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We are all finding our way in this new world and adjusting to the new normal. COVID-19 has changed us forever. I believe this change is for our good.
One of the many changes in my life is my church is now offering more streaming options and setting up more Zoom meetings for us to stay in touch and in community with each other. For anyone who wants to hear our services, you can join Unity of New Braunfels on Facebook Live, YouTube or on our website at unitynewbraunfels.org at 11:00 am on Sunday or listen at your leisure after the service.
The cool thing they added this week is a Virtual Affirmation Bowl to help carry on our giving and receiving opportunities during and after our services. The link is:
Virtual Affirmation Bowl
As Rev. Gary and Rev. Maggie said in their message last week...finding creative ways to adjust to and thrive in our new normal.
For me, one of the things I have noticed is that hearing and reading things I may have heard and read before, I hear in new ways. The quote below was in my daily reading this morning from A Network for Grateful Living,
I
know there have never been any guarantees in life but somehow I read and hear this differently then I did before. It even brings me a deeper level of peace in the midst of all the changes we are going through.
May you and your family be healthy and well in all ways.
Abundant blessings.
As I've gotten older, I don't look or even strive for happiness the way I use to but I am amazed how peace, joy and happiness are part of my life everyday. I am not sure that comes with getting older but recently one of my fellow travelers told me they got the Wisdom discount instead of the Senior discount and I decided I'll take that label for myself and where I am at in my life. I am wise and have wisdom today and everyday.
One thing being wiser gets you is you realize that in the scope of things most things that come up just don't matter. As they always say, will you even remember this is six months or six years. Also, I've learned that if something does matter or a problem/issue is a bigger issue than worrying about it before it happens does not serve any purpose and can only drive you somewhat crazy.
For instance, I had a health scare last Fall. From the time the problem showed up to the time I got the biopsy results it was at least three months with the multiple appointments, doctors and procedures that had to be accomplished. I did my best to not worry and to not even think about the matter during this time. It could have required serious medical intervention but in reality all was well and no further intervention was necessary. Yes, I know, it could have gone the other way but worrying would not have made a difference in the outcome. Some believe that worrying could actually have created a negative outcome. You can ponder that for awhile. All I know is that worrying serves no purpose.
This week, I read an article about being happier and creating more spiritual well-being in your daily life. A link is included below. I did find it very useful and it once again highlighted many of spiritual tools I use and have used over the years.
20 Ways to be Happier in 2020
It started off with a quote and graphic from Eric Butterworth one of the great Unity writers. He said, Make life an adventure and you will find the Holy Grail of Happiness. Being more adventurous is one of the things I have begun to do in my life. For example, I set up my SUV for car camping and have been on a few outings this winter to get ready for a cross country trip I will be making. I am really looking forward to this adventure.
I shared this article with a dear family member this morning who is going through a year of BIG transformation. Hopefully, she will gain some insight from it and I hope you will as well.
Love, peace, joy and happiness to you all today and everyday.
I continue to be amazed when one of my dear friends and I come up with the same ideas at the same time and this week was no different. I read this wonderful article in the March/April Daily Word Magazine about Art As Meditation and it moved me to consider some kind of Visual Journal or other type of regular art/creative projects.
At the same time she had been reading one of her favorite writers about using art as a spiritual practice. We walked and talked about this for over and hour and decided we are going to create a group called Creative Inspiration Circle. We hope to meet weekly in Landa Park on a weekday morning for an hour and a half to act on the inspiration we receive and work on our chosen inspiration/project for at least 40 minutes.
Of course, we talked about agreements and the one we both agreed on is we agree not to offer advice or critique on anyone else's creative inspiration or project. Another one we agreed on is that we each bring our own supplies etc.
She has talked it over with another friend today and we are planning our first circle for this week. My art supplies are packed and ready to go.
For me, doing art always brings up my lack of abilities or at least my insecurity about being a REAL artist. In Unity's Fasting and Feasting booklet for Lent this year the topic of today's reading is I fast from insecurity and here is a quote from today's message.
Each of us have held lifelong beliefs that somehow we don't quite measure up. Those thoughts may arise over and over, especially when we compare ourselves to others. Yet when we realize that thoughts about our insufficiency exist only in our minds, it becomes easier to release such ideas, recognizing they are not real and do not serve our highest good.
So for today, I am making a conscious effort to refrain from negative self-talk about anything, especially about my creative abilities.
We are looking forward to this week's Creative Inspiration Circle and I know we will each come up with something that inspires us to create and then create it.
Abundant blessings.
