Beautiful Words

There is nothing like a little poetry to soothe the soul. I wish I had more talent in that area, but even though I'm not much of a poet, I do love to read it.

Check out the beautiful poetry written by Lynne Hamilton Rutherford on her blog, kudzu kottage.

A "Recap" ...

I finally got around to putting some of these blog ideas into an article that I wrote for Associated Content. Thought you might like to check it out HERE.

KT

Making Your Peace ...

The article appearing on Time's website this week about Oprah apologizing to author James Frey got me to thinking about relationships in general, and poor relationships in particular. Thanks to Living Oprah blogger Robyn Okrant for bringing this story to my attention!

Don't wait too long to patch things up with someone you may have drifted away from. If you believe, like I do, that there is a specific purpose for you being here on earth at this time and place, then the people you are here with must also be very important to that purpose. Whether it's an old high school buddy that you just sort of lost contact with, or a family member that you fought with 10 years ago and haven't spoken to since, make an effort to reconnect. Something as simple as a note - "I've been thinking about you and wishing things were different between us" might be all it takes. Don't wait too long. You never know when it might become too late.

Thanks for being here and now!
KT

I meant to say I love you
I wanted to say I cared
But now I can only think about you
And hope you can hear me out there
KT

Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself!!

We're all human, and even the best of us (don't look at me!!!) slide off the wagon once in awhile ... even with SMALL changes!!!

So if you've taken a "sabbatical" from some of the earlier changes that you were trying to implement into your life ... or if you didn't get anything new posted on your blog for over TWO WEEKS, like me! ... it's ok .... just get back up and start again. That's what life's all about!

Thanks for being here and now!
KT

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing.
Abraham Lincoln

Balance

If you are journaling every day, you may notice when your emotions, or your life in general, swing too far from the middle. Try to keep everything "in moderation" ... don't let yourself be dragged down by too much negative news, or become too out of touch by refusing to watch news at all!

For me, at least, it seems like the negative is the way I tend to "swing", so I try to keep a bookshelf of uplifting books and a list of websites I love and TV shows that make me happy. If I find myself sinking into the mire, I spend an evening tipping the scales in the other direction. Try it!

Thanks for being here and now!

Neither too high nor too low is the way to go
Keep your life in balance
KT

Live for Today!

Regretting the past and worrying about the future are the curses of the sensient soul. It takes an almost constant awareness of our thoughts to prevent these useless pasttimes from invading our consciousness and wasting our precious time. So perhaps it is not fair to include "living for today" among my list of "small changes", but it is such an important change that it cannot be overlooked.

Whenever you find yourself deep in "shoulda, woulda, coulda's", or wishing that tomorrow, or Friday, or Christmas or retirement would just get here already! ... stop! ... and thank whatever Higher Power you worship for today. Keeping a Gratitude Journal will help you stay focused on the present.

Thanks for being here and now!
KT

The Ultimate Journal

Last night, I went to see a program by Neil Donald Walsch, the author of the Conversations with God books. To be honest with you, I've never read any of his books, but I was curious. And the fact that he was speaking in the sanctuary of a church that I've been curious about attending for over a year was the tipping point that led me to buy a ticket.

It was a serene and uplifting experience. Walsch is a gentle man, almost 70 years of age, who strolled onto the stage like a man taking a stroll in nature. He was totally in the moment, he was aware of everything around him. Looking like a kind grandfather in casual pants and an untucked shirt, he spoke of the experience almost 20 years ago that led him to write his 9 books, many of which have been bestsellers on the NY Times for years at a time.

To explain it briefly for anyone who is not aware of his story, he tells of an early morning when he awoke, unable to sleep and filled with rage at the turn his life had taken. His marriage, his career and his health had all taken a turn for the worse, and he was on the verge of suicide. He said he recalls thinking something like "Show me why this is all happening to me, give me a reason, or I'm out of here!" He heard the voice at first "just over my right shoulder", and then as he continued to ask questions, the voice moved inside his head and patiently answered each question he asked. He picked up a yellow legal pad and begin having the Q&A on paper - asking a question and receiving an answer, and writing it all down as he received it. He did this for 4 hours the first night, unaware of the passage of time. Over the next 20 years, he would write 3000 pages in this same manner.

I'm going to have to read Walsch's work. It is the ultimate journal. And perhaps he has struck upon the reason why journaling has always been touted as such an important part of our lives. Because if we allow ourselves to set aside our rambling thoughts and actually listen for an answer when we ask a question in our journals, we might find that something divine is always nearby, waiting for us to ask a question so they can give us The Answer.

Take the time to journal every day.

Thank you for being here and now!

KT

Who is it we hear inside our heads?
Sometimes the monkey brain,
Sometimes God?
And the choice of who we will pay
attention to is ours alone
KT