Poppies

Poppies have always been one of my favorite flowers. I have grown them from seeds, nurtured them through the seedling phase, and planted them in my garden, only to have the spring up each year, fuller and more robust.

I have since learnt, Poppies are used as a symbol of both sleep and death.

Sleep because of the opium extracted from them; remember that scene from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in which the new found friend’s journey to Oz is threatened by a lifelong sleep in the poppy field.

Death is symbolized because of the common blood-red color of the red poppy in particular. Poppies were used as offerings to the dead during Greek and Roman Times. As well Poppies are used as emblems on cemetery tombstones symbolize eternal sleep.

A second interpretation of poppies in Classical mythology is that the bright scarlet colour signifies a promise of resurrection after death.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Breathe into me, Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.

A Little Chuckle...

The Snooty Waiter!

Your whole life is a paradox; you love to boss people around, but at the end of the day all you're good for is taking orders. You have insufferably high opinion of yourself and you strut around in your immaculate suit blissfully unaware that you are also wearing an apron. For a reason.

June

1895

The intoxicating Oleander branch in the top right, symbolises the fragile link between sleep and death.

The beginning of June found be intoxicated by an unknown virus. I slept for days to awaken to the unknown. Supreme faith that better things were to come.

VIRTUE

Benjamin Franklin’s goal of moral perfection and how he set about attaining it through living his 13 virtues. Franklin, a printer, had a small book of charts made up that allowed him to keep track of his progress in living the virtues.

The word VIRTUE comes from the Latin virtus, which in turn is derived from vir, Latin for “manliness.”

I have read through his virtues and wish to explore each of them, their meaning and how it could affect not only my life, but yours as well, including the sorts of people we chose to surround ourselves with.

The first virtue is TEMPERANCE.
                   

By conquering your primal urges for food and drink, you’ll have the confidence to start making improvements in other areas of your life.
drink would make adherence to all of the other virtues easier.

Eat not to dullness...

Gluttony... overeating... hunger is a primal urge, however knowing limitations and avoiding overindulgence with this primal urge will allow you optimum control.

Drink not to elevation...

Excessive drinking leads to a "comfortably numb"feeling, until that one drink that pushes you over the limit. Alcohol distorts reality, and this counteracts the virtur of being present in every moment, experience all senses at all times.

This virtue's focus is personal responsibility, what you place in your mouth is your responsibility.

A true man is in control of himself in every situation.

"Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."

SUNSHINE

So the sun came out yesterday, after 7 days and nights of rain!

NEW DAY, NEW LIFE!

Live your BEST life NOW!

Rain

It has rained all weekend. Not a surprise as it is spring, and it is the weekend.

I like rain. I find it cleansing and refreshing.

 

"A rose must remain with the sun and the rain or its lovely promise won't come true." (Ray Evans)

For promises to come true they must endure the joy, glow and radiance of the sun, as well as the lonelier, sadness of the rain. The end result is the beauty of the promise.

 

Favour

Defined as a noun:
1. an approving attitude; good will

2. an act performed out of good will, generosity, or mercy

 

I have been reading alot about favour recently and wanted to document this here.

 

We are said to all be blessed with God's favour.

 

So I referred to the Bible for further definition...

 

Isaiah 49:8 - This is what the Lord says: "In the time of my favour I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances." (NIV)

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 - As God's fellow-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, "In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation. (NIV)

I was told God has our lives planned out and we are in his favour. He has a plan for us. Does this cause us to be at the right place at the right time? Does this mean we can meet the right people?

What does God’s exact plan for my life look like? Is it a large flowchart of uncertain events, that are required to be played out. It is written “He knows the people you're going to need to fulfill your destiny and has it all figured out.”

So he is in control and he places me in the right place at the right time. He will bring to me the tools, resources and people at the right time and this plan will unfold. I would think this also involves some things I may not want, for only He knows what is good for me.

I will walk into my moments of favor. Faith and Trust.

 

I think too much

"People mistakenly assume that their thinking is done by their head; it is actually done by the heart which first dictates the conclusion, then commands the head to provide the reasoning that will defend it.”

Anthony de Mello

Today my thoughts are on loneliness versus solitude. Being lonely makes one upset, sometimes panic sets in wanting to reach out to the social circle. Solitude is the exact opposite, it is the calm of being alone and enjoying it.

Today there is a sense of calm in me.

Faith and Trust.

Glass is Half Full

Begin to change your thinking. To be transformed, you need your mind renewed.

Have an attitude to be grateful and make the decision to enjoy the life given to you.

Choose to be positive, have a grateful attitude as this will determine how you’re going to live your life.
Get out there and live!

Rejection

Rejection can occur in all walks of life, you don't get the job you interviewed for, you don't make the basketball team, you suffer a break up of a relationship or friendship. Rejections can be devastating because we all want acceptance, and rejection reads as the complete opposite of the acceptance you crave.

Rejection should be viewed as a reason to move forward. We need to try to learn, and move on. Don't dwell on the would of, should ofs, because maybe there was nothing you did wrong. Maybe that job, that team, or that friend was wrong for you.

If the door feels closed on you, know that before a new door can open, that door does have to close. The new beginning will not come until that door is firmly closed, no past dwellings, regrets or shame. When we are able to do this it is amazing what does open up.

It truly does lie in FAITH and TRUST. It appears that things are rotten, but know that good things are in store for you. You are seated in the light of God's favour. When you know, when you acknowledge there are better things to come, let the light of favour shine on you, the new beginning is there, and it keeps getting better and better. Great things are planned for you, don't you want to know what they are?

The Resurrection - Easter Sunday

Jesus arose from the dead 3 days after his crucifixion. The resurrections announces that Jesus was the powerful son of God, the very fact he was accused of blasphemy. Christians are given a new life to walk in his way. Through his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.

for ever and ever.

Amen

 

Acceptance

I believe we all are looking for acceptance. We want to be wanted, liked, needed and loved. Sometimes this need is so strong we sacrifice ourselves to be accepted. We will sacrifice our morales, change our behaviour, even change how we dress, our likes and dislikes just to "fit in".


Wouldn't it be easier to just be ourselves. Those that don't like us, how we look, what we say or what we do, can go find those that they do approve of, and we only surround ourselves with people that genuinely accept us for our genuine self. I think it is so much work to not know who you are and pretend to be something you are not then just stand on your own 2 feet and enjoy.


Now, being genuine has it's consequences. You will have fewer friends and it is harder to find those like you as you are unique. However when you sleep at night there is no guilt and no shame.


This brings us to a new challenge, accept those around you for who they are. Give love and unconditional acceptance to those you encounter, and notice what happens. You live a genuine life. It's quite simple - right?

Acceptance is viewing others with your heart not your eyes.

Isaiah 40:31
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,
and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."

Good Friday

With Good Friday being tomorrow I wanted to remember our Lord, Jesus Christ. It was he who inspired me to start this blog, sounds silly I know. But the title of this blog is a true reflection of what Jesus Christ has done to me as a saviour. You're sitting there asking yourself, how can this women blog about reality tv, commodores songs, and relationships and now profess her inner most thoughts on what some consider a controversial topic.

Good Friday is a christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. When Jesus was presented to the high priest t be judged, he asks Jesus to respond under solemn oath, saying "I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us, are you the Anointed One, the Son of God?" Jesus testified in the affirmative, "You have said it, and in time you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, coming on the clouds of Heaven." The high priest condemns Jesus for blasphemy. Blasphemy was condemed and after much back and forth among high preists, leaders and the public Jesus was sentenced to death.

After the whippings and floggings, Jesus carried his cross to the hill where he was crucified. It is said he hung on the cross for 6 hours. Thinking of the agonizing pain he endured, all I can do is admire him for speaking his truth, being genuine and suffering the hurt from those that could not handle it.

I hold Jesus in my heart and I have offered up myself to do his work where needed. This is not an easy committment to make, but it is the right decision for me.

Laughter

They say laughter improves your mood, state of mind, and your health. Laughter is also a universal code. Laughter is a response to cues and codes in all languages. Everyone is capable of laughing, and we all find different topics, events, incidents funny and capable of bringing out our inner "hee hee" "ha ha" and "lol".

It has been recorded that laughter is primarily a social vocalization that binds people together. We usually find ourselves laughing in response to a cue and not really know why we are laughing, it is innate, unconscious response.

Studies of laughter, and this makes perfect sense, laughter is a response to a person, not necessarily a joke. Most often the speaker is laughing not the audience, and most often laughter is a response to routine daily statements not jokes or stand up comedians. So the study summarized the critical stimulus for laughter is another person, not a joke.

Can you laugh on command, most notably no. If asked to laugh, you usually can't, and asked what you laugh at the typical response is "funny things" or "jokes", however I have noticed I have been laughing through out the day at daily common events. Making light of the day to day activites, or just freely laughing due to my unconcisous mind and postive vibe from those around me, in turn creates more laughter. 

Last night I was speaking with someone close to me, as they spoke I had a large chesire cat grin, and the laughter poured out of me because they brought me internal happiness. The laughter and giggles whelled up in my chest and spilled out of me releasing the pure pleasure. I haven't felt that good in a long time.

Thank you my friend.

Just to be Close to You

Longing to hold you and have you near me.

Honesty

The golden rule "Honesty is the best policy", simple statement, good rule, few live by it.

I experienced today the freedom that honesty brings. Why do we avoid being honest? Because we fear disappointing others, we fear hurting them, we don't want to be mean and overall selfishly we want to be accepted. Sharing honest thoughts, could lead to rejection.

Spiritually the honesty I had today, brought over a huge wave of calm. The pent up stress, worry, anxiety, knot in my stomach disappeared. I realized sometime things happen for a reason, and I tell myself today "Jo you just don't need to know all the reasons why." For those of you that know me, my scientific analytical black and white mind is going to go crazy. Maybe the truth is my drug? I am an addict for pure raw to the core honesty.

No Lies. Just Love.

Love even when you don't think it's possible.

The Way He Makes Me Feel

There's no chill and yet I shiver

There's no flame and yet I burn

I'm not sure what I'm afraid of

And yet I'm trembling

There's no storm yet I hear thunder.

And I'm breathless, why I wonder?

Weak one moment,

Then the next I'm fine.

I feel as if 1'm falling every time

I close my eyes

And flowing through my body

Is a river of surprise.

Feelings are awakening

I hardly' recognize as mine!

What are all these new sensations?

What's the secret they reveal?

I'm not sure I understand

But I like the way I feel.

Oh, why is it that every time

I close my eyes he's there?

The water shining on his skin,

The sunlight in his hair?

And all the while I'm thinking things

That I can never share with him.

I'm a bundle of confusion

Yet it has a strange appeal.

Did it all begin with him,

And the way he makes me feel

I like the way he makes me feel...

I See the Light

All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I've been
Now I'm here, blinking in the starlight
Now I'm here, suddenly I see
Standing here, it's all so clear
I'm where I'm meant to be

And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it's like the sky is new
And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you

All those days chasing down a daydream
All those years living in a blur
All that time never truly seeing
Things, the way they wereNow she's here shining in the starlight
Now she's here, suddenly I know
If she's here it's crystal clear
I'm where I'm meant to go

And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog is lifted
And at last I see the light

And it's like the sky is new

And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once, everything is different
Now that I see you, now that I see you

Sometimes I need to stop and listen

I was researching today, reading and writing, I stumbled upon this quote that I want to share.

When something is missing in your life, it usually turns out to be someone.  ~Robert Brault

How beautiful is that to read, now say it out loud. Go ahead, read it aloud, go into another room if you have to, so to avoid people looking at you crazy.

I have often sat and thought something was missing from my life... now I am going to sit and think someone is missing from my life. Even deeper, maybe I already know them, and having them missing is what has caused this void that I labeled as "something".

I have let the relationships closest to me suffocate me and stop me from having someones in my life. Ironically I also came across this quote today;

Don't smother each other.  No one can grow in the shade.  ~Leo Buscaglia

So I am happy to report today I will no longer sit in the shade, I will continue to take the risks I want to take, and I know that the something missing in my life (and heart) is a someone.... now to just know who they are?

Thoughts on being Open

When you share your thoughts and feelings with those around you, you place yourself at risk. The thoughts and feelings are a part of you, and the reaction of the other person can easily build you up or let you down. You open up and respect there is an aspect of trust between the two of you. You also would then expect the other person to open up to you equally.

Each of us is unique, and with that comes unique feelings and opinions.

I love honesty. I love being open to all, and I did at one point expect others to be equally as open. I was wrong, young, and naive to think this, however when you treat others how you wish to be treated the logic followed suit. Unfortunately those I loved did not.

Sharing who I am, how I feel, my wants and needs is something I have to do. I understand I could be hurt by exposing myself. But if I don't share these things, I feel like there is a circus in town around me. It gets surreal, detached and disruptive.

Society has placed a fine line of sharing ones feelings. I wish people were not perceived as weak for doing so. It's also sad to know others will take advanatage of the exposure, and ultimately make a victim out of the honest soul.

I was hoping as I aged the day to make bold statements ... " this is how I feel...." "this is what I want...." would be met with equally engaging statements.

Stonewalls hurt.

the song that won't get off my mind

I am not publishing this to reap rewards for the artist. Simply just capturing this in the space time capsule. Reminder, this is how you want a man to feel for you... girl!

Just to be close to you girl
Just for a moment, well just for an hour
Just to be close to you girl
Oh well ah baby aw

You know I've been thru so many changes in my life girl
Aw I've been up real high where I thought I didn't need anybody
Aw and then again I've been down real low where
There was no one in my life who needed me
Aw and I found that material things I thought had so much value
Aw girl didn't really have any value at all

There was a lonely man
A man with no direction, with no purpose
With no one to love and no one to love me for, for me
Aw girl then you, then you came into my life
You made my jagged edges smooth
You made my direction so clear and you aw woman
You became my purpose my reason for livin' girl

You see you're my heart, you're soul
You're my stone inspiration
Baby oh that's why I'm standin' here singin'
And opening my arms to you
I wanna say child why don't you
Take my hand and we'll live in love forever
Yeah take my hand ooh, we'll be alone you and me yeah

Take my hand girl
We'll live our lives together yeah together
Together yeah together
Just to be close to you girl
Just for the moment baby, just for an hour
Just to be close to you girl, hey, ooh

I've been out there searchin' so very long baby
Searchin' to find somebody just like you
And for some folks it takes a lifetime sugar
To find in this world a dream come true
Why don't you take my hand
Oh, we'll live in love forever yeah
Take my hand girl, we'll be alone you and me
Take my hand we'll spend our lives together,
Together, together, together
Just to be close to you girl
Just for the moment just for the hour
Just to be close to you girl
I need you baby

To make love to be loved by you baby
To have your warm body close to mine
To whisper words that make you feel like a woman
Girl I know our love will stand the test of time
Just to be close to you girl

For the moment baby, for the moment baby
For the moment baby
For the sugar, sugar, yeah, yeah,
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
My arms are still burnin' girl
Ya got me yearnin' for your love
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

                                                         The Commodores

Relationship Ramblings of a Genuine Mind

Is honesty of our feelings in a new relationship the right way to communicate?
Is opening up going to scare him away?
Why do people fear emotions?
Why do people prefer loneliness versus passionate love from someone who truly cares for them?

I see this in relationships all the time. Being a woman, I thought it was a male trait. However as time went by and I explored these ideas more I realized both men and women can be closed off to their emotions. They both can be afraid to know what they truly are feeling, how to express it, how to label it, and of course how to share it.

Relationships involve emotion. Some of these emotions we cannot control. Can you really control who you love? I don't think so. BUT you can control how you express your love, how you view love and how you want to be loved. You then can pick a match based on what you know about your own "looking in side".

For those souls who don't emote, I challenge you to try, look inside, reflect and allow emotions to flow.

Passion, Anger, Happiness are all so wonderful to explore and allow the experience to wash over you. No feeling is ever wrong, what is wrong is how you express and control it.

Take Care and Enjoy Yourself !

Reality Obsession - Time to Admit the Truth

I am a reality TV show addict. I have become so drawn into the 1 or 2 hours of reality TV that the "regular" fiction TV productions don't interest me (other than some new dedictated favorites- but that is another post). I can't answer why I enjoy reality TV, as it certainly was much more addicting before it became popular. I'll share some of my favorites and some of my favorite characters.

Where do I start....

The Amazing Race - this show did not draw me into the first season. I have clicked by it channel surfing and saw the contestants in full Dutch Girl Costumes dancing a milk maid dance in a rural town square, and I thought "what's the point?". I regretfully did not give this reality adventure a chance. This television production adventure motivates me, especially if they travel globally to some of the exotic locations. Their pit stops, detours, fast passes all excite me to see what local trade, sport, custom do they have to engage in to move on. Then exploring the dynamics of some of these relationships while the teams explore the alps is very satisfying, " you mean I am not the only crazy person that screams at my loved ones when covered in mud and sweat?"

So as I sit here direct writing this I think back what was my favorite team? I liked the stunt men, Mark and Micheal. I wanted to see them succeed. I think it was their smiles and happiness that had me cheering them on. Who can resist such a chipper pair!

Then there was Adam and Rebecca a "previously"dating couple. Both were personal trainers Adam had devil horns sculpted in his hair. Rebecca was a reality star from the exercise guru show "Work Out" and hooked up with Jackie.  Watching these two fight and hearing the horrible things they had to say was the lure of the dark side. It's hard to say who needs more guidance.

However my favorite couple was Uchenna and Joyce! These two won the race and deserved it every step of the way. When Joyce shaved her head (a task to be done to receive the fast pass) I cried with her. This couple showed strength and determination. If I was to hear Uchenna was not the gentleman he showed us he was, I'd be heartbroken.

And as she shaved her head he held her and comforted her ... yes she lost that hair but boy did she look great! Woman hear me roar! was the statement Joyce gave me that night!

So what is it about the Amazing Race I like?
I like the adventure, I like seeing people accomplish or complete things they never thought they would do, and I like seeing people succeed! These things happen on the Amazing Race, it is Amazing and it is a Race. This is one of those things I would love to do in my lifetime, whether be on the show, or play in my own race around the world, experiencing and tasting all there is offered!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Happy Birthday!

I am very happy to announce today is the day I chose to begin my blog, Tuesday February 8th 2011. Why did I want to start a blog? I have found valuable as well as emotionally touching postings in the thousands of blogs I have stumbled across. I was born a genuine woman and I strongly believe we have so much to share with each other if we let ourselves go and be vulnerable.

What do I chose to share with you? My musings, my thoughts, my opinions, as well as those of others I have found to be strong lessons to life. I am here to experience life to the fullest, I want to experience all it has to offer, all the tears and all the joys.

I hope my blog will provide an avenue for laughter, tears, happiness, sadness, and sometimes lunacy! If a small piece of faith is restored in you, if you do actually laugh out loud, or if a portion of your heart feels changed, then the blog has served its point.

Thank you for joining me in my portion of the world.