Love, Loss and Warm Fuzzies

 

                                                                             

My beautiful brother in law Michael passed away very suddenly last week, leaving us all in shock, and many of us regretting that we hadn't been in touch more frequently. His death leaves a terrible void in the lives of those who knew and loved him for he was one of those rare individuals who had the gift of being able to light up every room he walked into. With his warm heart and great sense of humor, Michael had a way of putting everyone at ease, so it was always fun to spend time with him. A devoted father, husband, friend, and family man, it seemed as if there were no limits to his generosity and caring. Just thinking about him makes me smile, but also incredibly sad that I will never see him again, or be blessed by one of his big bear hugs.

I doubt that Michael knew what an impact he had on people, especially those who loved him, unfortunately, this is probably true for most people, which makes me think that perhaps one of the gifts that Michael leaves behind is a reminder for us to tell our friends and family what we appreciate about them, and what makes them so special in our lives. I think if we did, a lot of people would be pleasantly surprised not only by the way they are perceived, but the little blessings they are sharing without even realizing it.

 I often wonder why we wait for people to pass on before we sing their praises. When I was teaching, one of my favorite activities with my students was to have them share "warm fuzzies" with one another. This was a simple exercise where they would write down the things they liked about each other on a warm fuzzy note. I wish I had sent Mike a warm fuzzy.

This Christmas, or in the coming New Year, in honor of all the Michaels in our lives, I encourage you to give the gift of a warm fuzzy to the special people in your life. You could place the notes in Christmas cards or stockings, or you could adopt a new habit of telling people why you love and appreciate them. I promise you, it's a gift everyone will love, and one you'll actually be thankful for if it's returned. 

If you are grieving the loss of a loved one this season, my sincere condolences. I hope that in between the waves of grief and loss and pain, waves of joy, peace, and love wash into your heart as well. 

with love and light,

Penny

Michael,

You were such a joyful light

for us all,

every room you walked into lit up

with the enthusiasm and love 

you shared so easily,

I doubt you knew that,

and I doubt if you did 

it would have mattered,

for you seemed to care 

more about just living...

pursuing your passions,

helping others, 

sharing a laugh,

and taking care of those you loved,

Without knowing it

 you helped us all

 see the lighter side of life,

and one of your greatest legacies 

is not just the joy we felt

in your presence...

but the smile that will come,

and the joy that we'll feel

every time we remember you...

with gratitude and love, 

Penny

Resurrecting Hope

                        

                                                                                                          

I have spent the last two and a half years on a healing journey that until recently seemed to be going in circles. I was losing hope that I would ever feel like myself again. Living alone, I thought too much solitude was part of the problem, but, in retrospect I think it served an important role and was a reminder to have faith in the journey, even when it doesn't seem to make sense. Just as spring encourages us to have hope, faith does as well, for it nurtures the belief that all shall be well, and that we will find our way if we continue with an open mind.

The turning point in my journey quite literally, came out of the blue, and with the help of some eagles. After spotting an eagle circling above me twice in the same week, I saw it as a sign, and meditated on the message it might be offering. During that meditation, I became an eagle, ( highly recommend it!) and was able to look down on my life with a new perspective and clarity. Things that confused me for so long, began to make sense, and I could see the connection between the choices I had made, their consequences, and the patterns that I had been repeating. I also understood that patience and faith can be choices, but even more importantly, beautiful acts of self love and compassion. I realized that although I like myself, I still have a lot of work to do, to really love myself. The journey, as they say, never ends... 

It is with love and compassion that I share this story so those of you who are also struggling won't give up or lose hope. Our difficult times can be very frustrating and painful, but I urge you to keep an open mind, and have faith in yourself and your journey. The contrast in our lives can serve as a powerful catalyst for spiritual growth, which, in my experience, always comes with a beautiful gift. Whether that gift is expanding our ability to let go, forgive, or have compassion, it enriches our lives, brings us more joy, and deepens our ability to love. So, dear friends, if you are in the midst of a growth spurt, be patient and kind with yourself, stay open to what it can teach you, and believe that you will not only get through it, but reap some wonderful rewards. It seems that faith, like spring, doesn't always come when you want it but it does have the power to resurrect hope and give birth to beautiful opportunities.

Even though spring isn't here yet, may thoughts of spring ignite the beautiful light of hope within you, and should you doubt yourself, remember, there are lots of people in your life who believe in you. I do! 

from my heart to yours,

love and light,

Penny

 

Sometimes

we think we are the darkness,

the thoughts that drag us down, 

the hurts, the disappointments,

the loneliness...

but we are not..

.

We are the whispers from within,

that summon courage and strength,

we are the sun

that pushes through

on cloudy days,

we are the weathered faith 

that anchors us,

we are hope,

resurrected time and time again,

 we are not the darkness,

We, are the light,

pbowman

You Are Loved

You Are Loved

About Love

You can love someone fiercely

and they don't know it,

and you can think you're loved fiercely,

and you're not...

 you can also find happily ever after love...

 romantic love is 

something like a kaleidoscope,

beautiful, but always changing,

filtered through our minds'

triumphs and tragedies,

and often misunderstood,

but eternal love is unfiltered,

It is the pure joy, peace, and light

that lies within

our beautiful essence

that always loves us unconditionally 

even when we don't know it,

and even when we think we don't deserve it,

In case no one told you today,

you are beautiful,

and you are loved,

 just the way you are...

from my heart to yours,

love and light,

Penny B

Chasing Miracles

 

                            

The blues chased me again today,

and I was tired, so instead of running

I paused, closed my eyes

and took a deep breath,

and together, my heart and I

turned to face them,

and for awhile we listened,

their story was sad,

but it was just a story,

a story that was familiar, 

one made up to protect us,

but one that would only

keep us in the shadows

because it wasn't a true story,

  it wasn't who we were,

  or who we wanted to be,

So we thanked the blues

and turned to face the sun,

we inhaled deeply, closed our eyes,

and basked in her warmth...

and it was in that moment, 

we finally understood

we had a choice

we could chase away the blues, 

or choose the miracle,

and since the sun felt so much better,

with a sigh of relief, and some determination,

we turned our backs on the blues,

and feeling blessed, we gave thanks for the sun,

and the moon, and the stars,

and all the little miracles

we knew would be waiting for us that day...

Here's to choosing miracles instead of chasing the blues. 

Sending love and light, and good vibrations,

Penny Bowman