When was the last time you did something foolish?

 

When was the last time you did something foolish?

When was the last time you did something foolish? Playing tricks on people can be humorous, and we all enjoy a good laugh. That is one aspect of April Fool's Day. In 1998, Burger King announced their new Left Handed Burger on April Fool's Day and thousands of customers went to their stores to buy one before the chain announced the next day that it was a joke. Beyond that aspect, every day we have opportunities to choose from, and we exercise our free will every day in choosing between foolish risks and calculated risks. Sometimes, the wise choice looks foolish to others. Shark Tank, the TV show where highly successful business sharks consider backing new inventions, took a pass on the ring doorbell camera. And that became more successful than other new businesses they chose to back. Mark Twain, the famous author, declined to invest in the telephone. Who was foolish in those choices? When I made this my full time business 15 years ago, my mother asked me when I was going to get a real job again. Now, over time she came to appreciate some of the things I do, and she knows that this is a real job. My point is that every time we do something foolish it feels exciting and fresh. When you are doing something new or different and being more humorous and playful, being foolish sparks joy. When we look at the world with a sense of joy, we lift our spirits when we do things that are lighthearted and playful. When we look at a situation and notice that we always do things the same way, our open mind can see different ways to achieve our goals. When we do something different than usual, some will think our new approach is foolish. But is it really? How often do we excede previous limitations when we do something different, something others might think is foollish. We also need to be kind to ourselves when we make mistakes. Being kind to others helps us get past their errors and start fresh. We need to do the same with ourselves and not carry on beating ourselves up when we make a mistake. We need to forgive ourselves and try again. What others may consider foolish often leads to creativity, innovation and personal growth. Many years ago, I was invited to go to a workshop where we walked on fire. My first impression was to wonder how foolish that was and how anyone could do that and not hurt themselves. Then I did it, along with everyone else in the group. And then I wondered what else there was that I thought I could not do, that I could do if I changed my mind. That foolish act broke through barriers. When was the last time others felt that you were being foolish? When was the last time you felt you were being foolish? See the difference between the two? Happy April Fool's Day! The image above is from the Elemental Wisdom Tarot I always love getting feedback, so if any of you has thoughts about these articles I write, or any idea you would like me to include in my newsletters, I will consider all suggestions.

Balancing Acts

 

Balancing Acts

The Spring Equinox this coming Thursday, March 20, brings to mind the value of keeping our balance as we pursue our goals and dreams. This day is equal parts day and night and then tips the balance into more light every day. This is a physical sign of the changes nature is bringing, swinging back and forth between light and dark with the two balance points in the year of the spring and fall equinoxes. There are lots of ways to help us keep our balance. How does that work for us? One big challenge is to reserve some time in our day to nurture our personal relationships and not neglect them because we are working hard at building our business. Both are important. An important aspect is balancing between physical and non-physical activities. I reserve some time almost every day to go to the gym to balance out all the time I spend at my desk talking with people and getting things done on the computer. In the picture above are some of the instruments I use to create additional sound and vibration to reiki energy healing sessions. Sound can help to re-balance us by vibrating through us, with the flow of those vibrations carrying tensions away like a river carrying those disturbances to our system out of our body and into mother earth for recycling. What other ways do we seek balance in our life? How do we balance our every day goals with our long term goals? When we take a little time each day to reflect on where we are and where we are going, we check in with our spirit guides, take a little time to read literature that inspires us, and then think about any changes we want to make to bring us more balance, we will feel better about having our thoughts and actions aligned. Doing that always brings feelings of peace and happiness. Grounding and centering helps us keep our balance. There is always a balance between the give and take in all our relationships. How is the balance between give and take in yours? In our everyday balance, and in the bigger picture,we have karma, where we get back what we give out. When we pay attention to our balance, we often find those places in our life where we need to adjust the balance in order to get a smoother flow of energy in total. Another aspect is this. When we are finding our attention drawn to a subject, it might be that following up on that curiosity will help bring more balance into our life. Our spirit guides often inspire us to follow a lead to get a balancing aspect into our life that we didn't know we needed until after we check it out to see how it feels for us. I always love getting feedback, so if any of you has thoughts about these articles I write, or any idea you would like me to include in my newsletters, I will consider all suggestions.

Laughter Lightning

 

Laughter Lightning

Laughter is lightning for our mind. Why is that? What is the nature of comedy? Why does it work? Comedians and humorous writers see the same things we see, but they see things differently, and when we are cracking up because of this different point of view, lightning is zapping our mind. This past month, one of my favorite authors crossed over into the the next dimension where we all go for our encore performances. Tom Robbins was a writer who had a great sense of humor. He lived 92 years and wrote stories that had me dropping the books while cracking up with laughter. Another of my favorite authors, Ray Bradbury, also was 92 when he made his transition. Hmmm..............I wonder what that means? So often, when a person wants a day off from work they have to call in sick in order to get it. Robbins called in well when he sold his first novel and never went back to his day job. Interestingly, Robbins wrote all of his book manuscripts long hand, then had someone else type them up to send to his publisher. One other author you might have read, Wayne Dyer, also wrote all his books long hand. Writing by hand slows the process down while encouraging deeper connection to thoughts with the written words becoming an act of creation, thoughts manifesting into action. We create in three levels of communication. We begin with a thought, the second level is when we speak those thoughts, then thirdly, they take on another level of reality when we write them down. Robbins was unique in that he was not only humorous, but his books included metaphysical matters like reincarnation, tarot card readings, aromatherapy, the second coming, the dance of the seven veils, moon lore, mythology and more, all treated with a wildly weird sense of humor. Robbins could find humor everywhere, even in subjects we don't usually find humorous. His most popular titles include: Jitterbug Perfume Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Still Life with Woodpecker Another Roadside Attraction Skinny Legs and All Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas Tibetan Peach Pie Now I know that what might be hilarious to me might not be to your taste, but my main point here is the value of humor in our life, the value of humor to our spirit, and its use in healing. Notice how a joke or funny story breaks the ice when meeting new people or starting a presentation. Notice how when you are feeling stressed or burdened that finding something to laugh about lightens the load. After laughing a bit, you might decide that there are some things on your mind you can let go of, or not worry about. And there have been studies done where they discovered that laughter can help boost the immune system. Music helps boost the immune system too. Often, I look on Netflix to watch stand up comedians after a long day of work or to lift my spirits after a stretch of focused, intense sessions. And as you have noticed, I like to use humor to help make points in my sessions. One of the other benefits I have noticed from fun reading is this. When we read books that require focus because we are learning something new, we may be going over parts of it and making notes. We are working at a slower pace. When I take a break just to read a fun book, my pace is quicker, so when I return to the books that require more attention, my mind is quicker, my reading speed is faster. Humor lifts our spirits in the same way that love does. When you laugh with a person, your energies become warmer and more harmonious. Who are your favorite authors who write with a great sense of humor? I am always willing to check out new ones, just as I am always checking out new comedians. I always love hearing from you, so if you feel like sending me a note, calling or coming to see me, please do! If any of you has any idea you would like me to include in my newsletters, I will consider all suggestions. *********************

What do we learn from disasters?

 

What do we learn from disasters?

Disasters, while tragic, often serve as a poignant reminder of our resilience and the unyielding spirit of community. Observing the California fires, it’s heartwarming to witness how adversity ignites a collective drive to support one another, showcasing the innate goodness of humanity. Many survivors, despite losing their homes, emphasize the priceless value of life and loved ones, a perspective that, while seemingly simplistic, starkly contrasts our often distracted daily lives. These harrowing events compel us to re-evaluate our priorities, fostering gratitude for the little things we might otherwise take for granted. Remember the fires here a few years ago? For a while, those of us who lived in nearby towns were hyper alert, hoping the fires would be put out before they could spread here. We were greatly relieved when they did not. The sight of entire neighborhoods consumed by fire is both chilling and awe-inspiring, as we are reminded of the fragility of our built environments. Ultimately, disasters teach us that while structures may crumble, the bonds of community and the appreciation for life endure, and that is a lesson worth holding onto. Disasters are literally the end of one phase of our life and the beginning of our next phase. Our things may all be gone, but our spirit helps us begin again, this time, with even more heart.