Our Story for Today

Susan says: Ditto what Jennifer said - thank you everyone! And I also want to thank all my friends (you know who you are) who have been so supportive and encouraging to all my new endeavors and ideas - everyone has such great ideas to help me along, it is ... wonderful. Our Story for Today: There was once a man who had great faith in God. He knew in his heart that no harm would come to him because if he ever found himself in peril, God would save him. So it came to pass that in the village that the man lived, the wet season brought about torrential rains and the small creek became a river which soon overcame the banks and flooded the village. Most people had fled to higher ground but the man did not act because he knew that God would save him. Soon, even his little house was filled with water and the current took him out the window. He was floating down with the rushing water when a boat came by. The man on the boat thrust out his hand and said "grab my hand I will save you." The man calmly shook his head and said, "no no, God will save me". Soon, someone floated by on a chest of drawers. He thrust out his hand to the man saying "take my hand, I will help you." "No no," replied the man. "God will save me." After an afternoon of this, finally the man could stay up no longer and the waters engulfed him. When he arrived in heaven and stood before God, he was in despair. "Why didn't you save me??" he cried. And God replied "I sent several people to help you, but you would not take the help and so you drowned." The moral of this story is that if you need help, and the help comes - you should take it!! (Even if it comes from your daughter.) I believe that God uses everything in the universe to give us what we need - what we are asking for. We don't need to worry ourselves with how help comes - what form it takes. When the help comes - be grateful! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I have experienced help that I really needed coming in a way I was not expecting and would not have chosen at all, but I felt I had to take it because I had asked for it in a very focused way. And of course it turned out wonderful for everyone. I felt I had to allow the other person to be of service - which was of great benefit to them as well, so everyone grew from the experience. If I had been proud (which I could have done) we all would have lost. So thank you, thank you, thank you! And let that be a lesson to you.

An encouraging start

Photo by: Jennifer Campbell

Jennifer says: Even though our blog has only been up and running for a couple weeks, I'm excited with the start we're off to. Two followers! Doesn't sound like much, but I'm thankful for both of them.

I also admit to getting a little rush when I check in everyday and see higher numbers in the little rating boxes and comments. People are reading! I thank everyone who has posted a comment. It's really encouraging. And to the person who wrote that they don't agree with everything we write - that's OK. We're expressing our opinions, hopes and experiences. We wouldn't expect everyone to agree with us and we appreciate other's views. That's part of what makes it interesting.

For me, this blog is a venue to get my work "out there" and to hopefully make significant progress towards my goals. Ever since I was a teenager, I wanted to be a professional writer and photographer. I have a few projects in various stages; possibly writing about them will give me the much needed push to launch them.

This October marks the fourth year on my current job. I have one year left on my contract. I'm grateful to have this job, especially when so many others have lost theirs. In a year, I may also be in that situation. Now seems like a really good time to get serious about my own goals.

So thanks again for the encouragement and please keep reading!!!

Monday's Quote

Photo by: Jennifer Campbell

"The world is a vast adventure

waiting to be had."

Karen Marie Monning

Getting Past The Blank Page

Jennifer writes: I’m currently reading a book called “the WAR of ART” by Steven Pressfield. I love books! This particular book was written mainly for writers and artists, but I think the main focus is applicable to many situations that have a person scratching their head in frustration, wondering where to begin.

The book is a compilation of short essays based on the author’s thought within a theme for each section in the book. An easy read that reminds me of a thought for the day relevant to the type of life I’m trying to create for myself.

What’s the difference between a professional and one who has a hobby? The professional works at his craft every day; inspired or not, yielding “success” or not, producing the masterpiece or not. This is the main focus of the book, at least for me.

No excuses, no waiting for inspiration – just do it. I want to be a writer, so I face the blank page and write. Write anything: random words, thoughts, just fill the page and eventually it’ll make sense. It doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to be done.

Pressfield also writes that “Creative work is a gift to the world… Don’t cheat us of your contribution.” For me, this means to stop worrying if everyone else will think my work is brilliant. And if it’s not, then it’s not worth writing. Who is “everyone” anyway? It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I’ve made the effort.

I think this is so important, to any venture: writing, painting, even beginning a new health program. Don’t wait for the perfect time because it’ll never come. Don’t expect a masterpiece and don’t expect everyone’s admiration or approval. You don’t need it. What you do need is to make a commitment, today, to begin. And to spend time every day doing a little more and a little more. Success will come.

So right now, on this once blank page, I commit to my craft. I will write.

Angel Card Express

Susan says: Angel Card for today - well, actually, it was from a few days ago. But I chose it because I had had a very distressing evening with friends at a gathering. The gathering, which was supposed to be uplifting and spiritually rejuvenating turned out to be quite a downer. I had a lot of angst and questions about why tempers flared the way they did. Of course, I realized that it had nothing to do with me, it was induced by one of my friends being under intense stress in her own life and, really, taking it out on everyone present that night. She has a big personality, to say the very least.

So... I prayed about it. And I asked the question of "what should I do about my friend. How should I respond to her and this crazy wrong behavior?" and then I picked an angel card.

Truth & Integrity - "you are guided to be very honest with yourself, and to be true to yourself in all of your activities and actions." At first I thought - what the heck? Honest with myself??? I'm not the problem here. But then I went a little deeper... I began thinking about all this, feeling angry and irritated that her behavior affected my evening. I thought about turning it around on myself and examining why I was angry about her behavior and why I was letting it affect me so. After all, I am in charge of my own feelings, right? I can choose to be angry and irritated, or not. And really, when a friend is in such stress, my anger is certainly not a helpful response. I thought that the actions of hers that I didn't like might be some actions that I might do - things I don't like about myself. I guess the reality is that I might see a lot of what I don't like about myself in her. We're all just mirrors, right?

Looking at it that way really helped to settle and resolve my feelings, calm me down. I was able to move on and not dwell on it. I was able to go back to her and give a much more loving response and offer help that she needed. I was reminded to "not be content to show friendship in words alone. Let your heart beat with loving kindness for all who may cross your path," which is my truth.

I would not have thought to look at it that way if I had not chosen that card, I don't think. I just love those angel cards. It's like God talking right to me. Giving me fatherly advice. Awesome!

Monday's Quote

Photo by: Jennifer Campbell

"I can be changed by what happens to me.

But I refuse to be reduced by it."

Maya Angelou

What's Your Best?

Jennifer says: “Success is working hard, living right, dreaming big, and being the best we can be.” A. Tennille

I find that quote so inspiring, for many different reasons. First, to me it implies that success isn’t the finish line, but instead it’s a lifelong process. Something to strive for and then something to maintain. For me, breaking the sentence down into each component really makes me think about the kind of life I want to strive for and the goals I have set for myself.

Working hard: I don’t think that necessarily means working physically hard. Although, I’m not condoning laziness here. My feeling is that God, The Source, The Universe - whatever your belief is, put all of us here with unique talents and strengths. The trick is to figure out what those are. I’ve finally figured out mine. But I don’t think I’m working hard at them, or at least not as hard as I could be. And that’s the thing, working hard at our unique talents, our calling. When we work at what we’re meant to do, then it really isn’t working hard. If we were to follow our calling, I’m sure we’d be happier and more productive individuals. At least, I’m sure the majority of us would be.

Living right: For me this also can be broken down. The first thing that comes to mind is “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. I’m a strong believer in “what goes around comes around”. I may not always succeed and others may not agree, but I try to be honest and fair with people. And I hope they treat me in the same way, although I don’t think always it works out this way.

I think the other part of living right is taking care of oneself physically and emotionally. Treating yourself well and with respect, keeping yourself in good health. I’ve read so many times that if we do not treat ourselves well, how can we expect anyone one else to? Makes sense.

Dreaming big: Beyond the huge bank accounts, what do you dream for? Your own house with a nice yard filled with flowers and fruit trees? Exciting adventures traveling the world? Running your own business? Without big dreams, it’s unlikely to have big accomplishments. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Even if you don’t have a clue how to make your dreams happen, don’t give them up. Giving up means staying in the rut and what’s the point of that?

Being the best we can be: I think this encompasses all of the three points: working hard – at what we are meant to do, living right – treating ourselves and others well and dreaming big – not settling for less.

If we were all striving to be the best we could be, imagine what accomplishments we could make! And how much happier we’d be… Now that’s my idea of success!

Monday's Quote

Photo by: Jennifer Campbell

"Make up your mind. Behave as if it were absolutely true and all else will fall into place."

Anne Rice from A Cry To Heaven

Date with James or is it…Destiny?

Susan writes: I have been working on creating my perfect life since 2002. I know that sounds absurd; I have been alive since 1964. But looking back, I have to say that it was around 2002 that I woke up – I gradually became aware that my life was in my own hands, I was completely responsible for what was showing up in my life and I can create, literally, whatever I want. The total awareness of that , the complete acceptance of it didn’t happen overnight. In fact, I’m still working on it. It

is a process. For some it is a long one. For me, well, so far about seven years! I have created lots of great things, by intention, over these last seven years, and I will talk about them soon enough. But this story I am going to tell you now continues to raise the hair on my arms every time I think of it.

Earlier this year I had finished reading Wayne Dyer’s “Manifesting Your Destiny” and was practicing the morning meditations. It is quite a wonderful practice, that sitting there in the quiet of the early morning meditating. It took effort. I am not naturally a morning person. But I was persevering and enjoying the process.

At the same time, I had been planning a surprise trip to Europe with my daughter for later in the summer. I was having a great time choosing our activities, routes and lodging online. One night in my searching I happened across some video

of James McAvoy – one of my favorite film actors. At that moment, I decided I wanted to meet him when I was in Europe.

So the next morning, in my meditation, I set my intention – I’m going to meet James McAvoy when I’m in London – and then I carried on. I didn’t dwell on it at all. In fact, the day wore on, and turned into many days and I actually sort of forgot about this intention that I had set – this request I had sent out to the universe.

Then we got to Europe, we had a fabulous time, we visited five countries and the last one was England. London. We were staying with a friend, who reminded me that in a phone conversation, I had requested she set up a meeting with James. We had a few laughs over it and continued to have a great time in London, not giving James much more thought. Our last day arrived, we bade my friend farewell and we headed off to the airport. We got through security and I spotted the FCUK shop where I’d meant to get a favorite fragrance for a long time (we don’t have FCUK in the country where I live). I went up to the store employee, asked for the fragrance but they didn’t have it. He pointed to the end of the terminal to a drug store. He said I should check there, they should have it. I went down to the drug store, in search of the fragrance. I later found out that the drug store doesn’t even carry perfume, but it didn’t matter because I had to go to that drug store. I walked into the store, I rounded the corner and there was James, standing before me big as life, waiting at the counter to see the pharmacist about some prescription (just like a regular person). Our eyes met. All the forces in the universe had been set into motion, right up to the FCUK employee telling me to go down to the drug store for the fragrance, because I had to meet James McAvoy before I left London.

Well, the unfortunate part of the story is that I totally choked. I will always regret that I didn’t rush up to meet him, shake his hand and whip out my camera. Instead, my knees buckled, my throat went completely dry and I was overcome with the desire to protect his privacy. Besides, I wasn’t expecting this to happen quite like this, so I didn’t have my speech prepared. I stood right next to him in line, however (waiting to hear that the drug store doesn’t carry perfume) – I even heard him speak in his wonderful Scottish way, albeit not to me…and then my daughter and I stalked him for a full 10 minutes through the airport until he was lost in the crowd. Of course I spent the next 24 hours intensely going over the speech in my head that I would have delivered and will deliver next time!

But the beautiful part of this story is that he was there. Because I had ordered it. I mean, what are the odds? On a planet of 6 billion people, the one person in the world I request to show up while in London actually appears in the airport there on my way home? I guess you can imagine that I am feeling pretty powerful now.

This simple little story really illustrates to me the calm truth that I create my reality and it can be whatever I want. There are many lessons in it – we’ll talk about those later. But for now, I will just content myself with my goose bumps.

And James, brace yourself! I will not be too shy to introduce myself the next time we meet. My name is Susan! So be ready to shake my hand!!

Off the beaten path

Photo by: Jennifer Campbell

Jennifer writes: I decided to call my quest, “off the beaten path” because to me, that's what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to create my own path. Of course, I’ve been trying to create my own path for years. Each time I tell myself, “OK, this time it’s gonna work. It’s my time now.”

I was explaining this to a new friend a few nights ago, how I’ve been dreaming of being a successful freelance photographer / writer for most of my life. How I build up all this momentum, make plans and never quite make it. Somewhere between research, plan and follow through, I get stuck. She used the phrase, “you fizzle yourself out.” And that’s exactly right. I fizzle myself out. I think if I can figure out why and move past that, I’ll be on my way.

So what is the “beaten path” anyway? To me, it’s like watching an endless line of expressionless drones, worker ants, trod along a dirt road to their deaths. Finish school, get a job, get married, have kids, get into debt to lock you into the crappy job…go through the motions and die. Don’t veer off the path, it’s what our parents did, and their parents did. It’s what’s expected, it’s the responsible thing to do.

I see myself in the middle of this endless line, being dragged along caught in a current. For years, literally, I’ve been trying to push my way to the outside of the line. Carefully making plans to dodge the bodies and make a break for it. Machete in hand, ready to cut my own path through the woods. Sometimes I make it close to the outside, but I have never quite made it to the edge.

Fears, procrastination, perfectionism, lack of confidence… all these things throw me right back into the center lane. The voice in my head says “Stay on the job, you’ve got kids to take care of, bills, obligations”…even though it’s sucking my life force right out of me.

But I don’t give up; I keep on trying to get off that familiar path so I can create my own way. So what’s different this time? An audience, hopefully reading the creation of my own existence, my own deliberate creation. Maybe by putting it all “out there” and the accountability of having to write about it, report about it, will keep me moving. After all, no one wants a public fizzle…