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Listening power …

Listening, really present, deep listening is a gift that many of us never really receive. Think about it: when was the last time that you shared with another person or group and did not experience interruptions, fixing, opinions or “I know what you should do!”?

If you’ve had the gift of being listened to deeply, what was that like? What do you notice when you are able to share who you are and what is important to you in the moment and simply be heard?

How about your listening skills? Continue reading “Listening power …”

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You’ve Changed!

Recently, I wrote about metamorphosis – about changing from the inside out on this journey called life. Today I add this:

What about our relationships? If we are truly evolving within, changing how we think and feel and see the world around us, then our actions – how we express ourselves – are going to change. At some point, if we don’t tell them first, others will notice. Among family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances: Continue reading “You’ve Changed!”

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Circle of Giving

Never deny anyone the opportunity to be helpful.
~ Jamie Loehnis

This week, I took my scooter to  the local thrift shop. I found a rather large item which was perfect for the current creative project. I bought it – knowing that I might need to take the scooter home and trade it out for the car in order to get it to my house.

In the parking lot, a woman asked me, “What is that?” (Yes, it was an odd looking thing!) I told her that I really didn’t know what it was but, rather, how I was planning to use it. Then she watched me attempt to get this thing onto my scooter unsuccessfully. And she said, Continue reading “Circle of Giving”

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Soul Beauty

In its real sense, beauty is the illumination of your soul.
~ John O’Donohue

We live in a culture which places a very high value on external beauty using a standard developed by those in the world of Photoshop. Blemishes are removed through technology or the right make-up. Excess fat is removed through cool sculpting or surgery.

Yet, John O’Donohue’s words, however you define soul, ring true for me. Continue reading “Soul Beauty”

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What are you living for?

If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I think I am living for, in detail, and ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully the thing I want to live for. Between these two answers you can determine the identity of any person. Thomas Merton

That quote showed up this week in my Inbox from Terry Hershey in his weekly Sabbath Moment post. Thank you, Terry!

As I read it again, I wonder, “How would I answer those questions for myself?”

What am I living for – in detail?
What is keeping me from living fully the thing I want to live for?

As we begin a new year, I have three requests of you: Continue reading “What are you living for?”