You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.
- Jim Rohn
Comments
Last night I went to the local open mic for poets. It's one of my favorite events around here and they do it once every month. I felt that this month was an especially relevant time to go as art is healing for both the person who creates it and the person who experiences it. It is always important that people feel safe and encouraged to express themselves, their stories and their feelings. When the world around us is in a major upheaval and people feel lost, scared and alienated it is more important than ever. I am always impressed by the courage and grit these poets have to share not only their work, but their fears, their regrets and their deepest secrets to a room full of strangers. I am also equally impressed by the audience, which always comes together to offer the highest level of support and unity I have ever experienced. When a person gets to the mic and announces it's their first time they are greeted with thunderous applause and smiles. When a nervous person stumbles on their words the crowd cheers them on. When someone shares something particularly sensitive, such as about being abused as a child, the crowd responds with sincere love and respect. It is the kind of environment I wish we fostered all the time. I heard so many inspiring and unique poems last night. There is always something so profound and engaging about hearing poetry read by the person who created it. I thank all the brave souls who showed up last night to share their heart, their soul and their art. As the host of the night said at one point, "Art will save the world." I truly believe he was right. During these turbulent times I have returned to a morning self-love practice created by Monique Muro. It's a 30 day journey called Return to Love that takes about 5-7 minutes each morning. I open up the daily email, put in my ears buds and go into the warm and loving space her words create for me. The other day I was listening to day 9, which is 'There is no part of me that is not part of everything else.' As the keys of a piano gently played in the background Monique guided me right where I needed to go: into a space of wholeness. She freed me from not only my own feelings of separation, but the ones that keep rising up around me. Afterwards, I felt so much better that I asked Monique if I could share this on my blog. I am so grateful she agreed! You can play the guided audio below, or if you like, read the meditation to yourself (the words are below the picture). If you enjoyed this and you could use more daily love she is offering the 30 day package of guided meditations, daily mantras, phone wallpapers, inspiring quotes and more for only $27. What I love is that it's calming and uplifting at the same time. I am always so amazed how it gets my energy up, which then uplifts the rest of the day. Go to Returntolove.co to learn more or to buy the program! Take a deep breath. Get comfortable. Today is a blank page. Let's begin. There is no part of me that is not part of everything else. Each soul has its path. Some were meant to step on yours. Others were meant to lift it up. Some were meant to put yours in such misery, that you had to go really, really deep to find your sanity again. But these are the ways love forces us to see it when it's not in plain sight. These are the ways it can wear disguises to see if we're paying attention. This road your on? This magnificent morning? This was your soul's path. Long ago you decided to walk this earth again to learn something, to do something different this time around. That weird cable guy, or the angry boss, or the puppy in the window: they are all our teachers. They were all put on our path for the beautiful realization that we all coexist from a single love source, and to recognize that love source in each other. Seeing each other every day, trees included, is like coming home to a family that's been together for lifetimes. There is no part of you, Melissa, that is not part of everything else. There is no part of you, that is also not part of a caterpillar, inching its way across a twig, or a leaf that falls on the ground before you. We are all experiencing and fulfilling our soul paths together. Gratitude Take a moment to give thanks for all of the wonderful gifts in your life. Be sure to include things you're waiting to show up for you. The fastest way to get what you want is to acknowledge that it's already here. I am thankful for... I am thankful for... I am thankful for... I am thankful for... I am thankful for... until tomorrow... As we end our beautiful start to this day, let's give ourselves a little hug, and forgive yesterday. It's currently on its way to the distant past, and no longer has power over us. Let's lay down our armor, and the weapons we use to defend ourselves, and instead use love as our great protector, forever keeping us safe, and always at the heart of everyone we meet. "Universal energy flows through us whether we're an elevated guru or a sea slug." A big thank you to Monique for allowing me to share her beautiful work here. To learn more or to purchase the series for $27 go to Returntolove.co.
|