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[Classic post from 12-17-15]

The more I looked at this wonderful quote, the more I think I have to agree with it. So much of my life was some sort of struggle with life, swimming upstream, trying to make things happen with my actions alone, and much more.

It’s only in the last ten years, and the last five or so in particular, where I feel the wisdom of embracing life rather than being at odds with it.

Alan Cohen, one of my favorite authors, said it similarly this way: “I always end up making the right decision. The length of time, and degree of ease or difficulty that it takes me to get there, is the subject of my spiritual practice.”

Wisdom is something to move into by embracing life, and our ability to make choices and all of it is a spiritual journey, so it is a work in progress; although, I like the word journey better.

Here’s To All Of Us Embracing Life On Our Mutual Spiritual Journey. 

Spread Some Joy Today–What a valuable journey that is!

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[Classic post from 12-16-15]

Celebrating people where they are as if they were all that any one of us could be is a very effective and loving way to consider others.

In America, in particular, we celebrate celebrity with a passion. If we were to actually sit down and talk with one of those holy icons, I think that a majority would feel less than, when equal to would be the most appropriate comparison, if we compare at all, which is a given in the human nature of our ego-affected lives.

I ran across a great quote by Wayne Dyer that helps here:

“Release your need to feel superior by seeing the unfolding of Spirit in everyone. Don’t assess others on the basis of their appearance, achievements, and possessions. It’s an old saw, but nonetheless true: We are all equal in the eyes of God.” 

Now take the word superior and interchange it with the word, inferior, and read it again.

Being more than, less than, better than, worse than, winning, losing, success and failure are all temporary illusions influenced by temporary situations and circumstances–and most of it is severely prejudiced by our own ego. As we are able to see the Spirit unfolding in each other and in ourselves, we are all on the same journey with individual paths, and every path is good and perfect.

Seeing The Greatness Or The Unfolding Spirit Is Exactly The Same As Loving. 

Spread Some Joy Today–Happy Thursday to all of you. Take some of that joy spilling over in your life and find a way to share it. There are plenty craving it.

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[Classic post from 12-15-15]

The reason why “the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence” is that many people have developed very strong tendencies toward complaining about what is on their side of the fence.” — Abraham, Esther Hicks

I’m Making Lists Of What Is Good, Right, Enjoyable, Fun, Interesting, Delightful About What Is On My Side Of The Fence Today. 

Spread Some Joy Today–Here I am complaining about…nothing!

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[Classic post from 12-14-15]

I’m almost done listening to Carole King’s autobiography, A Natural Woman. I have been really enjoying it and learning so much about her that I would have never known. What a special treat this is.

Having breakfast on Sunday with a dear friend, I told him how much I was enjoying the audiobook, and then said something I didn’t plan on. I said, “You know, I just realized that listening to this book and the autobiography of John Fogerty has caused me to appreciate every other person on this planet more.”

I have always loved biographies and autobiographies. Some are so fascinating that it is almost sad to get to the end. And yet, at best, each one is a few snippets out of a much, much longer life full of experiences.

Part of what fascinated me is that Carole, John, and all the others who wrote autobiographies took the time (lots of it) and the energy (lots of that too) to stop what they were doing in life and focus on writing down their stories. That is powerful.

The other thing that I said at breakfast was, “Every person on this planet has interesting stories about their lives, and I would love to hear all of them.”

I was married for 16 years the first time and knew her for five years prior to that, and 26 years the second time, and in spending that much time together, I learned much, but I also realize that there is so much more about them that I did not know. That would be true especially about how we felt about things we never talk about and more.

Some say that God experiences life through all of his Creation. Can you imagine the fascination with that? Wow.

After these realizations, I don’t think I will ever look at any other person the same again. I will now realize that each and every individual has wonderful and fascinating stories inside them. How delightful it would be to take the time to get to know them more.

We have this tendency to deal with the immediate, talk in superficial language that is meant to be light and remain unattached, yet beneath that in every single life on this planet is so much depth and so many experiences. I could learn from them. I would love to learn from them. I would love to read the autobiography of everyone.

This Has Caused Me To Have A Whole New Appreciation Of All That I See And All That I Meet. 

Spread Some Joy Today–by appreciating that which others bring to your experience.

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[Classic post from 12-13-15]

The whole quote from Wayne Dyer is this: “A non-doer is very often a critic; that is, someone who sits back and watches doers, and then waxes philosophically about how the doers are doing. It’s easy to be a critic, but being a doer requires effort, risk, and change.”

Let me ask a question. You see a young black man driving a brand new top of the line Lexus or Mercedes. What is your first thought about that? I think a high percentage might think, drug dealer, or some other lucrative, yet seedy, and probably illegal enterprise.

Was your answer different? We have a tendency to make quick judgments from our collective knowledge and our collected prejudices. Some might say, “I’m not prejudiced!” But, prejudice simply means expressing an opinion prior to actually knowing. We pre-judge without actually knowing for sure.

Now consider this from Abraham, Esther Hicks: “Feel appreciation for those who provide examples of financial Well-Being. How would you know prosperity was possible if there was not evidence of it around you? It is all part of the contrast. Money is not the root of happiness, but it is not the “root of evil,” either. Money is the result of how somebody lines up Energy. If you do not want money, do not attract it, but your criticism of others who have money holds you in a place where things you do want such as wellness, clarity, and Well-Being, cannot come to you, either.

We love seeing you applauding someone else’s success because when you are genuinely thrilled by another’s success, that means you are right on the track of your own. 

Many think success means getting everything they want. And we say that is what dead is. and there is no such thing as that kind of dead. Success is not about getting it done. It is about still dreaming and feeling positive in the unfolding. The standard of success in life is not the money or the stuff–rather, it is absolutely the amount of joy you feel.” 

Joy And Appreciation Are In Alignment And Interchangeable With Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today–by finding your appreciation of that which is all around you and within you.

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[Classic post from 12-12-15]

There are so many ways to learn something. I was watching the movie, Jenny’s Wedding tonight and I enjoyed it very much. Jenny’s sister, Anne, played by Grace Gummer found herself after being lost for a long time. Her dialogue was so interesting that I had to record it:

“When I looked at the dead grass, I realized I was unhappy. Happy people don’t have dead grass. And then it was like the chicken and the egg–I couldn’t figure out which came first, happiness or green grass? 


So I started watering it, and the more I started watering it, the happier I felt. And then it came back to life.” 

Later, she said this: “When I move away and sell that house, that grass will die. I know it will. But my grass–the grass that is inside of me, will always be green.” 

Wow. That Spoke Volumes About Life. Volumes. 

Spread Some Joy Today–by coming alive again.

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[Classic post from 12-11-15]

I am listening to Carole King’s autobiography, A Natural Woman, and when I heard her say the quote above it hit home with me. My parents were divorced when I was five and I was the eldest of three kids at the time. There were more marriages and divorces to come until I left home for good. So, I can relate to trying to keep parents together, and also to wanting to see them find happiness somewhere and stop taking it out on we kids.

Throughout my life, there were many situations and other people I wanted to change for many reasons, but alas, it was all a waste of time and energy. It wasn’t until much later that I learned that there isn’t anything that any of us can do to really change other people. Of course, there have been hundreds of generations of attempts and they still continue to this day for many, but I have learned that it simply isn’t possible. That isn’t our job and never was.

There is only one person that we can control in that way. It is ourselves. And, that project can take a lifetime of trial and error, leaving zero energy left for working on others.

Our best hope at change is to focus on what we can change and that is our own thinking, which creates our actions, which creates our circumstances and outcome. That’s it. That’s all there is. The rest is not our concern.

If You Consider That Selfish, You’re Right. I Serve Others By My Attention To My Own Alignment.

Spread Some Joy Today–by finding the thoughts that create that joy within ourselves and in the finding of it, the sharing is no longer a concern. It can’t be helped.

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[Classic post from 12-10-15]

Here is some excellent advice from Jim Rohn. Guess which one of these three questions is the most challenging?

Great Guess! 

Spread Some Joy Today–Happy Friday to you all!

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[Classic post from 12-9-15]

I just watched a delightful movie with an interesting story that just hit DVD called, What We Did On Our Holiday.

The family is gathering from all over for their father’s 75th birthday and he is terminally ill. Three grandchildren spend the last few hours with grandpa and some magical bits of wisdom came forth that I had to write down.

For example, one little grandchild asks, “How do people know what they are?” The conversation started around the new knowledge that grandpa’s friend is a lesbian and the child is very curious. Grandpa answers, “Ah, they just kind of find out. We all find out eventually what we are. Then, the world has to lump it.”

The oldest girl was saying that her parents make her so angry because they were always yelling at each other. Grandpa lets off some perfect wisdom here:

“I used to feel that about my lot too until I suddenly realized that there was no point in being angry with people I loved for being what they are. 


The truth is, every human being on this planet is ridiculous in their own way, so we shouldn’t judge and we shouldn’t fight because in the end–in the end, none of it matters–none of this stuff.” 

So Perfectly Stated, Don’t You Think? 

Spread Some Joy Today–by living with love in your heart, and kindness on your lips.