Instead of saying, “I told you so” when karma comes around and a friend gets their come-uppance. say instead a heartfelt thanks because:
1. There but for the grace of God go I; and
2. Another soul is awakening from the illusion

“All your conflicts, dualities, and unfinished karma show up in the mirror of your intimate relationships.” Amrit Desai

A friend has a medical condition that, among other things, fogs her brain when she doesn’t eat in time.  I suggested she put it on the calendar and also a note on her monitor and bathroom mirror the times to eat. I’m the queen of forgetting whatever I’ve not made a note for.  I also have several timers I set for things like stove on, clothes out of dryer. Whenever I hear a timer, I go into the room to find it atop whatever is needing attention.  Sometimes it’s a fun surprise! As soon as I realized I could leave reminder notes and not have to rely upon my memory, I became less stressed.  When I became less stressed, my memory improved on its own.  Now let me set a timer to remember that for next time.

RELATED: I don’t always notice when I’m getting stressed

If you find yourself halted midstream and being met with resistance at every turn, consider changing what you do or who you do it with.  Resistance always has meaning.  That doesn’t mean never do that thing and never hang with that person.  It just means now is not a productive time to do that thing or hang with that person.  A false start loses momentum for a reason.  Maybe you are meant to accomplish that task free from the karma of the other involved. Maybe you’re meant to bring that person back into the project after you’ve laid the foundation firmly yourself.  When Life begins throwing up roadblocks and waving red flags, pause. Take a break from the situation.  Take a break from those people. You know who they are. Take a break from those you feel responsible for. A break will allow you to realize how powerful and resourceful they are without you. When you see their power and they begin to react to your seeing them as a person with power, the dynamics between you will change. You will be able to accomplish many things, alone and together. The essential thing is to PAUSE and step back from your situation. Take a BREAK from it and from everyone involved. Don’t talk to anyone about it during the break, just be busily involved elsewhere.  Resistance always has meaning.  When you’re getting red flags and roadblocks, when your mobility is being halted, step out of someone else’s karma and see what doors open to you that would not have opened otherwise.

REMEDY: Make the call yourself to see if your procedure is covered by whoever your doctor sends you to

A friend used her ObamaCare health insurance all year and was glad it cost so little. The last doctor however sent her to a lab that was not in the program, meaning she now owes $4,000.  She asked the doctor ahead of time if the lab he was sending her to was under her Florida Blue insurance and was assured twice yes. It wasn’t. REMEDY: Make the call to the lab and other care providers yourself before the appointment so there are no surprises. If you’ve incurred charges that are not covered by insurance, often they will reduce your bill sometimes in half by having you pay “the Medicaid rate” if you ask.  I’m stoked to have paid my premiums all year and not had to use my insurance.

Photo Credit Brad Bradley

Thai Pork soup, Thai Tea and Kimchi at the Krathong Festival at Thai Buddhist Temple Wat Punyawanaram, 4490 Aurora in Melbourne. We used to go there often, the temple was in a private home in the 90’s until they built the new larger one in 2003.  http://watpun.org/
Visiting Daily: 7AM to 8PM
Meditation Daily 7-8AM and 7-8PM
Thrift Shop: Wed to Sunday 9AM-4PM
Thai Food: Every Sunday 10AM-2PM

Thai Kitchen off Aurora at Wickham Road was a favorite after worship lunch spot for years until the new temple opened.  It was a weekly routine for years, church or temple, then giant bowls of hot Thai soup. It deepened my understanding of Thai Buddhist culture and my love for all foods Thai.

I have a habit of feeling guilty when I choose to spend time alone rather than with a friend.  It’s not just that I have a lot of things around here waiting to be done, it’s also that I enjoy my own company and look forward to time alone to garden, to paint, to do home projects and repairs.  I like doing things alone because only when my attention is focused within can I access the inner voice of my internal guidance system. If someone or some sound is present, my attention goes to them rather than within.  In the silence is when I get to spend quality time, pleasurable time, with Spirit and inner guidance.  And it’s not just an empty mind space, although there are times it is that as well. I found that once you tap into inner guidance, if you’ve got an inquisitive nature you can enter into constant conversation with the voice in the head, asking questions, discussing answers, working out issues past and present.  Continue reading →

If I was smart, before I launched into a big project like cutting and weaving thorny green palmetto fronds, I’d put on gloves and a heavy, long armed work shirt. At least I had on heavy jeans and yard boots. My hands and forearms are shredded. But, coconut oil to the rescue, I heal fast, 2-3 days will be good as new.

RELATED:  I get turned on to coconut oil

Today I tore down and rebuilt the nature wall across the back property access left by the tree cutters. I didn’t build it well before, so I pulled all the bamboo down and layered it proper.  The wall started out with a frame similar to this shown to the right but using bamboo rods. I secured the rods with living grape vines and then overlaid with palmetto stumps, fronds and potato vine. I forgot to leave a space for me to sneak out of.

Nothing that happens in the world needs to affect our happiness. During a storm, the small, slim willow bends in the wind while the giant oak may break and fall. A storm may rage on all around us, yet we be completely safe and untouched where we are.