As I sit here writing this blog I ask myself the same question. Who am I?

Its life’s most investigated question. World renowned Scientists, Philosophers and Spiritual and Religious deities have been; researching, contemplating, praying and meditating on this simple question for centuries.

Scientists say we’re made of Atoms, pure energy…but where does that come from? World religious heads say we are a creation of God…but where does God come from? Philosophers and Spiritual teachers have entertained theories from; we are one collective energy expressed through many forms, to life is an illusion…but where does that come from?

There are so many theories, philosophies and ideologies floating around in the collective mind that it could cause us to go completely insane. Does this serve us? Does it bring us to the place of peace and contentment that we all seem to be searching for? I don’t believe so. I believe it’s just another thought that causes our individual and collective suffering.

How do we really find out who we are, is it even possible?

I invite you to entertain the thought that it is possible and that you can have access to the answer this very moment.

How can such a profound question that has been researched by some of the greatest minds of our planet be so simple?

It reminds me of a story my good friends and Spiritual teachers Ed and Deb Shapiro tell about the Musk Deer and how it searches round and round the forests of India in search of a particular smell. It exhausts itself searching for miles and miles but can never seem to find where the smell is coming from. The irony of it all is that if it simply stopped looking it would discover that the mysterious smell isn’t out in the forest but coming from its very own anus.

This story is one of the greatest teachings that I have learned on this journey we call life for it teaches us that the answers to all of life’s questions do not come from outside of ourselves but are always right there waiting for us when we simply stop looking.

I invite you right now, wherever you are to take a few moments, close your eyes, allow your lips to touch gently, your tongue to drop from the roof of your mouth, and while breathing in and out of your nose bring your attention to your natural flow of breath…if any thoughts arise, gently allow them to be without judgment, let them pass like clouds in the sky, be still and ask yourself…

Who am I?

Yogi, Author and Founder of VividLife.me Shayne’s humorous, tender and practical approach to ‘thriving’ in a human experience, has drawn some of the great spiritual teachers, authors and ‘truth seekers’ from around the globe, to his online publishing site, VividLife.me, Shayne ignites an individuals’ spark for knowing their own divinity by sharing his fearless pursuit of his dreams and his spiritual truth; a courageous transformation journey. Ultimately, Shayne’s work catalyzes people to experience freedom from their stories; the bondage of their past, embrace the present moment, discover their TRUTH and UNLEASH their ULTIMATE LIFE: mind, body and soul. Shayne has recently been featured on Beliefnet.com, a leading website for Wellness and Spirituality, is writing his first book with Hay House bestselling author of “The Keys” Sharon Quirt and lives in the quaint town of Newcastle, Ontario Canada with his fiancé Timm and his two Miniature Pinchers: Mr. Anderson and Oliver. Due to Shayne’s tireless commitment to assisting others in transforming their lives through many of his philanthropic endeavors, he was also nominated for the LGBTQ Person of the Year at their Inspire Awards. Connect with Shayne on Facebook >http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shayne-Traviss/79310282399?sk=info

Read more from VividLife.me Bloggers:

Getting to Know You by Panache Desai

Someone You Really Need to Get to Know. There is someone I’m dying for you to really get to know. This person is amazing, insightful, charming, brimming with life, and filled with limitless potential. You’ll be blown away by their depth and capacity for love.

The Awakening Man ~ A Portrait of Possibility for Humankind by Jeff Brown

The awakening man is conscious, heartfully defined. Through his eyes, being conscious is not a cerebral construct, nor an intellectual exercise bereft of feeling. It is a felt experience, an ever-expanding awareness that moves from the heart outward. It is feeling God, not thinking God. The new man is always in process, awakening through a deepening interface with the world of feeling. He continues to strive for a more heartfelt and inclusive awareness.

Technorati Tags: humanity, inspiration, life purpose, Meditation, religion, science, self actualization, Shayne Traviss, Spirituality, vivid life, Who am I, Who are we

Now, humanity is at a time like no other. Planetary changes, social changes, personal changes ~ we are being served with a great opportunity…

This film is made and offered to bring about a more loving world.

More Inspiring Videos from VividLife.me:

Rick Hanson ~ How to take in the Good

In this video, Rick Hanson explains how we can boost our positive emotions and positive experiences. This video was taken at the Greater Good Science Center in UC Berkeley as part of the Science of a Meaningful Life Series

Interview with Dr. Masaru Emoto about the effect of his discovery for us in daily life

Masaru Emoto (江本 勝 Emoto Masaru^?, born July 22, 1943) is a Japanese author and entrepreneur known for his claims that human consciousness has an effect on the molecular structure of water. Emoto’s hypothesis has evolved over the years of his research. Initially Dr. Emoto claimed that high-quality water forms beautiful and intricate crystals, while low-quality water has difficulty forming crystals. According to Dr. Emoto, an ice crystal of distilled water exhibits a basic hexagonal structure with no intricate branching. Emoto claims that positive changes to water crystals can be achieved through prayer, music or by attaching written words to a container of

Technorati Tags: awakening, Change, humanity, inspiration, love, now is the time. panache desai, peace, The Shift, vivid life

At this time in our present history, we have the ability to be conscious of the stories we have been taught and how they define us, as well as the stories we unquestionably have believed about who another is. We can be willing to be unguarded with ourselves, and we can take responsibility for the result. We can marvel when we discover that the stories of previously demonized others (enemies) are as beautiful and multi-layered as our own. We mature when we realize that some of the stories cherished as the foundation of our culture are flimsy and insubstantial in truth and are sometimes outrightly false. One generation’s true and defining story can be proved to be a lie in the next generation. Stories that celebrate freedom and revolution against tyranny can turn on themselves and become stories of reigns of terror.

We recognize the location of the story in our flesh and emotions. From this recognition choice is born. We have most often either chosen to continue the given story or to rebel against that story. There is yet another choice. We have the capacity to take a moment and release all stories. We can experience what it means to be nobody, uncovered even by our primary identity.

Underneath all the stories, we can experience that deep core of ourselves that is history-less, genderless and parent-less. Naked. That presence is unencumbered by relationships and has no past and no future. In the core of our being-ness we are free of definitions. Unencumbered by our definitions we experience ourselves as conscious intelligence aware of itself as open, endless space. This instant of being story-less is an instant of freedom. For even if our story is filled with light and beauty, to the degree that we define ourselves through that story, we are less free.

After such a moment, stories are never the same. They can be present, as they most likely will be, but they no longer have the inherent power to define our reality. The inner-wealth that is available to us is no longer limited or augmented by particular inner or outer events. While the personality or the “creature-ness” of each individual continues just as stories continue, the underlying awareness, the true “I” has come home to itself.

After such a moment, choice is present where before we were blindly choice-less. When we are not blinded by the stories that have been created for us, or the stories we create, we can appreciate the mysterious vastness that is holographically present in each moment of any story. We can discover what is and has always been here, throughout whatever rendition of story was being lived or believed. Each of us can take any story from our past, and we can discover the treasure that was hidden only through unquestioning belief in narrowly focused assumptions of the time. Stories can then be profoundly appreciated as displays of multidimensional life expressing itself in all forms.

What is the frame or context of your life? You don’t know how your story will end, but at this point you can discover what your story is about. You can ask yourself how your inner sense of self is expressed, or has gone unexpressed, in the structure and message of your life story.

This blog is adapted from Gangaji’s new book, Hidden Treasure: Uncovering the Truth in Your Life Story, which was published by Penguin Tarcher in 2011. In this life-changing book, Gangaji uses the telling of her own life story to help readers uncover the truth in their own. Publisher’s Weekly said, “This gently flowing but often disarming volume invites readers to examine the narratives that shape them, and is a call to pass beyond personal stories to find a deeper, more universal self.” Visit www.gangaji.org for more information about Gangaji and her upcoming events, including the monthly Webcast / Conference Series, With Gangaji, which is currently undergoing an in-depth study of Hidden Treasure.

Gangaji shares a simple message – “This is an invitation to shift your allegiance from the activities of your mind to the eternal presence of your being.” Born in Texas in 1942, Gangaji grew up in Mississippi. After graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1964, she married and had a daughter. In 1972, she moved to San Francisco where she began exploring deeper levels of her being. She took Bodhisattva vows, practiced Zen and Vipassana meditation, helped run a Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center, and had a career as an acupuncturist in the San Francisco Bay area. Despite her successes, Gangaji continued to experience a deep and persistent longing for fulfillment. She pursued many paths to change her life including relationship, motherhood, political activism, career, and spiritual practice, but even the greatest of her successes ultimately came up short. In the wake of her disillusionment, she made a final prayer for true help. In 1990, the answer to her prayer came unexpectedly, taking her to India and to the meeting that would change everything. There on the banks of the river Ganga, she met Sri H.W.L. Poonja, also known as Papaji, who opened the floodgates of self-recognition. In this meeting, Gangaji’s personal story of suffering ended and the promise of a true life began to flower and unfold. Today, Gangaji travels the world speaking to seekers from all walks of life. A teacher and author, she shares her direct experience of the essential message she received from Papaji and offers it to all who want to discover a true and lasting fulfillment. Through her life and words, she powerfully articulates how it is really possible to discover the truth of who you are and to be true to that discovery. Gangaji’s website www.gangaji.org

Read more from VividLife.me bloggers:

Naked to Yourself by Gangaji

In our long human history of storytelling, there have been great beings with awe-inspiring stories that reveal the victory of self-discovery. What inspires us about these great ones is that somehow their lives turned toward and then reflected the sublime discovery of everlasting truth. In Hidden Treasure: Uncovering the Truth in Your Life Story (Tarcher Penguin, 2011)  I invite you to let your story be a contribution to the universal revelation of self-discovery, expressed uniquely as you.

How Your Thoughts and Emotions Can Affect Your Body by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Ed remembers having an upset stomach when he was a child and his grandmother asking him if he was having a problem at school. What she knew instinctively we are at last beginning to prove scientifically: that there is an intimate and dynamic relationship between what is going on with our feelings and thoughts, and what happens in the body. A Time Magazine special showed that happiness, hopefulness, optimism and contentment, “Appear to reduce the risk or limit the severity of cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, colds and upper-respiratory infections;…

Technorati Tags: consciousness, Emotions, Hidden Treasure: Uncovering the Truth in Your Life Story, History, humanity, life stories, reality, self-discovery, Spirituality, stories

A revealing exercise was discovered with a group of people interested in living freely, unencumbered by past definitions of themselves. When a person said her own name and then said what that name meant to her, self-definitions from childhood were exposed. Usually, if not always, these definitions of themselves were negative to at least some degree. Even if names had been changed, the old name still had hidden power, and hidden power is the most insidious. Many of these intelligent, bright, aware adults were carrying old burdens of negative self-identification within them. When a friend repeated the question, “What is your name and what does it mean?” layers of excess mental and emotional baggage could be recognized and dropped.

Naming is an extremely useful aspect of human intelligence. With naming we are able to make important distinctions. Distinctions are necessary for our survival, as well as mental and emotional growth and well being. With more sophisticated naming we develop more subtle and sophisticated distinctions. But great powers often come with a high cost. As we develop our ability to make distinctions and generate names, we usually lose sight of the connection between things.

And this is a tragic loss, a loss that generates dissatisfaction, restlessness and worse.

Names accumulate meanings associated with their owners. Over time, derogatory meanings can become embedded in our self-identification. We begin to believe that we are what our names, or labels, say we are. Even if we rebel against them, our names can seem like a kind of map of our persona, a map that defines how we are separate from others.

In the willingness to inquire into one’s own name, and with that inquiry the willingness to face unpleasant feelings, there arises the possibility to see through the name. We can see that the name has no substance by itself. We can see the unreality of the name per se, while the reality of oneself remains constant.

How burdensome these labels and distinctions are finally. All along didn’t you know your name didn’t describe who you are? And yet we spend much of life trying to accept a name as the symbol of our identity, or rebelling against one name and taking another in hopes that perhaps the new name will be a true description of ourselves. Some of us take animal spirit names, we accept names from our gurus (I did), and we have secret, special lover-given names that feel more like a fit for us. But if we tell the truth, no name can contain our true identity. Once we stop trying to name ourselves, and others, there is an obvious yet thrilling discovery. We are not actually discrete from one another, or from the “mountain” or “the ocean” or “the sky” or any other part of our universe. What were important distinctions for survival and power aren’t needed at all in self-reflection.

As Alfred Korzybski pointed out eighty years ago, “The map is not the territory.” If you only know the map you won’t experience the territory. If we try to fit ourselves, and others, into maps and labels, we will miss the essential thrill of being aware of ourselves as inseparable from all life forms.

Why not try this game with a friend? One of you asks the other, “What is your name and what does it mean.” Repeat this question for ten minutes or so before switching roles. When you are asking the question, be sure to include nicknames, and even hateful names you have been called. You can discover for yourself if you want to keep carrying around any old heavy baggage associated with any name at all.

Gangaji will present her new book, Hidden Treasure: Uncovering the Truth in Your Life Story, at a weekend retreat in the San Francisco Bay Area on October 29-30. In November and December she will hold retreats and weekends in Australia and New Zealand. Read more about Gangaji’s events and catalog of books and videos online. You can also join Gangaji in monthly Webcast / Conference Series which will begin an in depth study of Hidden Treasure in November.

Technorati Tags: Gangaji, Hidden Treasure, human intelligence, humanity, inspiration, labels, names, self inquiry, Spirituality, vivid life

Thanks to technology, life has sped up in such a way that one can either desperately try to keep up, or be in fear of being lost in the race. Our bodies weren’t designed to move at the pace we’re moving in today. Our systems cannot handle always being in fight or flight mode. Yet, we can look at “flight” as not something we’re running away from, but more as a space where we embrace more freedom to be ourselves.

Humanity is ready for great change. All around the world, people are standing up and actively participating in the change they want to see. All around the world, more and more people are seeking authenticity in their lives.

We receive guidance all the time. Some call it our intuition; others refer to it as a gut feeling. Either way, we’re always being gently nudged to make better choices for ourselves. But most of us choose to ignore this guidance and wonder why life remains difficult and challenging.

Let’s get back to our underwear, shall we? Our mothers always told us to never leave the house wearing ratty drawers because we never know what might happen. And the last thing we’d want is to be in a position where we’re sporting undies that look like they should have been tossed eons ago. So, if we go to such lengths to ensure we’re always donning clean and “un-tattered” undies then we should be just as mindful of the thoughts we have throughout the day.

Of course, we can’t monitor every single thought that flies in and out of our heads, but we can choose to change the channel to thoughts that make us feel better.

Change starts within.

We don’t have to become Zen monks, and meditate for hours on end in order to find peace in our lives. And we don’t have to climb tall mountains, and fast until we’ve reached enlightenment. But we can choose to be in a better state of mind, even when the shift hits.

The shift’s gonna hit whether we like it or not, but it’s where we are, within ourselves when it does hit, that determines if we’re going to react in the same old way, or respond from a place of “centeredness”.

Easier said then done? Not really. It shouldn’t matter if we have ten kiddos running around tearing the house up, or we’ve just received word that after twenty “good” years of dedicated service, our job has been eliminated, or outsourced… we still have the choice to not allow ourselves to get sucked back into “the world’s out to get me” space.

We’re only a victim if we choose to be one, and we’re all far more resilient and courageous than we give ourselves credit for. If we would just sit and reflect back on our lives, we would see so much evidence of where we rose above the ashes… triumphant!

Shift can hit in two ways… it can smell like a bed of fresh roses, or like a pile of “something unpleasant”! It’s all about choice! So, when it does hit, choose to be the fan; the catalyst that blows the winds of change across the plains of humanity, assisting it in shifting into higher levels of consciousness, and ultimately, creating a better world.

Technorati Tags: Adonya Wong, humanity, New World, shift, Spirituality, transformation

To say that we have hit a patch of dense energy would be an understatement.  The shaking earth is shaking us.  We are one with the earth.  It is impossible to deny the feeling of unrest, crisis, and revolution.  This collective energy rattling that which is no longer working has brought us down to face the darker sides of our soul in order that they be dug out.  In so doing, leave us feeling scared, exposed, and heavy.  The earth is shaking us, quite literally, to come to our senses.  Thus, awakening in us a collective higher sense of responsibility for our personal as well as collective roles on this planet.  In the midst of the state of crumble, it is emotionally, physically, and mentally hard for us to process.

Many of us are consciously aware that things are at crisis point and that it needs to crumble in order to be rebuilt.  Humanity as a whole has pushed as far as they can push.  We degrade our life giving earth through pollution, deforestation, toxic waste, radiation seeps, oil spills, over taxing our resources, cruel farming practices, over production of goods, disposable lifestyles building up landfills, etc.  We are killing the very planet that sustains us.

If that wasn’t bad enough, we kill each other through war, poverty, economic class-ism, elitist idealism, self obsession, and continual violence and cruelty.  The life forms that share this planet are disregarded as inferior and disposable.  The motivator is profit and the accumulation of wealth for the few at all cost.  No other species on earth kills its host for to do so would be suicide.  Even a parasite has the sense to not kill its host.  Humans have for a large part acted like viruses, destroying everything in their path.  This is insanity.

For too long we have disregarded long forgotten value structures like, honour, integrity,  harmony, honesty, and RESPECT. Tribal cultures around the world have known for centuries that there needs to be a balance within ourselves, a balance between us all, and a harmonic relationship to all.  The interconnectedness can not be ignored.  If we poison the water, what will we drink?  If we poison the air, what will we breathe?  It has been foolish to think we can sustain a symbiotic system in the manner in which we have been existing.

Is it all doom?  Of course not. It is a wake up call en masse.  Even though things are without question in a state of crisis, at any given moment we have the capacity to CHOOSE.  We can be individual responsible and accountable and say “I am not going to live like that.”  “I am no longer going to support this failing system, placing profit or power above people.”  In fact, that is the one and only thing we can do. The only thing we have control over – our own actions.  As Gandhi said, we can “be the change we want to see in the world.”  With each individual person waking up and connecting to an energetically higher way of being, more responsible for not only their actions but their thoughts, it brings us closer to the tipping point of activating a global leap in living consciously aware. Whether you believe in god, spirit, or the universe or not; science can now prove the interconnectedness of all things.  Ground breaking knowledge is being passed at record speeds, thanks to technology.  Cutting edge scientific minds are offering answers to the questions have been cloaked in mysticism.  The worlds Elders are speaking up on spiritual revelations that have long been kept quiet. The information age spreads knowledge faster than ever before.  It is an exciting time to be alive.

While exciting, it is also daunting and overwhelming.  We are still emotional beings after all.  Change is scary.  The shaking foundations are scary.  The energetic pressure pushing forth is overwhelming and exhausting.  The news reports are upsetting.  The global problems are devastating.  The personal problems are difficult.  The sensation of speeding time is harder to manage. Individually and collectively we are facing the fears we unknowingly created.  Facing those fears and shadows are necessary in the shifting of the age of mankind.  The Mayan Calender is nearing it’s end date.  This isn’t “the end of the world”, this is an end of an age. No different, than mankind leaping forth from the Dark Ages into the Middle Age.  We can now jump into an Age of Enlightenment, Conscious Evolution, Higher Vibration, and Heart Centered living.

What Can You Do?

• Live a More Authentic Life – Learning to Listen to your Heart.
• Step into your Personal Power and be Responsible and Accountable to your Self.
• Be Mindful in Thought, Word, and Action.
• Live with Integrity and Honesty using your own Intuitive Nature as your Guide.
• Connect with a Compassionate Energy and Help Others.
• Bring More Positive into your Life by Affirmations, Activities, or Actions.
• Work on You – Your overall Holistic Health is Important.
• Do Things for Others – Practice Kindness.
• Eat Environmentally Conscious and Sustainable Healthy foods. It’ll save you Money in the long run by having less Medical Bills.
• Exercise.
• Get Fresh Air.
• Meditate – there are many techniques so try one.
• Have a Spiritual Practice.
• Love your Water ♥.
• Practice Gratitude.
• Seek Counsel and Guidance – You are not Alone.
• Read Inspirational Material.
• Drive less – Walk more.
• Use Less Energy.
• Decrease your Carbon Footprint.
• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
• Practice being Truthful all the time- It is harder than you think.
• Think about What you are Teaching your Children by your Actions and your Words.
• Be Creative – this is the Language of your Soul.
• Learn something New.
• Do Something you’ve never done before.
• Say Thank You to a Tree – It just gave you the Air you Breathe.
• Plant Something.
• Grow your own Vegetables or Herbs.
• Do Yoga.
• Turn off the TV.
• Reconnect with your Partner.
• Call your Parents.
• Forgive Someone.
• Reach out to an Old Friend that popped into your Mind.
• Love your Body.
• Love your Mind.
• Compliment Someone with a Genuine Compliment.
• Breathe Deeply.
• Hug Someone.
• Light a Candle and Say a Prayer for Someone Who Passed On.
• Smile at Strangers.
• Say Thank You to everyone including the bus driver and the waitress.
• Donate Money to a Worthy Cause.
• Volunteer your Time and Services.
• Apologize for a Past Mistake and Forgive Yourself.
• Ask Not What The World Can Do for You but What You Can Do for the World.
• Be Patient.
• Be Gentle with Yourself.
• Remember to REST.
• Listen to your Children.
• Open your Heart to Love.
• Believe in Yourself.
• Trust in Someone Else – Let Go of Past Hurts.
• Share.
• Dance while you do your Housework.
• Appreciate the Sunshine.
• Minimize and Clear Out Clutter.
• Be Polite.
• Be Understanding, Empathetic and Accepting of Others.

Don’t worry – You don’t need to do it all.   This list is only a guide to any number of ONE thing you can do today to add something positive to the world.  One thing, by every person, everyday.  WOW – that would be an evolution!

Feel free to add to the list in the comments below.

Namaste!

Technorati Tags: earth quakes, evolution, humanity, positive affirmations, positive attitudes, positive changes, Positive Energy, revolution

Forgiveness is the mental, emotional and/or spiritual process of ceasing to feel resentment, indignation or anger against another person for a perceived offense, difference or mistake, or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution.

Technorati Tags: forgiveness, healing, humanity, kindness, letting go

How flexible are you? For me, it depends – on my mood, how much fear or resistance I have about something, how attached I am to a particular outcome, and various other factors.

However, as I look throughout my life (now and in the past), I realize that the situations, relationships, and experiences that cause me the greatest stress and frustration, are almost always the ones where I’m not being flexible. And, on the flip side, the more flexible I am – the more peace, ease, and fulfillment become available.

Today, more than ever, we are challenged to be flexible – in our work, our relationships, and in every other important aspect of our lives. However, due to our own fear, arrogance, resistance, stress, and obsession with being right, we often end up being inflexible to our own detriment and to the frustration of those around us (or so I’ve been told).

Being flexible is not about being weak or passive. Flexibility is a conscious choice, a powerful skill, and a valuable approach to the ever-changing, always-evolving world we live in. We can be firm in our convictions, passionate about our beliefs, and clear about our intentions, and at the same time be flexible enough to make significant changes and be open to new ideas along the way.

Here are some key elements to expanding your own capacity for flexibility in your life -which will lead you to greater peace, joy, and fulfillment:

1) Let Go of Your Attachment – Whenever we get attached to something – a specific outcome, a particular way of doing things, a rigid opinion, etc. – we are, by definition, inflexible. Letting go of our attachment to something doesn’t mean we negate our desire or intention, it simply means we let go of controlling every aspect of it, forcing the action, and our fixation on it being exactly the way we think it should be. This is a process of conscious “non-attachment” (letting go), as opposed to detachment (not caring).

2) Be Willing to Be Wrong – Most of us love to be right and will do and say just about anything to avoid being wrong. Our obsession with “rightness” and fear of “wrongness” often gets in the way of going for what we want, saying what’s on our mind, and letting go of our fixed ideas about how things are supposed to be. When we’re willing to be wrong (not necessarily interested in or intending to be wrong), we free ourselves up and give ourselves permission to take risks, try new things, and approach things (even really important things) with a creative, innovative, and flexible perspective.

3) Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously – Taking ourselves too seriously (something which I know a thing or two about), creates unnecessary stress, pressure, and worry. When we’re able to laugh at ourselves (in a kind way), keep things in perspective, and remember that most of what we deal with on a daily basis in life is not life or death – we can take ourselves less seriously and thus have a more balanced, peaceful, and creative way of relating to things.

4) Go with the Flow – If we pay attention to life, there is a natural flow that exists (although it may not always look like it or feel like it). The more we’re able to tap into the natural flow of life, trust ourselves and others, and believe that things will work out – the more likely we are to allow things to roll off our backs and manifest with ease. As Esther Hicks says, “Most people are rowing against the current of life. Instead of turning the boat around, all they need to do it let go of the oars.”

5) Get Support and Feedback From Others – The support and feedback of others is invaluable in so many aspects of our life and growth, especially as it relates to us being more flexible. We can learn from and model others who are more flexible than we are. We can also give people in our life permission to remind us (with kindness) when we get rigid, uptight, over-attached, and start taking ourselves too seriously.

Being flexible is something that’s often easier said than done for many of us. However, just as with our physical bodies, the more attention we place on expanding our flexibility the more likely we are to do it. As we enhance our ability to be flexible, our life can and will expand exponentially.

Technorati Tags: appreciation, attachment, authenticity, flexibility, flexibility tips, gratitude, helpful tips, Honesty, humanity, Mike Robbins, Motivation, self-help tips, steps

Which was as weather beaten as the deck it was perched upon.

I listened intently for any animal movement in the woods that surround my home.

It wasn’t uncommon to see raccoons, deer, and squirrels meandering about.

It didn’t take long to hear something, though it wasn’t what I expected.

A man, across the stretch of woods.

I do not understand why he undertook the conversation he was having outdoors.

At the end of his driveway, so far as my ears could tell.

I could not see him through the thick brush, but he was there, alright.

He was telling someone at the top of his lungs that she was a whore.

That because she was a whore, the life he was capable of giving her.

Was something she would never have.

That the trips, gifts, and her entire future was now ruined, all because she had spurned him.

He had no mercy, this strange man I’ve never lain eyes on.

It is a wonder to me.

I have not been wealthy at any point in my life; yet at that moment, in that chair, I lived in a golf course community.

I never thought I would hear such vulgar thoughts expressed aloud in such a neighborhood.

I was used to it in the lesser neighborhoods I lived in.

But, like so many people who do not have a silver spoon shoved up their bum.

I had assumed the ones who had silver spoons in one orifice or another were sophisticated far beyond my understanding.

Never uncouth, rude, or hateful.

This man was teaching me a lesson in the ways assumption can lull you into false comprehension.

At the top of his lungs he railed against this woman.

Why she stood for it, I will never know.

Eventually the hater finished with the hated.

The silence, which had prevailed in the wooded area surrounding my temporary home throughout the haters diatribe ended, as soon as his anger was spent.

Noise came again to the woods.

It is common for me to hear raccoons and deer crashing through the brush quite near me.

It is not common for it to occur very close to my position on the worn deck.

Yet on this dark night, the brush three feet behind me came quite alive.

I was startled, but not surprised.

Because I sit on the deck so often throughout the day, the animals were undoubtedly going to get used to me.

The rustling came closer and closer, and I turned my head to look, always a useless endeavor which shows how much I depend on my eyes to see.

I can never resist looking behind me, even knowing I’ll see absolutely nothing.

As a child, I used to run through a fair sized forest in my youth; all this means is that I’m aware of what to do, and what not to do when a animal is near.

I peered behind me again, using smooth,  economical movements so as not to startle whatever it was.

Mostly, though, I didn’t want to be scared spitless.

A couple weeks before this night, on this same well worn deck.

A rustling about five feet behind me ended quite suddenly with a black cat pouncing forward, front paws on deck, to see what I was, or just to say hello.

It didn’t stay, just ascertained that I was harmless while making my heart skip a few beats.

Then it wandered back off into the safety of the brush.

But on this dark night, the rustling in the brush comes closer, and closer.

I assume it is a cat, and smile as I crane my head slowly and carefully to see further into the darkness.

I see nothing, as usual, but I still look.

Remembering my encounter with the black cat, I turn my head forward.

It’s a surreal enough feeling to see a cat’s face pop up out of seemingly nowhere.

I don’t want a repeat of that.

If it wishes to come greet me, whatever it is, it will.

The rustling increases alarmingly close, maybe a foot or less now.

Then it abates altogether.

I hear a slight noise to my left, and follow it with my eyes.

A hooded skunk meanders into my vision, unhurried and serene in its passage.

It disappears from my sight soon enough, but I am left breathless, heart beating fast again.

Skunks attract a bad reputation.

They don’t immediately face you and let spray if you startle, anger, or threaten them.

They stomp their feet first, or make distinctly unfriendly noises.

Then you get a face full; for they can spray up to twenty five feet…and they can aim with accuracy a sharpshooter would whistle in wonder at.

But on this night,  the skunk and I were at peace with one another.

For that, I’m thankful.

The skunk waited patiently until the uproar ceased so it could hunt for it’s dinner.

No mercy was shown to the so-called whore that night; no quarter given.

The stench of anger, fear, and hatred still seeped through the woods.

The one creature who had the most to lose that night, did what the human hadn’t managed to.

The skunk treated me humanely.

Given the same opportunity?

The human would not.

Technorati Tags: anger, fear, hatred, humanity, Lydia Aswolf, Lydia's Literary Lowdown, mercy, Psychically Correct, vividlife

At first I wasn’t sure what kind of day Sunday, May 2, 2010 would turn out to be.  It started out pretty cloudy and cool.  The day before we had some rain and there was a hint of it still lingering  in the morning air.  Occasionally a glimpse of sunshine would appear, then quickly disappear behind the next cloud.

I promised Mr. Magic (my 3 year old Malti-Poo) that if we had a sunny day, I would take him somewhere special.  He spent most of the morning looking out the window, than turning to look at me as if to ask, “Is it nice enough, yet?”.

The afternoon exploded with rays of sunshine pouring from the sky, and even though an occasional cloud still threatened to bring some rain, Mr. Magic and I decided that it would not prevent us from going out and having a great time.  We set out to visit High Park in the West End of Downtown Toronto.

The 2 hour trip to our destination did not seem to be a problem.  Mr. Magic loves traveling, so the bus trip and a subway ride were an exciting adventure for him.  All the way there he sat on top of my back-pack and watched cars, trees, buildings and people zooming by.

When we finally got there I realized that we couldn’t have picked a more perfect day.  While it was beautiful and sunny, a nice cool breeze kept us from getting too hot and made a long walk in the park enjoyable.  It was so wonderful to see people just relaxing and enjoying their day off.  Mr. Magic loves dogs and feels that no matter how many he meets, it’s never enough.  However, there were so many people with their dogs in the park that I think even he was satisfied with how many new friends he met.  A few daring canines even took a swim in the lake.

It was a perfect mixture of people meeting nature and interacting with wildlife -  each one respecting the other.  People carried their cameras and took lots of pictures.  Photographers paradise!  We saw loons, Canada geese with babies, squirrels, chipmunks, swans,  wild birds and a variety of wild animals at the Zoo on the park grounds.  All-in-all it was a great day!  Satisfied and tired we headed home, looking forward to jumping into bed after a long day of walking and playing.

Nearing the entrance we noticed a small group of people standing at a curb and observing something.  As we approached we saw a Possum laying on the ground.  It appeared to be injured and would not move.  The only thing moving were its ears as it was trying to absorb all the unfamiliar noises surrounding it.  Someone called animal control and a couple with their daughter were faithfully guarding the site, to ensure that no one hurt the poor animal any further.

Mr. Magic and I sat on the curb and waited as well.  We could not leave this poor animal alone, without knowing what would happen to it.  As we sat waiting, I thought of how over the past few years I stopped reading newspapers and listening to the news, because I was getting progressively more discouraged and depressed from hearing the stories of human cruelty to other beings sharing our planet.  People seem to be getting more impatient and uncaring when it comes to our wild neighbours and it is not uncommon for someone like our Possum to be left there, laying, suffering until it dies, or worse…  With all the budget cuts and new laws, even my faith in animal services was faltering.  I caught myself thinking, “I hope we didn’t make a mistake by calling for help!”

Many people passed by while we waited and I was surprised to see how many seemed genuinely upset and concerned for this little creature. Soon, the sight of an approaching paramedic vehicle and an animal control van caught my eye and I held my breath.

To my delight, both the paramedic and the animal control officer turned out to be caring and kind individuals.  The possum was treated with gentleness and respect as s/he was placed in a crate and carried into the van.  Everyone let out a sigh of relief.  Both vehicles left and the crowd disbursed, thanking a gentleman who seemed to have organized and coordinated the entire rescue.  He did not stick around for praise… just got on his bike and headed back to wherever he was going before he discovered our injured friend.

As Mr. Magic and I rode home exhausted, I caught myself smiling.  Even though I was tired, I was feeling happy and content.  My faith in human kind was beginning to mend.  I realized that there are SOME PEOPLE out there who STILL CARE, and it only takes a few to re-introduce kindness back into our world.  Perhaps there is still hope for humanity after all!

Technorati Tags: animal control, Animals, care, content, dogs, empathy, Faith, happy, Healthy Pets, help, High Park, hope, human kind, humanity, injured, kindness, Milana Vinokur, Mr. Magic, nature, paramedic, people, photographers, possum, respect, sick, Toronto, wild animals, wild life, Zoo