Accepting the "Isness"

Suffering begins when you mentally name or label a situation in some way as undesirable or bad. You resent a situation and that resentment personalizes it and brings in a reactive "me".

Naming and labeling are habitual, but that habit can be broken. Start practicing "not naming" with small things. If you miss the plane, drop and break a cup, or slip and fall in the mud, can you refrain from naming the experience as bad or painful? Can you immediately accept the "isness" of that moment?

Naming something as bad causes an emotional contraction within you. When you let it be, without naming it, enormous power is suddenly available to you.

The contraction cuts you off from that power, the power of life itself.

~The Man (Eckhart Tolle)

What is my path in life?

I can envision myself running on a trail just below the mountains. It is sunny. The sky is a baby blue color. There is a light cool breeze which gently strokes my face. There are beautiful wild flowers all around. Yellow, purple, and white ones. It is completely silent. Only my breathing and the sound of my steps can be heard. The red dirt path curves in such a way which does not reveal it's final destination. I am pulled forward on this trail as if I'm searching for a clue, an answer, or an end.

Should I continue down this path and face the fear of the unknown? Or would it be better to return to safety and familiarly?

Simple Beauty

My Simple Things

An early morning run.
Listening to the leaves rustle in the wind.
Hearing the crickets chirp.
Watching a spider spin its web.
A full moon.
The beauty of flowers.
The stillness of nature.
Coffee in the morning.
A beer on the weekend.
Pizza on a Friday night.
Sitting around a warm camp fire.
Hugging my children.
Breathing in Life!

if strangers meet

if strangers meet
life begins-
not poor not rich
(only aware)
kind neither
nor cruel
(only complete)
i not not you
not possible;
only truthful
-truthfully, once
if strangers (who
deep our most are
selves)touch:
forever
(and so to dark)

~ee cummings

Reflection in a Mirror

I wonder who you are?
I don't seem to know you anymore.
You appear to be a lost soul searching for a home.
Always searching for answers outside yourself.
Always afraid to look deep within your own heart.
Are you frightened that you will find love for yourself?
Would that be so bad?
What harm could come from being your own best friend?
Wouldn't it be wonderful to find that contentment you're searching for?
You have the capability to achieve that, you know?
What is holding you back?
Fear?
Laziness?
Take that next step in your journey.
Take a big leap.
Let go of the past.
Stop yearning for the future.
Love yourself NOW!