Love is

Love is where we are and love is who we are. Love is in us and around us. Love is all life. Love is the universe. It pulsates with love. It has always been and will always be. Love is Divinity. Love is God.

The love of God is the love of you. Everything is available to you. Everything is possible. Everything that can be created, can be created by you.

Embrace love.

The word of God is in you.

The love of God is in you.

You, love, God.

What you do matters

We cannot change the past. We can acknowledge it, and learn from it. In acknowledging and learning, we can create a better future. In this process of growth, we ask for forgiveness and make amends wherever possible. This process of healing increases our courage, integrity, empathy, and compassion.

Let us be grateful for all that we have received. In our safety, let us keep others safe. Let our goodness flow into helping others. We share this life. We share our speck on this beautiful blue marble we call earth. Let us encircle each other in brother and sisterhood. Let us be humble in sharing our gifts and talents, and let us appreciate the gifts and talents of others.

We are one beautiful, diverse family of God. In our family, we include those who have no defenses. We include those who have no voice. We include those who look and act differently than we do. How we treat others reveals our character. 

"Whatever you have done to the least of my brethren." Matthew 25:40

Everything matters. How you vote matters. How you speak matters. How you behave matters. Every choice you make matters. Every action we take ripples out across the world and impacts all life. Every choice we make is a legacy we leave for future generations. We now are deciding on the future. We are deciding if there will be a future.

Kindness is the only sane and logical choice.

Enjoy Thom's blogs? Read one every day in his new book 
"Social Emotional Learning One Day at a Time: Daily Reflections: SEL 365 Days a Year"
available on Amazon here

Accepting Help

I am still learning to accept help. As I age (now 72) more and more kind and loving people support and assist me personally and professionally. Having come through open heart surgery, spinal injury, and the death of my beloved daughter; my vulnerability continues to grow. 

I continue to work to accept help and gratefully receive care from a community of medical caregivers and my incredibly talented team of educational professionals, and above all, my beloved wife Sandra. I am aware that as I diminish, others have an opportunity to thrive. They share their gifts of empathy, compassion, friendship, humor, and responsibility. 

As I put myself in the hands of caring professionals and friends, others receive the blessings of service and our lives are mutually enriched. 

Inclusion and Unconditional Love

The universe - one verse - one whole system. Limitless and purposeful in every aspect. We are one of the single points of light in this song of life. We are one shining ray of light connected to the great source. Let us be aware of who we are. Let us cherish ourselves and each other. Let us be open to new experiences and the ability to choose again. Let us see others as emanations of the Divine. Let us be compassionate, grateful, and full of joy. 

Unconditional love belongs to everyone. We are fulfilled as we share this love. The power is in INCLUSION. The more love we give, the more love we receive. Unconditional love is in everyone one of us. This love is forever expanding. Forever pulsating outward. Everyone grows in the presence of unconditional love. We are all connected in the unity of unconditional love.

When we love each other, we honor the Divinity in all those we love. This is an act of compassion as well as an act of self nurturing. What we give, we receive. Inclusion begins in our hearts and emanates outward like rays of sunlight. Let us create a world that works for everyone.

We are one

"One God and father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all." - Ephesians 4:6

Unconditional love respects and honors everyone. Our universal family acknowledges and transcends race, language, and culture. Unconditional love sees only God's children.

Let us all be secure in our love to connect to everyone with respect, kindness, and gratitude. Let us explore with curiosity and empathy our unique differences. Let us communicate with caring and compassion.

We all belong to the same universal family.

We are all siblings in the family of unconditional love.

We are one.

Be at peace

Turn off the noise of the world. Listen to the soft truth being whispered by your heart.

Let there be a day when you turn off your cell phone. Allow the blessed silence to fill your body and soul. Wake in the morning when your body wants to; wake and breathe; just breathe. Follow your breath and when you want to move, move. Move and gently stretch every part of your body. Be aware how every part of you feels. Pay attention!

Allow yourself to feel gratitude for your life. Reflect on all the good there is in your life. What people, places, and experiences bring you joy?

Make something warm to drink and sip - slowly - sip. Feel the warmth. If you want to eat - eat. If you want to walk - walk. Do what brings you joy. Let this day be a day of rest and awareness. Look, listen, be still. Be receptive to all that is available in the abundance of nature. Simply be.

Unplug, tune in, nourish your soul.

Be at peace.

Practice Love

We are being called, as humans, to expel the negative, hatred, and evil that exists in our world.

We must have, as our primary concern, the love, compassion, and healing of all life. It is time to practice the love for ourselves, the love for our siblings, the love for our nation, and the love for our planet.

"God bless the whole world, no exceptions."

Enjoying Thom's blogs? Read one every day in his new book 
"Social Emotional Learning One Day at a Time: Daily Reflections: SEL 365 Days a Year"
available on Amazon here

The source of joy

The true source of joy and happiness is the awareness and practice of our sense of purpose in each and every moment. This source of joy brings meaning to our lives and enhances our health and wellness. The source of joy originates from within and ripples out to positively impact everyone we encounter.

Enjoy Thom's blogs? Read one every day in his new book 
"Social Emotional Learning One Day at a Time: Daily Reflections: SEL 365 Days a Year"
available on Amazon here

Community

All those we have loved and truly connected with throughout our life become a part of us. As we add years, experiences, and relationships to our life, there are more and more people we are blessed to love. Each new person, each new relationship, becomes part of our very personal internal community. They are part of our minds, thoughts, and our heart's feelings.

Let us widen our circle of community to recognize our siblings from different mothers. Let us be aware that in each stranger, is a potential family member we have yet to meet.

Let us expand the community our heart and reach out in empathy and compassion.

Let us welcome new friends to our community. 

Enjoy Thom's blogs? Read one every day in his new book "Social Emotional Learning One Day at a Time: Daily Reflections: SEL 365 Days a Year" available on Amazon here

Prayer

When I pray, I feel God's presence within me like a warm breeze. Sometimes my prayer has words. Ancient words, learned in school, in church and at my childhood bedtime. My prayers can be gratitude and my prayers can be petitions. I can pray out loud and I can pray in silence. My prayers can be read from my favorite book and my prayers can be following my breathing, in and out, slowly for 30 minutes. My prayer can be watching the birds, butterflies, and bees. My prayer can be smelling the sweet smell of angel roses, lilacs, and honeysuckle. My prayers can be peaceful music, or rock and roll. I can pray by simply, or not so simply, paying attention, being aware. I can pray in laughter, and I can pray with my tears.

I pray knowing God's unconditional love wraps me in the mystery of life and I am home.

Unity

"If you place two living heart cells from different people in a petri dish, they will in time, find and maintain a third and common beat." - Molly Vass

The biology of unity recognizes our inherent oneness. Despite our arguments, prejudices, biases, and hatred the essence of life is to connect, to be as one.

We are social beings. We are "hardwired for connection" says Brené Brown. We are designed to be interdependent and collaborate with others. We are here on the earth, in this life, to learn to be in relationship. To learn how to love with the fullness of life.

May you feel the blessing of being fully loved and loving fully.

May you feel the ecstasy of being one with God.

Feel the pulse and rhythm of life itself.

Enjoy Thom's blogs? Read one every day in his new book "Social Emotional Learning One Day at a Time: Daily Reflections: SEL 365 Days a Year" available on Amazon here

Share

We are blessed with many beautiful and loving experiences. I have experienced that the only way to hold this ephemeral beauty is to give it away.

The deeper the experience, the more meaningful the memory. Give it away by sharing the lesson and the learning with others. Allow others to be blessed by what has shaped and transformed you.

Transformation always invites leaving something behind, letting go.

So leave something behind. Take your intimate memories and craft them into an experience that blesses the lives of others.

The Space

"It is the nature of grace always to fill spaces that have been empty." - Goethe

So what do I do with the empty space in my life that was once filled by Ashley and her unconditional love. The empty wheelchair, the empty bed, the empty presence of unconditional love that permeated every aspect of our home, our family, our life.

I fill the space with gratitude for the blessings that are Ashley. I fill the space with service. Sharing her truth, sharing her unconditional love. I fill the space with the vulnerability that she taught me to express.

I fill the space with her love.

Bound together

"The measure of a society is how it treats its weakest members."

We must act to help and serve those that are sick, suffering, disenfranchised, and outcast. Compassion and caring bind us together as a civilization. Without these virtues, we are a random rabble of egotists.

We are all someone's beloved children. We are all part of a human community, bound together by our similarities and differences.

"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."
- Chief Seattle

LifeSkills Conference 2024