TODAY'S GIFT - SEPTEMBER 2014

[MajestyJo]

Monday, September 1, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.
—Sir Rabindranath Tagore

In the darkness of early morning, the bird outside the window begins to sing. Soon the eastern sky turns pink. The bird continues singing until the first yellow rays warm its soft wings. Then it flies away, not returning to the window until the next morning.

We can learn from the small bird how to have faith. We don't need to wait for something we want before having faith we'll get it. We can begin to show our faith by celebrating the things we usually take for granted. After all, when we take something for granted, isn't that a selfish form of faith? We can start by singing a song to celebrate the new day. A day that will warm our hearts and shed light on our actions. Like the bird's faith in the sunrise, we need only to have faith that God meant each day to enrich our lives.

What faith can I celebrate right now?

The faith I have is that my God is always there and that my needs are on the way. Like yesterday, going and cashing a forgotten Lotto 649 ticket, something I bought on a whim, I seldom buy, and won $10. enough to buy what I wanted and had enough left over for what I needed to purchase at another store.

They say, "You never win if you don't buy." LOL. They don't consider how much it costs to buy before you win. A dear soul in my building will say, "I want $4. or $25." with no words about how much of her pension she spent buying them. I had to learn the hard way, my poison was Nevada Tickets. For a while I controlled how much I spent, a whole $3. a day, but that was still using, and it was taking over my thinking. Now if I get the thought, I will buy. My sponsor said, "Never spend more than you can afford to lose."

The light went on for me, it took a while because I didn't think I was doing myself or others wrong. In the long run it did, but the biggest thing was setting a bad example.

[MajestyJo]

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind, the answer is blowin' in the wind.
—Bob Dylan

A family is like a wind chime; each member hangs in delicate balance with the others. When a problem develops for one family member, the rest of us often take on roles to try and deal with the situation. But what happens to our wind chime when we're all pulling and pushing in different directions? Our balance is lost and we either all clash together or none of our chimes connect at all and there is only painful silence.

If we let go and trust in that spiritual force beyond ourselves, we discover that it is like the wind. It moves our wind chime gently with a soothing breeze that allows us to relax in our places or move together as the force directs us. It brings out the beautiful harmonious notes we weren't able to produce ourselves.

How can I help us make better music together today?

Be on the same chord, harmonize, and come from the same place.

[MajestyJo]

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

Into each life some rain must fall. Some days must be dark and dreary.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Coping with problems and weathering troubled times - is part of life. Those of us who have survived painful experiences have a duty to help younger ones prepare to face bad times by sharing the solutions we found.

When stormy weather comes, we need to feel we are like other people. It's not that misery loves company, but that we don't want to feel we're in this alone.

We will never have perfect living conditions. The only place where every day is a sunny one is in the desert. When pain comes, we can walk through our problems and settle things quickly, rather than prolonging the hurt by battling our way around the obstacles in an effort to avoid them.

What problem can I confront and eliminate today?

My preoccupation with my son and his unwillingness to get help from a doctor or unwilling to go back to counselling. Everything is so what and I don't care and it is hard to be around the energy and not take it on. I think his fear is that he is fearful of what they will find if they examine him. Not very easy to accept, but it is his choice.

[MajestyJo]

Thursday, September 4, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
—Abraham Lincoln

Our negative thoughts can be like pebbles rolling down the mountainside. One pebble bumps into another one. The second begins rolling and slams into a third. On and on it goes until thousands of pebbles, rocks, and even giant boulders are hurtling down the mountain.

When we find ourselves stuck in a rut thinking a negative thought, we can decide to stop and replace it with a positive thought. At first our single positive thought may not dislodge another one. We may have to think of several and start them rolling down the mountainside. If we practice, we will find it becomes easier for that first good thought to shake loose others. We will see our lives change when we begin to look at the positive side of things.

How can I begin to shape my outlook today?

Love the question today. My outlook today is change. I turned on the TV before I started posting, normally I listen to music and don't watch the morning shows. I turned to the morning show and JLo was on and she had on a top with butterflies that sparkled and fluttered. Hoping to get good news from the specialist today.

[MajestyJo]

Friday, September 5, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

Take care of yourself my darling
And I'll take care of me
Live your loneliness knowing
That we can both be free.
—Mary Lee George

Loneliness is something inside us. It's not caused by other people's behavior, though what others do may let us know we are feeling lonely. We have all experienced being alone and really enjoying it- walking by the river or singing a song we like. Feeling lonely is when we feel like nobody cares about us or wants to be with us.

Sometimes we need to give ourselves permission to feel lonely and know that we are okay no matter what we are feeling. Other times it may be wise to check with others if our feelings are true. We can ask our mother if she cares about us or ask a friend if he wants to play, and be open to the answer. When we feel lonely, we often ignore what others do or say that doesn't agree with what we believe to be true. The important thing to remember is that we are okay no matter what choice we make.

When I feel lonely, what can I do about it?

Like the part about giving ourselves to feel lonely. It is a normal feeling. I can always reach out to others, pick up the phone, go to a meeting, go to a volunteer place, a community center, a senior citizen center, and I find it is a good time to just sit and have a little talk with my God.

[MajestyJo]

Saturday, September 6, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun.
—Katharine Hepburn

The first good news each day is that we wake up. We are breathing. Our hearts are beating, our minds working. The adventure of living begins. What does the day hold in store? We have no way of knowing what surprises lie in wait for us today.

We may look forward, not just to the expected, but to the unexpected. Whom shall we meet? What will we see? What will we learn? How will we be entertained? What changes to help others will come our way? What chances to love and be loved?

Now that our eyes are opened to today's beauty, let us remain alert for new sights. Let us cry when sad, smile when touched, and laugh at what is funny in a whole new lifetime before us.

What can I be thankful for today?

There is always so much, just starting a new day is enough. If I wasn't clean and sober, there would be no day.

Grateful for my sense of humour. My first thought was, "I am thankful for commercials." If there were no commercials, I wouldn't get anything posted. I am watching tributes to Joan Rivers. The same happens when I am watching tennis.

[MajestyJo]

Sunday, September 7, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

The sun's the life giver. . . I talk to it like you would to a god.
—Peter Firth

Having a Power greater than ourselves to believe in is like knowing the sun is in the sky. There are days when the sun shines with a brilliance that lights up everything around us - tree branches, snowflakes, and the faces of our friends. When a seed is planted, it is the sun's warmth that invites it out of the ground to grow into a fruit or flower. The sun is the center the earth rotates around. The sun gives warmth and light to the earth, sometimes in ways we don't always notice.

There are days we do not see the sun - it is obscured by thick clouds. Yet even on these days, we know the sun's rays still reach the earth and nourish her.

God nourishes and warms our lives the same way the sun does the earth. Some days we easily see the presence of such a power in our lives, and other days we cannot see past the clouds. But God gives our lives a light-filled center and nourishes us even on quiet cloudy days.

How is God present in my life right now?

I never asked Him to leave.

[MajestyJo]

Monday, September 8, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

One must lose one's life in order to find it.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh

We are often so busy trying to control the outcome of the happenings in our daily lives, so intent on projecting our tomorrows that we let life slip by. Life is today. This is all we have for sure - the moments in our lives we cannot hold. Sometimes it feels as if those moments are beyond time and place, gifts from God to receive and give up at the same time. Like a dragonfly that lights on our hand and will either be crushed or will fly away if we try to close our fingers over it.

Life is a series of things to let go of - our friends and loved ones, our children as they grow, our dreams, or our youth. Only we ourselves, our inner selves, are a constant to be found and learned about every day, in the present moment.

How well can I enjoy each moment today?

I like to call it reborn of the spirit. I like to think of it as each time I have a new awareness and go through a new spiritual experience in today. All I have to do is to be open to them.

[MajestyJo]

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

A terrace nine stories high begins with a pile of earth.
—Lao-tzu

Imagine yourself with a pile of dirt in front of you and building plans for a one-story structure. It would be easy to think, "Oh, this is impossible - it will never get done."

But the architect hires people to help. A foundation is built, and then the frame. From there, step-by-step, the rest is filled in. We have all watched a building take shape and become a finished product.

Building plans are like the goals we all have. We want to be a better person or friend, a better artist or athlete. Reaching a goal is like putting up a building. Once we have a goal, we need a strong foundation to support us. All of us need the help of others to reach our goals.

What small step can I take toward a goal today?

The only thing I built was a sand castle and a snow fort. But I did build upon an idea and a concept, brought others into the idea and went on from there. I was very good at getting the idea, involving others, but wasn't good for being there for the long haul, I would delegate, and then move onto new ideas and concepts. Always looking for that new thing, to help start something a new, most times a leader, seldom a follower, but for the most part a team player.

My goal today is to go back to bed, put my ear plugs in to block out the noise of the guy taking out my tub, so I can run away from home for my 1 p.m. appointment.

[MajestyJo]

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you.
—Madeline Bridges

Sometimes we feel lazy or bored, and then we don't do our best work. Maybe our writing becomes hard to read, or we miss a porch when delivering newspapers. Perhaps we are daydreaming instead of listening closely to what a friend is trying to tell us. When we are not really paying attention to our activities or the people around us, we'll likely miss out on something important because we do receive in equal measure what we give. And this truth works in every aspect of our lives.

When we treat our friends, our families, even people we don't know well with kindness, we'll experience kindness in return. Our own actions and attitudes toward others are what we can expect from others as well.

How can I increase the kindness in the world today?

By giviing a smile, saying "Hello, a nice day we are having, isn't it?" or "Good Morning," or "Good Afternoon," or, "Isn't it nice when the sun shines?"

[MajestyJo]

Thursday, September 11, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

Good friendships are fragile things and require as much care as any other fragile and precious things.
—Randolph Bourne

A good friendship is like a flower garden. It needs attention and care. We start by preparing the soil and then planting our tiny seeds. Our friendships have foundations like the soil, and in them we plant seeds of trust and understanding.

Like a garden, friendships need care and love in order to thrive. We nourish friendships with visits, thoughtful favors, and trust. When we are feeling down or in need of help, a friendship can offer us more than just beauty.

When we work at our friendships, they are not seasonal but bloom in any weather, and they surround us with comfort and the knowledge that we have, and deserve, love.

How can I nurture a friendship today?

My thought was pick up the phone, or just maybe, don't pick up the phone and give her some space.

(Gosh only knows how I missed posting this or if I posted it somewhere else, this is what these head aches have been doing to me. My headaches and memory have been doing some weird things.)

[MajestyJo]

Friday, September 12, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

No yesterdays are ever wasted for those who give themselves today.
—Brendan Francis

We often find ourselves yearning for tomorrow. We get carried away thinking about the next day's big game or camping trip. We find ourselves daydreaming about how much fun we'll have with friends or what animals we'll see in the park.

The next day comes and perhaps the excitement about the game diminishes because our friends can't make it or the camping trip is cancelled because of bad weather. We feel cheated and begin regretting the missed opportunities of yesterday.

When we find ourselves concentrating only on tomorrow, we need to stop and look around. We'll begin to notice the joke a friend is telling, or the bird flying overhead. We will begin appreciating the joys of the moment.

When we live in the moment, we have no expectations about the next moment, and without expectations, we can't be disappointed, only surprised.

What is delightful about this moment right now?

What a lovely quote. I am delighted about this moment, because my headache has eased, I cooked dinner even though I only ate half of what was on my plate. I am listening to some easy listening music while I post.

[MajestyJo]

Saturday, September 13, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

Love, a thousand, thousand voices,
From night to dawn,
from dawn to night,
Have cried the passion
of their choices
To orb your name and keep it bright.
—William Rose Benet

We are each in the midst of unique lives, and our choices are based on our own experiences, so it's only natural that they all be different. One of us may choose to go to jail for protesting nuclear weapons; another may choose to pray for peace. Both are working for the same goal.

It is a sign of our love to respect others' right to choose for themselves, even to make choices we may not agree with. Perhaps a brother or sister likes music we hate, or a son or daughter wants to wear an unusual style of clothing. How often do we, in the name of love, try to force our choices on others? When we give the gift of letting loved ones choose what is right for them, it strengthens our ability to choose what is right for us.

Whose choices can I honor today, even if I disagree?

For me, it is honoring someone with only religious views, not willing to extend their view to spiritual things outside of their religious beliefs. I started their, so I know where they are coming from and can identify with them.

[MajestyJo]

Sunday, September 14, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

Something can't happen every day. You get up, go to work, come back, eat again, enjoy some leisure, go back to bed. Now that's plenty for most folks.
—Ntozake Shange

When we were all little kids, before we started school, the days felt so long it seemed like we had time for everything.

But when we started school, we had to start living by the clock, and in this way, we became very grown up. Sometimes we feel angry about living by the clock, all of us who are first grade and older! But there are things we can do to help us live with these limits.

First, we can learn to set a goal for each day, and once we have reached that goal--whether it's doing spelling homework, mopping the floor, or writing three business letters--we can announce to whoever happens to be around, "Now that I've completed that, I don't have to worry about one more thing to feel worthwhile."

Second, we can believe what we said! We can relax, do something fun, enjoy the pleasures that the day offers.

What is my goal for today?

I have three goals today. 1) stay out of the hospital. 2) do some laundry. 3) finish my book.

For me in today, they don't have to be earth shattering. I had to learn to lower my expectation so they were attainable. This was especially true, as the body got weaker and the mind stayed stronger and willing.

[MajestyJo]

Monday, September 15, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

He felt frightened at being different from his brothers and sisters. It scared him to be different.
—E. B. White

How ugly and wrong it makes us feel to be different: to be tall when others are short, slow when others are fast, black when others are white.

The miracle, and paradox, is that everyone is different - and that is what makes us all the same.

When we think honestly about the people we admire - friends, sports heroes, actors, musicians, parents, teachers, employers - we know that all of them, as human beings, not heroes, have felt out of place in their lives, probably many times.

Believing we are alone or different cuts us off from others. Climbing over that protective wall of "differentness" is scary, but it is guaranteed to set us free.

How can I let go of my "differentness" today?

This is not computing, I had to learn that we are all individuals and unique in our own way. I have two sisters, and we are all very different. It isn't a bad thing, it just is. Before it gave me low-self esteem, but it was about me learning to accept who I was, and working the program and changing and becoming the person, my God would have me be. That person is still not the same as my sisters.