Just say Yes!

Once when my kids were little I read some parenting advice that I should say "yes" to them whenever I could. Find a way to say yes. I took it to heart. My natural response was to say no. I can always see the reasons why a thing won't work or another time would be better. But I found that sometimes if I took a breath to pause before answering, I could indeed say yes. At least yes to some part of what they were requesting.

As an older woman I again had to learn to say yes. Yes to myself. Yes to others. Yes to life. To open rather than to close. Even when there is a potential for danger or hurt. Because those same situations hold the potential for wonder and love.

I still have a tendency to say no. Not now. Maybe later. And now I sometimes follow my newer habit. Breathe. Take a moment. See if there is a yes I can say right now.

sarah

Thank you Sunshine

Some days when I wake up I find the sun shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky.
Some mornings I have to wait for the breeze to blow the wispy clouds out of the way and then the rays of the sun are on my face.
Sometime I have to get on up to get out from under the shade tree and feel the warmth of the sun.
Sometimes I discover that there is a really heavy rock pushing me down and I have to reach up with my strong arms and push it off my head.
Sometimes I even have to call for help to find my way out of the cave.
No matter what, the sun is always there, doing its thing.

Sure am glad for that.

sarah

bringing back the grail

I was reminded yesterday of something I read years ago in a collection of joseph campbell's writings.
It is after we find the treasure that the real journey begins. We must bring back the grail and find the ways to integrate it into daily life.
Awakening to the fact of my enlightenment is only the beginning of the bodhisattva path. I must return from the mountaintop and live in my world, with my people, sharing my treasure in the way that will enable them to realize their own awakening.
I don't want to just bliss out and hoard the treasure for myself.

sarah

Happiness

It's ok to be ok.
Really.
I don't have to apologize if I should develop the ability to be awake to my inner happiness come what may. I don't owe it to sad friends to be sad too. To compete as to who has the biggest obstacles.
I can smile through any and every storm. Even if it makes me appear to be a lunatic.
Really.
It's even ok when I'm not in a storm. When I am so in sync I am dancing with the stars. However long that lasts--moments or a lifetime.

Ok, sometimes I can't or don't or aren't. But when I can or do or am I will.
Really.

sarah