The Awakening

these meaningful thoughts come via Robin M. and her mom, Brenda J.
Robin and I had a chance meeting in a fabric store, brought together by Wyanne.
I consider everyone of you who reads this blog a friend and so I hope you will take time to read this to the end.
It's certainly timely as we wait in prayer for Rose to awaken.

THE AWAKENING

A time comes in your life when you finally get it -- when, in the

midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and

somewhere the voice inside your head cries out "ENOUGH!"

Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And,

like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to

subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin

to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something

to change or for happiness, safety, and security to come

galloping over the next horizon.

You come to terms with the fact that you are neither Prince

Charming nor Cinderella. And that, in the real world, there aren't

always fairy-tale endings (or beginnings, for that matter). And that any

guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you -- and in the

process, a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not

everyone will always love, appreciate, or approve of who or what you

are...and that's OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

And you learn the importance of loving and championing

yourself -- and in the process, a sense of new-found confidence is

born of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for

the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the

only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean or

mean what they say, and that not everyone will always be there for you,

and that it's not always about you.

So you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself --

and in the process, a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to

accept people as they are and overlook their shortcomings and human

frailties -- and in the process, a sense of peace and contentment is

born of forgiveness.

You realize that much of the way you view yourself and

the world around you is as a result of all the messages and opinions

that have been ingrained into your psyche.

And you begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about

how you should behave, how you should look, how much you should

weigh, what you should wear, what you should do for a living, how

much money you should make, what you should drive, how and where

you should live, who you should marry, the importance of having and

raising children, and what you owe your parents, family, and friends.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And

you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you

begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should

never have bought into to begin with -- .and in the process, you

learn to go with your instincts.

You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is

power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering

through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are

not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds

together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job

to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing.

You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility

and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.

You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose

to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. How to love, how much to give in

love, when to stop giving and when to walk away.

You learn to look at relationships as they really are and

not as you would have them be.

You stop trying to control people, situations, and outcomes.

And you learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings

aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.

You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK, and

that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things you want

-- and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with

love, kindness, sensitivity, and respect -- and you won't settle for less.

And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you

begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a

balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise.

You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and

uncertainty and so you take more time to rest.

And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul.

So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe

you deserve -- and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for

and that wishing for something to happen is different from working

toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success

you need direction, discipline, and perseverance.

You also learn that no one can do it all alone -- and that

it's OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest

robber baron of all: FEAR itself.

You learn to step right into and through your fears because

you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear

is to give away the right to live life on your own terms. And you learn

to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of

impending doom.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get

what you think you deserve, and that bad things sometimes happen to

unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn to not

personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing

to answer your prayers. It's just life happening.

And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state – the ego.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy, and

resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the

life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges

instead of walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the

simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon

the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running

water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by

yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to

never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire.

And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can

listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep

trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

Finally, with courage in your heart and God by your side,

you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design as

best you can the life you want to live.

~ Author ~

~ Virginia Marie Swift ~