Our New Discoveries

 

Now is a great time to be alive. Discoveries that have taken place within our lifetime are both wonderful and terrifying. The possibilities of what man can do seem unlimited but the value of any new discoveries will depend upon how they are used - for destructive or constructive purposes, to hurt or to heal, to hinder or to help. How we respond will depend on how strong within us is the desire to serve, upon whether or not our love for others is greater than our fear of others, upon the extent we are willing to sacrifice and place service above self, upon how much we are willing to give for the sake of the welfare of all. The extent to which we are committed to ordeals will determine the use we make of power, for ultimately the spiritual will control the material.

 

~Paul S. McElroy from Moments of Meditation 1961

Basic Needs

 

Within all of us there are basic needs which must be met if we are to live a full, well-rounded life. One of these needs is rooted in the desire to be somebody. The feeling of being important, of being wanted and needed, is as essential to us as food. We cannot live by bread alone. A word of encouragement, a compliment, a kindness or a favor, will do much to assure another he/she is important and means something to somebody. To let someone know that he/she is wanted is one way of letting him/her feel important and one of the best ways for us to feel important is to be of service to others.

 

From Moments of Meditation by Paul S. McElroy

Living Within Limitations

Sharing this repeat from a previous post:

If we live under a handicap - and who does not - let us not pity ourselves. The tragedy is not to be found in the handicap but in our inability to to live within the margins of our strength. For even within our limitations there is an opportunity to improve and find contentment. We shouldn't be dissatisfied with what we have not, but rejoice in what we have. The secret of rising above rather than being defeated by our handicaps, of being victors instead of the victims of circumstances, is to be found not in rebellion - but in adapting and making the most of situations that confront us.

From Moments of Meditaion by Paul S. McElroy ©1961

Sweet Darkness

When your eyes are tired, the world is tired also.

When your vision is gone, no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark, where the night has eyes to recognize its own.

There you can be sure you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your home tonight.

The night will give you a horizon further than you can see.

You must learn one thing. The world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds, except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you.

~~David Whyte, "Sweet Darkness" 

So, it's been a while. Hope all is well with everyone. 
Just for fun, I'm going to start with a stupid joke...

Mary was having a lot of problems trying to sell her old car because it had 250,000 miles on it.
  One day she told her problem to a friend, who said, "There is a way to make the car easier to sell, but it's not legal."
  "That doesn't matter," Mary whispered, "if only I can sell the car."
  "Okay," Mary's friend said. "Here is the address of a friend of mine. He owns a car repair shop. Tell him I sent you, and he'll turn the counter in your car back to 50,000 miles. Then it should not be a problem to sell your car."
  Mary quickly made the trip to the mechanic. Two weeks later, her friend asked Mary, "Did you sell your car?"
  "No," Mary replied, "why should I? It only has 50,000 miles on it!"

I know, I know, booooooo. It's bad. LOL
Hoping to check in more often from now on.
Peace & Love,
Sara 
xoxo

Life, Death & Peace

You know how people always say death comes in threes? Well since the beginning of March through today, March 14, 2013, I have known of at least 7 deaths that are either people I knew or family and friends of people I know. That seems like a pretty high number. It reminds me of March 1985 when I experienced a similar occurrence. First of all, why so many?. Second, what's up with the month of March? Although some people don't believe in coincidences, I'm pretty sure this is just that.
So what are the chances of death affecting a person that many times in such a short span? Of course if you know a lot of people the chances are going to be greater. Do I know THAT many people? Did I know THAT many people in 1985?
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the leading causes of death in the U.S. are, in this order, heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases and "accidental injury," a broad category that includes a lot of stuff that just happens.
Here are the odds of a person dying of the following:
Heart disease (1 in 5)
Cancer (1 in 7)
Stroke (1 in 23)
Accidental injury (1 in 36)
Mother vehicle accident (1 in 100)
Intentional self harm (Suicide) (1 in 121)
Falling Down (1 in 246)
Assault by firearm (1 in 325)
Fire or smoke (1 in 1,116)
Natural forces (heat, cold, storms, quakes, etc.) (1 in 3,357)
~~ (*Includes some that are listed below)
Electrocution (1 in 5,000)*
Drowning (1 in 8,942)
Air travel accident (1 in 20,000)
Flood (1 in 30,000) *
Legal execution (1 in 58,618)
Tornado (1 in 60,000)*
Lightning strike (1 in 83,930) *
Snake, bee or other venomous bite or sting (1 in 100,000)
Earthquake (1 in 131,890)*
Dog attack (1 in 147,717)
Asteroid impact (1 in 200,000)*
Tsunami (1 in 500,000)*
Fireworks discharge (1 in 615,488)

Some pretty strange one listed here. And really, statistics are not very accurate since there are so many factors involved and most are outdated anyway and they are changing everyday.But the odds of dying period are 1 in 1.

Here's what I know: I'm not afraid to die. I'm ready whenever it is my time to go. What I do worry about is the ones I leave behind. I don't want them to mourn and grieve. Of course it's hard knowing that a person will no longer be there like before and that we will miss them deeply. But know that they are at peace and find strength in this knowledge so that you can also experience a peace of your own. Cherish the memories, know that your loved ones are with you in some way and they always will be.

So this March thing, in my opinion is coincidence and it's just unfortunate when one has to take in so much at one time.  All I can do is be here for the one's that need me and that the one's that are no longer with us are resting in peace which should bring comfort to some. Some are taken way too soon and we feel anger, but we can't bring them back and we must be selfless in our thoughts just because we weren't ready for them to go.

Live each day as if it were your last. Tell your loved ones how much you love them and how much they mean to you. Forgive and have no regrets. Cherish every moment of every day.

We never know when it's our time and that is why I always wish you Peace & Love xoxo

Hello all! Hope you have been doing well & enjoyed your holidays.

I took a couple months off but I’m back & hoping to keep sending out my daily quotes.

I hope that 2012 is a wonderful year for you and full of peace, love, positivity & happiness!

Xoxo

Sara

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When you wholeheartedly adopt a “with all your heart” attitude and go all out with the positive principle, you can do incredible things.

~Norman Vincent Peale

Forever Friends

The following is an article from The Charlotte Observer dated Saturday May 3, 2003 that I just so happened to keep.

'Forever friends' are the ones you plan to keep. ~Some friendships stay viable for only a certain season in our lives~
by Lynne Hinton

"What is a 'forever friend'?" someone asked me recently when they saw the title of my new book.

I thought it was a reasonable questions, since I dedicated the book to three women, designating them as my "forever friends." Before answering, I considered what each of the three of them meant to me, the relationships I share with them, their undisputed importance in my life.

Then I gave my answer:
A "forever friend" is the one you plan to keep the rest of your life.

People come and go in and out of our lives. Many of them we call friends. Often the friendships are made because of convenience, a shared event or location. We work together, take classes together or live near each other. Our children are in the same day care. We go to the same gym.

As our lives change and the convenience factor is removed, we find that many of these friendships are no longer viable. We lose touch because we realize that once there is effort required to see each other, to sustain the friendship, we find that we really don't want to make the effort. Those friendships are important but only as long as time and location permit convenience.

There are friends who are our friends during a particular season in our lives. We were in school together or ran around together when we were younger. We played on the same sports team, studied the same major in college.

Then as the years go by, as we age and develop who we are, we find that we have less in common with those friends. The changes we have made across the years separate us. We let those friendships lapse, allowing them to become part of our history, a part of our memories.

Treasures to keep

Then there are those treasured friendships we choose to keep.

Over years and seasons, throughout changes and developments, across time and space, even amid conflict and disappointment, these friendships require attention and commitment and we gladly give it to them. We do so because, frankly, we couldn't imagine our lives without these relationships.

We have decided that these friendships are important. They matter. They count.

These are the few important persons who have passed of our tests. They have proven their loyalty because they have seen us on our worst days. They know us inside and out, cleaned up and messed up.They have heard our worst secrets, watched us fail and succeed, fall down and rise up.

They have laughed with us, cheered for us, fought for us and most of all, cried with us. They have said at the most critical moments in our lives, "It doesn't matter what happens, what you have decided to do, I will always love you."

Those are the words of a true friend, a keeper.

The "forever friend" is the one you count on to be truthful and loving, loyal and committed. They are the ones you count on in crisis and celebration. The "forever friend" is the one you will attend to, stand up for, love with unrelenting fierceness because you know that person will do exactly the same for you.

These are the chosen companions, the lifers, the ones you plan to grow old with.

These are your "forever friends."

Learn the Facts about Fibromyalgia

May 2011 Action of the Month provided by The American Pain Foundation

Learn the Facts about Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia affects an estimated six million people in the U.S. but is an invisible condition. You can’t tell someone has fibro by looking at them. Chances are that you, or someone you know, has fibromyalgia. May is Fibromyalgia Awareness month, and APF’s Action of the Month is to learn the facts and share the Is Fibro the Cause? toolkit with friends and family members.

The valuable toolkit is full of helpful tips, resources and vital information on how to recognize fibromyalgia’s signs and symptoms as well as guidance on seeking treatment. Inside is a worksheet to help track symptoms, nutrition tips to overcome fatigue, ideas for alleviating stress, and essential strategies on coping and living well. Download Is Fibro the Cause?.

Living In Harmony

Don't know where I got this but wanted to share...

When people are overwhelmed by illness, we must give them physical relief, but it is equally important to encourage the spirit through a constant show of love and compassion. It is shameful how often we fail to see that what people desperately require in human affection. Deprived of human warmth and a sense of value, other forms of treatment prove less effective. Real care of the sick does not begin with costly procedures, but with the simple gift of affection and love.

In the practice of healing, a kind heart is as valuable as medical training, because it is the source of happiness for both oneself and others. Not only do other people respond to kindness when medicine is ineffective, but cultivating a kind heart is a cause of our own good health. Similarly, inner peace can be found in prayer and meditation, but it is also profoundly important that we bring that inner peace to bear in practical ways in the generous service to others.

There is a connection here with the practice of nonviolence. Nonviolence is something more positive, more meaningful than the mere absence of violence. It means to respect the rights of others, to be concerned about their well-being, based on a sense of compassion. Today, there is a growing global awareness of what this implies, for the application of nonviolence is not restricted merely to other human beings. It also has to do with ecology, the environment and our relations with all the other living beings with whom we share the planet. Since human beings are basically gentle by nature, I feel that we should not only maintain gentle, peaceful relations with our fellow human beings, but that it is also very important to extend that same kind of attitude towards our environment and the creatures who naturally live in harmony with it.

I believe that it is essential that we extend our understanding of each others spiritual practices and prayers. This is not necessarily in order that we can adopt them ourselves, but because to do so increases our opportunities for mutual respect.

Sometimes too, we encounter something in another tradition that helps us better appreciate something in our own. Consequently, I hope that people of all faiths as well as those who do not believe in a religion will find inspiration and understanding that in some way contributes to their own inner peace. And I pray that through inner peace they too will become better human beings and help create a happier, more peaceful world.

May all who are sick and ill

Quickly be freed from their illness,

And may every disease in the world

Never occur again.

And as long as space endures,

As long as there are beings to be found,

May I continue likewise to remain

To soothe the sufferings of those who live.

~The Dalai Lama