Just for Today

I have learned to live for today and not hold on to the past or look to the future for better times.  I first learned this lesson through the medical problems I was experiencing; then when I studied Reiki I learned about the five Reiki principles that are “Just for Today:”   1.  I will not be angry; 2.  I will not worry; 3.  I will be grateful; 4. I will do my work honestly; 5. I will be kind to others.   For me this is a recipe for living in the now, which is important to me.

I do not want to cling to the past, because frankly my past wasn’t all sunshine and flowers.  If I lived in the past I would be negative person who radiates angry and rage.  I  know how I would react, because I used to live in the past and I wasn’t a pleasant person to be around.  I didn’t even want to be around me.

I do not want to look to the future for all my hopes and dreams, because that means I would be waiting for someone or something to rescue me.  Again I know, because I did this for awhile also.  I became resentful, because I would look around and see that everyone, but me was getting what they wanted.  At least that was my frame of mind at the time.  I do not want to envy anyone or be jealous, because it robs me of my future.

I do want to live in the present, in a “For Now” or “Just for Today” frame of mind.  I feel hopeful, joyful and full of sunshine, because I can see the good in my life.  I see people fulfilling their dreams and goals and I think “How awesome is that?”  I do not carry negative emotions – if…no make that when I feel a negative emotion I stop and take care of it.  I turn the negative thought into a positive thought.  For instance “I can’t believe that fool just cut in front of me and now is going 10 miles an hour slower than the speed limit.”  Can you feel the anger in that?  Instead I change it to something like “I am where I need to be, when I need to be at this present moment in time.”  When I look at it this way, I no longer have the anger instead I feel so calm and at peace.  I like this much, much better.

Where do you live: in the past, future or now?

Life is good!  God is great!  All is right in my world!

Blessings,

Genie

Just for Today, I will…

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Who is Following Whom?

Sunday, I had an unusual experience that I would like to share, but first some background to the situation is in order.  When I moved into my home, I had the intention to pull up every blade of grass and replace it with gardens and pathways.  I’ve done so.  My flowers are constantly blessing me with not only their peaceful presence, but many, many flower babies.   I’m in the middle of giving away day lilies, because we have so many they are taking over the yard.

A friend of mine, who I met through church, wanted some  day lilies and we arranged it so she could come after church and dig some up.  Since she has never been to my home, she was to follow me home.  Before we got into our vehicles, I gave her directions just in case we got separated then got into my car.  When I looked back to see if it was safe to back up, I saw the back end of her vehicle leaving the parking lot.

My first reaction was that I was confused and that wasn’t her,  because we all know that the follower trails behind the leader.  Right?   Then I looked again and sure enough that was her leaving the parking lot.  Leaving the parking lot!  Oh my, I’ve got to get going, because I’m supposed to in front.  I’ve got to correct this situation, because how is she going to follow me home if I’m behind her?

As I leave the parking lot I look down the road and she is already a block and a half away.  Who is following whom?  I had to laugh, because I have never ever had someone follow me by leading the way.  This unusual twist had me pausing to think about this in spiritual terms.  I was stopped at the traffic light watching my friend disappear from view, when it occurred to me that our spiritual teachers at times will become our followers.  Sometimes the leader is there to learn from the follower which will lead to huge spiritual growth for all.

I am on the path to become a spiritual coach/teacher and there will be times when the people who come to talk with me or come to this blog to read what insights I have to share, will be the ones teaching or guiding me.  It is comforting to know that no one is expected to have all the answers all the time.  Sometimes it’s someone else’s turn to lead the way.

Life is good!  God is great! All is right in my world.

Many Blessings,

Genie

Watch a video of my day lilies with the birds in my backyard singing:  http://voices.yahoo.com/video/daylilies-genie-walkers-yard-1658601.html?cat=32

Bird Speak

I believe that every person that crosses our path is someone who has the potential to become our spiritual teacher.  Now that I think about it, every living being on this planet, not just humans, have the potential to become our spiritual teacher.  If you have been reading my blog you know by now that I spend every morning on my back porch listening to the birds sing while I eat my breakfast.   What I haven’t mentioned is that I’ve been trying to take a photograph of some of these birds, but they move too quickly for me.

I figured out a few weeks ago that I should just relax and wait for the perfect opportunity.  That almost worked, I got a few blurry photos of a few birds.  Well, it was a step in the right direction; at least I was able to get a photo taken before the bird flew off.  After many, many days of blurry bird photos, I realized that I needed to communicate with the birds that I wanted to take their photo and I would appreciate it, if they would sit still long enough for me to get a clear photo.

That worked, sort of.   Okay, again that almost worked.  Now I do have clear photos, the only problem is that I have a clear photo of their backsides.  Obviously, I need to work on my human to bird communication skills.   Getting clear backside shots for days and days now, I tried every which way I knew to get the bird to turn around, already.  Did that sound as impatient to you as it does to the birds in my yard?  Okay, time to breathe deeply a few times.   Get some perspective and try again.  Repeat, repeat, repeat, etc.  Oh my, sounds like I’m being impatient about not relaxing quick enough.  No wonder the birds moon me.

Yesterday, I was out in the backyard taking photos of the blooming flowers and not thinking about birds and their tendency to show me their backsides.  Then two feet from me a bird flies in to grab a bit to eat (our yard is full of worms).   Since I already had the camera working, I took a photograph of the bird with no expectations of the outcome.  I was just a photographer taking a photo.  I got several average looking shots of the bird pulling a worm out of the ground.  Not a moon shot at all; this is a huge step in the right direction, just need to work on my camera skills now.

This morning as my breakfast gets cold; I’m busy taking photos of my flowers.  The sun is shining brightly, highlighting the beauty of each bloom.  I was too busy enjoying the moment to eat my breakfast…and then a bird appeared.  I’ve taken several photos that I haven’t looked at yet, but I just feel that today is the day I took a beautiful photo of a bird.  I think I needed to learn to just enjoy the moment.  Trying to force the birds to stop following their path long enough to pose for a perfect photo just for me was just ridiculous; a serious case of immature spiritual thinking.

I am now busy thanking God for sending the birds to teach me this valuable lesson.

Who is your teacher today?

Life is good!  God is great! All is right in my world.

Many Blessings,

Genie