Today Bob & I had the privilege of the company of two very happy, warm, genuine people. Friends like these are part of life’s treasures. We are so grateful for them.
This photo of Terry and me was taken a year ago at their place.
Bob with Jim a year ago
Last year we shared time with these friends at their place. This year they are sharing time with us here in Rancho Mirage.
When you have friends who are happy and positive, it is easy to remain cheerful – even when crazy, bizarre things are happening in the world around you.
When I posted my blog yesterday (Speak Kindly), I mentioned that November is a month devoted to Thanksgiving (at least here in the USA that’s our focus). In addition to this attitude of Gratitude, I sent out an invitation to make it a month of KINDNESS. “Let’s make Kindness a HABIT,” I suggested.
In the Comments Section
My daughter who lives in Switzerland (and who reads my blog daily – thank you, DeDe), wrote a comment saying, “It should be that way every month of the year!”
Cultivating Kindness
She’s right, of course. It should be! If you search under the tag of Kindness on WordPress, you will discover it is a topic well covered. It’s not written about because it is an automatic human response, unfortunately. Kindness is something we really need to cultivate.
“Lately, in the news, all I hear about are all the negative things happening. I would like to focus on positivity.
It doesn’t take much to do something kind for someone.”
Then she listed some suggestions. Check out her blog.
Is Kindness that Hard?
In her blog, Sunday Sayings – Kindness, Forestwood wrote,
“Throughout our lives, we constantly hear sageful advice such as:
‘Treat one another as you would like to be treated yourself ‘– That wise old Confucian saying of ‘Do Unto Others as You would have Done Unto You.‘
“We hear this, we know this, well most of us implicitly know this, yet often despite this, ego takes over. People might become selfish, or narcissistic, or begin to look-out, only for themselves.”
Kindness Affects Our Mental Health
When our “Reptilian Brain” has its needs met (food, shelter and clothing), then we don’t have to focus on our survival. We don’t have to respond to life with the “Me First” attitude. We can reach out with our thoughts and our prayers, our words and our actions, to exhibit genuine kindness to others. In so doing, our own mental health is uplifted – and we find the world to be a better place. Better, because we are the kindness we want to see – and what we send into the lives of others, comes back into our own.
“In today’s world, despite ample material development, too many lack inner peace. One way to counter anger, jealousy and competitiveness is to cultivate non-violence and compassion towards others.”
When you have a friend who’s down, You may not be able to physically lift them up, But you can bend down to understand And massage their heart and fill their cup.
Giving comfort to others who hurt Seems to lift my spirit as much as theirs. Compassion is directed in as well as out, It’s a two-way street, an up-the-down stairs!
“And you? When will you begin that long journey inward?” – Rumi
I am certain that my friend, Lilie, is on the road to inner peace. Yesterday she quoted the wisdom I copied above from Rumi on her WordPress blog, Tea and Toast with Kindness.
I learn a lot by reading the ruminations of others. This week I especially appreciated the writings of Dr. Perry in his blog,
Dr. Perry, posted a blog titled, It’s OK to Have a Bad Day. It caused me to internalize this inward journey for peace and think about the habits I have worked to develop in order to be my own best friend.
He quoted Emerson, who wrote: ““Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Traveling inward, looking for contentment, I have found that I need to consciously adopt habits that foster inner peace:
Forgiveness
Positivity
Self-Acceptance
Recognition of Limitations
Confrontation of Temptations
Elimination of Blame
Hope in the Face of Despair
Celebration of Where my Hope Lies
Life-long Learning
Prayer
Reflect
In the process of traveling the Road to Inner Peace, it is important to stop every now and then to look back. Consider your progress or regression. Have you every noticed when you’re traveling up a hill that you don’t realize how steep it is until you look back at the incline you have just traversed?
Likewise, when the road is on a decline, you may not realize how drastic the angle until you stop and look back up to the place you began. Reflecting on where you started and seeing how far you have improved or deteriorated can be very helpful.
Dr. Perry, in the post I referenced above says it this way, “After a period of time, reflect on what you have learned and gained from the negative event or interaction in your life. More often than not you will find that you have learned something. Perhaps you will discover an inner strength that you were not aware of or a higher purpose for your existence.”
Find Purpose
In her September 27th, The Godly Chic Diaries posted a WordPress guest writer. She introduced Matik Nicholls by saying, “I’m a firm believer that if you have a pulse, you have a purpose. I say this with my whole heart, Everyone needs a blessing. And if you have the ability to bless others, be a blessing. And when you are a blessing to others, you will find ‘joy unspeakable’ in the process….”
Guest Blogger: Matik Nicholls wrote: “Every gift, ability and blessing we have is for the service of others. We are blessers not blessees! We carry the presence of God wherever we go for a greater purpose than just for us to be happy. It is our privilege and purpose to transfer the blessings of God to others!”
Traveling life’s road, I take joy in the journey. Spreading it’s my goal.
With The Godly Chic’s help, I discovered this new website, and decided to subscribe to it. The author, Matik Amilcar Nicholls, has created an inspirational web blog at http://www.Authenticjoy.org. This handsome, positive-thinking young man resides in the beautiful islands of Trinidad and Tobago.
On his site, he shared, “I am an engineer by training, having graduated from the University of the West Indies with a B.Sc. Computer and Electrical Engineering (with honours). More recently, I completed an M.B.A. with the Heriot-Watt University. I also have a certificate in Applied Theology (class valedictorian) from the Millennium Bible Institute and currently I am pursuing an online programme with the International Coaching Academy to become a Certified Coach.”
Naturally, reading about him, I am inspired to want to learn more. My Road to Inner Peace is made more successful when I can join hands on the journey with people like Matik. People in other parts of the world. People whose life stories are far different from mine, but who share the common purpose of wanting to “Be a Blessing.” I encourage you to let Matik’s JOY infect you as I found it to be quite “catching” indeed!
Like me, spreading joy – and the source of his joy (his FAITH) – is what Matik says he is all about. He wrote, “I love Jesus. I love spending time with Him. I love His mercy that keeps flowing endlessly in my life. I love what He stands for: love, grace, mercy, peace, truth, freedom, humility and transformation. I am committed to these values. I’m committed to doing my part to preach the gospel, heal the sick, feed the poor, comfort the hurting and free the oppressed… I enjoy seeing people walk in the fullness of all that God has for them to be and do.“
It’s the middle of the night here in Ennis, Montana, USA. I can’t sleep. Do you ever have that problem? What do you do about it?
There’s an old song that comes to mind. These may not be the exact words, but it goes something like this: When you’re troubled and you can’t sleep, Count your blessings instead of sheep; and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings.”
See you later! After some restful sleep… If I can just get TazE to stop waking me up!
. . .
OK, just be happy… Life is good- Even at 3: in the morning!!
Just what does it take
In order to shine?
Must you be complete?
.
Just what does it take
To light up a room?
Must you be perfect?
.
I asked that question
Of the sliver of a moon.
.
So on this gray day –
Sad memories haunting me,
I let my light shine.
.
You can, too. Reach out!
.
