Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.

Buddha

With yesterdays pain mellowing, the idea of celebrating the pain came to me. I think it was Oprah I first remember speaking about this, saying when in crisis say thank you.

I remember thinking that is just CRAZY! But I will share with you know that from my experience, it is quite a powerful experience. Appreciating a life challenge is a way to get a grip, to gain some semblance of control. When I express gratitude for a challenge, a pain, a difficulty I feel the shift in me becoming larger than the crisis at hand. I also am reminded that this too shall past, plus I have yet to have an experience in my life which was not in some way enriching. I simply try to get the lessons sooner so the crisis can move on out the door.

So, anyway, today it occurred to me to be thankful for the relationship relating pain I wrote about yesterday. I am reminded that I am alive. I am remembering that I will get value life learning from it. I am discovering the awesome beauty and power of recovery gained for being in love.

So, surely it can’t be all bad.

My boyfriend left our weekend activity early because I sassed off saying I like him showing me affection sometimes.

No, that did not go over very well, or even well.

My mistake. He did not deserve that and though his stuff earlier today rubbed me raw a few times, this one was all my doing. Understandable, he drew a boundary…did not want to feel the hurt of it anymore.

Me, I had been believing all my press. He and his confidante commented that I was a gem. I started believing it. He felt me believing it and acting on it. What a powerful aha moment.

In order for this relationship to thrive I am obliged to learn and polish additional effective relationship skills.

In response to the pain, my focus is staying in this moment, because the alternative is my mind creating a fantastic story about how awful I am and how right I am, taking the defensive and that I must be simply meant to be alone. Waa! Well, sheez, that was only firing-up the tearfall, which I stayed with in that moment.

Then my heart filled with the regret I feel for the saddness and hurt he was feeling. My thought: I should end it now so I don’t cause him anymore pain. Yea, strange, eh? Then my angels asked so who does that really benefit? Well, me. Duh. Then the clouds broke, returning my feet to the ground, filling me with an incredible sense of loss.

Plus, while firmly planted in my pity party, I could honestly say there was no one clear next step. To stay or not to stay. To stand and deal or run-and-hide–a favorite activity of mine. Interestingly, surprisingly, pain surrounded every next step I could imagine.

 Practicing the presence this day enables me to step out of the drama which feeds pain body, and into this keen, clear now moment. Living in the now means not being swallowed up by the past or daunted by a future yet-to-be, maybe. Practicing the presence calms and centers monkey mind allowing Divine wisdom to present truth and option void of hurt, pain. I am reminded that life simply is, and in each moment we have an opportunity to choose again.

• I am thankful to be here now
• I am thankful to be able to reason and understand reason
• I am grateful for my health, my life and my family
• I am delighted by the new love in my life and all the accompanying awakenings
• I am lifted by the prospect of future joy, peace and success
• and most definitely, I am grateful to know the power and presence of all that is, of the Divine which surrounds and embraces me

For all of this and so much more, I am deeply grateful

Yes, I have been reading A New Earth and am deeply steeped in New Thought. These teachings constantly support, lift and guide me. Or I should say, more to the point, Spirit, the Divine, all that is, Ya-Weh, God constantly supports, lifts and guides me. Which has been completely unexpected from my days as being knee high to a grasshopper. I am thrilled to be living in the present, basking in the now.

My intention is to be an instrument through which powerful insights and ways to live, ways to be, may be shared with those interested. I am also interested in what or how you think things have come to past.

Bright Moments,

Shawna

A man is newly in my life.

At first, second and possibly third glance outwardly we don’t appear to go together–even to me!

Nonetheless, I really dig [a favorite word of his] this dude, my prince charming, because in learning more about him I feel compelled to do and be my best.

It fascinates me that in this moment he accepts me as I am! Who knew such chaps still exist?!! When he offers me feedback I do not sense an ulterior motive. I am simply being offered his perspective to use as I please. My point: he already finds me to be at my best.

Still, I feel compelled to do more than simply listen to the still, small voice within. I feel called to act, to move with the flow of the present energy. To continue to be my best.

Yes, each human being receives the same invitation to be fabulous. I don’t know about you but I feel too tired to be fabulous some days. So engaging this force of nature who as part of his daily course steps out on the limb, stirs, motivates and inspires me to step out on my limb more often, consistently.

To be at my best seems to be a natural outcropping. I keenly sense the natural flow from one good soul doing his best deserving another doing her best.

I am blown away by the power we humans possess when being fully present in this moment. Situations become clear and clean. The small voice within speaks truth which resonates with the core of my being. While I have yet to finish reading Tolle’s book, The Power of Now, A New Earth speaks volumes to me.

While my journey to this level of conscious living took years, I am clear that it is available to anyone and everyone in this moment. In my experience it seems to sharpen, or deepen with age/time. In some ways I feel like I possess that sorceress within–it is remarkable, assuring and liberating.

I am not special in that I am aware and actively use this power. I may be special in that not everyone has quite caught on.

Have you caught on? Do you work your magic calling on the power within?

Namasté

Shawna