Inspirational Short Story, Female Fantasy Art, Relaxing Music

It seems to me that I have always been

waiting for something better --

sometimes to see the best I had

snatched from me.

-- Dorothy Reed Mendenhall

Gratitude for what is prepares us for the blessings just around the corner. What is so necessary to understand is that our wait for what's around the corner closes our eyes to the joys of the present moment.

We have only the 24 hours ahead of us. In fact, all we can be certain of having is the moment we are presently experiencing.

And it is a gift to be enjoyed.

There is no better gift just right for us than this moment, at this time.

We can, each of us, look back on former days, realizing that we learned too late the value of a friend or an experience.

Both are now gone.

With practice and a commitment to ourselves, we can learn to reap the benefits of today, hour by hour.

When we detach from the present and wait for tomorrow, or next week, or look to next year, we are stunting our spiritual growth.

Life can only bless us now, one breath at a time.

So much to say. And so much

not to say! Some things are

better left unsaid. But so

many unsaid things can

become a burden.

-- Virginia Mae Axline

The occasions are many when we'd like to share a feeling, an observation, perhaps even a criticism with someone. The risk is great, however.

She might be hurt, or he might walk away, leaving us alone.

Many times, we need not share our words directly.

Weighing and measuring the probable outcome and asking for some inner guidance will help us decide when to speak up and when to leave things unsaid.

But if our thoughts are seriously interfering with our relationships, we can't ignore them for long.

Clearing the air is necessary sometimes, and it freshens all relationships.

Deciding when to take the risk creates consternation.

But within our quiet spaces, we always know when we must speak up. And the direction will come.

The right moment will present itself. And within those quiet spaces the right words can be found.

It is only the women

whose eyes have

been washed clear

with tears who get

the broad vision that

makes them little

sisters to all the

world.

-- Dorothy Dix

The storms of our lives benefit us like the storms that hit our towns and homes and wash clean the air we breathe.

Our storms bring to the surface the issues that plague us.

Perhaps we still fear a job with responsibilities. Perhaps we still struggle with the significant other persons in our lives.

Possessiveness is a particular storm that often haunts our progress.

Storms force us to acknowledge these liabilities that continue to stand in our way, and acknowledgment is the step necessary to letting go.

Recovery is a whole series of storms, storms that help to sprout new growth, storms that flush clean our own clogged drains.

The peace that comes after a storm is worth singing about.

Each storm can be likened to a rung on the ladder to wholeness, the ladder to full membership in the healthy human race.

The storms make climbing tough, but we get strength with each step. The next storm will be more easily weathered.

_______________

11/30/2013

Dividers from Disney Clipart (dead link)

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