I once asked a very successful woman to share her secret with me. She smiled and said to me..
“I started succeeding when I started leaving small fights for small fighters. I stopped fighting those who gossiped about me… I stopped fighting with my in laws… I stopped fighting for attention… I stopped fighting to meet peoples expectation of me… I stopped fighting for my rights with inconsiderate people.. I stopped fighting to please everyone… I stopped fighting to prove they were wrong about me…. I left such fights for those who have nothing else to fight…
And I started fighting for my vision, my dreams, my ideas and my destiny.
The day I gave up on small fights is the day I started becoming successful & so much more content.”
Some fights are not worth your time….. Choose what you fight for wisely.
I’ve decided ….. I’m going to attend Unity Church on Sundays. I’m going to find a yoga studio and get serious about flexibility. I’m going to find a gym so I can rebuild muscle and fill out my skin. I don’t need approval or permission. I don’t need company. If I meet someone along the way who is interested in what I am, also, perhaps we’ll be friends. I’m not going to force myself into someone else’s idea of what my life should look like. It took me 20 years of shadow work to get where I am. Folks who have barely meditated, coming in to steer me … denied. I’m not a “member” of anything other than Life, and the Love it should embody. I flow into what brings me joy. When it stops, and begins to bring me upset, I cut out whatever it is. Not because there’s no love, or any disrespect. But because I love, honor and respect myself enough not to let her drown in others opinions about what is right and best for her. I’ll figure it out for Self. She deserves her authentic and transparent heart to live in beauty without these trespasses and abuses which attempt to squash her heart, strip her song, and replace it with their own. Just because someone gives you a gift doesn’t mean you have to relinquish yourself. Just because someone shows you a kindness doesn’t give them permission to reformat you. Leave the kindness if you must. Pack up, live in a tent. Whatever it takes to come back to Self, and it’s connection to it’s own higher self, and to God. No one can walk your path for you. Although many will insist you’re doing it wrong, And disapprove. Trying to force you into their mold. Gotta let them go.
Turtle woman is making an offering of wampum to the plants of the river.
“Please”, she asks, “can you help us?”
She explains how we need the rivers to be clean and she acknowledges the plants as the cleaners of the river.
She speaks to the wampum and thanks them also for the light they bring the world.
She talks to the plants for a long time. Telling them what is happening. She explains that the two legged have lost their ways. But there are still some who remember. She tells them about the babies that are coming who need clean water. She cries for her grandchildren.
The plants, being loving and generous, wait for her to finish speaking and then they tell her they have heard her prayers. They agree to help. They are gentle. They never have an unkind word to say about anyone.
From the shore a young person sings a turtle song. Unbeknownst to them, turtle woman is pleading for the world only a short distance below at the bottom of the river.
My daughter handed me her school progress report. Although it displayed a steady stream of positive check marks, there was one check mark standing dejectedly alone from the rest.
“How am I doing, Mom?” my child asked with a level of maturity that did not match the small dishevelled person gazing up at me with smudged eyeglasses that teetered on the tip of her nose. With her small finger, she pointed to her teacher’s neatly printed words next to the lone check mark.
It read: “Distracted in large groups.” But I already knew this. I knew this long before it was written on an official report card. Since she was a toddler, this child has offered astute observations of the world around her.
After pointing out all the positives on the progress report, I told her what was written. Upon hearing the news, she gave a tiny, uncertain smile and shyly admitted, “I do look around a lot.”
But before my child could feel one ounce of shame, one iota of failure, I came down on bended knee and looked her straight in the eye. I didn’t want her to just hear these words, I wanted her to feel them. This is what I said:
“Yes. You do look around a lot. You noticed Sam sitting off by himself with a skinned knee on the field trip, and you comforted him.”
“You noticed Banjo had a running nose, and the vet said it was a good thing we brought him in when we did.”
“You noticed our waitress was working really hard and suggested we leave an extra good tip. You noticed Grandpa was walking slower than the rest of us so you waited for him.”
“You notice the beautiful view every time we cross the bridge to go to swim practice.”
“And you know what? I don’t ever want you to stop noticing because that is your gift. It is your gift that you give to the world.”
As I watched my daughter beam with the glow of acceptance, I realized her approach to life had the power to change the world.
You see, we are all just waiting for someone to notice—notice our pain, notice our scars, notice our fear, notice our joy, notice our triumphs, notice our courage.
And the one who notices is a rare and beautiful gift.
~Rachel Macy Stafford, author of “Hands Free Life.” Her author page is @TheHandsFreeRevolution on Facebook.
You try to hold me down so I became a soldier Built up all theses walls and now I’m climbing over Those nasty bees are tempting me Oh Lord! but I ain’t going back
You take me for a fool (fool), that doesn’t make me foolish Told me I was wrong (wrong), passion made you ruthless Manipulate, It’s just too late Oh lord! ’cause I ain’t going back no more
Your fueling of the flames gonna show you what I’m made of
Breakin’ every chain that you put on me You thought I wouldn’t change but I grew on you ‘Cause I will never be what you wanted This fire (this fire), this fire Is keeping me alive Making me believe I couldn’t do without you Make it hard to leave you think It’s all about you You know I’ll never be what you wanted This fire (this fire), this fire
I tried to get this weight off of my shoulders Built up all my strength I’m finally taking over Complicate, I don’t appreciate Oh lord! ’cause I ain’t going back no more
Your fueling of the flames gonna show you what I’m made of
Breakin’ every chain that you put on me You thought I wouldn’t change but I grew on you ‘Cause I will never be what you wanted This fire (this fire), this fire Is keeping me alive
Making me believe I couldn’t do without you Make it hard to leave you think It’s all about you You know I’ll never be what you wanted This fire (this fire), this fire
Is keeping me alive Keeping me alive Keeping me alive This fire (this fire), this fire (Is keeping me alive)
Breakin’ me, shakin’ me, shapin’ me into what I never wanted, oh Breakin’ me, shakin’ me makin’ my beatin’ heart a little stronger Stronger, strong baby
Breakin’ every chain that you put on me You thought I wouldn’t change but I grew on you ‘Cause I will never be what you wanted This fire (this fire), this fire Is keeping me alive
Breakin’ every chain that you put on me You thought I wouldn’t change but I grew on you ‘Cause I would never be what you wanted This fire (this fire), this fire Is keeping me alive
Making me believe I couldn’t do without you Make it hard to leave you think It’s all about you You know I’ll never be what you wanted This fire (this fire), this fire
Is keeping me alive Keeping me alive, keeping me alive This fire (this fire), this fire Is keeping me alive
Leo Scorpio rising Gemini moon Red Electric Serpent Born on the 11th (master number) In 1996 (reduces to 22, another master number) Also born on the 13th day of knife With 13 years of celibacy My energy is pure I am the truth It cuts like a knife I am here In service to the Divine Called Life Within all living things “Reset” It will surprise many Who chose to torment Divine Essence I am grateful for this front row seat It was quite costly Thank you Heavenly Father Thank you my King my God I came here for intensity And it was delivered, exactly as expected.
opensenseme 