What A Fall Taught Me

My two year old had a really bad fall at McDonalds today.

You see the set of 9 yellow cubes in the picture? My two year old was playing up next to those when somehow he completely fell threw them all straight on his back. I screamed. I was not calm.

I am grateful he is ok. He is small. Well below average for his age, but never would I have thought he could fit through and fall through a gap of that size. I am so grateful today that 1. He is ok. 2. The lovely staff did all they could to help by offering him a toy and drink and 3. For the lesson it taught me.

After a cuddle and some love he got back up there and started playing again. The fall was in the past, he was over it and he was back to enjoying life. I however was still shaking, still replaying the scene over in my head.

Why do we do this?

We torture ourselves. Be reliving past events. Children they don’t. They move on and get back to enjoying life. The life that is right now, right here,not the life 5 minutes earlier when you lay in pain on your back. What a lesson today and what a beautiful teacher my little toddler is on life.

There is a Japanese proverb I love it goes … “Fall down seven times. Stand up eight”.

Today my son lived it.

Crocodile And A Pelican.

I saw this picture earlier and wanted to share because as soon as I saw it thought what a beautiful lesson in life this is. A Crocodile and a Pelican. Two animals and creatures so completely different to each other yet living together in harmony.

One could have the other for lunch and satisfy his own need and greed at any minute but instead is allowing him to ride on his back. That there is love, that there is how we should all endeavor to live our lives. To see others not as the enemy, different, or a means to gain for ourselves but as someone we can help sail through this life and journey together.

I Saw The Most Beautiful Thing...

I saw the most beautiful thing this morning.

I have started eating my breakfast outside each morning I love it, especially on these warm summer mornings. This morning was no different. I was enjoying my breakfast listening to the birds singing when I notice Ben (our cat) dash outside. Next thing I hear is an almighty squeal, squawk and horrible sound. I knew Ben had got a bird.

I jumped up and in Ben’s mouth was a beautiful pink Galah. I knew I had to do something. I looked for something to throw at Ben but there was nothing. My next instinct was to kick Ben to free the bird. Yes I was actually going to kick him. But as soon as I got up to get Ben he bolted, squawking Galah still in his mouth flapping like crazy. No way could I get or catch him now.

Next thing out of nowhere came 3-4 black and white magpies all swooping in on Ben, then two white cockatoos joined in. I had never seen anything like it. Ben dropped the pink Galah and it flew free.

All 10-15 of these different species of birds then perched in trees around our home and started squawking and squealing this time a different sound than before. It was more like a war chant!

After all the commotion of this I return to my breakfast and just sat there. It was one of the most beautiful things I have seen in a long time. All these birds came out of nowhere to help another bird, not of its kind or species, but another of its fellow feathered companions. This collection of birds normally do not associate or flock together but today at the front of my place they did.

It reminded me how we as humans drop all race colour and all our labels in the face of adversity and life and death situations. 9/11, bushfires, earthquakes, massacres etc. During these times we are not our color, race or sex. We are one. Part of this big earth family we call existence.

The birds this morning demonstrated that sort of love. The love of being in this world and all its troubles and pain together.

Its How You Re Tell The Story That Counts

“My mum told how she had learned to swim. Someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. That’s how she learned how to swim she said. I said, “Mom, they weren’t trying to teach you how to swim”.  Paula Poundstone.

I read this the other day and I loved it. I love it because it again showed me how our attitude and perception is everything.

Things will happen in life that we cannot control but one thing we can always  control - how we choose to respond and look at it. The power lies in us. People can hurt us (and unfortunately will) but we must remember that it is ‘us’ that permits ourselves to be hurt. That part is our choice. Our insides, our emotions, our feelings and our thoughts, they are ours. They are untouched if you allow them to be.

The Mirror Doesn't Lie. You Do!

 

Compliment yourself. Seriously. Do it.

I figure why expect someone else to make you feel good, loved and appreciated when you can easily do it yourself!

I'm not embarrased to admit, I do this. There was a time when no way would I ever have mentioned to others (never mind publicly blog about it on the internet) that I tell myself I'm fantastic and loved. I would have thought this was a sure sign of crazy and being up yourself. Perhaps I am crazy, I could even be what you would consider conceited. I can't be the judge on that, but I don't mind, someone has to play the part of crazy and it may as well be me.

What about me being conceited? Well that is merely just a judgement and someones opinion isn't it?

I decided to look up the meaning of the word conceited and this is what I found:

 "Having an excessively favorable opinion of one's abilities, appearance, etc." 

"Excessively proud of oneself"

"Holding or characterized by an unduly high opinion of oneself"

Are they really all such a bad thing?

Being too proud of yourself and being favorable over your own abilities. Whats better, its opposite!? To doubt your own abilities and yourself. Yep that must be better Ha. Anyway that is an entirely different post.The reason I'm sharing this is because it will change your life!

Look in the mirror and don't criticize what you see. Love what you see.

 It will be hard at first and you'll have all sorts of voices telling you the opposite. I know I did. But the voices eventually stop telling you how terrible you are (and also how stupid you are for doing this exercise!) and when they do you will look in the mirror and see the truth of who you are.

You will see that you are not the judgements and criticisms you tell yourself and hear but standing there in front of that mirror is a person as perfect as can be. A person who was made exactly as he or she should be. Love that person. I do

NEVER be ashamed to cry.

I love how in the moments I’m feeling sad, upset or down my children always lift me.

I had such moments today but I am proud to admit that instead of taking it out on everyone else I removed myself and found solace in the bathroom (which seems to be my going to place) and had a good cry.  

Its only something I have recently learnt to do – cry. Previously whenever I felt like crying I would try not to. I would force it away with all my might as I didn’t want to experience the pain of crying. But what I’ve learnt is that it doesn’t go away and instead returns disguised as anger!

I also dislike the sensation of not crying, the feeling it creates from holding it back to me is more painful than it is to cry. So today, I cried. On my own and it felt good.

We should all try and cry more in particular men. I feel for men who are taught and told not to cry. Told that crying is only for girls and babies. No. Let me correct this horrid belief, crying is for HUMANS, crying is an inbuilt ability that we have all been given. Crying is healthy. Crying is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. It takes a different kind of strength to cry a strength from deep within that knows your safe do so and that everything will be better when you do.

So today I am grateful to have released the tears that needed to be shed as I know they wont return later in ways I don’t want them to and I feel better, more refreshed and peaceful for doing so.

You Cannot Plan Life...

 

This morning I had planned to do many things. I had a limited time of 2 hours to do so and had jam packed as much as I could into this time slot. So off I went to do my gazillion things when I missed my turn off on the parkway. Not the end of the world but I had to take an alternative route which then led me into the world’s worst traffic jam. And there I was. Me and my 16 months old and every other person who had ended up on this road.

I was there for over 30 mins and as each minute passed I could feel myself get more and more agitated. I had things that needed doing, I didn’t have time for this and it to top it off I was completely in the opposite direction of where I wanted to go. As I felt myself getting more and more annoyed I looked to the backseat and saw my 16 month old just sitting there happily waiting patiently. He was the embodiment of patience.

It was in that moment that I realised I had choice. To let this situation get the better of me or to perhaps see that it was a lesson for me to practice patience, mindfulness and to somehow see the good in it all. So I looked for the good.

Out the window I saw the most amazing view of mountains on this road that I had never noticed before, I realised that being in this traffic jam had given me more time to listen to the mp3 recording I had playing in the car. But what most got me through was when I remembered what I truly believe and that is that everything happens for a divine reason. I knew there was a reason my plans had been shifted and I had to trust in that reason.

Today again taught me a very true lesson in life and one that I seem to be continually given and that is …. you cannot plan life so don’t even try! I so often try to ‘plan’ my days and by doing so I limit so many other opportunities. I tend to always want things ‘my way’ and freak out when they don’t go that way. So today I’m grateful for the 1 hour I spent just sitting and learning this lesson again.

Do You Judge Others...?

When someone walks into a room I don’t notice the clothes they are wearing, their nationality or race I see them. I see a person who is just like me, someone who wants to be loved and accepted.

We all judge, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t. However what I’m consciously trying to do  and have been for sometime is trying to no longer judge and its possible!

I very rarely notice a judgmental thought about another these days. Instead I only see beauty, the good in people and the positive. It wasn’t always like this. It was only when I started noticing judgmental thoughts or opinions of mine come up and deciding to no longer pay attention to them, that they slowly started to disappear. I cancel them out and replace with a new one. 

For example I remember a few months ago I was driving the boys to school when I noticed a young boy walking to school. In my head I heard ‘my god he is fat’. I was shocked, it was so mean and I immediately cancelled that one out and replaced it with  ‘but how great is it that he is walking to school, what great exercise and a healthy thing to do’.  

I’m grateful thoughts like the above are very few these days but it’s only because I no longer see others this way. I see them as people who are just like me each fighting their own battles and all wanting nothing but to be loved and accepted.

 I have found that since judging others less I also judge myself less. I am happier, others are happier around me and it’s an all over happy place. I remember thinking we can’t help but judge but lately I’ve learnt you can!

What The Carrot Taught Me

Halfway through eating a carrot today I stopped and looked at it. Really looked at it and noticed something I had never noticed before. I was amazed by its beauty. Within the carrot on its inside was the most beautiful star shape formation.

It reminded me today to stop. To take notice. It showed me how little I notice in life and how I'm always in a rush get somewhere, to be somewhere I'm not.

I realised today that when I'm eating most the time I'm thinking about something else. What to eat next or what I will do when I'm finished.  When I'm driving I'm never thinking about the drive itself and being in the car but on where I'm going and how soon I will get there.

I realised today that for me it's always about there and never about here. The carrot today reminded me that beauty is always found now in the moment, never there in the future. The 'there' in the future is always in your head and no joy can ever be felt there.

I Would Be A Lesbian If ....

Last night I dreamt I was a lesbian. Believe me when I say it wasn’t a pleasant dream.  When I woke it reminded me how in my teen years I questioned if I actually were one.

I questioned it because in high school I was constantly told that I was one.  And at a time when you’re still finding your place in the world and when who you are, and what you are, is based on what others tell you, naturally you’d question it. So I did. 

I began to assume that as I was very close to some of my girlfriends and boys were never interested in me that I must have been. I wasn’t of course, but I figured I may have been and just hadn’t fully realized it yet.

This memory of mine today reminded me how important it is to believe in yourself. To trust in your own self, your feelings and what they tell you.  Deep down I knew I liked boys but there was still this fear that those who told me I was a lesbian knew better.  And perhaps because I did like my girlfriends as much as I did, I was in fact a lesbian and should probably learn to accept it. Imagine if I had!

No one ever knows you better than you know yourself and what I’ve since learnt is to trust in that person. To trust in you. To never let another person tell you how you should live your life and what it is you should be doing with it. You and only you make that choice, always <3

Good Guy vs Bad Guy

I'm not sure if I heard correctly but I'm pretty sure I heard the following on the radio today ...

"The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun".

Please tell me I'm not the only one who cringes when they hear this. Really? Is this the world we live in? Is this the world we are choosing to create for ourselves? One that believes violence is ok so long as the intention is good and the person behind the crime is 'good'.

Any person who chooses to hurt another, no matter what the reason, is not someone I would consider good. It would be like me choosing to poison another persons food because they are 'bad' for choosing to eat meat when I'm 'good' as I'm a vegetarian. How absurd is that!!

Violence and hurting another is never the answer and I believe the only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is for the good guy to show him how. Not to reflect back to him his own actions.

Yes the good guy is the only person who will ever stop a bad guy with a gun, buts not with another gun. Its with his heart. His love. His forgiveness. His hope.

Deep down we are all hurting and we all want the pain to stop. Guns don't stop the pain, the only cause more.

I know many may disagree with me on this and that's ok. Its hard to know the strength of love and the power it holds until it is seen. My wish is that we all start seeing it soon.

Swallowing Your Pride

On the weekend I said some things I later regretted. I had a phone call with someone I love and I wasn’t supportive or loving, instead I spoke with anger and inflicted my own opinions onto them.

After I hung up I felt terrible. I guess I was filled with regret and remorse and wished I had handled it differently. In the past I would have sat on this feeling for days, perhaps even eventually convinced myself that the person deserved it and that I was right. In fact I may have even been right this time but that doesn’t change the way I felt in that moment. I had not treated this person with the respect they deserved so I had to fix it.

I wasn’t quite ready to speak with them again so I emailed them. I apologized and asked that they forgive me. They did, and not only did they forgive me but they asked for their own forgiveness. This showed me how opening ourselves up to others and admitting when we are wrong can lead to a better relationship.

It’s hard to admit when we are wrong and that we stepped out of line but what good does it serve if we don’t? The relationship is then the one that suffers. So I am grateful for this weekend’s lesson as I discovered that personal relationships are far more important than my own pride. 

Wu Feng

Courage is speaking your truth then living your truth.

Its one thing to believe and say you'll do something but another to act on that belief. What is the saying ... walk the talk? ... practice what you preach?

I read the most amazing story of courage this morning about a man called Wu Feng. Let me share it with you.

Wu Feng was a Manchurian diplomat who lived in the 1700's who was posted with an aboriginal tribe in the outskirts of Taiwan. Wu Feng befriended the aboriginal chief, whose tribe beheaded one of its members every year as a form of sacrifice.

Each year Wu Feng pleaded with all of his compassion and reverence for life, that the Chief put to an end to this custom. The Chief would listen respectfully as Wu Feng would plead, and then after listening and bowing, the Chief would summon the chosen tribe member and without hesitation behead him.

Finally, after living with the tribe for 25 years, Wu Feng once more pleaded with the Chief to stop this senseless killing. But this time, when the tribe member was called forth, Wu Feng took his place and said "If you will kill this time, it will be me".

The chief stared long into his friends eyes, and having grown to love Wu Feng, he could not kill him. From that day, the practice of beheading stopped. 

Wu Feng walked his talk that day, lived his truth and stood for what he believed in. That is courage.

I Love To Pay Bills.

Paying my water and sewerage bill the other day I did what I normally do and thanked it. You see whenever a bill arrives now, I view it differently. I no longer pay it from a place of anger or regret. I pay it from a place of giving and try to pay it with love and gratitude in my heart. Ok this all sounds crazy I know, I too thought that when I first read it but since trying it I can actually see the good it’s doing.

Money isn’t something to hold on to and this is something I am still learning. Money is to be circulated and shared. Without sharing money it wouldn’t go around and wouldn’t be passed on from person to person and that includes you. 

If we all held onto our money we would only have what we have now. There would be no incoming money and no outgoing money. You would just have what you have and that’s it. In life we need exchange. We need money to circulate. So paying a bill is a part of that process. Its moving the money along and paying for a service. So whenever I pay a bill I look at it that way and I also look at it as an exchange for a service provided to me.

For example the other day I paid our water and sewage bill. In the past I would grudgedly pay the few hundred dollars and feel hard done by that MY money was being taken from me. Not now, now when a bill arrives, I smile at it and see it for what it is and pay it.

 I paid the water and sewage bill and as I did I felt grateful that we have the luxury of clean fresh running water provided instantly every hour of every day to our house. I also was thankful that we have a sewerage system where I live and that I personally don’t have to deal with it. 

I felt grateful that I live in a house that has plumbing, hot showers and cold water to drink. When you feel and look at a bill this way its much easier to pay, even if the money is tight it makes you realize exactly what it is your paying for and that every dollar spent is worth it <3