10 June 2022 Beautiful Reminders Of The Kingdom

June 10, 2022June 10, 2022 by saymber, posted in animals, Art and Poetry, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Money, Music, Native American Culture, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, space, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you, I hope this post finds you well today. Link and I are doing pretty well which I am so grateful about. So much going on every second we live. I’ve been praying for the world. Yesterday I looked at the Fortune 500 and gun manufacturer list. Found out the Ar-15 is no longer made by Colt but by a Czech company CZG-Ceska Zbrojovka Group. I’ve begun to follow the money, goods and services of the world with my thoughts and prayers.

Yesterdays walks were without Link. I finally found what was bothering his foot – a sharp seed had embedded itself in the fur of his paw. He was so pissed at me for fiddling with and pulling it out! Growling and making faces at me and he was so apologetic about it lol! Kind of like a crabby lion just needing a thorn removed from his paw.

Anyhew what I saw on the walk yesterday reminded me of my Grandma Schmidt and her amazing roses. As I saw, smelled and touched them it was like her saying hello to me…..joining me on the walk. Sometimes when I stayed with her and Grandpa we would go for walks. God and this earth are so comforting with ways like this to remember and experience those we have loved and lost:

This is something I learned about yesterday. It’s called a leaf gall. What is a leaf gall?

Galls are **abnormal growths that occur on leaves, twigs, roots, or flowers of many plants**. Most galls are caused by irritation and/or stimulation of plant cells due to feeding or egg-laying by insects such as aphids, midges, wasps, or mites.
https://mortonarb.org › tree-plant-care
Plant Galls | The Morton Arboretum

I also think often of Saint Therese Lisieux (https://www.littleflower.org/st-therese/frequently-asked-questions/) when I am experiencing the beauty of Gods creation. Learning about her taught me that life isn’t just about “big things” we do and that occur in a lifetime. There are so many little things, seemingly minute details, that if left undone the world is incomplete. We all have a part in Gods plans…..great and small. It’s important to do our part the best we can.

Luke 17 The Coming of the Kingdom of God^(W)

²⁰Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come,^(X) Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, ²¹nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’^(Y) because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”^[c]

²²Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man,^(Z) but you will not see it.^(AA) ²³People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them.^(AB)²⁴For the Son of Man in his day^[d] will be like the lightning,^(AC) which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. ²⁵But first he must suffer many things^(AD) and be rejected^(AE)by this generation.^(AF)

²⁶“Just as it was in the days of Noah,^(AG) so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.²⁷People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

²⁸“It was the same in the days of Lot.^(AH)People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. ²⁹But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

³⁰“It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.^(AI) ³¹On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything.^(AJ)³²Remember Lot’s wife!^(AK) ³³Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.^(AL) ³⁴I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. ³⁵Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”^(AM) ^[36]^[e]

³⁷“Where, Lord?” they asked.

He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”^(AN)

https://youtu.be/CNApcyzaY60 – Sacred Spirit Yeha-Noha

For some reason recently I was lead in thoughts from Morse Code, the Enigma machine to the Navajo code talkers that saved our behinds at Iwo Jima. All of our communication is some sort of pattern, tone, pitch, code….sound….energy wave. Chester’s message here to fellow Marines resonates on many levels….”come home safe….come home in one piece.”

https://youtu.be/8JU7H4-_OAs – Chester Nez Last of the original Navajo Code Talkers

https://youtu.be/yz6qUTH1vuY – Song for Uvalde lyric video

9 June 2022 Removing Obstacles To Meaningful Change

June 9, 2022June 9, 2022 by saymber, posted in animals, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Movies, Music, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Equisetum hyemale (commonly known as rough horsetail,[1] scouring rush, scouringrush horsetail

Hello to you. How are you doing in your today? There is so much going on in the big world and out individual worlds! I hope your making time for yourself and making time to have a relationship with God. All those things you might think are so important don’t have much meaning if you are exhausted and your spirit is depleted!

This morning my thoughts were about what I have been observing about our shared existence and change. Each of us like a little earth and we are it’s President. We have our own ideas, morals, values…..rules and code for how our personal earth operates. Each of us have different and unique biology with in addition to life experiences shape our individual perception of how our personal earth should function. We don’t all like the exact same of most anything that has been conceived of. It’s hard to get agreement in ourselves at times! So much input creating so much inner conflict. There are things we agree on but even in those agreements are the personal perceptions…..expectations of how and how much we agree. Our personal beliefs and perspectives when it comes to issues that come before us as a whole to decide on can become walls too high to climb. Too thick to even yell and be heard through. We get set in our ways. We get comfortable. We think we are right. We are often driven by emotions and one of the most powerful is the energy of fear. Least that’s what I have been seeing for quite some time now.

When it comes to making hard decisions like those facing us now, I think it’s important to remember each mini-earth aka life form is biologically incapable of perceiving existence exactly the same. No two life forms are going to witness an experience exactly the same. They have a unique body with unique biological operations. We don’t interact with ourselves, others or anything external exactly the same. For example just because you were raised responsibly doesn’t mean that’s the case for most anyone around you. You might have everything you need to function well and many around you do not. Something as simple as temperature – some like it hot and some cold. Is either one “wrong” no…just different. These disparities shape lives and perceptions…make each of us uniquely us. It is important in the process of trying to attain agreement to recognize that different doesn’t always have to mean wrong.

Sometimes instead of building bridges we build higher walls.

Instead of being open minded and open to the possibilities that we may not be entirely right about something….even afraid about things can cause obstacles to appear……obstructions to making a path forward to changes we desperately need. What are the facts before us? Can we trust the evidence? Where and what is the common ground? What old perceptions, emotions and beliefs are stalling our progress? I truly believe in order for meaningful progress there are mostly intangible obstacles we must recognize and remove on each of our own little planets!

How much longer do we let fear and scarcity rule the day? When we succumb to fear we are living a life without God. Each day I am praying for all leaders that God would give them empathy, wisdom and courage. I pray that God will help them respect differences, recognize their own perceptions and how those perceptions are controlling their thought and decision making processes.

We must honor, acknowledge and respect that we are biologically incapable of perceiving existence exactly the same. This doesn’t make “wrong” it makes “different.”

Matthew 22:36-40″Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ‘ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

This is for young people we have tragically lost like Eliahna “ellie” amyah Garcia who was 9 years old and was going to read this message out loud but never got the chance. A young man fueled by anger and bad choices played God and took her chance away. Now the world doesn’t have all the things Eliahna was truly here to do. The same can be said for Salvador Ramos.

Deuteronomy 6:5New International Version

⁵Love^(A) the Lord your God with all your heart^(B)and with all your soul and with all your strength.

https://youtu.be/HhvDg9c2Soc – This Bibb County Judge tells the truth to these teens

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/judges-inspiring-speech-brings-youth-to-tears-203919982.html – Judge Verda Colvin

Anybody can do nothing,” said Colvin. “Why would you want to do nothing? You are special, and you are uniquely made, and nobody can do what you are meant to do in this world. Nobody. And if you don’t do it, we won’t have it. If you continue to go the way you’re going, that will be 17 more gifts that we’re missing as a society.”

https://youtu.be/8yn3ViE6mhY– Precious Depeche Mode

8 June 2022 Star Rose

June 8, 2022 by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Bipolar life, Health, history, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), space, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

“Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time.” – Jean-Michel Basquiat(December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988). – my therapist shared this with me today and I just love it! I am a time traveler in my own head when it comes to the multi-sensory experience that music can be. Hearing certain songs takes me to different destinations. Sometimes it’s long ago and sometimes it’s “right now.”

I found a star rose! As is above so it is below!

It’s not just music that can be a multi-sensory experience. This picture of what I’m calling a star rose for example. When I see this picture I remember how the color made me feel when I first saw it. How the roses petals felt on my fingers. How wonderful the rose smelled. So many layers of experience in just capturing the image of a being sharing this existence.

Something fun to share with you about light being able to transmit the message of sound:

https://youtu.be/Gj_wdMU-b04 – Can you send sound on a light beam? (Mr. Wizard)

I was thinking a lot about this concept yesterday. I was thinking about refraction and other “obstacles” to using a beam of light to send a message….to receiving a message. There was another experiment Mr. Wizard does with timing the speed of a sound. There are several variables to consider with how fast we receive a sound. Think about “dead stars” in space. We see them still shining long after their life cycle has ceased. It takes that long for the message of change to travel to us…. the light and sounds in waves and particles crossing such great distances. I think of what the girl did in the video I’m sharing with you. She was holding the flashlight and sending the signal of light and sound information but all it took was her putting her hand in front of the flashlight to obstruct the signal.

Allium flower – the process this flower has taken to get to this picture has seemed like something from another planet!

Allium, also called Ornamental Onion, is one of the most interesting blooms in the spring and summer garden. With a spherical shape that holds its form throughout the season, it’s one of the longest lasting blooms to be had from a bulb.

https://www.americanmeadows.com › …

Allium Flower Bulbs – American Meadows

I want to take a moment to thank all those who have been praying for me with the pain I’ve been experiencing. It helps! I also wanted to share that there is power in prayer for not just people. Link has been experiencing something with his back foot and I worked through old fears about it, prayed and let God on it. The boy got some rest last night and quit messing with his foot! God seems to care for all of creation not just people.

I have been finding music like this helpful. The varying frequencies of musical energy can reach parts of us that nothing else can:

https://youtu.be/ywPriq-D4J4 – 777 hz angelic code, repairs DNA code, manifest miracles, release negative energy

6 June 2022 Thinking

June 6, 2022 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, books, Health, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you today. How are you? I hope this finds you well. As I look out the windows this morning you would never know we had thunder and lightening yesterday! Beautiful blue skies out there!

Whenever I experience thunder and lightening – especially the lightening part- a word comes to mind: thinking. Seeing all those bands of light flashing about makes me imagine what’s going on inside my own brain….my body. The phrase “as above so below” comes to mind too. Where did the concept of making beings like us come from? What was God’s inspiration to fashion us brains running with electricity? All those flashes of light from one neural path to another right in our own heads! It makes sense to me that before there was science that our ancestors saw thunder and lightening as God speaking to them. Last night I just sat and listened….watched. I could almost hear God saying, “I am God! You are guests here! Everything belongs to me!”

To me the earth is a sentient creation of God…..not just some mere blue marble. Look around you and listen beyond our human activities….despite it all the earth can make a beautiful flower grow in a tiny crack in a driveway. So much meaningful intelligence going on just to keep us all alive even as we continue to harm ourselves, each other and the rest of creation we share life with. What a merciful God! Sometimes the weather patterns seem like expression of emotion. One storm will be gentle and yet another like rage.

A couple messages from A Woman’s Spirit today – sometimes all you can do is laugh at how ridiculous life can be:

“I will not take myself so seriously. I will let laughter heal.” Jan Pishok

“Laughter promotes personal growth and health. I will practice this prescription today. “

One of my favorite comedians is Gabriel Iglesias:

https://youtu.be/uPc5X4BSltw – Gabriel Iglesias Aloha Fluffy 2013 Hawaii full show

Some pictures from yesterdays walks:

Your brain is made up of networks of small cells called neurons that communicate electrochemically to enable you to think, feel, and interact with the world around you. Because electrical charges are responsible for brain activity, electrical stimulation can in turn be used to change the brain’s functioning.May 15, 2019

https://kids.frontiersin.org › articles

Wake Up, Brain!: Using Electricity to Think and Feel Differently

5 June 2022 Who Is It?

June 5, 2022 by saymber, posted in Food, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Money, Movies, Music, Native American Culture, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, space, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you doing today? I’m doing better. Just getting sleep, singing and praying more has been helping me. This morning I glanced at the news on my phone and after being mortified at someone suggesting the answer to ending gun violence in American schools is to arm children, I found a message that resonated with me from Pope Francis about discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit:

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/amp/news/251454/on-pentecost-pope-francis-explained-how-to-distinguish-the-holy-spirit-s-voice

“The Holy Spirit will never tell you that on your journey everything is going just fine. … No, he corrects you; he makes you weep for your sins; he pushes you to change, to fight against your lies and deceptions, even when that calls for hard work, interior struggle and sacrifice,” Pope Francis said in his homily on June 5.

“Whereas the evil spirit, on the contrary, pushes you to always do what you think and you find pleasing. He makes you think that you have the right to use your freedom any way you want. Then, once you are left feeling empty inside – it is bad, this feeling of emptiness inside, many of us have felt it – and when you are left feeling empty inside, he blames you, becomes the accuser, and throws you down, destroys you.”

Looking at my own personal journey, it has been a struggle at times. It can be very alluring to think about things like revenge and power. It can be easy to try and do and be everything of this life thinking it’s just your own power and attributes propelling you forward. Where does your life force come from? It’s not just eating, drinking, exercising, making love, socializing with family, pets and friends, going to church and praying, meditating, experiencing entertainments the world offers, having a career, doing hobbies, going to school, reading books and going to seminars – least not for me. Underneath all that I am and ever hope to be is a force greater than myself – God. Whatever label, whatever name the inner force is for you I caution you to it’s motives…..the “why.” Why comes before all the what’s!

Some lovely flowers from the walks yesterday- they smell so good!

Christianity. In Christianity, the word may have several meanings. Discernment can describe the process of determining God’s desire in a situation or for one’s life or identifying the true nature of a thing, such as discerning whether a thing is good, evil, or may even transcend the limiting notion of duality.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org › wiki

Discernment – Wikipedia

4 June 2022 Angel Sounds

June 4, 2022 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, dreams, Health, history, Home, human rights, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Walking by the canals yesterday with Link, we were treated with the sight of a wild Iris! I love surprises like this ❤️

Hello to you. How are you? I’m doing pretty good as I write to you today. This morning I had gone back to sleep and had one of those vivid dreams I’ve talked to you about before. It’s like being alive in a parallel world from your own. For a brief moment I saw a dog that looked like a pug, standing by a window much like mine. Coming through the blinds was a single point of light and the dog seemed to be reacting to it. It looked like the lights I see sometimes. It wasn’t a normal light you might expect to see and I startled awake!

Yesterday I spent most of the day singing and exploring music. Doing this helped a lot in trying to lift the depression I’ve been experiencing lately. The other thing about singing and listening to music is it helps with body pain too. Music is an amazing energy in its many forms. It can reach all parts of us and evoke energetic miracles. I think of The Music and Memory Organization saying this (https://musicandmemory.org/)

Here are are a couple sounds in addition to the Tanpura I found yesterday, kind of had angels on my mind:

https://youtu.be/DyjPdNFEZC0 – Audioslave Like a Stone (finger style guitar and vocals) Lucas Imbiriba

https://youtu.be/DE7_VtGIR8o – Matt Redman Angels (singing Gloria) (Lyrics and Chords) feat Chris Tomlin

https://youtu.be/uujxyfqrDg4 -Judikay – Song of Angels – Ndi Mo Zi –

https://youtu.be/_j13d5eFgQk – Libera – Angel (performed live at Universal Studios Japan)

https://youtu.be/wxgfnEkxkMI – Angels singing caught on tape (Jesus Norway) – it’s up to you as to what you think of this recording. It would be amazing to think angels voices can reach us!

https://youtu.be/hGnvp9KzimA – Rhythmic Sounds- Close or Far- Mei-lan Maurits

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1493509553 – Astravert session yesterday (Justin Carter)

I loved seeing and hearing someone who normally paints murals doing some singing too: https://fb.watch/drflU6Ktw_/ – Muralist Tony Stafki

3 June 2022 The Consoling and Healing Power of Music

June 3, 2022June 3, 2022 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you? This morning I’m feeling grateful for so many things – I don’t want to be sad again today! These past couple of weeks have been so heavy! When I’m feeling low it’s gratitude that is my life preserver. With thoughts of gratitude comes my love for God and music. What an amazing thing for God to inspire us to create. Even if all you can do is hum a few bars! To me expressing ourselves in music is a fantastic form of praise to God and this earth.

https://youtu.be/TTXBLspw_Z0 – Paul Baloche God of Wonders

Music in it’s many forms has always been something I could turn to for every facet of life experience. Whether it be a happy, sad or confusing moment, there has been some sort of song. This morning I wanted to remember happier, sillier times in my life and the B-52’s came to mind. I think it’s so wonderful that after all these years they still perform together:

https://youtu.be/9SOryJvTAGs – B-52’s Love Shack

https://youtu.be/d1Nq82S7_0Q – Rock Lobster – B52’s

This psalm, 147, has a little bit of everything in it. God mending the hearts of the broken hearted and giving praise in song. I thought it was beautiful that there was music to honor the victims at Uvalde:

Psalm 147

¹Praise the Lord.^[a]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!²The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
³He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
⁴He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
⁵Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
⁶The Lord sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.⁷Sing to the Lord with grateful praise;
make music to our God on the harp.⁸He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
⁹He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call.¹⁰His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
¹¹the Lord delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.¹²Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;
praise your God, Zion.¹³He strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses your people within you.
¹⁴He grants peace to your borders
and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.¹⁵He sends his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
¹⁶He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.
¹⁷He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
¹⁸He sends his word and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.¹⁹He has revealed his word to Jacob,
his laws and decrees to Israel.
²⁰He has done this for no other nation;
they do not know his laws.^[b]Praise the Lord.

Voices and talents shared to help console a broken hearted Texas community:

https://youtu.be/lwmitxvM0LE – Light of the world church choir at memorial site of Uvalde shooting victims

https://youtu.be/FA1cupxYaKM – Mariachis honor victims of Uvalde school shooting with musical performance

https://youtu.be/ZjUE07zDtEA – 11-year old songs sings in honor of friend killed in Uvalde shooting

2 June 2022 At Last and Dog Stuff

June 2, 2022June 2, 2022 by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Bipolar life, Health, history, Home, human rights, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

https://youtu.be/S-cbOl96RFM– Etta James – At Last

Sometimes you need a power ballad to encourage yourself to put your feet on the ground and engage with gravity! When I hear this song it just takes me to such wonderful places. Thank you Etta!

Yesterday Link and I had an experience I hoped not to face again with another dog. We were walking in the neighborhood and a dog we pass, that is normally on a leash, wasn’t and he went after Link and I. Link and I were both screaming and trying to get away when finally the dogs owner came out. He had to get another neighbors help as his dog just took off. This experience triggered feelings from when something like this happened in Alvarado when Spot and I were attacked by two pit bulls that had gotten loose. The town ended up passing a viscous dog law because of what happened! I’m not mad at the dog in all this. Dogs that don’t get regular exercise and stimulation get pent up and bored – they “do shit!” All those times Link and I had walked past while he was secured and would lunge at us I guess was foreshadowing for what happened yesterday.

It’s important to remember that the animals we choose to share our lives with have feelings, emotions and needs. These things unmet, neglected or ignored can have scary consequences. They don’t handle what’s going on inside like we do and as was the case yesterday, can’t really be reasoned with! Thankfully all that happened was rattled nerves and in Links case, a normally curly tail gone flat and between his legs. It was hard to get over hearing him scream like he did.

https://youtube.com/c/CesarMillanOfficial – Cesar Millan (Dog Whisperer Channel on YouTube)

Thinking of St Francis, a saint that loved animals:

Franciscan and Other Common Prayers

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Glad to see change is being considered in light of recent events in our country. I hope it will go beyond just consideration and become action.

1 June 2022 Letting God

June 1, 2022June 2, 2022 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, books, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

https://youtu.be/_RzsPdmfcaw – The Voice Dog remix by Timbu Fun feat Walter Geoffrey the Frenchie

https://youtu.be/92i5m3tV5XY – F*ck that an honest meditation

Link cooling his belly on a break during our walk yesterday. He loves the grass!

How are you today? Link and I are doing pretty good. Last night was a bit rough for both of us but eventually Jesus and his team got us some rest. There is so much light and energy going on at night and I’m sensitive to it. Something I’m doing now is trying to get off the phone before bed and do some singing. The Tanpura is great to sing with along with Mei-lan. Just tones varying in range and duration….no words. It’s like prayer.

Today’s message from A Woman’s Spirit is a good reminder about the futility of trying to control others….letting God:

Basically, I have two choices: either accept people and their behavior at face value, or remove myself from the situation. I cannot change other people, but I can control my behavior.

Trying to control other people has been a long- term character defect for most of us. Becoming abstinent didn’t take away the seduction of control. Perhaps for some of us becoming abstinent even heightened the seduction. Minds no longer clouded by alcohol or other drugs see with greater clarity many more invitations to control.

At first glance, it seems unfortunate that becoming free of the obsession to use chemicals didn’t also free us of trying to control the people and events in our lives. But had that been the case, we would have relied less on our Higher Power for help to grow and change. And the greatest gift of this recovery program is learning that we have “One who is all powerful” to help us make decisions, to guide us every step of the way.

I will protect my serenity today by letting people in my life take charge of themselves. If I begin to falter, my Higher Power will help me.

__________

https://youtu.be/EoZPTaoo134 – The Embrace feat Ruby Amanfu (The Chosen)

Proud of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the people of Canada for deciding to take steps towards peace.

31 May 2022 Seventy-nine

May 31, 2022May 31, 2022 by saymber, posted in Art and Poetry, drawing, dreams, history, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Drawing I did of my Dad and his Mom Irene many years ago

Hello to you. How are you today? I hope you are doing ok. It’s been rough here but I’m doing better. Last night I tried to sleep without extra meds and was doing pretty good until I woke up after a weird dream. It started with seeing my phone and an image on it like from the group Anonymous. Then I was sitting with someone watching tv. The tv flickered and that same image appeared on the tv screen! What woke me up was hearing a scary voice saying, “no need to alert the authorities.” My brain doing weird stuff again lol!

Anyhew…. today is my Dad’s 79th birthday! Wow! It’s hard to believe but he and I used to joke that he was going to live as long as Moses! That’s like 120! If he and I were together today we would be dueling with our forks over Mom’s chocolate pudding dessert. The past couple of years have been hard on him but he is a survivor – something he and Mom always taught me to be! I’m missing him today. I miss his hugs! There is something about a hug from your Dad. I just felt so loved and safe when we hugged….the worlds noise and cares couldn’t reach me for a little bit. I love you Dad! ❤️

Many years ago, when I was still in Junior High, I was in an advanced writing program . They liked analogies I wrote. This one I wrote thinking of my Dad:

“An open window in spring is like the loving arms of a father.”

John 15:9New International Version

⁹“As the Father has loved me,^(A) so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

https://youtu.be/oCE4VWKY5YI – happy birthday from alfalfa (little rascals)