Dead Horses

Hello from my heart to yours....

"If the horse dies, get off."    — Kinky Friedman

Yep... this "Life" trail ride that I'm on is causing me to have a momentary lapse of insanity... one of my "worlds" is experiencing chaos... I'm moving forward always... or at least I try to.. but the lassos are flying through the air trying to catch me and take me back to the past... I write this blessing with specific people in mind... Oh, yeah... I know.. not behavior very becoming of me, but after all, you don't all really believe that I am headed to Sainthood, do you?

and so, again I say, "If the horse dies, get off."

So often, we hold on to the past as if we're saddled to it, somehow missing the fact that it's like a dead horse... Not going anywhere at all... It can't bring you to the present, so it most certainly won't carry you into the future.... if you insist on riding it anyway, at some point, you need to understand, it will begin to stink... and stink badly.... 

Let's not diminish the sadness of leaving the dead horse and the past behind you though... as Anatole France said, “All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.” .. but you can do it... if you have faith, hope and love in your heart, you can get off the horse, say a prayer for it (and yourself)... and then, go on and find a new horse to ride... the trail ride is long... new adventures await you... don't be afraid ... you know there is always an outstretched hand along the way... and a rope to pull your new horse if it doesn't want to budge... and please, please, please... allow those people from your past, who have gotten off of their dead horses, to move forward into the future... chances are, you may actually see them again along the way ... 

So... anyway, may you always remember that the only place the past belongs is in the past... Value yourself and get off the dead horse immediately before you start stinking as well... you are loved beyond measure and a cherished blessing to the world... be the blessed person God intends you to be and love yourself with dignity...... 

May your afternoon be blessed with all things good,
Elena

You Are My World

Hello from my heart to yours....

girl: I love you.

boy: I love you, too.

girl: Prove it. Scream it to the world.

boy: (whispers in her ear) I love you.

girl: Why'd you whisper it to me?

boy: Because you are my world.

This was the first post on my Facebook wall this morning.... and it just melted my heart... yeah, it's pretty sappy... and almost unbelievable, I mean what boy is so sensitive?  LOL... I'm kidding, of course, I do actually know some pretty sensitive guys... beginning with my daddy.. sometimes you just want to vomit when you hear him talking to my Ma.. "Chinita...pajaritos volando para ti", he'll say... my brothers, on the other hand, are outwardly kind of harsh and almost sarcastic when they say, "Sweetie...." or "Hunny...." but they do love ... and do say it every once in awhile.. my sisters, on the other hand,  say "I love you" in almost every paragraph they speak... I guess girls are just like that...   

Anyway, what I think I loved so much about the little conversation, between the girl and the boy, is the tenderness of it... and the melancholy that came over me... I like melancholy by the way... I like to feel that deep sadness, but it doesn't last long at all for me.. it's usually just momentary... that feeling is what helps me see how blessed I am really ... I agree... a little strange... but this was my momentary melancholic thought, "I'm not anyone's "world" like that"... and as I reflect on it, I don't think I've ever been really... hmmm? .... I wonder, too... is anyone really anyone's "world" ? ... 

Conclusion to my reflection: ABSOLUTELY... we are all in one another's "world" in one way or another.. simply because we have so many world's.. the romantic world, the family world, the work world, the school world, the social world, the church or temple world, etc... not everyone is in all of our worlds, but all our "worlds" make up one big glorious world...

When we were growing up, we were not an "I love you" people.. at least, my family and friends weren't..our actions expressed love.. we lived happily and easy and carefree... as adults, when we sit around reminiscing, the love reflects in the way the stories are told.. and when someone says, "wow, I have always loved you" .. you know it's true.. of course, sometimes "I love you" is thrown around by some people and you think, "oh, no you don't" lol... but then again, maybe they do in their own way...

I do love... sooooo many people ..and if I say "I love you", you can be certain that I do.. sure, for those who are not used to it, they may find it strange that I display affection so openly... but most people warm up to it and give into the love.. there are, also, those "love" friends.. the ones you grow up with like brothers and sisters or cousins.. the ones you now always say and text and email and write on their Facebook walls.. "I love you"...but when love changes, you aren't so sure if you should say it anymore.. I've been on both sides of that situation.. AWKWARD... if you're the one who has crossed that friendship love line, "anxious" doesn't begin to describe it.. if you're the one on the receiving end of the love confession and you haven't crossed over as well, you feel so horrible because the "friendship" world is almost crushed... that whole, "if you love someone, tell them" can go terribly wrong in the "romantic" world...

Oh Mr. Tangent... why do you do this to me? ... Hello? .. back to the "world" .. every time I read something that touches my heart this way, I try it on Giorgio (since children usually tell you like it is) ... so, when I woke him this morning, I said, "Wake up my sweet warrior because I love you.. you are my world.." he stirred and stretched and finally spoke... "Mama, you are my world, too" woo hoo! I am someone's world after all...

That is what made me realize that "You are my world" doesn't have to be a statement said only in the romantic sense... although, if you haven't told the person you love those words lately, today might be a good day to whisper it in their ear, wouldn't it?

and yes.. I am wrapping it up.. I'm sure many of you haven't even read this far.. lol... 

May you all love so abundantly that all your worlds collide into one huge LOVE WORLD... You are loved beyond measure and a cherished blessing to the world.. May your afternoon be blessed with all things good,

YOU ARE MY WORLD and I love you!

Elena

Miracles and Blessings

Hello from my heart to yours...

“Miracles happen to those who believe in them.”  Bernard Berenson, Art critic

With Thanksgiving behind us, we now enter into the "miracle" holidays of December ... first, on December 8th, my Buddhists friends will celebrate "Bodhi Day", which commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautauma (Shakyamuni) experienced enlightenment miracles... then on December 20th, my Jewish friends begin to celebrate Hanukkah, which is when the menorah miraculously burned for 8 nights with only oil enough for one night... it is the triumph of light over darkness, purity over adulteration and spirituality over materiality... and on December 25th, my Christian friends celebrate the miraculous birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ... This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet, "The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold! A virgin will be with child and will bear a son, and she shall call his name “God with us”" (Mtt 1:18-25)....

I thought that the best way, to prepare for all these "miracles" we believe in, is to go over the "5 steps to Blessing" as they were given to me years ago by the "Blessings Experiment" .... because... "Some wish blessings, others pray for them. Some send blessings and they become one."  Joyce C. Lock  

Go out and BLESS the world!

 

B - BREATHE

Take a deep, cleansing breath as a way of easing any tension that may be present. As you inhale, mentally affirm "I am so blessed" and with your exhalation mentally affirm "I am a blessing to the world."

L - LOOK & LISTEN

Look within and listen to what your inner being is trying to tell you.  Be self-aware and feel the love inside of you rising up to bless others.

E - ELEVATE THINKING

No matter what your feelings and emotions may be telling you, you have the ability to ride your mental elevator up to a better state of mind. ... basically, leave all negative thoughts in the basement.

S - STEP INTO WILLINGNESS

Be willing to let your blessing, your desire, or your new way of thinking become your reality. Be willing, also, to forgive every erroneous thought and unconditionally love everyone and everything involved.

S - SAY THANK YOU!

Don't wait until you see the blessing or desire fulfilled to express gratitude for it. Gratitude connects what we want to what we receive and allows it to flow more freely into our lives...

Use this process when blessing others and yourself, and use it, too, any time you wish to move from a negative emotion to a positive one, or anytime you feel your vibration lowering. It works as an instant mood-lifter.... Always remember that you are loved beyond measure and a cherished blessing to me.... because YOU are a miracle!!!

May your day be filled with all things good,

With Love,

Elena

and I say "Thank YOU"

Hello from my heart to yours....

 

"Thanksgiving is nothing if not a glad and reverent lifting of the heart to God in honor and praise for His goodness." 

                           Robert Casper Lintner

On this day before Thanksgiving, give thanks again for the gift that YOU are and the life that you lead.  It is hard to be a "spiritual being having a human experience" ... it's hard to bring love into spaces where there is very little... to share truth with hearts that are filled with fear.... and to trust in God even when you do not always have a tangible reason to do so - but these, my blessed friends, are lessons in the mastery of love. It takes fortitude to keep going in times when fear runs so freely around us.. but when you have faith... and when you practice loving kindness... and when you are truthful with yourselves and others...  you will find an abundance of love ... a love that goes way beyond the roof over your head and the food on your table... you will find the abundance of God's love within you... lift up your hearts and give thanks for the love..... 

 

And I want to give thanks for all of you this Thanksgiving.... You inspire me, you challenge me daily as I search within myself to find words to share, and you make me want to always grow and better myself  through the sharing of inspirations... and when I think the words just aren't there to write a blessing, you bless me with a reply and give me just the courage I need to do it again the next morning.... and I thank you all for that. We are all brothers and sisters in this journey called life.  Every single one of us experiences the same lessons in different ways, the same emotions at different times, and the same hopes and dreams for the people on earth.  You are the abundance in my life and I am blessed to be connected with you all even if we have never physically met.  It is because of people like you that I believe our world is heading towards a grand and glorious existence... a joyous and blessed world full of love.
May God bless you all with good things and may you have a blessed Thanksgiving Day,

With love and sincerity... thank you from my heart to yours... I love YOU... 

Elena

 

And lastly, I'd like to leave you with a prayer written by my great friend, Rod McKuen

A THANKSGIVING PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT PRAY

To those who cannot pray. To those who cannot walk upon the ground. To those who cannot see and those who cannot hear the world around them. To those who cannot speak. To those in misery and discomfort. To those poor of means or poor of spirit to those who feel oppressed or put upon. To those who have not yet found a God or someone they can pray to or someone with whom to pray.

Oh Lord, for these our sisters and our brothers who do not pray and will not pray, we ask that you provide enough wisdom and compassion in all of us to pray for them . . . and for ourselves that we find better ways of caring for and helping one another..
- RM 11/21/98. Adapted from "A Prayer For Our Special Brothers & Sisters" , 1980

Give Thanks

Hello from my heart to yours....

God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.                                                               
                                                         ~Izaak Walton

I read this morning that the "soul" is the essence of humanity’s being; it is who we are... and the "spirit" is the aspect of humanity that connects with God.... on this Tuesday before Thanksgiving, let us continue to give thanks... take some time today to give thanks for who you are...the beautiful and bright soul that is YOU ... give thanks for the ability to connect with God through Faith, Hope, Reverence, Prayer and Worship.... give thanks for your body for it is the temple of your soul....  give thanks for all those who have served your growth, both in joyful and painful ways, for they have made you who you are today...  give thanks for the abundance of God's love that you find within your very own heart for this is the only true and everlasting security.. give thanks for what you do have, and for the dreams that you wish to create... give thanks that God dwells in your meek and thankful heart.... give thanks... 

May you be able to recognize the blessing that you are to the world... you are loved beyond measure and a cherished blessing to me.... and I give thanks that YOU are part of my journey through life... 

May your afternoon be filled with all things good,
Elena

p.s. don't forget it is Monday again.... 

Thanks from the Heart

Hello from my heart to yours... 

"He who thanks but with the lips, Thanks but in part; The full, the true Thanksgiving... comes from the heart." 

               ~J.A. Shedd, Alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Vermont, 1868 

And so once again I say, "Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday." .... Everyone in the United States is preparing for the holiday regardless of their religious affiliation... Everyone will give thanks.... whether it be to God or to some other Divine Higher power or the Universe.. it is of no consequence really on Thanksgiving Day because this fact remains... it is the only day whereby the people of our Nation.. the country that we love.. will come together to give thanks, in one way or another, for all their blessings.... 

In the days to come, let us give thanks and praise for the cherished blessings that we are.... It is through our willingness to choose love instead of hate, faith instead of fear, and to find abundance where others see only lack, that we bring God's light into the world. We are the cornocopia of life my friends.... We are the ones who are willing to fill our cups and then spill them over into the world.... It takes courage to be human.. but it takes even more courage to have faith, hope and love in your hearts for all to see ...

May you be able to spill your love in the true meaning of Thanksgiving because you are loved beyond measure and have so much love in your hearts to give.... ... Please do not forget that it is Monday, the day we start anew to live and give thanks for all the days we are given that are filled with blessings.... 

May your day be filled with all things good and with an abundance of love, 

With love,

Elena 

"It is Monday. My heart is filled with gratitude and love. I am so blessed and I am a blessing to others. I start this day anew to be a living example of the love and gratitude that God has blessed me with by giving thanks for all that I have. And I will repeat this tomorrow... and the day after... and the day after that... as if everyday were Monday."

Gratitude Monday's and "Thank You"

Hello from my heart to yours.... 

 

Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths.  At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings. 

 

                                                                                                                                                ~J. Robert Moskin

 

Last week I said, "I'm going to start a diet on Monday so that I can enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend... eating and drinking.. without having to worry about it.."  Well, of course that didn't happen... It's something we all do really.. whether it be a diet or a chore or a new project, we all like to say, "I'll start on Monday." Course, I have never understood why Monday has been designated as the day of the week to start anew, but if we really do, then it's okay.. it's when Monday becomes an excuse for not doing something that the problem arises.

In just a week we will be celebrating Thanksgiving... an American holiday.. to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general... I love this holiday because all religions in the United States celebrate it... it's all about being thankful.. unfortunately, not many of us "thank" freely and often... it takes a holiday, like Thanksgiving, to bring families together to give "thanks" ... many people suddenly realize God exists and there is a long "thankful prayer" before the feast.. it's wonderful, but a little sad that it isn't on a daily basis.... 

 

From the time we are little children, our parents, grandparents, teachers, etc. are teaching us to say "Thank You."  For some reason though, we grow up and forget those simple little words of gratitude.  These days people simply expect too much from others and take their acts of kindness for granted.  Of course, we're not supposed to do things for others anticipating and demanding a "thank you" either, but wouldn't it be nice if we just expressed gratitude every once in awhile....  It's really not that difficult to make someone's day.

 

So, in anticipation of Thanksgiving next week, I thought it would be great if we spent the weekend thinking about how we can give thanks for all the blessings that we have in our lives... let's start by saying "Thank You" to as many people as we can ... our loved ones, our co-workers, our friends, the cashier at Winn-Dixie, the mail deliverer, etc..... we don't need a specific reason to say "Thank You" really.. let's also try to make a list or two... write down your individual blessings.. sit together as a family and compile one.. maybe even make one with your co-workers... and then, when Monday comes, we can start the day with this affirmation:

 

"It is Monday. My heart is filled with gratitude and love. I am so blessed and I am a blessing to others.  I start this day anew to be a living example of the love and gratitude that God has blessed me with by giving thanks for all that I have.  And I will repeat this tomorrow... and the day after... and the day after that... as if everyday were Monday." 

 

Because we are loved beyond measure and a cherished blessing to the world and thus should be grateful always for that...... 

May your weekend be filled with all things good,

With Love,

Elena

Serenity

Hello from my heart to yours...

"Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm."  Unknown

Confession: I am not always nice. This morning, I did wake up happy... then I received an email that just floored me... and then, I yelled at my mother because I was trying to concentrate on how to respond to the force that had just taken my morning sun away from me... and I fumed all the way to the building department... all the while, praying to God for "serenity" .. just a little bit... of course, by the time I arrived downtown, I was pretty much over it as I had decided that I would write about "serenity" today... I wrote down the definition in my notebook... "The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled" ... I planned to respond to the morning email through the blessing... and I'm sure it wasn't going to be that nice because I was flabbergasted... 

Anyway... I started working.... truly happy to be greeted with the familiarity of my "people" ... the one's who smile at me and hug me and brighten my day as I process plans... afterwards, I went into the core of the downtown area... kind of walking aimlessly... just strolling and enjoying the slight breeze... I came upon "Peace City" .. an array of tents set up at the Government Center with "Occupy" signs everywhere... I passed it and sat on a bench on the other side of the fountain intent on writing today's blessing... until........ 

"Serenity", in the form of a 27 year old Veteran, sat down next to me on the iron bench ... "Amazing," he said... "Yes, it is" ... I replied.... and for almost 2 hours, we sat and spoke of so many things... this young soul...so worldly in his thoughts and views on life... exposed to so much too soon probably.. now in school again and awaiting his next tour to Afghanistan in April...

nothing.. absolutely nothing in my life was that important anymore... I am a serene person... within me is a stillness and a sanctuary that I can retreat to any time... I know that, I just chose to let that email make me forget it... but my "serenity" prayer was answered... another spiritual being sitting next to me was all I needed to remind me... the energy of peace that he brought with him was spectacular really... this is how we should all be... ambassadors of "serenity" ... we should draw on the light and peace and God within us to be able to offer it to others... as blessed people that we are, we shouldn't let other people take our serenity away.. it's our choice really... our reaction is what dims our own lights and darkens the sanctuary within us... if we have God in our hearts, this should never happen... instead, we need to pray and meditate and look within ourselves for that gift so that we can continue on our journey through life full of love and serenity....

At the end of our afternoon, he said, "it must have been your haircut that made me want to talk to you.." lol... adorable ... and I say now... "Thank you, God... thank you, young man... you are truly a cherished blessing to the world... may peace always be with you..."

May we all be able to draw on the serenity within us... and then, be able to share it with those who have forgotten that they can do the same... after all, we are loved beyond measure .. no storm is ever bad enough to stop us from being the blessed people God intends us to be...

May your evening be blessed with all things good,
Much love and serenity to you all,
Elena

Veteran's Day

Hello from my heart to yours...

I am on my way, with 7 kids in tote, to enjoy the freedom we have to go to the beach on a glorious Autumn Day.... and it's all thanks to the Veterans of this country that I love so much.... it's all thanks to those who have made the United States of America the greatest country to live in.... here is last years blessing for Veteran's Day ... 

I searched high and low this morning to find something to write about Veteran's Day... after all, we all know at least one Veteran.. someone who has given and/or continues to give of themselves so that we can enjoy the freedom we have in this country... This is the country, this is the place, all men of wisdom look to for freedom and freedom they see....

 

A simple "thank you" doesn't seem to be enough when we see these men and women who have fought for the liberties that we enjoy...  we see them on the streets in freshly pressed uniforms ... and sometimes, we see them tattered and torn and homeless, too... it's a crazy thing really... and not everyone agrees with "war" even when it is passed off as "peaceful reformation of the world's people.." .. none-the-less, these people fought and continue to fight for something they believe in... a country to love....

 

Here is one of my favorite poem's by Rod McKuen:

...

AMERICA

A wondrous thing it is to have,              a country you can love, a field to lie with,  hill to hike, a patch of woods so honorable it stands as its own creed. Cities too within the land that belch and puff and bubble up mixing native / foreign colors                     of its people. Each contributing. It is a healthy, wondrous thing to have a country you can love.    He who loves his country first has  time for children and for walking, talking in his sleep, rolling down a hill, and finding one who supersedes all                                      other loves. Time will take the patriot on an endless journey and it will seem like overnight. His list of pursuits can challenge The new math and still his mind will stay                                       uncluttered. If you would put yourself, your house  in order, try thinking of your country  first, and you will learn that order is                  the secret of selectivity. Believe it. Try it, anyway. It is a wondrous thing to have                       a country you can love. -from “Rusting In The Rain, 2004

 

I know that I have sent this poem several times throughout the years.. but it's important to remember that we have a country to love thanks to all the Veteran's out there... past and present...  salute them and thank them ... because of their bravery and honor.... you are able to live a blessed life in this place of freedom...

 

We are all loved beyond measure and cherished blessings to the world...

 

May your weekend be filled with all things good,

With Love,

Elena 

A Candle

Hello from my heart to yours.....

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle." - James Keller

Everyone has a fascination with candles... it is probably one of the most unifying of symbols for people of all cultures and faiths... Everyone uses candles to create an atmosphere ... a sanctuary to pray... a zen garden to meditate... a dinner to woo someone... a bath to relax... an air freshener for the house... as decoration for a cake to make wishes upon... or even to fill a room and cast spells on people...lol.. (which I hope none of you are doing) ... we love candles because the burning flame brings peace, consolation, inspiration and hope... 

In religion, the practice of lighting candles goes back to the Old Testament where God required the Israelites to maintain lamps burning before the Holy of Holies... The Jewish people light 2 candles every Friday night.. one to "remember the Sabbath" and the other to "Observe the Sabbath" as commanded by God.  Some families light additional candles for each child in the home, while other families light 7 candles for each day of the week.

For the Catholics, "light" stands for Christ, so the burning of candles, has naturally come to symbolize Christ in a special way. A candle must burn perpetually before the Real Presence in the Eucharist, therefore, as it did before the Presence in the Temple. It can also stand for the people, present before the Lord, even if physically absent. Additionally, candles are used in each of the 7 Sacraments.... Baptism, Confession, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick... 

The Buddha said "Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." Candles are an age old traditional part of Buddhist rituals as well.. they are placed in front of Buddhist shrines or statues and images of the Buddha as a mark of respect.  The light of the burning candle flame represents the light of the Buddha's teachings.

And I can go on and on researching different religions and their symbolic uses for candles, but I think you get the message... the light of a candle is what fuels our spiritual life... and we need that fire to burn even if it is a small flicker in the dark... for it is with the light that we can overcome all the darkness in the world and become the blessed people God intends us to be... 

With that factual and practical lesson given, it's time for my "way out" interpretation of the quote...  I think that we are just like candles... if our light is always burning brightly, it is easy for us to light someone else's wick by simply loving them ... giving our light to others does not take our light away; it increases it... this phenomenon can be witnessed through all the "sharing" of positive quotes and sayings and pictures on Facebook... my homepage is full of pages with names such as "Embody Peace & Love" , "Sensitive Hearts" , "Gr8quotes" , "Beyond the Veil Where Angels Ascend" , etc... I follow so many pages that sometimes I miss out on what my friends are up to.. lol... anyway, so I "share" their posts and then a friend of mine will "share" and so on and so on... just like candles being lit by another candle... nothing is lost.. with every "share" the flame keeps on going... and our hearts are ablaze with all the love that is circulated by the light of the one candle who shared their light in the first place...  

So... Light a candle... meditate on the flickering flame... offer this prayer affirmation: 

I am like a candle. My light can never be extinguished so long as I am lighting another's light from my flame. I share my light because I am loved beyond measure and I am a cherished blessing to the world. My light will shine perpetually until all of the world's people are spiritually on fire with love for one another.  I am like a candle.  

May you be blessed,

With love,

Elena

I Carry Your Hearts

Hello from my heart to yours....

"i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)" ee cummings

When my friend posted this the other day, I felt such a warm feeling ... a sigh of "oh, that is the ultimate statement of deep and true love.."  words so profound, you can't help but melt from the delicious thought of it... "i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)" .. seriously, don't you just want to cry? the emotion that comes with those words is enough to make anyone want to I think...

and it's no wonder that it's always been one of my favorite poems.. after all, I am hopelessly in love with people... my family, my friends, and my co-workers ... only my mother would say that I treat her badly .. and maybe I do... but with love none-the-less ... lol

When I read the poem, my first thought is of God... I can totally imagine God speaking those words to me... and I feel the comfort in it... there is nothing for me to ever fear if He is carrying my heart in His... and therefore, I can then go forth and spread that love... the peace that it gives me allows me to carry the heart of others in mine... I think of my teenagers living away and how peaceful I am about it really.. it's because they left their hearts with me... and I look at my crazy 8 year old, who lives in his own little spectrum, and I am overjoyed to carry his heart... I see my 84 year old Daddy and I feel his heart in mine... I think of my brothers and sisters and the inexplicable "bond-beyond-bond" we have, and I know our hearts are carried within each other's... and my misunderstood mother? of course, I carry hers as well... she is the one who taught us to love God, ourselves and one another... she's just forgotten that she did... 

The poem is so often used in a "romantic love" context... however, I can think of so many friends whom I love.. and in an instant they flash before me.. their names, their faces, their memories... all of those whose hearts I am carrying, and who I know are carrying mine, sustain me... 

I am single ... I was married and, of course, I have dated in the last 11 years since my divorce, but I haven't met the one who is written into my life yet.. or maybe I have, but my soul hasn't recognized his.. or the meeting was at the wrong time... only God knows... anyway... I have a friend who cracks up at me every time I go on a date and come back to tell her, "He loves me." ... she says, "Yes, THEY all love you.. it's you who doesn't love them back."  well, okay.. I accept that, but it isn't that I don't love them back, I guess I just don't love them that way... and I have been accused of that actually.. accused of loving everyone instead of just them...  what's the problem in that? ... oh, I don't know... tangent writing again... (maybe I should proof-read and edit more)... lol

So, let me close with this proposal of sorts... a little task for you all... look around you.. maybe start with your spouse or your significant other... and then, continue with your children, your family, your friends and even your co-workers (as many are our friends) and say to yourself or out loud, "i carry your heart, (i carry it in my heart)" ... let yourself feel the emotion of the words fill you... watch as the one you are saying it to is filled with the emotion you are giving them ... don't be afraid to cry because I think you will want to, too... truly feel the love that is within you ... you are all loved beyond measure and cherished blessings to the world.. we should all carry one another's hearts in our hearts just as God so graciously does for us.. it really isn't that difficult for us to give something that we have an abundance of.. 

May your evening be blessed with all things good,

I love you,

Elena 

Soulmates

Hello from my heart to yours.....

"My soul will find yours." Jude Devereaux, A knight in shining armor

A soulmate is the theoretical person with whom one has a feeling of deep or natural affinity, similarity, love, intimacy, sexuality, spirituality, or compatibility. A related concept is that of the twin flame or twin soul, which is thought to be the ultimate soulmate. In New Age spirituality, the ultimate soulmate is the one and only other half of one's soul.  In Catholicism, it is believed that in order for you to find your soulmate, you can pray to St Raphael the Archangel who helped Tobias and Sarah in the Book of Tobit.. he is the patron Saint for Happy encounters... and in Judaism, in the Talmud, Rav Yehuda taught that 40 days before a male child is conceived, a voice from heaven announces whose daughter he is going to marry, literally a match made in heaven! 

 

I am a strong believer in soulmates... of course, when we read or hear that word, we immediately think that it has to do with romantic love and your mate for life... but, I believe we have many soulmates. I, also, think its very possible to not meet any of your soulmates, if you make the wrong choices... you are not destined to end up with a soulmate, but if you do meet someone you really click with, I would say it was, in fact, destined to happen... we have "free will" to choose our mate and our friends for life, but God, the forces of destiny and love ultimately control it all....

 

Today is the birthday of one of my soulmates.  I haven't spoken to him in over a year though and he is not on my blessings list nor my facebook friend anymore... sounds childish even to me as I write this... but part of the reason why is because I didn't like his comportment with one of my friends... maybe I was a wrongly a bit jealous... maybe it was because, at the time, I had a jealous boyfriend who didn't understand that my friend and I could be just "friends" and love one another so much... anyway, despite our inattention with one another, I still consider him my soulmate and I know that he feels the same way... 

Soulmates are forever.. they may come and go physically.. they may appear and stay forever, or only be in your life a short time,  or they may never appear at all... but they are there... it's only a matter of timing.. but since Mr. Free Will gets in the way of our lives sometimes.. we may never really "see" our soulmates and get to enjoy having them travel with us... 

Sometimes, we mistakenly believe someone is our soulmate.. and we travel with them until we realize that they are just in our lives for a reason or a lesson.. "that" revelation only comes in retrospect after the relationship is over though...

"My soul will find yours."  sounds so lovely... I can envision someone whispering that to the wind..letting the words be carried softly into the Universe and into the Heavens.. and by Divine intervention..soul meets soul.. 

Yeah, obviously the "love fest" continues for me... I realize that lately the blessings have been more of "journal entries", but my spirituality is ever-changing.. new experiences and new soulmates abound... I don't know what it means exactly, but I'd like to think that God's love is so filling my heart ... that I am open to receive all that is mine in my  Divine Right and that the people, whose love sustains me, are here to help me along the way to becoming the blessed person that God intends me to be...

May you all "see" one another's loving souls and delight in that you are all loved beyond measure and are cherished blessings to the world... how can we not ALL be one another's soulmates for life? 

May your afternoon be blessed with all things good,

With much love,

Elena

p.s. and I whisper to the wind... "My soul will find yours again, my friend... Happy Birthday"

Beautiful People

Hello from my heart to yours....

"Everywhere that I've been. The only thing I see is beautiful people."  Chris Brown

I am in love with all the beautiful people. Yes... lately, I've been "seeing" all the beautiful people everywhere... the LOVE FEST continues and my heart is overflowing ... and all I want to do is fly like around like Tinkerbell spreading happy pixie dust on everyone... lol.. wouldn't that be fun? ...

I have to confess though that I haven't always seen beautiful people everywhere... it's sometimes difficult to see the beauty in people... I suppose that it has a lot to do with not seeing the beauty in ourselves first... when we are not happy, no one appears to be happy to us... and if they do, we almost become upset at them because they are... of course, there are those who are soooo happy that they instantly make you happy, too... I love those people because their energy is LOVE... my daily prayer is that I can be one of those "LOVE energy people" all the time...  

Anyway, I believe each of us was made by God... some of us stand as tall as a sequoia tree and others are bent down like a weeping willow... both trees are beautiful though and add to the beauty of any landscape... a rose may not be as beautiful to you as an orchid.. and you may favor the sun over the moon... you may love the awkwardness of a giraffe, rather than the grandeur of a wild stallion... and you may prefer to make snow angels instead of sandcastles... all these beauties of the world intertwined and connected are what make everything everywhere so spectacular... 

We are all different and unique... it does not matter what we physically look like because our true beauty is deep inside of us... it is the love that we carry in our hearts and spread to the world's people, that make us beautiful...  it is in the blessed way we smile at one another... the hugs, the kisses, the laughter... (I feel like I'm always repeating myself.. and maybe I am, but I want my message to be LOVE) ... 

Love begins with each one of us... and we must feel it inside.. the God within us, who brings us love and peace and joy and happiness, is what makes us all such beautiful people from the minute we are born into this earthly world... and then, we experience LIFE... and we suffer, struggle, lose and are defeated.. and our hearts are broken several times... but with faith, hope and love in our hearts.. (and help from other beautiful people), we do find our way out of the depths of darkness and become even more beautiful... we become more grateful, appreciative, sensitive, compassionate, humble and gentle.. because of our experiences, we learn to have a deep and loving concern for others.... we become the beautifully "strong" people who walk in the light... and it becomes easy for us to help those in darkness up... to offer an outstretched hand to them making them feel beautiful, too... 

May you be able to see the beauty inside of yourself... . may you be able to share the beauty in your heart with others... may you only see beautiful people everywhere.. and all of your life, may you remember that you are loved beyond measure and a cherished blessing to the world... be the blessed person God intended you to be.. YOU are beautiful !!!  

May your weekend be filled with all things beautiful..

Much love,

Elena

I C U & I *heart* U ! 

Daydreams

Hello from my heart to yours....

‎"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." 

T. E. Lawrence 

Woo hoo! I loved this when I read it because.. finally... something positive about daydreaming!!!! .... I am a total daydreamer... course, do I make my dreams come true? hmmm? well... not most of the time... writing the blessings is about the only "follow-thru" thing I have done for 5 1/2 years.... and even this, I haven't done all that well at times... lol... but I try to be somewhat consistent because my biggest daydream is that all of you here come together one day.. like a big "flash-mob" type of thing... the blessed people who are all connected by these ramblings of mine... wouldn't that just be the coolest thing ever? if I played the lotto and won, it would be the first party I would throw... how spectacular.. I can see it already... that's how vivid my daydreams are.. like movies flashing before me... oh and I soooo enjoy them...

Anyway, I think everyone likes to daydream... some of us just don't like to admit it because others might think we're crazy... but even brainstorming ideas with a friend about a new business.. or talking to them about a new love.. or even making plans to travel with someone... all these communications with others.. all the words uttered in the excitement of something new and adventurous..they are all filled with positive energy... and are spoken daydreams really....

Of course, sometimes our rantings may just be a bunch of gibberish, but how lucky are those of us who do dream out loud and make their dreams come true... after all, I believe in the heavenly messengers who travel all around us... and they may delight in your little dream and offer it up as prayer... sure, I'm a bit "touched", however, why not believe that?  All that our heart's desire can and will come true if we have faith, hope and love... (yes, my foundation for everything)...

Throughout history, all that has been invented, discovered, created and realized today has been because of men and women who dreamed with their eyes open... the incredible way the world communicates via television, telephone, emails, social networking, etc. is thanks to these "dangerous" people who dared to dream... and though you may think your daydreams are frivolous and meaningless and only you can relate to them (such as me wanting to have a "blessings" party one day), they really aren't ... think positively.. think out loud.. keep your eyes open and "see" your dreams become reality... after all, you are loved beyond measure and are a cherished blessing to the world... be the daydreamer who changes the world by blessing one another..one day at a time...

May your afternoon be blessed with day dreams...
With love,
Elena

Serendipity

Hello from my heart to yours...

“Whether we name divine presence "synchronicity", "serendipity", or "graced moment" matters little. What matters is the reality that our hearts have been understood. Nothing is as real as a healthy dose of magic which restores our spirits.”  Nancy Long

Serendipity.... an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident; when someone finds something they weren't expecting to find; when people's paths cross again and again without searching for one another...

This word has always been one of my favorites... its popularity and use was definitely ignited by the 2001 movie called "Serendipity" where a couple reunite years after the night they first met, fell in love and separated, convinced that one day they would end up together... and DID! ... Great movie about having hope in "love" ... some of you may call it fate..destiny..God's will.. the stars.. or the universe.. but, by whatever name you call it... it's all the same... and goes back to the three basic things.. faith, hope and love... it's simply MAGIC and it definitely restores your spirit and reignites the light within your heart....

I'm not only talking of romantic love here though... I'm talking about our life paths and the role that everyone plays in our journey... the most common of this kind of "serendipitous" occurrence happens with long-lost friends.. or those you thought were long-lost and suddenly reappeared just when you needed them... bringing a wonderful and magical new light to your life...

Yesterday, I saw the cousin of a "long-lost" friend who I haven't seen in 12 years.. we were college roommates and inseparable.. each of us in one another's weddings and at the births of our children.. and we shared holidays and traveled together the way sisters would... but then we had a little tiff... nothing that I thought was of much importance and I couldn't understand why she went around saying that I didn't want to be her friend anymore... but to make a long story short.. I moved and lost her... So yesterday, in speaking with the cousin, she told me how much my friend missed me in her life... after a 25 minute conversation, I gave her my number and hugged her... well, I'd like to say that my friend has already called me, but she hasn't... but I'm hopeful... When I saw the word "serendipity" on my FB wall this morning, I immediately felt that it was a "sign" and not only she, but so much of what is going on in my life now, made me stop to think and wonder and daydream.... because I love happy endings...

Anyway, I obviously believe in this phenomenon of life... I am a recipient of this kind of magic... everyday, I meet and re-meet people who give me the dose of magic that restores my spirit... and I think that if we are open to receive it, it will always happen to us... in friendship and in love... with faith, hope and love in our hearts, our journey can always be "serendipituously" delightful... we could be on a spiritual journey to find something or someone and Eureka! it's been right before our eyes and our hearts the whole time... 

May you all be open to receive .. may you not ponder the "who, what, why's" of serendipity.. of fate..of destiny..of God's will..of the stars..or of the universe... accept and embrace all the wonderful discoveries on your journey through life always remembering that you are loved beyond measure and a cherished blessing to the world...

May your afternoon be blessed with all things good,

With love,

Elena