Great Words

I was surfing the Internet recently and came upon this article, TEN GREAT WORDS, by Jim Carroll, futurist, trends and innovation expert.  He gives talks based on these words to business t groups, and I thought--hmmm! These can apply to individuals--to all of us.

1. OBSERVE:  Take off the blinders and think different, like Apple.  We can try new things, innovate in our daily lives. Opportunities are all around us.  I’m taking a class in Visioning with Rev. Betsy, and we’re not simply using using prayer and visualization to get what WE Want, but going deeper to ask: what is God’s idea of itself AS my life; and how must I grow to embody this vision?

2. THINK: This is a big one for Religious Scientists, because we know thoughts are things, thoughts power emotions, emotions generate actions. We create our own experience with those thoughts, feelings and actions.  As Ernest Holmes says, “Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life.

3. CHANGE:  Ask:  Am I open and receptive to new ides, new ways of doing things?  What’s serving me?  What isn’t and what can I change?  At a recent workshop, I had an visualization experience, where I went into a crystal palace...and found my higher self.  I collapsed into her arms, sobbing. Two things were bothering me.  First, the loneliness since my husband transitioned four years ago, and second, I was so disappointed in myself--that I hadn’t made more of myself in these four years of being on my own. 

Later, at home, watching a movie about loss, I had a good cry.  After I was done, I thought: What was THAT about? These are two things I can  CHANGE.  So I began working on some projects and completed an E-book.  Then I called people to arrange social engagements.  I observed myself, did some thinking, and made some changes.

4. DARE:   Ask:  what kind of risk can I take to improve my life?  It doesn’t have to be dangerous.  It can be simply stepping beyond the comfort zone.  Dare to be great; dare to lose weight; dare to run the marathon; dare to walk the Camino. Be imaginative.

5. BANISH: Eliminate words like should, ought, must; phrases like I can’t; that’s stupid.  Banish indecision and procrastination, and tap into your  own wisdom on what’s right for you.  I’m visioning with a partner in the Visioning Class, and one of the messages we get for each other is: Take baby steps and move forward toward our dream.

 6. TRY: Yoda said,  “There is no Try, there is only Do.”  Some say TRY is a failure word. When we say "try," we don’t expect success.  We may fail.  Does that mean we lose confidence?  No!  We keep at it. We try again. Eventually we DO.

 7. EMPOWER:  When I know I am a person of power and authority, I empower myself.  When I accept a mandate for change, to do what’s right and perfect for me, I empower myself.  When I know I am  a co-creator with God, I allow God to work through me, for me, as me. I am open and receptive to the cosmic healing power, the cosmic power of love.  I allow it to operate in my life, and I empower myself.

 8. QUESTION:  Challenge long-held assumptions, eliminate long-held habits.  Really look at them, question them.  Recently a friend was hospitalized and it looked like he might lose his toes...he has diabetes and likes to drink.  Medical intervention was effective and saved his toes. He dodged a bullet, and doctors told him to stop drinking; I told him to stop drinking; he said he would stop drinking.

I don’t know if he stopped, but I realized that I had been drinking a glass or two of wine each evening.  I questioned myself--is this really contributing to my overall good health? Is this something I should eliminate?

9. GROW:  There are so many ways to grow, personally and spiritually.  Classes  here at the Center, groups through meetup.com, workshops, extension classes--you name it.  I receive  DVDs every other month with tips from professional photographers. Netflix has some great documentaries on many subjects.  Online learning is expanding, offering many free courses. Ask:  Is there something new I can learn?

 10. DO.  Yoda would be happy here. Be Proactive--take action.  Decide what to change, banish negative thinking, dare to step beyond your comfort zone and make a positive change.  Be Bold.  Think:  What did I come here to do?  Who did I come here to be?  What is my vision for myself?  What is God's vision of Itself as me? Figure it out, and then DO IT.  Treat and use your feet! Use affirmative prayer and then take action.


Jim Carroll added an 11th word:  ENJOY!

And so it is.


In the Redwoods

I had the opportunity this past summer to attend a performing arts family camp with my daughter and two grandchildren, Athena, age 4 and Samuel, age 6 1/2.

We spent the week in a tent, on a wooden platform, with cots and sleeping bags...very uncomfortable, but hey! It was camping.

My daughter signed us up for circus art, which I thought involved painting our faces and wearing red bulbous noses...but no!  It was balancing on cylinders, pedaling small mini-pedals, walking on stilts..all in preparation for a big performance on Saturday night in costume.

 I saw immediately that risking 70-something hips and knees was not good, so I spent my time documenting our experience for a photo book.

The camp is beautiful....set in the heart of towering redwoods north of Santa Rosa, with music and creativity filling the air.  Athena spent most of her day with arts, crafts and games in Kid City, and we all gathered for time at the pool. 

I became immersed in photographing our experience, and the many classes and performances throughout the camp... from swing dancing to rehearsals of “Mama Mia.” 
I consider myself a family paparazzi...capture the moment; create a legacy.  Photo books are my special legacy.  The grandchildren love them, and they’re well worn.

In the midst of all this life affirming activity, the topic of death came up frequently from Samuel.  What’s death, grandmama?  He chooses to ask me because I seem closer to death.  Are you the oldest in the family?  How old are you?  Are you going to die soon, like Larry?  Larry was my husband, who transitioned over four years ago.

Who was my great grandmother; my great great grandfather, my great great grandfather?  I’m going to live to be 100. Are you?

Once I said, Samuel, I’m having a fantastic day...I’m living in the NOW.  What’s the NOW?  It’s living right here and right now, in this very moment, experiencing life, love, joy and happiness.

Back in San Francisco, the father was off on a meditation retreat on the subject of...death and dying.  I read through a couple of books in his library....The Denial of Death, which discussed how most  human endeavor could be explained by an unacknowledged undercurrent of death anxiety.  Amassing wealth, becoming a hero, creating legacies, tending to the next generation. These were all manifestations of death denial.

Another book, by Irvin Yalom, focused on existential psychotherapy...as we are aware of ourselves and our amazing consciousness, we are also aware of our earthly existence as eating, excreting beings and eventual mortality.

Yalom sees a nothingness before birth, our brief sliver of life-light, then nothingness after.  Religion was invented to comfort us, to assuage our death anxiety.

Despite this atheistic view of death as opposed to our spiritual view of the immortal soul, the conclusion on how to live is similar...make the most of this life, live our best lives at full throttle; have no regrets.

Ernest Holmes says...knowing we are Spirit having a human experience, we prepare not to die but to live.  The thought of death should slip from our consciousness altogether, and when this great event of the soul takes place, it  is as an eagle, freed from its cage, soars to its native heights. Thus the soul, freed from the home of heavy flesh, will rise and return unto its Father’s house, naked and unafraid.

The grandchildren are not exposed currently to any spiritual teachings.  As a grandparent and ordained Science of Mind minister, I’m figuring out how best to help them. 

And so it is.