IN JUST A MOMENT. . .
We know the answer to this question:
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU FELT LIKE TOAST. . .
the last time when you felt totally decimated
BURNT OUT
t o s t e d
We all have felt like we were in dark places that couldn’t be scraped away or return to any semblance of ordinary. . .
burnt out. . .
In fact, we’ve all felt like we have fulfilled that label:
YOU ARE TOAST!
And. . .
that’s when we may be at our Best
because we have a chance for the greatest
NEXT TIME
to not be that burnt piece of toast at all
and we can do this
in just a moment. . .
THE 1% RULE
Everyone who knows, even a little bit of me knows that I not only LOVE Christmas and actually advocate celebrating/observing the GOODNESS of it not just a little each day, but also PRACTICE MERRY CHRISTMAS the 25th of every month, especially, DECEMBER 25th and of course, JULY 25th (or all of July) for CHRISTMAS IN JULY!
Well. . .WHAT ABOUT NEW YEAR’S DAY? I mean, that’s a huge part of the CHRISTMAS SEASON to me as well. And yes, not as boisterous but just a powerfully, I celebrate each day (EVERY DAY) as a New Year’s Day of sorts; complete with my own personal goals/wishes/hopes/aspirations. . .
In fact, every morning I wake up (and have been given another blessing/chance of a new day I start off with my version of very old/ritualistic version of a Jewish Prayer which is translated from the Hebrew this way:
I HEREBY GIVE THANKS TO YOU, LIVING AND ETERNAL KING, FOR RESTORING MY SOUL TO ME GRACIOUSLY , GREAT IS YOUR TRUSTWORTHINESS
My version of this is even more simple and it’s my 1% of my ever-limited 100% of every day:
THANK YOU FOR THE SLEEP I JUST HAD AND FOR WAKING UP TO A NEW DAY
WHAT WILL BE YOUR 1% today…remember; your not changing the world or yourself but just 1%
NOW
TODAY
AT THIS MOMENT. . .
OFF THE LEDGE
(My thanks to Amy Hempel, viaPoetry Today.)
There are a lot of LEDGES out there begging us to walk to their end
GO AHEAD
WALK THERE
LOOK OVER
and see for yourself
THERE IS SO MUCH BEFORE YOU
THAN BENEATH YOU. . .
GUILTY: DYING TO SELF OR. . .
Do you feel guilty? What does it take to make you feel that. . . because a lot of times, I think if somebody accuses me that the world is in the place that it is right now it’s my fault, which is more than somebody gaslighting me; I mean, I actually feel guilty for just about everything. Maybe that’s something I need to work on more than just blog about, but when I read the piece below it makes me feel even more guilt, not for what I’ve done, not for who I am, but for what I haven’t done and maybe even what I can’t do and yes, for who I am not quite possibly never will be. Do you feel guilty? GUILTY as charged, even if it’s a self-inflicted charge, even if you are your own jury, your own peer, your judge, and your executioner. . .what say you foreman of the Jury: ARE YOU GUILTY? HAVE YOU DIED TO SELF?
Dying to self
When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don’t sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy. . .
THAT IS DYING TO SELFWhen your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take in all in patient, loving silence. . .
THAT IS DYING TO SELFWhen you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face-to- face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility-and endure it. . .
THAT IS DYING TO SELFWhen you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any raiment, any interruption. . .
THAT IS DYING TO SELFWhen you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown. . .
THAT IS DYING TO SELFWhen you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances. . .
THAT IS DYING TO SELFWhen you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart. . .
THAT IS DYING TO SELFAre you dead yet? Feeling Guilty?
Maybe what you need to do is read Thomas Merton‘s prayer to take the burden of Guilt off of you, not that you’re exonerated, not that you’re free, but sometimes the worst prison isn’t the one that somebody condemns you to, but the one that you put yourself in and throw away the key or maybe it’s time to find the key, or at least something to pick the lock. Yeah, be guilty of that. . .
My Fellow GUILTY FEELERS maybe it’s time, maybe
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
. . .And JUST LIKE THAT
it’s 2024
A NEW YEAR
Whether a new year fills you with excitement or dread (or maybe a mix of both!), the hope is that when you look back on 2023
there are too many wonderful moments to count
which serve has the greatest foundation
for new memories to be
m a d e. . .
ALL WAYS Remembering that
which are gentle reminders
between old and new years of
Letting us each know in between all of the Seasons
Past
Present
Prospective
“May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
And may you stay forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young.”
And may you stay forever young.”
Photo in New York, by John Cohen (1962)
Here’s hoping
the New Year exceeds your expectations
and a tad past your
i M a G i N a T i O n