Day One

The winds and rains of storm Sandy have passed and in her path she has left much flooding and destruction. Here in my town of Monroe, CT we had 100% loss of electricity. Fortunately for my home and family, our damage is limited to the loss of three large trees on our property that came down in the height of the winds. None of these fell on or near our home, but instead in a section of woods in the rear of our property. We are fortunate and blessed. Others are not. My prayers go out to them, to their loss, to their fear, to their sadness…our smallness is so often felt in these times. Our need for community ever more important. This morning we drove a small three mile radius around our home to scope out the damage of our nearest neighbors. There are many trees down, several taking power lines, phone lines and property fences down with them. The streets were littered with leaves and branches. People were out and about surveying their yards and assessing their damage as well. All of us having a look of gratitude on our faces that it was not as bad as imagined or feared.

We have weathered several of these types of storms in the past. We have learned to be as prepared as we can. We pre-storm cooked and baked, we made sure all laundry was done (as it accumulates quickly), cell phones were fully charged and we had flash lights, radios, seven day candles all ready and in one place.

It is now 3:00 in the afternoon of the first day. Reports on the radio tell us to expect several days without power. We are all getting into an established routine that picks up from memory of this situation in the past. All family members who are not here have been accounted for and have reported in that they are safe and sound, some better off with life necessities than others.

Today is Tuesday. School was canceled from yesterday through to Wednesday thus far. Studying for upcoming tests has to happen during the day as it is challenging to do by candlelight. Family games have been pulled out for later when the boredom sets in. Snacks are handy as well.

We learn during these times how to entertain ourselves differently. We learn how to give each other space as needed. We listen to the radio and comment on the DJ’s sarcasm and storm damage updates. Life feels simpler, we feel a bit isolated, but not yet bothered. The reprieve from the life outside storm Sandy is welcomed, at least for today. Tomorrow is another day, and may be only the beginning of several Storm Sandy days ahead.

Blessings ~ Lisa

(We now have power and were only without it for 5 days, not bad considering past storms. AND quite fortunate compared to others along the coast. Counting our blessings and sending our prayers.)

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

Present and Believing

"Waiting is a state of mind, the usual state of mind. Presence is when you're no longer waiting for the next moment, believing that the next moment will be more fulfilling than this one." ~ Eckhart Tolle

This is one of my favorite quotes from Eckhart Tolle. It reminds me about being present. Being present is not about waiting for something to happen. It is about believing. It is being in the moment and allowing your self to be carried forward to the next moment in the energy that is present and in the flow of that energy.

This means we do not need to know everything in every moment of our every day. We can stay awake to what we do know. We use that to our best ability and allow it to serve the world. That is all we need to do in the moment. What we learn in this moment is what will light the way for us in the future. So searching the future for signs or meaning really does not get us very far. We are searching in the dark.

Many times we question our spiritual growth and our meaning or purpose in life. But that is a question that often is not answerable. If we focus on that and allow it to define us, we can become paralyzed and stop our forward movement. Our answers do not come from chasing after them. Our answers come from being present and aware in the moment.

When we are chasing we don’t realize the real abilities within us. We don’t give ourselves the time to appreciate them. And often when we are chasing we are not listening to what the Universe is telling us about our calling. We cannot live fully in our intention.

Being present means quieting down and sitting with the purest energy we can find within. It means holding appreciation within our heart that we are just where we should be, where we need to be and where we actually should want to be. If we can get to that place, then the flow of this pure energy flows beautifully.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

C-c-c-courage

I often find my courage within my silence. It is often where I do my best work. I tend to go there when I am confused, feeling misunderstood, a bit cautious or even anxious. Courage for me does not present with a roar. It does not leap across my path. It does not soar down and swoop over me. Courage, on my path, is a quiet slow flow of cooling water that soothes my soul. Courage is a gentle flutter of a bird’s wing cooling my heated thoughts. Courage is a soft whisper in my heart from the Universe affirming what action I need to make. Courage is a pause to just be and to breathe and remember who I am.

My inner self has the many twists and turns of my lifetime. It has many doors to rooms of relationships. It has treasure boxes filled with gifts of this lifetime and those of the past. Courage holds my hand as I navigate and travel my inner path. Courage sheds light onto my shadow self so that I can truly see who I am from all sides.

Finding my courage once was a challenge. It was bogged down with falsehoods and masks; those of false arrogance, inadequacies, self-criticism and more. I had to spend time cleaning house. I had to arrange the parts within so that they could be reflected outside. It took time and diligence. It took commitment to self. It took gentleness and awareness. And eventually my courage was revealed. It is a soft and subtle courage. But it serves me well. I can rely on it. I honor it. I appreciate the value of it. It holds my hand and leads me forward even when all other parts of me want to freeze me in my tracks, slam shut my doors and shield my thoughts. Courage holds me tenderly and brings me to the opportunity to grow, to change, to shine and to BE.

Courage is not always the face of fierceness and determination. Courage does not always make itself obviously known. Courage does not need applause and fanfare. Courage needs room to be, space to grow, freedom to share, and time to evolve. I honor this fact about my courage. It serves me well.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

Reflected

A day of reflection did a world of good for me. I sat quietly and took a look over my life’s shoulder. I looked back on my life and asked myself some important questions. Here is what I discovered. Was I happy with the direction my life was going in? Yes was the answer. I may have gotten here my own way and had a few obstacles along the way, but they were the best teachers on my path. I also had to circle around the block a few times here and there until I got it right and understood what the Universe was bringing to me. But I have learned that that is sometimes the only way.

Did I feel happy with the choices I had made? Yes was the answer again. I really try to live without regrets and look at every decision as the best I could make at the moment. It may have been that at the time I did not know any other way, or that I needed to learn more. If I made a poor choice it was another opportunity to learn. Knowing this takes a little pressure off. Everything I do in life is not defined by right or wrong, but instead of now or later.

Am I living authentically? Yes again. I do my best. I try to have my actions match my words. I check in regularly with my intentions. I am the first to step back and take another look at my behaviors, my expectations and my ego. I know when I am off tract and usually am quite uncomfortable staying in that place for too long. Once I know my truth, it is difficult to continue being false, challenging to deny, and unauthentic to play a game with myself or others. I just don't have it in me.

I want to be able to look back on my life one day and say to myself, “You did good! There were moments here and there, where you stumbled or sidestepped, but you got back up, got back on track and kept going. You gave more than you took and you answered the call.”

I don’t know what the future has in store. I am excited when I think of all the possibilities. But in the meanwhile, I live in this very moment, right here, right now. As i look into my reflection of Self I see my imperfections as beautiful reminders, my mis-steps as part of finding my rhythm and my pauses as opportunities to go deeper. Perhaps you see a bit of yourself in this reflection as well. I get excited when I think of the connection we share on some level. I trust that the Universe is weaving between us a bond that is necessary for the good of us all; to be able to relate to one another and to support, celebrate and share what the next step may be. Onward!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade