By Jeff Baird, Sunrise Reiki Colorado
My God, life can be beautiful, even with the pain. You gotta have a little rain if you ever want anything to grow, right? I think I heard that in a song one time, or a thousand times, maybe more. Some of our best growth opportunities come wrapped in pain or in other challenging packages. It really is all about how we respond to life’s circumstances that makes the difference in the quality of our lives. We choose how we go through life.
I’ve seen so many beautiful things recently. Plus, it’s the holidays and I love the holidays. No apology for the title of this article. Life is beautiful, even with the pain that might come along. It could be that a loved one is suffering and that can be painful. But, it can also be a beautiful thing when you experience the love that you share with the one in pain.
We have to stay strong when a loved one is suffering. They need our strength, not our worry or despair. It’s all a waste of energy when we focus on worst case scenarios; like something we thought about is bound to happen. We don’t know. We have no control over the outcome, just our experience. Not only is it wasted energy when we worry, it’s also destructive energy.
This is why it’s so important that we pay attention to our thoughts, and the energy we are sending out to the universe. Our thoughts are part of the collective consciousness, after all. Are we part of the solution or part of the problem? Thoughts lead to actions so we watch our thoughts. We pay attention and do not just blow through a day with around the clock mindless distractions. There’s plenty of distractions. Again, we choose how we spend our time. I was given a banner as a gift that hangs in my office and reads, “The future depends on what we do in the present.” Mahatma Gandhi
I choose to be grateful for this moment exactly the way it is. No matter what happens, it will be a learning experience for me. People have been so kind to me lately, and I am learning to savor every act of kindness more than I ever have. I think it’s because of some of the pain we have been experiencing watching our sweet dog go through life, making the most of every moment, regardless of what she might be dealing with. She has a new kind of confidence as she goes about her business, while the tumor on her mouth changes colors on a daily basis. This horrendous looking growth is not keeping her tail from wagging or keeping her demeanor down. She is badass in her soft and gentle ways. She moves through the day with a graceful presence that screams, “It’s quite a day, isn’t it?” Yes it is. And for that, I am so grateful.
As I was finishing this article my wife just texted me and said that someone in a big truck hit her in her brand new car. Picture wasn’t pretty. It will be fixed. But, everyone is okay and for that I am grateful too.
Dear God, I thank You for this day.
“May Thy Will be my will on this perfect day.” Elizabeth Wilson, Conifer, CO
“Just for today, do not worry.” Mikao Usui, Reiki Founder