Remembering.... The Best Gifts We Can Share

 

Giving gifts at Christmas is a lovely tradition that brings a lot of joy on one day, but as I was wrapping my gifts the other night, I remembered something I wrote last year, "the best gifts are the ones we share every day, often without even knowing it," and I wondered if Mac knew...

Mac was a former neighbor of mine who recently passed away. On hearing the news, the first thing I felt was a sense of relief, thinking he would finally be at peace. Mac suffered from dementia and hearing loss, which created many challenges for him and his wife. After the initial feeling of relief, I felt sad for his wonderful wife Rose, who was a devoted caregiver and undeniable blessing in his life. Selfishly, I also felt sad because I knew I would never receive one of his big bear hugs again or feel the sense of peace I often felt when I was with him.

Mac was one of those people who had a way of making my heart feel lighter. From the moment I met him I felt a kinship, perhaps because he reminded me of my father in law, who I adored, or perhaps because he was just a very kind, intuitive man who had a gentle way about him that put me at ease. I felt seen when I was with him.

Mac was also a passionate man who openly expressed his love and admiration and for his wife Rose. She was, especially in the last few years, the wind beneath his wings, and he told me on many occasions how fortunate he felt to have her. Mac was also passionate about his beloved dogs and his vacations in Portugal, and no matter how many times he shared stories about them, it was a treat, for his enthusiasm was contagious. Being with Mac was like being showered in good energy.

Unfortunately, Mac, like so many others, has passed during a time when it is difficult to get together to pay our respects. I share this remembrance of him to express my gratitude for the blessing both he and his wife were in my life, something they most likely never realized, for they were words unspoken.

These little gifts that Mac, and all of us share everyday with friends and family and neighbors, really are the best gifts we could ever give, especially at Christmas when so many people are stressed by the season or struggling with difficult emotions. These little gifts cost nothing, but really can bring comfort and joy to hearts in need. So reach out to someone today and share your beautiful light, I guarantee it will make a difference in their day.

Finally, dear, sweet, Mac, I hope you know that even though you were not a big part of my life, when you were in it you made a big difference... just by being you. Thank you for seeing me, thank you for your kindness, gentle nature, and open heart, I felt uplifted every time we met, even when it was just in passing. My heart is so grateful for having known you, thankyou for sharing your beautiful light and reminding me how much that can mean to those we share it with. 

love and light back at you,

Penny

  

Inspired by Spirit: Forgive Me Forgive Me Not...

Inspired by Spirit: Forgive Me Forgive Me Not...: I have forgiven myself  for not dreaming fully, for letting fear decide, for not believing in me, for diminishing my faith in what is possib...

Inspired by Spirit: One Voice... Remembering our Heros

Inspired by Spirit: One Voice... Remembering our Heros: For those who fought for us, who died for us, and for those who bravely carry on. One Small Voice for Many You did not even k...

Forgive Me Forgive Me Not...

I have forgiven myself 

for not dreaming fully,

for letting fear decide,

for not believing in me,

for diminishing my faith

in what is possible...

I have forgiven myself

for not embracing my imperfections,

for not accepting who I am,

for caring more about what others think,

and slowly giving myself away,

but no longer,

 I  see now

there is really nothing to forgive, 

for we did not come here to judge ourselves or others,

we came here to create,

to connect with spirit,

to love, to laugh,

to dream things into being...

Rather than forgive ourselves, which implies we have done something wrong, it seems to me it would be far easier and more productive to seek acceptance and move forward instead of looking back. We need to learn to embrace what we call mistakes and imperfections, grow from them, and allow ourselves to connect with our beautiful souls. That is what we came here to do, align with spirit, be joyful creators, and love...

 There is nothing to forgive.

Be kind to yourselves,

love and light,

Penny

Gifts of Time

Gifts of Time

This year, I feel so grateful for the gift of time,

for I have been softened by her grace,

strengthened by her shadows,

and enriched by an appreciation

only she can bring,

thankful that my weathered heart

is now drawn to the little miracles 

 and has come to understand

 that the journey is one of love, 

grateful that I am awakened to the beauty and richness

that we, like perfectly ripened fruit upon the vine

time does bestow...

with a weathered, growing, and grateful heart,

Happy Thanks Giving!

Penny Bowman

The Wonder of You... A tribute to children with Cancer

 

This August I am riding in the Sick Kid's Hospital Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer, and I must say it has become a source of inspiration and hope for me. As a part of the fundraising efforts I have had the privilege of reading the stories of many of the children we are riding for. Going through cancer as a adult is difficult, but to face that challenge as a child is way beyond anything someone young should have to experience, and yet, their stories reflect amazing courage, resilience and strength that far exceeds their years. 

I am humbled to be able to ride in support of these children and inspired by the grace, dignity and strength they demonstrate. It is my hope that some day we will not need to ride any more, but in the meantime, I pray that every child will be well again, and that the light they shine so beautifully in spite of their challenges gives the rest of us a reason to to be inspired, stronger, kinder and more loving.

Many, many thanks to those of you who have sponsored the challenge, you are an essential part of keeping those little lights shining. If you have not already donated and would like to please use the link at the bottom of the page. 

The Wonder of You

Like a delicate flower

blown about in the wind

you are stronger,

far more resilient,

and much more beautiful

than you realize,

but we,

we who have watched you grow,

we who love you... we know,

and every day, we give thanks,

and are inspired

by the sheer wonder of you!

light and love,

penny bowman

 https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/PennyBowman

Unbreakable... The Spirit of Ukraine

 

Unbreakable

 

Our hearts break

as we witness the unthinkable, 

haunted by the eyes of

innocent children,

 mothers and fathers,

 soldiers and citizens,

 eyes that cannot mask

the burden they bear,

eyes reflecting such deep sorrow,

eyes not certain of tomorrow

only the horrors of today,

mournful reflections

of lives lost, and torn apart

by a greedy lust for power

 while the world watches in horror

too afraid to challenge madness...

history repeating itself,

what have we learned...

our weary hearts confused, and overwhelmed

 slowly grow numb,

but a nation's spirit

 does not concede,

instead it lights up the world

with it's courage and love,

and empowers itself

to stand bravely alone

redefining the meaning of courage

and reminding the world

that no matter how dark the days become,

not even a mad man has the power

 to break a nations spirit...

 

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Ukraine, and to the collective hearts that suffer alongside them. I know people around the world are united in prayer for their well being and the peace and freedom they deserve. May this light and love we share bring some small comfort.

respectfully, with love and light,

Penny Bowman

Our Gift of Light.. Saying Goodbye

 

How do we say goodbye to our mothers...

If we are wise, we won't,

we will grieve deeply,

and over time, come to peace

with the depth of what we've lost,

 and what we have gained...

 We will long for the unconditional love we took for granted,

and with time, feel it's reassuring warmth again...

We will count our blessings

for the courage and strength we learned,

for the sacrifices selflessly made,

and the amazing resilience that was gift wrapped in smiles,

We will honor the lessons learned,

 smile when her words

randomly pop into our heads,

and savor the bittersweet memories that bring us joy,

We won't say goodbye, we'll move forward,

we'll honor her memory with pride,

knowing that she will always be 

 an integral part of who we are,

 a gift of light 

 we will carry in our hearts forever...

A friend of mine recently lost her mother, and although I never met her mom, I enjoyed hearing stories about her and had come to admire her, for like most mothers, she exuded extraordinary strength, courage and resilience. I know what it is like to lose a mother and I have felt the weight of many of my friend's losses, as my own echoed back in my heart. This poem is a tribute to all the mothers who have passed on, and to all of us who are left behind, longing for one more moment, while so very grateful for all the ones we were blessed with.  

love and light,

penny bowman

The Light We Share

 

Lately I have noticed that there are a lot of people who do not see their own worth, instead they get caught up in their imperfections, or are blinded by other people's success. They do not see the courage and strength they demonstrate every day, or the resilience they have shown over years of struggle and stress. They do not see the impact they are having on the people in their lives, the way they bring value and light just by offering kindness and compassionate to those around them every day. They seem to have forgotten that no one is perfect and that we are all here to learn and grow and enjoy this journey we call life. 

So this is for all the imperfect, beautiful souls, who do not realize how important they are, how the simple acts of love they share every day are a source of inspiration for another soul, a little spark that is then carried forward to another, and another, and another, as it fills our world with light... 

I wish

I wish you could see yourself the way I do,

because then you couldn't help but smile

for you would see the beautiful light

I see in you

and feel the warmth of your

kindness and compassion,

you would admire your courage and strength

and marvel at your resilience,

you would be inspired

by the reflection in the mirror,

by a soul who shares her gifts

fully aware she is a work in progress,

an imperfect soul

on a perfect journey

who, just by being,

makes this world

a little kinder,

a little brighter,

and so much more beautiful

with the love and light she shares...

penny bowman

 

The Gift of Self Compassion

                                                                                  

During our lives most of us will experience the pain of losing, or being hurt by people we love, and quite often, we will react by shutting down in a rather misguided attempt to protect our hearts. Unfortunately, this does not help,  for it holds us back from the very things that can heal us, compassion, and love... Contrary to our instincts, we need to keep our hearts open, for it is only with open hearts that we can receive the healing and wisdom required to move on and learn from the experience. For many of us, this takes time, and that's ok. Although the journey is unique for each of us, we all benefit when we remain receptive to the love and support around us, and have faith that things will eventually get better.

  Like an open window, an open heart allows us to experience life with a fresh perspective so we can gain new insights. Surprisingly, one of my greatest insights was to understand that not all hearts hold a similar amount of compassion and love. I stopped expecting other people to respond as I might, and I learned to appreciate my own capacity for compassion. Even more importantly, I realized that I needed to extend that compassion to myself. Like so many of you, I can be my own biggest critic, and not as gentle with myself as I am with others. Most people, (ourselves included,) are doing the best they can, given what they know.

For those of you who can relate to this, and are mending a broken heart, or struggling emotionally, I extend my love, and wish you a journey filled with beautiful insights, healing, and the compassion of those around you. Even more importantly, I wish you all one of the greatest gifts and acts of love we can give ourselves... the art of self compassion. 

love and light my friends,

Penny

Open Hearts and Windows

 I will not close my heart,

 I will keep it open

  like a window that invites 

     in the breeze,

      so that love's healing touch

        might wash over me 

         and guide me back

           to who I am,

             and the gifts

               of compassion

                  that await...

        

                    penny bowman