Be the first...

                                                    The first to apologize

                 creates courage

                                       The first to forgive

                           creates understanding

                                        The first to forget

                   creates happiness

Gifts

"There are so many gifts still unopened from your birthday.  There are so many hand-crafted presents that have been sent to your door by God."   - Hafiz

The Divine has given each of us countless gifts.  We are all blessed with gifts and talents.  Our only task in this life is to discover and use in service, all that we have been blessed to share.  What gifts do you share?  Song, dance, writing, activity, organization, speaking, teaching, mentoring, counseling, dreaming, healing, comfort, detail, expansion, investment, conversation, faith, patience, passion, compassion, laughter, love, science, discovery, invention, respect, responsibility, relationship, friendship, integrity, authenticity, vulnerability, peace, unity.

The Divine is one with us and whispers ... "Everything I have is yours."

                                                                                                                                   - Hafiz

Give the gift God created you to be.

Kindness

Be kind and forgiving with no expectation of reward, knowing that one day someone will do the same for you.

Presence

"...I believe that vulnerability- the willingness to show up and be seen with no guarantee of outcome- is the only path to more love, belonging, and joy."

  - Dr. Brene Brown                   

Our challenge is in "showing up," being fully authentic.  For me, this includes being afraid, not knowing the answer, sometimes not even knowing the questions.  Being authentic, showing up, being real, entails loving the process.  Fully engaging in the process of life with all its insecurity.

I have always valued being fully present.  Presence for me is soul awareness.  This soul awareness, this presence involves deep levels of listening, to myself, to others, to nature, to the "still small voice."  Presence involves staying open to learning beyond my current identity, beyond my preconceptions of what is and is not, what should and what should not be.  Presence involves letting go of my ego and my ego attachments.  It involves letting go of control.  Being fully present invites me to participate fully in the miracle of life.