Let’s all Take 5, Stretch, Shake, Stabilize and Seeing the Glass Half Full NOT Half Empty…

We have choices how we frame and choose to perceive the world

This week was packed with events and weather that were gray, shocked and initially triggered a myriad of negative emotions, particularly fear. The weather here in BC has been particularly gray and rainy. Our CoVid numbers are rising. The storming of the US capital was disconcerting to say the least. Layer this with personal challenges, which we all face in our daily lives and life can seem overwhelming.

I’ve been looking back on our simple life and think to myself so what were the lessons this week? This led me to turn to one of the globe’s great sage’s Elie Wiesel, who overcame great adversity in his lifetime. In particular, he dealt with extreme isolation while living in fear. He was a holocaust survivor and in 1960 wrote Night, along with 60 other books. He won the Nobel Peace Prize. Although he died in 2016 at 87, he lives through his writing and documented quotes. He would now be referred to as a lightworker. I turn to his wisdom as I try to gain clarity in my life. I will offer a quote from Wiesel and apply it to this week.

Friendship

“Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing.”

― Elie Wiesel

“I know and I speak from experience, that even in the midst of darkness, it is possible to create light and share warmth with one another; that even on the edge of the abyss, it is possible to dream exalted dreams of compassion; that it is possible to be free and strengthen the ideals of freedom, even within prison walls; that even in exile, friendship becomes an anchor.”

― Elie Wiesel

It’s interesting although we are physical distancing, this has not stopped my contact with friends virtually or outside on walks. I’m so grateful for these interactions with others. Virtual conversations with Leslie, Jenn, Laura and Sallie plus others have grounded me with laughter, their wisdom and inspiration, and the comfort of embracing non judgemental sharing. Funny we don’t have to physically be in each other’s company to feel the loving bonds.  Sharing walking time with Donna, has provided support in maintaining our commitment to physical exercise, even when the weather outside is not perfect. The walks and talks give us great time to chat about current events, share Covid strategies and fears and provide each other laughs. The conversations we have had with newer friends, (Deb, Larry, Karen, Michael and Stacy) we run into on our walks have been delightful as we get to know them more. The touching base with my dear neighbour and musical fairy friend, Maureen, always brings me a smile and giggle. Of course, there is Mark, my 40-year friend and husband with whom I’ve been married for 37 years. We continue to share on a non-threatening, anchored (yes, attached) with fluid movement of forgiveness, freedom and understanding. We don’t own each other but honour each other (even with our different perspectives at times).

Adversity (USA Drama Drama and CoVid)

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”

― Elie Wiesel

“We have to go into the despair and go beyond it, by working and doing for somebody else, by using it for something else.”

― Elie Wiesel

“Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.”

― Elie Wiesel

“We know that every moment is a moment of grace, every hour an offering; not to share them would mean to betray them. Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately.”

― Elie Wiesel

Gosh, sigh what I can say about the state of affairs in the United States? Come on people, let’s try to look at things from the other’s perspective.

As Wiesel states, we need to express our perspectives and opinions and challenge each other. Ambivalence is pretty much how we got into the present popularist perspective. In general populations have been so disgusted with politics that instead of making the efforts to get involved many have abstained from voting. People seem to have retreated to the support of their online tribes/groups on social media. They find the affirmation of their opinions, whether negative or positive, then can sit back with judgement in the comfort of the backseat of their home.

So now we are in the thick of despair given the shock of US politics and the CoVid pandemic, where do we go from here? As Wiesel states, we need to go beyond into service and empathy. We are all connected, we can’t escape this fact. We need to think of others, following protocols, and no matter how much it pains us, to try and see things from another person’s point of view. Empathy is tough when it appears that the behaviour of the other side is ‘wrong’. Yet, if we keep reminding ourselves that in our democracy everyone has the freedom to express ideas, we need to dissect why an opposing force thinks or reacts the way that they do. We need to exercise discernment and patience. We need to take the time to ask probing and challenging questions. We need to try and share with an open mind. In the process we might find out why an opposing force is reacting in a certain way. I’m not condoning violent, prejudicial, bigoted behaviour. It’s tough. My comparison is family law disputes, where people who once came together in love are ready to rip each other apart (remember the movie The War of the Roses).

As Wiesel states that hope can be given to each other in our capacity as humans. We have hit despair; you might want to say rock bottom. Let’s now give each other hope. The alternative would be fight to the death, which I believe none of us want to see.

Gratitude

“When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.”

― Elie Wiesel

We are all in control of our thoughts. No one can get into our heads and control our minds. It may feel like that at times, but ultimately, we have free will and choice. We can choose to look at every single moment of every single day as an opportunity for us to choose to see the positive. These past weeks in BC have been exceptionally rainy. At times it feels daunting, depressing and insurmountable. If we don’t reframe how we see what is placed in front of us, we run the risk of remaining in bed in a state of depression. It is up to us, to give a nod to the presenting reality, take a deep breath and say to ourselves, “Everything has a positive and a negative.” If the presenting situation appears negative, we can stretch our thinking to reframe and ask, what is the positive side? Yes, I’m going to stretch far to find gratitude in two extreme circumstances, let’s take a look at this hard weather and political horror week:

Rain

The positive is the green terrain (grass, moss, tree growth), the cleansing properties of rain, the increased negative ions combatting the excessive positive ions due to technology, the humidity is helping CoVid be less contagious outside, we aren’t shoveling snow or scraping ice, typically we can wait for breaks in excessive rain to walk, and it contributes to our potable water supply.

Storming of Capitol Hill

Two positives come to mind:

  • First, Mr. Trump has shot himself in the foot. He, (btw along with his family look at Donald Trump Jr. video on how they gleefully were waiting for the protest to happen), has shown how he hangs on to anger, must show revenge, is obsessive/compulsive in hanging on to an opinion or perspective, is insistent that he is right on all accounts (arrogance/lacking humility), and ultimately, he will die proving a point. Well, he has as he has killed pretty much any chance of salvaging his legacy or any possible future in politics. Even his own party members are distancing with disgust. We won’t have to listen to him carry on for four years on how he will run again.
  • Second, the enlightenment and discussion of politics: liberalism versus conservatism. Both sides of the political spectrum need to take responsibility for policy, strategy and most importantly reaction to ‘the other side’. Both sides have shown blindness. The Democrats have wallowed in hate and sadly have resolved to such extreme devious passionate warfare against Trump, they in fact have often played the sinister bully card, not prioritizing the American people but pushing their own political ego agendas. The Republicans have reacted and wallowed in hate reacting to the other side, or remaining quiet endorsing the out of control, sassy, spicy, prickly and challenging Trump. We have listened and watched Trump’s shenanigans, tweets and media aggression for four years. Phew, now no longer. Now, hopefully, both sides can truly look at the issues and try to come to common ground. If we don’t, like I say to my kids, if you don’t learn your lesson the first time, the universe will deliver another one bigger and harder than the last.

Namaste friends, let’s live in friendship and gratitude and above all let’s learning from adversity. We must move forward compassionately with strong boundaries. Boundaries… now that’s a whole other blog.

Quick Take Away Links

Rain

Weekly Video Links

Let’s all Take 5, Stretch, Shake, Stabilize and Seeing the Glass Half Full NOT Half Empty…

We have choices how we frame and choose to perceive the world

This week was packed with events and weather that were gray, shocked and initially triggered a myriad of negative emotions, particularly fear. The weather here in BC has been particularly gray and rainy. Our CoVid numbers are rising. The storming of the US capital was disconcerting to say the least. Layer this with personal challenges, which we all face in our daily lives and life can seem overwhelming.

I’ve been looking back on our simple life and think to myself so what were the lessons this week? This led me to turn to one of the globe’s great sage’s Elie Wiesel, who overcame great adversity in his lifetime. In particular, he dealt with extreme isolation while living in fear. He was a holocaust survivor and in 1960 wrote Night, along with 60 other books. He won the Nobel Peace Prize. Although he died in 2016 at 87, he lives through his writing and documented quotes. He would now be referred to as a lightworker. I turn to his wisdom as I try to gain clarity in my life. I will offer a quote from Wiesel and apply it to this week.

Friendship

“Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing.”

― Elie Wiesel

“I know and I speak from experience, that even in the midst of darkness, it is possible to create light and share warmth with one another; that even on the edge of the abyss, it is possible to dream exalted dreams of compassion; that it is possible to be free and strengthen the ideals of freedom, even within prison walls; that even in exile, friendship becomes an anchor.”

― Elie Wiesel

It’s interesting although we are physical distancing, this has not stopped my contact with friends virtually or outside on walks. I’m so grateful for these interactions with others. Virtual conversations with Leslie, Jenn, Laura and Sallie plus others have grounded me with laughter, their wisdom and inspiration, and the comfort of embracing non judgemental sharing. Funny we don’t have to physically be in each other’s company to feel the loving bonds.  Sharing walking time with Donna, has provided support in maintaining our commitment to physical exercise, even when the weather outside is not perfect. The walks and talks give us great time to chat about current events, share Covid strategies and fears and provide each other laughs. The conversations we have had with newer friends, (Deb, Larry, Karen, Michael and Stacy) we run into on our walks have been delightful as we get to know them more. The touching base with my dear neighbour and musical fairy friend, Maureen, always brings me a smile and giggle. Of course, there is Mark, my 40-year friend and husband with whom I’ve been married for 37 years. We continue to share on a non-threatening, anchored (yes, attached) with fluid movement of forgiveness, freedom and understanding. We don’t own each other but honour each other (even with our different perspectives at times).

Adversity (USA Drama Drama and CoVid)

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” ― Elie Wiesel

“We have to go into the despair and go beyond it, by working and doing for somebody else, by using it for something else.” ― Elie Wiesel

“Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.” ― Elie Wiesel

“We know that every moment is a moment of grace, every hour an offering; not to share them would mean to betray them. Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately.” ― Elie Wiesel

Gosh, sigh what I can say about the state of affairs in the United States? Come on people, let’s try to look at things from the other’s perspective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_inXx-J3nU.

As Wiesel states, we need to express our perspectives and opinions and challenge each other. Ambivalence is pretty much how we got into the present popularist perspective. In general populations have been so disgusted with politics that instead of making the efforts to get involved many have abstained from voting. People seem to have retreated to the support of their online tribes/groups on social media. They find the affirmation of their opinions, whether negative or positive, then can sit back with judgement in the comfort of the backseat of their home.

So now we are in the thick of despair given the shock of US politics and the CoVid pandemic, where do we go from here? As Wiesel states, we need to go beyond into service and empathy. We are all connected, we can’t escape this fact. We need to think of others, following protocols, and no matter how much it pains us, to try and see things from another person’s point of view. Empathy is tough when it appears that the behaviour of the other side is ‘wrong’. Yet, if we keep reminding ourselves that in our democracy everyone has the freedom to express ideas, we need to dissect why an opposing force thinks or reacts the way that they do. We need to exercise discernment and patience. We need to take the time to ask probing and challenging questions. We need to try and share with an open mind. In the process we might find out why an opposing force is reacting in a certain way. I’m not condoning violent, prejudicial, bigoted behaviour. It’s tough. My comparison is family law disputes, where people who once came together in love are ready to rip each other apart (remember the movie The War of the Roses).

As Wiesel states that hope can be given to each other in our capacity as humans. We have hit despair, you might want to say rock bottom. Let’s now give each other hope. The alternative would be fight to the death, which I believe none of us want to see.

Gratitude

“When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.”

― Elie Wiesel

We are all in control of our thoughts. No one can get into our heads and control our minds. It may feel like that at times, but ultimately, we have free will and choice. We can choose to look at every single moment of every single day as an opportunity for us to choose to see the positive. These past weeks in BC have been exceptionally rainy. At times it feels daunting, depressing and insurmountable. If we don’t reframe how we see what is placed in front of us, we run the risk of remaining in bed in a state of depression. It is up to us, to give a nod to the presenting reality, take a deep breath and say to ourselves, “Everything has a positive and a negative.” If the presenting situation appears negative, we can stretch our thinking to reframe and ask, what is the positive side? Yes, I’m going to stretch far to find gratitude in two extreme circumstances, let’s take a look at this hard weather and political horror week:

Rain

The positive is the green terrain (grass, moss, tree growth), the cleansing properties of rain, the increased negative ions combatting the excessive positive ions due to technology, the humidity is helping CoVid be less contagious outside, we aren’t shoveling snow or scraping ice, typically we can wait for breaks in excessive rain to walk, and it contributes to our potable water supply.

Storming of Capitol Hill

Two positives come to mind:

  • First, Mr. Trump has shot himself in the foot. He, (btw along with his family look at Donald Trump Jr. video on how they gleefully were waiting for the protest to happen), has shown how he hangs on to anger, must show revenge, is obsessive/compulsive in hanging on to an opinion or perspective, is insistent that he is right on all accounts (arrogance/lacking humility), and ultimately, he will die proving a point. Well, he has as he has killed pretty much any chance of salvaging his legacy or any possible future in politics. Even his own party members are distancing with disgust. We won’t have to listen to him carry on for four years on how he will run again.
  • Second, the enlightenment and discussion of politics: liberalism versus conservatism. Both sides of the political spectrum need to take responsibility for policy, strategy and most importantly reaction to ‘the other side’. Both sides have shown blindness. The Democrats have wallowed in hate and sadly have resolved to such extreme devious passionate warfare against Trump, they in fact have often played the sinister bully card, not prioritizing the American people but pushing their own political ego agendas. The Republicans have reacted and wallowed in hate reacting to the other side, or remaining quiet endorsing the out of control, sassy, spicy, prickly and challenging Trump. We have listened and watched Trump’s shenanigans, tweets and media aggression for four years. Phew, now no longer. Now, hopefully, both sides can truly look at the issues and try to come to common ground. If we don’t, like I say to my kids, if you don’t learn your lesson the first time, the universe will deliver another one bigger and harder than the last.

Namaste friends, let’s live in friendship and gratitude and above all let’s learning from adversity. We must move forward compassionately with strong boundaries. Boundaries… now that’s a whole other blog.

Quick Take Away Links

Rain

Weekly Video Links