The Inspiration of George Gobel

I’m not sure why I write.  I think it comes from some latent past life impression, and also from my husband’s encouragement to do so.

Over ten years ago, after a divorce, I entered into the realm of journaling.  It wasn’t really significant in that I was still afraid of the blank page and fully opening myself up to it.  I wanted to turn my life around, and I had to start somewhere.  My journal ended up being a thankful journal.  Look at the glass as half full, rather than half empty.  I’m a firm believer that dwelling on the negative will bring about more negative, and that we create our own world, and our own dramas.  It is so easy to get caught up in negativity without even realizing that you are doing it.  It often comes into our thoughts under different disguises.  Writing something each day I’m thankful for helped to crowd out some of the negative thoughts.

It must have worked.  My glass started to overflow.  I met my now husband, Chris.  Over four years ago, he encouraged me to write something more than just a journal.  That led to a writing correspondence course through a local university.  Eventually, that led to blogging, and writing some articles for organizations and for newspapers.  I’ve never submitted anything to a publisher as of yet, although, I have technically been published.  That is really not that important to me.

I ask my self why I write, and why I’ve committed to this postaday2011 on WordPress.  I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s more or less just a form of self-expression and therapy, along with exploring what is really important.  Success to me comes in the form of something on a much deeper and spiritual nature. And, writing helps to explore that.

On some days, I borrow from something I’ve written before.  On other days something fresh springs forth.  When something profound that might possibly inspire someone else, and my own self to become a slight step better I know that it is coming from something much higher than myself, the all encompassing muse that guides us all when we open up to it.

Once after reading a metaphysical book, which I don’t even remember, the name of, it said that we all have guides, and that to know our guide we should diligently ask whom our specific guide was before going to sleep.  In all earnestness I tried this experiment, dozing off to sleep thinking that some wise all knowing figure such as Merlin was assigned to me.  I popped straight out of the bed the next morning exclaiming, “George Gobel?”  Was this a cosmic joke?  After a while I thought perhaps this wasn’t so bad.  After all, look what Clarence did for George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  I don’t actually know if he is my guardian angel.  If he is I hope I haven’t cost him a set of wings.

I do know my husband in this physical realm has been my greatest muse, and I am thankful for that.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

From our flower garden one year

How many times have you heard a statement or read something or saw something of the simplest nature that has had the profoundest effect on you?  That one simple thing that took up a mere second of your life comes back to you over and over as one of the best spiritual teachings you’ll ever receive.

When I was a teenager I saw written on an overpass, “Jesus is coming soon, and man is he pissed.” I think sad might be a more appropriate term than pissed, since I personally think Jesus is on a much higher plane than “pissdom.”  Still, I think the graffiti artist or poet definitely got the point across by using that term.  It’s more that we should be pissed at the messes we have gotten ourselves into by not respecting ourselves, others or nature.

One of the other most profound teachings I heard was something that was repeated to me by one of my best friends.  Our teacher, a Himalayan monk, called her by name, and told her to be happy.  I am still analyzing the significance of this statement.  How could he tell her to just be happy when so much in her world was crumbling around her from her own personal tragedies and those happening in the lives of most of her loved ones?  Was it really that simple – just be happy?

She did take his advice.  Things in her life that seem insurmountable began to dissolve.  There are still struggles but she has an inner faith and beauty that radiates outward with which she takes on life’s challenges.  She plucks each weed one at a time.

All of us have the Garden of Eden within.  Most of us have let the weeds take over.  We have not only let the weeds take over.  We water them as well.

The neglect of our gardens has gone on for so long that the task of refurbishing it becomes daunting.   The weeds have intertwined with our good plants trying to suffocate them

We don’t realize who we are or the potential we possess.  We are not self-realized.  We label ourselves as fat, skinny, poor, sick, aching, sad, depressed, unlovable, or ugly. We identify with a disease or the divorce we went through or some other tragedy or drama that has played out in our life, never letting go long enough to see the lesson in it.  Our petals would open with our own true brilliant color if we would just quit watering the weeds.

As Buddha said, “Happiness is the way.”

Thankful for Simplicity

On some days like today it’s the simplicity that counts.  It’s having enough wood on the porch within easy reach to feed the wood-burning stove in these frigid temperatures.   It’s having good reading material and being able to brew a nice cup of tea (actual leaves) found in a tea shop, Tea Gschwendner, in Raleigh that my daughter and son-in-law took us to – organic China Oolong Kwai Flower and finding cookies you forgot about to go with it.

It’s finding an online world at your fingertips: all the Slider and Outer Limits shows, and old black and white movies to watch and “The Mahabharata” to read at your own convenience.

It’s having your husband work from home and not having to worry about him driving on snow covered roads, but treading the snow covered woods appreciating the beauty of nature.   It’s preparing a special dish for him – an experiment – potato pizza.  It’s decorating the Christmas tree together.