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Thoughts to Ponder, June 5, 2013

  • Posted on June 6, 2013 at 7:25 pm

 “What loneliness is more lonely than distrust?”

George Eliot

 Trust is a word that is loaded with emotion: fear, anger, hope, expectation . . . . Volumes have been written about this subject. What more is there to say? Let’s try anyway and define it.

Trust is –

believing our children will be safe at school.

believing that our spouses will be loyal.

believing that our government will resolve its issues and get on with the process of governing.

believing that we will be able to pay our bills when they are due.

believing that we, our individual selves, have the knowledge and strength to do what needs to be done no matter what else happens.

Did you notice that the list above uses the word believe, not hope? Have you noticed that fear and distrust are synonyms? Trust is a knowing, deep in our souls.

We are taught from a very young age to distrust almost everything: teachers, neighbors, strangers, dogs, dark, insects, government, and other religions. This list could go on for pages. We all know what our fears are. Many of them are valid and should be respected. We can’t change what will happen “out there” so a healthy sense of protecting oneself is vital.

What we don’t know is how to move from fear to trust. This can be a major change in the way we see the world around us, but is often a slow, incremental movement away from fear.

I can recall a time when I told my friends, “I refuse to live in fear.” That statement changed my life. I opened my curtains. I walked around the neighborhood. I went out to local events. These changes took a few months, but it opened the world to me. Eventually, I began taking larger steps into the world of trust, and am still learning that it’s okay to explore the larger world, to take risks.

We can only let go of fears when we begin to trust ourselves to make the right decisions, to do the right thing, to love fully, to feel endless gratitude. If we make what seems to be a mistake, we trust ourselves to resolve the situation. We no longer need someone else to tell us what to do next.

What you choose to trust is up to you. You can trust your Higher Power, your mind, your instinct. It doesn’t matter because all three are the same. All three will protect you or encourage you to move forward.

Meditation

Spirit, I know that my fears and mistrust are preventing me from living my life to the fullest. They prevent me from being the best person I can be. I turn those thoughts over to You right now, right here. I trust that You will fill me with knowledge, strength and trust in myself. That gift is mine this very instant, because You have promised it in all the holy writings. I trust You to keep your promises. And, so it is.

If you know someone who would appreciate reading “Thoughts to Ponder,” please suggest that he or she contact me at: energywriter@cox.net

Sharon D. Dillon, energywriter@cox.net, http://theenergywriter.com

Chesapeake Bay Writers, Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop, Southern Humorists, National Society of Newspaper Columnists

Author of one of 14 stories in The Book of Mom: Reflections of Motherhood with Love, Hope and Faith, published by www.booksyoucantrust.com  Available in print and e-format at www.amazon.com

Contents may be forwarded, but please give credit where credit is due and erase all email addresses on original message.

Thoughts to Ponder

  • Posted on May 15, 2013 at 2:00 pm

May 15, 2013

 “Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile.

 Dwelling in the present moment I know this is a wonderful moment.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

 What a simple truth, yet so hard to live. Most of us can only live in the present for a few moments. Then, all too soon, thoughts start worming their way into our brains. Today I must accomplish these 10 tasks. I think I’ll make a stew for supper. Oh, relatives are visiting on Sunday; I must clean the guest room and get extra groceries. And so it goes; anxiety building with each thought.

How do we stay focused on the present moment, enjoying it, savoring it, living it? Each time we realize that we are focusing on the potential future and all the work we have to do before we get there; we can do exactly what Thich Nhat Hanh suggests. As the calm settles over us, we can thank Spirit for our feeling of peace. With practice we’ll experience more of these precious moments.

There is that dreaded word practice again. We have to practice playing the piano. We have to practice a new task. We have to practice breathing. We have to practice gratitude. We must practice to see, not how far we have to go to reach perfection, but how far we have progressed since we started.

Meditation

 Spirit, I thank you for this new day, this beautiful day, filled with new experiences. Some will be daunting. Some will be a pleasure. If I start feeling overwhelmed, please remind me to breathe deeply, smile and enjoy the moment. Knowing that this is so, I thank you for each lesson learned.

© by Sharon D. Dillon, May 15, 2013

If you know someone who would appreciate reading “Things to Ponder,” please suggest that he or she contact me at: energywriter@cox.net

Sharon D. Dillon, energywriter@cox.net, www.theenergywriter.com

Chesapeake Bay Writers, Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop, Southern Humorists, National Society of Newspaper Columnists

Soon to be published in a book of Amazing Mom Stories.  Final title and date of publication to be determined.

Contents may be forwarded, but please be sure credit is given where credit is due and that all email addresses on original message are erased.

Thoughts to Ponder April 17, 2013

  • Posted on April 17, 2013 at 8:15 am

Thoughts to Ponder

April 17, 2013

“It is understandably human nature to see yourself as small;

Until you stop seeing yourself as just human.

Should be easy for you.

You are pure energy, infinite, inexhaustible and irresistible.”

. . . TUT – A Note from the Universe

 

When an incident we consider a disaster, such as Monday’s bombing in Boston, occurs we tend to feel small and ineffective. Truthfully, we are very powerful. We can impact this, or any, situation for the better. Our guides have assured us that those people who transition in such an event go straight to heaven as angels. They do not have to pass go or collect $200. The guides have also assured us that while we are sleeping we are, in fact, on site working with those who are injured in any way. These are big thoughts to ponder and accept.

If they seem too much to comprehend, we can focus on how to help while in our human bodies. All of us have healing power, whether or not we’ve studied any particular method of energy healing. We have the power of prayer and intention. We don’t need a formal ritual. Just a thought will send healing energy to our intended destination.

This brings us back to our imaginary smallness. We are much larger, stronger and wiser than we can conceive. We can help heal these emergencies, and closer to home we can help heal personal crises. Today’s mediation is my favorite way to send healing to any situation.

 

Meditation

Spirit, it is my intent to be a clear and perfect channel for peace, love, joy and healing energy to be used for the highest good for all who have been impacted by the events in Boston. We know that all is in divine order and are grateful that we are here to assist in any way necessary.

And, so it is.

 

Sharon Dillon, energywriter@cox.net, www.theenergywriter.com

Thank you for being my son

  • Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:40 am

On December 19th I received the call that every mother dreads and prays never comes. My son Dan, age 45, had a heart attack at work and transitioned soon after arriving at the emergency room.

I immediately fell into despair, but managed to call a dear friend who came immediately and after a huge hug gave me two instructions, “Breathe” and “Exhale.” After forcing me to repeat this exercise a few times we began the difficult tasks ahead of us.

Somehow I managed to call my daughters, do some laundry and pack my suitcase. Early the next morning daughter Sarah and I began a tough three-day drive from Tidewater, Virginia to northern Minnesota where Dan lived and worked. Along the way we collected his girlfriend Linda B. from southern Wisconsin. Daughter Linda had to remain at home to care for her three grandchildren while their parents worked.

Dan’s supervisor helped us do what needed to be done then escorted us to a company-owned villa at a nearby ski resort. What a wonderful way to settle down after three days on the road. The next day we moved into Dan’s rented house trailer and tackled the overwhelming job of sorting through Dan’s boxes and piles. We felt Dan’s comforting presence as we worked. Linda B’s supervisor kept in touch by telephone advising us each step of the way.

We cried, we laughed and took turns collapsing and supporting each other. After each day’s hard work we relaxed by watching a silly movie from Dan’s extensive DVD collection. Mild weather was one of many gifts he gave us. Temperatures stayed in the high teens and low twenties. The heaviest snowfall was only two inches much to the dismay of locals who were anticipating winter sports. When the Minnesotans commented on the mild weather we just smiled because we knew Dan was protecting us.

Even though nearly everything was closed Dec 23-26 for the Christmas holiday we managed to accomplish nearly all our business. Linda B. was able to leave on Dec 29. Sarah and I began our trip home on December 31 and arrived home on January 2. We spent the first night at Linda’s house where we had a brief memorial service in her living room.

Dan’s years with me and his sisters were a gift. I used to say that Dan lived in his own time zone. Even though he was chronically late, that is not quite true. He lived in his own world, one denied many of us. He was my baby, my teacher and at times a royal pain.

When Dan was about 16 months old I was sitting in a chair with my legs resting on a footstool. He untied my shoestrings. I told him to re-tie them. He did. The knot was loose but done correctly.

No one was a stranger to Dan. Much to my chagrin, as a baby he would go to anyone who held out a hand. One time when he was 3 or 4 I was chastised for bringing such a lively, obviously healthy child to the Fort Hood sick call. The nurse didn’t believe he was ill until she took his temperature. That same day he climbed onto a man’s lap and began a conversation. When I told Dan to get down, the man said that Dan was fine and could stay. Once the man went into see the doctor another nurse scolded me for allowing Dan to bother the fort commander. Yikes!

In first grade Dan’s teacher took all his school supplies away from him and put them in the coat closet. She allowed him to retrieve only the item(s) needed for one lesson at a time. This happened after he glued his crayons into a perfect triangle and used his pencil sharpener to reduce his pencils to a pile of shavings then glued both projects to the inside of his desk.

In high school He rebelled by doing whatever would irritate adults. Only in the past few years did I realize that the issue was not him, but that I was trying to force an advanced soul into a “normal” mode.

As a teen he read holy books from all the major religions. As he matured he would get into deep conversations with anyone. Because he was who he was, they listened and responded.

I knew that I was not qualified to be the parent of such a child. His actions and words showed us that he was destined to be much more than an average young man. His vast stores of knowledge astounded us yet his sense of humor kept us giggling for days.

Three years ago he used an impolite word in front of his two-year old great nephew and was soundly chastised by his sisters. Later that day Dan sat with the baby coaching him to say, “Colorful metaphor.”

Over the past few months Dan made a point of contacting family and old friends. His last visit, just days before his transition, were amazing to all of us. Dan made a point of visiting as many of his relatives as he could. He went hunting with his dad and shot his first deer. He was infinitely patient with my questions and requests and built me a planter box.

As soon as we caught our breath from the news, we all realized that Dan knew his time was near. He had survived many situations that could have ended his earthly life, yet he chose this time and said farewell to as many as he could.

Dan’s earthly accomplishments included serving eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, remaining clean and sober for 24 years, graduating college, building a career as a programmer/analyst and forging his photography skills into a profitable and award-winning hobby. He learned several healing modalities and traveled on spiritual journeys to much of the United States and parts of Canada and Mexico, Peru, Egypt, Tibet, several African countries and several European countries.

Thank you for being my son, Dan. I cry because I didn’t honor who you were. Semper Fi!

© by Sharon D. Dillon, January 6, 2012