love

Do you count your blessings everyday?
Even if you have to search your brain to find them?

In the midst of despair, this is your life preserver.
It will help you keep your head above water,
So you don’t drown in a sea of negative thoughts.

Turn it into a game, similar to counting sheep to go to sleep.
Answer each negative thought that goes by, with one of 
Appreciation and gratitude.

Every morning before you get up, in that place between awake and asleep,
And every night as you fall asleep, count your blessings.
This will shift the energy of the day you just had, or the one to follow.
It will put you into a place of receiving.
Receiving more of what you’re grateful for.

This attitude of gratitude is a very powerful way to shift your focus
from what looks wrong in the world, or your life, to what’s right.
And there is SO much that is going well!

Start slow at first, with simple things.
Focus first on your life, then as you get going, it will be easier
to move that focus out to your community, and then your county, and then the world.
And as chaotic and broken as this planet may SEEM to be,
there are endless things to be grateful for.

We usually give you a list to start you off, but if feels like you can take this
and run with it.
You’re alive! and awake! with the empty canvas of each day ahead of you.
Will you paint a picture of arduous hardship?
or one of splendid harmony with those around you, knowing how lucky you are, and just how many things are going RIGHT!

Do you dig your feet in deep, with your hands in fists and 
Your eyes slammed shut tight?
What would you sacrifice to be “right”?
Friends,
Family,
A romantic relationship?

Most people would rather be “right” than be happy.

And how is that working for you?

It seems you will fight to the death, just to prove your point.
Even though you stand little chance of changing another’s mind.
But by golly, you stood your ground, and anyway, they were just…”wrong”!

Can you be dissuaded? Cajoled? or persuaded to see anyone else’s
perspective? 
Or do you immediately judge it as right or wrong,
Get on your soapbox and argue your case?

How did you come to all these lofty opinions anyway?
Did you study for years?
Tons of research, 
With an open mind,
weighing all the facts?
REALLY??

We would guess it was more out of fear and self preservation.
You found something along the way and you’ve held on to it for dear life…
Because it works, 
or it used to work, and your just too scared,
Too stubborn to change.

There, we said it,
stubborn starts off scared.
Fear keeps you thinking you’re right, and everyone else is tragically misguided.
That and a little ego mixed together, form a cocktail guaranteed to 
Keep everyone at arms length.

The payoff for being stubborn is that nothing changes,
everything stays the same.
Now, if you’re happy and satisfied with were you stand,
by all means, hold your ground!
But, if you’re in the market for some life expansion, 
some fun, and adventure, 
Open your eyes,
Unclench your fists,
Loosen the hold on your feet,
And listen the next time your presented with another point of view,
with an open heart AND an open mind!

Last night after eating way too much sushi, I broke open
my fortune cookie to this:

“Special touches have been planned with you in mind”

And it really resonated, and I’ll tell you why.
Since I’ve gotten back from our trip, things feel different,
I feel different.
I’m not sure if it’s the feeling of fall in the air,
the cooler nights, the earlier darkness, or the thought
of Halloween candy just around the corner.

I’m just sure something’s up.

The air feels ripe with possibilities,
There’s a flow and ease,
And it’s about time!

I’m having more fun.
Staying out later, laughing more often.
It seems as if I’ve seen all my friends since I’ve been back!
And with the exception of a couple…I have!
and THAT right there is crazy!
What usually is a feat of unbelievable timing and logistics,
Has been easy!
A phone call, and Viola! Friends at Dinner!
Friends for Lunch, friends meeting for coffee. 
So easy!

I like how the cookie says ” planned with you in mind”.
Like the universe has been giving this some thought, 
Taking notes, making phone calls, and really listening.

And “special touches” feels so personal, 
Like a cosmic concierge, who knows all my preferences 
and is making sure every detail is just right.
Yeah, that’s it!
I feel there is a special “attention to detail” that’s been missing.

Things are feeling ” just right”, and even when they aren’t
It hasn’t been bothering me, because it seems like if I just 
keep living, and laughing, and loving, it works itself out.

I really like this feeling of expectation, anticipation, and possibility!
So, I’ve got my list for the cosmic concierge of the special touches 
that I’d like to see today.
I know it’s early, but I want him to have plenty
of planning time 😉

Xox Janet

The Equinox and full moon have brought in some big energies, and with them a feeling of expectation.
You know how when you see a flash of lightening you expect the thunder to follow?
Right now you are in the state of listening for thunder.

You’re seeing things differently,a little brighter, a little clearer.
The light right now seems very white, and the colors more vivid.
And underneath each moment is that feeling of expectation.
Listening for the thunder.

You’re never afraid of the thunder, you just want to know how close 
the lightening was, and which direction the storm is moving.
Will it start out low and rumbling, or a loud clap, right over head?

The feeling of expectation is what you’re feeling now and you like it.
You just can’t put your finger on what’s changed,
You? Or everything around you?

Both

Don’t mislabel this feeling and call it anxiety,
Or fear,
Or worry,
Or stress.
It has an aspect to it that does make your hear beat a little faster,
So let’s call that excitement.

As you live now, listening for the thunder,
With your heart beating faster,
In this energy of expectation,
Expect the best.
Seriously, it’s that kind of energy.
It’s re ordering your life.

Sit inside this expectation confident that 
The storm has past, everything feels fresh and new,
And as you listen for the thunder, 
Remember it can’t hurt you.

You know how you all feel autonomous?
Like an island in a sea of vast isolation?
Adrift, alone, looking for that sign of sameness, that feeling of familiarity?
Well, I’ve got news for you.
You, all of humanity, are connected.

You are more like fingers on a hand.
Thinking and acting separately,
when in fact you are part of the whole hand.

The thumb and forefinger, judge the others as useless and lazy.
It’s a fact they do the largest percentage of all the work!
That pinky, what’s he good for?
The ring finger is just a hopeless romantic, waiting for that ring.

When the truth is more like this.
When you hurt one finger, you hurt the whole hand.
Try picking something up with a cut on your thumb!

The fingers are useless without the hand, and vice versa.
The fingers have grown out of, but serve, the hand.

Source cannot grow and expand without you!
And you are inanimate without source energy.

So quit thinking you’re so great all alone!
Because you’re not alone.

Look around.
You are all connected, like fingers on a giant hand.
Reaching, hoping, making your lives and the world better.
You are nothing without each other.
You are just a lonely castaway, lost at sea.

Have you noticed the big energy that accompanied this full moon?
And emotions that have been unearthed?

There may have been lots of tears, 
Or the feeling of separation, of walking two feet behind yourself.

Some of you have felt a quiet desperation, like nothing matters,
And you’re just going thru the motions, feeling empty inside.

Fatigue has creeped into the cracks of everything you do right now.
Lack of enthusiasm is pervasive.
When you go to bed you can’t stay asleep, but in the morning
It’s impossible to get up!

What on earth is going on?
Where’s my joy?
I’m feeling lonely, and so tired.

But you’re all familiar with this cycle.
You’re all becoming experts at navigating these energy waves
As they come in and rearrange your molecules.
You KNOW that “this too shall pass”
And that now is one of those times to just get quiet and breathe.

No longer do you think this is a permanent state of mind,
But you have the KNOWING that just on the other side of 
these feelings, there is peace.

Just on the other side of despair is your joy.
You’ve been here before,
You’ve walked thru the Valley of Darkness and come
Out the other side to laugh again.

You won’t drown.
On the contrary, you will soar!

The releasing of heavy emotional baggage that happens 
When these big waves come in,
Make you buoyant.
It makes you lighter, and brighter, washes you clean.
Remember?

This is a time of renewal,
But that happens from going inside and digging deep,
From churning up the soil and turning over every rock.
And sometimes it isn’t pretty!

If you want to sleep…sleep!
If you feel like crying…cry!
Write your feeling down,
Get them out
And then rest.
You’re going to need your strength, because things are about to get 
REALLY good!!