Money is Not Real

Financial news making headlines daily.  Drama and fear the dominant energies involved.  Observing this with detachment.  Understanding money is not real.  Knowing from a young age that we exist without it. The notion of amassing large amounts lost on me.  Wondering about its position at the top of the value list for so many.  The pursuit and protection of it absorbing most of their time and energy.  Resulting in an absence of loving and meaningful relationships.  Contentment and happiness remaining elusive states.  Curious choice indeed.

The Orchard Experience

I was curious.  Had I known my son as well as I thought I did? As I lay on his bed reading through the notes from his time at The Orchard treatment centre, I found myself feeling relieved that there were no huge surprises.  The new information that I did learn left me feeling sad, but not shocked.  After he died ten weeks ago, one of my first thoughts was gratitude that he had found the courage and strength to commit to that program last year.  By doing so, he gave himself and our family the gift of rebuilding relationships.  We were able to have the difficult conversations.  Without that shared experience, this new reality would feel vastly different.  As it is, he left knowing how much I loved him, and I am left knowing he loved me.  That goes a long way.

What Would the Buddha or Jesus Do?

The most significant relationships in my life are the ones that continually challenge me to learn something about myself in order to grow.  My husband, my children, my parents, my brother, my extended family, and my friends are all my teachers.  When I am faced with a difficult situation in a relationship and feel frustrated, angry, stuck, lost, unable to see a healthy response, I try to remember to take time to be still and from my heart ask, "What would the Buddha or Jesus do?"  This opens me up to dealing with the problem on a more spiritual level by shining a light on that aspect of myself which I had previously not seen or had forgotten.  In this way I gain a new perspective and can make choices to move forward with love and gratitude for the teacher.