ACCEPT WITH LOVE WHAT IS GIVEN WITH LOVE

(Guest post by Wishadoo! Community member, Angela)

Tony, my cat, killed a robin this morning. He brought it to the door, so proud and happy, but all I could do was scream at him. As soon as I yelled, he dropped the bird and ran to hide under the barn. He was so proud, and I had broken his heart. I had looked at his gift and told him it was bad.

Not really sure what to do, I took the bird to the edge of the woods, and sat down and cried. I cried for the bird. Did it have babies? Would they survive? I cried for my cat. Would this destroy his spirit? I cried for the world; for everyone who has ever given a gift and been reproached. What happened to being truly grateful to another soul for doing something for us without being asked or guilted or obligated? What happened to looking at the gift for what it is, and only what it is -- another remembering us and wanting to make our day happier or easier?

This is what is being revealed to us as a global society. We've been so conditioned to keep our "eyes on the prize" that we've lost the joy of everything else. Yeah, a dead bird is pretty gross, but it was Tony's catly way of letting me know I'm his and he cares for me. Would that we all could sit and listen and accept and enjoy each other's gifts, even if it is the gift of company, of listening. I believe that for the entire world, this is our new task: accepting with love what is given to us with love, and taking the time to see the gift for what it is -- an expression of love.

I didn't win the PowerBall drawing last night. It would have made me happy beyond belief to win it -- alas, it didn't happen this time. I did win $10 for matching a few numbers, and I'm working on letting go of the disappointment of not winning the big money and being thankful for a $10 return on a $2 ticket bought. That's actually not too shabby, when you think about it: My investment returned to me x 5, overnight. So I'm focusing on that $10, and letting go of the thoughts of what I didn't get.. The Universe loves me, and sent me a little wink last night to remind me of that.

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ONE MORE DAY (guest post)

by Angela, of the Wishadoo! Community

It's Easter morning -- the most important day of the year for Christians.  

Even those of us whose faith is tenuous find it in ourselves at Easter, and come together in houses of worship to praise and be thankful for salvation.   Although I was raised in the Christian tradition, and still hold in my heart many of those tenets (Love Thy Neighbor, Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You,  What You Do For the Least of These You Do For Me, etc.), 

I consider myself more of a "sampler" of religions -- I find what speaks to my heart and adopt that as my "religion".  Many people take issue with that, but in my humble opinion, religion is a personal choice.  It is a way to communicate with God/Spirit/The Universe/My Higher Self, so why shouldn't it be personalized to what works for me?  (AND, I'm off on a tangent)   Regardless of your religion, however, it's still a lovely time to be with family and celebrate and be thankful for the return of springtime.  After a long night of rain, we're seeing a glimpse of sunlight and hearing the lilt of birdsong, so our fears of a wash-out were unfounded.

I awoke around dawn this morning, went to check on my elderly mother -- my beloved mama -- and made the coffee.  She was still sleeping peacefully and looked so warm and cozy that I didn't have to heart to wake her, so she's still asleep, and I get One More Day with her.  We had talked about going to church today, and that could still happen, but right now she's so peaceful, I refuse to interrupt her slumber.  We have so few peaceful nights that I consider this a heavenly gift, and I will not ruin it by forcing her to get up and get ready for church.  She doesn't do well when she's rushed or being forced, so we'll see how the day goes.  We may make it to church, and we may not.  Perhaps we'll pack a picnic lunch and go to the park.  What better way to give thanks for creation than to be in nature (or as close an approximation as we can get in the city) and appreciating it for a while.  It's supposed to be very warm, finally, so she'll enjoy being out in the sun and watching the kids.


This is my first time blogging on Wishadoo.  Dena asked me to write about my experiences being a care-giver, and until now I haven't had to energy or time or nerve or whatever to do it, but this morning seemed like a good time for a new beginning, given the symbolism of this day.  So, here's it is -- my very first blog entry.


In the past few years, I've weathered challenges and hardships I would never have thought I'd have the strength to face, but face them I have, with as much Grace as I could pull from within myself.  And you know what?  When I had no more Grace myself, someone would always come along to share theirs with me.  There are angels among us -- I have absolutely no doubt about that -- from the kind gentleman who helped me when I broke the heel of my shoe and fell into the road in heavy traffic, to the kind lady from the animal shelter who gave us cat food when we couldn't afford to buy it, to the kind online friend who generously offered to help me find work-from-home employment so that we can have some sort of income, to dear friends who have helped us with financial and moral support, to kind strangers who have helped us out financially, to my sweet cousins who have helped us out with tangibles and with loving support, to the compassionate and loving soul who created Wishadoo so that we'd have a place to gather.  Plus, there are so many people who've crossed our path, helped us in some way, and gone on their way -- sometimes without telling us their names -- and I have no way of thanking them personally.  These are angels among us.


I know that her condition is degenerative, and will eventually take her from us, so my concern for now is making what time she has left on this planet as pleasant and uncomplicated for her as possible.  People say to me "you've given up your life to care for her.  why don't you put her in a nursing home?" and I understand their concern is for me, but as I've tried to explain to them, my life will continue long after she's gone and there may come a time when I can no longer give her the care she needs, but for now I can, and I get ONE MORE DAY.  And for that I am thankful.

The Dance of Gratitude

“Let's be grateful for those who give us happiness; they are the charming gardeners who make our soul bloom.” -Marcel Proust


We have been in search of "good news" stories to share here, and in the process stumbled upon this delightful video to share. We hope it brightens your day.

"So many people in the world today are too focused on what's missing in their lives," observe the two young men from Victoria, Canada, who introduce--and helped produce--this video. "And when you focus on what's missing, you miss the many amazing things that are already there." Their solution? Some shimmying with a twist. Check out the Gratitude Dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NeMC1Fl3J0

Here is what we ask of you today: Think of what you're grateful for, in this very moment. There is always something to be grateful for, no matter how seemingly trivial it may appear in the scheme of things.

Hold on to that feeling...the feeling inspired by what, or who, you are grateful for. Then do the Gratitude Dance.

If you can't move your legs, dance with your arms. If you can't move your torso, dance with your mouth and eyes. If you are physically unable to dance with your body, then dance with your heart….that's where the root of gratitude resides.

When one is aware of gratitude, they can then open to kindness…to give and receive. That is the next step, and the next message here at Wishadoo.

And remember: “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.” –Buddha