Stories

I love stories.  I love listening to stories, I love reading stories and I love telling stories.  Stories are the wealth of humanity.  Stories are our heart expressing experience.  Stories are how we make meaning of life.  We share our legacy.

When I share a story from my life, I am consumed with emotion.  I am fully in the moment.  I am in the story.  I often experience the sweat and tears that bring great meaning to the story.  Telling stories heals us.

There are stories about my daughter Ashley that repeat often.  I repeat the story to invite my listeners to be fully human.  Because Ashley is so fragile and vulnerable, I comfortably share my vulnerability.  Each retelling of Ashley's story brings enhanced meaning to the experience.  I continue sharing the story that opens my heart and invites listeners to open their hearts.  Each retelling brings me back to her angelic eyes and the Divine presence that fills her life.

I never really know what I am going to say.  The story tells itself, it reveals my essence and it saves my life again and again and again.

LOVE

"The one thing we can never get enough of is love.

And the one thing we never give enough of is love."

- Henry Miller

I am reminded that everything we do is either an act of love or a cry for love.  Love works.  Love is connection and we as humans are "hard wired for connection", Dr. Brene Brown.

Love comes in many forms.  The joy of seeing a baby smile.  The expression of the reception of gratitude.  The serenity of being in the company of someone with whom you can be fully authentic.  The genuine interest we express to someone we share a passion with.  The inspiration when seeing another human meet and conquer a life threatening challenge.  The awe of an Arizona desert sunset.  The transformation of a life spent together with a human being who accepts you unconditionally.  

All of us want and need to know we are loved.  To love ourselves and to love each other connects us to the unconditional love of Divinity.

Love is the only sane and satisfactory response to the challenges of life.

Inclusion

Everyone needs recognition of who they really are on the highest level.  When we see the world from the perspective of our Highest Self, we radiate connection, positivity and unconditional love.  We heal the feeling of separation and exclusion.

Inclusion is not about helping people fit into a system or structure that works for everyone.  Inclusion is helping to transform those same systems and structures so that everyone is a better version of humanity.

"Inclusion is about creating a better world for everyone." - Diane Richler

Dreams

When we are blessed with an idea or a dream that will serve the greater good, we must act on this calling.

There have been times in my life that I have heard the small, still voice of spirit calling me to create something that will serve.  I follow the voice, I gather resources, I plan and I present the idea to those who have the ability to help make the dream a reality.  Sometimes we meet with rejection, lack of support or lack of understanding.  This is simply life asking us how important is this dream to you.  Are we confident?  Are we aligned with spirit in our creation?  Rejection is not necessarily an accurate evaluation of the quality of your dream.  Rejection very often is simply a statement of the mindset and heart of the critic.

I value feedback immensely.  Remember, feedback is not evaluation.  Feedback is specific, descriptive, observable, behavioral data about where you and I are together on a shared task.  When we feel rejection, hold fast to your faith that is much greater than the opinions and fears of others.  If you believe in a dream do not be put off by obstacles.

"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds.  Your mind transcends limitation, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world.  Dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be."

- Patanjali