The sun is a dim dark yellow sphere high in the foggy sky these days. The chilly air is blowing through our mittens and the snow drifts are melting now with gnarly spots of black slush. Spring's air appeared late this morning and I have to say, it was a magnificent refreshment to us all. Since early December we've had a total of eight snowstorms. Whatever nature brings us here in New York, we are happy to take on!
Today is Valentine's Day and it is the day for all love to abound, to share, to twinkle and remind us that romance is a state of mind, depending on how you look at it. I sourced these proverbs below (www.valentinesquotes.com) and posted them early this morning on Twitter, my favorite love fest.
"Candle light, moon light, star light, The brightest glow is from love light." ~Grey Livingston
"I need the starshine of your heavenly eyes, After the day's great sun." ~Charles Hanson
"When love is not madness, it is not love." ~Pedro Calderon de la Barca
Why is love so interesting and important? Is it the enjoyment of giving, nurturing and providing the constant flow of love? Is it the way in which to openly and honestly receive/accept love? Perhaps it is learning how to be in the constant state of loving kindness and while willing to accept love on an unconditional basis. I like that!
Laurie S. has been one of my closest friends since 1968. She is mid way through her fifth year of clean time with Narcotics Anonymous. The "program" is very effective and has worked miracles with her personal growth and development. Laurie and I speak of our journeys often and recently we spoke in depth of relationships and living and loving and forgiveness and somehow acceptance came up.
She said, "One of the steps is, acceptance is the key to all of my problems."
It knocked me down because of its relevance to ourselves and how it can assist in solving our petty conflicts while nurturing our most important relationships.
I had to search for the definition of acceptance. Acceptance is a person's agreement to experience a situation, to follow a process or condition without attempting to change it, protest, or exit.
So "acceptance is the key to my problems" can apply to; 1) ourselves, 2) our strengths without guilt, 3) our weakness without shame, 4) our acceptance of someone else's feelings, (good and bad) 5) acceptance of our lives, (if not good then you can learn how to change it), 7) acceptance of others reality, 8) acceptance of our own reality and why we feel like we do, 9) acceptance of the state of the world and the list could really go on, you know? The relevance of "acceptance" and its power provides great clarity for me. Thank heavens for clarity!
Thank you Narcotics Anonymous for helping my dear Laurie and millions of people who are struggling from addiction each minute of each day. Yahoo, Laurie you will always be a rock star!
I have to share a small story of hope and love that I experienced while listening to the Diane Rehm Show in 2008, (which is produced by NPR member station WAMU 88.5 and distributed nationally by NPR) and her interview with the lovely and amazing Dr. Maya Angelou.
Dr. Maya Angelou is one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time. Hailed as a global renaissance woman, Dr. Angelou is a celebrated poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist.
Diane Rehm has a distinctive voice. While she is introducing Dr. Angelou for this interview, there is sheer joy and delight radiating from the car's sound system.
During this interview, this utterly sweet and lovely tale unfolds on how a young man is walking down the street while on the way to taking his own life, this was 100% his intent. Just before his desperate action, the elegant and proud Dr. Maya Angelou happened to walk by him. As bright as the sun and as peaceful as the wind, she elegantly says to him , "good morning".
Somehow her vibrations permeated his hard and confused shell. It shifted his direction in a heartbeat. I believe that he felt a ray of hope from her. Right then and there - he decided to continue his magnificent life. Even on our bad days, our lives are magnificent, its all how you look at it. And that was it. He wrote her a letter to thank her for saving his life.
I drove my car that day, with tears streaming down my face (with my chubby Brady sleeping in the back of the car), thinking how the act of kindness, saying "hello" or "good morning" can bring life to the most fragile soul out there. Its the kindness of people that I find so moving!
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou
"Flowers are like human beings . . . they thrive on a little kindness." -Fred Streeter
I love all of your feedback, it is so important for me to grow and learn here, so keep it coming so I can get over myself please?
Let's continue to pray for the women, children and animals of this planet who need our love and protection at all times.
With Love and Sincerely,
Kristen
P.S. I am nothing without you guys.
