We Are Our Decisions

 

 

“Everything is going to be okay, my girl. I know that everything will work out for you. Be brave, be strong. Don’t listen to anyone – make your own decisions and take responsibility for them. Nothing stands in your way – only you. Remember that. Remember that always.”
― Vyrgo Black, Under

Your choices define you; your choices define your character and Your choices make you. Right now…this moment… you are who you are, it is what it is is because of choices you have made from the time you were conscious enough to make choices.  Layer upon layer there were choices, reaction, more choices.  We can’t blame others for our reactions to our own decisions... though we try.  Other people do not live our lives.  We do.  We are living to deal with our own consequences.

Who you are, at this moment, is a result of your choices.  Every moment, we make a choice.  Every moment we deal with the immediate consequences…good or not good.  Your every ‘next decision determines who you will be.  Every decision determines the path you will journey on.  Sometimes we make decisions that take us the long way around.  Your choices determine you character.  Life continues to turn, to hand us obstacles on those paths we journey on.  What matters is you do ‘do overs’, ‘try agains’, and attempt to make yourself a better person.   The truth is that you do not make your choices… you choices make you!

Be aware of making decisions.  Considering they determine your future, best to take note of the decisions you are making with that in mind.  When you hit a bump in the road, and realize the decision you made was not in your interest, slow right down and make corrections.  You need to discipline yourself and realize the bump ion the road is one you , perhaps, choose.  It takes stamina and will power to make a different decision to make the corrections.  And you need personal values because really having good standards embedded in your mind, you will make better choices for yourself.  Decisions get easier as you set boundaries and stick to them. 

“A wretched man prayed, “God, I’m miserable! Let me trade my misery for another’s!”

God’s voice boomed from the sky. “Everyone, gather your miseries into a bundle and come to the town square.”

The wretched man gathered his miseries and was shocked to see people coming to the town square with bundles far bigger than his. Even people he thought prosperous! Even they had huge bundles.

“Put your bundles down,” God commanded. “And now, pick any bundle you want.”

“Who knows about those other bundles?” the wretched man thought. “This burden I know.”

And thus everyone chose their own bundle.” – Sufi story

Remember, Life is full of decisions to be made and sometimes we make ones that make our journey harder.  But, again, we are all beautifully flawed.  You are not always going to get it right.  You are not always be on an easy path.  Besides, life would be pretty boring if we didn’t.  Some of us seem to love challenges. 

As you become more conscious of making conscious, and unconscious decisions, forgive yourself along the way, concentrate on how far you have come, rather than how far you have left to go.  Be Present.

©Carol Desjarlais 3.27.24

 

Arting - Relief for the Soul

 

 

Doing Art improves your quality of living.  It soothes the soul.  It gives a sense of well-being.  Not only that but researchers have found that you gain better cognitive function, your memory improves, and your gain a better sense of self.  It helps alleviate stress and gives one a higher sense of purpose.  It becomes a type of meditation, a type of space that is free from the chaos of the outside world.  Who could not wish for such?

Each time we put paint to paper, we begin to stimulate our senses and we become sharper in mind and heart.  It enhances thinking skills and truly has us feel better about ourselves.  Art that we do validates us, and we begin to understand our uniqueness as we turn ideas into something physical. Art piece by art piece, we begin to improve our fine motor skills.  Blood flow improves and it enhances movement in our wrists, hands, and fingers.  Emotionally, we find a sense of relief as we enter that creative space, and cortisol is released as we convey feelings.  It heals us.  

To me, art is my prayer, my spiritual space where the world goes away and I am drawn to make marks and do art in ways that relieves the soul.  

join Unleashing Your Inner Artist group to find lots of creative empwoerment and ideas.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1841395556197634

 

Why the Hare Lays Colored Eggs

 

 

For some, Easter has a religious significance.  For some, it is a time of family gathering.  For some, it is the celebration of Ostara and of the goddess Eostre.  For me and mine, it is eclectic in the feasting, gathering and sharing of a big meal at Spring’s bidding. 

In spring, if we listen, we can hear Eostre singing to us of hope and new life.  She sings us alive with Spring.  The fertile ground begins to hint at greening and the early spring flowers begin their green climb towards the sun.  As for us, our energy rises, we feel full of strength and we begin to accomplish tasks we did not have the energy for.  In some way, we feel ready for fresh new ideas and adventures.  We feel restless. We become open for fresh ideas and new beginnings.  Our eyes seem keen to notice the small things that hint at spring.  For those of us honoring Ostara, we are attuned to the story (Germanic) of when the rabbit was a bird.  Yes, a bird.  The bird was said to have been transformed into a rabbit by Ostara, goddess of Spring/the East/dawn/new beginnings. 

It is said that Spring was late one years and Ostara was in a hurry to get Spring under way.  Rushing along, she stumbled upon a small bird.  It is lying on the ground, shivering and almost dead from the cold.   She stopped because she is deeply connected to small dear things.  She grabbed the bird and put her against her breast to warm it, but it was too late.  She wanted to save this small bird who would never fly again, so she turned the little thing into a hare so he could hop away from death. 

She gave the hare a few special gifts to remind him of being that vulnerable little bird.  She gave the hare the gift of, every spring, being able to lay beautiful colored eggs on the celebration of spring. 

Now you know why we color eggs for Easter and that it is attached to an old Germanic story and its Easter Goddess. 

No matter how you celebrate it, let us join each other in the celbration of spring, after a long winter. 

©Carol Desjarlais 3.23.24