I have become lazy and sloppy on this blog — posting pithy memes instead of writing what they mean to me — so this post is really something outstanding if only because it’s the first post in ages where I’ve written more than 7 words. :-D
I believe that yesterday was a great day for all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation. Years ago, however, I would have been apoplectic and spewing hatred and ranting about how yesterday’s Supreme Court decision signalled the death of America, blah, blah, blah. What changed? I did. Why? A simple thought rocked my world:
Who am I to judge? No one. I am not worthy!
Here’s a bit of a backstory: I have spent a big part of my life on ‘the right’; the political right [for two years, I was the 3rd Vice Chairman of the Republican Party and consulted with the RNC] and the religious right [I am a recovering Shiite evangelical fundamentalist].
Oh, yeah! I was in deep…
The irony of it all is that while I was obsessed with being RIGHT on the outside I was so wrong on the inside. My binary [true/false, black/white] orientation meant that I didn’t really need to THINK about a lot of things including the idea that all beings deserve happiness regardless of whether we agree on issues like with whom we want to cuddle up on a cold Wisconsin night.
Fundamental to my growth path or dharma over the past few years is a wonderful teacher named Tara Brach who introduced me to the idea of metta, or lovingkindness, practice. When you pray this:
May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness;
May all be free from sorrow and the causes of sorrow;
May all never be separated from the sacred happiness which is sorrowless;
And may all live in equanimity, without too much attachment and too much aversion,
And live believing in the equality of all that lives.
…it is difficult to deny any being what they consider happiness regardless of what they believe or their ‘orientation’ on any one of a number of issues. May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness…
It’s not that I don’t care anymore — it’s that I care more deeply than I ever did about all beings and not so much the issues themselves. The reason I celebrate the decision is because I am ok with it when only 5 years ago I would have been beside myself with anger and fear and I feel that I am a better person now than I was then. May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness…
One of the many people I want to thank for the part they have played in my conversion is a beautiful man named Michael Rohrer who blogs in a raw, powerful, and transparent way about the struggles of being a gay man who comes from a religious background. I don’t know how I first came across his work but I’m grateful I did. Through his writing he has opened my eyes and heart to the idea we are all on the same journey even if we follow different paths and I cherish the friendship that has developed via Twitter and Facebook! I don’t agree with everything that Michael posts but I will defend to the death his right to post it and he opens my mind. May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness…
Today I celebrate not only the Supreme Court decision but also the joy of having an open mind and how much nicer it is than needing to be RIGHT all the time! May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness…
Find someone who isn’t afraid to admit they miss you, knows you’re not perfect but treats you as if you are. Someone who couldn’t imagine losing you and who gives their heart to you completely. Someone who says I love you and proves it. Last but not least, find someone who wouldn’t mind waking up to you in the morning, seeing your wrinkles and grey hair but still falls in love with you all over again. — Unknown
Life is too short. Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. Laugh when you can, apologize when you should and let go of what you can’t change. Love deeply and forgive quickly. Take chances. Give everything and have no regrets. Life is too short to be unhappy. You have to take the good with the bad. Smile when you’re sad. Love what you got and always remember what you had. Always forgive but never forget. Learn from your mistakes but never regret. People change and things go wrong. But always remember life goes on. — Unknown
The Ahnapee Trail is a Wisconsin gem hidden in Door and Kewaunee counties. This morning was an almost perfect day for some riders — including me — who like 55 degrees, overcast and no wind. Just a couple of shots from my 11 mile ride…
This session includes a discussion with distinguished guest, Dr. Nicholas Jenner, a counseling psychologist who offers online therapy on a global basis. Dr. Jenner has an impressive resume, but more importantly a sincere passion for helping people get free from the restraints of negative thinking, including codependency. I found it very easy to talk to him.
It was insightful learning not just about how the Inner Child can get stuck, but that we can actually use our Inner Parent to go back and address things that were never addressed the way we needed them to be. Furthermore, the concept of the Inner Critic resonated strongly with me as I’ve battled my Inner Critic in a big way throughout my adult life. I’ve also taken note of the intergenerational nature of codependency, meaning that codependents often had a parent that was codependent. Perhaps the family of origin is something we’ll want…
Seize your own life in your own hands and force yourself to take a step – however small – in the direction of healing, in the direction of your dreams, in the direction of your joy. Start today. Start now. — Wendy Keller
Wendy Keller, mother, author, survivor
Wendy Keller writes and speaks about healing, inner strength and surviving. People have been thankful and blessed by her one hour webinars. Join here: Â Stop Hurting and Start Healing
Chasing after people who walked out of your life is giving them the power to come back into your life and take all that they can get from you and then walk out again leaving you in the drop of a dime. Not caring if you live or not. Been there before, it’s not easy walking away, but it’s also not impossible — it may turn out to be the best thing you ever did, but you won’t know unless you make the move. — Mahogany Law
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At some point,you have to love yourself enough to let the last chance be the last chance. You can’t keep holding on to what used to be and praying a person’s potential somehow develops into what you thought it would. You can love a person with everything in you, but if the timing isn’t right, it just won’t work. You can’t force it and you shouldn’t have to. The love is still there… It’s just gotta be from a distance now. — Rob Hill Sr.
Bright, shiny objects! 
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