There are layers and layers of onion skin peeling away when you are on the spiritual path. Today, I had the honor and privilege of receiving some honest feedback and insight from a dear friend who helped me strip down to some core issues that have been plaguing me and blocking my growth.

It was hell. I felt vulnerable and I was an open wound. Even so, the work proved to have been worth it and a new openness and understanding is now ready to be healed.

A while back, I heard a story or saying wherein the doctor told the patient “I don’t do the healing, G-d does that.” “I just treat the symptom or the wound, but the body does the rest.”

I know I was meant to meet with my friend today who knows me through and through, to help me cross this bridge into unknown territory with courage, traversing the fragile terrain of the heart with dignity, and coming out on the other side of the resilient soul with a spiritual solution full of intent and veracity.

I am grateful I am still learning, still teachable, still eager to uncover and dig into the quarry –  under the light of the full moon, tonight.

Thank you K and thank you, HP in all of your goodness.

Someone sent me the 12 things “successful” people do differently. Oh,oh. Each one made me cringe. I don’t do any of them well or at all.

Successful people:

1. Create and pursue focused goals. (I create lots of projects and have a million ideas but am I focused? – no way).

2. Take decisive and immediate action. (Well, I do tend to react – not always nicely – but I can be indecisive to a fault).

3. Focus on being productive, not busy. (I pretty much spin).

4. Make logical, informed decisions. (Logical? What’s that? and see part 2 of #2).

5. Avoid the trap of trying to make things perfect. (I have pretty much given up on being perfect but the fear of doing anything at all half badly also keeps me from doing anything).

6. Work outside of their comfort zone. (Not if I can help it).

7. Keep things simple. (Hahahahahaha – isn’t everything a production?).

8. Focus on making small, continuous improvements. ( I want it “bang!” now – I am not good at slow and steady).

9. Measure and track their progress. ( If I could find my 50 projects I started).

10. Maintain a positive attitude as they learn from mistakes. (Is that humility plus?).

11. Spend time with the motivational people. ( I do – but bottom line – It is I who has to move forward).

12. Maintain balance in their life. ( Trying that this year ).

How do you fare according to this list?

Today, I resolve to be, “generous in my giving, kind in my criticism, creative in my suggestions and loving in my attitudes.” I read that somewhere. And today is everyday of 2015. Twelve months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8700 hours and 525,600 minutes or however you want to look at it. Each moment is going to count and I make my future bright and profitable by being in the present moment and making it meaningful.

“Look to this day, for it is life, the very life of life. In its brief course lie all the realities and verities of existence, the bliss of growth, the splendor of action, the glory of power –

For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day.”

– Sanskrit proverb by Kalidasa (Indian poet and playwright) Fifth century A.D.

As we come to a 2014 close and enter 2015, my thoughts are about the best times. I am not going to rehash any medical problems or personal disappointments.

The year started off with the grand entrance of our own, dear, sweet Cindi. Our hearts and minds transformed via the guidance of a loving, grateful dog.

In February, my NY BFF visited and we had a relaxing, hilarious and amazing time together. My son moved back to CA with girlfriend.

In March, I drove up to see all my chickadees in No. Cal. and Cindi’s first big long road trip.

April and May were full of fixing, repairing, doctor appointments and end of semesters for college kids.

After ten years, I reunited with my cousin/sister, the architect, who came up from Argentina in June and her stay lasted till the middle of July. We started where we left off and made new history.

In August, I started my Life Shift course and signed up for my doctorate in Metaphysics. Kids went back to school. V backpacked in Germany.

In September, October and November, I took business courses as well as continued with metaphysical classes full steam and intensively. At Thanksgiving, chickadees came home.

In December, I graduated, the kids came home and the girls sped off to backpack Japan.

Whew!  And what was 2014 like for YOU?

Seeya in 2015!

Most loving people I know – want to please others. That is not always possible. Most people I know – want to be liked. Also, not always possible. If we are honest, our agenda is commonly about wanting to please others so we can be liked. This can happen at work, home or in every relationship.

We can elicit positive vibrations from our thoughts, we can walk away, deflect or shield ourselves from the “Debbie downers” but Energy vampires need your goodness, your time, your commitment and your consent.

Truisms overheard over the years:

1) Just because someone says it or thinks it (about you) doesn’t make it true.

2) Don’t take anything an unhappy person says too personally.

I am not saying to be an island onto yourself, never believing you ever need improvement. Au contraire. If someone critiques or complains, pause and ask yourself if it is true and please – consider the source. If it is reasonable, do the best to fix, remedy, correct or apologize and change. If, after careful consideration (and some time has passed), it still does not seem to fit or ring true or even if it is asking too much of you at this time, then offer a different solution and let the person grumble.

Two more thoughts:

1) You can never, ever fill another person’s hole for them. They have to figure out how and what to fill it up with.

2) Some people will always find something to complain about and will never be happy, no matter what you do for them.

With the new year coming in soon, be clear about your boundaries and your self worth so the best can come into your life. Sorting through what needs to be disposed of or altered helps you focus on a better direction for 2015, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically.

“Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.” – Eric Hoffer

There is a saying in recovery groups that rings a bell today.

It is merely, “Stick to the Winners.”

What exactly is a ‘winner’ you may ask? Aren’t there several interpretations? Are ‘winners’ the people who finish first? Are ‘winners’ the people who succeed in business? Are ‘winners’ the people you snarl at in a sarcastic manner?

While chatting with a friend today, we decided ‘winners’ are the emotionally healthy, happy, positive and solution oriented people in our lives. We also discovered we felt people who took their purpose on earth a little deeper, wider and anonymously were ‘winners’. Ergo, there are a lot of ‘winners’ you don’t even know about working like elves amongst us. I know a few. People who pray for others and don’t tell you. People who lend a hand, give to charity and forfeit their egos for the sake of the greater good seem to qualify too.

Willingness, Openness and complete Honesty about self is impossible without some measure of humility so I will assume, Humility, is a core character trait, a ‘winner’ needs.

“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes real happiness. It is not obtained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” – Helen Keller

I guess “Stick to the Winners.” is about being amongst the healthy-minded. When you find yourself amid the unhealthy (negative), perhaps, bring the healthy mind in, rising above and not getting caught in the snare of the lower energy. “Be the Change” so to speak.

How apropos that Day One of Year Three begins with Christmas – A Gift and Tradition that carries on. Thank you to my peeps. 

May the world enjoy Peace, for that is truly the message.

May we all enjoy Love, for that is truly our purpose.

May we all enjoy Happiness, for that is truly the product of Gratitude and knowing we are Blessed.

Two years of continuous blogging – let’s at least try to make it three – tis the season for magic, wishes and sparkle – why not?

It is our first Christmas with Cindi as part of our family and we couldn’t be happier!

On the other hand, Cindi was not so keen about visiting the old OC Shelter we adopted her from and visiting Santa was a bit traumatic. Poor thing must have remembered her month or so there and smelled the fear, cold and loneliness she experienced last winter because she was shaking and wanted to leave immediately.

The people at the shelter are very kind and helpful but it is daunting to see so many good dogs and cats waiting to be loved and cared for. If you get a chance, adopt from a shelter and give a furry friend a forever home!

Thank you to all the volunteers who work relentlessly!