My own inability to commit to something LOL! 

It depends... some days I am dwelling solidly in the past --- old friends, places I've lived, things I'd done (or wish I'd done).

Other days I visit the future - filled with questions and wonder.

Throughout my travels, I know I need to be here, in the present, where my true gifts dwell.  Sometimes I come right back from the journey and live.  Other times... well, I have to remind myself to get home LOL!

Time only began today
Who I am is all I'll be
in this moment and in this way...
time only began today.

Time only began just now.
It doesn't matter what I've learned
if I succeed or fail, somehow,
time only began just now.

This new moment is all I am
In this moment I do what I can
No need to understand
the truth of what I say

Time only began today.

Deanna Joseph (c)

When I'm feeling down I'll get out my kids' birthing albums and look at all the pictures. 

Or...  I'll watch the movie "White Chicks."

Or...  I'll make a gratitude list.

Or...  I'll read a bit of a book that makes me feel better.

Or... I can just think of any of those things, and that will usually make me feel better LOL! 

Over the last few weeks I've noticed a trend among people I know, and that's worry and fear about the state of the world today. 

With gas prices going insane, food prices going up, salaries being cut, medical insurance doing less and costing more, it's no wonder that over all, anxiety seems to be on the rise too.

But I have to admit, that in spite of the craziness happening around me, I still manage to maintain a sense of hope and a very strong belief that things are going to get better much sooner than we think, at least most of the time.

I had recently read the book "The Moses Code" by James Twyman, and followed it up with "The Greatest Secret of All" by Marc Allen, and both authors had the same thing to say.  There's more to life than flashy possessions, it's really all about how we can be of service to each other.

I happened to be thinking about this the other day while driving in the car with my 11 year old son and 9 year old daughter.

I had a lot on my mind....  I was worrying about my husband's job - it has been a bit unstable lately, and finances have been tight, and I was thinking about how my back has really been bothering me.  I was letting myself drift out of my normally  hopeful state, and into a place of worry and fear. 

Then my children started arguing.  My son decided he was going to keep his little sister from doing something that would upset their Dad.   She got mad, he was being bossy, I was frazzled, and that's when I noticed the car in front of me. 

It had a personalized license place that simply stated "GV HOPE."  That was it... that was all I needed in that moment. 

I asked my children "why do you think we are here?"  Surprised by my question, they stopped arguing to wait for my answer.

"We are here to give hope." 

I asked my son how he could have given his sister hope instead of trying to scare her by threatening that she'd get in trouble. 

Then I asked my daughter what she could do to give her brother hope.

They both came up with something sweet and comforting for each other, and then decided that they could give me hope by reminding me that I could go to the chiropractor and feel as good as new.

And there we were... giving hope.

And it was so easy to do.  Just when I was in need of hope, I received it by giving it. 

In that small moment we changed our world by giving hope.

How many of those small moments are still to come to us, day by day?  How many opportunities do we have to give hope and change our world?

There are so many things!   I love to sit on our patio and connect with my husband at the end of the day.  I love to connect with my friends at the park while our children play together.  I love to sit with a girlfriend at the local coffee house and enjoy great coffee and conversation.  I love talking on the phone!   I love sharing ceremonys and reflections. 

I guess it's really the company, and not what we're doing in particular, that is so great!

I'm good company when I travel.  There's something about the zen of the road that inspires the best conversations. 

I have been paying attention to the people who come and go through my life.  What I notice is that in many ways, we are all looking for the same thing.  Hope.  So I try to give hope when I can, and that means to me, too, when I need it :)

Once there was a beautiful, bright, Star, that shone in the heavens; brilliant, luminous and glowing. One day this Star split into billions and billions of tinier stars. This was so that instead of one dream, the star could have billions and billions of dreams.

Inside each and every one of us is a piece of that One Star. Bright and glowing, it waits to be recognized so that it may become a beacon to other sleeping stars.

It's time for us to see the truth in each and every heart right now.

We need to release our judgments about those around us. No matter what spiritual path someone follows, no matter what type of job they have or music they listen to, they are a star, sleeping, yet still brightly lit, waiting to be recognized.

It's time to sing the soul back home...

When we recognize the beauty in another, see the star within them, we help them to awaken to their true self. We help them to take that first step on their journey home.

The journey starts right here, right now. We don't need to do anything but get started. We don't need a special job, more education or more money. Our journey has started in this moment of awakening.

There's something I must tell you now...
You are the light, so shine it now...

August 6, 1945, was the day that the first atomic bomb was dropped.

Interestingly, the numerology for that day is 33, which is a master number. So, if you were born on that date, you carry the energies of this master number.

The number 33 is about serving humanity.  It's about seeing the bigger picture, and how everything happens for a reason.  There is a Divine plan guiding everything.  It's healing with love. 

How do we choose to see the bigger picture?  How do we choose to see the Divine plan guiding our lives and the consciousness on the planet right now?

For the answer to that question, I choose to sit and listen to my heart this morning... literally.  I put my hands over my heart, and breathed in the energy. 

This is what my heart had to say to me....

"Start with loving me first.  Then work your way gently outward.  Love me... then love how the blood flows through your body.  Love the cells of your body in all their preciousness... then love how your internal organs work.  Love your body, with all its strength, beauty and quirkiness.  It IS beautiful so change your mind about any perceived flaws you carry with you. 

Next love your surroundings.  Love the fact that you have a roof over your head.  Love your children and husband... act out of love toward them. 

Love your neighbors - even the ones who annoy you.  Smile and wave at them ANYWAY. 

Encourage your friends and acquaintences.  Always. 

Show kindness in your community.  Smile at strangers, share kind words when you can.  Drive nice.  Let others go first at stop signs. 

Stop worrying about the war.  You are not over there, your job is here.  Affect your own community in positive ways.  Affect your "here" and the outflow will affect the planet.  The outflow will affect your family, friends and neighbors, who will, in turn, add to the good energy going out into the world. 

Practice non-judgment.  Judging things puts a yucky energy out into the world, and puts yucky energy inside of you.  Bless others.

Bless others all the time."

As I felt this message, I was listening to the song "Underneath" by Alanis Morissette.  She talks about how we wage war in our bedroom... how we break our bonds in this kitchen... we rally our defenses, and jump ship in our dialogue.  She is talking about war on a small scale - how we react to others in our own environment. 

How can we expect peace in the world if we are not willing to experience peace in our own homes and communities?  This truly is where it all starts - for better or worse - in our own livingroom.

So, that's what my heart had to say to me this morning. 

What does your heart have to say to you?