Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches (for those that are not American-this is a time of year when we give thanks for those things most important in our lives) - I take a minute to give thanks:

* For friends and family
* For my sweet dog being home and completing a broken heart
* For a job and the ability to financially rebuild my life
* For my mental stamina to continue with school - work - new business - and life in general.
* For the healing that took place in my soul during a trip to Thailand (unconditional love realized)
* For the small (but huge) things - that I sometimes overlook - but simply walking, talking, seeing, hearing
* For my home and a warm place to lay my head this winter
* For all the laughs that each of my girlfriends always provide when I need them most
* For grace and mercy when I do not do the best
* For acceptance as to the person I am - and who I strive to be
* For love and intimacy in all my relationships that allows me to be comfortable with myself and the other person.
* For turkey feast with friends :)

Wishing all of you a fabulous holiday......

Stregnthening my inner "man"

I have come to the realization that my inner-core requires stregnthening.  This is both for my physical core muscles - spiritual / emotional fibers.  How do I do that?  Being the solution based person I lay out a checklist of a few ways immediately:

• Running
• Yoga / Core training / Pilates
• SRI
• Playing with my dog
• Reading
• Bible
• Self-help
• Finances
• Intimacy / Trust
• Strategy / business development
• Prayer
• Relational Development
• Church
• Mission Efforts
• Friendship (Time investmet)
• Self - what can I do to become a better friend to myself???
• Travel

Now that I have this list the key is to integrate it into my life.  I find this the difficulty.  When a day comes along and I get either a.) entrenched in work / school or b.) tired and lethargic or c.) overwhelmed so I give up.....but on the good days I get to do some of these things that bring me peace and happiness.  The Admin in me wants a schedule and a plan so I can have security in the knowingness that all things are being accomplished on my "important" list.

Priorities, as my grandpa would say....."Life is about priorities."

So what do I want to do the most?  Hmmmm.......this changes daily. 

End of this thought - I remain in prayer and rely on the Lord to direct my steps so all things can be accomplished for him.  This is relying on myself way WAAAYYY too much to figure it all out.

Thank you Jesus~!~!~!

Levels of Love

Recently I was engaged in a conversation where the group was discussing the facets of love - how they transform over time.

Interested in some of the buzz words people were using I went home and played on Google.  I came across a list of the 7 Levels of Love - Deepak Chopra and Oprah.

1. Attraction
2. Infatuation
3. Communion
4. Surrender
5. Intimacy
6. Passion
7. Ecstasy

Continuing on my word breakdown I used the dictionary to define each of these words:

1. Attraction
1. 1
   a: the act, process, or power of attracting b: personal charm
   2

   : the action or power of drawing forth a response : an attractive quality
   3

   : a force acting mutually between particles of matter, tending to draw them together, and resisting their separation
   4

   : something that attracts or is intended to attract people by appealing to their desires and tastes <coming attractions>
2. Infatuation
1. 1
   : to cause to be foolish : deprive of sound judgment
   2

   : to inspire with a foolish or extravagant love or admiration
3. Communion
1. 1
   : an act or instance of sharing
   2

   acapitalized: a Christian sacrament in which consecrated bread and wine are consumed as memorials of Christ's death or as symbols for the realization of a spiritual union between Christ and communicant or as the body and blood of Christ b: the act of receiving Communion ccapitalized: the part of a Communion service in which the sacrament is received
   3

   : intimate fellowship or rapport : communication
   4

   : a body of Christians having a common faith and discipline <the Anglican communion>
4. Surrender
1. 1
   a: to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand <surrendered the fort> b: to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another
   2

   a: to give (oneself) up into the power of another especially as a prisoner b: to give (oneself) over to something (as an influence)
5. Intimacy
1. 1
   : the state of being intimate : familiarity
   2

   : something of a personal or private nature
6. Passion
1. 1
   often capitalized a: the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death b: an oratorio based on a gospel narrative of the Passion
   2

   obsolete: suffering
   3

   : the state or capacity of being acted on by external agents or forces
   4

   a (1): emotion <his ruling passion is greed> (2)plural: the emotions as distinguished from reason b: intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction c: an outbreak of anger
   5

   a: ardent affection : love b: a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept c: sexual desire d: an object of desire or deep interest
7. Ecstasy
1. 1
   a: a state of being beyond reason and self-control barchaic: swoon
   2

   : a state of overwhelming emotion; especially: rapturous delight
   3

   : trance; especially: a mystic or prophetic trance
   4

   often capitalized: a synthetic amphetamine analog C₁₁H₁₅NO₂ used illicitly for its mood-enhancing and hallucinogenic properties —called also MDMA

During our conversation we discussed that it is hard to know what you are doing if you don't know where you are going.  In marriages, I am curious if both people really realize that there is a path to their "love" and if both people are walking the same path?  Friendship - work relationships - family......if you "loved" these individuals (even in a plutonic fashion).....shouldn't that love follow the same path?  More importantly, does it?  Do we get stuck in particular levels and that is all our mind perceives "love" to be?  How can this state of "love" be all-encompassing and satisfying all at the same time? 

 

The world is driven by it - it directs so many decisions in people's existence - yet, I wonder if people stop to reflect on the exact breakdown of this thing so many are searching for = "LOVE."

 

Curious thoughts on a Friday afternoon...........