The Wednesday Word: Accessible

The word for today is accessible meaning friendly and amicable to talk with. Are you accessible to others? Do they find you easy to approach or do you have walls around you? This is important. How many of us complain about other not approaching us when we have these big walls up?

But there is another meaning to the word accessible. In the 1990’s I was working with people with disabilities trying to break down different types of walls, the attitudes and physical barriers preventing those with disabilities from participating in the life and activities the non disabled enjoy. Progress has been made in making the world more accessible, but we still have work to do.

So today, let’s ask ourselves Am I accessible to others? If not, what do I need to do to make myself more approachable? Is my home accessible? Would a friend with a physical disability be able to visit me? Is my church accessible? I have seen this improve over the years, but we still have a way to go in both physical buildings and attitudes.

We can create a world that works for all. Making it more accessible is a good place to start.

Sunday Inspiration

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

We moved to a wooded lakeside area when Bob retired. It is beautiful but life here is not always wonderful. After all people live here. But it does remind me to slow down, watch the sunrise, breathe in the fresh air and sit by the lake. Adopting the pace of nature is teaching me patience. Things will happen in their own time if we follow the pace of nature.

The Wednesday Word: Balance

The word for today is balance. This is one I struggle with. How about you? Balance isn’t something we attain once and for all. It’s something we have to keep working on. Like walking a balance beam we have to keep making little adjustments (or sometimes big ones) to stay on track.

What are some of the ways you stay in balance?

Sunday Inspiration

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” Desmond Tutu
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/inspirational-quotes

When I get overwhelmed by the craziness in the world I often think there is nothing I can do. There may be nothing I can do to directly solve all the world’s problems. But I can do my little bit of good where I am. I can be kind, gentle and loving. I can introduce myself to my neighbors. I can take hot soup to a sick friend. These small acts of kindness are where it all starts.

The Friday Affirmation

Peace flows through every breath I take.

For more peace affirmations visit: https://blog.gratefulness.me/peace-affirmations/

The Wednesday Word: Release

Releasing that which no longer serves us is an important part of Unity teachings. In fact once a year, usually on New Years Eve or the 1st Sunday of January most churches have a Burning Bowl Ceremony. You are given a small piece of paper as you enter the church to write what you want to release on. You are also given a larger piece of paper and an envelope to write a letter to yourself. The church mails this back to you at the end of the year. At the given time everyone processes down the aisle, lights the small paper from a candle and drops it into a metal bowl. This is a sacred and meaningful service.

But over the years releasing and letting go has taken on a deeper meaning for me as I realize it is not just something we do once a year. Unfortunately I often have to be reminded by my body to do this. Certain symptoms usually associated with aging began showing up in my fifties and over the years were becoming progressively worse. Needless to say I was becoming quite concerned.

Then I began praying. I release and I let go of that which is not mine and that which no longer serves me. I added “that which is not mine” because as an empath my mind and body tend to get cluttered up with other people’s stuff without realizing it. When I realized my suffering was being caused by my refusal to let go of all that old “stuff” I felt more than a little foolish. So now I release and I let go.

Sunday Inspiration

“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.” ― E. B. White

I think many of us can relate to this quote. We feel torn between what we may consider our “calling” to make the world a better place and wanting to just kick back and enjoy life.

I think we can do both. When we express our full authentic self guided by the fruit of the spirit we will not only enjoy the world, we will improve it by serving as an example of what this life is meant to be.

You don’t have to work yourself to death to make the world a better place. I wish I had known than when I was younger. Be your true authentic self, follow your heart and inner guidance and the world will follow. Yes, it really is that simple. We just have to get more people to realize that.

Genie’s Note: Beginning this week we are moving to three posts per week. These will be Sunday Inspiration, the Wednesday Word and the Friday Affirmation. If you are not already subscribed please do now so you won’t miss a thing.

The Friday Affirmation

I am at peace.

Genie’s Note: We are moving to three posts per week. These will be Sunday Inspiration, the Wednesday Word and the Friday Affirmation. If you are not already subscribed please do now so you won’t miss a thing.

The Wednesday Word: Peace

Genie’s Note: Beginning today we are moving to three posts per week. These will be Sunday Inspiration, the Wednesday Word and the Friday Affirmation. If you are not already subscribed please do now so you won’t miss a thing.

The word for this week is Peace, that state of being we all long for, in ourselves, and the world. But here comes one of those great contradictions. To have peace we must be at peace. And this is where we turn something simple into something complicated. No one wants to go first. We are afraid of being vulnerable. We are afraid we will be attacked for being seen as being “weak.” So we wait for everyone else to start living and demonstrating peace in their lives. And we see the great peacemakers of the world as having some sort of super power. But the secret is that peace is a super power.