Hello to you. Hope this finds you well today. I found out it’s World Water Day – water is life! There are simple things each of us can do to help conserve our most precious of resources. Stuff as simple as turning off the tap when your brushing your teeth. Taking shorter showers. Not rinsing your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. I found this National Geographic video that is short but shows some good examples of places where efforts are being made to preserve waterways- so many lives, not just human, depend on them:
The night before Chris died I had a disturbing dream of being pulled through my bedroom ceiling. Finding out he had strangled himself really hit me hard. His music was some of the first music my husband shared with me. In particular I Am the Highway. Songs like Be Yourself have comforted me through so many difficult times. His struggles and manner of death really bothered me. With my own journey with alcohol dependency for a time hearing of his battles really touched my heart. Addiction is a disease that so many lose the battle with….Chris was one such casualty. I’m glad his family got some peace with their law suite: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/chris-cornell-family-settlement-doctor-1166269/amp/
Messages from A Woman’s Spirit:
When we are all wrapped up in ourselves, we present a very small package to others. – Georgette Vickstrom
Today I can put aside my tendency to look at every circumstance in relationship to myself. With God’s help, I can put my attention on others.
Hello to you. How are you? I hope this finds you well. I went to church today and there were good messages for us. What stuck out for me is talking about the appropriate way to treat those difficult people in our lives. We all have or have had them. The natural tendency is to treat those types unkindly and this goes against what we have been taught. I think of Joyce Meyers and how despite everything her parents did or didn’t do to her as a child she still took care of them and treated them with love and kindness until the day they died. As a result her Dad actually accepted Jesus shortly before he died….do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I like that Pastor Jason Boyd suggested we start small. Start with your own home, your neighborhood and the place you work. I would add starting with yourself- are you at war inside your own skin?
The messages in A Woman’s Spirit talk about the importance of our stories. In our stories of trials and difficulties is hope. When we share our stories other people going through similar things can see possible solutions, find strength and see that those troubles pass! Here is the message for today:
I can’t expect you to share yourself if I can’t do the same. – Cathy Stone
We have been told we benefit from sharing our stories with others. However, most of us have shared intimate details of our lives in the past, only to have them repeated all over town. We may have decided that nothing was safe to share.
Now we are asked once again to share our secrets. What seems even stranger is that we’re asked to tell them to people whose last names we don’t even know. How crazy this seems when we first enter a Twelve Step program. Until we do it, however, we will not reap the benefits that are in store. We can only discover how like others we really are by telling them about us and then listening while they share similar stories. The intimacy that follows transforms our lives. Our time for self disclosure has come. Let’s rejoice and reap the rewards.
I will tell a trusted friend who I really am today. I can count on affirmation and acceptance if I choose my friend well.
_________________
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom* to know the difference.
*Remember we can learn from the past but we cannot change it. We are not powerless – we have right now. More of better nows means a lot less wreckage in our past and more hope for the future. I believe it is in sharing our stories we can heal and break the chains of multigenerational trauma.
Willow tree I just love in our neighborhood She has a huge trunk I think it’s so prettyAnother beauty in our neighborhood Drawing that came to me today
Hello to you. How are you? It’s Saturday and overcast. The sun is peaking out a little bit. Yesterday was nice. I went to breakfast at the Sunrise Cafe and was blessed – a couple that were in there with me paid for my breakfast! I was really touched by that. I got a couple walks in with Link. It was during the evening walk I snapped the pictures of this Willow tree down the street. I just love it! This neighborhood has some lovely mature trees.
The message in A Woman’s Spirit is really good. It reminds us that we can’t control or change the past or future. What we can control about ourselves is right now. We are not powerless in our present moment.
A Woman’s Spirit message for today:
With one foot in the past and the other in the future, how can we possibly know what new path we might follow today? -Jan Pishok
Now is all there is. But how often, really, are our minds in the present? Honestly, aren’t we much more focused on what just happened or what we fear will happen in the next hour or day or year? Being here, now, means giving up the past absolutely. It also means relinquishing all thoughts about the future. Occupying our minds with the experience of this instant only seems hard to do. We’re far more used to greater chaos than what we experience solely in the here as now.
We have a direction that’s right for us. Unfortunately, we miss the road signs because we are still looking over our shoulder at what we passed yesterday. The destiny we need, needs us too. Quietly focusing on our lives , one moment at a time, can assure us of fulfilling it.
Letting go of the noise I carry in my mind changes my life. I can feel and acknowledge what’s here when my mind is open.
_______________
It’s important to remember that we can’t change the past. We can learn from the past but we can’t change it. Working on staying mindful in our present can leave a better past behind us.
Hello to you. How are you this Friday? I’m doing ok. Kind of slow going today.
A reminder for myself today!
Todays message in A Woman’s Spirit touched on expectations. Sometimes we have unrealistic expectations of ourselves and others. I have to remind myself that each of us is different. We are all at different phases of life….our journey. Sometimes we expect from others things we were raised to believe ourselves and what we believe may not resonate. Sometimes the lessons we have been taught and learned haven’t been by the people we share this existence with. We may get frustrated and or resentful that they aren’t on the same page as us. It’s important to remember where we came from, who we have been and forgive others who are just catching up! I experienced this in AA. Others who were further along in their sobriety journey were kind and patient with us newcomers! Like my friend and I talked about today on the stream too is sometimes you have to let people go with love especially if having them in your life will sabotage your peace of mind. I have had to do this to others and it has been done to me. Some people are with us for a lifetime and others just a moment. I say this thinking about all the people I’ve had “chance” encounters with and never saw them again. God has ways of getting messages to us!
A Woman’s Spirit messages:
Through learning to like myself, I’ve been more willing to understand others. -JoAnn Reed
Unrealistic expectations hinder our growth and relationships. We too often try to be superwoman and we want others to complement our drama. But no one can match our expectations. It’s helpful, then, to step back and remind ourselves that we’re all okay, we’re good enough. We are where we need to be for this point in our journey. With effort we’re coming to believe this, little by little.
How do we give up unrealistic expectations, especially when they are triggered by our shame over not being perfect? Coming to believe that we are acceptable, even lovable, to our Higher Power requires a suspension of disbelief. We must first “act as if” and then take time to notice all the goodness on our lives. The evidence will convince us that we are protected and guided, thus loved. Meditating on this truth will give us permission to accept and love ourselves. Understanding and then loving others is only a small step away.
I want to love and appreciate myself and all my friends today. We are here to help each other. God is here too.
Todays message from A Woman’s Spirit is so good I am going to share all of it:
We are who we are, shaped and molded by the times, by the events, and by the persons we encounter on our way, and no one ever changes very much or escapes entirely from that mold. – Ruth Casey
Everything we experience today is woven with all that has gone before. We are a tapestry in progress. We grow and change, heightening some of our patterns, successfully diminishing others, and maintaining still others. We need feel more shame for this person we’ve become; we’ve done our best. From this point forward, with the help of the program, our Higher Power , and the wonderful friendships that sustain us, we will add many new colors and stronger threads to the tapestry that continues to be us.
Even though there is often much we want to change in ourselves, there is much that will and should stay the same. Let’s trust God will guide our efforts in changing those traits that deserve our attention now, leaving the rest for another time. We have been loved, guided, and protected even though we are not perfect. That will be true always.
All that has gone before will help me handle whatever today offers. I am in Gods keeping now and forever.
______________
The skies yesterday
Today this Psalm 103 resonated. I was looking for a Psalm to read for my Twitch video and I came across this one with lots of it highlighted! May be there is something within it that will resonate with you too:
Psalm 103New International Version
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the Lord,(A) my soul;(B) all my inmost being, praise his holy name.(C) 2 Praise the Lord,(D) my soul, and forget not(E) all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins(F) and heals(G) all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life(H) from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,(I) 5 who satisfies(J) your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed(K) like the eagle’s.(L)
6 The Lord works righteousness(M) and justice for all the oppressed.(N)
7 He made known(O) his ways(P) to Moses, his deeds(Q) to the people of Israel: 8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,(R) slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;(S) 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve(T) or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love(U) for those who fear him;(V) 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions(W) from us.
13 As a father has compassion(X) on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed,(Y) he remembers that we are dust.(Z) 15 The life of mortals is like grass,(AA) they flourish like a flower(AB) of the field; 16 the wind blows(AC) over it and it is gone, and its place(AD) remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children(AE)— 18 with those who keep his covenant(AF) and remember(AG) to obey his precepts.(AH)
19 The Lord has established his throne(AI)in heaven, and his kingdom rules(AJ) over all.
20 Praise the Lord,(AK) you his angels,(AL) you mighty ones(AM) who do his bidding,(AN) who obey his word. 21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,(AO) you his servants(AP) who do his will. 22 Praise the Lord, all his works(AQ) everywhere in his dominion.
A little joke between my cousin and I – she gave this to me yesterday lol
Hello to you. How are you today? I’m a little slow today. It’s amazing how much just one hour can screw you up lol! Most people I talk to agree it would be ok if we did away with the daylight savings.
Todays message from A Woman’s Spirit was about how important it is to value your own significance. By valuing your own significance you are more able to value the significance of others. When people are caretaker types or and have low self esteem or are damaged by life they don’t realize their own value. They always put others wants, needs and value before their own. I was like this and wasn’t checking my motives about it……I got resentful! Resentment is the seed oftentimes for addictive behaviors. In addition to trying to get sleep, I used to drink to deal with my feelings. I wanted to be numb. Distractions of this world are used to lose ourselves too. If I’m doing a distracting thing I don’t have to think about anything else – I can avoid myself!
Right now I am having time to get to know myself. I am still not feeling suited to be somebody’s significant other! The void in me that was created by the divorce is being filled with getting to know myself better and getting closer to God.
A Woman’s Spirit Message for today:
Before I can become a significant other, I must become significant to myself. – Kelley Vickstrom
Why is it so hard to feel as if we matter? Putting other people’s wishes and needs before our own may seem natural. We may feel shame when we say no. As girls, we may have watched our mothers and grandmothers tending to the whims of everyone else. Probably without ever being told, we simply followed suit. What’s worse , we may not have even expected appreciation for our actions.
Now that we are learning to think of ourselves we feel a bit selfish. However , we must begin to honor our significance, and we have to understand that to do so is not egotistical. In order to lovingly appreciate others in our lives, to treat them as significant, we have to value our own significance. Our Higher Power considers us significant; it’s time we followed suit.
Affirming my own significance will help me appreciate other people. Today I will value my interactions with others.
This scene from one of my favorite films and books speaks volumes. In this scene multigenerational trauma, how we pass the good and bad through multiple generations is spoken:
“No, this cannot be, this not knowing what you’re worth, this not begin with you. My mother not know her worth until too late – too late for her, but not for me.”
Hello to you. How are you today? I hope this finds you well. It’s a sunny Saturday here. My first night on the new mattress went pretty well. I had lots of dreams so know that I actually fell asleep!
Todays message in A Woman’s Spirit had to do with how we process what our external world says about us. Says we should be. Says what we are. It’s all programming! When we were younger we didn’t have boundaries or an internal filter… life experience to be able to discern whether or not what the world and the people in our lives said to and about us. I know I mostly absorbed external inputs as truths whether they were true or not! I think that’s why it’s so rough for young people on social media. They don’t have the maturity to discern what is true and what isn’t….for many it’s all truth and that’s were self harm, suicide and eating disorders come in. What we put into our bodies and souls goes into our brain and becomes thoughts which then become action….the manifestation of our living reality. It’s so important to really pay attention to what we put into our CPU aka brain. Garbage in….garbage out!
The message today is so good I decided to put it all in this post. You become what you think about the most….what you “worship.” Put good stuff into yourself!
A Woman’s Spirit:
The subconscious works to create the reality according to the programming it has been fed.- Susan Smith Jones
The mind is seldom quiet. Even when we don’t think we are thinking, we are. Our lives reflect our thoughts. It should be obvious that the way to get a better life is to think better thoughts. If it’s that easy, why don’t we have more productive, joy-filled lives?
As youngsters we learned to interpret the faces and the comments of those close to us. That helped us determine how to evaluate ourselves as adults.
Just as the messages we heard in the past told us who we were, the messages we hear now do likewise. But as adults, we can now decide which messages to accept: some we should cherish, many we should discard. We have the maturity now to replace them at will.
I don’t have to accept how anyone defines me today. I can give myself only positive input. My output will reflect it.
(For some reason I got interrupted mid-stream so it’s in two parts)
Hello to you. How are you today? I’ll start with the message from A Woman’s Spirit. It was really good. It was about how when we remove addicting substances or other obstructions we are able to get to know ourselves better.
“We don’t necessarily like every aspect of who we are now. And most of us loathe who we used to be. But having the tools to peel away the layers of denial about the past and having the willingness to face our feelings are paramount to becoming who we’d rather be. What we’re getting to, what’s deep in our soul, is the person God has hoped would emerge all along. Having the chance to know our soul is a profoundly important gift. Let’s gently unwrap it.”
On my Twitch Stream today my focus was on the crisis I see with our global water supply. Why does it seem like clouds don’t form on their own anymore? I lived in a state that heavily relied on cloud seeding to keep up with increased demands for water and it’s seeming to be the same here in Idaho. I think the water that comes isn’t natural water and I wonder if it’s contributing to why we have so many forest fires . I wonder if the water that falls from these manufactured clouds isn’t making vegetation more flammable. I remember seeing silver droplets on the leaves of my trees back in Texas after cloud seeding flights. I believe it’s all connected. We rely on water for just about everything we use just day to day. To think our planet can’t seem to generate “natural” water like it once did is very concerning to me.
The other thing I touched on is the potential train wreck I’m seeing ahead with the conversion to electric vehicles. I think the cart has been put in front of the horse about this. Can the current power grid support the massive increase of demand that will come with billions of electric vehicles without bankrupting most consumers with high electric bills? The smart thing to do would be to make sure we have sustainable power generation modalities to keep up with the increased demand. The back up to most alternative power generating modalities is usually gas. Nuclear power with proper safety procedures in place and proper facility maintenance is probably the near term answer. If the US would recycle fuel cells that would be good too. I just am seeing things moving really fast to get people into electric cars but the infrastructure needed to support it doesn’t seem to exist right now. I think ultimately consumers are really going to be footing a big expense. Seems to be that way no matter what we do doesn’t it?!!
Anyhew….I hope some visionaries are thinking about these things. It seems like so many people that control what makes our world go are using crisis management. Doing things and asking for forgiveness later.
Hello to you. I hope this finds you well. There was a great message in A Woman’s Spirit today about how if we can find positive attributes in other people we can find the positive within ourselves. What I learned from reading works by Shakti Gawain is that people are mirrors of ourselves both good and bad. If we don’t like someone or something chances are it’s because we are seeing a part of ourselves we don’t like or we were like that but have moved beyond it. I am trying to do this practice when I look at what’s going on with Putin. What is his existence trying to teach us? I believe ultimately God has the final say with all of this that is going on. What is God trying to teach us right now? What are we supposed to be learning? I think about bullies beating up the little kids on the block. How long do the spectators allow the bullying to go on? God is in charge- that’s what I feel anyways. I can’t help but think of what happened in A Christmas Story…..is “Ralphie” going to snap?
A Woman’s Spirit messages:
“Believe the best in yourself. Then it is easier to believe the best in others.”-Mardy Kopischke
“The contribution I can make today is really so easy. All I need to do is focus on a positive quality not only in someone else but also in myself. “
Todays psalm really resonated with the times we are facing:
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear(A) this, all you peoples;(B) listen, all who live in this world,(C) 2 both low and high,(D) rich and poor alike: 3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;(E) the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.(F) 4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;(G) with the harp(H) I will expound my riddle:(I)
5 Why should I fear(J) when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me— 6 those who trust in their wealth(K) and boast(L) of their great riches?(M) 7 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— 8 the ransom(N) for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—(O) 9 so that they should live on(P) forever and not see decay.(Q) 10 For all can see that the wise die,(R) that the foolish and the senseless(S)also perish, leaving their wealth(T) to others.(U) 11 Their tombs(V) will remain their houses[b]forever, their dwellings for endless generations,(W) though they had[c] named(X) lands after themselves.
12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;(Y) they are like the beasts that perish.(Z)
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,(AA) and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[d] 14 They are like sheep and are destined(AB)to die;(AC) death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail(AD) over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. 15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;(AE) he will surely take me to himself.(AF) 16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; 17 for they will take nothing(AG) with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.(AH) 18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—(AI) and people praise you when you prosper— 19 they will join those who have gone before them,(AJ) who will never again see the light(AK)of life.
20 People who have wealth but lack understanding(AL) are like the beasts that perish.(AM)
Hello to you! How are you doing today? It’s cloudy here this morning. I hope we get some rain we really need it. We are having a drought here in Idaho.
Todays message in A Woman’s Spirit talks about letting other people learn their own lessons. I have always been the kind of person that has trouble just staying on my own side of the street and not trying to go over and clean another persons. For example I used to have a problem with feeling like I had to pick up trash. It was a very strong compulsion until it really sunk in that by picking up after people I was just enabling their behavior. There is so much we do in this world that we think is helping to solve a problem but really is just enabling undesirable behaviors. I saw it with the Animal Shelter back in Alvarado. People would dump their dogs and cats. The shelter would pick them up and the shelter would get full. The shelter would then have to take extreme measures to try and get the animals adopted, get emptied out and the whole cycle would start all over. People just kept getting away with being irresponsible. I see so much of that in its various forms. If there is no consequences people just keep doing things that are not ok. The other day I saw this article about Boyan Slats Ocean Cleanup operation: https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/down-to-earth/22949475/ocean-plastic-pollution-cleanup and it was an interesting perspective about what operations like Boyans do. More needs to be done to make companies and people responsible for the mess they are making. There are so many flaws with the creation of plastics and other things that end up in landfills and our waterways. It’s like no one thinks about the life cycle of their products – environmental impact- before they make things. I started doing that and I don’t make things like I used to….and it’s ok.
A Woman’s Spirit message:
“Change comes about when we stop trying to shape up the other person and begin to observe patterns and find new options for our own behavior.” – Harriet Lerner
“Accepting that we can’t change someone else affects every detail of our lives. Many of us have spent years frustrated, even frantic at times, trying to control the actions and opinions of others.”
This psalm 46 really resonated – a power ballad of words for what’s going on these days:
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.
1 God is our refuge(A) and strength,(B) an ever-present(C) help(D) in trouble.(E) 2 Therefore we will not fear,(F) though the earth give way(G) and the mountains fall(H) into the heart of the sea,(I) 3 though its waters roar(J) and foam(K) and the mountains quake(L) with their surging.[c]
4 There is a river(M) whose streams(N)make glad the city of God,(O) the holy place where the Most High(P)dwells.(Q) 5 God is within her,(R) she will not fall;(S) God will help(T) her at break of day. 6 Nations(U) are in uproar,(V) kingdoms(W)fall; he lifts his voice,(X) the earth melts.(Y)
7 The Lord Almighty(Z) is with us;(AA) the God of Jacob(AB) is our fortress.(AC)
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,(AD) the desolations(AE) he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars(AF) cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow(AG) and shatters the spear; he burns the shields[d] with fire.(AH) 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;(AI) I will be exalted(AJ) among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob(AK) is our fortress.(AL)
To be 