LISTEN TO YOURSELF

Good morning on this dreary Thursday!  Rain is good for the earth and good for the flowers and when the sun shines upon us we will appreciate it that much more!  That's not even a quote.  That's just me saying the rain won't last forever!

It's good to be back to my blog but before I get into my quote of the day, let me share my fear with you.  I wrote on this blog last night for the first time in a REALLY long time.  I had a dream that someone wrote back to me that I was naïve and criticized my blog in other ways as well.

Here's the thing.  I am human.  YES!  I am like everyone else.  I have feelings of strength and joy and power but I also have feelings of insecurity and at times, anxiety.  I understand that when I write not everyone will be in agreement, on the same page or even get what I am trying to say and you know what?  That's OK.  What I was doing was working out my fears in my dreams.  The bottom line is that here I am.  I am back, I will write and I give my self permission to continue whether someone likes it or not!

Here goes today's thought, "And when someone comes along and tells you what you are doing is wrong, let them know it is wrong for them but not for you."  Holy Cow, is that perfect for me or what?  Ahh, the Universe is at it again!  This is me!  These are things I think about and I know, I honestly know that I am not alone.  I truly believe that when I come up with one of my quotes it resonates with someone and lots of someones out there!

It is the old story of people trying to tell you what to do.  What is right for you when they may not even have a clue.  Your inner voice will always speak to you and that is the only one you need to listen to.  Who knows you better than you, except maybe your mother and even then, you are the one who knows your true capabilities and desires.

Be aware of the guise of, "I'm just trying to help."  Sounds lovely but be firm with yourself.  Never, never let anyone talk you out of something that you feel in your heart is right for you!  I may have another "scary" dream or nightmare tonight regarding my new venture but I know this is what I need to be doing.  I know this is right and I will let no one convince me otherwise!  Have a wonderful day everyone!~Amy~

OK, I Was Wrong

Wow!  It's been awhile.  Sorry about that but now I'm back!  It's amazing how you can be so devoted to something and then......nothing!  I don't know why I stopped.  Hopefully you will all come back too.  Let me introduce you to the Reiki quote of the day for today, "It takes strength to admit weakness and defeat." 

Does it ever!  It is basically admitting you are wrong.  When I wrote this quote I had no intentions for it but that's how it reads to me.  Raise you hand if you like to be wrong.  I can't see but I bet not one of you reading this raised your hand.  I don't like to be wrong either but you know what?  It happens to all of us.  Whatever it is or was that you were wrong about, learn from it.  How else can you move on and grow.

When we are stuck in being right at the expense of ourselves, we don't win.  We lose.  And we lose big time!  Life is a learning experience.  It is the ultimate learning experience and being wrong is a learning experience as well.

Do you know anyone in your life who is unable to admit a weakness?  I certainly do.  How do you feel when you think about that person?  I can share that the person I know who cannot, absolutely cannot admit their weakness ends up looking ridiculous at times.  Who wants that?

Admit your weaknesses.  Admit your defeats.  Only then will you learn and only then will you grow!  It feels good to be back.  A little strange to be honest but I promise I will not go away again.  I am here to stay!  Have a great night everyone!~Love, Amyhttps://amykaufman.co

EMBRACE CHANGE

Good morning!  It has been some time since I have written anything.  Summer mode I suppose.  I will get right to my quote for today which is, "Change is the inevitable part of life you cannot avoid - do your best and embrace it."  That one struck a nerve for a lot of people today.  The only thing constant is change!  Certainly sounds like an oxymoron but it is true.

Things stay the same, no movement, flow, flow, flow then BAM!  Something happens and everything is different.  I will relate this change to myself.  My husband and I took our daughter to college over the weekend.  I look at my daughter and still see the adorable two year old she once was.  Nevermind the fact that we need to send her braless bra.  I still see that sweet little three year old coming down the stairs telling me the dress I picked out for her to wear will be worn when she goes to college! 

Who was this little person?  She is little no more.  She is at a university doing exactly what she is supposed to be doing.  That is not only a big change for her but for me as well.  The house is not just quiet.  It's more than that.  There is a big personality that isn't here.  The other big personality is her brother but because he is older and has come and gone more times than her, I am used to that.

There is one more big personality in the house and soon he too will be gone.  Talk about change.  It's not that I don't have plenty to do and keep me busy.  No.  It is about such an enormous change in their lives, in my life, my husband's life and even sweet Mia.  She has already been feeling it.  But hey everyone, listen up.  Change is part of life and what we all have to experience whether we like it or not.  So like I said, embrace change.  It is inevitable, it is unavoidable and it is what is supposed to occur. 

Don't resist it or put up a fight.  It's going to happen anyway!  Have a wonderful day everyone! Love, Amy~

THERE IS NO PERMANENT

Good Morning!  It's a beautiful Saturday.  The weather had originally called for rain but instead the sun is shining brightly!  What a wonderful surprise.  Today's quote reflects that perfectly, "The only thing permanent about life is it's impermanence."  Very true.  Nothing is permanent.  There was a phrase a long time ago that said the more things change the more they stay the same.  Not any more. 

Technology for one has changed so many things but of course I am not talking about technology.  I am talking about us.  I am talking about our lives.  Sometimes we think we want one thing but it turns out we want something else.  Now we need to change the way we go about what we want and how to get it.

Flexibility is important because with impermanence we need to be flexible.  We need to be open to change because sometimes that is what we need.  Another phrase is the status quo but we become bored with the status quo.  We want more or less or different.  Know that change is good and is what lets us grow. 

Without change we are in a circle.  No beginning and no ending.  Release yourself from that circle and know that change is always a good thing even if at first you think it isn't.  Change is the only way we grow.  I am wishing you all a wonderful Saturday and hoping this beautiful day changed you plans to something really fun!  Love to you all!~Love, Amy

THINK THE THOUGHT BUT DON'T BE THE THOUGHT

Good Morning!  I'm back from my weekend meditation retreat and like last time, it was wonderful.  Retreats are definitely things you can and should go back to as you get something different out of them every time.

Reflecting on my time there, today's quote is "Human beings have thoughts - our challenge is to observe them and not become them."  That was just one thing I got out of my weekend but certainly an important piece.  We all know that and we have all heard that but how many of us can really do just that?  Observe our thoughts and not be our thoughts.  That is a very difficult thing to do.  In meditation our job is to watch as our thoughts come and go.  To allow them to enter our minds and to easily let them leave.  But we don't do that. 

We hang onto those thoughts for dear life as if they are a life preserver but they don't save us.  In fact they help us drown.  The thoughts we usually hold onto are the ones we are afraid of.  The things we are afraid of such as "what will happen if?" "What am I going to do if?" "How am I ever going to?" and on and on.  Why is it that we don't hang on to, "Look what a great job I did when I," "I can't believe I was able to," and so on. 

We don't hold onto good thoughts because we don't believe in ourselves enough.  We don't give ourselves enough credit and positive feedback.  What this weekend's meditation taught me to do is to be an observer of my own thoughts and once I observe them to release them.  To free my mind so there is room not just for positivity but for observation for the pure sake of observation. 

A bad thought comes in.  Look at it.  See it.  Feel it.  Maybe you know where it came from or maybe you don't but after you have looked at it, seen it and felt it, you can let it go.  Things happen to us.  Things that are good and things that are bad.  Don't hold onto good things either because you need to make room for more good in your life.  Some of us walk around with the notion that you can't possibly have too many positive things in your life.  That is absolutely wrong and it comes from a place where you feel you don't deserve to be happy.

Everyone deserves good things and everyone deserves happiness.  If you have tried meditating but feel you are not good at it, try again and again.  It takes time, patience and practice.  Don't be afraid of your thoughts.  Only you know what they are.  Understand that you have more power and control than you are aware.  Don't give that negativity power that it does not deserve.  Remember, you are stronger than your thoughts, after all, they are not real, they are figments of your own creation. 

Have a wonderful Monday all!~Love, Amy

GO WITH THE FLOW

Good Morning all!  It's the first Thursday in August.  As usual summer is flying by.  I never like to see it end so I am really trying to enjoy every single day no matter what it is I do.  Yesterday we had a plumber come to the house to fix our hot water.  Nothing that a credit card and an experienced plumber couldn't solve.  $1,200 later we have hot water. 

I am not expecting anything to go wrong today but one never knows!  Today's quote, "Even if you plan your day - the day may already have plans for you."  That is something we can all relate to, of that I am sure!  I really didn't have any plans for yesterday but I was forced to make some phone calls and wait around until my problem got taken care of. 

The wonderful thing about yesterday was that I got to reconnect with a friend I hadn't spent time with in a long time!  Although spending all that money on a broken thermostat wasn't high on my list of things to do, it was wonderful being with this person.  While my quote focused on the day, it is really a metaphor for your life.

We all know the lyrics written by John Lennon that say, "life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."  Very true.  You can plan from today, tomorrow, next week and after but you can't plan for all the things that happen in between.  Sometimes the only thing you can do is to go with the flow.  Be flexible and most importantly, don't freak out and expect disaster.  The unexpected can bring a wonderful surprise.  You just never know! 

If you have plans for today, I hope they go smoothly and if you don't, I hope something wonderful happens to you all today!  Have a wonderful Thursday everyone!~Love, Amy