Rumi

There have been recent comments added to 'Is Today The Day I Will Die?'  Really quite insightful with beauty and depth.  Thank you.  May add another 'new' post but am very moved to share this Rumi poem at this time:

"Your grief for what you've lost lifts a mirror up to where you're bravely working.

Expecting the worst, you look and instead, here's the joyful face you've been wanting to see.

Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes.  If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralyzed.

Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birdwings."

(RUMI...We Are Three by Coleman Barks)

PS...I do know how to spell 'unconscious'!!!

Learning How To Blog!! (Plus..a short 'Unconsious Care Taking')

Hi all...

Well...welcome to having to learn more technology re blogging!  Several of you have responded to my first entry...thank you.  

And.

Most of those responses were to my personal email.  Might you be willing to send those responses to this blog?  So we can share 'with each other' these great mind/heart expanding thoughts/feelings.

One goes to the bottom of my page and recent blog to where there is a small blue 'comment' and hits on that.  Write in the 'post comment' box.  Then hit 'post comment'.  Now the trickier part that I am currently trying to get answers about:  where it asks which PROFILE...others have just hit 'google account' and it worked???  Please give it a try.  I will let you know when I find out more.  Thanks for your patience.
Would really love to have fun playing with all this.

Plus:  A short entry....

Unconscious Care Taking:

My daughter recently wrote and asked me if there was something special I might like for Christmas.  Trying to figure out what to get me.

I have been trying way cutting back on gift giving at Christmas...just gifts for the grand girls...and focusing more on birthdays.

I searched my mind trying to think of 'something' to tell my daughter.  Finally thought....well, maybe a carbonating machine...I am trying to drink more water and buy mineral water often.  So I told her that. She started using her precious time researching them.

In the meantime...I woke up with an epiphany!  Omg....I don't really want one of those!  I am trying to simplify my life!   Not use my time maintaining one more gadget....ordering refill canisters or what ever!

What I got was:  I am trying to take care of 'her.'  So she won't have the stress of finding something, of fulfilling some kind of obligatory habit.

And, yes, I can hear some of your thoughts already:  but what about just the love of giving, the spirit of the season?

I get that, too.  I really do.

My point is I caught 'my' unconscious need to 'take care' of my children....no matter what form that takes.

In my case, overriding the fact that I really don't want more stuff.

Saying 'yes' when I really mean 'no thanks.'  (again)  

Ah, chagrin.

I am still just an ordinary human.

Is Today The Day I Will Die?

During one week recently, a three month old infant, a forty-four year old son, a sixty year old sister of a dear friend and an eighty-six year old friend were informed of possible life threatening illnesses.

I have been witnessing my emotional responses.  Have found that I am more kind, less self-involved, more aware...even of the subtle and not so subtle weather.  More in contact with friends, family.  I have been highly motivated to clean out my closets, drawers, files...almost driven. 

Get my life in order. 

Just in case.

Consciously living with the question:  Is today the day I will die?

I even taped a card with that question on my bathroom mirror where I see it each morning and throughout the day.  Reminding me of the fragility and temporal nature of life.  What haven't I done?  In case.  What haven't I said?  In case.  Where hasn't love been expressed?  In case. 

I invite you to confront  yourself with that question in this unavoidable tangible way. 

It is an outrageous act.

Courageous. 

Even.....playful...on some level.

It says:  Wake Up!  Stay Awake!  Be Present!  Live!

Just in case.