Thursday, January 24, 2008

The True Gift of Kindness

Yesterday I was reminded of the most generous gift that kindness can be. I had received some difficult news the day before yesterday. Then, yesterday morning I had to go and see an ophthalmologist for the first time, related to my driver's license and an eye condition I have. Honestly, I was feeling quite fragile in the morning and not particularly eager to meet a brand new doctor. However, once I met Dr. Rachel, I immediately began to feel better. My new eye doctor turned out to be one of the most kind, gentle people I've met. Her considerate nature opened my heart and almost brought me to tears on a couple of occasions. We even had a lovely conversation around how she came to be an ophthalmologist.

This experience brought back memories of another day late last year when kindness had meant so much: My daughter and I were returning from a vacation in Sedona, AZ. We took a little too long getting a bite to eat at the airport and due to a long line in security, ended up missing our flight. It turned out that we had to spend a good part of the day at the airport.

On that day, too, I became very aware of all the kindness that was offered me throughout the day. It made all the difference in the world. The thoughtful, gracious behavior of complete strangers made a most challenging day palatable. It forced me to dive inside myself and develop more patience and love for myself and those around me. I especially recall meeting a man who had just lost his brother and was on his way to the funeral. He had such kind things to say about hospice and hospice workers... it warmed my heart!

The next time you meet someone, especially a stranger, please do not underestimate how your kindness might make a difference in their lives. I invite you to give them the benefit of the doubt; treat them as you would want them to treat you. Honor them, love them, and find commonalities with them, as they will notice how they are treated and feel the difference.

Blessings of Love, deLight, and Kindness, Dancing Heart

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

The Gift of the Fluidity and Flexibility of Water

Happy 2008! And what a year it promises to be... I can feel some very new energy coming in -- can you? The synchronicities and "magic" seem to be happening at an accelerated pace now. One of the pieces of magic that's happened in my life is that a dear friend placed a copy of The Expected One (by Kathleen McGowan) in my hands at the very end of last year. It's a historical fiction narrative about Mary Magdalene and her "lost gospel". I've hardly been able to put the book down as we enter 2008; and it's literally been changing the way I view myself and the world. I highly recommend it to you if you are drawn at all to the goddess material that's resurfacing in our world today.

Speaking of change, this promises to be year of more creative change. A key symbol for the energy and consciousness our world is moving toward is water. (See p. 256 in my book for more.) This year, I encourage us all to meditate on the element of water. This will provide us with some keys as to how to move with the changes. Water flows, with grace and flexibility. It does not force, but rather moves around and with all that it encounters. Water deserves our deepest respect and gratitude -- even as it causes tremendous havoc in some parts of our world, sometimes even in our own neighborhoods. As we contemplate the gift of water, we are encouraged to go with the flow, move forward joyously, with flexibility and ease, enjoying the buoyancy. We might also ask water to connect us more deeply to our subconscious aspect, the feminine part of ourselves rich with symbols and images, represented by the dream world.

May 2008 create more fertile ground in each one of us for new growth and change. May we move with the changes, rather than resist, making our lives easier and more fun along the way. Deep Peace, Flexibility, and deLight, Dancing Heart