Caring Too Much?

I actually heard someone say the other day that they care too much. Is that even possible? All one needs to do is watch the news one day to see how uncaring some of our society has become. There are students beating students into comas, gunmen wiping out innocent moviegoers, or worse. It has been proven that how children treat animals and peers as they are growing up is a good indicator of how they will treat people as adults. If a child is not taught compassion and kindness they may become the adult who is incapable of feeling or expressing emotions or empathy for others in their lives, whether it be family, friends or community.

So how do we fix things, if we even can fix them. And if we believe we can, does that make us guilty of caring too much? I cannot go through this lifetime turning blind eyes to misbehavior, lack of respect, outright meanness or violence. I step up, I speak up, I try to teach and inform and sometimes I am accepted, but often not.

I started with my own children, rippled out with role modeling within my community and have joined forces with others as we begin the process of balance the rights and wrongs, correcting the unfairness and attempting the create a change in people’s beliefs and behaviors.

They say actions speak louder than words. Do you dare to match your actions with your thoughts about right and wrong. Do your actions match the level of what you believe represents how much you care? If not, why? What is stopping you? Tough questions, I know, but if you don’t ask yourself them…who will?

Living our truth means sometimes doing what feels uncomfortable. Sometimes it means taking a risk. And sometimes it means doing exactly what everyone else would like to do, but aren’t. It comes down to trust, choice and courage. It is not always the most popular stand to take. It is not always the easiest. But it can be the right thing, the most caring thing to do.

Blessings ~ Lisa Meade

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

Do You Believe in Magic?

Sometimes I get frustrated with those who believe that they have an answer for everything. They love to offer what they believe are rational explanations for every phenomenal occurrence and being in this beautiful world and beyond. Do you believe in magic? I most certainly do. It adds wonder to my days, inspiration to each moment, beauty to the ordinary, and delight in the empty spaces. Promise and potential live there. How different life would be for me if I were not a believer.

I don’t want to have all the answers or the excuses. And who says that those answers and excuses are correct? Hmmmm? Why can’t there be fairies, unknown colors, indescribable possibilities and dragons? (Just to let you in on a secret…there are! If you believe in magic, you get to see these magical wonders…legally!)

Ronald Dahl once said, “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” And it is true. Those of us who believe view life differently than those who do not. The ordinary becomes awesome to us. We see the magic in each and every sunrise. We stop in our tracks to listen to the beautiful message being sent in the cardinal’s song. We feel the wonders of the world when our fingertips brush over a pussy willow branch. And we believe that every baby born holds expansive possibility.

May I make a suggestion? The next time you are having one of those days…you know the one’s that your heart is a bit heavy or your feelings of overwhelm have the better of you, allow a little magic to seep into your day. It changes everything. If you are not used to its power, it may take you a bit to reach it, but once you do, you won’t turn back. Magic lightens and brightens, it softens and eases and it awakens and radiates. It is the perfect fix for one of those days.

And if I may let you in on a little secret, the more you share magic, the more is blooms within you. Sharing it is easy. Sharing it is delightful and extraordinary. The gifts that come from sharing the magic awaken parts of you that others will find unusual. Some may be intrigued and charmed while others may laugh it off, but the alchemy of magic will find its way. Lives may be changed, including your own!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

Just Do It!

As we get older and move forward on our path we learn many things. Life’s lessons hold new meaning and sometimes greater consequences for us as well. Take for example, how quickly time goes by. It seems to me last summer was only a blink ago, not an entire year! Acknowledging how quickly the days slip by, I often reflect on my plans and my motivations. What am I doing with my time? Is it put to its best use? Am I doing all I can to be of service to others and to Spirit? Am I living with intention and consciously? Are my actions aligning with my words and thoughts? If not how can I make it happen? I have learned over time that to have things happen in my life, I have to make them happen! Basically I have to do to see the results, even at times, in the face of doubt. I have to be willing to try new ways. I must be willing to stretch. I need to sometimes shift my perspective and see things from another point of view.

I have learned there are times when I will get stuck. I have had to learn when to be patient and when to push on. Trial and error has become my friend. Exploring all possibilities brings juiciness to my day. When frustration enters the picture, I challenge it with focus. When I fail, I fail beautifully. Really, sometimes it is not so graciously, but I have learned to make the most of my failures!

There is a phrase, “Just Do It!” that I have often had to adopt and apply to my personal journey. That is not to say I don’t weigh options, I give thought to the plan, and sometimes I seek others input. But when it comes down to the bottom line…sometimes I just have to do it. What is the worst that will happen? I might mess up, make a fool of myself, have to start over or lose out on something. But I also could succeed, radiate and ripple outward, get a strong start and gain a big life lesson.

There is a good deal of talk out there. People saying that they want to do this or that, but they don’t put their words into being. They just talk. I got tired of hearing myself talk. Now, I enjoy watching myself move. Moving onward. Doing it!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

The Benefit of Alone Time

How are you with being alone? Some people treasure it while others run in the opposite direction! For many of us, the only real alone time we get is while driving in a car or a quick ten-minute shower. Not nearly good enough! Most of us don’t even know how beneficial and inspiring alone time can be! Signs that you need more alone time are quite telling. Do you know what you really like to do in your free time? Do you have a favorite pass time? Do you have a hobby that you like to do alone, such as reading, handiwork, daydreaming or puzzle making? When was the last time you got to do any of this and really lose track of time doing it. I am not talking about squeezing it in or feeling guilty because you believe something else is being neglected.

Being alone allows time for you to meet your own needs, not just everyone else’s. There will always be someone else’s needs to be met! If you make time to meet your needs then you are better able to face the challenges of the day. Makes sense!

So what keeps you from making alone time? Are you one of the people who would rather be busy, busy, and busy? Do you believe it shows the world how productive you are, how important, how needed? Be honest with yourself. Honestly, you know this can only go on for so long and then you get crispy, burnt out or resentful. And who does that resentment get focused on? Everyone and everything else. Rarely do busy people recognize that they are in control, most of the time, with how they spend their time.

Solitude can offer us mental diversion from the stress filled tasks and lists we carry around with us. Time alone can allow us opportunity to learn more about ourselves. Separateness can be a fostering of inner peace as we intentionally seek just being in the moment. Time alone can bring play back into our life. Alone time can feed our spirits, rest our minds, and celebrate our bodies and so much more.

The next time you map out your day, put in some alone time. Find a way to make it fit. Find a half hour, fifteen minutes even, to get to know a part of you that may feel neglected or needs some personal attention. You will be surprised at how good it feels and how much it will benefit you. You may even want to do it daily!