One of my favorite readings from a little book I often read to my yoga students was titled "Difficult people help us to grow" by Pema Chodron in Pocket Pema. This is a story about a spiritual teacher who lived in the 20th century and had a following of students who studied under him, He had one particular student who angered the whole town. One day the teacher gave the students a meaningless task of cutting all the lawn up into little chunks leaving the lawn black dirt. This was too much for the student who angered everyone and so he took off. Everyone cheered, but when the teacher learned of this he went looking for him.
A few days later the teacher returned with the student, and later the students asked the teacher why he brought him back. The teacher replied; "I pay him to stay here"!.
I have had similar experiences such as this, including a recent one where a person I barely knew came down to California to be mentored by me (parked next door)and within a short period of time I was punted for following her instructions to be very honest with her. When this happened I felt upset. I wondered how this turned out the way it did. It was and remains an awkward situation. I did a lot of soul searching, and discovered I had been oblivious toward my own truth.
My deeper self created this situation, and even though I was surprised, this doesn't effect who I am! My life unfolds according to what is best and most evolutionary for me. I know the universe has my back and when I make a decision the universe works around it for my highest good. Whatever happens today I am safe. That is why I am grateful for all situations, even when I feel confused about it in the moment. All is well again!
May I be an instrument of source peace.
Cindy
Monday, February 13, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Rabbit vs Tortious
My daughter Lanna has just recently visited me in California. For the first time in a good number of years it was all about She and I. Our time together consisted of hiking, shopping,eating and caring for dogs.
We decided to try a bike tour which began at the top of the San Andreas Fault,and ended 4 miles past the Saulten Sea.(A 20 mile hike in total) We were told the average biker travels between 15 & 20 miles per hour. Lanna and I travelled between 25 & 28 Miles per hour. The tour guide asked us if we enjoyed the view of the ride? Sheepishly we blurted, the view was beautiful!
I am reminded of a story of my mentor years ago, Who had invited me to tour her City (Edmonton)on a 10 day walk-a-bout along with my 3 children. We were to spend each day walking different highlight spots in the City for the least amount of money possible as neither of us had any.
Every morning I got up (6am), fed my children, cleaned her house, and got myself ready for the day. I would then wait (Tapping the table),for her to get up and slowly but surely rise out of bed, saunter out, stretch, have coffee, eat breakfast, clean her teeth, do her nails, and then we'd head out around noon for our trip. I noticed by around 3pm each day I'm beginning to yawn and my mentor is just getting started. By dinner time I have about 1-2 hours left and she is ready for a night owl chin wag.
This brings me back to Lanna,s and my bike tour......slow and steady wins the race,right? One would think after all these years that I could be more like my mentor,... but in honor of my daughter and I,... Who said the tortoise was right? Lanna and I got such a chuckle out of our whirl wind ride. I think if I had to do it over again I would probably do the same if my body allowed,and in the meantime.....I realize some things never change.
Here's to all you Tortoises!
Love Cindy
We decided to try a bike tour which began at the top of the San Andreas Fault,and ended 4 miles past the Saulten Sea.(A 20 mile hike in total) We were told the average biker travels between 15 & 20 miles per hour. Lanna and I travelled between 25 & 28 Miles per hour. The tour guide asked us if we enjoyed the view of the ride? Sheepishly we blurted, the view was beautiful!
I am reminded of a story of my mentor years ago, Who had invited me to tour her City (Edmonton)on a 10 day walk-a-bout along with my 3 children. We were to spend each day walking different highlight spots in the City for the least amount of money possible as neither of us had any.
Every morning I got up (6am), fed my children, cleaned her house, and got myself ready for the day. I would then wait (Tapping the table),for her to get up and slowly but surely rise out of bed, saunter out, stretch, have coffee, eat breakfast, clean her teeth, do her nails, and then we'd head out around noon for our trip. I noticed by around 3pm each day I'm beginning to yawn and my mentor is just getting started. By dinner time I have about 1-2 hours left and she is ready for a night owl chin wag.
This brings me back to Lanna,s and my bike tour......slow and steady wins the race,right? One would think after all these years that I could be more like my mentor,... but in honor of my daughter and I,... Who said the tortoise was right? Lanna and I got such a chuckle out of our whirl wind ride. I think if I had to do it over again I would probably do the same if my body allowed,and in the meantime.....I realize some things never change.
Here's to all you Tortoises!
Love Cindy
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Self Esteem
I was in Walmart at the checkout the other day and a young lady ahead of me said; "I'm going to be a while so feel free to go to a different checkout". I of coarse said; "I'ts okay I'll wait". It turns out the young lady had 6 or more coupons to redeem and there was a discrepency in what she was purchasing and dates on the coupons. The manager was called 3 times to try to make the lady see that she could not redeem all 6-8 coupons at this time. The lady stood her ground and never once apologized for holding people up. After about a half hour of this, (With an elderly couple behind me complaining all the while) the manager agreed to honor the lady's coupons by separating her purchases as though there were 2 seperate purchases. The young lady left (Happy) and I paid for my purchase and didn't comment on the transaction to anyone. (I was quite proud of my detached state).
I got in my car and began to go over this incident in my head. I know for a fact I would have apologized over and over again, and I would have backed down from the manager after the first attempt. I admired this young lady and her ability to take care of herself. It became clear to me what it would be like not to have a poisonous judge ruliing my head. Clearly this young lady was NOT burdened by an egoic sense of self that would have talked her into feeling guilty and wanting to please others. I no sooner got home and clicked on the TV and there was an ad which popped up on the screne called "Coupon Suzie", these were the identical coupons this young lady redeemed.
I call this a "sign post", a message that I needed to receive. Where on earth did I get the idea that it was "polite" to not take care of myself, not be true to myself and not take care of myself?
I have a pretty good idea where this came from but rather than blame my parents or my lot in life, I choose to see this a different way. Perhaps I have not been aware in the most subtle ways that to be impeccable of my word means in the most minute details in life.
If I can learn to be my own best friend,and speak my truth where it is needed, I'm pretty sure like this young lady at the checkout, I could tap into that place within and sing like no-body's listening.
I want what this young gal has, it is within already, I just have to quit listening to the critic in my head that is full of no-goods about who I am. I think it is time to walk the walk of peaceful abiding and not worrying about what others think.
Now that I know better, I can do better.
All is well
Cindy
I got in my car and began to go over this incident in my head. I know for a fact I would have apologized over and over again, and I would have backed down from the manager after the first attempt. I admired this young lady and her ability to take care of herself. It became clear to me what it would be like not to have a poisonous judge ruliing my head. Clearly this young lady was NOT burdened by an egoic sense of self that would have talked her into feeling guilty and wanting to please others. I no sooner got home and clicked on the TV and there was an ad which popped up on the screne called "Coupon Suzie", these were the identical coupons this young lady redeemed.
I call this a "sign post", a message that I needed to receive. Where on earth did I get the idea that it was "polite" to not take care of myself, not be true to myself and not take care of myself?
I have a pretty good idea where this came from but rather than blame my parents or my lot in life, I choose to see this a different way. Perhaps I have not been aware in the most subtle ways that to be impeccable of my word means in the most minute details in life.
If I can learn to be my own best friend,and speak my truth where it is needed, I'm pretty sure like this young lady at the checkout, I could tap into that place within and sing like no-body's listening.
I want what this young gal has, it is within already, I just have to quit listening to the critic in my head that is full of no-goods about who I am. I think it is time to walk the walk of peaceful abiding and not worrying about what others think.
Now that I know better, I can do better.
All is well
Cindy
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