Finding the Light

 I know a lot of people have been struggling with personal issues.  Be it health, financial, occupational, or all of the above; it can be difficult to believe there is light at the end of the tunnel.  A colleague shared this saying with a group of us, and I found it quite fitting.  I hope it offers you the ability to look inside yourself and embrace the simplicity of it.

Time is FLYIN'!

 As I sat here drinking my coffee this afternoon (yes...afternoon.  My sleep cycle is flip flopped...days are my nights and nights are my days..)...I realized today was January 10th.  Today marks 5 full months of being married to my amazing hubby...  and it also means that tomorrow is his birthday!  Nothing too extravagant planned.  The hubby just wants to hang out and have a chill day at home.  So that's what we're going to do.  After all...Football starts at 4:30 pm!  haha

As far as realizing I've been married to the most wonderful man in the world for five months...I
couldn't be happier.  You know you have a solid relationship when being married feels no different than it felt to be dating.  Nothing has changed.  The piece of paper and the rings are symbols of our love, not game changers.  And for that, I am truly thankful!  He supports me in my muddy musings, forever encouraging me to pursue my love of sculpting rather than just making stuff that will sell.  He reminds me to take it easy and not be so hard on myself when I'm having bad health days.  He is an amazing step-father to my son, caring for and loving him as his own.  Five months down and a lifetime to go!

Now...to figure out what to do for him for his birthday tomorrow...I know he doesn't want to do anything but watch football... But c'mon!  I can't let that fly..  :-D  Let the scheming begin..hehe

Mudita Mondays

I got this wonderful idea from my good friend, Mei Ho.  Here is her explanation from her webpage/blog.

Mudita Mondays

What is the purpose of Mudita Mondays?
Mudita. [Pāli and Sanskrit: मुदित]
Simplest meaning translated is unselfish joy.
It is finding joy and pleasure through other people’s well-being rather than begrudging it. If this doesn’t make any sense to you, read on to find out why you need to change your perspective. If this makes sense to you, read on to find out how you can spread the feeling of Mudita in your life.

Indeed, being truly happy for another is easier said than done because we live in a world where we judge ourselves against others a lot – not to mention the power our media has on us and particularly the younger generation. In today’s world, kids want to grow up to become famous rather than be astronauts or a President / Prime Minister. Albeit this is changing, there’s always going to be a subconscious inner-self or ego that will try to compete rather than to be happy for another.

Why you should be happy for another
Let’s breakdown the meaning of Mudita by contrasting it with words Western society knows best:
Envy:”a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck”
Judgment:”an opinion or conclusion”
Comparsion:”estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between [you and the other person]”
Avarice: “extreme greed for wealth or material gain”
When we allow envy, judgment, comparison and avarice take control of our feelings, we gain dissatisfaction and contempt in our lives. Not only do we stop giving or helping others, we distort our own realities by either inwardly destroying ourselves through unrealistic expectations or we destroy others through ‘hatin’ and spreading negativity or faking Mudita until you achieve what you want. Here’s an example of struggling through feeling Mudita from a yoga instructor, Charlotte Bell. No, yogis are just human beings as well and we don’t float on mountains with our legs crossed.  Rather, Mudita, as Bell states in her writing, “helps uproot the unhappy states of envy, judgment and comparison.” Wow. That was brilliantly worded. 

What you can do if you are attracted to Mudita
1) Mudita is a state of mind. It is not something you achieve and move on. If you want to feel this, you must do a temperature test every time judgment, envy, avarice or comparison creep into your mind. Buddhist philosophy or even E. Tolle calls it mindfulness meditation which in turns allows these feelings to pass you by and let go of the ego and turn on your positivity and Mudita onto others.
2) Define those people around you that you can feel Mudita for. Pay close attention to those you envy or compare to because once you let that pass, they are those whom may change your personal welfare. It may be family members, close friends or just those who are truly brilliant!
3) Try Mudita Mondays.

SO...  here is to trying to be mindful and appreciative of those around us.  I'm going to do my best to embrace Mudita Mondays!