Connectedness

I watched a passenger on a flight to California squeeze this old tattered bear she carried aboard for the entire flight. The bear looked like it had been through the test of time. It's red vest was tattered and it's face was reminiscent of the 50's.
I told her I would be traveling to London soon, alone, for my birthday, and I wanted to visit Paddington Station because I grew up with Paddington Bear and it reminded me of my childhood. She said her mother had made that bear for her, the bear she held to tightly, and she was going to the beach to leave some baggage behind.
I told her I just wanted to watch the sunset and have a cocktail in a foreign country and enjoy the moment. She laughed and said she would be having a mimosa on the beach. 
Another little yellow sticky note from the Universe. I spent the summer before last traveling back and forth  to the beach to get over someone that hurt me, really the first person I thought I was destined to spend the rest of my life with. The first man to really break my heart. A month back and forth to the beach to just sit, listening to the ocean, and possibly a voice. Someone to tell me everything would be OK. I sat and cried and watched the sun rise and set while my tears cleansed my soul. A hard summer for me, and I understood what she was doing. Her trip with this lifetime bear-friend to soothe the pain.
And at some point during the flight, she looked over at me and said, "I just want to tell you, it's going to be OK". And I nodded.
Weird from any standpoint. Strangers connecting over empty space.
Strangers cross paths every day. Strangers have a voice in the universe.
As we landed, her tears flowed and I felt a little emotional for her, because those moments when you are so alone are the ones which change your life. That bear symbolized something I will never know, but she clung to it with the desperation of her future. We were connected. I don't know how and I don't know why, but I wanted to give this woman a hug and cry with her over a drink and then laugh because life goes on.
The sun will rise tomorrow.
For her and for me.
As she exited, I thanked her for flying and said, "enjoy your time", and she gave me the biggest hug and told me to enjoy my trip. The hug was so personal, as if we had been friends for decades, and again, I was reminded that we all touch each other. We all matter. It only takes 30 seconds to acknowledge someone. Their life, their pain, their importance.
I am so lucky to have the job I have and get to come into contact with a gazillion more of these people than I would if I sat home every night.
Connecting.

Calling to the Universe

I believe in calling to the Universe.
Letting the world know what you want. Living in integrity of what you want. The power of thought.

We are surrounded by catch phrases that are meant to inspire people. The reality is, your life is out there if you want it. What you need is out there if you are honest about what you want and you follow the path that will take you there.


I have come across many people who are not successful and complain that they just don't have the tools that they need to be successful. I have come to realize that I cannot continue to coddle adults who are unable to attain their goals. One of the main commonalities I notice amongst people who are unhappy about where they are in their lives is, they don't put their desires out into the universe.

 photo courtesy spiritualnow.com

People don't get what they want for a number of reasons but the most the most apparent is...

They aren't honest about what they want and don't live in integrity of what they say they want.
-Maybe these aren't really their dreams - maybe the dreams belong to someone else.
-Maybe they don't want to hurt someone's feelings by telling them THIS is the path I want to pursue and what you want isn't necessarily what I want...anymore.
-Maybe they are on the path already and sabotage themselves because if they don't succeed they can fall back into their old habits which are comfortable.
-Maybe they are content being average, and that's OK.
-Maybe the path is scary and they aren't mature enough to see past their emotional attachment to what's on this side of the path instead of the possibility of what may be on the other side.

The Universe does a good job of keeping people in line.
"You get what you ask for."
"Be careful what you ask for, you may just get it."

These are little sayings that remind us to be careful in choosing our path and be focused once we are on it. Once you know what you want, make your choices count, because the sole person responsible for those choices is YOU.

I know what I want, but it took me forty years to have integrity in that and be proud about it, remembering, I don't have to live anyone else's life but my own. When I think in my head, "I got this", I mean it. Not that people can't have hurdles on their path. Not that everyone's path wasn't meant for them at that time. But, if you truly have connected with your hearts desire, and you have taken the steps towards meeting your goals, you should be committed to doing what it takes and finding your success.

Have ever been on a road you realized you weren't committed to, and changed your mind, but you were already halfway there; people were expecting you, and you had made obligations? Instead of just saying, I changed my mind, I made a wrong turn, I'd rather stay right here - instead you continue on, as if you are still committed, and the Universe takes over. The Universe hides your wallet, or your keys, or flats your tire - prevents you from going down the path you've decided was not truly the path you wanted. In the back of your mind, you think, "I didn't really want to go anyway", or on the opposite, you remember the goal - you jump at the best opportunity to get there. Therein lies your stamina for your goal. I almost didn't make it to my flight attendant interview, but through the tears, and pushes from others in the universe who knew how badly I wanted it, I figured out a way to get there. You lay the foundation and the Universe makes a path. Take it!

Have integrity in your decisions and honor yourself first.

Once I had kids it was easier to do this because I had their paths to think about too - and still do. My path directly affects their path. When I was single, I didn't worry about my path because I could change it whenever I wanted to - no harm, no foul. My single friends still have this option, sometimes forgetting that my decisions are still family based. I'm not taking a path I haven't thought over and over to plan for the future of my kids. And I'm not going to let anyone else make decisions for me that will affect my, or their path.

Every step I take...every move I make...is long thought out and I've got my eye on the Universe and how she takes care of me.

Connecting

The Universe is an amazing place. The concept of the earth and all the planets, the sun and the moon is so vaste - no human will ever have the capacity to wrap their head around what an expansive, energized powerful world we live in.
I have always been intrigued with the concept of fate. What drives fate? The power of the universe and human thought. Karma. Effective, powerful thinking - in terms of making things happen for you. Positive thinking in terms of change. Are we indeed all catalysts for our path?
I believe so.
I do believe firmly that every step you take is a force to making your life work for you.
The power of thought is beyond any physical force you can imagine.
I have a hundred stories, if I have one, of the power of thought and how my life has benefited from the power of my own mind.

I have always believed that success comes from hard work and integrity. This is how I live my life. Exuding positive energy from the moment I wake up until I drop with the moonlight is part of what makes me feel accomplished. Being honest without hurting people. Not being a user. Giving 100% because it's the right thing to do, not because someone tells me to - because your actions do affect people. The cycle of intent is even more powerful than actions themselves.

I had a difficult year. I finally found a great job in a great environment with people that I like, doing something I really love - after a year of unemployment and a tremendously desperate outlook. My integrity for success kept me afloat for a long time. After finding a great career match, I struggled with the after effects that a year of unemployment imposes. I kept my head up. I never let a day go by when I did not remember I was a role model to two amazing kids that I would never let go without - without food, without shelter, without pride.
I tried to never get ahead of myself in my worry. Never think about next month...just get through the day, and the week. Slowly but surely, this year got better. I caught up on my current financial issues. I paid back borrowed monies. I pay my rent on time. I looked forward to the end of the year, the holiday season, and New Years Eve (which is my favorite holiday) as the renewed life of my lifestyle. Getting back on my feet has never been so important or so integral to my future and the future of my kids.
I didn't know if I would be able to afford Christmas presents, or not, this year, and not that I didn't care, but I was so happy to have food and a home that it really didn't matter. Somehow, I had gotten through the year with the help of my friends, carpooling my children to and from school while I worked, lending a hand when I couldn't see the reach. My friends (and neighbors) showed up, and I can't thank them or be grateful enough - Douglas, Jessi, Rhonda, and at the end Jen & Scott - you have no idea how much your generosity has meant to me when I had no one to help me. I was reminded constantly that I am alone then quickly reminded that I have a circle of love around me bigger than my physical boundaries. And I am grateful.
I met a generous soul at the airport (which seems to be the conduit for all my energy lately), and this person was kind enough to give me tickets to a football game. This seems like a simple thing, but I would never have been able to afford such a gift for my son this year, and to see his favorite team to boot...my environment and the positive energy I create, again, gifted me with something for my children. At Christmas.
I was lucky enough to meet some great people this year who have done great things for me and never made me feel inadequate because I had a hard year. I have been humbled and revived.
I am blessed.
I will never deny the power of thought, the power of attraction, and the gift of the universe if you are open and believe.