Giving and Receiving

I had an amazing experience of being in the flow of giving and receiving the other day. While picking out a gift, I found an old Native American rattle I had been holding on to. I realized that my friend, Joe, would probably like this. So, I let him know I would be bringing him something at the next Toastmaster's meeting.

When I arrived, someone bumped into me and I spilled my tea all over my white pants. Wasn't thrilled about that, but chose to let it go. I found Joe and gave him the rattle, which he really liked. In the next moment, another friend, Jim, noticed my pants and asked what happened. I told him, and he volunteered to go to Starbucks during the meeting and get me another one, just because. So, within a half-hour, I had another tea.

In those exchanges, I felt the true magic that happens when you just give, and when you just receive. Both are necessary. I felt great giving Joe the rattle, and in receiving the tea from Jim. Joe felt great receiving the rattle, and Jim in the giving of the tea. We all won.

Later on in the day, I asked for help to find a housesitter and was overwhelmed with responses. One friend called and volunteered to sit for me, for free. I accepted, but decided to give give him a gift of money to thank him. I saved the difference between what it would have cost me to hire someone, and he pocketed some extra change to help pay for some of his professional expenses. Again, everyone wins.

This can be a way of life, truly. It comes when we have an open giving heart, and an open receiving heart.

Giving and receiving are the most obvious expressions of love in action. Each day we have the choice to live like this. How have you experienced this in your life?

Love,
Andrea

What are your values?

I've been taking this personal foundations course from Coach U, as I mentioned. This past week, we looked at values. Have you done this lately? You might be surprised. I was. We had to limit our choices to 10 of the 150 or so values on the list. What I learned was that most of my values were about having awe-inspiring, deepening experiences that put me in touch with my deepest self.

Now, you might not think that would be much of a surprise, but it was, because when I was asked how much I honor those values of gloriousness, experience, inspiration and being bonded with others by making room for those in my life, I went hmmmm . . . .

Certainly, I do make room. This is my work. But when I looked at the amount of time in my life I actually "feel" that, it wasn't as often as you would think. Most of my time is spent getting organized or ready to "feel" that.

I also noticed that I hadn't been acknowledging how important I think it is to feel inspired, and perhaps help others to feel inspired. I placed value on the information, but not on the feeling. In our culture, much is made of things that have "practical" use -- left-brain kind of activities. I found myself not honoring the value I place on inspiration, even though it is one of my values! No more. I think experiencing gloriousness and inspiration are very important, in fact, essential to happiness. No more discounting because of the way much of our culture is.

This was a wake-up call, because I realized that what I really enjoy doing is taking adventure trips to ancient lands around a spiritual purpose. I really enjoy talking and laughing with others who are of like mind. I really enjoy being playful in the world, and not all that serious. I really like to live my life being inspired and being a source of inspiration for others. And I like to go through the world with others I feel bonded to.

The point is, when you find out what these values are and start aligning your life to live out of them, you experience deep fulfillment and happiness. This is your integrity and the source of self-love.

Have you asked yourself what your values are? Not someone else's. Yours. Have you asked yourself how you are honoring them in your life, or not? You might be surprised.

Love,
Andrea

If all your needs were met, what would you do?

Interesting question, isn't it? It was posed to a group of us who are taking a personal foundations class from Coach U. I'm talking about ALL your needs. Your needs for love, money, emotional support, self-expression -- whatever. If they were all met, what would you be doing?

Here's what I found out. I would be doing what I'm doing, except I would like to travel more. I would like to travel and do what I'm doing -- share the awareness that there is an abundance of love all around us if we only tune in. I would like to create more groups of people who focus on this love, and be a source of inspiration and hope. Funny thing, I'm pretty sure this is where I am headed.

I think considering this question this is a great way of putting your focus on what you truly wish to do in your life and how you want to serve.

How about you? When you consider this question, what do you feel, deep down, in your gut? I'd love to hear from you.

Love,
Andrea

Where is the love?

I haven't been feeling very much "in Love" lately. During the last couple of weeks, I have been experiencing fear. I'm meditating, opening to inspiration, looking at various solutions, etc., but this feeling continues. Then I read something that helped . . . a little.

When you have a value of growing -- of taking risks and stretching your boundaries -- you are going to feel uncomfortable sometimes. That comes with the territory. And sometimes we don't know why. We have to "live into the answer." Our true nature is truly a mystery. The big picture often eludes us. Things are happening for which there is no "logical" explanation, and the only thing to do is surrender and accept and be patient. Okay. The way of love means loving even when you don't understand, don't like it, and don't know what to do.

Here's what Owen Waters, author of "Follow the Yellow Brick Road," says to do to love yourself unconditionally: whenever a critical thought or feeling emerges, say afterwards, "and I Love myself anyway."

You can use this even when you don't know why you're fearful just by saying, "I'm fearful, and I love myself anyway." He takes it another step and recommends you see that phrase "as a small ball of mental energy and direct it into the energy center of your heart, which is outside of your body, just in front of your breastbone. Feel your heart energy bathing the phrase, 'and I Love myself anyway' in its warmth as you mentally repeat it while focused on that energy center." Then you top it all off by creating a positive statement like, "I love myself always, no matter what."

Sounds good to me. Think I'll give it a try. I'll let you know what happens. If you try it out, let me know how it works for you. In the meantime, love yourself anyway. :-)

Love,

Andrea

There's always an opportunity

There's always an opportunity. This occurred to me when I received a phone call this morning to sign up to do one of those "author" books where you buy into a book by writing a chapter, along with other authors and celebrities. The opportunity is to associate yourself with these celebrities, thus "elevate" your status in the eyes of your market. Also, if you don't have a book yourself, this is a chance to have one.

Here's the point: there's always an opportunity. There is always an opportunity to buy something, to invest in something, to get involved in something. In this case, instead of looking at this cynically as just another sales call (which I did, at first), I have chosen to see this through the eyes of love. There is always this opportunity.

I was referred to this company by someone I know. She thought I would be a good candidate based on the topic of the book. I can view this as an act of love on this person's part, and respond to her in the same way. This is what I choose to do. Whether or not she did this out of love, or for some other reason, really doesn't matter. That will be clear soon enough because the truth doesn't need my help. This is how I choose to look at it and to respond.

There are always opportunities to choose love. What are you choosing?

Love,
Andrea

What would it take?

What would it take for you to stop all the craziness in your life and focus on love? Love for yourself, your family, your friends, your clients, your staff? Love for whoever is important to you?

Hopefully, not a tragedy. We get so caught up in the busyness of life, sometimes life sends us a gentle reminder to stop and focus on love. Usually, it starts with a light tap on the shoulder. Maybe we get a cold or the flu because we've been burning the candle at both ends. Or, we get a call from a friend who misses us because we've been unavailable. Then the tap gets stronger. Perhaps our significant other mentions that he or she is feeling uneasy about our relationship and not sure what to do about it. And on it goes until life gets our attention. Hopefully, we wake up before something even more challenging happens -- like a divorce, an accident, or an illness.

If you're starting to get taps on the shoulder from someone you care about, stop. What could be more important? It's easy to go into judgment about that person not understanding the circumstances, or whatever. But, the fact of the matter is, if someone you love is having difficulty, it's time to pay attention.

But, don't wait for the tap. Take the initiative to pick up the phone, send an email, or set up a time to get together with the people you love.

I received a call last week from someone I've know for quite a few years, but don't see regularly. She called me on Mother's Day and left a message about how I have affected her life -- that I was a role model for her on how to live an authentic life, and she just wanted me to know how much she appreciated me. This came out of the blue, and I had no ideas she felt that way. I can tell you, it was just what the doctor ordered, and I so appreciate her taking the time to let me know.

Let those people you love know. Spend time with them. Choose love.

Love,
Andrea

Lady Liberty -- our symbol of freedom

Did you see that they are opening up the crown of the Statue of Liberty to tourists this July 4? They closed it after 9/11. I was watching The Today Show and they did pieces on Ellis Island, the Statue, and other aspects of NYC to celebrate this decision by the Secretary of the Interior.

I think this is brilliant. The Obama administration decided that not only would this encourage greater tourism, but will also inspire us. During these challenging times, it refocuses our attention on what we are and can be to the world -- a place of freedom where dreams can come true.

This, to me, illustrates the power of symbols. Some people think that only practical solutions are powerful, and yet, this is an example of how we can create hope in the midst of fear, and how we can come together to create a future of freedom where dreams can come true. I applaud their decision.

I've been to the Statue of Liberty, but never to the crown, and I haven't toured Ellis Island. Just watching this made me want to get on a plane and go. My heart swelled with love for our country, our world, and for those things this lady stands for:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
The New Colossus, Emma Lazarus

Symbols of love surround us if we only look.

Love,
Andrea