I realize that not a lot of people even know what this word can mean to them.  So often humility is confused with humiliation.  Humility is the state or quality of being humble.  Only I can humble myself but others can humiliate me.  Humility is about remaining and being teachable.  Humility is finding joy in being of service to others like as in the case of Mother Teresa.  Humility is giving the right to people to be wrong or to have their own opinion without interrupting their own evolution.

A humble person is the opposite of being a know-it-all and humility is the antonym to arrogance.  Having humility, you choose to do the right thing instead of choosing or needing to be right.  You drop your agenda and live with integrity.  A humble person sees themselves truly with warts, scars and defects as well as with gifts, talents and a sense of purpose.  The humble work on themselves by behaving into right action not just thinking about it.  They understand it is an ego-deflating process.

Instead of a sense of entitlement or victimhood, the humble are grateful and helpful.   They live forward but understand backward.  They have walked the razor’s edge of self-indulgence vs. self-care and choose to swallow their pride in order to move forward without regurgitating the past.

To label yourself as humble is an oxymoron because the peaceful, the modest and the content do not rely on other’s opinions nor the world around them.  They desire to seek and act according to a higher calling and have no dispute with other’s egos, nor their own.

The humble do not live with self-centered fear.  They are not desperate to hold on to anything nor do they fear losing anything.  All they are, is enough.  They do not chase after anyone or anything nor do they fear failure.  All that is, is more than enough.  It is not that they don’t have a calling, it is that they achieve their calling by living it.

Your attitude determines your level of humility.  The question “What can I learn from this?” helps you unfold another layer of wisdom, cloaked in humility.  Instead of asking, “Why is the world treating me this way?”, it is more about “How am I treating the world around me today?”

As soon as I get out of self/ego, I get out of fear.  When fear steps in, my faith in something divine, steps out.  If F.E.A.R. is False Evidence Appearing Real and being humble is being real without fear, then humility is about seeing things as the way they really are, coming into acceptance (which does not mean approval) and comporting oneself, accordingly (and without taking any credit for it).  This concept is beyond most people’s understanding yet is just but a willing, innermost, meditative search away.

I am truly a gem amongst all the gems in Life’s Jewlery Box.  I am not more, not less.  Sometimes, my attitudes or actions are incongruent with who I really know I am – as if I was performing, putting on an act – and I always feel lousy or pay for it in some way, after that.  I feel my best when I follow my “child’s” heart.   I am my most authentic self when I am closest to my Source of the Highest Inner Vibration and Animation or SHIVA – the Hindu god that stands for letting go of all forms via destruction of the ego, purification and new creation, and represents the most essential goodness.

I need to be true to myself and not make excuses for it.  Honesty, openness and willingness or HOW must be my mantra.  I rejoice when I follow through with what I truly believe in about myself or other matters.  I need to stand up for self, take responsibility for self (my actions and attitudes) and not blame it on another or circumstance, diverting attention from the only one who can perceive and change (me).

I ought to accept others are on another road.  I keep my eyes on my own road, stay in my own lane and drive my own transportation through this existence, the best I can.  I maintain and treat my vehicle and my soul well.  That’s when I feel my best.  My greatest attitudes and actions come from treating myself like I am special.  Self-respect trains me to stay on my own path and disciplines me to stay right-sized.  Self-care nurtures me into knowing my true purpose and balances my decisions towards those pre-approved goals I am destined to have passion for.  Self-reflection accomplishes this insight via quiet, intimate meditative and solitary moments as well as through interaction with others.

“He does not believe who does not live his belief.”
Thomas Fuller

Recreation is not the highest kind of enjoyment, but in its proper time and place, it is as proper as prayer. – source unknown

Since June 29th, we have had the pleasure of my cousin, G, here in California.  With her expertise in architecture, photography (Ms. Tripod anywhere) and literature, her knowledge of family lore, her unrelenting quest for travel, we have been enriched and enchanted.

Personally, I have had many funny and profound exchanges, and as always, our bond is beyond space and time.

Love you

Today is my godmother’s birthday.  She is also the only sibling my father had.  I was first grandchild and much anticipated.  She adored me.  Her daughter, my cousin, G, is with me now and we called her a little while ago.  If I could give her anything, it would be to get better soon.  She has had one health issue after another the last two years.  July is our month.  My birthday is next week and G’s birthday, four days later.  This wreath is a summer wreath.  May warmth vibrate to my aunt who is living on the Southern Hemisphere and therefore suffering through winter.  May all of July bring Joy!

It is also Cindi’s 6 months of being rescued and adopted by us.  Big day!

Salal leaves, lavender larkspur, raspberry celosia, purple sinuata, yellow rice flower, purple globe thistle, ammonium, fern and three yellow roses decorate a painter’s palette of color.

Yesterday, after watching the 9th stage of the Tour de France all morning, we switched over to the World Cup and settled in for a brilliant match between the last two teams standing in the Finals.  This was for the 2014 World Cup and Argentina faced Germany for another memorable face to face soccer combat.The official soccer ball for the last game to decide the World Champions was inscribed.

Presidents of both countries as well as other dignitaries awaited the fate of this final bout.  Both teams showed stamina, precision, heart and vigor.   The competition and fervor was equaled for most of the official 90 minutes but in extra time, Germany scored a superb goal  by a late substitution player (Gotze who was put in at the 88th minute). Everyone was tired by this time but the Germans grinded, grunted and weathered through tough plays, rough and bloody collisions and fought on to win, with one goal (in the 113th minute – the longest time to finally score a goal in any final game), into the side of the net.  German team members celebrating their hard won gold trophy, (handed to them by the Argentine president) they passed around, kissing it and raising it, in succession. 

Clearly, the teams were mated to play and to watch such two equally great rivals scrimmage and compete again was unparalleled for longtime fans, in either camp.Rio de Janiero celebrates as the iconic Jesus statue looks on.  Fireworks sprung through the top of the stadium as confetti fell over the crowds inside.

My foodie friend who is also J, the dog rescuer, haunts farmer’s markets all over OC for finds.  She sent me this gorgeous picture of a dozen eggs this morning on her early Saturday morning jaunt to the Yorba Linda market.

Take a look at the distinct and different pastel colors.  There is ivory, an array of tans, velvety greens, light aqua and blush pink.

The amazing thing about nature is that it always will astound!