Better Life

One more day and many ways to make life better more beautiful for ourselves and others. A peaceful frame of mind is important and a good way to move forward into positive places. The world does not feel so hostile and cruel when I can be calm and lean into the spiritual realm. I am armed with elements beyond the limitations of this earthly plain. Internal peace is tucked away in our hearts and souls and accessible as needed. The trick is to pause and remember inward tools available to get a grip on things that seem slippery, out of balance and unreasonable. The world and the haters in it are part of life's obstacles. Peace, Love, Respect are absolutely the solution to the confusion and chaos that seems out of control as leaders forget how to lead with integrity and honor. 

Peace of mind seems easy enough but when stressors pop up and anxiety wants to run amuck it's not so simple to switch gears and pull yourself out of negative frame of mind. To focus on blessings, the things that bring us joy like people who love us, our precious pets and the many resources we have to make life comfortable, well, it's good to recall things that  make us happy. Even better when we can play our blessings forward in prayer, action and intention to make life better. God speed. 🏵️

Go In Peace

Interesting and Blessed are the best descriptions for the year we say goodbye to. The year included heartache, happiness, love lost and found. New lessons always to be learned as life continues to be full of surprises and dissapointments.                           

It has been a good year with life changes for the better. Funny not so funny how life challenges us constantly to keep ourselves together and strive constantly to improve ourselves in the slightest to the grandest way possible. 

To grow in peace with simple approaches to complicated things. I am happier when I take life one peaceful thought at a time, one moment and one day at a time. I am happy to realize it is better for me to not take things personally as people have their own internal challenges to deal with and navigate through life. Peace be with you now and into the future. ☮

Pennies from Heaven

 

Dearly beloved Boxer dog, Jax, is great proof that heaven spills over on earth. The pets, pooches and pussy cats in life absolutely make life more livable, lovable and laughable. Not very chatty yet able to convey a love sublime, special, simple and unconditional. 

How wonderful to have a good dog around who is at once protective, playful, peaceful and precious the best kind of companion without fuss just happy to be there on the ready for a walk, a hug and kiss about the head and furry face. A faithful loyal presence as quiet as he is at times crazy, silly and super sweet, surely what God had in mind when best friends and the most cherished family members we will ever know, were created. Indeed, pets are like pennies and whispers from heaven. A powerful and sometimes prayerful presence equipped with wet kisses and warm bodies to cuddle with and keep you warm in the coldest, cruelest moments of our lives. I🤍Jax 🐾

Stand By

The world spins on it's axis, twirling, gyrating, shaking, sick and tired, in sync with surroundings near and far away. Various energy, matter and the inexplicable do their part according to the grand known and mysterious scheme of things. Earth's inhabitants, yes fragile as a baby, resilient as the mighty sea while completely vulnerable to any number of calamities, infirmities, disabilities, tragedies, challenges and set-backs with broken battered sails, struggling to survive. 

All of humankind aboard the same spacecraft gliding sliding slipping, suspended dangling without a net in a place that is not sure of itself, aware and unaware of the hazards humans have created. The volatile nature of humanity is clear, present and not new, the way life as lives are taken for granted, trampled-on, exploited and disrespected by those who continue to create problems, war, hate, greed reckless, unconcerned about others struggles, wants and needs. People get shaken-up, tossed aside as unimportant, without a prayer, no refuge nor peace, no love. The air is limited, stale with despair, doubt, fear filled with dark matter as evil forces try to sabotage us out of our own light suffocating the simple goodness found in the hearts and souls of earths precious inhabitants. 

Life unfolds with or without our permission, ready or not, things come to a screeching halt out of nowhere life turns to a crying, dying den of carelessness, corrupt with selfish intent to dominate those with little to no voice. In the big picture one hopes for a fair, free, just and simple existence, not asking too much. Curious though how at some point people loose themselves with obsessive wants, needs, must haves at any cost. Happiness in contrast is sought, not always found in plain sight yet constantly waiting in the wings to rise and shine and rise again not far from the surface, priceless and best when everyone experiences happiness and joy. Meanwhile, respect facilitates a good life, peaceful and harmonious. 

To live in a world that is led by love and respect is to be given a chance yet again to exist in a place of peace and send our love out to every single person in the world, to dispatch comfort, peace, respite to the weary, war torn and weather worn and somehow receive the intended powerful prayers, although simple the message is strong and able to lift the downhearted who have been put on hold or standing-by brought into light and love even as the world sometimes seems to spin out of control.

Dreams

Sweet dreams, scary, sad, sublime, bad bizarre and inexplicable as they are, pop into my head at seemingly random times and places. The imagery is like a swift gentle wave rushing to the shore then just as quickly dissolves into the vastness of nothing and everything. What to make of it. How or why, I do not know only that it occurs often enough for me to notice and wonder about particular non descript, non threatening yet uncomfortable flashes of life as it is filtered through the labyrinth of thunderously busy neurons, synapsis firing like canons in the fiery fields of experience, memory, this cell or that region of grey matter. Do the dots need to be connected? What about the sequence, order or disorganization of time, space, form relative to the minute and massive activity of brain waves and thought process? 

The lines blur between illusion and reality, the virtual view is there but not in a tangible sense. The mysterious human brain all wired-up, cross wired, hot wired and hay wired amid the networking of dreams and hopes, ones tragedies and triumphs. All perspective based on countless factors determining what is learned, what we live with, love, detest, delight in make us sick and tired or more beautiful than ever for every and no reason whatsoever, other than we are here and there is thinking to be done. At the end of the day it turns out, too much thinking is not a good idea, pun. To be in this moment is the only true moment other than in our minds, magnificent, perplexing, simple, using only a small percentage of it's mental capacity and potential and therefore, remains this laypersons, long standing curiosity. 

Best Practice

Some day's you're full of it, bs, hot air, uncertain about things, your own self worth. Thankfully
those moments do not take-up the whole day. I chalk it up to dark forces that seek to ruin beautiful impressionable and otherwise stable minds and hearts, vulnerable to low-level influences and contaminated stream of thinking, which often leads to negative self talk or lazy thinking in general eschewed perspective about anything, people, places memories, the future, a waste of time, festering good for nothing doubt, despair, fear, anger, dry seeds that require sifting and cleaning though as soon as possible, to make room for strong, healthy, kind, gracious mindful thinking. The idea is to live in the present moment which we know is absolutely the best practice for allowing love to flow in and out. 

Day's you feel good about yourself, more on the Christopher Robin side of the spectrum of personality types, a leader, excellent team player at the very least, kind, gentle and benevolent, are nice. Winnie and his tender heart, good guy, unique, curious and one who does not rush about life whether a melee ensues or sitting quietly perfectly fine neither thinking about anything in particular nor fretting over much more than the bare necessities needed to get through the day (calls to mind another bear, Rudyard Kipling named him, Baloo from The Jungle Book, another thoughtful story where art imitates life.

Eeyore, another interesting resident of 100 Acre Forest, out of the imagination of A.A. Milne, is a donkey with a loose tail, a peace loving slow moving sad fellow who is loved by his fellow creatures. Maybe he will participate in life maybe he won't, a sullen sort not quick to speak or move in general. The sky seems dark around him even though the sun shines. Good thing the loyal friends do not judge slow poke, sad guy donkey who really does not want any trouble.

Rabbit, type A personality all the way, likes to get sh!t done, busy body but loyal to his crew, the Owl is also helpful, can-do type and of course pensive, likes to think things through. Tigger is flat out irrepressible and walks with a spring in his step, can't help himself. This big exuberant bouncing tiger is enthusiastic about everything. You can count on him if need be. Piglet is nervous. Much has been written, referred to and discussed about Pooh Bear and his fellow woodsmen and women, forgot mother Kanga and baby Roo. 

From children to Zen like teachings referring to great, small, powerful lessons reminding me of what is important to keep, revere, renew and reignite to thrive and keep things in simple proper perspective.

brunodelaroza.com

Trick or Treat

Pick a hand, any hand, you will be dealt according to the luck of the draw and your choices, as the challenges of life play tricks on you along with accompanying treats. One adapts and modifies accordingly. Ideally, going with the flow rather than fighting the current, it makes for a smoother ride and more positive outcome to move along peacefully, not necessarily quietly but peacefully for sure. Treachery in people, leaders and teachers and others who may not have deserved our trust, become inspiration for change and courage to move in other more productive contributing ways. It is within our means to cultivate our own environment and desire the best for ourselves and others. Very simply, my prayer is for loving, harmonious days and nights, for everyone, everywhere.

When we think and speak from a peaceful place, the world seems to be much more approachable. When we are lost in doubt, fear, despair, worry, we create chaos for ourselves. Runaway thoughts and feelings only render confusion and overwhelm an otherwise peaceful moment. Worrying becomes a go-to familiar thing to do especially during stressful times. It seems as though we find things to fret over, when it is much more satisfying to recalibrate our thinking, switch gears to a calm cool pool of ideas that do not suck the life and liveliness out of you. 

Sounds easy enough yet the dark forces of the world lurk about with every intention to discourage the encouraged. Hate-filled elements seek to run interference with beautiful minds, hearts and souls. The ones living life the best way they can with what they have. It doesn't take much to treat oneself to a good thought, something cheerful that will sprout joy. Small inconsequential things for ourselves or someone else can transform something ugly into a wonderful thing. It feels fine and right to fortify, nurture and grow our own goodness. Kindness is so spectacularly simple and effective in changing the direction of things at any given moment. 

To treat myself right and others well is correct, looking though the lens of dark illusions, disillusioned, jaded, bitter about injustice, unfairness, goodness muddied trampled on and tainted heartlessness of people, aspects of life that seem too harsh and hateful to be real. May we remember the important and powerful holy spirit and soul that shelters us, in direct association with Love, the sweetest of treats, gifts, blessings, how loves power lights our way.  We have the sacred capacity to shine and share light with those whose light has dimmed or think they have no light left at all.

INSTRUCTIONS INSIDE

Here is a simple yet strong string of pearls. It radiates a resounding message of soul-deep, precious and important built-in capabilities we are born with.

SHINE LIKE THE SUN, GLOW LIKE THE MOON, THEY SAID. 

INSTRUCTIONS INSIDE

January 30th, 2018

Two years since you've been gone Mom. You remain in my heart and soul, my memory bank withdraws memories very often. Though we exist in different configurations we exist none the less in a place that no one can describe completely, other than to say the feeling of your presence however measured, is real. I do not doubt that every little and large impression you made on me and others, remains alive as thoughts of you sweetens and becomes more cherished with the passing of time.
Your goodness prevails and moves forward with every heartbeat.

It is simple at once spectacular how the physically departed remain with us to the point that the joy, grief, disappointment, and life's daily up's and down's is shared with you even though you are not physically here. It is the order of the day to recall a simple moment and quite something to remember something that moves me to the point of tears filling me with a longing that lingers than evaporates into other recollections that make me happy and grateful that you nurtured me with your love and care and gave me a place in the world forever, to call home sweet home, where my heart and yours merge into a state of peace and comfort eternally.
http://brunodelaroza.com/

WORD ~

Beautiful, big, broken, bent, bruised, full, swollen, bearing the brunt of whatever it is you are going through, getting over or feeling at any given moment, the heart takes it for the team. Every part of the whole is counting on the heart to beat in time with all matters of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual concerns. The inner chambers driven by strength and goodness as each dashing and dangling moment whether mundane, predictable, triumphant or tragic, the heart beats to the sound of it's own movements.

Beautiful, blue, big, bountiful, bright, overcast, angry, awesome, absent, hazy, dark and obscured the sky covers our lives like a massive dome that never closes even at night as the stars and the heavens sparkle from their places in the universe.

Beautiful, prayerful, mysterious, mind blowing, heart wrenching and heart warming pearls of wisdom found in collections of words. They are dangerous, disgusting and distinguished, meaningful and meaningless. Singular or strung together potentially powerful at once puny, raw, realistic, fantastic, fancy, passionate, painful and priceless. Words from thought to articulation are lovely and hateful, revolutionary and archaic, concise, convoluted and crystal clear. Communication with words that create sentences and dialog can be outdated, timeless, thought provoking and inspiring.

Words are like little puddles that turn into ponds and streams that turn into lakes and rivers and breathtaking oceans filled with every symbol and sound, letter, word, emotion and expression ever expressed. The mighty sea also swallows it's own salty tears with no words to convey what is beyond adequate description. A simple message reveals ignorance, intelligence,  hopelessness and hope. The string of sentences as fine as a fishing line tangle and untangle, constantly changing direction and right on course navigating through the sea of thought, one word at a time.

Creature Comforts

What makes a creature the way it is? It's evolutionary predecessor? The author and creator, finisher of life? What makes life the way it is? In design, form, function, anymore lovely, lovable, dangerous, repulsive or irresistible than the other? Where it is placed, in flight like the snow geese or crane, in the water, the rain, on land or in a grain of sand? In the tropics or in the high desert? Cared for, comfortable, miserable, feared or forgotten? An innocent dog is "awarded" the title of 'World's Ugliest Dog', with it's little naked head shivering, bulging eyes glisten as a bright brilliant smile frame it's dangling tongue.

The soul so simple and complicated serving as humankind's habitat, the heartland and epicenter of our existence. As nomads we sojourn lost, found, disconnected and connected to each other in time and in the places where our hearts and souls lead us. One heart, one vibration transcending nations, scary, serious, sad, silly,  inspiring situations occur. One imagines a different life, comparing, compromising, hopeful compassion is in place coexisting, codependent upon one another for matters of the mind and body.

How the spirit thrives off of a pulsating planet, people, plants, animals, dwellers of water, land and air breathing one sacred breath into the other. The preciousness of life, this moment, the past and future precious life. The humble, the haughty, the cavalier, crazy, the creative, cranky and incredible, every single speck of light, every dark corner of the world may contain earths elements, from massive elegant oceanic sea creatures to flightless birds who run into the sky like a dream then lands gracefully back on solid ground. Priceless are the treasures of this world.

POV

One word, three syllables; PERSPECTIVE, a way of looking at anything. It is a slippery slope, the spins, twists and turns can rattle your cage float your boat and get your goat. Your Point Of View can make or break any given moment, any given experience like the weather effects the day and a chronic physical, mental or spiritual pain clouds your thinking. My view point can piss me off, make me feel uneasy OR at ease and content, pleased to the point of blissful abandon and feel like everything is alright in the world.

What is happening, might happen or has happened is not always clear as to the why's and wherefores, the unfair nature of things, full of unwanted anguish when harsh reality breathes down your neck like an angry open wound OR the particular moment feels right perhaps holy, happy as can be and complete. Attitude accompanies the Point Of View and is worn like a freshly laundered garment, pressed and well taken care of, or scanty, weather beaten and threadbare to the bone. From the beginning, right in the middle or in the end. Each thought whether prayerful, excellent, pleasant, super cool, creative, painful, pathetic, crazy, cold or luke warm, it flows in and out, ergo, our stream of consciousness, which does not necessarily include a Point Of View whatsoever.

One's Point of View is Perception's twin that paints the past, present and future picture. Perhaps this or that is a waste of time and effort, pointless OR seen as magically delicious, delightful, sweet and satisfying. It, Life is largely based on our own design, our own Point Of View while simply thinking, reflecting, meditating, existing. Yes, living, breathing taking it all in one minute, one miserable, magnificent, melancholy, miraculous minute and thought at a time, constant as a heart beat. When we are inclined to size-up a situation, if and how it effects us, good or bad, right or wrong; The Point Of View is determined by times of our lives with swatches of multi-textured fabric that wrap around our unique perspectives, varied and diverse, rich, mysterious and simple as a rain drop, snow flake, falling leave and whisper in the breeze.

Happy Mother's Day!

To you dear mother, dear special one of my life. Happy Mother's Day to you for being in my corner of the world, for loving me like no one else in the world could ever do. For teaching me the way to be a good person, by your example. I hope this Mother's Day you realize what a blessing you are and will remain forever.

Happiness and peace of mind is my simple and sincere prayer for you and I am very blessed to know you are still just a phone call away, that I can hug you and talk to you and tell you how much I love you and appreciate you in my life. You lived your life for your family and sacrificed much to ensure your children were loved and cared for and understood the importance of respect for everyone.

How very important you are to me and all your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

You need to be reminded that by any measure and any standard you have accomplished an extraordinary feat in raising your six children, steering us away from careless behavior and nurturing us with your strong faith that God would see us through. You are a rare and resilient human being who did not take the easy road as a single working mother. You dared to take-on motherhood with ferocious intent to do a good job despite the challenges as vast as your prayers were constant. With much love and respect I hope we are an accurate reflection of the important, wise and wonderful things you taught us.

May the Holy Spirit and creator of life continue to bless and keep you.