Walking in public places, do you notice the awkwardness of when to make contact with others?  Should I look into their eyes?  Smile?  What if they look up just as I’m looking away?  Should I send good energy their way or conserve?

Then I think about how ridiculous the whole concept is if, in fact, the energy isn’t mine to give but ours to share.  I sense an obligation to make contact with others who participate in this life with me, as I participate in this life with them.  I offer my smiles, my focus, even if it’s just a moment, as it usually is.  Maybe that moment of contact, of relation, with all its sincerity and lack of expectation, can be like the butterfly in the chaos theory, changing the course of events for the better.

It only takes a moment to let someone know, “I hear you.  I witness you here and now.  You are not alone.”

In our Circle of Trust, during our small group time, we conclude each focus person’s time with “We hear you.  We honor you.  We bless you.  We love you.  We are blessed by you.”  (something like that,  anyway)  And the miraculous thing is we really mean it.  How often do you get to say these words and feel in your heart of hearts the deep connection?  This practice is spreading into the rest of my life, opening my heart so that it’s not just those with whom I work closely that I feel a connection, that I experience a deep, genuine love.  I daresay this practice of compassion is growing into Compassion.

There is no one point of contact, no quantitative measure of when and where to do this or that in society, regarding when to smile and/or make eye contact or not.  It’s just as true to form not to make eye contact, so long as we feel the connection, honor the other and participate in our wholeness.

Your suffering is my suffering.  Your joys are my joys.  Your life is mine, as mine is yours.  I bow to the Buddha in you as you see the Christ in me.  Here we are, as One.

I hear you.  I honor you.  I bless you.  I love you.  I am blessed by you.

Some days we really do feel like we got up on the wrong side of the bed.  Our outlook on life is upside down.  Anyone could look our way and risk gettng growled at.  Some days are just like that.  Truth be told, they don’t have to be, and just because they start that way, it doesn’t mean it has to continue that way.

I wanted to get up at 6:30 this morning and work out in the yard and garden.  I wanted to get the yard mowed.  Apparently it wasn’t meant to be.  My body wants to rest.  I took the kids to the park . . . again.  I’m sitting down to write a bit.  I’ll make the kids lunch versus getting something to-go.  It will benefit us all if I find what the source of my discord is and remedy it.  At least I should gently ride this wave through and try not to pull anyone down in the process.

Lot of fresh air.  More water.  Healthy food.  Laughter.  Love.

I visited with my grandmother yesterday and briefly with my grandpa whose health is deteriorating.  July 4th is my grandma’s birthday, but her party plans got rearranged a bit.  So, I brought card, gift, and welcome distraction to her.  I told her we were her comedic relief.  Funny thing is, I needed it, too, but probably not as much as she did.  My grandma is one of those treasures who make you feel like you’re the most special person in all the world.  I only hope she knows how special she is.  It’s hard caring for someone you love, helpless to take away their ills.  Sometimes the miracle is our constant love.

What ails me doesn’t seem like that big of a deal anymore.  My life is rich and full of vitality.  I can accept my bad mood, offer it to the sun, and water myself with compassion.

Here’s a cheers to the new year and hope for all the best!

Enjoy this day with your family and friends.

Eat a bite of black-eyed peas, and remember that what you do this day may indicate what you do in the year to come.  At least, that’s some of my family’s superstitions.  I also heard that who you spend new year’s eve with will be someone with you through the new year.  Fun stuff. 

Blessings be yours!
~Sara

I’m guilty.  I’ve spent years on sites and never contributed.  Now in the blogging age there are blogs I follow semi-religiously, but few I ever comment on or contribute to.  I’m trying to get better, to be a better blogger in the community.

As I try to improve, I’d love if you helped me, too, by voting on The Blogger’s Choice.  Just click on the quote icons up to the right of the page.  You’ll have to create an account, but then you can vote for your other fave sites, too.  This comes around every year, and I’d love to grow every year in my loyal readership.  I’m not planning on going anywhere!

Thanks for being here, and I enjoy sharing with you.

Sometimes we just have to let our bodies heal, let ourselves rest.  I presume that whatever infection I have is a sign that I, too, need a few days’ rest.  So, I’ll go to the doctor and return home to sleep the rest of the day (as much as that’s possible with two little ones about!).

I hope your Memorial Day was full of family and remembrance and that today you make time for yourself, whether it is to craft or to rest.