June 6, 2006:
A friend is one who sees through you and still enjoys the view.
~ Wilma Askinas
Growing Pains
Initiations For Growth
Life
is about growth, which is wonderful, though not always easy. Indeed,
many of life's lessons can be painful or difficult. Yet, such
challenges are often the ones that present the most opportunity for
spiritual growth. Initiations for growth come in many forms. In fact,
we can view every challenge in life as an opportunity to learn and
grow. While these disruptions in life are not easy, they are necessary.
The challenges the universe sends us can seem unbearable at
times: a job we don't want to spend another day at, a broken heart that
feels as if it will never heal, or a long and painful illness. And
then, there are the challenges that can be just as scary because we are
being called to step up to the plate in ways that we may think we are
not yet ready for: overcoming our fears in order to realize a lifelong
dream, leaving behind a situation or people in our life that we may
have outgrown, or moving across the world for our dream job or life
partner.
At such times, it can feel as if the world is testing
us and that life is asking more of us than we think we can give. We may
feel uncomfortable, frightened, and unsure of what to do. However, life
isn't so much going against us as it is encouraging us to grow. During
these periods, we can grow stronger by putting one foot in front of the
other, as we work through our challenges. We may be asked to let go of
old safety measures, shift old patterns of behavior, or step into the
abyss of the unknown. When we do rise to the occasion, we end up better
off for having made that journey. Not only do we end up learning and
growing, but we inevitably become more compassionate to the challenges
of others and wiser in the ways of the world. Our faith in the universe
also grows because, ultimately, we can't help but realize how much we
are supported and taken care of at all times. When we are in the midst
of a growing period, it is not easy to see our reward, but it is there,
waiting for us to grow big enough to reach it.
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Drunk blogging - bad idea!
It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly.
~ Mabel Newcomber
Giving The Freedom To Live
Accepting The Journeys Of Others
Each
of us, in life, walks on the special path that the soul is destined to
undertake. Our journeys are very different and we progress at different
rates. The pitfalls and blessings we encounter are unique, yet we are
all learning and no one form of knowledge is more important than any
other. Even so, when we observe others, it can be easy to pass judgment
on their decisions and to assume their actions will correspond with
what we feel is right. But for every problem, there are a multitude of
solutions. Everyone makes mistakes and, while watching others do so can
be frustrating, it is important that you accept each person's unique
way of doing things. Giving others the freedom to act in the way they
feel are best without the fear of harsh judgments honors the capacity
for growth that all people possess.
It is helpful to practice
accepting others as they are. Never judge the decisions of others based
on the path you would have taken because every person lives by
different values and experiences. Challenge is a universal concept, but
we all deal with difficulties in our own way. Give others the space to
fail, but don't harden your heart against their experience. It isn't
wise to try and fix people or control situations. You may feel
compelled to intervene when difficulties arise, but it is important
only to offer guidance when asked unless the person is involved in a
truly dangerous situation or cannot act for themselves. Failure to
choose the right path or to make enlightened decisions is simply
another step on the journey. It is a means to experience and wisdom.
Letting go of the need to influence others does not discount offering
loving support and it does not mean that you need to stop caring. It
does mean stepping back, dissolving judgment, and gracefully allowing
others! to live their own destinies.
Giving others the freedom
to blossom in their own journeys gives you the freedom to take more
notice of your own. You may not condone the actions you see taking
place, but your reactions will be more loving by letting them be. And
you will be able to focus on just being yourself, confident that the
path you take is as right, valid, and special as any other.
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Work
is still crazy as ever. And to a point that often I think wow... it's
freaking chaos. It's a hard learning curve because I like being on top
of things. So letting them go or spiral out of control is just
something I have to let happen. I can't do it all. I was trying and
it just was driving me crazy because I was slowly killing myself. So I
stepped back and started to prioritize the important things.
Everything else is falling at the wayside. And that's just got to be
until I have cycles to deal with it. I can't be bringing work home
every night, working so much that I'm putting off the stuff that's
important. I just can't do it.
Two
of the things that I've been too tired to do is workout and read. I
haven't been to the gym in probably months ... and even though my
weight isn't going through the roof, I'm losing some of the definition
in my legs. That bothers me. And my belly is softer. That really
bothers me. So I've decided I have to make time for it. Tonight was
the first time I went back to the gym and I forgot how nice the eye
candy is. One thing I love to do is people watch ... just to watch
them. And the gym is filled with so many fascinating people to watch.
Not to mention that in the Bay Area, there are a lot of Asian guys at
the gym.
The
other thing I used to do is read. I would do it at night, before going
to sleep ... or during my lunchtime. I've pretty much stopped taking
lunches, sitting at my desk, working through it. I'll go to Safeway,
grab a salad and then head back. Not helping me thinks. So I think
maybe I should grab the salad and go read one of the many magazines
that's stacking up by my bed on my lunch instead of working through
them.
And
I think the last thing I'm going to undertake is redoing my room.
Maybe I'll paint it... or wallpaper it. But it's in serious need of
luff. And it's time to purge stuff. It's always a good idea to go
through all your stuff and just get rid of everything you don't need.
I just got rid of a ton of clothes. Now it's time for stuff.
Yea, this has nothing to do with the above post but it was too nice not to share. I didn't find anything about purging.