Death Will Teach You

You know it often takes another’s life to be taken from you for you to be grateful for your own. For me it was my mothers. I of course knew she wouldn’t live forever and would someday leave this planet but nothing can prepare you for that moment and how it will affect you. For me personally it’s been a blessing, because I choose it to be.

Her death was a wake up call to me, a reminder smacked straight into my face that none of us here will live forever and that no one’s future is guaranteed. From that day forward I began to live my life differently. I saw everything as so impermanent and everything I did see I knew would someday be gone. That’s when I chose to live everyday in gratitude for it all!

I’ve always known my mother was the greatest gift to me but never would I have guessed that in her death she’d leave me wit the greatest gift of all – an appreciation and love for life.

Life is short it really is, so enjoy it and be grateful. And remember in every moment you have a choice. To be thankful for what you have or complain and whinge about the little things that in your death, and the death of those closest to you, will not matter.

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.

Love YOURSELF As You Love Others.

I heard and read again today “love others as you love yourself” and I couldn’t help but question it and think it should in fact be the other way around … “love yourself as you love others”.

I’m not sure about you but I know (in the past) I have always treated other people much nicer than I do myself. No way would I ever tell someone they are stupid, fat, ugly, hopeless, could do much better etc yet this is exactly what I told myself all the time.

Am I right? Think about it. Think about how you treat your friends and loved ones. Now think about how you treat yourself. Is it equal? Are you as supportive, kind and loving to yourself as you are to a stranger in the street or your best friend? You should be!

So that’s why I say “love YOURSELF as you do others” and not the other way around.

Trust and Listen

Our cat Ben at the moment has the most nasty, deep, and horrid looking gash in his side. He has had it for a few days now and it has been only in the last 24 hours that I've taken a closer look at it and really started to notice it and him.

He hasn't been himself. Resting rather than out playing, staying close to home rather than venturing out and when he isn't doing that he is licking, cleaning and tending to his wound for the upteenth time.

Watching him has made me realise how in tune cats are to the nature of things and how amazing our bodies are including Ben's. I have no doubts that he will heal but I often wander would I heal the same?

If I were me would I listen to my body and do what its telling me or ignore it and go out and play anyway. Which I'm sure is what Ben would much rather be doing.

I can recall many times I haven't listened. Pushing myself that extra bit when my body is screaming at me to stop, to only end up injuring myself. Or the one I'm most guilty of, ignoring my body's plea for sleep to only stay up that extra hour and suffer the next day.

What I've learnt and am still learning is our bodies know and they communicate with us every day the only way they can, through feelings, symptoms, pain and pleasure.

Ben's injury has been a reminder to me to no longer ignore and think you know best but to instead trust and listen.

Fed By Spoon.

I took Olga out over the weekend, the elderly lady who I visit weekly through a volunteer program and whilst out I happened to feed her with a spoon. As I was feeding her chocolate cake I had a moment and realised that this, right here, right now, is love. I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for her, me and all of this.  How in life as babies we are all fed from spoons and yet later in life it returns again, this time being fed by the kindness of others.

As I was feeding Olga and watching her happily accept it from me I started thinking how it was only a year ago we met. We were complete strangers and now here we are out sharing chocolate cake and spoons.  

People assume we are family and I’m her granddaughter and I love that. I love the bond that two complete strangers can form in such a short time. Love is that bond and I believe it ties us all whether we are related, strangers or know each other at all.

Be You. Everyone Else Is Already Taken

I’ve recently come to learn that there is no point in being anyone except who you are. So many of us try to be someone were not. We do it without even realising…

When you meet a new friend, apply for a new job or start dating someone new. You do it. We all do it ... be the person we think they want us to be not the person we are.

In the past I have done this. Believe me I have done this… I remember as a young girl pretending to like all sorts of things I didn’t just so he would accept me, love me and want to be with me. I remember pretending to be into hot rods and heavy metal music once. SO not me!!!!

But what I have learnt and what I know now is there is no way you can keep that shit up! The years and time I have wasted in my past turning myself into another’s persons view of me is crazy.

Now though, now I am me and you can love me or hate me but I am me, this is who I am and there is nothing more freeing than to be just that.

Be yourself everyone else is already taken.

What Can I Do To Help?

I helped a lady today. I saw her get up from where she was sitting and struggle to walk. She was heading towards the supermarket where I was with my trolley and my youngest son. Seeing her made me stop. It made me realise how grateful I am to have my mobility and health.

Seeing her struggle to walk I wanted to help but didn’t know how. What can I do? I thought. I had no idea, so I asked her. I went up to her and said ‘Can I help you in any way?. Her whole face lit up. Ihad noticed, I had seen her. Someone cared. 

She asked me if I could get her a trolley and bring it to her which I did and she was ever so grateful. Couldn’t stop thanking me. I wanted to do more and would have done her whole shop for her if I could have.  So I all I could do was tell her how many of us take our mobility and health for granted and don’t realise how good we have it until we see another who isn’t quite as fortunate. And I thanked her. Telling her it was the least I could do (get her trolley).

I walked away thinking about how many others would have seen her yet did nothing. It thought about the me a few years ago who would have done the exact same thing. Nothing!

Why? I would have been too afraid to ask and offer help. Worried about what she would think or say and at the very bottom of it all, I would have thought she was capable on her own.

But what I have learnt is people want to be helped. People need to be helped and people appreciate being helped. We all need to pen our hearts a little more, to see the many that are struggling and to stop and ask ourselves ‘what can I do to help?’….