“To lose the earth you know, for greater knowing; to lose the life you have for greater life, to leave the friends you loved, for greater loving, to find a land more kind than home, more large than earth.”
Thomas Wolfe
RISE AND SHINE…..
Back in the good old days or maybe they were just the old days; we used to use alarm clocks to get us going in the morning. But in my house, it was my Dad that woke everyone with his joyful..RISE AND SHINE!
Of course at the time, it was most annoying…but over the years I have wished for that moment when I opened my eyes and there was my Dad to encourage me to Shine! Never have we needed to Rise and Shine more than these days as they pass with more fearful warnings and restrictions. What does it mean to Shine and send our light out to the troubled world, our frightened friends and neighbors – the so-called “new normal.” For me it means to first- notice the light – the spring light that begins at 5 am (accompanied by Red Robin singing away)…to pay attention to when and where the light appears – For instance there is a current commercial that includes the childhood hymn to possibility – “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine …this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…” I loved that song as a kiddo and find myself humming and singing it through the day. Its remarking on the light in people’s eyes behind their masks – where we can see the smiles in the twinkles – Its laughing more and noticing that restrictions and limitations are actually different.
Maybe Merriam Webster might not think so but I feel the difference. Limitation feels more permanent- like we are stuck with a situation that we are just waiting to see change…where restriction feels temporary- where we wait with love for a new day. Shining without limitation is like the sun and the sunbeams…the clouds might be there but that doesn’t change the light behind them… I have seen new aspects of my friends, found new ways to communicate that shed light – discovered new ways to learn and as Thomas Wolfe says above- move towards greater loving – greater knowing of the strength and resiliency and adaptability of our humanity and for choosing from moment to moment to see the light instead of the darkness.
Long ago someone told me to never argue for my limitations – so we can open ourselves to the unlimited nature we all possess- we can bring that to life or we can define and identify ourselves with this difficult time and what we can’t do, where we can’t go, or what will never be the same again.
For many years, I have worked on accumulating and practicing the tools of removing limitations and want more than anything, to share them when they seem most needed. So if you are finding yourself challenged to shine due to shortages of steak – or you want to feel what it feels like to be more free – in circumstances such as these, I have an offer. Just post a reply or email me if you wish, and ask for a few moments to learn some tools that open your world and bring the Shine that you have to this situation. It’s free and it comes with love.
Last week we celebrated imagination so I conclude with this video clip which shows again – the creative coming to life and a cheer for whoever let there light shine to create it. As the good book says – let your light so shine -its life and world changing.