YOUR LIFE A-Z:VIRGIN

The Black Madonna is a Powerful Story

VIRGIN

Whether you believe in the literal VIRGIN birth or perceive this great story of VIRGIN birth of Jesus to be a valuable myth it does not change the reality that the story of the VIRGIN birth has echoed hope over these past centuries.  In the accounts of Matthew and Luke, it is reported that an angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and told her she would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit and that child will be called the son of the Most High.   Joseph, the husband of Mary, had a dream confirming what Mary was told.  So every Christmas churches re-enact the long journey that Mary and Joseph made to Bethlehem to pay their taxes.  And there in Bethlehem Jesus was born.  From this time forward many stories have been reported about the VIRGIN and her role in our lives.  If you are intrigued by this VIRGIN and find her compelling enough to know more, I believe you will be enriched by Clarissa Pinkola Estes book, Untie the Strong Woman. I found it fascinating and discovered many meaningful stories about her.  In the meantime, the VIRGIN responded to the angel by saying, “Behold I am a servant of the Lord.  Let it be to me according to your word.”  This is the time of the year to give back for your many blessings, so use the opportunity to serve those around you and make their lives enriched.  Give thanks that you are alive and purpose your life to give to others as acts of gratitude for your life.  

YOUR LIFE A-Z:YOUTH

ALWAYS RETURN TO YOUR YOUTH

YOUTH

It is a common saying that, “Youth has its privileges.” What does that mean to you?  When you were young immortality was not just a concept, immortality was the reality in how most of you lived your life.  Death was not your constant advisor.  As a result you took more risk, had more adventure, and enjoyed the push of adrenaline.  As age creeps upon on you, you come to understand that immortality is a myth and that mortality lurks around the corner.  However, to live captive to the taskmaster of mortality is not fun.   Allow yourself some of YOUTH’S flexibility and spontaneity.  All is not over until the fat lady sings and if she is not singing let the presence of YOUTH sweep you under its hypnotic trance and dance you off into the sunset.  Ask yourself this question, “What have I stopped doing in my life that I really want to do?”  Do you not do it because you think you are too old or because you are afraid?  Wrestle with the reality of your thoughts?  What makes you belief you are too old?  Are those beliefs valid or are those beliefs fear based?  Are you afraid to take the risk?  If so, what do you need to do to overcome your fear, in order to let the adventure of YOUTH have its way with you.  Living in fear is a prison system.  Letting your inner YOUTH help you escape your self-imposed prison system is vital.  Make friends with your inner-YOUTH today and start living your life as if you mean it.  There is plenty of time to get old.  You do not need to start today.

YOUR LIFE A-Z:QUEST

QUEST AND CONQUER ALL THAT YOU DESIRE

QUEST

Quest is a journey towards a goal.  All cultures have stories of hero journeys where the seeker is on a QUEST of an important object or a person.  This QUEST is depicted as arduous, adventurous, as well as dangerous.  Many obstacles appear along the seeker’s path discouraging and attempting to defeat the seeker from his/her goal.  The Twenty –Minute Coach calls these obstacles, life.  Life is often arduous, causing us to question the meaning of our existence, whine about “why is this so hard,” and declare that we quit.  But that flame of the QUEST finds its way out of the ruble and reminds us that there is an adventure ahead and we must keep putting one foot in front of the other and overcome the obstacles in our path.  Life is dangerous, but fortunately we have a healthy sense of denial.  We drive weapons, climb shaky ladders, and sometimes just jump out of perfectly good airplanes because the QUEST to conquer challenges, fears, and obstacles keep us moving forward.  Native Americans speak of the vision QUEST where the Native person leaves the comfort of the tribe and goes off into the wilderness, often without food or drink; and sometimes with the shaman or medicine person to QUEST after his/her calling purpose in the tribe.  The QUEST is intended to take us above the ordinary and into the extraordinary in order that we might live our daily life in mindful and purposeful ways.  QUEST after that which fulfills you. 

YOUR LIFE A-Z:HANDLE

GET A GRIP ON YOUR LIFE! OPEN THE DOOR!

HANDLE

Interesting that the word HANDLE in the English language has so many meanings.  It is the external part of a door that one uses to get in and out of a home, building, or room.  Without a HANDLE like that it would be much more difficult to enter and exit a place. Where could a HANDLE near an entrance or exit make your life more convenient?  HANDLE also means to fully touch something, as in exploring a piece of pottery with your hands.  What piece of your life do you need to HANDLE with detailed exploration?  The multi-meaningful word HANDLE also means to manage effectively.  Life is always changing and in any moments notice it can go from bad to worse or from better to great.  Getting a HANDLE on life is one big roller coaster ride and for the most part, things work themselves out safely; but if you don’t enjoy roller coasters, then you need another way to HANDLE the ups and downs of life.  Life is to be enjoyed and it is up to us to HANDLE things in the most positive ways possible.  Think about it, what good does it do you to stay angry, harbor bitterness, and become a hateful negative person?  Really, do you get something positive out of HANDLING life from that victim’s mentality?  Learn to HANDLE your life’s ups and downs in stride, knowing that your attitude in HANDLING it will make a world of difference in whether you enjoy the ride or not. 

YOUR LIFE A-Z: BUDDHISM

BUDDHISM

This is not about the difference between BUDDHISM and Zen. This is about building on one practice and adding additional information in order that you develop spiritual muscle this year as well as psychological and physical muscle.  The TWENTY-MINUTE coach is about the body, mind, and spirit connection.  I do not believe it is possible to be whole without the trinity of wholeness present of body, mind, and spirit.  BUDDHISM talks about the eight fold path, which is a blueprint for living your best life,and can easily be incorporated into the action of the TWENTY-MINUTE COACH.  The eight-fold path covers Right Understanding; Right Thought; Right Speech;Right Action; Right Livelihood’; Right Effort; Right Mindfulness; and Right Connection.  

The good news is that it always starts with self.  If you are not in the eight fold path by being Right with yourself,then you are off balance and will not be able to live outwardly right with others.  You must be in Right Connection with yourself first and these daily reflections are teaching you how to tune into yourself, your heart, and your life in ways that you never thought of before.  So, practice Compassion and Connection with yourself first and all things will fall into place so that you can have a peaceful existence with others.  Don’t be scared of BUDDHISM. Look at BUDDHISM as a philosophy for living.  To understand more pick of up Pema Chodron’s book, The Places that Scare You.

YOUR LIFE A-Z: MEANINGFUL

DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO CONNECT IN MEANINGFUL WAYS

MEANINGFUL

What is it that makes your life meaningful and what is meaningful to you?  This word wraps nicely around gratitude because as we think about it, the word MEANINGFUL probably brings to mind things like family, children, friendships, good health, honest values, trustworthiness, and freedom.  As you reflect further on the word you might extract valuables from the periphery of the word and realize that a piece of jewelry or art,because of the occasion or giver, is very meaningful to you. You might also remember trips in your life that were MEANINGFUL and certain milestones, such as graduation from high school, baptism, commitment ceremonies, or special birthdays that were a part of creating you into the person you are today.  In one sense of the word, MEANINFULNESS sneaks up on us and just happens but we can create meaning too.  If you are feeling lost, bored, lonely, and struggling to find MEANINGFULNESS in your life today, then get out of yourself.  Go out and make someone else smile.  Go find a homeless person and bring them some lunch.  Look online and donate to a specific cause that’s meaningful to you.  Call up some one who might like to hear your cheery voice, say, “Hey, just checking in to see how you are doing?”  MEANINGFUL moments create MEANINGFUL lives.  Don’t sit around and feel sorry for yourself.  Get out and do something to make someone else feel better.  As a result, you will feel better because you made your life count today.  Today is all you have.