See Feb 16 Oprah: The Secret-- Like attracts like

 Oprah Show

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How do you see and experience your energy? The reality of your life is something that you have created and your thoughts and feelings continue to build on it all the time. Rather than focus on what you don't want, why not focus on the life you seek for and invite it in? What you focus on expands. What are you doing with your energy and attitude to shape your life? Are you a full participant in your life?  After all, you have been given free will.  The choices you make will always have a consequence.  You are accoutnable for the things you do and don't do. You're responsible for your thoughts, hopes and dreams.

You need a vision and clear intentions in order to bring circumstances into your life.  Take action in the direction of where you see yourself.   Take the word "try" out of your vocabulary. This word means effort, failure with honor.

Timely lyrics

During times of trouble, uncertainty or need, people will say that songs with timely lyrics begin to play on the radio. Something beyond you may be reaching out to let you know you're not alone.  Recently, the following song I'd never heard before played on the radio and startled me out of a daydream. It was another example that something beyond coincidence 'just knows things,' and can give greater meaning to our existence.  What we notice, how we react, and the choices we make, depend on how ready we are to move forward to redefine success and defeat.

Angel
lyrics by  Sarah McLaughlin

Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there's always some reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
memories seep from my veins
let me be empty
oh and weightless then maybe
I'll find some peace tonight

In the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you feel
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line
and everywhere you turn
there's vultures and thieves at your back
the storm keeps on twisting
you keep on building the lies
that you make up for all that you lack
it don't make no difference
escaping one last time
it's easier to believe
in this sweet madness oh
this glorious sadness that brings me to my knees

In the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you feel
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here

Animal hybrids-monsters or your new best friend?

What if you took the risk to voice beliefs on a topic that went against everything you had ever been taught and everyone you know? Do you think your world would cave in and crush you? Probably not. And yet, you would likely feel compelled to do quite a bit of explaining to justify your position. Christopher Reeve became quite a strong advocate of stem cell research and he found he was continually justifying himself because many people think harvesting cells is wrong.

Consider the controversial scientific research where scientists now create animal-human hybrids. The public has very divergent views on animal stem cell research and general animal experiments in laboratories. Violent protests about this issue have gone on in parts of the United States.

In 2003, Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs. The embryos were reportedly the first human-animal chimeras successfully created. They were allowed to develop for several days in a laboratory dish before the scientists destroyed the embryos to harvest their stem cells.

In 2004, in Minnesota, researchers at the Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood flowing through their bodies. Perhaps there doesn't seem much of a risk in this procedure to you?

In 2005, at Stanford University in California, an experiment was conducted to create mice with human brains. This is another real life example of a chimera---creatures that are part human and part animal.  In the not too distant past, this concept was only a legend in mythology.

Scientists feel that, the more humanlike the animal, the better research model it makes for testing drugs or possibly growing "spare parts," such as livers, to transplant into humans.

The 2005 movie, entitled, The Island, explored potential repercussions of using human clones to harvest organs for transplants. The popularity of that film in the box office reveals that such controversy draws audiences.  How many people would choose to grow a clone to survive?  Do we wish to really go there? If you reply no, I'd suggest that we already seem well on our way. A big question is, can we place limits on this technology or even go backwards to erase progress? Whatever your answer, you're also confronted with the decision to consider animal hybrid creatures monsters or your new best friend, whom you may feel compelled to murder in the future.

Mother Teresa & 8 Points to keep yourself on track

Mentors are viewed as inspirations and leaders who set uplifting examples.  Mother Teresa's life choices illustrate what it feels like to 'do the right thing.'  She set the intention to be herself regardless of what she encountered.  Her  behavior speaks for itself. Take this to heart.  Keep yourself on track:

1) People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centred.  Forgive them anyway.

-As you forgive, you choose not to be lowered to their level and thus rise-up higher to inspire.  People who gripe about life would like nothing better than to hurt successful people. Why give them that satisfaction?  Why not inspire them to transform instead?

2) If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

-Be kind because this is your nature, not because you have ulterior motives.  Be genuine and you will attract sincere, like-minded people to assist you with your pursuits.        

3) If you're successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies.  Succeed anyway.

-People will disagree with you or be offended.  Ignore these reactions.  As you learn to avoid relationships of convenience, you can build a reputation of integrity.

4) If you're honest and frank, people may cheat you.  Be honest and frank anyway.

-Treat others as you would hope to be treated.  Rise above a fear of dishonesty.  Set examples.

5) What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight.  Build anyway.

-As you give life to your inner passions, you share joy because it gives your life meaning. If anyone burned your writings or destroyed your creations, you couldn't help but continue.  You sense this is what you're meant to do.

6) If you find serenity and happiness, people may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

-People around you always benefit from examples of happiness. Even grumps might come around.

7) The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow.  Do good anyway.

-Give of yourself not as an effort to seek approval but to uplift or cheer people for the sake of it.  Visit friends, relatives and strangers in nursing homes or hospitals. Brighten their spirits.

8) Give the world the best you have; it may never be enough.  Give the world your best anyway.

-As you detach yourself from desired outcomes, you'll be surprised at the benefits.  You aren't meant to predict all the events you touch. Many are beyond your scope and control. Appreciate all that unfolds.

Rowing into oblivion

I recall a heralding experience I had as a teenager near my family's summer place, that renewed my faith in something beyond me. I invited my cousin Meg out for a row in the yellow dingy.  In a late afternoon, we casually ventured out into the harbor and admired the scenery.  As the wind came up, white caps formed on waves.  I reassured my cousin and said I'd row us around the local penninsula. Little did I know a storm would suddenly arise and threaten to carry us out to sea... 

Before long, fog rolled in and my passenger became petrified.  She lost any faith she had had in my navigational ability.  This contrasted my sense of excitement and adventure about our crazy situation.  I reminisced aloud of heros from some of my favorite books.  Yet, even my humorous tone turned serious when one oar fell out into the water and floated away from us.  Needless to say, the state of my passenger helped rock the boat. As she began to panic, I made efforts to calm her. Not long after, a powerful force pushed the oar back in our direction, and I grabbed it.  That went completely against the current. 

At that point, we saw the penninsula through the mist.  Considering how far we'd come, I agreed it would be wise to go ashore and walk the boat around the tip of the penninsula with the bow line. Meg might've abandoned me then, but as it happened, she couldn't climb a wet, rocky cliff.

Our feet slipped on the eroded stones on shore. The water felt refreshing on our feet.  Meg walked ahead of me and expressed aloud she wished the 'whole ordeal' was over.  When the drenched bow line slipped from my fingers in the fog, I could've sworn a man appeared long enough to help me grab it. Yet, looking up, the cliff left him nowhere to go.  Perplexed yet, grateful, I invited my passenger back into the bow and continued rowing.  She opted not to row at all. As I worked, I encouraged her to keep her spirits up. She didn't laugh though I offered her reasons. With the weather, pea soup fog and now intermittent rain, we both looked like drowned rats. 

Even in light of everything, I kept chatting and managed to enjoy myself. It wasn't long before we could see a person on a cottage deck in the distance. He waved. I smiled and kept rowing. I thought he waved at the gulls just overhead. I didn't feel we needed rescuing. As I rowed against the wind, the fog gradually cleared.  Although I shivered with no raincoat, I was glad to build stamina, resilience and determination.  I liked thinking of the story we'd share on our return.

In the end, our plan for a quick rowing trip took us three hours. My cousin admits she had no idea what she was getting into. As it happens, she hasn't accompanied me on another rowing trip since. Such memories cause me to bear in mind that experiences in our best interests may be things we never thought about. Who would voluntarily row in a storm? That boat experience prompted me to develop survival skills and keep my mind open to possibilities and alternatives. As crises evolve, I learn how faith sees me through. I convince myself I may not control the elements, but I do determine how I react to them, what I choose to attract, see and gain.