My horoscope today suggested that in order to have a better day, instead of barking orders and expecting things to be done immediately, I should change my expectations. That got me to thinking. Perhaps changing expectations is a better way to get through every day; regardless of the horoscope and the planetary alignments. Does that mean lower one's expectations? I think not. I think it mean aligning expectations with reality; regulating where we set the bar. If the bar is set too high, we will be consistently disappointed. However, by setting the bar at a challenging yet achievable level we can reach that point and then raise the bar again. Disillusionment is the result of unmet expectations, yes? Perhaps having no expectations is the answer altogether?

This leads me to wonder what my expectations are and how I might be able to adjust them so that I experience more satisfaction. I realize that having expectations of other people is ludicrous unless we are willing to share those expectations. It makes sense to let go of those. Telling someone what I expect is easier than holding it in and then experiencing frustrations when those expectations are not met. And, in the end, I cannot control others. Conversely, personal expectations can be regulated, adjusted, and controlled. So what do I expect of myself?

Hmph. That requires some thought.

I am sure I expect myself to be honest and to live with integrity. I expect to be work hard and to feel satisfaction from my work. I expect to be cherished my friends that I love and to be respected by the colleagues who's opinions I value. I expect to earn these things and I expect to be disappointed if my actions prove unworthy. I expect to be able to have some fun and to build adventures from time to time. Finally, I expect to be loved although who loves me is unexpected.

A friend of mine changed her "status" on one of those social networking sites from "single" to "in a relationship" and then posted a brief comment about what she thought it meant to be "in a relationship;" in the general understanding of the description.

She essentially said that she didn't like the word because she felt it insinuated ownership of a person.

I disagree.

First, words only have the meanings we give them. For example, there was a time when being gay meant your were happy and having a "fag" meant smoking a cigarette.  The word "fat" has morphed into "phat" and being called "phat" is good thing; it depends on the sentence it's used in, right?  One can be a swinger in the sense of hip, club-hopping, coolness or one can be a swinger in the sex scene.  

Words mean nothing until we give them meaning.

Second, we are constantly "in relationship" with all we interact with. We have relationships with people, animals, and things; even concepts and theories. Relating and interacting creates relationships. I have a relationship with my keyboard as I type this. You have a relationship with my words as you read this. Why is it that as soon as we label a sweet and pleasant, sexual or romantic interaction between two people as "relationship" its innate definition changes?  One word - perception. And to be honest, perception is everything.

Words have power, but only that which we give them. We should be cautious of defining a word in a particular way because we then give it that power. If I say I'm in a relationship but think that the word insinuates ownership, then I'm very likely to begin feeling "owned." Yes? But if I say that I think that relationships are the fuel of personal growth; ALL relationships, then won't that create opportunity for growth? Everyone we relate to and with is fueling our experience in this consciousness. It is in our best interest to recognize the relationships we have with others so that we can continue to connect, relate, love, and grow.

Peace.

Now will soon be then
Then will eventually be now

The now that was is making the now that will be
Creating the now that is possible
Potential

This is now and always will be
In a moment this now will be then
And will never be now again

I'd do it all again even if I knew then what I know now

Then makes now
Now is then
Then is now

Don't ask me what time it is
Ask me where we are now

"I want to work in revelations, not just spin silly tales for money. I want to fish as deep down as possible into my own subconscious in the belief that once that far down, everyone will understand because they are the same that far down." - Jack Kerouac

Yea, that's it exactly. We are all the same at that level and we all understand each other. All of us; little fish swimming happily along in a sea of life that is thriving with amazing connectevity and simplicity. We are all part of the same revelation. We are the revelation.

It has taken over 30 years, but I'm finally learning about something that I absolutely love. 
 

When you were a kid and people asked you, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" how did you respond? Do you even remember? And here's the bigger question; are you doing that now that you are grown up?

I remember three distinct times that this question popped into my life. Once I said I wanted to join the Air Force and become a fighter pilot. I changed my mind on that when my mother informed me that in that line of work, I might end up killing people. I did not like that idea; not one bit. No sir. Another time I decided I wanted to be an orthodontist. When I found out that I'd actually have to stick my hands in people's mouths I was a little grossed out. I totally nixed that idea when I learned how long I would have to go to school. At that time in my life I didn't want anything to do with school.

Later I decided I wanted to be a psychologist. I remember that my step-sister was studying psychology in college and my mother and step-dad were very concerned because they didn't think she'd ever get a job with that kind of degree. In fact, after she graduated, she moved to Los Angeles and ended up working at Pier One or something. We lost touch after my step-father died and I don't' know if she ever got a job in her field.

Here's the thing with all that; I was thinking about fulfilling my dreams. I was contemplating how everything in my life has brought me to where I am in my career. Every job I've ever had, every mentor that ever taught me anything, every experience with a supervisor or a customer that I've ever had; all of that has prepared me for what I'm doing right now in my career. On top of that evaluating and contemplating, I‘ve been thinking about manifesting what I really, really want in life; the thing that would make me the happiest.  I got to thinking about the question I posed above and what I wanted to do when I grew up and it all came back to me; not in a rush, but in a calm soothing way. It came over me like a cool breeze on a warm Florida day and I felt the same sense of relief in my soul that a breeze like that delivers to the skin.

I started school four weeks ago and I'm studying psychology. For now, I'm going for a second BS, and anticipate continuing to the mater's level. Who knows; maybe even doctoral? I just found that I absolutely love it and I'm thrilled to be learning something I really love. I'm excited to read the text book and I'm even reading unassigned sections. I'm browsing the web for even more info. Again, I'm just so happy to have finally found something I really, really love. I've wondered for a lifetime from topic to topic and even though I've enjoyed some things, I've never felt this excited about anything.

For the most part, I'm a very patient person and find waiting fairly easy.

I wait for lunch to cook, for some one to answer the phone, for responces to emailsm for lights to turn green, for the treadmill....waiting happens. I think more than just waiting in line; we spend all our lives in a state of waiting. We wait for our needs to be fulfilled in one way or another, we wait for answers, we wait for questions. We wait. Even when we're actively creating, we're experiencing a form of waiting.

I've even been a waitress and that's a whole other can of waiting beans, heh?

When I do find myself in the long line kind of waiting, I try to use that time as a recess of sorts. It's the perfect time to stop everything and look around; notice my surroundings, see the people around me...etc.

Waiting is not a bad thing most of the time.

It's been 39 years & 8 months and still going strong. Where does the time go; really? I can't help but wonder what the next 39 years hold for me. I certainly feel as though I am at a pivotal point right now. My awareness of the laws of attraction seems to be making every decision so much more intense; sharp even.

And I wonder; am I young or old? Am I too old for this and too young for that? I can't join AARP - or at least I don't think I can. I haven't been interested so don't really know. I do know that I don't get the senior's discount at the theater; I'm too young. Of course, for the most part, I can still do anything I want regardless of my age.

What's that they say? "You're only as young as you feel."

I certainly don't want to put any limitations on myself, but I gotta wonder if there might be circumstances in which the ‘too young' and ‘too old' factors might be valid. Of course, there will be times when the body really isn't capable. That's to be expected, yes? What I'm really considering are social expectations and such.

Let's take fashion for example. I've heard folks say, "That outfit's too young for her" or, "She's way too old to be wearing that." I might have even said it from time to time. These days, though, now that I'm getting to an age where it might be inappropriate to wear certain things, that sentiment is making me wonder. I suppose there's some validity to it, but how much of it is rooted in jealousy and resentment?

And then there's the statement we've all heard, "I'm too old to be acting like that." Or, "he's way too old to do that." Again, I can see some validity to the sentiment, but I wonder about it as well.

I guess I am just wondering where to draw the line; if at all.

With age comes experience and with experience comes wisdom and with wisdom comes the maturity to make intelligent choices and to act responsibly and insightfully. Growth... It crosses my mind that wisdom is only gained in growth; not necessarily age.

So the ultimate question I ask myself is; will I allow wisdom or society to dictate my choices?

Wisdom tells me to be respectful of others and not to judge. Wisdom promises a certain level of understanding, intelligence and perhaps even empathy. Wisdom, to me, is the Grandmother of Peace. Wisdom balances. Wisdom tells me that even though I may not agree with some one else's perceptions and beliefs, I must be respectful and do the best I can to allow that person their own way of being. But, wisdom also tells me to honor myself.

Society usually tells me to be one way or another based on the ‘norms' of the day. Society's message changes from week to week, day to day, hour to hour; like the blowing wind. I think one constant with society; other than change, is that it's based on the ideals of what a few propagate onto the susceptible masses.

As I grow older in both body and mind, I'm finding more to question about myself. I'm looking inward more than outward. I'm spending less time thinking about what others are doing or thinking and more time enjoying my life. I'm less concerned with the societal norms and more interested in satisfying my own desires. I'm feeling younger than my age, and healthier than ever. I'm feeling more at home in my skin now than when I was in the skin of a young woman. Yet, I still feel young.

39 years & 8 months is only a tiny drop in the bucket in the bigger scheme of things. I may be getting older and growing into something called wisdom, but in reality, I am entirely too young. I must admit that's thrilling to say and I'm looking forward to the next 39 years whether dictated by wisdom or society.

 

Possibilities...  

I've never been any good at setting goals. I've always just kind of taken life as it comes to me. Opportunities present themselves, I mull it over for a little while, usually talk it through with a friend or some one who's opinion I value, and then I'm carried forward.

Take my decision to go back to school, for example. It was really a coincidence of sorts; although I don't really believe in coincidences. I'd heard about this school on the radio where working adults could go and earn their degree and it wouldn't interfere with work and such. I knew that I didn't want to stay in the position I was in forever and I saw that as a chance to move up the corporate ladder. I made decisions at that time that I still questions. I have no regrets; mind you. But I s do still think back and wonder if I couldn't have done things a little differently. I took out student loans in HUGE dollar amounts. I anticipate paying them back for the rest of my life. That's a weight I'd rather not be carrying.

But overall, the decision to go back to college was a good one. I earned my degree and that has brought me better employment and more money. Although that money is spent paying back the student loans, I'm still proud of my accomplishment.

Anyway, during that decision making process, I didn't think of it as setting a goal at all. In fact, I rather felt like I was just doing something on a whim and went into it with a less than serious state of mind. I was shrugging about all the way. "Heh....whatever" was my attitude. I was not focused. I was not serious. I was just skating along the ice of life; not a care in the world about the future or whether the ice would be thick enough to hold my weight. . I think I mostly felt like it was something that I ‘should' be doing. For the most part, and certainly in retrospect, I felt like I was doing what was expected of me.

So, for me goal-setting is unfamiliar. At least it seems that way. When I chose to head back to school, everything just fell into place and it was EASY. I really didn't have to put much effort into it, so it doesn't seem like it was ever a goal I set. It just happened, and I was there. Once again, I was along for the ride like a leaf in the stream. And I gotta tell ya' my whole life has been that way.

So is this the Law of Attraction? Is it that simple? I just pick something....make a few decisions in relationship to it......and then it just starts falling into place without a lot of thought or focus on my part. Could it really be that freakin easy? But I don't think I know how to set a goal. I think the universe will put opportunities in my path and lately, I'm not seeing all that many that relate at all to anything that I consciously think I want to do. Or maybe I'm just so shackled in fear of change that I don't see these opportunities? Or is it perhaps a case of seeing them, but letting fear keep me from once again becoming the leaf in the stream and following the river?

And these days, I'm considering going back to school. Ug. The thought of incurring more student loan debt is at the top of the list of reasons not to. I have a dream to one day work in a vineyard and run a summer camp at that vineyard for "wayward" kids. I don't really know a lot about growing grapes or working with struggling kids. But I just love this idea of bringing kids in to teach them about nurturing life from the dirt, making something of value from so little. I grew up in a farming community and this knowledge is solidified in the foundation of all that is me. It's as much a part of my being as my skin or my breath. And, I think it saved me from detriment more than once.

The steps to achieving this dream are intimidating to say the least. It's simply so overwhelming that I have a hard time conceptualizing; never-mind getting to the stepping-in place; that place of beginning to follow the dream. It's damn scary, in fact.

And then I wonder why can't I just make the best of the life I'm in now? Why must I always be seeking something new? Can't I just be content to be "here" and to be present in the "now?" What am I running away from when I cook up these schemes and have these dreams? Do I fear satisfaction? Do I thrive in ever-seeking something different? Am I trapped in a ‘Grass is Always Greener' state of mind?

I don't know. Seems I don't have any answers; only questions. On that note; some one told me once that if I don't know what I want to manifest, then I should just ask questions and the answers will manifest. If that's the case, there will be a lot of answers coming my way soon.

 

Is anything possible?

The Law of Attraction.....hmmm.

OK, for sanity's sake, I'll just say that yes; anything is possible. Then what? What's the next step?

Oh. My. God. If it's all been about this law of attraction my whole life, then I attracted all of "this," right? This over-flowing cornucopia of experience, this winding path of a life has all been built by me. All that has been rotten and unfortunate in my life as well as all that was blessed and good; I attracted all of it. And looking forward, all that will be I am currently attracting into my life. I am manifesting the ‘everything.' What a mind-blowing concept. Let me just take an extra moment to think about it.......

Yup.

Totally mind-blowing.

OK. OK. OK. *Deep breath* So, I try to accept this. I accept that I am the builder of my life. In so doing, I have to embrace responsibility for everything that's brought me here. I did that; no one else. My choices and actions carried me to this point in my life. Knowing this is a huge responsibility for my future. Knowing that everything I do now is building the future is mildly daunting, almost so much so that I fear making a choice. Of course, that in itself is a choice, no?

What about the day-to-day actions like getting up with the alarm clock and getting ready for work? What about just going to work? The devil's in the details. Every tiny thing I do is rolling me forward toward my ultimate manifestation.

Now it dawns on me that I reckon I should pick a goal. I was never one to make a conscious choice about what I want to do with my life or where I see myself in the next year. I've always hated that question in interviews and on dates. I've been the leaf in the stream just floating along as the stream sees fit. Grasping this concept insinuates that I am not the leaf; I am the stream. Wow.

What are these possibilities that encompass the world of "anything's possible?" Should I make a list? Perhaps a lit of options would be a good idea. I'll get right on that.

In the meantime, everything I'm doing - even writing this down and sharing it - is building something; is pushing me forward; is opening doors and waltzing me through. Wow. I am still mind-blown. The possibilities are endless. There are an infinite number of manifestations. Let me soak in this for a moment. These concepts settle in slowly.

Curiosity leads me all over the place. I wanted to know more about Mother's Day so I went srufing and found some interesting tidbits. I posted this in my Pod, but I wanted to get even more input. I'd love to hear other thoughts.

I found that there are some who say that Mother's Day originated in ancient Greece as celbrations in honor of Cybele, the mother to the Greek gods. Cybele's celebrations were held around the Vernal Equinox. Cybele is the evolved version of the original Earth Goddess. Originally a Hittite and Phrygian goddess; She, by my perception, is the embiment of Gia. The Ultimate Mother.

Eventually, celebrations in Rome were held from March 15th thru 18th. There was also a Roman holiday, Matronalia, that was dedicated to the Godess Juno. She has also been worshiped as Anatolia since Neolithic times.

And then I found information relating to the roots of Mother's Day in America. Seems Julia Ware Howe made a Mother's Day proclomation  in 1870 calling for peace and for women to unite against the war.

Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother's_Day_Proclamation"


I honestly just love that proclomation!!

Howe's apparent inspiration was the work of Ann Jarvis in 1858. As Appalachian homemaker, she attempted to improve sanitation through what she called Mothers' Work Days. These days were organized to tend to the needs of the wounded on both sides of the Civil War. After the war, Ann Jarvis promoted the idea of a Mother's Day that emphasized pasifism and social activism.

Then in 1907, Anna Jarvis, the daughter of Ann Jarvis, was inspired to set a memorial day for women. The younger Jarvis initiated the memorial on the first anniversary of her mother's death and began a campaign to make Mother's Day an officially recognized holiday. In 1914, is was so declared by President Woodrow Wilson.
 
As we all know, Mother's Day has, for the most part, become a commercialized event that generates massive income for not only the greeting card industry, but also for restaurants, jewelers, flower shops etc...  In fact, Mother's Day is currently the most popular day of the year for dining out in the United States.

Perhaps it is time for us to remember the original inspiration of Julia Howe, Ann and Anna Jarvis. Perhaps it's also time to remember even further back to the celebrations of Cybele and Juno, Anatolia and Gia.

Peace