Lightarted Living: When the Moon goes up and the Sun goes Down

Lightarted Living: When the Moon goes up and the Sun goes Down:   It's time to sit quiet~ and not make a sound And dream of better days ahead, while snuggling in nicely in a warm, cozy bed. 

When the Moon goes up and the Sun goes Down

 

It's time to sit quiet~

and not make a sound

And dream of better days ahead,

while snuggling in nicely in a warm, cozy bed.

When the moon goes up,

and the sun goes down,

it's time to sit quiet,

and not make a sound;

and dream of better days ahead,

while snuggling in nicely in a warm, cozy bed.

Susan J Meyerott

When Moon goes up and Sun goes Down

Photography by Gayle Anderson

Lightarted Living: For the Love of a Good Dog

Lightarted Living: For the Love of a Good Dog: " There is nothing truer than the love of a good dog "  Mira  Goodbye Sweet Sienna When Tomorrow Starts Without Me  David M Romano

For the Love of a Good Dog

"There is nothing truer than the love of a good dog" Mira

Goodbye Sweet Sienna

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me 

David M Romano**

 

"When tomorrow starts without me,

 And I'm not there to see;

The sun will rise and find your eyes

All filled with tears for me.

I wish so much you wouldn't cry

The way you did today,

Remembering how I'd lay my head

In your lap that special way.

I know how much you love me,

As much as I love you,

And each time that you think of me,

I know you'll miss me too.

 

But when tomorrow starts without me.

Please try to understand,

That an angel came and called my name

And petted me with her hand.

She said my place was ready,

In Heaven far above,

And that I'd have to leave behind

All those I dearly love."

 

Forever in my Heart

I will remember you 

long after you're gone. 

I see you, you brave and glorious creature.

Your light still shines so bright.

I see you-- 

You are forever held in my heart

with tender memories old friend.

Susan J Meyerott

Good-bye Sienna the Gentle

Sienna the gentle dog left this world too soon.

She was loved by all, but most of all by Art Lipski.

When a member of our community loses

a furry companion we all grieve the loss of a piece of our collective

heart passing on too soon. Our hearts go out to Art--and to ourselves too.

We thank Sienna for gracing us for such a short time 

on this earth, and for making the world a sweeter, 

and more loving world during her stay.

**Thanks to David M Romano for creating such a lovely piece 

that captures the moment of grief when we lose a dog.

Lightarted Living: Gentleness Can Do what Force Can Not

Lightarted Living: Gentleness Can Do what Force Can Not:   Gentleness can do  what force can not. Aesop If you try to force the knots  at the center of the Lotus the knots tighten. JUST LET GO 

Gentleness Can Do what Force Can Not

 

Gentleness can do what force can not.

Aesop

If you try to force the knots 

at the center of the Lotus

the knots tighten.

JUST LET GO

Loosen the knots gradually and gently.

Gently and gracefully let go.

Gentleness can do what force can not.

Release Your

💙Wisdom

💛Kindness

💓Compassion

💜Patience

💙Generosity

💓Enlightenment

Lotus Blossom or Water Lily?

For those who know a water lily is not the same as

a lotus blossom, I confess, the plant here is a water lily.

But the spirits of the lake told me it was okay to allow

the water lily to fill in for the lotus blossom as 

the lotus blossom doesn't take itself too seriously.

Original Photo by Jim Chamberlain

I am honored to add another photographer

to my list of talented artists that allow me to 

scribble over their photos. Last week Jim Chamberlain 

reached out to me and gifted me access to all of his photos 

and generously gave me permission to create 

art over his treasure trove of images. 

At first I sat quivering with excitement, unable to choose which 

photos to play with first. Then the energy and spirits 

in his images began to speak to my creative spirits 

to share the secrets found in nature if only we listen.

This is the first in too many to count I have to work with.

I'm still quivering with excitement and delight!

Lightarted Living: Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams

Lightarted Living: Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams:    " Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you imagined ." Henry David Thoreau 

If you hold on to bad feelings long after something happens, you are the only one who is affected by those bad thoughts and feelings. Why allow those people or negative experiences to continue to control your life and emotional well-being after they've disappeared from your life?

Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams

  

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. 

Live the life you imagined."

Henry David Thoreau

Your Moment of Choice

What's happening in your life right now? Has something happened that has your attention or are you reacting to something that has recently happened? Perhaps like my friend TMR so long ago you find yourself stuck--'permanently poised mid-step'.

Permanently poised mid-step

TMR said, "Honestly, the older I get, the more my stuck-ness sticks to me. In the past, I marched on oblivious to direction or obstacles. Lately, I'm permanently poised mid-step. I need a kick in the behind!"

The Pile Up

When life piles up, we can find ourselves stuck--forever bouncing between stressful life experiences and reacting to them. If we fail to sit quietly in response to a stressful experience we miss our clear moment of choice allowing us to go confidently in the direction of our dreams.

 

Something Happens---SPACE OF TIME--Your Response

Where is this so called moment of choice? 

When we sit quiet, we discover a space of time between when something happens in our life and when we respond with action. It is in that space you have choices.

But when something seemingly bad happens--you get laid off or fail to get the promotion; your relationship dissolves or your new love interest just isn't interested in you--it can send you into a tailspin of emotion paralyzing you, and you fail to experience that space where your choices lie.

How Soon will You move out of the Fear?

It's only natural to respond to threatening situations with fear and self-consciousness. We all do. But fear and self-consciousness are what paralyze us and clouds our vision.

The question is how soon will you move out of the fear that has you poised mid-step back into having faith in your abilities to go confidently in the direction of your dreams?

Still Your Mind

Sit in it!

A lot of emotions arise when the world knocks us a blow. Truth is we need time to just sit in it after we've taken a hit to lick those wounds, feel that anger or sadness, and to acknowledge the injustice of it all.  And we need time to clear the cobwebs of fear from our minds so we can then move on to creating a more productive and empowering perspective. As Lao Tzu said:

'To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.'

All Things Seemingly Good or Bad Work in Your Favor

There's no way around it: If you hold on to bad feelings long after something happens, you are the only one who is affected by those bad thoughts and feelings. Why allow those people or negative experiences to continue to control your life and emotional well-being after they've disappeared from your life?

Your Mantra

Put yourself in the driver seat instead. Sit in your emotions without taking action until you can still your mind. Then calmly allow your mind to move toward the mantra 'all things seemingly good or bad work in my favor'. The more you recite this the sooner that space of time where you have choices will open up to your full view.

Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, knowing all things seemingly good or bad work in your favor. Ignite the circuits of your highest potential. Live the life you imagined.

The Unseen Life that Dreams Us

"There is an unseen life that dreams us.

It knows our true direction and destiny.

We can trust ourselves more than we realize,

and we have no fear of change."

John O'Donohue

Lightarted Living: Softly Paint the Hard Edges of Life Away with Love

Lightarted Living: Softly Paint the Hard Edges of Life Away with Love:   

Living on the misty shores of time,

She floated thru life with ease,

Softly painting the hard edges of life away,

With gentle brush strokes of love.

Softly Paint the Hard Edges of Life Away with Love

 

Living on the misty shores of time

She floated thru life with ease

Softly painting the hard edges of life away

With gentle brush strokes of love

Women in the Mist Photo

by Gayle Anderson

Thank you, Gayle, for your incredible eye 

capturing such emotive visions of nature.

Living on the Misty Shores of Time

Living on the misty shores of time,

She floated thru life with ease,

Softly painting the hard edges of life away,

With gentle brush strokes of love.

Susan J Meyerott

Lightarted Living: Discouraged? Don't let Obstacles Stop You from Get...

Lightarted Living: Discouraged? Don't let Obstacles Stop You from Get...:   " It's the possibility of having a dream come true   that makes life interesting" Paulo Coelho

The key to pulling out of a discouraged state is to change the filter you look through to gain a fresh perspective. Or as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Don't be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams."

Discouraged? Don't let Obstacles Stop You from Getting Ahead

 

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true

 that makes life interesting"

Paulo Coelho

A Fresh Perspective

Sometimes in the overwhelming challenge of trying to get ahead in life and coming face-to-face with underlying societal biases seeming to work against you, you can be left feeling discouraged, hopeless and isolated. Looking through the lens of rejection and defeat, life can begin to feel flat and meaningless.

The key to pulling out of a discouraged state is to change the filter you look through to gain a fresh perspective. Or as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Don't be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams."

Go Ahead--Dream the Impossible Dream

When you're dispirited it may feel like an impossible task to change your perspective. You don't exactly feel perky and positive. You begin to question if you're on the right path, or if you have what it takes to overcome the barriers. 

Yet, changing your focus from fixating on the seemingly insurmountable obstacles you face to putting the focus back on creating a life based on your dreams and aspirations is the only way out. 

People have successfully overcome hidden barriers for centuries.  You have everything it takes within you to follow in the footsteps of other ordinary everyday people who succeeded by keeping their attention on their interests and desires instead of letting their dreams be derailed by others.

I Know it Hurts--Just Push into the Pain

When I was in labor with my first child I failed to dilate fully so my doctor manually stretched me during the contractions. This was the most painful and seemingly never ending process I've ever experienced. I could barely remain conscious the pain was so excruciating.

With contractions coming every minute, I would fall into a deep sleep for 45 seconds before the contractions would wake me up and the unbearable pain would start all over. As the doctor stretched me he kept saying 'I know it hurts, just push into the pain'. It took all my resolve not to kick him in the groin and tell him 'YOU push into the pain!'

But even in my darkest moment somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind I knew when I eventually got out of what turned out to be 24 hours of hard labor that comment, 'I know it hurts, just push into the pain', would become a metaphor for my life.

Life has it's Painful Moments

Birthing a new life--literally or figuratively has it's painful moments--but when you push into the pain and stay focused on your dreams you move through it to gain a new life. It isn't always pleasant or easy but when you achieve a dream it's worth it in the end.

There is no way to avoid or go around the the painful part of life on our way to achieving our dreams. No one 'has it easy'. But if we keep our eyes on the goal, instead of the obstacles, we allow ourselves to be led by our dreams instead of stopped by the obstacles, making it easier to endure the difficulties along the way.

Are You Ready to Turn it Around?

• Where have I felt immobilized by obstacles? What do I need to let go to  free up head space for pursuing my dreams?
• Who or what belief barriers have I let take up residence in my head that I need to evict? Kick them out and make room for your dreams and intentions.
• If I were led by my dreams today what would I do differently?

Lightarted Living: True Friendship withstands Harsh Winds of Time

Lightarted Living: True Friendship withstands Harsh Winds of Time:   True Friendship Is a Plant of Slow Growth. True Friendship must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity.

  

If friendships have fallen by the wayside 

in the tumultuous days of past,

you can always rekindle those ties

after adversity has torn them apart.

True Friendship withstands Harsh Winds of Time

 

True Friendship

Is a Plant of Slow Growth

True Friendship

Must undergo and withstand

the shocks of adversity 

"True friendship 

is a plant of slow growth,

and must undergo and withstand 

the shocks of adversity

before being entitled to the honor of it's name."

George Washington

"Of all things which wisdom 

provides to make life entirely happy, 

much the greatest is the possession of friendship.

Epicurus

Rekindle Lost Friendships

If friendships have fallen by the wayside 

in the tumultuous days of past,

you can always rekindle those ties

after adversity has torn them apart.

Trust

True friendship IS a plant of slow growth

that WILL withstand the harsh winds of time.

Kiss and Make Up

True friendship can withstand 

the ups and downs

that occur over a lifetime.

Don't be afraid to revisit the relationship.

Reach Out

If you value the relationship,

reach out with love and understanding

to heal the fractured friendship.

Be patient.

Peony Perfect Photo by Colleen McGinn

Many thanks to Colleen McGinn whose friendship 

has grown slowly over distance and time, while

withstanding my incessant scribbling over her artistically

perfect photos of nature and food.