Inspired To Be Joyful

Goodmorning!!!  The sun is shining!  I am layered up - with my Yellow pj pants, a nightie I just Love, my ugg boots and a white, fluffy dressing gown that I really Love.  Normally I write my Blog at the end of the day, writing about what Inspired me for the day. Yet today, I am going to write about my efforts to get Inspired.

Last night I go to bed in pain - I have hurt my back.  Yesterday at the grocery store, while buying all the ingredients for my Anzac biscuits, I had a feeling that the basket was getting too heavy - it was overloaded.  By the time I got home and was about to cook my Anzac biscuits, the muscles in my back were in a spasm.  I didn't give any Blog airtime to this yesterday, as I wanted to put energy into the positive.  Once I finished my last night's Blog, I had to get my Man to help me get in and out of the bath and into bed - and I lay with a heat wheat pillow.  This morning I wake up, still in pain.

I am disappointed as I am just back to enjoying my Running again - and I have been feeling great.  I feel like my pelvis is out of alignment - this is not a good feeling.  It is interesting, as everytime, around this year, for the last 2 years and now this year, just before the 'Relay For Life' (which is next weekend and raises money for cancer), I get injured - firstly a sprained ankle, then last year I hurt my back and now here I am again in pain.  'They say' that if you don't realise the lesson from the Universe the first time, then the lesson will keep repeating itself - yet, I have made changes in this area of running - moving away from competitive and physical and mental pressure, to just wanting to run for the Love and Joy of running.

I definitely want to be involved in the 'Relay For Life' next weekend - I had even decided to walk, since my Mum, Dad, Aunty and my Man are all walking together - it means a lot to me, just to have my Mum with me, since we almost lost my Mum to cancer - thank you God for the Miracles - this is not said lightly - THANK YOU GOD FOR THE MIRACLES. My Mum's middle name is JOY - and my Mum is the most Positive, Happy, Energetic, Joyful person I know - my Mum is an Inspiration to me. I Love My Mum. My Mum is my greatest Inspiration.  My Mum keeps going despite pain... my Mum once said (which is a philosophy for her life in the last few years) "You can kick and scream and say 'Why Me?', yet this won't change anything... so Just DO IT" - this remembering, definitely Inspires me today.

Books also Inspire me.  This morning for Inspiration I went to my bookshelf, feeling into my Intuition, to where I would be guided, what books needed to speak to me.

I choose one of my favourite books (among many favourites) - I love the work of Dr. John F. Demartini in 'You Can Have An Amazing Life In Just 60 days' - I remember reading a section in his book about life being positive and negative - ups and downs - and I am looking for these words to give me some insight today.  I flick through the pages and find some great words and phrases that Inspire me for the day:

- "Words of Power." - These are meant as meaningful and inspiring statements that you can say to yourself, inwardly and outwardly, and hold as true from the centre of your being." (p.13) - hmm... "Words of Power" - like this - a positive affirmation - I close my eyes - the words that I sense need to be said (over and over) are "I feel strong, I move with ease... I feel strong, I move with ease... I feel strong, I move with ease..." - yes, these will Inspire me today

- "To paraphrase Henry David Thoreau, most people live quiet lives of desperation, not invigorating lives of inspiration - not doing what they love nor loving what they do." (p.21) - reading these words brings a stillness and sadness to me - how true - and in these moments I feel so Honoured to be a Transformational Life Coach - and I will be Inspired to be well, "I feel strong, I move with ease...", so that I may serve others and support them on their journey

- I love these sentences "The Law of Perseverance involves the willingness to take actions on your dreams every single day, without stopping.  Even if they're baby steps, each day just take another one towards your goal.  The Law of Perseverance means letting neither pain nor pleasure interfere with the pursuit of your purpose.  You'll be challenged in life, ridiculed, distracted, and told that you can't succeed, but pay no attention.  Focus on the vision you're holding in your heart.  Cling to your dream - don't lose it!.. Never give up on yourself!" (p.78) - LOVE THESE WORDS - Yes, despite my pain I am feeling today, I am going to take actions towards my dreams, I am not going to worry that this pain is permanent, this too will pass - and I am going to have a Yellow, happy, sunny day

- "The greatest discovery of the human experience is that no matter what happens, it will always even out, for all events come in pairs of opposites.  You don't - and can't - cause or prevent this: it simply is: praise and reprimand, peace and war, positive and negative, support and challenge, attraction and repulsion.  Nature always provides experiences that reveal your heart and soul's mission and purpose.  Since the Law of Equilibrium is one of the greatest spiritual principles, make sure that you see it as part of your life.  Rather than limiting yourself to a selectively exclusive attention to either the terrible or terrific, keep an eye open for both sides of every event, for all things are neutral until you judge them not to be - they're simply messages of love." (p.140)- Another WOW - Inspiring me to be in ACCEPTANCE - "messages of love" - perhaps I just need some more self-care by the way of sleep and rest this week.

I am drawn to another book on my bookshelf, 'The Thoughts of Nanushka' by Nan Witcomb, a dear friend gave it to be for my 20th birthday.  There are so many poems about love, so many beautiful words - I turn some pages and love these poems:

- "Beyond the ugliness

in this world,

is the incredible beauty

of love and friendship -

that is where I live -"

- "I know your faults

and your weakness - 

I know your fears

and some of your dreams -

you are as brave as a lion

and as vulnerable

as a child - 

I think I love you - " 

Another favourite book is 'Eat Mangoes Naked' by SARK, I LOVE SARK's work.  On one whole page, spaced out - SARK writes:

- "You Are Seen

You Are Known

You Are Loved"

...and then writes "I wrote this because so many people feel invisible, unknown and unlovable".

I am Inspired in my Mission to SPREAD THE YELLOW.

Still dressed in my pjs, I Google joyful artwork and find a great Blog http://joyfularttherapy.blogspot.com/ - I think of my friend Kara and know she is going to love this Blog (Kara also has a beautiful Blog http://piece-sunshine.blogspot.com/) - and I am Inspired by all these beautiful images -

AND THE NEXT IMAGE IS SO BEAUTIFUL

AND SO RIGHT FOR ME TODAY- IT IS CALLED

"SELF-LOVE IS THE BASE OF GLOBAL LOVE"

I am INSPIRED.  I am Inspired To Be Joyful!!!  The Sunshine is calling me...

Out in the world I go to Spread The Yellow... (and give my friends some Anzac biscuits)... 

Take A Moment

It is Good Friday.  What does that mean?  Religion - it can be such an interesting topic, and the responses to any questions are personal (and 'should not' require explanation or justification - just pure acceptance).  Many would agree, that it certainly is a Good Friday - since most of us have the day off work - and I would agree that this would make it a great day.  I Google (just love Google) why is it called Good Friday - and this is a response "Christians believe the day is 'good' because the message of Easter is of Christ's victory over sin, death, and the devil... Believing in the Good News of the Gospel (Jesus, son of God, who died and was raised again) is our hope."

Growing up Catholic and now being a blend of Christianity and Spirituality, I am comfortable with Jesus and with God.  I am Spiritual, I embrace Christianity, I also love the Buddhism philosophy - and yet if you asked my opinion on my beliefs, I do without doubt believe in God.  I have recently experienced the gift of Miracles in my own life - with my Mum and her journey with cancer.  Yet I remain open to learning and embracing Spiriuality and respect the beliefs of others. 

Today I am choosing to have a quiet day - in honour and in respect.  I did Take A Moment to reflect on Jesus and his dying on the cross - he was brave and loved us.  I remember watching a television show last night and one of the characters was saying that she had a dilemma and the priest said - "Ask, what would Jesus do?"  I love this question, as Jesus was always open and acted from a place of love. 

This reflection made me pick up my Bible tonight and I was reading where Jesus Teaches about Light - Matthew 5:14-15 "You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  I do love these words. 

I also feel that if someone I loved died today, then I would reflect on their life - so I reflect/ actually revisit the life of Jesus through his teachings in the Bible.  It is interesting, I read so many books, sooooo many books, I love reading, I love great words, I love learning - and yet I am realising that there are some great messages in the Bible - Matthew 7:3-5 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

I also love Matthew 7:7-12 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  (sounding like the Law of Attraction) Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

Wisdom abounds... and surrounds me...

Today I was "supposed" to run, according to my Goal plan but I have a cold and have been feeling tired - so I did, what I never would have done, all those years ago, when running was "of most importance to me", I allowed myself to sleep in, and then decided to just go for a nice long walk in the sun.

It was very wonderful taking a relaxing walk.

As I was walking around the Esplanade - I was able to Take A Moment, many Moments and savour the breathtaking views.  Along the Cronulla Esplanade there are so many park benches, so many people run and walk the Esplanade - and yet the seats provide a great opportunity to just sit and be with the view.  As I have recently discovered, many of these park benches are dedicated to past residents of the area - it is beautiful to read the inscriptions on the plaques.  I felt the honouring and silence that you feel when you are at a museum or at a cemetry, certainly in reverance - to just Take A Moment and read about these people who were loved.  Here are some photos - photos of the benches, the words of dedication, and the views from sitting on these park benches. 

I was very touched to Take A Moment to reflect on these people who are now gone from the lives of those who loved them. When I sat on the seats dedicated to those people who had died at an older age, I was still, and in a quiet Moment, I asked them to flow their wisdom to me.  Yet, when I sat with the sorrow of the small boy who had died so young (see photos below) Nicolas Watkins, who died at 8 years old - it saddened my heart - I could not imagine having my Nieces taken from us - I was humbled by their dedication "God has Nic in his keeping, We have him in our hearts." - I do not know how this young boy died, yet I was gracious in the knowing that his family maintained their faith...

There were other park benches, and other beautiful words, and I am happy that I had the time and inspiration to Take A Moment.  There was one woman who had died at the young age of 35 - it made me think of how lucky I am to be alive, and that I need to make the most of my time and be Grateful for every day, and make the most of every day. 

I wonder about the words that would be written and inscribed for me - and I realise that I have a Choice of the life I choose to lead, who I choose to be - certainly spending time with those I Love is the most important to me - and I am so Inspired to Spread The Yellow, and Make A Difference.

I found my path back to busy Cronulla, so many people out and about enjoying the beach - it was wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves and enjoying the ocean.  I was also happy to run into an old friend, a dear friend - who shared with me his wonderful news that him and his Wife are having a baby.  I am so happy for them.  After quiet time and reflections on dear Souls who have passed - it was wonderful being in Conversation, in Congratulations, as my friend looks to Welcome a new, precious baby into their Life, into the World. 

Life - what a GIFT...