Everyday Intentions

Today I Intend to ~

 Rest into the Present Moment

Be Loving to everyone I come in contact with

Take Good Care of myself

Do at least One Thing to move my Dream forward

Think Positive Thoughts

 (change any thought that isn’t making me feel good)

Do the Best I can

 Enjoy my day and sleep well tonight

 

Instant Angel

There seems to be a lot of talk I’m hearing these days about creating your life, pursuing your dream, getting what you want. I’m all for that. I believe, deeply, that we create our own lives.  But maybe it’s just too easy to get caught up in what I want.

In Susan Jeffer’s newsletter this month, she talks about Instant Angels – those blessed souls who show up just when you need them.  She went on to explain that we can all be Instant Angels for someone else, too. If we pay attention to others, we can spot ways we can come to someone’s rescue.

What a fun way to live life!  Thinking about yourself, obsessing on your thoughts, while beneficial, can get decidedly boring.  Maybe we can plant some thoughts like all is well, I have all I need and get on with it. Alan Cohen sent me this quote from Lao Tzu, “Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

Now, that’s some good marching orders for being an Instant Angel!  Imagine how you would feel if the world belonged to you.  There’s nothing you couldn’t do for others.

We all have so much to give.  Whether or not we have money, we’re likely to have some time. There’s no shortage of imagination and ideas, a kind word, a voice to motivate.  So many ways to help others!  A hand, an ear, a smile.

I just love this Instant Angel concept.  It only takes an instant to decide to help someone.  And it may only take a moment to deliver that help.  I’m not sure if I really believe this, but I heard a story that someone was feeling lost and unloved, when a stranger gave them a warm and loving smile. It completely changed their attitude and made them rethink their negative thoughts.  It turned their whole world around.  How wonderful is that!  You could change someone’s life simply by smiling at them.

Maybe we can play with one of Agent Cooper’s rules.  He says that every day you should give yourself a gift, unplanned.  Let’s shift that to giving a gift to someone else every day, unplanned.  It needn’t be wrapped in fancy paper, just a moment’s awareness will do.

 

In Celebration of Light and June

I wanted to write about the Solstice, so I thought I’d wait until I was under its influence.  I learned recently that solstice means the sun stilled. Every day, the sun moves a little bit across the sky through the astrological signs. But on the solstice, it is in the same place it was the day before, preparing for its journey back to the shortest day.

I’ve always felt it was a point of power. Where energy comes together. I use the solstice like New Year’s – a chance to re-evaluate and dream of where I wish to go next. What do I want to do for the summer? Setting those intentions can be fun and impactful.

The longest day feels good to me. In the winter, when it gets dark at 5, I feel the day is over. At 7, the sun is still going strong. And it’s just gotten dark enough to chase me in after 9. That’s a sign of possibilities!

It is said you should note the day – the rising and setting of the sun. Just note it. That’s a lovely, simple acknowledgment.

In some places it’s midsummer. But for us, here on the East Coast, it’s only just the beginning of summer. Most of the celebrations around the world contain some aspect of bonfire and revelry. It is a time of joy. Summer is my favorite time of the year. (Though I have been known to claim Fall as my fave.)

I love the lushness of summer and the longer days. The smells, the colors. Only in summer does the grocery store parking lot explode with color! The sun doesn’t dapple quite like it does in the cooling afternoons of summer. Someone gave us a book of photos called, Finding Summer. I was disappointed that it doesn’t show my pictures of summer. So, I’m on a quest this summer, to find My Summer. (I am but a novice at digital photography – I tried to shoot the last vestiges of daylight on this longest day of the year. I could only figure out how to turn it on!) I want to take pictures of the long days, the June bugs, the waves of flowers, the sunlight playing . . .

June is my month. It is my birthday, so there are presents to be had, but also good things to happen.

May you have a fun and prosperous summer and find ways to acknowledge its beauty.