mind to figure such things out. Little wonder we get so tired! There's a lot to "think" about. 
     For this moment, I am just going to tell my brain everything is just fine. Things are as perfect as they can be and if it really wants to help me, it can be very still while I return to two delicious men waiting to help renovate an old building. Hmm, what I know of dream analysis is a building represents your spiritual life, so I say let Brad Pitt and Val Kilmer return, I have a hunch they can do a great deal for my soul! Come to think about it, fantasies do make my heart race, and I'll take that form over walking the 'treadmill' anyday!