For the past few years, I have been searching for someone.
She’s about 5’6”, blonde hair, hazel eyes. She pops in and out of my life,
showing herself every once in a while but always just out of reach. I know she's here somewhere, she just needs some encouragement to come out and show herself. Who am I
looking for? Myself. Have you seen me?
Oh, not the woman who’s been around for the past 23+ years –
mom, wife, chauffeur, PTO member, Church volunteer, homework helper, shoulder
to cry on. No, she’s great but she’s not who I’m searching for.
I’m looking for that other woman. The one who loves to read
and write; whose friends swore she’d be an anchor on the local news station;
who couldn’t imagine getting old. The one who is turning 48 in a few days but
swears she was just 25 a few months ago.
Truthfully, I’m not sure I even know her. She’s been buried
under some wonderful titles (see above) but I think it’s about time I find out
more about her.
I’ve had an incredible life so far doing exactly what I
always thought I’d do – be a mom to some pretty great kids. And now, those
great kids are grown up and I’m finding myself in a bit of a dilemma. I’ve got
to find myself again. I’ve got to figure out who Kathleen Marie Welsh Kopp will
be for the next stage of her life.
I’ve been so busy being a mom and wife, and reacting to life, I’ve
let life determine who I am rather than the other way around.
Well no more! I declare it’s my turn. I’ve already started
my journey and I invite you to join me. Who are you looking for? That girl who
always wanted to be a worldwide traveler? That woman who thought she’d be a
great actress? That young lady who always wanted to write a book? That young man
who thought he could be his own boss? That boy who thought he’d be a
professional athlete?
Well guess what? It’s your turn too. Let’s do this together.
Let’s look at each area of our lives and discover who we want to be from now
on.
Over the next month, I’m going to examine and explore every
area of my life – from the food I eat to the people I socialize with to the
clothes I wear. I’m going to look at my past so I can figure out my future.
Who’s with me?
The Kiss of PeaceBy Gede Prama
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bellofpeace.org/
Why do women close their eyes when they are kissed?”, this is the question of many teenagers. Every spiritual friends who grow deep in meditation know, the true beauty is hidden within. The outer beauty is merely the reflection of the inner harmony.Sadly, very few of people in this age who can meet deep beauty like this. Most human beings fight against themselves. On the path of compassion, it is often heard a beautiful message like this: “be kind to those who harm you. They are fighting. And they do not fight against you, they fight agains themselves”.This explains why life is burning in many places. Hospitals are full, the victims of drugs increase significantly, the story of divorce and suicide are very touching. In short, very few of people who find the inner harmony recently. Most people are burning in the chaotic inner conflict.As has been shared very often in meditation classes, there are many seeds of violence were planted within us. Family, schools, leaders, society planted countless seeds of violence in our inner life. That’s why many people can be easily burnt simply because of small things.At the level of healing, meditation keep teaching the approach of selective watering. Students are suggested to water only the seeds of peace. To put it clearly, surround yourself with people who support your peace journey. Every time the memory of violence appear in the mind, learn to smile to the bad memory, learn not to react in the forms of speech or action.Quoting the teachings of ancient Indian in America, within us there are good and bad wolves which keep fighting every day. And the winner is the one who is fed every day. With the approach of smiling to the seeds of violence within, not to react in the forms of words and actions, one is no longer feeding the bad wolf within.In the language of meditation: “recognize mind as mind, not as a truth. Recognize feelings as feelings, not as yourself. That is how meditation cures many lives”. Anyone who diligently practice meditation like this, one day they will experience a deep healing. And they are no longer burnt by the heat of life everywhere.At the level of perfection, the selective approach of watering is not necessary. What is needed is a consistency to witness without choosing (choiceless awareness). Every movements of life outside and inside, both are similar to snow flakes falling into the lake. It causes ripples for a while, but finally they disappear.Meditate or not, praying or not, that’s the natural nature of life. Everything grow follow their own law. Shade trees invite the coming of birds. The blooming flowers invite the coming of butterflies. How bad or how beautiful everyday life, everything simply appear and then disappear. It is as simple as snow flakes falling into the lake.Any inner seekers who are one with the daily meditative life like this, they can transform life into a song of harmony. This is what allows a person to find the true beauty within. In the depth of beauty within, life is the kiss of peace.Author: Gede Prama