“I wonder. . . what will you be focusing on today? What will that focus return to you? What positive result will that focus have on your world?”

I just wanted to write a note of encouragement to everyone today, and hopefully start a conversation in your minds. Life is complicated, problems and challenges are diverse, and living requires a little bit of everything from us – intuition, skill, knowledge, talent, determination, long suffering, patience, acceptance, love, hard work, relaxation, selfishness, unselfishness, forgiveness  – it is all a delicate balancing act. Navigating our lives [the journey] is like forging along a river, you don’t know what is ahead, you just have to be prepared for what comes, physically, mentally and emotionally. It would be so much easier if we could just pick one thing to focus on. But in reality, that’s impossible. Living demands everything from us, and life wants it RIGHT NOW.
To some, the focus is on love [finding it, keeping it, making it, giving it] because that is the way we are built, to others, it’s work and achieving success, that’s the way they were raised. Some are driven by greatness, fame, and strive for perfection, that is what they long for and without it they feel worthless. I think there is a little of all of that [and all of us] in everyone. Learning how to let go and flow along in our journey is a skill that will bring us wisdom and clarity, grace and awareness. As we begin to live more strategically, don’t underestimate the value of learning to focus on the moment we are in and WHATEVER it is requiring – THAT is an art.  I wonder, what will you be focusing on today? What will that focus return to you? What positive result will that focus have on your world?
Love and Peace,
Sandy

Ahhh the seasons – the cold ends, Spring bounces in and Summer hits us quick and hard.  Every season brings new sounds, new colors, and new winds blow in change, delight,  and challenge!  I love the seasons, but I hate the winds!  The winds of life have brought me through many seasons – times of new challenges, pain and death, opportunities to learn tolerance, accept loss, and experience growth. love and beauty – all I have to say is that when the winds of change come, it is hard – sometimes hell on earth!  But I found a secret.  Just keep yourself and your head, focus, and you will come out alright.  Sounds easy, huh?

After a terrible divorce years ago, I decided that I was NOT going to give up but instead was going to fight my way through the circumstances.  I wanted to die, I wanted to kill.  BUT… I didn’t!  I chose to forgive and stay steady, do the right thing and focus on what mattered.  To be present.  What mattered most was my children.  So, I focused on them.  I wasn’t going to let circumstances dictate how our lives were going to wind up!  I was going to bravely march forward with my own damn banner and establish my territory!

I think our “springs” (really any of the seasons we go through) are demanding that of us, that we forge our way to bring new life and new growth.  To focus on being there in the moment (an incredible act of love). It isn’t easy.  Most of our life depends on what we make up our mind to do.  We don’t have to “go along”.  And when I say “do the right thing”, I don’t mean follow the status quo – who says that is the right thing?  That is for YOU to decide for your life.

In the face of challenges or trouble, my grandmother would say “it won’t matter in a 100 years”.  I have used her words many times to help me decide if something was worth the fight.  And you know what I discovered?  What will always matter in 5, 10, 100 or a 1000 years is LOVE – how we give it and how we receive it – and RELATIONSHIP – how we embrace other human beings and the mark we leave on other’s hearts.  Love transcends everything, it is what produces the flower after a harsh winter.

Back in the day, in bitter battle, I chose love.  It kept me from dying.  In this season, let the new life you see popping up remind you of the opportunities you have to make beauty out of your circumstances – bravely march forward!

Love and Peace!
Sandy