Bye 2011, you have been a great year for me.
I got to do more of the things I love to enjoy, which included traveling, spending time with my biological family, visiting new places, spending more time with friends, exploring more personal interests, creating more fabulous jewellery and learning to treat every day like a vacationer.
I want more of those things in 2012 plus some new things to choose from.

Thanks Universe!

Retire from resistance

About now, I begin to think about what I want to change/add/delete in my life for the new year. I don't do 'resolutions' as much because they are usually broken by mid January…

The thing I really want is to retire from resistance. I want to make that my chief goal for 2012.

I am retired from resistance.

Just saying it makes me feel at ease. As if a whole load has been lifted.

What is this resistance I am alluding to? It is anything that makes me feel heavy emotionally, or when I am not in concert with my inner being. It is when I temporarily lose my connection with Source.

For the next couple of days, I will be making a list of all the things I resist. This ought to be interesting.

The currency of Happiness

I have figured out that me being happy is my currency to the best possible life I can ever live.

So I am only ever focused on anything to do with happiness.

Am I happy now?

How can I be happier now?

What thoughts should I conjure, so that I can feel happy now?

What image or fantasy can I bring to mind, if my now is ho hum?

What can I do now that elicits happiness?

Which food would I enjoy eating more? 

Which book is more enjoyable?

Which movie feels good?

Happiness is not elusive.

It is a decision (to feel good) that must be consciously made in every moment.

  

Harvesting Fun

The holidays are so much fun aren't they? I really love this time of year. Everyone seems excited about one thing or another. It doesn't really matter what the reason is, just to be excited and happy is enough for me.

I've been enjoying the mild weather we are experiencing, it is lovely to see greenery in my surroundings at this time of the year.

I'm loving the opportunities to bake and  cook wonderful meals both for us and for friends. Today I decided to prepare a homemade pancake mix for myself, so that all I have to do is "add water" when I'm ready to whip up a batch of pancakes in the morning!

Hafiz

I adore the poems of Hafiz.

Each time I read them, I get massive amounts of thrill bumps, which I now know to be Source Energy flowing through me.

It feels as if the whole universe is applauding that I too am in on this cosmic joke.

Hafiz made his relationship with his Inner Being or God his top priority and I want to do that too.

I want to come into alignment with my own power and clarity and love because that is who I really am.

We are all Source Energy in a physical body, but to feel it and know it the way Hafiz did, is my ultimate goal.

God

When people ask me if I believe in God, I have to first clarify what their belief of God is.

For the word God has many meanings. If I say to the asker, “I do.” They will immediately assume I believe as they believe and that would be an incorrect assumption.

God to me is a word that means Consciousness or All That Is. It is an energy or vibration that is always there, that has never not been there. God is.

I am always a part of this energy or God or All That Is. I am in It. I am surrounded by It.

I live and move and have my being in It. It is who I am, but I am not It. I am a part of It, much like a drop of water is part of the ocean, but the drop is not the ocean.

This energy or vibration is what I mean when I say to you, “Yes I believe in God.”

Personally I prefer the name of Source Energy because it feels like the purest, highest vibration there is while the term ‘God’ feels moody and conditional to me.

Source Energy feels expansive, blissful, divine, joyous and loving and as I say those words I can feel it viscerally within me; making it true for me.

Appreciating the beauty of fall foliage

I had to look really hard to find some brilliant foliage this year. I guess we have been very blessed to have taken it for granted in previous years. Nevertheless, it is still to be found and continues to be breathtakingly beautiful.
Last year I collected some beautiful leaves and preserved them between the pages of a heavy book.
They have retained their color and I am going to make Christmas tree ornaments with them.
Finding beauty in every day is a good way to appreciate the blessings of the Universe.

Inspired action

Today I created three necklaces, two bracelets and one pair of earrings.

Earlier in the week, I completed my first ornament of the season as well.

I enjoyed the inspiration and was very pleased with the process.

It was all so easy and so much fun.

I want every day to be like this: Flowing inspiration and followed by delightful action.

What more could one ask for?

Thank you Steve.

Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new - Steve Jobs.


Dear Steve,
I feel so very privileged to have manifested myself here in the time of this most leading edge technology which you called forth through your being.
I am having the greatest fun as a result of your calling.
Thank You.


For more information on the above photo

Story and the Vortex

Can you imagine how thrilled I was to see Story talking about The Vortex, Law of Attraction and Abraham and Esther? I am immensely pleased, because I adore Story's work. I use Messiah Seed for meditative contemplation daily. I need constant reminders that I am Source Energy and I am worthy!
A feeling of worthiness is the key to everything wanted and a feeling of unworthiness is the key to chaos.
You choose.

Claiming and receiving health and wellbeing

Today I claim and receive my abundance of all things enduring.
I claim excellent health and wellbeing.
I receive it with every breath I take, now and always.

May you also claim and receive health and wellbeing.
Simply relax and say to yourself " I intend to receive all the health and wellbeing the Universe has for me"

Prayer

My prayer for today:

May I be blessed with curiosity, passion, eagerness and enthusiasm, today and everyday!

This quote sums up my feelings exactly!

We would like you to reach the place where you're not willing to listen to people criticize one another… where you take no satisfaction from somebody being wrong… where it matters to you so much that you feel good, that you are only willing to think positive things about people…you are only willing to look for positive aspects; you are only willing to look for solutions, and you are not willing to beat the drum of all of the problems of the world.
--- Abraham
Excerpted from the workshop in Cincinnati, OH on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2004 #173

Being present.

Today, I focused on being present.

It was easy for me to just be. Here. Now.

Being was all I had to do today and it was quite relaxing.

Since I wasn't allowed to think about the past or future, this little exercise was great fun!

I answered all email immediately and I ran errands and read.

I did have to prepare a menu for a dinner party, but that was in the present moment. 

I did literally pull out cookbooks and decided upon a menu.

I enjoyed shopping for the ingredients and putting them away when I got home.

Being present was very inspiring. I felt calm and energetic throughout the day.

A lot of grace came with being present.  For instance, I had enough leftovers for a complete meal for two people.

A friend I've been meaning to call, called today. I found something I'd misplaced. 

The grocery store had everything I wanted. I got front door parking and I didn't have to wait in line.

The rain held up for me today. I felt inspired to repair a five stranded tourmaline necklace, I've been putting off for months now.

The necklace took less than half an hour to repair and I am very pleased with the results.

Perhaps the most significant thing I noticed was a feeling of eagerness and enjoyment which accompanied me throughout the day.

I think these two traits are always there, but I was never present enough to notice them. I'd rather have eagerness and joy over past and future thoughts, unless of course the latter was filled with eagerness and joy!

Appreciation for June 2011

I am appreciating:

Having both the time and money to spend three weeks with my parents in Tobago.

Rendezvousing with my siblings and parents.

My father's recovery.

The helpful people I met everywhere I went.

The wonderful weather I experienced there.

My friends who came over for the last four days of my stay there.

The wonderful foods I ate!

Freshly caught fish each day.

Avocadoes and bananas from Cath.

The wonderful scenic beaches.

The delicious Arabic and local foods.

Being able to buy all things Cadbury.

Returning to my lovely home environment.

Weeding my flourishing garden.

The abundance of hydrangeas this year.

Delighting in the tomato plants from last year's crop.

Having help in the garden this summer.

Enjoying lovely days outdoors.

Buying lobsters and fish from the seafood shop near the harbor.

Driving on safe roads with predictable drivers.

Leaving my doors open.

The variety of foods available at the grocery stores here.

Air conditioning.

Peaceful, spacious surroundings.

Reliable internet connection.

Home gym.

Amex Return Policy

Beavertail Park, R.I

Watching sailboats.

Enjoying the cool sea breeze.

Reconnecting with friends.

My soaking tub.

my reliable vehicle.

Fabulous books to read.

Celebrating my birthday.

My loving spouse.

The kindness of strangers.

I am appreciating the kindness of strangers today.

The passerby who offered to go to the store and get Lucozade for my father when he was feeling faint.

The bench that was there when he needed to sit.

The taxi driver who offered to take him home even though the route was not his.

The doctor next door, who came right over to see him and stayed until he was sure my father felt better.

The same doctor who offered to check in on him regularly.

The neighbor who took my mother to the hospital when she dislocated her arm.

The neighbor who spent the night in the hospital with my mother, so she won't have to be there alone.

These and other countless acts of humanity is what makes us human. 

Perhaps now we would be willing to give up the bogus idea that if we lived closer to family, we would better off.

No we wouldn't. 

Family would be reluctant at the start and reproachful long after it was over.

The pleasures of reading

One activity I enjoy every day is reading. I spend all day eagerly anticipating this delightful event.

I read either fifty pages a day, or for half an hour before bedtime. 

Reading inspires me and invites me to other realms where I get to be an unobserved observer.

Of course there are days when I do read for hours at a time. 

Having the opportunity to read on a daily basis is my best and most important indulgence.

I am forever appreciative of this gift.

What's next for me

I was perusing my bucket list notebook last night and saw that many of the things were already in my experience.

One thing I didn't have in there but I've always wanted is an English Cottage Garden.

I keep saying that 'the next house we live in, will have no lawn, just gardens'.

I am looking forward to this being so, as I really love and enjoy a garden.

Right now the rooms in this house, face a portion of my garden with lawn. I like the views from the rear windows best, as these looks into an expansive wildflower garden, with some gorgeous woods as the backdrop.

Having a garden to stroll in is part of my ideal life and that's what's next for me!

The Ornery Ones

As part of my 30 day self imposed retreat - I am deliberately focusing my thoughts on the harmonious qualities of the ornery ones in my life.

I do believe that if we focus on what unites us, we'd be the peace we seek...

Being

It's already day 3 of my thirty day process of being inside the vortex. Some call it a retreat but I prefer to be more forward feeling.

I do love and enjoy the perspective of  having my being inside the vortex rather than trying to get in. In here things are simply wonderful!

We've been to the wonderful rose garden in CT, which was absolutely blissful yesterday. The weather was perfect in every way. 

It was the most wonderful place to just be.  Being is what I'm doing with myself this month. I am not making anything happen, no plotting, no planning, no doing, no anything except to be. Just be. 

Appreciating my blessings for today

I am appreciating the new cds I am listening to. The awesome dip I made today The gardening I did and the lovely weather I had for it. The beauty of my wildflower garden. My car that works so well for me. Being inspired today. The great books I have to read. Starting a 30 day process for leaping into the Vortex. Tuning in to my vortex more and more. The sprinkler system in the garden. The wonderful carpenter for the jobs. The beauty of nature at this time of the year. The magnificent gardens everywhere I go. Cold meals. Hot tea. Delicious Cuban coffee. Air conditioning. Clean, fluffy towels. A soaking tub. Cold showers. Comfortable shoes. Working out to great music. Yoga. Down pillows. Heavenly bed. Birdsong in the morning. Quiet environment. Hugs.

Immersion blender. Homemade Ice cream. Great neighbors. Beautiful living environment. Quaint towns. Scenic backroads. Blessed friendships. Joyful moments in everyday. A satisfying life. Eager for more!

Floral Kingdom

These days I am appreciating with great delight, the gorgeous flowers I have in the garden.

It is especially divine to see the variety of birds, butterflies, rabbits, chipmunks and other

creatures bask in this kingdom of such exquisite beauty.

I am truly a blessed being!

Wildly wonderful!

This morning I sat out on the deck to sip my coffee and soak in the beauty of the surroundings and it occurred to me that I truly lived in a magnificent place.

Green woods, colourful wildflowers and melodic birdsong surround me.

This view and these moments of timelessness is what I crave whenever I feel restless.

It is good to know, that all I have to do is saturate myself with nature, to feel inspired again

I affirm

I affirm new ideas are coming to me.

I affirm my well being and my allowance of it.

I affirm I am open to new ways of doing things.

I affirm I am rendezvousing with like minded people more and more.

I affirm joyous news is on its way to me.

I affirm exciting new adventures are on the verge.

I affirm my alignment with Source.

I affirm the most amazing day ever!

I affirm that all is well and getting better in each and every moment.

I affirm my abundance of all things that is beneficial to me.

I affirm my clarity in all things.

I affirm that life is good!

How I saved myself

I am so glad for the teaching of Abraham-Hicks, as they really save my soul.

Some folks medicate with legal drugs, illegal drugs, food, shopping, or other forms of escape.

I use these teachings to stay connected to who I am.

It's hard work.

Yesterday, something happened that wrenched me right out of the vortex.

It was as if I was caught in an undertow. I couldn't even breathe.

So I called up my Lifeline: What do I want and how do I want to feel?

The first answer was: I'd like to shoot you, so that I could feel good.

The second answer was: I'd like you to be kinder to others, so that I could feel good about you.

The third answer was: I'd like you to love yourself so that I can feel that love from you.

The fourth answer was: I'd like to feel good because feeling good is who I am.

Bingo!

So I went away and did some cross-stitch, called a friend, watched SNL and baked some loaves of bread.

Then I went to bed feeling very appreciative about my wellbeing. (Another process for another time)

This morning I asked myself the Lifeline questions again plus I did an exercise on Positive Aspecting:

I want to feel good. I want to feel good because it feels good to feel good.

What can I do to feel good now? I can stop thinking about how mean you are.

Nope, that thought does not feel good, so What Do I Want? To feel good.

Why do I want it? So that I can enjoy myself again.

What are my positive aspects?

I really love how I am able to instantly disengage myself from negative conversations with no discomfort or apologies whatsoever.

I like knowing that I am becoming more and more discerning about what feels good to me.

I spend a lot of time doing the things I adore - cooking, gardening,reading, crafting, traveling because they all feel good to me.

Now that I am really and truly feeling my connection with who I am, I can now look for and find the positive aspects of the other person:

I love to see and hear about the wonderful times you create for others.

I love how cooperative you are when you have unexpected visitors.

You are the best gardener I know.

You tell the best jokes I've ever heard.

You can get a meal ready from scratch in less than thirty minutes.

You are very energetic and independent.

You are fun to be around when you are happy.

It took me twenty four hours to bring myself to a better feeling place, but I did it.

Vibrational work is not easy, but it is worth every single iota of effort.

Headquarters

Today I stayed in bed all day! I mean I got out to eat, but basically I conducted my business of the day from this HQ.

It was awesome too! I was inspired to write, call people, email, search for homes and update my reading lists.

It taught me that good is good and that if it feels good it is good!

Feeling good is the path to my joy, my alignment and ultimately success in all things.

Now that the sun is shinning and the skies are looking blue again, I will take a shower and move my HQ to the deck.

The 4 Things Meme

Four Books I loved:

1. A Room with a View
2. East of Eden
3. To Kill A Mockingbird
4. My Antonia

Four books I would recommend:

1. A Reliable Wife - Robert Goolrick

2. As We Are Now - May Sarton

3. Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese

4. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

Four Places (other than MA) I Have Lived:

1. Trinidad
2. Houston
3. Fair Oaks, California
4. Soon to be Fairfield, California.

Four Places I would rather be right now:

1. Acadia National Park
2. California
3. Western Canada.
4. Kauai.

Four of My Favorite Foods:

1. Sushi
2. Pad Thai
3. Southern Barbecue.
4. Bake and Kingfish from Maracas Bay with all the fixings.

Four of My Favorite Drinks:

1. Pellegrino with Angostura Bitters.
2. Harrogate, Yorkshire Tea
3. Merlot especially Silver Oaks 2005
4. Freshly ground coffee

Four Places I Would Rather Be With a Book:

1. Hammock on my deck.
2. Half Dome.
3. Lido Deck on a cruise ship.
4. Armchair in my bedroom.

Four Things That Are Very Special in My Life

1. My Wellbeing
2. My relationships
3. Road trips
4. My hobbies.

Four People I hope will do this Meme:

1.You

2. Your friends.

3. Their friends.

4. Friends of friends :)

Living in the moment.

I truly lived in the moment on our recent two week road trip to the southern states.
I was surprised at how exhilarating the entire experience felt. The scenic drives on quiet roads were a huge blessing. The expansive, rolling hills were glorious to see. Who knew the Gulf Coast Beaches were so pristine and beautiful? What about those live living-rooms in Historic Savannah?
Every mile brought a different view. Every person had a different perspective. Every town had some cuisine or site they were famous for. It felt wonderful to have people return smiles and greetings where ever I went.

I realize it's not difficult to live in the moment- all that's required is a deliberate intent to relax, go with the flow and to expect to have a series of enjoyable moments. When strung together, each of those moments added up to two weeks of sheer bliss and that's really how I want my whole life to be.

Skyline Drive

We made our way leisurely through 105 miles of this drive - Front Royal to

Waynesboro. It was refreshing to look out and see miles of rolling green pastures.

Spring is such a beautiful sight and smell!

It feels great to be part of this renewal.

Road trip to Winchester, VA

We traveled from MA to CT to NY to NJ to PA to West VA and VA. A total of 470 miles in eight hours. Wow! The drive was quite pleasant and uneventful. We had no traffic as expected on a Sunday. I enjoyed the rest stops for coffee and tea breaks.

I did try to get photos of the rolling hills in PA.

We are staying the night at the George Washington, which is lovely, quaint and quiet.

Best of all, we had the pool all to ourselves this evening.

We walked through the Loudoun Street Mall for window shopping which was very pleasant.

It's been a long time since I actually did any type of window shopping on the street, like that.

We ate at Thai Winchester which was quite busy for a Sunday night. The Drunken Noodle was particularly good!

I'm now relaxing in our room, checking email, skyping with friends.

Looking forward to Skyline Drive tomorrow!

This made my day!

My 21 year old niece emailed me this photo of a page in a journal she wrote for school when she was 8 years old.

I am touched by her thoughtfulness then and now; then to have wrote it and now to discover it and send it to me.

Thank you Liz! I am posting it here as one of my many touchstones of who you are; Source Energy in a physical body.

Appreciation for my friends & family.

I would like to acknowledge a number of people who made my recent trip to Trinidad memorable. Each of them took time out to nurture the relationship and I am most appreciative of their efforts:

Arshad thank you for graciously hosting me for a week in very comfortable accommodations. I enjoyed having the freedom to make myself at home and to visit with our father as well. I especially enjoyed the sno cone you and Amanda thoughtfully bought me in my absence. Thank goodness for freezers!

Glad you introduced me to Angostura Single Barrel Reserve. We are enjoying our gifts.

Amanda, so glad you came over to spend a night. I hope you enjoyed our impromptu tea party as much as I did. Your Dad did a great job of buying all those wonderful pastries and cakes.

Wasn’t the Saturday Nite Bingo the best fun? Thanks to Wendy for joining in. We really played for the fun of it didn’t we? ‘Cause no one took their winnings!

So glad we got to talk to Liz as well! Kudos for technology, no one is really far away.

Okay, so Ludo is not as short as I told you, but remember you have to listen to your elders but you do not have to heed them; you have your own guidance to rely upon.

Pappy, you look great!

Obviously you are allowing in your wellbeing and doing everything you possibly can to take care of yourself. Keep up your independence! I like that you prepare your own breakfast, wash your own laundry and make your own bed and shop for the things you want to eat.

I enjoyed playing cards with you. I know you are not too fond of the jigsaw puzzle, as I too couldn’t possibly spend so much time constructing it only to have it back in the box.

I prefer to spend my time creating things that will last a while…

I liked that everyone who came to visit added one more piece to the picture.

Keep up the crafting as long as you enjoy it. I am quite impressed with the dexterity of your hands to produce such neat work. I like that you are always occupied in something useful and fun to you.

Sheba, I shan’t forget Aladdin and the Trini Genie at the NAPA any time soon. The humor was belly busting.

I enjoyed your roomy breezy home; it is a delightful place to come home to.

You have to know that I returned for potato wedges before I left :)

The Sunday morning drive to Maracas Bay for breakfast:

Enjoying it on the beach:

Followed by a coconut water from a roadside vendor on the return journey:

Hydrangeas

Hibiscus

Ariane, so glad you came to see me girl! Besides Arshad’s vehicles, yours was the cleanest I’d ever seen – keep your car washer ;)

Oh and the Munch King coconut ice cream with a generous splash of Angostura Single Barrel Reserve is the ticket to a cool, smooth dessert. You can always add a cherry on top!

Farida, I value the time and effort it took you to taxi all the way to Tunapuna with hot breakfasts and loads of goodies for me to bring back.

I quite enjoyed your visits and seeing your family again.

Thanks also to Rishi for bringing me lunch twice and to Sandy for preparing fresh pepper sauce for me. I am blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.