AGEISM

'

I love the theme for this New Year, Roaring into the '20s. It speaks for itself as we began the New Year here on the Lower Mainland, B.C., with our first snowfall. I was impressed by how quickly the city sent snow plows out to clear the streets. I began this year mostly alone, sorting out a lot of those sticky emotions that are just there and get ignored as I go through my day. I realize how comfortable it is just to let the feeling pass, as I get busy doing something or nothing in particular, especially as I age.

But I then I had an epiphany, and realized that aging means that I no longer should be dealing with any emotions of insecurity, regret, disappointment, or guilt; none of those negating feelings were acceptable anymore. I have decades of experience to tap into, and that should be enough to absolve myself of any wrong feelings that I may have learned to hold on to. No matter what occurred in my life, I must stand up and be who I am today. My past taught me to be more than I was back then, and that is who I must be in the world today, the me that survived all of my past.

I recently watched this great show on ageism, Frankie and Grace, starring Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, and it brought so many issues up in my face. I realized how easy it is to use age as a cop-out for so many things. Aging is not about giving up; it's about standing up. Being blessed with age, and with your full capacities, makes you a blessing to be shared with everyone in your environment. Some of the younger generations may tend to become condescending in their ways of thinking they know more than we do because we are old. Some of us may get pushed aside because we allow the attitude of the young to break us down and put us in our place. Being old does not mean climbing into a box and hiding. Many indigenous cultures honor the Elders blessed with the wisdom that comes with age. They hold a special place in their society, and their knowledge is highly valued.

I am fortunate to be able to volunteer at Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre in Delta B.C... I have come to realize just how much I appreciate aging as I witness seniors in different stages of aging being out in the community, maintaining their health and lifestyle with such vigor and joy. There is a dinner and dance celebration at least once a month, and the turnout is incredible. I realize that places like this are worth their weight in gold with all the knowledge accumulated here. The elderly may be pushed aside in society, but some of us are uniting to live a better quality of life in this stage of our lives.

Being active as we age allows our minds to stay sharp. Now is not the time to give up on our dreams because we now have the wisdom and patience to move ahead in our lives if we so choose. We will always have a place in society as long as we do not give it up. We are still able to change the world if only with one person at a time. We all have at least one superpower to share, one gold coin that means something special to us and that someone needs us to share. We are valuable with decades of wisdom.

Knowledge is power, and we are powerhouses no matter what anyone else says or thinks of us. If we have made it this far in life, then we are heroes. If we have made it this far and have a legacy of children and grandchildren, then we are superheroes. The world will appreciate us as much as we honor, respect, and enjoy ourselves. I always see myself as a bottle of fine wine, slowly aging in time to become more vibrant and fuller. I am akin to the image of the pregnant Goddess in history, which relates to Womyn in her fullness, filled with knowledge and wisdom: pregnant with life experiences.

The Ace in Your Life

It’s funny how one day you actually get that life can really be played like a game. I was sitting at the computer playing a game of “Free Cell” and I had to laugh at myself as I figured it out once again that the only way to win was to have a plan. Step one was to look at the whole board and find my starting point which was the Aces. Then I had to be able to create empty spaces where I could place runs (4, 3, 2, 1, etc) to move the cards around to reveal the Aces, two’s, three’s, etc. So I created this formula or plan around the game which allows me to win most of the time. But sometimes I get to the point where a message comes up and tells me there are no more available moves left and if I wish I can undo all my moves and start over or quit and play another game.

Now this is when the plan comes in handy, because if I have just haphazardly began making moves I never remember which move led me to a dead end. Now I have the choice to undo the whole game and play again or if I had a plan I simply go back to the move that brought me to the message and play with more awareness so I do not make the same wrong move. By more awareness, I mean keeping an eye on the board and making sure that every move I make leads to another move or an open space that acts like a door to new choices. Sometimes I walk away and focus my attention on other things before continuing and this gives me a fresher perspective. My other option is that I can choose to quit altogether and start a new game and a new plan.

This is what we do in life if we wish to be successful in reaching our dreams and desires, we create a plan. The trick is having a plan that works because sometimes we may eagerly start off but maybe we have not put the right intention into our plan. It could be that we have to unwind a little of our past in order to find the Ace, or the first step so everything falls into place. Unwinding our lives is not always easy as clicking a mouse or icon on the computer but it will give us the same opportunity to start over again and follow the plan which we may have to amend a bit to make it work. Unwinding is also a great way to open up new doors in our lives.

Sometimes we know deep inside what we need to do but have no idea how to make the first move. This is when we must open ourselves up to reaching out to someone who can give us the guidance we need to move forward. You never know what will happen once you open up, either you seek out help or Majikally someone or something appears with the answer to your request. Remember there are no coincidences so use these moments to jump into opportunities. Did I mention that I have a ninety-five percent winning average on playing just over five hundred games? (It’s my old computer from 2002) Now the challenge is to apply it to my life.

Dysable the Enabler

Unfortunately today addictions of many kind are common in society. There must be many of us who are exposed to loved ones and friends dealing with addictions and maybe at one time we may have had our own story to tell. For some reason society has managed to create a need for drugs that is being filled and creating so many problems. We have fear now over drugs that kill as well as the "usual" fears around drug abuse. Being there as a support for others trying to conquer addiction is a place we may find our self in at some point in our lives. Unfortunately not everyone believes in rehabilitation centres so there have to be alternate paths to healing. We may make ourselves available to help someone but if we are not a drug counsellor or if we have not had the life experience our self we may have to be careful about how much help we can actually offer. When we try to help a family member, we could run into all types of unexpected problems because we may be just too close to the situation to see what is going on and what is truly needed. We may find ourselves trying to help someone with their drug issues and maybe we come to realize that we are not really helping at all. There is such a thin line between helping and enabling so it is a sticky, tricky path to walk. If you have someone who actually is being successful in overcoming drugs that you are helping, there is that chance that they may begin to see you as their Savior and that is a shaky path to walk upon.

When we choose to idolize another, we dig a hole for our self which is really hard to climb out of while we see another as our reason for being happy. I am not saying that you don't need someone who can help but when you become so attached to that other that you begin to idolize them, then there may by trouble ahead. If something happens where this person is no longer in your life, what will you do, how will you cope. Will life be worth living? The problem will continue to exist until you learn to recognize the Creator within you. You must learn to see the good within you that creates and manifests all that is in your life. Giving everything you are to another will eventually make you feel less, and brings about insecurities and doubts that you can actually be and do you on your own. Not only for you but for the one you choose to give your power away to. No one can live up to being put on a pedestal unless they truly are egotistical. It feels so good when someone recognizes the good within us and compliments us and thanks us but to constantly have to live up to the image of being "the great one" who fixes everything and everyone can bite deeply into ones self esteem as we try hard to live up to the image and think we have to continue to fix everything. It is so much easier at least for me when I give it back to the person by acknowledging that they are the ones that chose to heal and move forward in their life and they are the one doing the work to better their lives.

One way to bypass this dilemma of becoming an enabler is when your worshipper is giving you thanks for once again fixing them, to somehow mention the Creator, or God or the Goddess, whatever Higher Power that you and/or they believe in. Pass the thanks in that direction and encourage the other to give thanks to their Source. Connecting with our Source, our Higher Power is a healthy way of letting go of any addictive problem whether it be mental, physical, or spiritual. Give them back their power in some way and let them know that it is with the guidance of the Creator that their healing was made possible. Encourage them to have faith and to believe in not only themselves but the power of the Universe to provide them with what they need at any given time.

Embracing the Divine within is being able to see and feel the light within us, that place where creativity and goodness exists, that place of healing. When we connect with and hold on to that feeling we experience the true love that we have for our self and are able to share this with those around us. This is where self hatred and fear melts away, where we can find that familiar place within that we call home. So just try to make it a daily practise to give thanks to the Creator for your life and your dreams, passions and that which make up your daily routine and each day you will feel more satisfied, more fulfilled with this gratitude.

I was just thinking of how much programming we are exposed to if we have a t.v.

I hear messages of not being safe in the home because of falling or break-ins, or using the wrong products or not using the right products. Not being safe in the street unless using a certain product, My car isn't safe unless I purchase certain products, My children, and my neighborhood are not safe. The air I breathe and the food I consume may not be safe. A constant flow of negative programming streaming in from the media to support the financial needs of those that keep the media thriving. In my work, I have come across so many people who are afraid to break the "rules" of society that they choose to believe and although the only outcome may be their neighbors or community may not approve they are fearful. They are in dread that someone may find out their children have done something that the community may scorn them for.

This fear-based society that we live in presents a huge problem for us as individuals. When we don't monitor the programs our children are watching they may become a victim of this fear-based programming. We ourselves are victims because if we watch t.v. for even an hour a day we are exposed to it. How often have you gone out looking for a certain product because you saw it on t.v. or heard it could help you in some way have a better life. How often have you spent money on something that proved worthless in the end? Maybe you decide to have a healthier lifestyle and invest in a high-end juicer, and supplements or some other electrical gadget to make life easier that sits in a cupboard somewhere in your home. Hmmm sounds familiar to me.

I believe that the biggest problem is that so many of us do not realize that we have bitten into the whims of the media, that we have become pawns to the needs of this fear-based life we are living. When we internalize fear it manifests itself as dysease within the body. I believe that many of the chronic illness we are experiencing in society is a by-product of fear based thinking. I also think that the "attitude" of our children is being influenced by the violent online games they become addicted to and the imaging of the glamorous people in the media. Even reality tv is damaging as it depicts a small percentage of lifestyles of a small group. We still bite into it and although it is mostly staged how many of us believe it to be real.

So what is real? Well, that's easy, your life is reality and tv and what the media offers is an escape from your reality. You make your reality what it is based on what you choose to believe and thereby attract into your space. Your self-talk (all those crazy thoughts you might ignore) is the mechanics that create the energy you attract into your life. Yes, all that background underlying stuff does affect your life and what happens in it. If you really want to change your mind then listen carefully to those thoughts and turn them around. Don't let your made up fears rule your world and what you believe your reality to be.

Imagine a world made up of your deepest desires and passions without the fear attached to it. The fear of success or failure, the fear of being noticed, the fear of being different, the fear of being broke or not having enough. We each have our own sack of stuff that we make excuses around that are our own fears. What if for one hour a day we picked one fear and turned it around, wrapped it in positive thoughts and saw them for what they really are. We change our mind about who we are in relation to what we are fearing. We take charge of our fears and move through them one at a time and as often as we need. Just one hour away from the tv or phone or computer unless we need to write or use some creative method of dealing with the fears. My outlet is writing. What could yours be?

Making Choices in the Moment

I had a vivid lucid dream the other night and I am sure it was the result of a free workshop that I was participating in hosted by Deepak Chopra's introductory course to his online workshop " "Synchrodestiny ". Last week before participating in the online intro workshop I watched a show about the swamps of Florida and swamp men hunting alligators, and giant cobras and one guy actually caught a giant pirana which they called a puca with adult-sized teeth. I thought about my father and how he loved fishing and how I felt regret about not learning how to fish That night in my Dreamtime I was thinking the thought about regretting not learning how to fish and then I was beside a lake which I knew was full of fish and I had a fishing rod in my hand and someone asked if I need help and I said no and I prepared the rod and threw it into the lake and I felt the pull on my line. I could actually feel myself reeling the fish in. I felt so proud of myself and so connected with my father.

My intent is always to reach another level of awareness on my journey. I accomplish this by letting go of "stuff": emotions, ego, expectations, disappointments, anger, frustrations. All the heaviness that keeps me stuck in patterns I acknowledge their existence in my space and then I strive to raise my energy above what is holding me down. I usually apply several techniques to move through things. I listen to recordings which I take the time to make that guide me away from my stuff, sometimes I use the resources on the internet also I love some of the binaural beats which can be easily found on Youtube. I meditate and move energy throughout my body, lightening up those dark areas. I change my self-talk with the use of intention. I walk, stretch, exercise to move energy that weighs me down. Diet is also very important in letting go. I drink more water and eat less meat and add a lot more greens to my daily intake.

It's surprising how the toxic people seem to disappear as my energy starts to peak. I do become more sensitive to energies and my environment in general. A lot of times I prefer to be by myself, not alone because I can be my own best company at the best of times. I have many creative outlets so I do entertain myself. I am open to the company of anyone who can hold their space and are on a like-minded level and desire companionship; friend, lover, brother, sister, whatever. I consider everyone I connect with as my teacher and pay great attention to the lessons awarded me. I am grateful for the gifts that I received from everyone that has been a part of my life in any way.

Right this moment I am struggling with a situation that is resulting from having to share yard space with someone who brought a dog into the space and does not clean up after it. I lost my temper but I feel I needed to vent because after hearing "I'll take care of it" 3 or 4 times, it gets to be frustrating. All I want is for the dog to be taken out for walks to do her business so the children who live upstairs are not walking barefoot in dog mess. The owner of the dog does not want to take responsibility so I vent. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do until you get that you are creating your own misery by the way you are reacting, I must admit that it felt good to vent and get it out of my system and the dog is still running free doing her mess in the yard. At this time I have to let go of the frustration and accept that I did put out my intent while venting and hope for the best. I can only control my space and my emotions and the dog does what a dog does. Other people live by their own standards and either I accept it and not use the yard or know I have put out my intent and expect the best to happen. I choose the latter.

Again I have been presented with a situation that moved me out of my center. I also just listened to Deepak Chopra's last installment of his free introduction to his online workshop " Synchrodestiny", and what stuck out for me was when he shared that he has been working on this material for decades. I can relate to that and at that moment I realized that I had the tools necessary to pull myself right out of all the family drama. So that is exactly what I did. Living in the drama for the past 6 years and at some point making a choice to be a part of it ends right now. I breathe deeply and with ease and I feel good about this decision. I can actually see a new path opening for me and I know it is the more peace and adventure that I seek.

Every day and every situation is a lesson to be learned and lived. When we realize this life becomes the University that it is and we immerse our self into being students and learning the hard way or the easy way. Letting go of needing to blame others for our life situation is an easier path to enlightenment. By always giving our self choices we empower our self to let go and not be a victim in life. So I continue to write to keep things light and airy in my space.

A Passion for Success

What thoughts will run through your mind when you contemplate the past year to yourself. How will you feel? Where will these memories take you? What was your biggest blessing? How have you affected others in your life for the past year?

How do these questions affect you as you read them? Do you feel as though you were taken on a ride over the past year or have you accomplished some preset goals that you made for yourself? We are what and who we think we are and we live what we believe. We may set goals to reach and sometimes they happen and sometimes sh_t happens. So how do we avoid the latter from happening?

It really is true that we live what we think. We may believe that we are putting forth the energy we need to manifest in our lives but when was the last time you stopped to listen to the nagging voice in the background of your mind? For instance, maybe you walk past a store and see something that you really like and have wanted for a while on sale. Your first instinct is to go in and buy it, but that little voice from nowhere starts in on you ”You can't afford it, It won't look good on you, you are too fat today. You don't really need it.” and so forth and so on. But then maybe its an opportunity that presents itself through an acquaintance when you least expect it to and the volume goes up on the background gibberish in your mind “I am not really prepared for this right now. He may think my idea is crazy. She probably does not want to be bothered right now. Self-sabotage is so common and the source is always our insecurities.

We can blame it on karma, the past, someone or something else but it's like a boomerang, it will always come back to you. First of all, have gratitude for what you have accomplished over the past year no matter how menial you may think it is. No matter how small it is the little things that matter and make a difference. We can pass these moments of insecurity off as little things but it may be these little things that are keeping us from accomplishing that one big thing that we have on our minds. If we have a passion for something, we must not allow these little thoughts that have stopped us before to get in the way. When we allow our passion to take over it creates a flow that allows us to move almost effortlessly to what we desire.

The only way to move past these little moments is to find a way to nip them in the bud at the source. You can only address them in the Now moment. Your insecurities are based on your Root chakra which is an energy disc located around the lower back between the hips. See this area as a comforting red color and breath into it. When you hear that nagging or feel the emotion that comes with it, change the feeling to a more uplifting or successful feeling and turn that thought around. The message you send in there is” I am worthy and I deserve this right now.” and use this message as a mantra to manifest all that you desire. Take your passions like a bull by the horns and direct them with the energy of success. Make this new year, a year of more success in your life.