(Photo by Microsoft Office Clipart) ~~ I have heard this preached, discussed, sung and written about down through the years. This truth is put right out there and yet I don’t think we have really grasped it yet, at least in the depth that’s needed in the world today. Not yet..but it’s beginning. We’re awakening.

Tom Volkar of Delightful Work commented recently on one of my posts saying, “Forgiveness gets a lot easier for me when I remember that we are all one.” It made me think about oneness and what I have come to learn about it and wonder, “How much do I really feel and believe about this?”

To what extent can I believe we are all one? Forgiveness puts it on the line with this belief. Can you say it depends? I’ll believe we’re all one when the circumstance and situation is right. But that’s not how it works.

If you believe we’re all one with your child, mother, father or friend then we must also believe we are all one with the one who hurt you or deceived me….or the murderer or rapist. But what are we all one with?

We are all one with the life force that is in everyone – the essence. It’s what continues on after we die. It’s what is living through us right now. The only problem is that we’ve identified with form, this body, and what that does and how that acts. We are not one with what people say or do or how they act, we are one with the essence that is in them – in you and me.

My daughter and I were talking yesterday about what we’re learning from Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose (Oprah’s Book Club, Selection 61)(Paperback). Something she said in our discussion about ego and the pain people endure struck me and opened my understanding more on the depth with which we’re loved.

She had heard Tolle say from one of his lectures something like, “There is nothing in this world that can be done to you that can touch your essence.” Your Beingness is untouchable. It is that essence, that life force creation from God that resides in each of us that can never be touched. When I think about this, I feel the incredible love our Creator has for us in this given protection.

No matter what shape or form it shows up in your life and in your world, WE ARE ALL ONE connected to Life Force. It’s that part that bonds us together. When we remember to look for that in each other we will learn to forgive…we will begin to awaken and our world will be transformed.

From the kitchen table – Pat~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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(Photo by Microsoft Office Clipart)~~ This is not the easiest topics to talk about. One, because we don’t think we have anything to forgive others about; and two, we just aren’t willing to be responsible for the parts we play.

We have forgotten Who We Are
Not only can it be difficult to forgive others that we feel have hurt us but we make it down right impossible to forgive ourselves. Why is that? Why do we carry around so much pain for so many years? We give ourselves or the person we won’t forgive a life sentence. It’s like they have to pay for what they’ve done to you for the rest of their life.

We have forgotten Who We Are
There’s a beautifully illustrated children’s book Neale Donald Walsch wrote entitled The Little Soul and the Sun. He tells a sweet little story about a little boy in heaven who wants to feel what it’s like to be the Light and the part of special called Forgiving.

It’s hard for the Little Soul to know and feel himself as Light and forgiveness when he is surrounded by Light and there’s no one in heaven to forgive.

Then a friend of the Little Soul’s appears to help. The Friendly Soul said he could give him someone to forgive. In the Little Soul’s next lifetime the Friendly Soul would do something for him to forgive. He would slow down his vibration and become dark and dense. He would do this for him because he loves him.

They both had come together many times before each bringing the other what they needed in the perfect moment to express and experience who they really are. Now, the Friendly Soul in this lifetime would be the ‘bad one’ so the Little Soul could experience himself as the One Who Forgives.

The Friendly Soul only asks one thing in return and that is for the Little Soul to remember who he is. For if the Little Soul forgets they both may not be able to remember for a long time Who They Both Really Are. The Little Soul promised and God said smiling, “Always remember, I have sent you nothing but angels.”

Do You Remember Who You Are?
There is a lot of hurt and pain in the world today but if we can step back and remember this little story it will help us to forgive and when we offer up this true forgiveness the Light begins to shine again and ahhhh….We Remember.

From the kitchen table – Pat~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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(Photo by Microsoft Office Clipart) ~~ We all have them but where do they come from and where do we go when we’re dreaming? Do we leave our bodies and travel to places and dimensions only our spirits know of?

Where ever we are when we’re dreaming it seems so real – it’s like a fantasy. I think it was Rumi that wrote something like …. When he slept he dreamt he was a man dreaming he was a butterfly and when he awoke he didn’t know if he was a man dreaming he was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming he was a man. What do you think? Have you had those dreams when you awoke it felt like you were still dreaming? It took you awhile to get grounded or back to Earth, so to speak.

Dreams sometimes give you a message. A long time ago in the late ‘70’s I had a vivid dream. I saw a distant newspaper spinning and coming towards me and when it got close it stopped spinning with bold headlines PLANE CRASH – NO SURVIVORS – AFL FOOTBALL TEAM. I sat straight up in bed and in my mind’s eye I could still see the headlines. When I closed my eyes I could still see them. I knew this team and it is a favorite one of mine. I was shaken. My husband woke up and I told him of the dream and we talked and he settled me down enough to get back to sleep but the next morning I couldn’t shake the urgency of the dream.

All I knew to do was pray….and pray more until there was peace. I knew the team would be leaving that week to prepare for a game that weekend and prayed and enlisted prayer chains to also pray. No plane crash ever happened, thank God, and I don’t know what it was about from this side of heaven. Maybe I’ll find out some day.

In his book, Wisdom Of The Ages, Dr. Wayne Dyer quotes from an intellectual spokesman for the English Romantic movement, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834):

“What if you slept?
And what if,
In your sleep
You dreamed?
And what if,
In your dream,
You went to heaven
And there plucked
A strange and
Beautiful flower?
And what if,
When you awoke,
You had the flower
In your hand?”
Who is to say what is reality? Maybe what we believe to be reality is really only an illusion – a dream.

Something to think about – and dream about – sweet dreams.

From the kitchen table – Pat~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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March is National Women’s History Month and before this month is complete I wanted to pause to honor a few women who have gone before us and paved the way for what we have the privilege of enjoying today. I am only mentioning a few and you can go to Women in History – Historical Figures for a more comprehensive list of historical women. (Note: please see video below)

Susan Brownell Anthony – paved the way in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 giving women the right to vote. It’s amazing what this woman accomplished in her life in a time when her freedom was limited. She was an icon in her era that changed the course of history for women forever in her writing, giving hundreds of speeches a year over a period of 45 years and leading the only non-violent revolution, to name a few.

Clara Barton – founder of the Red Cross and Civil War Nurse. Just imagine all the people who have been helped through her efforts in establishing this organization. In the latter 1800’s she rallied to have the U.S join in signing a treaty to establish the work of the Red Cross having observed its service in Europe and the U.S. signed the Geneva Agreement in 1882. She expanded this service to not only include victims of war but to also include the assistance in any great national disasters.

There have also been many women in modern times and today’s culture who have contributed much to society in the world as we know it. To mention a few such as:

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis – First Lady of the United States with President John F Kennedy, an author, poet, lover of art, American History and a restorer of the White House.

Most notable and among us today is Oprah Winfrey – reporter/anchor, entrepreneur, global media leader, actor, philanthropist among her accomplishments. Oprah is making history today not only in what she has achieved but in the spiritual movement as well.

This brings me to another woman, Aquanetta Gordon, whose story I came across this week on the internet. She may not be well known or as accomplished as the women just mentioned but nonetheless her personal work with what she has encouraged and inspired in her son, Ben Underwood, and those around her is in no way less incredibly outstanding and deserving of honor.

Her son was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in his eyes at toddler age and she had to make the decision for him to either continue with radiation treatment and risk his life if it progressed to the optic nerve or have his eyes removed and ensure his chances of life.

What you see below in this Video Clip #1 (of 5) is a testimony of courage and compassion displayed not only by Aquanetta but many women down through history and in our world today demonstrating and contributing along with many men to make this world a better place.

Take time today to look around and witness the women making contributions in your workplace, your homes and communities. Honor them for what they’ve done to better your life, appreciate their efforts and encourage their dreams and don’t forget to say Thank you.

From the kitchen table – Pat~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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I found out about this Happiness: Group Writing Project by way of Suzie Cheel’s post on Abundance Highway. The reason for Alex creating this project is for everyone participating to be left inspired, empowered and happier than they were before. Who wouldn’t want that?

I have to tell you, after reading Suzie’s response to these questions, it’s not a simple exercise. It requires some thought and soul searching to truly give to others in this process and receive the value. So, I decided to participate and the first thing is to answer these 5 questions.

1. How do you define happiness?
To me, it’s a state of bliss in knowing who you truly are in a given present moment. It’s not something that you achieve or acquire. It is a state of being that is a gift from our Creator when we were born and it’s what we enjoy and live with every day if we so choose.

2. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your happiness now, versus when you were a child?
Now, my happiness scale would be 9.5 versus my happiness scale when I was a child of 3.

3. What do you do on a daily basis that brings you happiness? (and how consistent is the feeling of happiness throughout your day)
On a daily basis my feeling of happiness consists of about 2/3 of my day. I meditate, read positive, encouraging spiritual books, blogs or poetry that remind me how grateful I am for the journey I’ve taken and the life I have.

When I wake up each morning all I have to do is look out at the beautiful Rocky Mountains and take in a breath of fresh air and listen to the sounds of nature to instill that feeling of happiness and gratitude. From this, I’m reminded to be still for a moment and look within in and feel the life energy within me that carries me through the day.

4. What things take away from your happiness? What can be done to lessen their impact or remove them from your life?
What depletes my happiness is when I choose to listen to the voices in my head and identify with old beliefs and tapes saying things like: “You’re not as smart as others.” “How are you going to pay the bills this month?” “Things just don’t work for you.”

What I’ve learned and am working on are twofold: the first is from Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose (Oprah’s Book Club, Selection 61)(Paperback), in that I’m recognizing and becoming aware of these thoughts and what they are and how to slowly dissolve them by being present so they no longer exist to be triggered.

Secondly, is taking full responsibility for everything in my life, good and especially bad. Something I was reminded of in taking responsibility was to continue practicing the Ho’oponopono prayer from Dr. Ihaleakela Hew Len.

I’m sorry – Please forgive me – Thank you – I love you

I first heard about this prayer early in February from a site called Cyres Café – The Café of Dreams with a video post called 15-Minute Miracle by Dr. Joe Vitale of “The Secret” (if you take the time to view this video you’ll not be disappointed). (Note: Sorry, the Cyres Café link is no longer available and video can no longer be viewed from there.)

In this video, Dr. Vitale talks about how he heard of Dr Ihaleakela Hew Len who started using this prayer as a staff psychologist in the forensic unit for the criminally mentally ill at Hawaii State Hospital for several years. When I listened to that video it couldn’t have come at a better time and through this very same practice I felt a shift but had forgotten about it until I read Stephen’s post today.

When we’re free of negativity and thoughts that tear us down and make us feel powerless then we shine and our happiness shines through us to others.

5. What do you plan on doing in the future that will bring you even more happiness?
Continue practicing what I had mentioned in the question before until my awareness of the present moment is constant and determine 5 things I want to do, see and experience, as John P Strelecky, inspirational speaker and author of The Why Café talks about in his video interview. This is how the universe will know what I want in my life and conspire to let it happen.

Participating in answering these questions on happiness has been inspiring and uplifting to me. It has given me a chance to reflect on my life as to what is important and why and to see where I’m at with it. Just taking part in this project I feel I’ve connected with the others that have participated ahead of me in an energy that has been put out to the world – the energy of happiness.

Maybe you would also like to participate. If so, click on Happiness: Group Writing Project to see what you need to do to get started.

Enjoy the gifts God has given you – enjoy the happiness.

Thank you Alex!

 From the kitchen table – Pat

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