Lucia René has been a professional actress, a computer science consultant, a teacher of self-discovery, and more recently, a writer. Her new book, Unplugging the Patriarchy, was released on the winter solstice (December 21) 2009 and will be launched on the spring equinox (March 20) 2010.

Her exploration of consciousness has spanned nearly forty years, and has drawn her to the practices of Hinduism, Zen, Advaita and Vadriyana Buddhism, and culminated in a seventeen year apprenticeship to an enlightened master who taught American Buddhism, psychic development, and tantric mysticism.  She is an ordained Buddhist monk and has lectured on meditation and mysticism at universities throughout the United States.

Between 2002 and 2007, using her mystical training, Lucia collaborated with other female mystics to identify the hidden energy structures underlying our economic-social-political systems, deconstructed her personal buy-ins to those structures, and offered herself in service to facilitate the dismantling of the structures themselves and their vice-grip on the global collective consciousness.

Lucia’s current work involves monitoring the evolution of Mother Earth and collaborating with groups of women to facilitate the One Heart/One Mind—a delicate network of rarefied energies that connects, synchronizes, and uplifts world consciousness and is becoming increasingly activated as we transition into the post-2012 Aquarian Age.

Technorati Tags: Lucia Rene, Unplugging the Patriarchy

The midnight black enveloped the entire sky. The back drop of eternity. The affinity of consciousness… bathed in the silver blue white light. I stood face to face in the presence of the full moon… embraced by a rainbow hue. Stars twinkled the morse code of light. Their winks of loving encouragement. As a shooting star blazed a ribbon of potential. This the voice of the galaxy… the playground of our dreams.

I gazed into the face of a majestic rose. Its divine sweet breath my soul it bestowed. Velvet pedals spoke of its awe-inspiring message… Life is, of this moment. A “peace” of heaven on earth, to do with what we choose… in choice in which our world now beholds. My hearts love within this vision. I extend this rose to you. May your hearts be filled with boundless joy.

VividLife.me Contributor

Nicholas Franklin Bray

With many film and stage roles to his credit Nicholas Franklin Bray has recently finished the lead role in the film “Alter”, which was accepted by the “Big Apple Film Festival in New York. Nicholas’s next project is the lead in a film “The Tale of True Blue”, and will also be in the film “Boys of Summer”. He also has film projects in New York, Los Angeles, Michigan, and Phoenix. Nicholas summed up his acting career thus far with these words:

“By living my dream and embracing my passion, I hope to inspire others to do so also.”
Nicholas Franklin Bray
www.nicholasfranklinbray.com

Technorati Tags: nature poetry, Nicholas Franklin Bray, poems, poetry, poetry of being

A primary aspect of pursuing a sustainable lifestyle is the recognition that every action is part of a larger whole and even the smallest change can make a difference.  Getting started and gaining momentum in green living is what it’s all about.

Start by setting personal goals that have impact and are easily achievable.  Set yourself up to succeed.  Feelings of joy from achievement will provide reinforcement and a stepping stone to something new.

•    Build action plans that support success.
•    Define and focus on sustainability concepts that are uniquely inspiring to you.
•    Be mindful of unfair comparisons.
•    Incorporate sustainable actions that easily fit into your current lifestyle.
•    Place actions that become difficult on the shelf until they match your lifestyle.
•    Focus more on the process and less on the results of sustainable living.
•    Remember that it will never all be done; it’s a journey.
•    Find the joy in making sustainable changes.

Just thinking about sustainability or even a sustainable lifestyle can be daunting subject to anyone when viewed in its entirety.   By making incremental changes that are inspiring and manageable relative your current life, the process of incorporating sustainability becomes much easier.

VividLife.me Contributor

Julie Urlaub: Founder and Managing Partner of Taiga Company, Julie began her career campaigning for clean air legislation with Citizen Action in Washington, D.C. Expanding into Energy Management Services and later, a small business owner in the Oil and Gas Industry, Julie leverages over 15 years of Consulting and Business Development experience in the Energy, Medical, and Information Technology industries.

Today, as a sustainability consultant, Julie speaks, writes, and advises clients on a variety of issues related to the intersection between environmental stewardship, sustainable business practices, and sustainable living.

www.taigacompany.com

Technorati Tags: environmental awareness, green living

Over the past several months I have met many people who inherently know there is a path other than the one they have been walking for most of their lives which is calling for their attention.

It’s the path of peace that is calling and that which is available to all of us when we consciously make a decision to wake up and stop living our life in a story about who we think we are or what our life should or shouldn’t look like. It’s waking up to realize life is living you – you are not living life. When you come to this realization you witness that life becomes the driver of life itself ~ the mind along with its endless thoughts about who you are, what you should or should not be doing is now taking a back seat.

I feel very blessed to have come to this realization and although life challenges continue to come in this direction they just appear to move through this body in whatever way and in whatever time frame is required. Once we are caught by the flame of consciousness and honor the calling to wake up and be mindful of what is occurring in our life in any given moment and do so without resistance, we begin to witness that there is an ease to living our life when we remain open. Open to what is showing up in our life, open to the experience, open to how long it wants to remain in the body and open to the feelings and emotions that arise. All that is required is to simply say YES – yes to what is, as it is.

Make a conscious decision over the next 30 days to wake up each day and be mindful of how life is moving through yourSELF. Notice when you are not open, notice when your heart feels closed and your body tense. Notice if you can relax into the feeling without putting a label on the experience. Become the observer of life moving through you and let it move, or let it sit ~ just let it be, and then see what is true or not. Don’t forget to share your insights with us.

Honour your spirit and walk towards the journey your heart desires.

In love, Lorraine

VividLife.me Contributor

About Lorraine:

Lorraine Wilson has been on a journey of self discovery for many years. She openly shares her experience with others and offers hope, inspiration and an invitation to “Keep Life Simple” through self inquiry. She lives on the West Coast with her children. Lorraine has been influenced and is incredibly grateful for the teachings of Gangaji, Adyashanti, Eckart Tolle, Pamela Wilson, Muni and His Holiness, The Dalai Lama.

She has worked in the field of communications and broadcasting for over 30 years and utilizes her communication skills as a program facilitator and provides one on one support to others who desire to investigate their life journey. Stayed tuned for ‘Keeping Life Simple’ on VividLife Radio. The program will be an opportunity for everyone in the community to come together to discuss and be supported in the never ending discovery of who we truly are.

www.KeepingLifeSimple.org

www.CallMediaWorks.com

Technorati Tags: consciousness shift, life direction, Wake Up!

“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.”
— Earl Nightingale

The senses are something to be grateful for… image not being able to taste your food. Use all of your senses to enjoy the good food that God or Mother Nature gave us AND use common sense to choose your food. (Note that as we age our senses may dull, but with good nutrition all experience an improvement! Incredible!)

Times have changed from 100 years ago, and on a timeline of thousands of years it is only a speck.

A growing number of toxins and chemicals, nutrient depleted soils, artificial foods (such as sweeteners), genetically modified foods (GMO), processed vegetable oils, synthetic supplements, increased cancers rates, increased diseases period, and more. Changes? Yes, I believe so. Happening more and faster. All of these put a stress on our health and on our immune system.

I personally do not buy into “we can diagnose diseases now more than ever, so that is why the numbers are higher“, (for example, ADHD… labeling is not always a jolly good idea either). True, this is part of it, but only to an extent. I have a strong desire to help others so that the numbers come down because health and healing is ours to have. Take control of our health should be a theme. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin, Very Smart Man!

Senses include seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, and feeling, and I will include common sense. All are used in the kitchen, and in consuming foods. For improving our healthy lifestyle, first you need to ask yourself a question. Do you wish to a live a life of good health? If YES, read on.

Food Safety

Food safety is important, because it can add to the burden of other toxins and chemicals. For the most part, we are in control of this area…bacteria can grow and cause serious problems or stress on the body (such as E coli). The stronger our immune system the better it is for us.

Let’s use the senses in food safety. In order to determine if food is bad, we first look to detect bad spots (such as brown spots on lettuce or bruises on apples), or molds (such as the green stuff on breads). Smelling foods for odours is not my favourite thing, but we all have done it. Common sense is used for throwing out foods that have been left in the refrigerator or freezer too long. A good way to keep track is to label bottles with an open date or date put into freezer. One other area around common sense is food preparation…review information on food safety annually. Check out the internet for more information. Be sure to check out holistic cleaners and ways too. Here is a Canadian government site (every country should have one.)

Food Safety Tips http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/tipcone.shtml

We have enough toxins and chemicals in our environment so incorporate good food safety for prevention.

Food Choices

Picking our foods, and cooking or preparing our foods uses our senses too. This is a broad area but what I want to point out is that we have been conditioned to look for the brightest coloured food, the perfect shape, the bigger ones, and more. What we see is not necessarily good…many foods have been grown to appeal to you but my experience tells me that the taste and quality may not be present. For example, many people will tell me they prefer the organic fruits to the non-organic fruits because they taste better…yes they may not look as pretty. I do believe that food should look appealing…I surely would not purchase an organic apple that was soft and bruised and nor should you.

Smell and Taste

These senses make any meal a delight! The aroma and oh the wonderful taste that can come from a variety of prepared foods, recipes, spices, and more. Once again, we have to me mindful of the tricks…sugar will make anything taste better because we enjoy the sweet taste (not all of us, some like salty). Also, be mindful of the sodiums and vegetable oils/fats in processed foods as they add flavour to our foods, but they also change our brain chemistry so we can become addicted to these foods. Many struggle with discipline but they truly may be addicted (ask me to send you a very good article on this). These sugars, sodiums, and oils/fats are very problematic to our health. Common sense, awareness and knowledge will guide you to use fresh organic whole foods or as I heard from a friend yesterday…use foods that have one ingredient on the food label (however these foods usually do not have labels…AH HA)!!

The one good reason we want to use our senses…inflammation. Inflammation is part of every disease and can be found in every part of our body. Using our senses will not increase the burden on our health. Every disease, ache, or pain has an inflammatory component, so if you have any of this then understand that you should consider consuming healthy essential fatty acids or omegas to bring down inflammation. Check out my website www.healthybalance4you.com on omegas as I do not recommend fish oils. Vitally important!

Be safe, be well and be smiling!!

Make it a healthy day!

VividLife.me Contributor

Cheryl Millett biography:

Cheryl Millett BSc RNCP CCIr has a degree in Holistic Nutrition and a diploma in Iridology with a specialty interest in digestion. For over 19 years, Cheryl worked for one of Canada’s largest grocery retailers in finance & risk management with experience in agricultural commodities and therefore the food processing area, so she has seen first hand the sugar refinery process, flour milling, and oil refining. For the past two years, Cheryl has practiced nutritional consulting with a belief in raw foods, omega 3s, enzymes, nutritional cleansing and minerals for optimum health. Her goals are to give her clients and others the education and tools to create a better quality of life. Recommendations are personalize based on the person’s level of motivation and current lifestyle in order to achieve optimum results. Cheryl has successfully coached hundreds to improve their health.

Technorati Tags: chemicals, Cheryl Millett, fish oils, Health, nutrition, omega3s, Omegas, toxins, vividlife, wellness

Life is meant to be a love affair, an actual love affair.  Life, as it truly is, is in fact, a love affair.  Now you can choose whether or not to experience life as such, whether or not to join in the dance.  But no matter what, life itself always remains a true love affair, an intimate dance in each and every moment.

Every desire for love, every desire to love, is simply the longing within you to experience the reality of life, the truth of what you are.  Your longing for love is your longing to know and experience yourself as the love that you are in reality.

Each and every human experience of love is designed for the sole purpose of showing you what you truly are; it is designed to illumine the nature of you true beauty.

The mistake that people make is thinking that love comes from some particular experience and is dependent on a particular experience.  The human mind creates the illusion that love comes from an experience or an interaction with a particular object.

In reality, love is inherent in every experience.  Love is what is actually happening in every experience. Most people miss this because they think of love as a feeling; they think of love as something that comes and goes.  But true love is the very ground of existence.  It cannot come and go because it simply IS.  Love is what is in every experience.  Whether your experience is pleasurable or painful, good or bad, friendly or unfriendly, what is happening is still love.

This may sound like a tall claim, an extreme claim, even an impossible claim.  But if you think about it, even for a moment, you will discover that it can be no other way.

You do not exist as a separate individual but exist only in communion with the entire cosmos.  You are appearing as what you perceive of as “you”, as a particular body-mind.  But in essence, “you” has no independent existence at all.  You are the same as the flowers, as the dirt, as the air, as your friends, as your lover, as your cat, as your dog.  You are the same essence.

As you realize and experience this, every interaction becomes a kiss; every interaction becomes intimate.  When you are open, when you are available, every experience is a kiss from the divine in its myriad forms.

1. When you walk through the park, notice the trees, the flowers, the ocean – they all stop to smile, wave, and embrace you, if given half the chance.
2. Instead of judging your body for its perceived flaws and imperfections, practice dropping into it and fully experiencing it.  Your body is always alive with love.
3. In every interaction, whether with pleasant or unpleasant, let yourself experience the love that is underneath the pleasure or the pain.

Love is what is happening all the time.  Simply let life love you. That is what it is designed to do, if given half the chance.

So instead of thinking that love comes from a particular experience, use every experience where you feel love to remind yourself of what is already and always the case.

When you experience a moment of love, a hug from a friend, an embrace with your lover, a smile on a child’s face, let that remind you of the love that is always there, always available, all the time.  Use that experience to remind you that life is love happening, and you are an intrinsic, indispensable, an exquisitely beautiful part of the cosmic love affair.

VividLife.me Contributor

Sarah Maria, author of Love Your Body, Love Your Life, outlines her 5-step process for helping you feel great in and about your body. Her work embraces the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, for true, lasting healing. Purchase your copy and begin to love your body today.  Visit: www.sarahmaria.com or for more about Sarah Maria’s work, please visit:  www.breakfreebeauty.com.

Technorati Tags: Healthy Living, love your body, sarah maria, self-esteem and body image

Initially I wanted home birth, but for medical reasons this was not possible. I had to accept the facts, but still I wanted to be the boss – I wanted to do it my way. The health professionals were going to do what they were educated for….which was to assist me.

To the Birth Clinic
Hønefoss Hospital , Norway
The summer 2005

WANT LIST FOR PEARL SHANTI LODUR-LIONHEART

OPENING PHASE:

I want to be in control of my own birth process
I want to move about, take a shower/bath whenever I like
I want everyone to be quiet around me
I want to be disturbed as little as possible by doctors
I want to give birth in a room without birth chair, steel equipment etc… I am afraid of hospitals and these things disturb me
I want to meditate and do yoga
I want to give myself aroma therapy and be able to do rebirthing, conscious connected breathing
I want to receive from my husband, Andiran Lionheart, reflexology, massage and help with rhythmic movements
I want to receive natural, pain-relieving therapies, like acupuncture, from the birth clinic, if necessary
I want to bring my own CD`s, to listen to relaxing and soft music …
I want people to speak with low voices, because I will focus all my intention within to connect with my Power to find the strength to give birth in joy, I wish that no-one talks to me before spoken to
I want the lights to be dim

TRANSITION PHASE

I want to have all my intention within….everything quiet..it is enough to know that you and my husband are there
I will focus on breathing and visualization
If I can be calm in this phase, we can prevent “tearing”.

THE EXPULSION PHASE

I want to give birth in water
I want to listen to drumming during the expulsion phase
I want to give birth according to the techniques of Dr. Frederic LeBoyer, the French obstetrician
I want to experience complete peace and harmony within
I want to be in full control
I want my husband to be in the water with me
We will receive our child in total peace and harmony
We will lift the baby slowly to the surface, and we only want whispering voices around us
I want the baby to be on my stomach…and in my arms all the time
I want the lights to be dim
I want the umbilical cord to be cut when there is no more pulsation
The baby needs both his lungs and the placenta in order to start breathing
We want to be in the water until we feel like leaving
My husband will cut the umbilical cord when it is ready
We want the medical examination to wait at least 3-4 hours
I want no breastfeeding help or bottle feeding

AFTER THE COMPULSION

I want no hormone injection
I want the placenta to slide out when it is ready…no infringement by anyone putting pressure on my stomach in order to press it out
We would like to have the honor to look at the placenta and the fetal membrane, which has nourished our child for 9 months
I want no vitamin K injections, or other vitamins, vaccines and injections
In my breasts I have all the natural vaccines and vitamins my child will need, and this milk contains all the antibodies, fatty acids, nutrients and vitamins my baby needs in order to strengthen the immune system and counteract infections

LATER

We want our son to be weighed on a scale of fabric, instead of steel
We do not want our son to be stretched in order to measure the height. The baby`s back needs not to be stretched, it is easy to use a tape measure and follow the natural curve of the baby
We want to be present when the doctor examines our son
We do not want him to be turned upside down

We want to bath and take care of our son ourselves, and we want to use our own clothes, clothe diapers, soaps and ointments.
I want my son to be with me all the time – he will not be taken anywhere without me.
I want to go home as soon as possible after the birth, preferably the same day, if everything happens according to the plan.
We have another child waiting at home.

I realize that a birth not necessarily happens according to a plan. I am open for change, and I accept the natural development of the birth process. This is the 3 rd time I give birth, and I have a strong desire to give birth in love, freedom and joy. I want to take control over the birth process this time..it will be beneficial for both the child and me.
This time I am looking forward to the birth process – because I know I will give birth in joy and bliss !

Yours Sincerely
Pearl Shanti Lodur-Lionheart

SO HOW DID ANDIRAN FEEL ABOUT THIS ?

To become a father is an awesome experience – the greatest event in life.
And I was very proud when my wife sent a several page want list to the birth clinic.
We were very happy when the director of the birth clinic approved our list, and she even added that they wanted more parents like us who took 100 % responsibility for the birth process.
Because of the list we were treated with the utmost respect and attention, and it gave me great pride to observe how my wife went trough the birth process.

When Alex was born 10 years earlier, the doctors made some serious mistakes, and both Alex and my wife were clinically dead for a short while. Because of this , the doctors recommended a ceasarian operation this time too, especially since my wife gives birth to BIG babies. (She is only 1.50 m).
However, my wife has a strong willpower and chose to give birth in a natural way without medication – but instead in meditation…

Andiran Lionheart

VividLife.me Contributors

Our blog :
http://enlightenedchildren.com/

Our group on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=201573109618&ref=search&sid=100000248395261.3449746649..1

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http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=201573109618&ref=search&sid=100000248395261.3449746649..1

Technorati Tags: alternative birth, conscious birth, conscious parenting, conscious parents, conscious pregnancy, enlightened birth

Working with people all over the world, it becomes more and more obvious that the Chakra energy system relates to everyone.  I have used this as a tool for assessing the people I work with and helping them overcome their life challenges. I also use other tools, but I really want to discuss the Chakra system because it seems increasingly important for people in our society to know more about it.

There are 7 main Chakras and many systems that work with them.  Below is information about each, in order from bottom to top.

First Chakra “Root” – Located between the genitals and anus. The colour associated with this Chakra is RED. This Chakra is the growth stage of standing up for yourself between of the ages of 0 and 7 years old.

Second Chakra “Sacral” – Located at the lower abdomen, between navel and genitals. The colour associated with this Chakra is ORANGE. This Chakra is the growth stage of challenging motivations based on social conditioning between of the ages of 7 and 14 years old.

Third Chakra “Solar Plexus” – Located between the navel and base of the sternum. The colour associated with this Chakra is YELLOW. This Chakra is the growth stage of self-esteem/self-confidence between of the ages of 14 and 21 years old.

Fourth Chakra “Heart” – Located at the centre of the chest. The colour associated with this Chakra is GREEN. This Chakra is the growth stage of forgiveness and compassion between of the ages of 21 and 28 years old.

Fifth Chakra “Throat” – Located centrally, at the base of the throat. The colour associated with this Chakra is Blue. This Chakra is the growth stage of personal expression between of the ages of 28 and 35 years old

Sixth Chakra “Third Eye” – Located above and between the eyebrows. The colour associated with this Chakra is Indigo. This Chakra is the growth stage of emotional intelligence above the age of 35.

Seventh Chakra “Crown” – Located on the top of the head. The colour associated with this Chaka is violet, gold, white. This Chakra is the growth stage of selflessness above the age of 35.

want to give you this so you get a base of knowledge of what the chakras represent. If you are having a challenge in life, you can see if it relates to a chakra.  If it does, it could be manifesting itself physically, causing pain in that area.  For example, if you’re having pain in the neck or shoulder area, it could be related to communication issues, be it at work, family, relationship, etc. Knowing the cause can help you to start working towards a solution.

There are different ways to balance out the Chakras (depending on what the challenge is):  crystals, incense, oils, exercises or drills. Whatever area you are trying to balance out in your life, take your time and enjoy the process. Each person’s situation is different, and what works for one person might not work for another.  Try a few different ways to balance out yourself and your Chakras. If you don’t feel a difference, I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. E-mail me at info@knssconsulting.com with your questions and I will personally answer them.

Balancing out your Chakras/lifestyle is extremely beneficial. By having your nutrition, relationships, finances, exercise and spirituality in harmony, you can enjoy the journey of life by living your legacy each and every day.

VividLife.me Contributor

Brandon Krieger H.L.C 2, C.M.T.A

3-months I healed my back without surgery & even the doctors were asking me what kind of crack I was on. Now I coach people how to do the same

http://www.knssconsulting.com

http://www.twitter.com/Brandon_krieger

http:/www.youtube.com/knssconsulting

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Following a system is important when you are on your road to success. It’s what guides you to make sure you are on the right track. Now, following a system is not one of the 6 secrets I teach because the 6 secrets to success are themselves part of a system. (more information on the 6 secrets to success on this link www.cheerstothegoodlife.com) It’s a system that shows you what you need to do to find success in your life.

But as you follow the 6 secrets to success, you’ll actually need to follow another system to help you accomplish all of your goals…

Allow me to explain

The 6 secrets to success will guide you in a whole… But let’s say you decided to run a marathon. You’ll need to follow a specific routine in order to train your body to run the marathon and achieve your goals and the 6 secrets to success will make sure that you are on the right path… Now I’m not a certified trainer but I’m guessing you’ll need to run at least a few times during the week to build your cardio and you’ll also need to do some strength training to build your muscles…

But what you need to keep in mind is that following a system has to go hand in hand with your goals.

If you are training for a marathon, I’m certain you won’t go out and run sprints every day and you won’t do a bodybuilder’s workout at the gym. If you do, then you are not following the right system for your goal and ultimately you are wasting your time.

Another important aspect about following a system involves not jumping from one system to another.

Let’s say this time you want a black belt in martial arts. So you decide to get a black belt in Judo. But after a year or so you decide that you should get a black belt in Karate instead, and after spending some time in Karate, you think that jiu jitsu might be better…

By doing this you’re again wasting a lot of time and you’ll eventually quit!

Finding a system is not easy. But sticking to one is just as hard sometimes. There’s a lot of information out there. You need to educate yourself (which is one of the 6 secrets to success, www.cheerstothegoodlife.com) to find out which one is best for you!

You know what, why don’t we go over the 6 secrets to give you an idea of how a system works… (Now keep in mind that the 6 secrets to success are easily named but hard to master)

Here’s the 6 Secrets to Success System:

• Take action – decide right now that you want to find success
• Education – You need to learn what you are going to do (you can’t just jump in…)
• Road map and setting goals – You need to know were you want to go (road map) and how to get there (goals)
• Imitating success people – Monkey see monkey do, you need to do what success people have done
• Change the way you think – People that have success in life think in a different way, Napoleon Hill said: “What the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve”
• Believe in yourself – Nobody else is going to do it for you! You need to believe in yourself if you want to find success in your life.

I strongly recommend applying the 6 secrets to success which will ultimately help you follow any other system you need to follow in order to find success in life.

CHEERS TO YOUR GOOD LIFE

P.S If you like what you just read then you’ll love the information I provide in my weekly e-letters. You can subscribe right now by clicking this link and you’ll receive a FREE life changing video www.cheerstothegoodlife.com

VividLife.me Contributor

Marc-Andre Terriault

Marc-Andre Terriault, who is part of the Y generation is known for asking tough questions in order to find the answers for success in life. He has a college degree in Business Administration and has also spent lots of time and money educating himself in the real world.

As a real estate investor, Marc-Andre has discovered six secrets that anyone can follow in order to find success in their lives, whatever their definition of success may be. That’s one of the biggest reasons why he wrote his e-book titled “It Starts Here: Discover How You Can Find Success in Your Life.” He wants to make sure that he reaches as many people as he can in order to help them find what he calls their “road map to success.”

He loves to learn the accomplishments of successful people and educate others about how they too can obtain the same success

www.cheerstothegoodlife.com

Technorati Tags: creating a system, following a system, personal development, secrets to success, self help

On March 6^th 2006, my world as I knew it would change forever! I could never go back to what was, for what used to be would feel like a distant memory… It would feel like something that was so far from reach, like another time… another place. That chapter of my life would close forever. A new one would begin.

My beautiful daughter came into this life with great purpose. Her name is Meah, (Mia) meaning ‘one’ in Greek. While pregnant with her, I spoke to her, I asked her questions and listened. We spoke with silence and we understood each other with emotion and feeling. I asked her often, ‘for what purpose are you coming?’ The answer I felt was that she was coming to teach. She was coming to show me a new way of living, of seeing and of experiencing this world.

Meah never made it into this life. I was induced with a drug called Cytotec. My uterus hyper stimulated and tore in two places and Meah was deprived of oxygen and died before ever taking a breath in this life. I felt the excruciating pain of a violent labor and of my womb ripping. I felt a painful heaviness on my chest and shortly after, I felt as though the life in me was leaving. I was told that I almost bled to death.

I cannot even describe with words what it felt like to hear that my daughter had died. There is nothing that could ever prepare you for such a feeling. The pediatrician walked over to my husband and I with tears in his eyes and said,

‘I’m so sorry, your daughter didn’t make it, I tried… but there was no heart beat!’

Those words were more painful than my imagination could have ever imagined. I held her lifeless little body in my weak arms. She was beautiful. Her little fingers, her tiny toes… all 8 pounds of her was pure perfection. I had for so long imagined the moment her eyes would look into mine. I had imagined the first time I’d hold her in my arms and feel her little heart beating against my own. But now, there was no life in her. It felt as though a knife had stabbed me in my heart and as time passed, it remained there, endlessly turning and turning. The days, weeks and months often felt like a living hell. I tried to find my way through it all… desiring comfort and peace but having no idea how I might reach it. I wanted to feel joy again, to live with inspiration but there was too much sadness, too much grief that I couldn’t even get a sense of what joy or inspiration could feel like. I could not help but experience on a daily basis, intense anger at the doctor and hatred for the fact that in my heart, I felt she had caused the death of my daughter. I was angered by her carelessness. I felt hatred that she would use a drug on me that I felt clearly should never have been used. I wondered why I had been induced? Why on that day when she would not be there for me, would she use such a dangerous drug? Where did half of my records disappear to? Everyday my mind was plagued by questions I had no answers to. There were many days that I blamed myself for not listening to my body, for not knowing more than I did. Some days I even hated myself. I thought over and over of all the different possibilities…  had I done this… or not done that… she might have still been with us.

I knew that if I were going to survive this and still be the mother my living son deserved, the wife and friend my husband needed and the person I wanted to be in this life, I had to do something. I decided I needed to become active in my journey of healing.

I knew that if there were to be a significant change, I would have to become conscious of my thoughts, words and actions. I would have to begin to change the ways in which I was seeing my experience and try to look at it differently. I would have to bring gratitude, love, kindness and compassion to myself and to others. I would need to forgive! Perhaps it was this need that led me to Immaculee Ilibagiza and to Rwanda.

I had first heard Immaculee’s story of her experience of the Rwandan genocide when I was pregnant with Meah. Later, after her death, I would travel to Orlando to the ‘I Can Do It’ conference for her workshop on forgiveness. Immaculee had lost almost all of her family members during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Over one million people died in a period of 3 months. Immaculee survived by hiding in a tiny bathroom with 7 other women. When the genocide was finally over and it was safe for her to come out of hiding, she learned the traumatic and brutal reality… almost everyone that she knew and loved had been slaughtered to death. What amazed me most about Immaculee was her ability to find compassion for the very people who killed her family and find forgiveness in the midst of her pain.

Simply hearing Immaculee’s story changed me. It gave me strength and motivation to move forward… to grow from my pain and to become something new. I traveled to Rwanda with Immaculee in June of 2007 and then again with a friend in June of 2008.

What I can express about Rwanda is that it touched my heart in a very special way and I shall never be the same again. From the moment I arrived, from the voices of little children and from the eyes and the hearts of the people, nothing in my life could ever be what it was. Genocide destroyed family, destroyed lives, people and it destroyed a country. I wondered how the human spirit could live on, how could it heal and how could it forgive?

In the beginning, the effects of the genocide were through my eyes everywhere, perhaps because it was so deep in my mind that nothing I saw could exist as separate from that. Where there were smiles, I felt pain, where there was laughter, I felt the cries, where there was beauty I asked why? As strong emotions and feelings became a part of my experience there, new heart, new wisdom, new life was born in me. I found that I was being given many gifts, many blessings and I can only say that I am still in awe as to how such pain and suffering could lead to what I believe to be the most precious, most honorable and most sacred acts, the act of forgiveness and reconciliation.  There is pain but there is also so much love. There is anger but also compassion. There was evil but I still saw goodness everywhere.

Perhaps the best way for me to express the greatest part of my healing while in Rwanda, would be to end with a letter I wrote while I was there, for I believe in so many ways, it is a true testament that even in pain and hurt, anger and hatred, there can be love, compassion, hope and forgiveness.

Dear Friends,

…Who would have imagined that two years ago that this is where the death of my daughter Meah would lead me. Her name means ‘One’ and indeed, she has led me to a whole new world… one that reminds me that indeed, we are so very connected and that in this world of so much difference, we are still one. If we look deeply we can find ourselves in each other …and we are all a part of the one!!!

Pastor Deo is a tall thin man and he works with the prisoners and the victims. In a room of over 50 people, killers and victims, he asked them to face each other and to look into each others eyes… ‘look deeply’ he said ‘…and tell me what you see!’

I noticed one women look into the eyes of her family’s killer…

He then asked the question, what do you see?

The answer was that she saw a reflection of herself… then he asked the man what he saw… he too replied that he saw his own reflection. Immediately my heart filled with love and compassion…. I understood in that very moment that in order to have compassion… in order to forgive… to feel love for ones self and for another is to see yourself in everyone and everyone in yourself.

He then asked… if you could see yourself in another person… could you hurt that person? To kill another is to kill your self. When you kill someone, you have killed a part of yourself!!!

I sat with tears flowing, knowing that indeed, my daughter had led me to this very moment!

My mind is constantly expanding with all that I see and experience. I never imagined that I’d be in a prison somewhere in the middle of Rwanda, walking with no protection through a passage way made by 4,000 genocide killers. I walked through and I felt no fear. I made eye contact and felt the presence of God so big here. Maybe that sounds strange to many, but there is something far greater happening than I could even begin to express.

…Yesterday, I bought a peace basket that was made by the hands of a victim as well as the one who killed her family. Together, they weaved the fibers of love, compassion and forgiveness and what became was a beautiful basket of peace.

I spent the day yesterday with street kids and women who were survivors of the Genocide, rape victims who now live with HIV and Aids. We sang, we danced and they told me that even with their pain, they must sing and dance for it raises the energy and brings life back into their soul.

I taught them how to make jewelry and I have never seen people more eager to learn. They were so proud of their works of art… my heart is still full of emotion for what I experienced.

As it got late into the evening, the kids left to find there place on the street for the night. This broke my heart. They left together making their way back into the city, back to the harsh cruel reality with which they are living…

Blessings and Love,

Tina

My daughter never made it into this life, but while death came through me, new life was born in me. She showed me that even in darkness, there is light… that even when anger and pain, hatred and hopelessness make the world seem ugly, without a doubt, there is beauty everywhere.

VividLife.me Contributor

I am a mother, entrepreneur, inspirational writer and speaker, mentor andteacher. After the tragic loss of my second child Meah, in 2006, my journey through healing was one of intense spiritual transformation. I traveled twice to Rwanda, spending time with survivors and perpetrators of the genocide. This experience would change the very course of my life forever. I began to see with new eyes, feel with new heart and experience life with new soul. I am passionate about story telling and I believe in the power of stories to transform the lives of individuals, communities and our planet.

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