Respect...Sorry, Sort of A Rant

I'm not concerned with your liking
or disliking me.  All I ask is that you
respect me as a human being.

-Jackie Robinson-

When I walked down the subway stairs yesterday after a long, hard day at work,  an older gentleman held the door open for me.  As is my habit, I picked up my steps and  looked at him and smiled, "Thank you."  Then I did my usual roundabout to see if someone was coming, and happened upon a gentleman maybe 15 feet from the door.  I don't know exactly how far enough away from the door he was, but I did know that, had I let the door shut, it would not have slammed in his face.  The man saw me holding the door and knew I wasn't going to slam it in his face, but didn't bother pick up his pace until he reached the door; then, he picked up his step and squeezed on through, not bothering to take the door from me,  leaving me standing there holding the door like I was 'his' personal door person.  Not even a 'thank you' from him.  Of course, he had to hear my rather sarcastic, "Thank you and you're welcome."  You don't know how much that kind of stuff irks the heck out of me.

Respect and manners...where have they gone?  Is there any one of us who does not wish to have a little basic respect?  After all, when one respects others, shouldn't they receive the same?  Isn't it true that when we are respected, we know that our role in society is appreciated? I was always under the impression that we desired, and even worked for respect.   "Respect your body." "Respect other cultures, religions, beliefs."  "Think of the next person." "Respect his/her feelings." "Respect your elders."  Heck we use the word respect so often, but  do we even know what respect is anymore?  I know most of us do, but what of the younger generation.  Do they know?   Did anyone bother to take the time to teach them what respect really means?

I remember that back in my day,  we were taught manners, in school,  and, when I had my children I made sure I passed those manners on down to them. And it didn't stop there. I not only taught them; I also expected them to use what they had learned .  On the subway, when they were babes, they were on my lap, unless the seat next to me was available.   I see mothers today  allow a toddler to lie down on the seat and take up enough space for three tired adults to sit.  And, when my children were older, they were allowed to sit only if there were seats available for an adult...especially an older adult.  My children were taught to use the words, 'please, thank you, you're welcome', as well as to hold doors for others.  My boys are not perfect, and they do make plenty of mistakes, but manners are one thing I drilled into their heads.

I find it so sad that respect and manners seem to be such a lost art these days. Treating others with decency and respect should be something that happens naturally. Treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.  But that doesn't happen often in today's fast paced society as  we hurriedly rush through every aspect of our lives, forgetting the feelings of others along the way. Sometimes I don't think we mean to slam a door in someone's face; I think we just aren't paying that much attention to the next person as we think about something we have to do at our job or how we are going to pay our rent.  We forget that we are not alone in the world, that there are others around us.  

Now, with that being said, I would like to relate a little story of something that happened a few years back.  This went beyond manners and rudeness. It had been a long day on the job, and my back had been aching on and off to the point where the walk to the subway was torture.  The train itself was packed, no available seats, but as I moved into the train I heard a seated teen-age girl ask her friends what stop they were getting off at, and it turned out to the next stop. So, I inched my way down closer and waited.  The next stop when the girl got up, I sat down and breathed a sigh of relief.  It was then that I overheard the girl,  young enough to be my granddaughter smirk and say, " Look, at that lady.  She couldn't wait to grab my seat".   And then they laughed at me.  I tell you, the whole thing was pretty sick.   It really makes one wonder.  

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "Life be not so short but that there is always time for courtesy."  I have to believe that this girl and her friends actually didn't know any better.  It was obvious that respect is not even a part of their vocabulary.  And who is to blame?  Parents.  Schools.  Obviously, someone is not doing their job.  The basic tenet of manners is the ability to think of others before yourself. Such simple acts such as opening a door for  someone or helping a person across the road or offering to carry their shopping can make someone's day. 
 

But thankfully, all is not lost.  I'd like to close by sharing another little story with you.  This happened not too long ago, the day after the first  big snowstorm.  I had come up the escalator and discovered there was no place to go; the up escalator was all that was there, and there snow was piled sky high all around me. The only way out was to climb over the mountain of snow that blocked the crosswalk.  I panicked and looked in all directions, but there was literally nowhere to go.  I started to cry. "I can't do it."  I said aloud, not realizing that I had said it aloud.  It was then I heard, "Yes, you can, I will help you."  I turned, the young woman took my arm, and not only helped me over the mountain, but also across the slippery street.  And that was a gesture I will never, ever forget.  Young lady, wherever and whoever you are, you gave an old lady faith that all is not lost to the world, and for that, I thank you.

The principal thing children are taught by hearing these lullabies is respect. They are taught to respect certain things in life and certain people.  By giving respect, they hope to gain self-respect and through self-respect, they gain the respect of others.  Self-respect is one of the qualities my people stress and try to nurture, and one of the controls an Indian has as he grows up.  Once you lose your self-respect, you just go down.--Henry Old Coyote

The Element of Air

Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are ruled by the element Air which represents intellect, thought, interest, and movement.  With each breath we take, we breathe in air; it expands our lungs and provides the oxygen we need to live.  Thus, it is  associated with our life force - the breath. It is linked to ideas, and is experienced as intelligence.  Air is a masculine or yang force; it is an outer-directed and active element.  Air is associated with  the East.    Its  music is created with bells and wind instruments. Air is also associated to birds, feathers, insects, clouds, and dawn. When we think of air, we imagine the blue sky and the breeze which brushes across our skin. 

The ancient Aztecs depicted the element of air as a large feathered serpent who swam across the skies.  His name was Quetzalcoatl.  Amaunet is an ancient Egyptian Goddess of Air or Wind.  She existed before the beginning of the world. Lono is the Hawaiian god of wind and storms, and the greeting Aloha means in the presence of wind, breath, or spirit.  In Santerian traditions, Oya rules the wind.  At times, she is the gentle, caressing breeze that brushes through your hair and at other times, Her anger brings forth the hurricane force winds that cause so much death and destruction.  It is said that when there is a tornado, it means that Oya is walking the Earth.  Yaponcha is the wind god of the Hopi Indians.  He blew and blew all the time and would sweep the soil away before the seeds could even start to germinate. 

Uranus was among the earliest of the Greek gods.  He was the husband of Gaia, the  Earth, and the son either of Aether and  Nyx. He was the personification of the sky and was viewed as the husband of the earth,  Gaiam, but he did not love his children, the twelve Titans. He was afraid that they would destroy him so he imprisoned them in Tartaros, the Underworld. Gaia persuaded the children to attack their father, and led by Cronus, his youngest son, they attacked their sleeping father.  Cronus castrated him with a flint sickle. His blood became the Furies, the Giants, and the Nymphs of the Ash Trees. His testicles, flung into the sea, became Aphrodite.
 

The wind is an  important to the element of air, but they are not the element itself; however the two are inseparable.  In Greek mythology, Eos was the mother of the Four winds. Boreas was the North wind, Zephyrus the West, Notus the South, and Eurus the East. They are controlled by another deity named Aeolus who was the guardian of the winds.  Stormy  Boreas was known to be violent.  He fell in love with the  nymph Orithyia whom, at first, he  tried to woo gently, but could not, and at last he swept her away. Beauty’s poor Beast might be descended from him. Gentle Zephyrus was the lover of Flora, the goddess of flowers.

Symbolized in myths by powerful and revered deities such as Thor, Hera, and Zeus, thunderbolts are also perceived as the spirits of the air.  Once thought of as the god's anger, thunder and lightning were something to be feared.  According to Norse mythology, thunderbolts were missiles that an angry Thor hurled to the ground. In Native American beliefs, the Thunderbird brings the rain. They are the guardians of humans and the great spirits of the air who are credited with saving mankind during the great flood. The clapping of his wings sounds the thunder, while it pumps up the winds. He draws the clouds together and piles them high. He shoots sheet lightening from his eyes, and hurls twisted snake lightning that he carries in his talons.

The presence of air spirits can be seen in whirlwinds and dust devils. It’s felt in sudden cool spots, on riverbanks and down shady canyons. Tall elementals drive the storms, whether of water or of scouring sand.  Sylphs are the nature spirits that inhabit the air.  They are small in stature, transparent, and winged.  They move very quickly.  Sometimes they take the form of birds; other times they may appear as clouds.
  

Air magic pertains to all of the things that travel through the air...music, thoughts, dreams, spirits, and cloud divination.   As a child, do you remember lying back on the grass and watching the clouds to see what pictures you could see in their fluffy white shapes? You may have seen faces, fantastic landscapes, and all sorts of wonderful images.  Cloud reading is one of the oldest forms of divination.  It was commonly practiced by the Celts and the Druids who determined fortunes by looking at the formations and movements of the clouds.  

Generally, cloud divination is best done on days when cloud conditions are good.  Do not choose a day when there are too many clouds.  The best is when the clouds are thick.  Find a nice location to lie down and just relax. Try not to focus on any one cloud but rather allow the clouds to drift across your view.  Visions cannot be forced, they will come naturally when the time is right. 

I'd like to share a fun and simple banishing spell I recently happened upon. 
For this ritual you will need the following:

1 black balloon

A small slip of paper

A pen or pencil

Write your banishing goal on the paper and slip it inside the balloon.  Blow the balloon full while visualizing the object of your banishment leaving you and going inside the balloon.  

Tie the balloon shut and say, "With sacred breath, I lay this problem to rest.  Shall it now and forever go to sleep.  Never to return, it ceases to be.  The air has performed a clean sweep."

Allow the wind to carry the balloon away, or let the balloon deflate on its own.
(From "Elemental Witch: Fire, Earth, Water, and Air" by Tammy Sullivan)

Weekend Musings

We can cultivate an inner solitude and silence that sets us free from loneliness and fear. Loneliness is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfillment. Solitude is not first a place but a state of mind and heart. There is a solitude of heart that can be maintained at all times. Crowds or the lack of them have little to do with this inward attentiveness. It is quite possible to be a desert hermit and never experience solitude. But if we possess inward solitude we will not fear being alone, for we know that we are not alone. Neither do we fear being with others, for they do not control us. In the midst of noise and confusion we are settled into a deep inner silence.--Teresa of Avila

Monday has rolled around far too quickly.  It is always like that on my cooking weekends.  Rose early on Saturday and headed for the market before the storm took hold and all for naught because the storm never did take hold.  Not that I am complaining.  I've had my fill of storms this winter...but, I would have loved to lounge around in bed a bit later.  But, that  too, is all right for what I missed on Saturday, I more than made up for on Sunday.  

My son had an early catering event, and hubby went to visit his son, so much of my day was spent taking care of me. When we take time to get a little solitude, we take the time to please ourselves, and for some of us, it is something that we rarely do, or, if you are like I was several years ago, we feel guilty because we  always think that we have to be doing something.  And there are others out there who do their best to avoid time alone because they are uncomfortable in that state.  Rather than enjoying a time of solitude, they feel discomfort and even misery.  Oh gosh, don't get me started on that one.  I didn't always enjoy my time alone. 

In fact, there was a time that I hated being alone so much that I would fall into a state of depression if left alone even for one afternoon.  I didn't like myself much back then, and when you don't like someone, you do everything you can to avoid spending time with them.  I didn't want to have to think because thinking brought back too many painful memories.  And then, I also never believed that I was deserving, so I was always afraid that what little happiness I managed to find would walk away from me; hence,  I gave poor hubby a really hard time whenever he wanted to do something without me...never realizing that I was actually pushing him away.

It took quite a bit time and a lot of looking within, but eventually I came to realize that just because he was spending some time away from me did not mean that he was cheating, nor did it mean that he would leave me.   All of this was nothing more than an elaborate drama I had written in my head. Low self-esteem can be a bitch.   But, in time, I as I began to grow  more comfortable with myself,  solitude no longer meant loneliness.  It was indeed something to look forward to. I was okay with myself  as a person. 
 

So, yesterday turned out to be such a great day.  I took a long, leisurely candlelight bath, washed and trimmed my hair, polished my nails,  did tons of reading.  I spent some time writing in my journal, and when I got tired of all that, I got up and performed a small ritual.  I enjoy contacting my grandmother when I know I can spend some quality time with her; it's amazing how much better I feel after talking to her.   I always love performing these rituals when no one is around.  No questions to answer, no one calling me to ask for something.   It also allows me the time to use my candles.

I also love to use candles in my rituals, but hubby dislikes them.  His mom believed that candles and incense attract spirits to your home and should never be used; hence, hubby, although he doesn't believe in the old folklore of the Dominicans, has had that idea ingrained so deeply in his head that he hates candles.   Now, where this belief came from, I know not, for my mother-in-law was a devout Catholic, and as anyone who has been in a Catholic church knows, their services are built around candles and incense. I never questioned her on it though and always respected her when came to visit us.  We spoke two different languages, but still managed to converse.  I really did love that lady.

So, there you have it...my weekend.  Wishing it could have lasted longer, but grateful for what I had.  So, how was your weekend?

If only you were willing to continue on your journey towards your Self. Eventually you would reach close enough to the center of your Being so that the feeling of loneliness disappears and is replaced by a sense of aloneness, which is incredibly full and enriching. When you are on the way to alone but you are not yet there, you will feel lonely. If you keep going, you will reach to alone and then loneliness disappears.-- Leonard Jacobson

 

Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when
you come back to your work your judgment will be surer.
Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller
and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack
of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Well, the weekend is upon us, and Saturday will be a rather busy day for me. It's my cooking weekend again.  Boy, do those two weeks seem to pass by so quickly. And, on top of that, they are predicting another storm; yes, another storm only they say this one should be more rain than snow. Let's hope so. Maybe it will get rid of some of this dirty mess of piled up snow. By now, it has gotten so ugly.  Hoping that you will all do me a favor. Next year in December when I start groaning about how I wish I would have some snow, please do remind me of this year.

So, Saturday I will be very busy. Going to rise early and get to the market hopefully before it gets too bad out, and then come home and cook everything.  Sunday will be spent on some much-needed me time. We all need me time to give both our body and mind a break from our usual routine. Let's face it...we work at work, then we work at home. We clean, do laundry, shop for food, prepare meals, etc...and on and on it goes. Even stay at home moms need some downtime. We are all so busy that one day we look at the calendar and realize that we haven’t done anything for ourselves for the past few months. 

It seems as if I am always doing everything for everybody else and not having a shred of time left for the activities I love to do.  I imagine that is the way it is for all of us.  And, it  doesn't help that I am one of those people who think that  I am the only one who knows how to do it, so, if I want it done right, then I have to do it myself.  Take the ironing, for example.  Every Sunday morning it's my chore to do the week's worth of ironing for me and hubby.  Not, that he hasn't tried.  On more than one occasion he'll say, "Let me do it," but then he does it so slow that I take the iron away from him and do it myself.  Now, why should his being slow bother me...as long as the ironing is done?  But, that's only another of my 'only I can do it right' attitude.

I've always been a people-pleaser. That's my problem. Always doing for others because I wanted them to like me. All my life, whenever someone asked me for help...even when it was something I didn't want to do, I would almost always say yes. I was that good little girl who took on all the cooking, cleaning, and housework at a young age because I wanted my parents to notice me. It didn't really work the way I wanted it to, but it did prepare me to be a wife and mother. And when I grew up, I never knew how to say 'no' to anyone. I was the one who took on all the extra projects at work, then came home and did it all. I took care of everyone.
 

Eventually you burn yourself out. I've been there and done that. Saying 'no' still doesn't come easy, and I still feel a sense of guilt when I call in to take a day off...even though I earned it. But I am learning, and it is becoming easier for me to pick up that phone and say 'I won't be in today.'  But  I have also learned this past year to take that time for myself, that  precious me-time where one lounges about  and reads and eats and sleeps, whatever one's little heart desires.  It's so hard to find, and when you do, it's important that you grab it.   

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful weekend, and be sure to take some me-time for yourself.  You've earned it.

Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself,
your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.

Ralph Marston

Happy Imbolc to All

Today we celebrate Imbolc, also known as Candlemas. Another name for it is St. Brigid's Day. Imbolc is what is called a cross-quarter day; this means that it falls midway between the Winter Solstice or Yule and the Spring Equinox or Ostara.  At Yule, the days slowly started growing longer and by Imbolc,  the lengthening days have finally become noticeable. I can recall coming home from work in early December in the dark; now, the sun is just beginning to set, and even though we may be moving now into the coldest time of the year, it is hard not to notice the little signs that show us we are slowly moving toward Spring...

...although you would never know it if you looked out my door...a perfect ice skating rink it was this morning.  I know others have endured that biggest blizzard of the year.  Winter is not letting up Her grasp, that's for sure.   I didn't go to work today.  After watching the others slipping and sliding as they made their way down the block, I said "That's not for me," called in, and went back under the covers.

This is the time of the Maiden Goddess who symbolizes the promise of new life which is shown to us with the first stirrings of the seeds within the earth. Imbolc is associated with the dawn and the inner fire.  Symbolically, it is a time for renewal, cleansing, and rebirth. Early spring is a season of change; it is a time of transitions. It is a perfect time to re-dedicate yourself to your chosen path.The light is returning,  and with it, we begin to feel the urge to start new projects as we make  our plans for the next Spring.

The Goddess or God that you associate with this festival greatly depends upon where you live or which  path you have chosen.  However, there are a couple of deities that have come to be particularly associated with this celebration.  The first of these deities is Brigid, the Celtic Goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft. She was Brigantia to the English, Bride to the Scots, and Brigandu in Celtic France.  Brigid  was so beloved by the people that She was one of the few of the ancient deities to survive into our modern times, and when the Catholic Church found they could not demonize Her, they chose instead to canonize Her as Saint Brigid, the patron saint of arts and healing, and along with this Christianizing of Her name,  Imbolc became known as the Feast of Saint Brigid.  

Like the Celts, the Greeks also described the cycle of seasons in myth, and during the Eleusinian Mysteries, the people held a torchlight procession in honor of the Harvest Goddess, Demeter.  The torch was to aid Her in the search for Her daughter, Persephone for when She was found, winter would leave and light would return to the world.   

For those who follow an Egyptian path,  February 2nd is the birthday of Nut.  She was known as Mother Sky, the  barrier that separates chaos from order.  As the Mother of all the gods,  She is sometimes seen as a giant pig suckling many piglets...a depiction which fit in perfectly with the idea of Spring and new life.   The Roman goddess, Minerva,  protector of doctors, teachers and craftsman and seen as the goddess of wisdom had Her feast day on  February 1st,  the old festival of spring.  Venus, the Goddess of beauty and fertility was also worshiped at this time. Offerings would be made to ensure fertility to the fields and crops, mostly in the form of grapes and flowers.  

 
Saraswati is the Hindu Goddess of learning and creating; She is the wife of the creator, Brahma.  She is dressed in white for 'purity' and rides a white goose or swan.  On Sarawati Puja, usually celebrated in February, musical instruments are cleaned and books are collected and placed on an altar and worshiped.  The festival this year falls on February 12th, not exactly on Imbolc, but symbolic of the same ritual cleansing. 

Here is the United States, we celebrate this day as Groundhog Day. The beliefs and traditions of Candlemas Day, an ancient festival which has its roots in Paganism, are similar to Groundhog Day in that the day marked a milestone in the weather and a change from Winter to Spring.  According to the old legend, if the groundhog sees his shadow, he will retreat back to his hole and there will be six more weeks of winter.  But, if he doesn't see his shadow, we can all look forward to an early spring.  It seems like the groundhog would be encouraged by the sunlight, but it is his own shadow that drives him underground.

In celebrating Imbolc, we celebrate poetry, birth, and change. Imbolc traditions center on light and purification. Candles are a symbol of Imbolc, hence the Christianized name Candlemas, and it is a tradition to light many candles for this festivals.  Light candles in each room of your home to honor the returning Sun, and visualize the returning warmth of Spring and the spark of life that it brings with it. This is also a perfect time to cleanse or bless your house, or you may leave a ribbon outdoors overnight where it is said that Brigid will bless it as She passes on Her feast night.  Many people weave corn dollies out of corn husks to symbolize Brigid.  Shake off the shadows of Winter and look ahead to the light and abundance of the upcoming Spring.

"Mother of the earth and sun,
Keep us safe and keep us warm,
As over our home you extend your blessings."

New Moon in Aquarius

The new moon, of no importance
lingers behind as the yellow sun glares
and is gone beyond the sea's edge;
earth smokes blue;  the new moon, in cool height above the blushes, brings a fresh fragrance of heaven to our senses.-- D.H. Lawrence

The New Moon in Aquarius, a fixed air sign that represents 'collectiveness',  on February 2nd  coincides with Imbolc, a yearly turning point which marks the feeling of turning towards the light and an anticipation of Spring, and even though we are in the heart of winter, the days are beginning to stay brighter and life is quickening within the earth. In  later centuries, it became known as St. Brigid's Festival.  The Church celebrates this time as Candlemas. This holy day is a fire festival, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the earliest signs of spring.   Celebrations center around hearth fires, special foods, divination, and storytelling.  

New Moons are times of new beginnings when the solar principle of consciousness and ego development (Sun) conjoins with the lunar instinctive principle governing what is more hidden, the subconscious (Moon.) The New Moon at 13 degrees Aquarius on February 2nd is a time to begin new projects or thoughts for the coming months. This  New Moon  brings us themes of rebirth and also  highlights Aquarius qualities and activates our need for independence and freedom to step outside of the norms.  Aquarius’ planetary influence will guide us as we move forward  and into the future. 

New Moons are times of new beginnings when the solar principle of consciousness and ego development(Sun) unites with the lunar instinctive principle governing what is more hidden, the subconscious (Moon) bringing to awareness  themes such as individuality, idealism and social causes, and innovations. It is about changing our lives to make progress. Revolutionary activities will also be spotlighted as Uranus (freedom, justice, liberty) is the ruling  planet of Aquarius. The New Moon signals a time of emergence, and you will have an impulse to take action and begin something new... be it a small change in the way you approach your daily routine or a whole new path on your journey through life. The energy is right for making spontaneous moves and following your instincts.

This is especially timely as this New Moon brings with it the start of the Chinese New Year of the Hare, a symbol of purity.  The Chinese New Year always begins on the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice and is the most important  festival in Chinese culture. It is celebrated on the New Moon of the first month according to the lunar calendar, and is a time for family reunions and scrumptious feasts.  The Hare is a symbol for mercy, elegance, and worship of beauty.  It is closely linked to family and friends, and  is associated with longevity and the Moon.

The ancient Chinese  believed that they could see the face of a Hare on the dark patches Moon, and the animal was connected with the Moon in many tales.  According to one old legend, there is a magical Hare that lives on the Moon as a companion to the Goddess, Chang-o,  the Chinese Moon Goddess.  She allows this charming little creature to keep Her company so She will not be lonely.  The Hare, who is an herbalist, sits at the foot of a cassia tree grounding the powder of immortality in his mortar.  The Hare is said to be so content he never leaves the Moon.  Over time, the Hare has become a Yin Moon spirit.

As with all New Moons, take the time to meditate on what new energies you'd like to work with this month.  This New Moon will aid you if you need

 to tackle a project or situation in your own life. Perhaps there is something that you need to stand up for, fight for or defend.  Plant the seeds in your psyche and watch what blossoms in two weeks at the Full Moon.

I saw the new moon late yestreen,
    Wi' the auld moon in her arm:
And if ye gang to sea, maister,
    I fear we'll suffer harm.  

-From the anonymous Scottish ballad 'Sir Patrick Spens'

The Eagle and the Chicken

Once upon a time, there was a large mountainside, where an eagle's nest rested. The eagle's nest contained four large eagle eggs. One day an earthquake rocked the mountain causing one of the eggs to roll down the mountain, to a chicken farm, located in the valley below. The chickens knew that they must protect and care for the eagle's egg, so an old hen volunteered to nurture and raise the large egg. One day, the egg hatched and a beautiful eagle was born, but the eagle was raised to be a chicken. Soon, the eagle believed he was nothing more than a chicken. 

The eagle loved his home and family, but his spirit cried out for more. While playing a game on the farm one day, the eagle looked to the skies above and noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring in the skies. "Oh," the eagle cried, "I wish I could soar like those birds." The chickens roared with laughter, "You cannot soar with those birds. You are a chicken and chickens do not soar." 

The eagle continued staring, at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be with them. Each time the eagle would let his dreams be known, he was told it couldn't be done. That is what the eagle learned to believe. The eagle, after time, stopped dreaming and continued to live his life like a chicken. Finally, after a long life as a chicken, the eagle passed away. 

The moral of the story: You become what you believe you are; so if you ever dream to become an eagle follow your dreams, not the words of a chicken.

--Unknown-- 

The reading above  is one of my favorite little parables. I often use it with my clients to help motivated them to follow their dreams. I know how the eagle felt because for most of my adult life, I was just like him. I believed everything that  others said, but did not believe in myself.  I allowed them to dictate who I was and what I could accomplish.  I never dared try to follow any of my dreams for fear that I would fail...so, much like the eagle, I stood with my feet on the ground with the chicken as I watched the eagles soar, always dreaming, always wishing, but never really knowing that I, too, could soar.  And all I had to do was start believing in myself.   Easier said than done when you have been verbally beaten down for most of your life, but I am so proud to say that finally, around  the age of 50, I came into my own (Better late than never)....and left  behind those that only had negative thoughts for me, those who held me down.  

Far too often we let ourselves be defined by what other people tell us.  Foolishly, we allow them to determine our self-worth and  dictate how far we go in life.  We fail to realize that if we are ever able to live our full potential, we must first believe that we were born to be more than we are and believe it with such a strong conviction that we reach out and follow our dreams...no matter how often they are ridiculed or how often we stumble. For it is in the act of following one's dreams that your potential will be realized.

 

The worst thing that could happen in our lives  is to one day wake up and realize that it is too late, that we have been held back from our dreams because we were too afraid to lift ourselves out of the chicken coop and from the small thinking people, who, although they might mean well, can only see possibilities through their limitations and not from your possibilities.

If you can imagine it you can create it.
If you can dream it, you can become it.

-William Arthur Ward-