SORTING ONE'S LIFE

Slowly, methodically going through a house and discovering hidden treasures gathering dust is an emotional journey. Things are saved for a reason. Bringing up memories of the children's childhood. Items from a parent. Handwritten cards and letters. High school clothes or memorabilia. What to keep and what to give away. The final goal is to do it and not leave the sorting to other family members at the end of one's life. 29 years in a house is a long time! Finding new homes for the usable stuff! It must be an age thing too. Coming to terms with the fact that there is less life ahead than behind! Deciding on what is important. How to live one's life to the fullest without injuring anything! Grabbing onto the ares of enjoyment and sorting out the "things" no longer bringing any satisfaction. Stuff can connect to the deeper feelings of one's soul! Have you gone through such a process? Did you find it difficult? What helped in your journey?

LIFE IS LIKE AN INNER COURTYARD

Visible from the street. Has a solid laneway to get there. Protected often by a gate or security guard. Enjoyed by the people who live there. Our brains and souls are like inner courtyards. Sharing as much as we care! Protecting with our own built in " security guards". Our thoughts can be controlled and contained. Since no one is a mind reader, we are safe! Keeping happy images and memories sustain us. Keeping out the negativity and stress of past events! Learning not to tell everything we are thinking! Having a pretty laneway with as many flowers or bricks or windows!

A QUIET PLACE TO THINK

We all need to quiet our energy and our thoughts periodically so we can think. So we can touch our inner feelings. And if we are lucky connect with our soul.

Whether a single bench in a pretty garden or by the water sharing our space with some water fowl, thinking can bring thoughts, images and ideas. I always take a little notebook or paper and pen. If artistic, sketching what you see can bring images. Camera in hand can record those images as well.

Even a long leisurely drive on our favourite country roads can inspire us. I like driving by the farmer's fields too.

If wanting to pray, of course, we can do it anywhere! Where do you go to quiet your energy? A church? A corner of your garden? On a drive? By the water? On top of your favourite hill?

A TIME TO LIVE AND A TIME TO DIE

Watching someone you love die,
Brings tears, you cry!

Until you think there there are no more tears,
Then the emotion, the anger, the fears.

The realization of the loss,
Let's you know who is the Boss.

Death waits for no one,
Can take you in the midst of fun.

As your cherished person leaves,
You learn the meaning of "grieves".

Grief seizes your head, your soul,
Surviving a day becomes a goal.

Barbara Di Mambro
Poems 2012

A PRAYER TO THOSE I LOVE

Deal with the concerns of today. Look to the strength of family. Ask for comfort from God to help you have patience with the situation. Let your tears fall as they cleanse your soul!  Accept hugs from others as he did say where two or more gather in my name, I will be there. Hugs keep us going! Love prevails! Amen!

FLOWERS BRIGHTEN UP ANY OCCASION

Everyone loves to receive flowers. They have a way to share a moment without words spoken. Giving someone you love a favourite flower warms the soul. To receive a bouquet or a big floral arrangement really says you are special. What is your favourite flower? Have you sent some lately to a special person in your life?

A BARREL OF LAUGHS

Laughter is good for the soul. We laugh at a joke, ourselves, a sitcom. Even in adversity we should find the humour in any situation to help break the ice. Have you ever been at a tough meeting and the first little joke brings over exaggerated laughter? A funny story in an eulogy at a funeral reminds us the deceased was a person with a personalily. Laughing at people is not okay. Making fun of others in a hurtful way is not okay. Sarcasm is such humour. It is a back handed slap trying to be disguised as humour. The sarcastic person is difficult to be around! Who needs all that negativity? What do you find funny? Did you have a good giggle today?

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?

I heard this term today on the TV when the newscaster was describing people having Christmas spirit while they donated toys to the Toy Mountain toy drive in the Greater Toronto Area. As soon as I heard it the Christmas Spirit feeling overcame me. Of course we know what the Christmas spirit is from a feeling level. Intellectually it is hard to describe. Something overcomes us this time of year- we do feel like giving to others for different reasons. The songs, the feeling of small joys, the look on children's faces- well the Christmas spirit. To share, to gather, to eat, to enjoy the childhood magic of the season. Inviting some lonely person to your Christmas table. Having people we love for another year. Missing those who are no longer here. Hearing the Christmas story again of the Christ child and feeling the magic! What does the phrase mean to you? Are you finding it hard to describe in words as I am? Do you just feel it in your soul? Your heart? Do you have Christmas spirit? I know I do.