Reminder Reprised

Sometimes I need to remember what works for me doesn't work for others. You will all make your own choices and have your own beliefs. They are all valid. To be true to my heart and my ideals I have to live my beliefs...below are some things from a couple pages I've written to remind me that we all can only be what we are...even me.

"When others don't understand why I care so deeply and give so much, I will not do less to suit their view of life. I will not care less to "match" their level of love. I will keep sharing my love so there is more love in the world. I want to show them that even broken and sad hearts can learn to love and trust again and that caring for each other is caring for ourselves."

"Striking out when we hurt is built into the body as a defense mechanisim. It shouldn't to be built into our hearts. I will forgive the hurt I feel and return loving attention and care. I don't find it easy. Prayer helps me to understand.

If we can look at the hurt done to us we will realize that, in many cases, it is our own sense of importance and social pride that is hurting. Is that really worth losing a friend over?"

"I will try not to return tit for tat. I'm just not going to get into a lose-lose situation again if I can help it. You do what you need to do - I will answer when you call, return your calls, come when you need me, share what I have and try to give what you ask me for. I will continue to help where I can, to fill the needs I see around me....I will try to soothe hurts, ease hearts, offer caring attention....even if that is NOT what you have shared with me.

Why?

Because I believe we are all in this together - we are ONE - each a part of the whole. If I hurt you I am hurting myself. I want to love myself. I want to love all of myself. That means loving you, too. "

I don't have to love what you do, I just have to love you the way you are. I can do that, most of the time, and with most people. It's just more of an exercise of the heart with some than with others. I work on it as it is brought to my attention.

"The book doesn't say 'do unto others AS they do unto you', it says to do what you WISH they would do for you.

I wish to be loved. To be forgiven when I hurt another. To have help when I need it. To have food when I am hungry. To have companionship when I am lonely. To have what I need when it's needed. I wish to be loved by others and to love them freely. I try to give that to all I meet.

I can't do that and hold on to the hurts done to me. I am letting go of the hurts and only counting the love. I will count the smallest sign of loving care and watch as those small, loving actions increase. I believe Love is all there is. Why would I try to track and remember things that are "notlove"?"

"If you encourage the smallest kindness of others and offer only kindness, it will change the world."

"Maybe I won't be able to live up to the ideal every day. I'm human. I can get vengeful and vindictive and want to hurt someone back....but if I can slow down even one minute and think about it, I can let the hurt flow over me instead of through me. I am slowing notlove and encouraging Love....I gotta try.

So do unto others as you WISH others would do unto you - feed them, house them, hold them while they cry, laugh with them, and love them.

Forgive them for being humans, love them for being part of your life forever."

I can't be what I am not. I care. Each of you has to do what is right for you, believe or not believe, care or not care, love or not love, share or not share, give or not give, take all you can get or give all you can spare. Your choice.

Mine is to love, to forgive, to smile, to care, to share and to enjoy what has been gifted to me. I'm a human female. I love things human, I love as a female. I will keep reaching for love here, enjoying parties and music, writing, riding, and all that brings smiles and joy to my heart. Joy is a gift of the spirit.

Last night I sat with the last of the family who cleaned up after a party. We sat in the dark, under a tent at a picnic table. As I tried again to describe the Divine Loving Being I met to one of them, I put my hand up and arched it across the horizon to try and show the size of that being. As my hand moved across our view of the sky, a falling star followed my fingers. It was seen by them and we all got a major rush off it....it was real in their world, not just mine.

The Divine Love knows how to show each of you that it is real. Last night it showed some of my family it was listening and caring about them...

Call it coincidence, if you must. It might make it easier for you to believe that I just happened to move my hand across the part of the sky we could see under the edge of a tent and a star just happened to fall the same way my hand was moving....

To me, it is the Divine Love showing it is alive and well in our world. And if those around me can not deal with that, it's not up to me to change their minds or their hearts. He does that. I just watch in awe while He does.

I'm not trying to be a saint. I'm trying to be a good steward of resources given to me and a good neighbor to those I share the planet with. In my tiny contribution to the world we live in, I want to gift happiness, comfort and contentment to those I walk with.

It won't happen every day, unless I work toward it everyday. Today I had to remember not to dim my shine to fit other's view of the world. That's their choice, how they see it.

I see we shine when we love and care and are kind to each other. My family shines. My friends shine. I wanna shine, too!

Don't let the world's idea of how you should live be all that guides you, follow your heart. Love as YOU love. And remember to love as you WISH others would love you.