The Fog is Lifting on Life Today

The Fog is Lifting on Life Today

The fog is lifting on life today

The Light is burning through

Life takes form within the mist

The ground is filled with dew

I stand in awe and look at life

Its beauty all around

The fog once hid the Masterpiece

Yet hearing every sound

The birds they sang such Joyful songs

While hidden in the trees

Fragrances so soft and sweet

Refreshed me  with each breeze

The fog is lifting on Life today

My spirit feels the stir

Vision's clearing with the Light

I'm sure you will concur

There're lessons to be learned I say

With how the fog does lift

From ground to trees to sky above

Learning is such a gift

Such magic held within the ground

Where water it does seep

Seeds once sown now grow strong

Faithful roots are running deep

Little sprouts start showing green

They grow up from the ground

Healthy trees grow strong and tall

Natures beauty all around

This is where some time is spent

Living with the land

A Spirit grows inside the Soul

Fed from Nature's hand

To reach up to the sky with Love

Branches stretch and grow

We're changing with each season

Our leaves they come and go

But at the core are faithful roots

That guide us from within

To grow and reach beyond ourselves

We truly can begin

Reach up towards the sky above

Towards infinity

For there  you'll find enlightenment

 With new clarity

The sky and sun are beaconing

For us to come and play

Hide and Seek among the clouds

With Angels every day

A wonderland awaits  for us

Past the clouds and sun

Stars encourage prayerful thoughts

New Life's Just begun

The fog is lifting on Life today

 Light Shines Bright as gold

All this I get from foggy mist

A story to unfold

Written 9/23/2009

with Love and Light,

by Nina P.

RAIN

RAIN:

"Rain rain go away come again another day"

The Joyful Mantra of children.

If we could but see that joy again in rain.
The rain of nature,the rain of soul, the rain of emotion

Rain:
Can bring dark skies and clouds
Can block the light of day
Can bring heaviness and lethargy
Can dash hopes and dreams
Can cancel events and postpone joys
Can bring headaches and pains
Can dampen the soul and hide laughter
Can cover a Light heart
Can create so much mud

Yet, Rain:
Can wash away old dust and grime
Can create table tents and rug picnics
Can refresh on a hot day
Can bring mud puddles to dance in
Can bring growth to the seeds of the earth
Can bring rainbows of Hope
Can bring New Life to a desert
Can make the Sonshine seem even Brighter
Can make the most vibrant Greens
Can create to most vivid colors
Can bring out so many shades of brown

Rain also:
Can nourish the heart
Can spark the imagination
Can make the most soothing sounds
Can give time for reflection
Can bring comfort to a child
Can create new growth
Can create time for friends
Can make time for reading and writing
Can bring Hope for a better tomorrow
Can be perfect for meditation and prayer
Can renew the soul


So I take the sweet liberty and change up the rhyme:

Rain Rain come this way;
Bring us Growth is what I say
For when you leave things will have grown;
As New Hope you have sown
So come if you must and bring with you;
Flowers and Rainbows and Life renew

written with Love and Light,
by a rain soaked Nina P.
7/31/2009

Treasures....

Treasures
Make good thoughts the treasures of your life and you will become prosperous. From: Thought for Today/ www.thoughtfortoday.org.uk

The thought for today tickles my mind; so I write…

Just before I opened this thought for today, I’d gotten off the phone with a friend. They’re going through a change today and already they have the situation being negative in all respects and are expecting a horrible day. I tried to get her to see that she hasn’t even started this new situation so why not keep an open mind. “It just might be the best thing for you. Rather than take away from, it may enrich you and your experience….” Despite my pleadings and suggestions of open mindedness and keeping an open heart, she left the conversation in a very negative light. And despite my best efforts, I felt negative too……. But not for long!!!

You see, I fully expect this person to call me later today having had the “worst day of her life”. The inner thoughts are so negative and pessimistic; that will be the day experienced by my friend, unless she can turn around her thoughts and mindset. The thoughts my friend has in her mind are more like rotten eggs than treasures. I planted positive seeds of openness, hope and change. If those thoughts take root, the experience in store for today, will be less horrific; more hopeful, peaceful and balanced.

We’ve all had days where nothing seems to go right. We seem to have a dark cloud following us everywhere we go. If we keep the down, dark negativity of those days in our thoughts and mind, that’s the type of day we’ll continue to have. As soon as I choose to put down my pessimistic umbrella of despair and negativity, I can see a break in the clouds. The Son is there, shinning through a crack in my clouds. Before long that glimmer of Light turns into a rainbow of Hope. There is a glorious wonder in the colors and my thoughts change and my heart Lightens. My thoughts have changed to golden treasures at the end of the rainbow and my day prospers.

Today, let go of the umbrella of negativity and despair. Embrace that Light coming through that small break in the clouds. Change your thoughts to the colors of the hopeful rainbow and watch your day prosper as you find your “pot of gold”: a smile of a stranger; a breeze of change on your cheek; the beauty of a flower; the steadfast strength of a tree; the song of a bird; the constant change of waves; the balance of contrasting light and shadows.… Make good thoughts the treasures of your life and Prosper.

Nina P.

Change

"There is nothing like returning to a place
that remains unchanged to find the ways
in which you yourself have altered."
~Nelson Mandela

My calendar had this quote on it for Monday but I find it a fitting end to the week. I have changed so much in my life that sometimes I don't even recognize myself. lol. I look into the mirror and say "Who is that!"

For example: There was a time when I wanted to go to all the Dunkin Donuts bakeries. I kid you not. Loved those Donuts! While I still like the occasional doughnut. Don't think I've had one (or wanted one) in at least 4 years. My waistline thanks me...though not enough.

Mastery is a Journey.... ...

As part of a "martial arts/meditation" class I was taking, we had to read and write our thoughts on George Leonard's book: Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long Term Fulfilment (If you have the chance, read some of his work...very insightful...)

Below is my interpretation inspired by George Leonard:

Mastery’s a Journey

Written by Nina P. (4/1/2007)

Inspired by the book:
Mastery
The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment
By George Leonard

Life, it is a journey

of Mastery or not
A choice that is all ours

of many that we’ve got

Like a child learns to walk

at first it seems too hard
Letting go of inhibitions

to change our inner guard

Step by step you’re on your way

Small steps are for a while
Persistence and with patience

you’ll be walking with such style

The path it may be long

like some great distant star
With consciousness, awareness

you’re sure to get that far

Practice and then practice

the art of your own walk
Finding Joy in the journey

that’s walking with the talk

The Master he continues

learning as he goes
Loving all the pathways,

even the plateaus

The Dabbler he may start,

and stutter, and then stop
The Obsessive feels that he

must always be on top

The Hacker may just settle

for the middle ground
Never reaching deep inside

to see what is around

The value of this Mastery

is not just a quick fix
If that is what you want,

then you can call it nix

Try patient dedication

I know you’ll persevere
For what was once so far

is simply now quite near

Homeostasis,

it is what our bodies need
Finding our own balance

it is our soul to feed

There are five keys,

to unlock the Master’s door
Keep on the path, be patient,

and there will be much more

Key one is find a Teacher

one that you do trust
Knowledge, values, and great skills

they all are a must

Then you must be willing

to learn from their command
For Master, Teacher, Learner

they change from hand to hand.

Practice and then practice

is key number two
It’s try, and try again

in everything you do

The Journey for the journey

not the goal at the end
Loving all the practice

is the message that we send

Surrender of yourself

as your Teacher has taught
Surrender your successes

is to farther your own thought

Be a fool and be humble

and surrender all your pride
Wobble and then weave

like on your first bike ride

The key to surrender

is key number three
No experts, only learners

surrender and you’ll see

Intentionality

is key number four
Practice in the mind

that’s it, and so much more

Meditate, relax

be mentally aware
See yourself doing it,

as if you’re really there

This technique has been tried

and always proven true
A Master uses vision,

can that Master be you?

If Mastery is practice

and enjoying the plateaus,
The Edge is then a catalyst

that changes ebbs to flows

Lest we be the Dabbler

or Hacker deep inside
We must reset our limits

ride the wave in the tide

For in this last key,

we challenge of our self
Striving harder, reaching higher

towards the upper shelf

Plateaus they will shift

as we reach for higher ground
Safely practice with great purpose

your presence all around

Mastery’s a Journey

a Peaceful way to live
So lift your feet, start walking

the paths not mine to give

Your life will change immensely

such energy you’ll see
Use mind and body fitness

for that there is no fee

Get up, get out, and do

procrastinate no more
Face your fears and change,

be different than before

Acknowledge all the negatives

and put them in their place
Accentuate the positives

let Truth be your new face

Be gentle with yourself

but oh not too sincere
Prioritize your life

stay focused on what’s dear.

Look down into your dark side

but not to point of fright
For humor is a gift

that turns darkness into light

So keep on with commitments

take action step by step
Set goals and keep on moving

for pep begets more pep

Put all things in perspective

keep flow of energy
Rest when it is needed

it’s all part of Mastery

Follow rest with action

keep motivation strong
A Competitiveness nature,

keeps pulling you along

The pitfalls there are many

of self they do arise
Acknowledge them and move along

for you are not their prize

Take pleasure in the practice

each moment great and small
Be fully aware of everything

use your senses all

Nothing in life is commonplace

and nothing’s in between.
There are threads that join our every act

can infinity be seen?

A Masters Journey has no end

perfections never serge
For all the paths of Mastery

eventually do merge

Relax and Center

be Fully Present to begin
Feel power, life’s force energy

your Chi from deep within

Now Practice with Great Purpose

find Joy along the way
Mastery is Balance,

Awareness, and Learning everyday

There is a Light in All of Us....

There is a Light in All of Us

There is a Light in all of us
If we but only look
So look inside it’s there you see
As written in The Book

When darkness comes as it will do
Rely on that Great Light
And soon the darkness fades away
As will that hard felt plight

Stresses come as life we live
It’s part of humankind
If all you see is dark and bleak
Desperation you will find

Pointing fingers all around
For isn’t that the cause?
“It’s him, it’s her; it can’t be me”
We say without a pause

It’s easier to look outside
Than to turn within
But when we look inside instead
The healing can begin

Self healing may be needed
But often we don’t see
Being part of us so long
It’s our only way to be

Let go of our complacency
Is hard but it’s a must
To lift that shroud of darkness
It’s the Light we must trust

Starting now we must look within
To heal us from the past
Cleaning out our closets
For healing that will last

Forgive yourself and others too
Feel changes come alive
For when our fear and pain collide
Only Hope and Love Survive

Remember after every storm
There is a rainbow of Hope
The Light beyond the clouds is there
Giving us ways to cope

So go on now and find the Light
It’s there inside of you
With Faith & Hope & Love you see
Grace and Light will see you through

By Nina P. Ploetz 3/19/09

Musings on Thought for Today.....

Thought for Today : Character: When you do not upset yourself thinking about how others must change and instead you concentrate on your own change, good things start to happen. First, you will feel better about yourself. Second, you will start to have positive feelings towards others and start to understand them. Third, others start having a more positive attitude towards you.
(brought to you from: www.thoughtfortoday.org.uk)

... if my coworker only did this, than....... My boss needs an attitude adjustment, than..... if my spouse would pay more attention, than..... if, than,..... they need to, than.... See the pattern? As the Good Book says, we need to remove the log from our selves before we can look at the speck in our neighbor.... Not always an easy task. Its easier to blame someone else than to change ourselves; change our attitude. It's easier to look the other way than to look within and see our own shortcomings. The only problem is, Change is an inside job. If I change , than.....

I tell people all the time; "the only thing constant in life is change". I don't usually follow that with ..."you can't change another person, the only person you can change is you".. but maybe I should. It is so easy to look at someone, else for our shortcomings. It's easier because than we don't have to change, we can always point the finger elsewhere. How many times have you or I said, " I can't believe it, they did it again, they need to stop it, it drives me crazy,....". The same things bother me that bothered me yesterday about someone, why don't they realize they need to.... I dare say most of us have caught ourselves in those situations.

This is where the Thought of the day : Character comes in. If we look at those situations from a different perspective. Hmm ... Next time you catch yourself saying "there they go again and it bothers me", (here's the key...) stop and think why?, what is inside me that it bothers me so much? What do I need to change? There it is, the answer.... I need to be more accepting of, That person cleaning all the time....maybe I need to clear my clutter and don't want to look at it yet,....... That slob not cleaning anything.....maybe I'm too sterile inside and need to let in a little life.... I can't believe they haven't moved on from that situation yet......maybe I'm stuck in my own..... It is so easy to look outside, and so hard to look inside, but we must.

The merry-go-round will keep going in circles until we let go of ourselves and change our position. We must look at ourselves, what we're hanging on to and why. We get comfortable with ourselves and don't want to change or don't see the need to change. We get stuck on that merry-go-round and think we'll always have fun, get a-long, be OK. After all aren't we all reaching for that brass ring? Take a Look away from the brass ring and see what's outside. There are all kinds of possibilities. We need to slow the ride down, look at ourselves, change our attitudes, our thoughts, ourselves.... We need to get off the merry-go-round of complacency and start the walk of inner change.

When a behavior in someone else triggers a negative response from you, look inside, and ask why.... When a type of person walks by and you have hate or animosity towards them, look inside yourself and ask why..... when your frustrated because they keep doing that, look inside and ask yourself why.... If you can't look inside at that moment, instead of responding in a negative way, say a small prayer of love and acceptance for that person, situation etc... then go back when you have time, when it's quiet, and contemplate your inner response and look for the why..... I need to be more forgiving, I need to be more accepting, I need to be more helpful, I need to be less jealous, I need to be more loving, I need to clean out my own house,.... Find out the inner why, the inner fears,....

Once you start looking at it from the inside, and making those inner changes, your true character will come out. . .We all have shortcomings, we put ourselves, our ego's in the way of what we truly are meant to be.

Try it today, when you start with the if only they'd... stop yourself, look within, and make that change. Get off the merry-go-round of complacency and take that first step towards true and God given change inside. You will be truly amazed at how things change around you.... Not because of their change but because of yours..... yep.... it's an inside job.

And who's at the core living in, with and though us, deep inside our soul? Yep the Light of Lights, the Hope of Hopes, The Love of Loves, is waiting there for you to look within, ask for guidance, make that inner change...... become strong in inner character through Grace and Love.

May God Bless you today and always with Love, Forgiveness, Hope, Grace and Acceptance, and bring Peace and Joy into your soul.....
Love and Light,
Nina

A Leaf falls....

A LEAF FALLS, DOES ANYONE HEAR?

Solar Refuse
Global warming
Natural disasters
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Toxic waist
World hunger
Resource shortages
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Nations Fight
Politicians lie
Hatred’s taught
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Borders close
Friendships challenged
Greed rules
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Religious conflicts
Forgotten people
Families’ dysfunction
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Addictive behaviors
Self destruction
Lost compassion
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Doors slam
Mothers weep
Fathers leave
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Babies cry
Anger’s spoken
Children withdraw
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Days end
Nights fall
Silence comes
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Moons rise
Awareness begins
Thoughts come
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Arms reach
Fingers touch
Hands held
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

People listen
Hearts open
Communication begins
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Apologies accepted
Forgiveness given
Healing starts
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Differences honored
Promises kept
Hope returns
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Laughter’s heard
Rainbows felt
Life breathes
A leaf falls, does anyone hear?

Love flows
Light shines
Peace reigns
A leaf falls, someone heard

By Nina P. 2/2/08

Ripples on a Pond....

Ripples on a Pond

We go to water our soul to feed
Seeking it out when we're in need

A stone is thrown and circles form
From calmness now we have a storm

These ripples how they mesmerize
Each circle spreading before our eyes

The stone once thrown now is still
Yet its effects will test your will

The ripples move us on instead
We do not know what lies ahead

So as we move on towards the shore
Please anticipate so much more

Our ripples spread until they touch
Then we seem to change so much

With added strength, our path is new

God has plans for us to do.

Our circles spread and move us on
Connecting with others we come upon

As with the water, we can't stay still
Stones move us on against our will

We can sink below the surface
Or sail each wave with a new purpose

Look at the horizon and see the Son;
Brightly Rising; life's just begun

So travel each and every wave
It started a ripple just yesterday

We never know our journeys length
But God will always give us strength

So go beyond what you feel you can
His guidance for every woman and man

Travel in Light and live Gods way
Your circle grows stronger everyday.

By Nina Ploetz (10/26/05)