DID YOU SAY YES WHEN YOU REALLY MEANT NO?

Moss Hart, Playwright and Theatre Director, said it best: "All the mistakes I ever made were when I wanted to say no and said yes."

During moments of reflection, when past transgressions clutter my mind, it is clear where my mistakes were born, and more times than not it is because I said yes; even through screams that shot from my head and out through my ears with a wild No! No! NO! (Couldn't the sweet thing offering me 'an opportunity' hear that?) But never mind blaming her. I'm the one who said...ah, yes. I'm the one who allowed someone else to control me. And why? It's simple. I didn't listen to me! I call it the 'Didn't Listen to Me' syndrome; and it is a crutch from the past. You know, that sickness we developed because we wanted to please everyone? We wanted to be liked? Blah!

Once upon a time, I thought I was doomed as a slave to the 'yes' monster, but recently, I learned that like most anomalies, this one is curable to. How? I know it's cliche, but just say NO. In a kind tone of voice. When you say no when you mean no, and if you pay attention, you will notice that your body will thank you. Your mind will feel free, and your heart will be at peace. When your mind is free and your heart is peaceful, you are in control of you and the life you create will be one of freedom, peace, discipline, love...

"Our Truest Life is When We Are in Our Dreams Awake."

...Henry David Thoreau

How many of us are living our dream? Do you even know what your dream is? Think back to when you were a child. What did you do? Were you a builder? Did you tell stories? When you played house, what role did you play? What were your favorite conversations about?

Think back. When you were using your imagination, who were you?

TRUTH

To Have Abundance,

To Take Abundance,

And Still,

Abundance Remains

THINK ABOUT IT

Do you remember Mickey Mouse's fabulous role in Fantasia? He played a wizard, and a very wise wizard at that. Wizardry, the art, or practice of using extraordinary skills, was simply an attempt to use, and explain a component of metaphysical science. Alchemy, another scientific practice during medieval times, uses components of physical science that went further in exploration. Alchemist weren't interested in controlling the weather, or some nuisance from a neighboring village. They were interested in changing common metals into gold. Later, and figuratively speaking, the Alchemists philosophy graduated into one that says, if we can take any common material and change it into gold, wouldn't we all be rich? Today's alchemist believes in plenty for all. So with that metaphor, what is gold?

By common definition, we know about gold. It's valuable and if you are in ownership of plenty, you are rich. But why were a bunch of medieval scientists wanting to turn common metals, dirt if you will, into gold? The answer? They wanted to be rich, of course! Simply, they wanted what gold could provide. But the practice of alchemy wasn't just about a bunch of guys wanting to get rich. After all, if they could discover a way to turn a farmers dirt into gold, wouldn't that benefit the farmer as well? If the alchemist could, by manipulation show the brick layer how to transform his mud into gold, would not the brick layer benefit? Alchemy is the practice of taking something common and turning it into something of more value.

So what does this have to do with you and me? I believe that whatever we believe, we can conceive. I believe that thought is energy, and what we think about, comes about. So here it is...Could all this nonsense about our economy be something we've contrived? I still wait my turn at restaurants. I still wait in lines at the grocery store. Too many tall people still sit in front of me at the movie theater. And today, I'm going to look at a jeep that I want to purchase.
And without shame, I will admit and give thanks that I am blessed.

There is still another philosophy that alchemy holds true with...if we listen to that small still voice within (I call it God), and if we share just 10 percent of our wealth with those who feed our souls, we can have whatever we want! Isn't that taking something of value and making it better?
So what do we do about our country's state of affairs? Perhaps we can begin by improving upon our own worlds. We could resist the temptation of the I can't. Do what is right. Come to think of it, isn't that what the wizard's apprentice learned?

I ALREADY PLAYED THAT GAME

Years ago, I mean YEARS ago, I found myself in a peculiar situation: I found myself penniless, and for one night, homeless; I slept in my car with nowhere to go the next morning, except perhaps, the passenger seat? And when I say slept, I really didn't. I was so angry at me for my circumstances that I couldn't sleep, and in retrospect, it was good thing I kept myself awake. After all, how could I have kicked myself in the behind?

As dawn broke, I could see the pink hue beginning to form on the water. Surfers were unloading gear to catch the best waves, and I did get out of my car to climb into the passenger seat. My mind took me to many places that morning, one of which was just up the highway in Redondo Beach: The Church of Religious Science. Without thought to my dwindling gas tank, I crawled back behind the wheel, for the 20 minute drive. It was a Wednesday, and very early, so as I expected, nobody was there. What was it about that place that drove me to its parking lot? And then, I swear, I heard it...Thank you for the Abundance that is mine to share. Thank you for the Abundance that is mine to share. Thank you for the Abundance that is mind to share. Three times. But what abundance? I was broke...sort of...

So I began to count my blessings. I had gasoline, I had two jobs. (Yes, two jobs, but I had no permanent place of residency. California banks would not allow me to open a checking account with a motel address, soooo-oh-oh-oh, I had a plethora of checks, but no way to cash them. Thus, I was broke...sort of...) I was a single parent, and by a miracle, my mother wanted to take my healthy son, then almost three years old, with her on a camping, Disneyland, etc... vacation just as my motel stay was about to end (due to no money). I had three weeks to get my life back on track. I spent several hours in that parking lot counting my blessings. I had parents that had they known, would have helped.

After contemplation, I realized that I had broken with my common energy - that philosophy we live by whether conscious of it or not. My usual mindset of prosperity and giving thanks to God for it, had left me. I bought into the current climate of gloom and doom. Gasoline was available for a high price and long waits in line. Housing prices and rentals were almost impossible to reach. Unemployment was high. (I had two jobs.)

Several hours later, I left the Church of Religious Science parking lot, to find my own piece of sand where I could contemplate and meditate. I asked for a welcome back, guidance and money. I needed money - greenbacks, Georges, Lincolns, and Ben's. Upon returning to my car I did find a crisp, folded dollar bill. Enough money to buy 5 Snickers bars. That evening when I reported to work (after dressing in the bathroom), I ravaged through left over pot-luck that the early shift left behind.

Many years later, I find our country in similar circumstances. Unemployment is high, inflation is ugly, Government wants too much control, stocks are unstable, but I'm not going to play that game. It's not fun. Instead, I'm going to keep my energy positive and ready to accept The Abundance That is Mine to Share. Thank you, thank you, thank you.