art is amazing

The power of art is amazing. It has really been helpful for me. On the infrequent occasions when I feel pain, looking at art makes me feel better. I am able to shift my focus. I feel peaceful and stop worrying about the pain.

If you haven't tried Pinterest, I highly recommend it. They describe it as an online pin board, similar to pinning your interests to a bulletin board. There are many categories and, it seems, an infinite number of images. Some people pin recipes or crafts. I pin mostly art. I have separate boards for photography, earlier artists, abstract art, and many others. You can check out my pins at: http://www.pinterest.com/hogerfeld/

So, when I am hurting, I go browse through the over-6,000 images I have collected. There are some Impressionist paintings that immediately bring me a sense of peace. Depending on my mood, I will look at nature, children, animals or even old toys from childhood. I find Pinterest to be an excellent distraction.

Of course, creating art can be powerful, too. Expressing your emotions feels good. Though for me, when I take photos, I'm looking for something beautiful or interesting. My usual underlying message is: life is good.

For now, if you're looking for a distraction from your troubles, check out Pinterest. Have fun!

community

Tonight I met with my writing group. A few of us who live in this fabulous apartment building get together once a month and share something we have written. Then we offer comments and constructive criticism.

It's wonderful to find a group of like-minded people. One benefit to living in my building is that it is easy to reach out and find ways to interact with our neighbors. I'm very grateful to live in a building that fosters community.

For people who don't have a building full of people to meet, there's the website meetup.com. Another way to create a community of like-minded people.

The more people we meet, the more we learn. For me, life's purpose is to learn and love as much as we can.

Go forth and learn what you will!

control

When you feel like nothing is going your way and there's nothing you can do about it, think about this quote from the author of Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert:

There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under my jurisdiction. I can decide how I spend my time, with whom I interact, with whom I share my body and life and money and energy. I can select what I read and eat and study. I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life – whether I will see them as curses or opportunities. I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which they speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts. – Elizabeth Gilbert

no fear of the future

Again I find spiritual words in unlikely places. I've been watching the BBC’s "The Adventures of Merlin."

Merlin is a young man who says he is scared of the future. His guardian, the physician, tells him that the future is not yet shaped. It is we who will shape it by the decisions we make and the actions we take.

We need not fear the future if we have influence over it.

Besides which, I believe Eckardt Tolle would say there's no need to fear the future because it will never get there. Everything happens in the Now.

So, if we make our present the best it can be, that is all we need.
Things that make you go hmm…

share what is in your heart

A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song. - Maya Angelou

You don't have to have all the answers. Just share what is in your heart. If we each share the best of ourselves, the world will be improved.

I share my smile, my art, my positive thoughts and my listening ear when someone needs to talk. What can you share?

Mister Rogers

I don't think anyone can grow unless he's loved exactly as he is now, appreciated for what he is rather than what he will be. --Mister Rogers

Because this comes from Mr. Rogers, I would guess he's talking about children. We should try not to focus on what they will become… Teacher, lawyer, nurse, etc. or even the type of person they will become. Every child needs to know they are special and important as they are at this moment just because there is no one else in the world just like them.

If a child feels loved, he or she is bound to be a happy, well-rounded individual.

That goes for adults, also. Each of us deserves to feel loved. We can accomplish any goal when our efforts are concentrated. And our efforts are supported and encouraged by people who love us. You can never say, "I love you" too often. It is so important to tell the people in your life how much you love them just the way they are.

I have love for all of my fellow humans. I hope that feeling comes across to everyone who reads this. You are special and important just the way you are!

being one

Aha! I think I finally wrapped my head around the premise of being one with God and the universe! Another step on my spiritual journey.

Yesterday I listened to a 1981 BBC interview of Ram Dass. He is an interesting character. The description he gave somehow made a lot of sense to me.

Paraphrasing.. Many planes of awareness.
First– separate, your body and my body.
Second– psychological, your personality and my personality.
Third– astrological, Gemini, Pisces, etc.
Fourth– individual differences, when I look into your eyes I see another human being just like me but with different packaging.
Fifth– being One, when I look into your eyes I see myself looking at myself looking at myself. We are One, all in costume delighting to be the many.

Going from the many into the One back into the many, to experience individual aspects of Itself. All planes of awareness are equally important.

Now that I have written it all out, I don't feel the same certainty I did at first. Still, I'm excited to explore these ideas further. What do you think?