Speaking of Spirit

Yesterday was my mother's birthday. Momma would have been 89 years old yesterday. I had been thinking about her all day, and at one point was feeling very melancholy that I couldn't share something with her that I had found. How I wished she could be just around a corner waiting for me, or simply at the end of the phone ready to chat. As I thought this, I unconsciously picked up my phone to check my Facebook page. This isn't something I do regularly, because I try not to be a slave to social media, so the serendipity of what happened next was not wasted on me.  The post at the top of my page was from the mother of a close childhood friend. She had posted the essay below, written by Rev. Henry Scott-Holland as part of a sermon he gave in 1910 after the death of King Edward VII.  Death Is Nothing at All by Henry Scott-Holland Death is nothing at all. It does not count.  I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains...

Dr. Barbara Fredrickson is a noted researcher into the science of positive thinking and well-being. Internationally recognized and respected, she offers people an opportunity to re-train our minds to see and create positivity, thereby, increasing our overall well-being. Needless to say, I was drawn to her work. I, also, believe that by keeping a positive attitude, we can cope with life better. As Dr. Fredrickson says, this doesn't mean that bad things don't happen. What it means is that we are better able to maneuver through difficult times without getting lost in pain, grief or despair.   For the next two weeks, I will be hosting a Facebook event to help us all learn techniques for increasing the "meta-moments of positivity" in our lives. The accumulation of these moments is what changes our body chemistry and our minds. (Join us here:   https://www.facebook.com/events/269054740231593/  ) May we all learn to see the small gifts of kindness given us througho...

By Bestbudbrian (Own work) CC BY-SA 4.0  via Wikimedia Commons This holiday season is a difficult one for my loved ones and I, as it is for many people this year.  In my circle of family and friends, there have been numerous deaths - loved ones who are no longer here to share our joy or celebrate along side us. We must be gentle with ourselves and each other. In other words, we need to give ourselves permission to be happy as well as sad.  We need to allow ourselves the ability to laugh and cry.  Being gentle means it is OK to  want to be with others, but also wish to be alone.  When our hearts are filled with sorrow, grief becomes part of our life.   Grief is our response to sorrow.  Each person grieves differently.  The catch is that in order to move forward, to do the things we need to do in this life, we must not let sorrow consume us.  When we are consumed by sorrow, our lives become dark, empty places. Grief enable u...

" Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, professor, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart. " (From Story of Life - Author Unknown) As we move through life, we are given choices.  These choices create who and what we are.  Sometimes, we make choices that send us in a direction that isn't healthy for mind, body and/or spirit.  That is when people come into our ...

 commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mourning_angel.jpg I originally posted this several years ago.  Recently, after the sudden death of our dear friend, Wendy, I have been looking for words that might help those who knew her.  Here is my original post -    In the past month, several friends have shared the death of a loved one with me.  Some have sat at the bedside of a parent as they transitioned from this life to the next.  Others have told of releasing into the Creator's loving hands, their child.   At times like this, words often ring hollow.  They don't seem to have the depth we hope for in order to bring comfort to the hearts we know are breaking.  However, to say nothing, would be worse.   I have often responded by writing poetry.  The following are poems I have written and sent to loved ones when they are grieving.  I pray that their words will bring comfort to any of you who are in need of balm ...

Image by Juliett-Foxtrott via Flickr To Those I Love    If I should ever leave you whom I love   To go along the Silent Way, grieve not,  Nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk  Of me as if I were beside you there.  (I'd come-I'd come, could I but find a way!  But would not tears and grief be barriers?)  And when you hear a song or see a bird  I loved, please do not let the thought of me  Be sad .... For I am loving you just as  I always have ... You were so good, to me!  There are so many things I wanted still  To do --- so many things to say to you ...  Remember that I did not fear ... It was  Just leaving you that was so hard to face ...  We cannot see Beyond.. But this I know:  I loved you so - 'twas heaven here with you!  --Ardis Marletta  This is a re-post from the blog posted May 2011. What a surprise and blessing to receive thi...