Best And Wonderful In You

This morning I went for a walk - it is the 1st day of the month and I always like to go and see the Sunrise.  This morning, there was a lot of cloud in the sky, so I didn't see the sun - just a pretty pink glow in the sky. 

Yet I enjoy Walking - it is the second day of my Walking challenge - or challenge to enjoy Walking as my exercise and not Running.  Best of all, my Man, who is not feeling 100%, came and met me and we enjoyed a walk together - love being near the beach and we walked along the rocks.  I was so happy that my Man made the effort to come and share the morning with me.  And he bought me a chai latte.  I am Grateful to share my life with someone special.

Last night I didn't sleep very well.  I was reflecting on my life and the people in my life - the people who have come and gone in my life.  I remember being in Year 7 at school and the process of having to get accepted into groups - I was happy when the group voted and I was now in the "group" and I remember my friend's Mum making banana cake - she baked the best banana cake.  I definitely don't like this process of voting people to join a group - my hope is that everybody could just be open and welcoming and loving and accepting of everyone.

I have always had friends and I have always been able to make friends and have great Conversations and a Connection with others.  My natural personality is being friendly, and I love showing interest in others.  I am Grateful for my friends - and my greatest sense of Belonging is the experience of being with my Man and Family.  And yet there is also a sadness that people don't always stay in your life - there is a sadness - and it is a reality - it is life.

Being on Facebook has been interesting.  A couple of my friends enthusiastically shared with me that Facebook is great - that I "must" join Facebook. And I do agree that it is a good way to see what is going on with friends and to share.  Last night I was curious and was looking up some old friends, from a long time ago - of course it is difficult to find some old friends who have married, or even have common names and there are 500 people with that name.  I'm not sure why I am looking back on the past.  I am not sure what this is about for me.  Perhaps it was just late at night and my Man was asleep and I was looking for Connection or just in moments of Reflection.

I find some great quotes that express the reality of people coming and going in and out of our lives -

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

“In your life, you meet people. Some you never think about again. Some, you wonder what happened to them. There are some that you wonder if they ever think about you. And then there are some you wish you never had to think about again. But you do.”

"There are some people in life that make you laugh a little louder, smile a little brighter, and just live a little better. Those are the people worth holding onto."

I really like this poem - Unknown Author -

People come into your life for a Reason, Season or a Lifetime

"When you figure out which one it is,

you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON. . .

It is usually to meet a need you have expressed.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty,

to provide you with guidance and support,

to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend, and they are!

They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part,

or at an inconvenient time, this person will say

or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.

Sometimes they walk away.

Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realise is that our need has been met,

our desire fulfilled, their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered.

And now it is time to move on. 

Then people come into your life for a SEASON....

Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.

They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh.

They may teach you something you have never done.

They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.

Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season. 

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons:

things you must build upon in order to have

a solid emotional foundation.

Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,

and put what you have learned to use in all

other relationships and areas of your life..."

And I really like this article -

http://ezinearticles.com/?People-Come-Into-Your-Life-For-a-Reason&id=3789193

"Imagine your life as a play. You are the director as well as lead actor. This is a special play. Apart from yourself, there is another director. This high-powered director's job is to send other actors and co-actors onto the same stage, at the right time and for the right time.

Now look at your life. Who are these actors and co-actors? Yes, you have guessed them right. They are your parents, your spouse, your children, your grandparents, your siblings, your in-laws, your friends, your neighbors, your teachers, your club members, your colleagues, your bosses, your customers and your suppliers.

And let us us zoom in, at random. You may have a difficult colleague who is a pain in the neck. She is grumpy and flares-up at the slightest matter. Worse still, she is domineering and likes to boss around. You must be thinking, how unfortunate to have her in your life. Believe it or not, she is here for a reason. She has been sent by the high-powered director to deliver lessons to you. Probably on tolerance and empathy. Do not judge. Do not label. Try to put yourself in her shoes. See where she is coming from. Understand why is she behaving in that manner. Try to see the lessons she is bringing you. Then get on with the lessons. Until you have learned the required lessons, she will be here to stay.

A new chief comes on board. He implements drastic measures. He downsizes the company. He issues punishing deadlines. Yet he is fickle-minded. You cannot take his nonsense and decide to leave the company. Don't bear a grudge against him. Instead, be thankful. He is here for a reason. He is here to force you to take actions. You may be comfortable in your current job. But it may not be the right place for you. He is here to help you move to a better place, a place that is truly your calling.

Think about the people in your life. Past and Present. Think about their roles in your life and the lessons they bring along. Have an open mind. It may just turn out to be a significant discovery. A turning point in your life."

Wow - there is a lot of insight in all these words.  So much truth.

For now I am going to stop looking back (although I did enjoy looking at my photo album today - photos of growing up, photos from my 21st, photos when I was a bridesmaid at 2 friends' weddings).  I am going to just be in the present - as the sign on my door says "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift."  Today I will just be in the flow and enjoy opportunities to Connect along the way - such as on my walk this morning and then with my new neighbour.  And I will Value the friends in my life and make time to Connect and show I care.  Rather than be in analysis, in terms of why friends are in my life, I will just be present in my time with them, and have an open, caring heart.  And also enjoy Joy and Laughter.

I will always make time for friends in my life.  I enjoy what Facebook offers - yet for me, it does not take the place of sharing time and space and Conversation. It is interesting, I have been seeing one of my close friend's comments on Facebook and this is great, and yet I don't feel Connected - what was really great was when I called and we chatted for about 40 minutes yesterday, and I could hear her voice, her stories, her challenges, her joy - Conversation - heartfelt.  Even tonight, it was great to have a phone Conversation with a friend from College - just to chat and share - loved it!!!  Even though we are regularly part of an email circuit, it is not the same as Conversation.

This morning in my Meditation - I had a sense of the words - "I see the Best And Wonderful In You" - that this is the core of my being and I have the opportunity to choose to open my heart and hold this in my presence in my Connection with others.  This has already been helpful today when my Man and I had a disagreement (which is unusual for us) - probably since he is not feeling well (and I said the wrong words) - yet I was upset and I could have easily gone deeper into a negative frame - yet I love my Man, he is the Best and is Wonderful to me.  And I love loving him.  And I love when he makes me cups of tea.  And in my heart I have a knowing that this relationship is here for a LIFETIME - to teach me about Unconditional Love, True Love. 

The words that came to me in my Meditation, can also be offered to myself - "I See the Best and Wonderful In You".  It can be easy to fall into self-doubt when reflecting on old relationships or people who have chosen to no longer care or be involved in my life, or even in relationships where I have been rejected.  Even now, with life so busy, Connection with friends doesn't always happen as easily or as often as I would enjoy.  And yet I am not going to take this personally.  I can just be myself and know that I am loved and trust God and the Universe that everything happens for a reason and that I am on my Journey.

And I am loved - just today Ashley, my 6 year old Niece, says she "loves me to the moon and to Queensland", while Olivia, my 3 year old Niece, hugs me and wants me to stay for dinner, and while holding baby Brooke in my arms, I ask her "Where is Aunty Kath?" and she points to me...  I am loved...

And with love in my heart, I can Spread The Yellow and see the Best And Wonderful In You...