From pain and fear to love

This is so true, and I strive to be better at this every day.

What would the world be like if we all chose to live and love others like this?

Fear less, hope more

Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less, say more, hate less, love more, and all good things will be yours. ~Swedish proverb

 I found this proverb this morning while looking for my inspirational quote for today on Facebook.  It really spoke to me.  I really need to take this quote in and immerse myself in its meaning.  I fear way too much in my life.  I fear the future.  I fear failure.  I live in fear.  I need to learn to let go of that.  I need to learn to live in the present, not in the future where fear lives.  I need to be thankful for everything I have.  Not fearful that it's not enough.  I AM enough.  What I have IS enough.  My life is plentiful.  I may not have everything I "think I should have" but I have everything I need and truly want. 1. I have myself, and I am happy with being with myself.  I do not feel the need to fill every moment I am on my own with others and things.  I am content. 2. I have my wonderful challenging son.  He is my everything.  As long as I have him, my life is complete.  3. I have my family.  As crazy and challenging as my family is, they are always there supporting me in every way, cheering me on when I need it, and celebrating right along side me when I achieve something.  That's all I really need.  I mean having my house, clothes and food help too, as does a job that is fulfilling where I am truly helping others that can pay for said food, clothes and home.  But everything else is just stuff.  It's dust-catchers, nice things to have, but nothing I really need.

I need to hope more.  Hope is something that helps us get through life a little easier.  I'm not talking about  hoping to win the lottery (although it would be nice) I mean hope for a better future for my son.  Hope that tomorrow will bring more blessings than yesterday.  And hope that tomorrow I will choose to be content and at peace with my life and the abundance in it.

I need to eat less.  Yes, I really do for many reasons.  Let's leave it at that for the moment shall we?

I need to chew more.  I think it is important to remember this.  All the time but especially now as we move into the holiday season.  Chew more, take the time to enjoy, savor, and experience the food that nourishes our bodies.  And as important if not more so, the food that nourishes our soul and spirit.  I think I (we as a world) overlook that.  I am always rushing around going from one crisis to the next, or one appointment to the next.  I rush through my meals, I barely taste what I am putting in my body, and often I an feeding myself crap.  I need to take time to sit without the TV or other distractions and truly experience my nourishment, and give thanks for it.  Again also experience and give thanks for the food of my soul and spirit.  Again, I find that I am finding quotes that speak to me, inspire me and I put them up on Facebook, hoping they will inspire others as well.  But do I really sit and dwell on them?  Do I really take the time to appreciate them and experience what they mean to me and how I can incorporate them into my daily life?  Unfortunately not very often, or at all if I am really being honest.  And really, why write this blog if I can't be honest with myself? 

I need to whine less. I find myself , more often than I care to admit even to myself that I am complaining about things in my life I don't like.  Instead of complaining I need to be rejoicing all the positives in my life.  I recently found myself on the phone whining to a friend.  She stopped me and asked me to tell her a positive.  Halleluiah!  That was just what I needed for a reality check.  Now, that's not to say I won't be sharing some of the harder things in my life, but I need to start doing more sharing of the positives.  NO EXCUSES! 

I need to breathe more.  I think that goes without saying.  I need to stop and just breathe.  More than that, I need to be grateful for my breath.  It means I am alive!  That is a joyous thing!  I am grateful for my breath, and I will take the time to just breathe.

I need to talk less.  That one's a hard one for me. (Aren't they all though?)  Often I find myself talking just to fill up the empty spaces in a conversation, or if there is someone else in the room I talk just to talk and not feel awkward.  Why?  Why do I (we) feel the need to do that?  I am enough.  There is a serenity in quiet times.  Sitting in a room with another, doing our own thing- reading, crafting, etc and just being.  Being with someone is enough sometimes.  I don't need to talk about useless things just to fill the spaces.  I give myself permission to be quiet and enjoy others in silence.  Lending my support and love through quietness.

I need to say more.  When I do talk, I need to be more mindful about what I am saying.  Am I being a force of negativity or positivity?  IS what I'm saying making a difference or just needless chatter?  I need to think before I speak and make it count!

I need to hate less.  I think overall I'm pretty good with this one, however we all have room for improvement.  I try not to judge people, I may not like a person or their actions, but I don't generally hate others or things.  When said I'm usually just very hurt in that moment and it is a "go to" phrase.  However, even this is putting more negativity and hate into the world.  Even if when I take some time I can honestly say I don't hate someone, I was just hurt by them.  Words can hurt, even if only said to ourselves.  If they are repeated enough they take on enough energy to make it real.

I need to love more.  No matter how much I love, I can love more.  I need to continually open my heart up to more love, reach out and share that love so maybe someone else will pass on love and people will love, not hate, accept, not reject, praise, not criticize.  All we need is love.

 It's a dawn of a new day.  What will you choose?

A wonderful day

I have had 2 1/2 uninterrupted days with my wonderful son.  Yesterday we had a few bumps in the road, but that's not surprising when you consider, there was no school, went out to lunch with my wonderfully generous aunt, spent a lovely hour with my bestest friend and her one year old son, Will was amazing with him, sharing toys and helping Maggie and I with him.  Then went to my parents home for dinner.  So after such a long day of unusual activities I wasn't surprised to have a rough end of the day.  However he made up for it by calling me upstairs asking me to lay with him after he had calmed down.  I went upstairs and as soon as I climbed into bed he said  "I love you so much."  Well, I can tell you my heart just melted.  So glad we ended on such a sweet note.
Today was even better.  We went to the library, he's getting better at picking out books and trying them.  We've already taken a couple of books out last week.  He let me read a couple of chapters before he decided he didn't like them.  So proud!!  Well, we returned the books today and he picked out 2 more and some cd's all about soccer and the world cups.  Then we went to A.C. Moore where we picked out a couple of inexpensive crafts to do together. (Mario inspired)
Then we spent a quiet day at home putting his Mario stuff together and playing.  His grampy came over to play for an hour or so.  We had dinner, played some more, had a bath- didn't even fight me about washing his hair!!!!- then brushed teeth and went to bed. 
I have to say, as much as I love spending time with Will playing and listening to him, my favorite time of the day is bedtime.  We read some and then we snuggle until he's almost asleep.  I'd stay there forever if I could, listening to him breathe and watching his face relax while he fights sleep.  He often tells me he's too tired to sleep. Isn't it funny that those are the nights he's asleep almost before the lights go out?  I love him with all my heart.  I will do anything for this sweet child who struggles so much with things that most take for granted as easy.
I love my son, difficulties and all...............................