Redefining the Meaning of Wealth » abundance

Some of the Best Investments I’ve Ever Made

Paige — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:46:31 +0000

David and Me on our Wedding Day in Studio City, CA

A while back I was interested in the stock market and various other investment opportunities. Then one day it occurred to me that I had better things to do with my time. Bottom line, investing money bores me. I don’t have the patience for it which I know is probably too bad given we live in such a money oriented society.

My brother used to work in finance and he balanced all my retirement accounts. He was damned good at it too and I rode through some fairly rough times without losing much money. Then he got sick of the whole industry and quit. He now works on an organic farm.

The other day I got a 401K statement from a previous job and it had lost $3,000 in the last quarter. To be honest, I can’t bother with worrying too much about it. Yes, I should probably move some things around but would it really matter? There’s so much in these retirement accounts that are not transparent and I don’t really trust the system.

I then got to thinking about all the investments I had made that have turned out great. Investments that may not mean anything to Wall Street but that have certainly made my life richer.

Getting married:

I’ve always been a pretty independent person and I used to wonder if I would ever marry at all. Then I met David. From the moment I first laid eyes on him I was smitten and still am to this day. Being with him has been a wonderfully enchanting journey. Yes, there have been some rocky moments but for the most part we are very compatible. I have a lover and a great friend in my husband. By teaming up together we have been able to pool our resources and have a lifestyle that we might not be able to afford on our own. He supports me in anything I want to do and loves me for who I am.

Investing in relationships is a lot of hard work but the pay-off of having a special companion to stand by you through thick and thin is another “well worth” it investment to me. David is my best friend and I look forward to growing old with him. Being intimate with another person teaches you much about yourself and the world around you. It’s also fun to share your life with someone especially if it’s the right person. I realize some people either can’t or choose not to marry. I feel that any committed relationship between two consenting adults is legitimate whether they have a piece of legal government paper or not.

My Pets:

Pet companions are time consuming and expensive but I can’t imagine life without them. Every animal I’ve been lucky enough to have in my life has enriched my time on this earth in so many ways. Animals live in the moment and they love you no matter what. They don’t care what you look like or how successful you are. They appreciate the simple things like belly rubs, treats, and sunshine.

I’m pretty sure there’s a heaven and I know all those sweet souls that have passed away already will meet me on the other side one day. I can’t wait! But for now they still are with me because they live forever in my heart.

Practicing Yoga

Back in the nineties I stared doing yoga. I started out with flow and ashtanga and eventually found my way to Iyengar yoga. I go to a class almost every day as well as practicing on my own. Yoga takes up a lot of my time but the investment has been oh so worth it. I feel great and I don’t get as depressed as I used to get in my 20’s. Back pain is barely non-existent for me even though all the women on my mother’s side of the family have historically suffered from back problems. Not me! Knock on wood! And not my mother either. She started doing yoga and Pilates almost 15 years ago and her back pain eventually went away.

When you get down to it, yoga is mainly about self study and I have learned so much about myself since I started this ancient practice. I enjoy the people in my classes and I am much more accepting of how I look and the whole aging process in general. I’m glad I invested in yoga. About 10 years ago I was thinking of going to law school but I didn’t know how I would be able to work full time, attend classes at night, and practice yoga the way I wanted. Yoga won out and law school lost. Yoga is an investment in my health and well being and what could be more important than that?

(If you’d like to read more about living simply and changing the way you think about wealth please consider reading my book which is available in paperback or Kindle: REDEFINING THE MEANING OF WEALTH: DISCOVERING PROSPERITY AND FORTUNE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE.

Breaking all the Rules

Paige — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:43:35 +0000

Another Beautiful Day in Marina del Rey, CA

I decided not to blog last week. My thoughts were all over the place and I didn’t want to bore anyone with an incoherent rambling session. So instead I took a break.

Breaking rules has been on my mind lately. You know, breaking all the rules held sacred by conventional wisdom that we rarely question. Taking a break from blogging was actually very apropos for me last week. When I started blogging I was given advice by several other bloggers and various other so-called experts who suggested blogging at least once a week or better yet several times a week in order to be taken seriously and create a following. I was going to post something just for the hell of it but I asked myself why? Because there’s some rule out there that some people say I must follow?

I have a really hard time with rules. Always have. Now I have no problem following traffic rules and I don’t go around breaking into peoples’ houses, etc. But many of the so-called rules we all adhere to may not be in everyone’s best interest. I’ve always questioned rules even though I have often followed many of them all the while wondering why in the world I was doing so.

Like many people, I was saddened to hear that Steve Jobs transitioned out of this world last week. Steve Jobs was certainly a man who broke all the rules. He didn’t graduate from college. He was an erratic micro-manager and he relied on his instincts instead of the traditional counsel of those around him. He was a revolutionary who didn’t give a damn what others thought. He lived life on his own terms and he lived the hell out of it.

I was backing my car out of the driveway when I heard the news. I wondered why the radio announcer kept referring to him in the past and then a couple of seconds later it hit me that he was gone. I didn’t even know the man and even though I had (and still have) great admiration for what he contributed to the world I did have some problems with some of Apples’ labor practices under his tenure. But we are all a mixed bag, aren’t we? There are parts of all of us that are good and parts of all of us that are not so nice. We are all victim to our own humanity no matter how hard we strive to be decent people.

While giving a commencement speech to Stanford graduates in 2005, Steve Jobs said “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

A friend told me this week that this quote inspired her to adopt a new cat. She had wanted to adopt this particular cat for quite some time but was worried that because she is in her 70s and not in optimal heath that she might die before the cat did. She said that when she read this quote in the newspapers she decided to follow her heart and do what she had wanted to do for the past year. A few days ago she adopted the kitty. She said she has never been happier about her decision.

Steve Jobs said that when he dropped out of college he “decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK.” Sometimes we just have to trust, don’t we? We have to trust that we will have enough money or that our health will hold out a little longer or that a kitty we’ve had our eye on was meant to be with us.

There is a great deal of economic and social turmoil in the world right now. It’s easy to sit on the sidelines in fear and not do anything. Instead of just weathering the storm maybe this is the perfect time to do something. Out of chaos comes creativity and new beginnings. Start that business you’ve wanted to start or write that book that’s been in your head and dying to get out. Join one of the many protests popping up all over the globe if you want to make your voice heard. Follow your heart because life is short and you deserve a rich life. Break the rules! Just do it and trust it will all work out OK.

Things I Can Do Without

Paige — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:01:14 +0000

Three little beings I definitely can't live without!

A friend of mine recently forwarded a blog post to me from a site called Inside Higher Ed. It’s a great post called 5 Things I No Longer Wish to Own. I love it that simplifying and paring down is a topic that seems to be on more and more peoples’ radars these days.

Blogger Joshua Kim says, Is this desire to shed ownership of things a life cycle story, a digital story, or something else? Do you share my desire for life as a service? Has owning stuff also lost its appeal to you? The five things he no longer wishes to own are: software, hardware, books, a car, and a house.

What about you? Has owning stuff lost its appeal to you? I know it has for me. What are some things you could live without? Below are some things I either have no desire to own or wish I could rent or share with others.

Land-line: I have no desire for a land line. I’ve been “cell phone only” for many years now and it’s been a great decision. It’s been one less gadget or service I have to upkeep. Occasionally someone says to me, “But what if an earthquake hits and all the cell towers go down? How would you call anyone?” Sorry to disappoint but I was in the “94 Northridge quake in California. The first thing to go was my land-line. I refuse to live my life in fear of what “might” happen. I’ll take my chances.

House: Even though house prices are going down I have very little desire to own. The idea that I can pick up at any time and move anywhere I want is very appealing to me. Another thought that occurs to me often is real estate appreciation might seriously slow down for quite some time. If I ever do buy it will be because I love the place and it’s affordable, not because I think I will one day get a great return on my investment.

Car: We are a one car household but I really long for the day when we have adequate public transportation and I don’t have to own anything with wheels. Well maybe a bicycle because I love to bike. For those times I would need a car, I would rather just rent and let maintenance and vehicle wear and tear be the car rental company’s headache.

Appliances like vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, etc.. Wouldn’t it be cool to have a center in every community where you could borrow these items? Or maybe people could go in together on purchasing them for everyone to share. This way no one person would bear the financial and maintenance burden. The community would take care of everything together which would save money and precious living spaces in our homes.

Jewelry: I have a few nice pieces and quite frankly I have no desire for anymore. I’m a fairly small person and I look ridiculous with too much jewelry on. Most jewelry is incredibly over-priced in my opinion and I’d rather spend the money on experiences that I can treasure in my heart.

Cable TV, magazines and newspapers: I can get all of the shows, news, and articles I want on-line. Isn’t the internet great?

I’d like to take this topic of things I can do without one step further so below are some non-material things that I can live without:

Debt: Being debt free is true liberation. I’m not tied down to a job I don’t want to have nor do I wake up in the middle of the night worrying about who and what I owe. Letting go of the idea of having to own so much stuff makes it easier to be debt free and life is so much more enjoyable.

Cable News or any kind of mainstream news that goes for shock value: My mother thinks it odd my husband and I don’t have cable or watch local or cable news channels. But where do you get your news she asks me. Plenty of places and I think I’m probably more informed than the average American. Corporate owned news conglomerates are not the only game in town although they would want you to believe so.

People who suck the life force out of me. We all know those people who take, take, and take and then some. Fortunatley, I don’t have to many of these people in my life but when they do show up, I try to set up my boundaries with them as quick as possible.

Worry: There’s lots going on in the world today and change is on the horizon. What that change will be is still unknown. I’m done with worrying about money, retirement, and whether or not I will have enough money to pay next month’s rent. I still do worry from time to time but the less I do the easier life gets.

Reflections on Downsizing

Paige — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 07:56:01 +0000

Pippy: the little lady of leisure!

I have been downsizing for many years now. A great lavish lifestyle where all of the sudden I sold the Mcmansion and started taking the bus to work is not my story. I’ve been living somewhat simply since the late 90s when I began the process of getting rid of things that I no longer needed and searching for ways to make everything in my life from managing my work and social schedule to doing the grocery shopping as simple as possible. Below I list and reflect on some of those changes that have made the most difference and others that I aspire to in the future.

Our One Car Household: It’s been well over six years now that my husband I have gotten by with one car. We live in Los Angeles and cars are a big deal in this town. I’ve never been much of a car person nor been very impressed by anything that anyone drives. As a matter of fact, I react oppositely to how many people react when they see an expensive car. Instead of automatically thinking that person is loaded and successful, I immediately wonder whether or not they are in a lot of debt or if they got a really bad deal on a lease.

Being a one car household has saved us more money that I could ever have imagined. Another plus is not having a car payment and of course I feel like we are doing our part to help the environment in our own small way. I can’t say how long we will continue to be a one car household. We tell ourselves we will do it until it doesn’t make sense for us anymore. So far it’s made sense. There’s a certain amount of finagling of schedules and compromise but the benefits have definitely paid off.

My aspiration is to one day be completely car free but until Los Angeles gets its act together in the public transportation dept, I don’t know if being a no car household would work for us. Yes, it’s probably an excuse and we could do it now if we were really committed but the truth is we’re not ready for that drastic of a step just yet. Also, my husband doesn’t share this goal with me and anyone who is partnered up with someone knows the name of the game is compromise!

Going from Full Time to Part Time Work: Taking a part time job (even though it often ends up being full time) has given me the gift of control over my schedule. I love my job because I get to help animals and I love being able to set my own hours. There are of course some things I have to show up for at a particular time but much of what I do can be done at any hour of the day as long as I meet my deadlines.

I consider having control over my time a form of wealth. When I was stuck in an office, if I needed to visit the dentist or go home to let the plumber in, I had to get everything ok’d with my boss and make sure I had co-workers to cover me. The decrease in pay has taken some getting used to but I find I can make up for the loss of income by cooking more at home and having the time to shop around for better deals when we do need to purchase something.

My goal is to manage my time even better going forward so I can work fewer hours on the administrative part of my job and more hours doing the work that involves direct contact with the cats. I would also like to start a small vegetable garden in our front yard but I am having a hard time finding the extra time to make this a reality at the present time. I also have an idea for another book in my head and the more free time I can gather the more time I have to write.

A Smaller Wardrobe: Once upon a time my clothes closet was so full I barely had room for everything. Now I open my closet and it’s hard to believe an American (especially a girl from the south) would own so little! However I love it! I may not have as much as I used to but what I have is quality and I love wearing everything I own. I’ve also thrown out most of my jewelry and accessories that I don’t want.

Clothes are no longer a way for me to look good. I now concentrate more on exercising and eating well. I figure this is the best way to look healthy and attractive. Not the mainstream media’s idea of attractive but my own idea of what’s attractive. My wardrobe consists mainly of neutral colors and classic pieces. Most of the time I wear yoga clothes because they are comfortable and I go to a class almost every day.

As little as I have, I’m still looking to downsize my wardrobe even more. I mean really how many clothes do we need? Fashion will probably always interest me as I consider it a form of art but I’m learning how to enjoy clothes without having to buy everything I like. I now buy only a few pieces of that “art” and enjoy the rest from afar.

Buying Very Few So Called Beauty Products: I still wear make-up but not like I used to. A little bit of eye makeup and some light colored lip gloss is pretty much it for me these days. I also wear sun block every day. All of those miracle wrinkle cures and stay young forever creams no longer interest me. I think the day that I realized if money could buy you youth then women of great monetary means like Nancy Reagan and Queen Elizabeth would still look 35. And of course the men would to!

The vanity part of me also says that the older I get the better I look with the least amount of crap on my face as possible. I no longer have a lavish skin regimen and my skin actually looks better than it did when was in my 20s. Most of my life I have suffered with severe breakouts but now that I put very little on my skin I rarely break out anymore. Too bad I didn’t figure this out when I was younger and gave a hoot about what I looked like.

It’s not that I don’t care now what I look like now that I’m in my 40s because I do. I want to look presentable but I’m totally accepting of what I was given in the looks department. What you see is what you get and there are way too many interesting things to do and explore than to waste my time trying to coif my hair perfectly and find the perfect shade of lipstick.

I hope to one day be brave enough to say no more make-up but not because I think make-up is evil. Making up takes time and I think that one day I will want that time back even if it’s just 10 minutes a day.

Almost 13 years later, I’m still downsizing and looking for that balance that allows me to live life peacefully yet with just enough excitement to keep the journey interesting. The one amazing thing I can report is that I have never made a change that made me feel deprived or less than because it didn’t conform to societal norms. If anything, each time I have downsized I have felt more light and free.

Ivonne’s Story

Paige — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:25:03 +0000

Waterfall in Los Angeles

My job working for an animal welfare organization takes me to South Los Angeles (South LA) quite a bit. For those unfamiliar with the makeup of the Los Angeles area, South LA is the area formerly known as South Central. The socioeconomic status ranges from impoverished to middle-class with a disproportionate number of people living in poverty. Many are unemployed or are losing their homes because they can’t pay the rent. Too often my job puts me in contact with those who in addition to trying to take care of themselves are also struggling to feed and care for their pets.

A girlfriend of mine recently turned up her nose when she found out how much time I spent in South LA. She made one of the “ugh” sounds and I could immediately tell this was not the topic of conversation she had in mind for us that day. She immediately changed the subject to where she was going to vacation next. I don’t think my friend is uncaring but she simply doesn’t want to think about people who are in financial dire straits. Maybe it hits too close to home for some people and by ignoring other’s suffering they don’t have to venture out of their comfort zone.

It’s easy to live in a bubble and forget that so many people in our own cities are struggling to afford the bare bone basics. While the more affluent sit around and whine about their real estate or 401Ks going down in value, there are people who don’t even have a place to live. Taking the time to listen to those who are in desperate economic situations gives us more compassion. The poor are suddenly not a statistic or stereotype. They are not those lazy people who just need to “pull themselves up by their boot straps” that certain American politicians would have you believe. Most of these people don’t even have a set of bootstraps to use to begin to pull themselves up. Meeting people who have fallen on desperate times due to a job loss or health issue quickly remind me that that “There but for the grace of God go I”.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ivonne many months ago when she contacted Stray Cat Alliance for cat food and help with finding a place for her cats. Her situation has put many things in perspective for me. Yes, there are the obvious things that I’m reminded of such as having a roof over my head, plenty to eat, and the ability to pay a ridiculously expensive power bill that keep going up each month. However, I have also discovered that no matter what our situations we can still reach inside ourselves and find abundance. Ivonne has very little monetarily and she is disabled yet she still has joy in her heart and the will to keep going. She loves her cats dearly and feels they make her life rich. There is a short video about her at the end of this post that I think you will find touching. Despite all she has been through she still keeps forging ahead and there is not one grain of bitterness in her.

Ivonne always thanks me when I bring her cat food. She was especially appreciate lately when I told her a foster had been found for two of her cats and that a few leads had come up to possibly assist with finding homes for her others. But the truth is I should thank her. It’s easy to talk a good game when the going is good and I’m the first to admit my life is privileged in so many ways.

I don’t have an easy answer as to what to do to address the horrendous amount of poverty going on in our world today. Obviously our politicians and business leaders don’t either or worse yet too many of them simply don’t care. But too many of the general citizenry do not care either. I think many people think that by shutting these people out they will simply go away. But their numbers are growing and they are becoming harder to ignore. It’s going to take a massive change in the consciousness of us all to address this problem and an understanding that whether we like it or not we are all inter-connected and it is simply not acceptable for anyone to be left behind.

Random Musings on Money and Wealth

Paige — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 05:47:10 +0000

Walkway at George Washington Univ in Wash DC

What is money exactly? Yes, it sounds like a ludicrous question because we all know what money is right? Money is that $20 bill you take out of your billfold at the grocery store or it’s that debit card you swipe through the machine when you need to fill up your car at the gasoline pump. If we dig deeper into this question, it’s actually a bit difficult to answer. Is money an object? And where do they keep all this so called money? And who the hell is “they”?

Where did all that money go in the 2007 financial meltdown and all the meltdowns before then? How much money is in the world and where does it come from? Why do some have so much and some have so little? Is the work of a teacher or nurse really less valuable then a hedge fund manager or professional athlete?

When I was a child I remember trying to get some straight answers about money. Where does it come from I would ask. Who controls the money supply? All I would get were status quo academic answers from status quo academic people who through no fault of their own had been fed the same answers from a status quo society. Money comes from the bank they would tell me. But where do they get the money? No one had an answer that made sense to me or that got to the root of my question.

I eventually found out my answers about our monetary system and who controlled the money supply. Money is created out of thin air and controlled by the big central banks based on a model that growth must constantly be increasing. The entire modern monetary system is based on the ever expanding debt of individuals, companies, corporations, and governments. This however is unsustainable because our natural resources are finite and at some point will dry up if we are not careful and selective in how we use them. If you’re like me and curious about how our monetary system works, check out Money is Debt. This video takes what is a fairly complicated subject to explain and puts it in simple everyday terms.

Once you grasp how the monetary system operates, it’s tempting to feel pessimistic. However, I take comfort in knowing that it’s a human made system and has nothing to do with real abundance. Our beliefs systems about money keep the concept alive. Money is valuable simply because we believe it to be so. Human made systems can be changed and so can our belief systems. It doesn’t have to be the way it is. The more people are educated about what’s really going on the better chance we have to come up with new ideas and demand a system that works for everyone.

All this talk about money then brings us to the question, what is wealth? If wealth is having lots of money then what happens when your money no longer has any value? For instance, if people start losing faith in something that is perceived to have value, then that “something” quickly loses its value. Then those who were so called rich simply own a lot of valueless money, stock, real estate, etc… Basing your wealth on money is risky because you never know which way the markets will fluctuate.

Money is ultimately a hollow object. Maybe this is why people of all different income levels never feel wealthy enough because money has no meaning in and of itself. I think it’s important to feel wealthy no matter what our present system dictates. This is a difficult concept to accept I realize but how come there are so many people who can feel content despite being “poor?” Why do so many people take pride doing important jobs that they know our system does not reward financially but that gives them great pleasure and a feeling of making a difference? We would all be competing for jobs as bankers if money really was the end-all and be-all. But notice we’re not. Not everyone has a desire to go into those professions that promise great financial rewards. That’s probably because deep down we don’t really value money but we value work that means something to us.

At the beginning of this year I took a part time job in an animal non-profit organization. I’m making less money that I ever have before in my life but I don’t feel “poor “at all. This was a real breakthrough for me because I’ve previously based how wealthy I felt by how much money I was making. And you know what, it was never enough. No matter how much I had, I always felt I needed more. I thought that if only I could make a little bit more or if my stocks would just increase in value then I would feel more secure and in turn more wealthy.

I now base my wealth on more important things. I’m grateful to not be going to a soul sucking job each day doing something that is not in line with my value system. I’m thankful to be healthy and that I have money for shelter, food and travel. I trust that I will be taken care of and I’m letting go more. Life is easier when I don’t put so much effort into trying to accumulate more and worrying that what I have will be taken away. In other words, my life is wealthier.

(If you’d like to read more about changing the way you think about wealth please consider reading my book REDEFINING THE MEANING OF WEALTH: DISCOVERING PROSPERITY AND FORTUNE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE.)

One More Angel Joins Heaven

Paige — Fri, 27 May 2011 05:03:01 +0000

The Beautiful Marshmallow

When I tally up my assets, money is never at the top of my list. My asset list includes my health, relationships, experiences, and of course the magnificently inspirational animals I’ve had the good fortune to share my life with.

Back in March, my husband rescued a bunny from the UCLA campus. She was a precious little white fluffy cotton ball. We can only guess that some idiot abandoned her on campus because she was found frightened, alone, and under a bush surrounded by a big pile of rabbit pellets. When he brought her home, we immediately fell in love. Any plans to adopt her out quickly went by the wayside.

I’ve had lots of dogs and cats over the years but never a bunny. What an adventure she was! We named her Marshmallow. She hopped around and would playfully terrorize the cats. Speed the turtle welcomed her as well. They loved her and she loved them. Everyone got along perfectly.

There was so much to learn about her. What kinds of foods a bunny eats, how delicate they are, and how they like to play were just a few of the wonderful things we learned about the wonderful world of rabbits.

Six weeks into our rabbit adventure, our beloved bunny suddenly passed away. One evening her appetite diminished and we immediately took her to the vet. The vet who we normally saw was unavailable so we ended up seeing a vet who wasn’t really a bunny expert even though he claimed to be. Unfortunately she was horribly diagnosed. A necropsy later showed she died of complications of pneumonia. We were with her as she took her final breaths and her little tiny soul ascended into heaven to take her place with the angels.

Every time an animal companion passes away, a huge hole is left in my heart. Sometimes the pain is so intense that I don’t’ know if I will ever feel whole again. But time is the best medicine. Time has a way of healing us even if we never completely heal; time makes it a little easier to deal with your loss.

The past few weeks have felt empty to me. Our little Marshmallow is now our spirit bunny. I miss seeing her beautiful white fur and luminous pink eyes. I miss petting her soft fur and the way she tickled my toes. I know she is still with us in spirit but I miss her physical presence.

It’s been hard to do much the last couple of weeks including blogging on this site. Sometimes you just have to take a break and heal and not put pressure on yourself to do all those things you think you should be doing. Sometimes you just need to mourn and reflect.

When her ashes were returned to us, the Rainbow Bridge poem was included. I love this poem. I’m sure you have read it before but I think it’s worth sharing again. It’s good to be reminded that we will one day be reunited with all those animals who have made our lives so fabulously wealthy.

The Rainbow Bridge

There is a bridge connecting heaven and earth; it is called the rainbow bridge, because of its many colors. Just this side of the rainbow bridge, there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water, and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other. There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on earth.

So each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up. The nose twitches, the ears are up, the eyes are staring. Then this one suddenly runs from the group.

You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and again, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated………….

Live Life like the Waves…Thoughtfully

Paige — Mon, 09 May 2011 07:42:04 +0000

Waves on Costa Rica Beach

I’m thrilled to present a guest post today by Carolyn at Livelifelike.com. Her blog is a wonderful collection of affirmations inspired by nature. What we tell ourselves is very important and can make a huge difference in how wealthy we perceive ourselves to be and how we show up for the world each day. Enjoy and be sure to check out her site as well. It’s very inspiring and lots of fun!

Live Life Like the Waves. . .Thoughtfully

Use the power of your subconscious mind and daily positive affirmations to create your own version of a happy and fulfilling life. Your LiveLifeLike word for today is: Thoughtful: Characterized by careful reasoned thinking; made with heedful anticipation of the needs or wants of others. Build your own positive internal dialog by repeating, silently or aloud, the following affirmation:

• My Positive Affirmation: I Live my Life Thoughtfully, carefully considering the outcomes created by my words and actions. Ponder the meaning of today’s LiveLifeLike word.

• My Personal Guidance: I accept responsibility for my words and actions. I am not rash in my decisions, but make the time to be thoughtful of others. Use the power of today’s positive affirmation to create your own Best Reality Today!

• My Personal Call to Action: How will I Live my Life Thoughtfully today? Release all negativity and access the endless resources of positive energy that are within you!

A Comment from Carolyn. . . I chose waves to represent the concept of thoughtfulness because of the sound they make lapping onto shore. Have you experienced that sound? It’s almost mesmerizing. Waves help us clear our minds and meditate on thoughtfulness. Even if you’re nowhere near a beach, you can still imagine the rhythmic sound of waves coming in. . .going out. . .coming in. . .going out.

The regular cadence helps us focus our thoughts and calm our minds. It’s almost as if the waves are the breath of the world. The earth breathes in and breathes out, while our breathing pattern follows along at the same lilting beat. As you meditate today on how you can anticipate the needs of others, use the power of Mother Nature’s breath. . .her waves. . .to focus your mind and live your life thoughtfully.

Thanks for sharing this journey with me. . . Many Thanks and Smiles. . .Carolyn ~~~~~ ~ The “LiveLifeLike 365Project” ~ A full year of unique daily affirmations!! ~~~~~

Visit www.livelifelike.com for more inspiration!

What Really Matters

Paige — Mon, 02 May 2011 07:13:06 +0000

Tornado damage in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The tornadoes that swept through the South this past week made me seriously reflect about the things that really matter. Needless to say, material belongings are not on that list. Neither are houses because houses are not what make a home. What matters goes far beyond anything we could buy or display for the world to see. I don’t care how expensive the item or how many generations it has been in your family, material possessions are ephemeral. They are vulnerable to the whims of nature and numerous other factors beyond our control.

How must it feel to lose everything? One minute you have all the comforts of your possessions around you and the next moment you look around and it’s all gone. Think of all those people who woke up last Wednesday morning and how they had no clue that their lives would drastically change in a matter of seconds at some point later that day. Think about this for a little while. Let it sink in. What would it feel like to have nothing left?

I grew up in Alabama.With the exception of one brother and his wife who lives in Atlanta, all of my family is still there. Birmingham and Montgomery to be exact. I know what it’s like to get that dreaded warning that a tornado is on the way. I have spent many a night with my family and childhood dogs sitting in hallways and waiting for tornadoes to pass over us. It was commonplace to have tornado drills at school and it was not unusual to sit in the school hall when it was for real. You don’t have time for anything except gathering up all the living beings around you and taking cover. No time to think about what do I want to save. You don’t care, you just want to make sure you survive and pray that there won’t be much destruction.

I’m happy to report that most of my family came out of this tragedy unscathed with nary an injury or loss of anything material. I do have an aunt and uncle who lost one of their greenhouse farms but no one was hurt and they will bounce back on their feet in no time.

My brother emailed me and said that he knows it sounds like a cliché, but seeing the tornado’s destruction in person is indescribable and devastating. President Obama said something similar. He went on to say that he understands better why the Bible says to store your treasures in Heaven, because the material stuff down here is worthless. Worthless indeed. What matters is our families and friends and the good times we tally up during this short time on earth.

The New York Times featured an article a few days ago that is well worth the read. It’s about a man who returned to Birmingham just hours after he lost his home. The article says “He worked through the warm day, not a cloud in the sky, and into dusk, well aware that others in this state were mourning their dead. Sweat-stained and flecked with sawdust, he occasionally looked up to see his wife and his two children in their altered yard, working, making new memories. His house nearly destroyed, he felt blessed.” I know what he means. I think we all do.

The New York Times has featured an article a few days ago that is well worth the read.

The Sharing Society

Paige — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 07:13:09 +0000

Japanese Garden in Nikko

Western Culture is obsessed with ownership. George W. Bush talked about the Ownership Society as if it was some kind of holy concept that would save us all. However, he can’t take all the blame because all he did was mirror the consciousness of where the majority of people were at the time. Many were happy to be given the red light to chase the so called “American Dream” of ownership at any cost. We incurred too much debt and became slaves to our jobs so we could afford those goodies that we were told would make us happier.

Anyone who brought up community or sharing was pounced upon by those who worshiped greed as their god. You were quickly labeled a socialist, a communist, too idealistic or simply out of touch with the realities of human nature and there was no room for discussion. Case closed. We were encouraged to buy buy buy and go into debt debt debt. A lot of people got rich rich rich because we followed like naive cattle being led to slaughter.

The road of materialism is a dead end. What did it bring us? Is anyone any happier because of what they own? I mean really? Are we? We became out of balance and forgot about the concept of sharing. Human beings need each other and we are meant to share. We are social animals and the only way out of our current mess is to take care of each other and realize we are all in this together. There is no economic philosophy that will save us. There is no tax policy that will suddenly make everything right again. Our mind sets must change.

Jesus said you will be judged by how you treat the least amongst you. So many in the corporate and political power structures love to talk about Jesus and how they follow his teachings. I would ask those people; do you think that he is proud of how we treat each other? Do you think he would condone old people going without medical care and poor children going hungry? Was this his message? The Jesus I know about said nothing about Capitalism, tax cuts for the wealthiest or making excessive profits by grossly exploiting human labor and the environment. I also have a feeling that he would be none too pleased about the military industrial complex. The Jesus I know stressed sharing and taking care of each other.

How do we start to share again? How we do we create a world where everyone is fed, clothed, educated, and has access to health-care? We can’t wait for the politicians or business leaders or we will be waiting a damned long time. Life in the future is going to change and planning for it as if it is going to stay the same is pretty much impossible. The system is broken and it’s time to build something new.

Instead of a society that focuses on competition and individualism how about community and collaboration? This whole idea of sharing makes some people really nervous. They are worried that they will get left behind. They wonder will I get mine. Will someone take advantage of me? Will I end up being the giver and never the receiver? Don’t buy into the fear. Instead buy into the possibilities.

Start now by sharing what you already have with your friends and neighbors. You can start small if you are still unsure. Lend a book or a dvd or give it away if you no longer need it. Maybe a neighbor’s vacuum cleaner is broken and they could use yours if they can’t afford to replace their old one. You may find out that there are several other appliances that you can share with others. Ask around the next time you need something and see if someone is willing to share. Become more involved with your community. Go to a town hall or neighborhood association meeting. Volunteer for a cause you believe in.

You don’t need me to give you a laundry list of ways you can share. You know what to do. You know how to share. You were taught how to share when you were younger but unfortunately those teachings did not follow us into adulthood. We became fearful and brainwashed. We became afraid that if we did not look out for number one we would be left behind.

We can build a sharing society if we really are committed. Everyone wins when we share because everyone feels taken care of and part of something that is larger than ourselves. We are really hardwired for helping each other but we have forgotten this. Don’t believe me? Try it.

Experiment and make your life more about sharing instead of the constant pursuit of what only serves you. Then ask yourself how sharing makes you feel? How does it feel when others share with you? Seneca, the mid 1st century Roman philosopher said, “There is no delight in owning anything unshared.” Many centuries later these words still ring true.