Closer to Us Than Our Very Breath

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Lazy day… I slept a whopping 11 hours! I allowed myself that gift since I’ve got a 3-day weekend away from my job and it’s my time.

And even though I didn’t sit down for my morning sabbath until after 12 Noon, Spirit was with me anyway, of course. It didn’t matter the time nor place.

Deep Breath“We must come to realize that God is not in some far-off place, but instead that God is an inward, intimate Presence closer to us than our very breath. God is not nor can ever be separated from us, but too often we separate ourselves from God.”

– “365 Science of Mind: A Year of Daily Wisdom from Ernest Holmes,” May 29

I find myself in awe simply contemplating the very concept that Spirit is closer to us than our very breath. That’s pretty close, very intimate. It’s more intimate than I could ever be with any being. And, it’s reassuring, allowing me to feel I am not alone in this physical world.

Spirit is always with me, and that is true for you as well. We don’t have to walk this journey solo—in fact, we can’t since the Divine is closer to us than our very breath!

Life is Better with Friends

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Life is better with friendsToday was a day of going deeper into fostering friendships here in my “new” hometown. Having relocated here when the pandemic was in high gear last summer, I’ve only been stepping out fully for a month or two. I’m still getting used to being able to socialize again and focusing it on growing local friendships, hopefully meaningful ones and ones where there is a common perspective on Spirit and metaphysics.

I had decided to take the 90-minute drive north to Flagstaff, AZ to accomplish some shopping related to outdoor activities. I let my small women’s group know in case anyone was interested in a road trip—I saw it as a way to spend some time outside of our bi-monthly meetings to get to know one another deeper. Two women planned to join me, but unfortunately this morning one was feeling ill and had to cancel.

Laure joined me on today’s adventure and we started off with driving a different route than I was accustomed to, that I didn’t even know about, and that she had suggested. It was a lovely, scenic drive. I was most aware of the contribution that being with others brings: friends expand my world, in small and large ways. What a delight!

We shopped, and Laure’s input based on her wider experience in kayaking and hiking than I have helped me to purchase the right equipment. I was most grateful, again realizing how my life is enriched by others.

Laure is limited in her driving capacity but likes to travel and explore. So, in turn, by my driving, I enabled her to engage in her interests. Also, as she is new to AZ in general, I introduced her to two dining venues, where we leisurely lunched and then enjoyed coffee and dessert. We had a plentiful amount of time to chat and get to know one another more.

Perhaps it’s from being isolated for so long, but in today’s adventures, I was so aware of the exchange that occurs between people, the growth we spur on for others, the support and kindness that is so easy to offer. It’s such a win-win experience. No doubt life is better with friends.

And, Spirit is within the midst of it all. Sharing from the heart, listening to one another, supporting one another, all point to the love that is Spirit and that is in each of us. What a demonstration that each of us is from Love, is Love. May I always put Love into action with each person and being I encounter.

Enthusiasm and Gratitude

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Enthusiasm“Enthusiasm doesn’t just happen to us. It’s an attitude that is either fostered or hindered by our decisions about what we’ll bring to our experiences…

“Gratitude… heightens our enthusiasm for living.

“The power to enjoy life fully, to bring enthusiasm to whatever we do, is within our grasp. In fact, it’s within our own mind.”

– “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” May 27
*As We Understand God

I admit that I find it a challenge to tap into enthusiasm from within, that at times I need outside circumstances and people to help me along.

This week has been filled with enthusiasm and gratitude. My enthusiasm has been fueled by the circumstances I entered into by making the decision that I needed and deserved a more fulfilling job; seriously searching for a new role; putting the time and effort into a lengthy, rigorous interview process at a higher education institution; accepting the job offer; and, starting my new role this past week. And, my decision and actions have yielded me the experience of a role and a work culture that feeds both my intellect and my spirit. I am blessed.

I’m not surprised that enthusiasm and gratitude are enmeshed with one another since the word “enthusiasm” has roots in the concept of being inspired by a god. And, when I feel gratitude, it is towards Spirit.

Enthusiasm and gratitude go hand-in-hand and I’m delighted to have been experiencing them at a heightened level this week at my job and as I move into a three-day weekend.

Thankful Thursday

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Thankful Thursday

Today being Thursday, I was searching online for some writing ideas about this day of the week; I came across the site Happier Human which had a post about Thankful Thursday by Sarah Kristenson. I’ve not heard of that term before, although of course I realize the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving is always celebrated on a Thursday (fourth Thursday of November).

So, it turns out Thankful Thursday is a gratitude practice based on Thanksgiving. Digging deeper, I learned that Thankful Thursday was introduced by Jeremy Watkin at Phone.com as a way to incorporate gratitude into the workplace. Every Thursday, anyone in the company could take a moment to share their gratitude for something at work or outside of work. Jeremy was the pioneer of this special day, and it brought many smiles to the faces of the team. Others have carried on the practice.

Giving thanks and expressing gratitude is a profound habit that may create a more optimistic impression and appreciation for life. Much scientific research shows that practicing gratitude on a routine basis can profoundly affect your health, happiness, and success.

I think it synchronistic that I learned of the concept Thankful Thursday this particular week. You see, this past Monday I started a new job at a highly respected research university and I have been thanking Spirit throughout each day, and expressing my gratitude to anyone who asks how I am enjoying my new workplace and job. In this organization, people are really appreciated, respected, listened to, and supportive of others. There is a life-work balance, and the work is right up my alley. I’ve not worked in such a place in all my decades of working a job. I am so grateful. I am so very thankful to be in such energy, especially in a workplace!

Of course, any day of the week I can be thankful and express gratitude. I just happened to land upon this uplifting gratitude practice during a week where I’ve been in a constant flow of gratitude.

Thank You, Spirit!

Divine Love

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I “found” a new friend—after four years—the other night! Curious? Ask me.

David is a poet. He gets inspired by the Divine and words just flow from his fingertips onto the keyboard. I resonate with what Spirit has poured through him and wanted to share, what seem like messages to me, with others.

David has granted me permission to post his poem, “Divine Love,” here.

Divine Love

Divine Love
By David Schuck

From the Divine we were created, from the Divine love came forth.

We are the created, we are the love, the spirit of the divine lives within us all.

Love, pure love, power, pure power, given freely to all from the creator of all.

All that which is true, all that which is pure, is truth from the spirit of love above.

Set yourself free from your worldly worries and embrace the power

of infinite love, of infinite power, of infinite happiness and joy.

When We Give

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We Give

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
– Sir Winston Churchill

“Perhaps it goes against our instinct for survival to give away what we have… a fatal philosophy is formed: what I gain, you lose; what I lose, you gain.

“This dog-eat-dog philosophy, of course, brings us nothing but grief. We are all in this life together, dependent on one another. We now know that when we give, there is no sacrifice; it is all our gain. We now know that when another loses, we lose something too. We are not in competition with others anymore; instead, we need them. They are our means to discovery; they are our doorway to the spiritual world.”

– “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” May 24
*As We Understand God

The meditation book the aforementioned is quoted from is focused on 12 Step recovery. In working the steps to recover from an eating disorder and being a part of the fellowship, I have come to solidify the philosophy espoused in the excerpt.

Helping one another in recovery, truly knowing that we are in this together—that we need one another—, that there is a Higher Power, and so many other aspects of the 12 Step philosophy changed my outlook upon life, people, and the world at large 180 degrees. My life was no longer unmanageable and became rich with friendship, growth, service, love, and Spirit because others helped me and I helped them.

No one needs to think that if one person gains something then scarcity dictates another person loses—it just isn’t so. This is an abundant universe and there is plenty for everyone in this world: love, financial prosperity, etc. We can help one another, be there for one another and not sacrifice anything. When we give, we gain.

I Am Grateful

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“Gratitude is like a healthy plant. It grows and grows and grows!

“My life is full of things to be grateful for!”

– “Everyday Joy, 365 days of ohmygod life,” by Z Egloff and Melissa Phillippe, May 23

I thought I’d write this evening’s gratitude list as a blog post instead of my usual practice of writing in my gratitude journal. I Iist 10 things, people, or circumstances for which I am grateful. Below they are listed in no particular order:

I Am Grateful

  • I am a grateful for 7½ hours’ sleep last night, helping to prepare me better for my first day at the new job.
  • I am grateful for my morning sabbath.
  • I am grateful for the onboarding schedule created for me at my new employer.
  • I am grateful for the meet and greets and helpfulness of my new colleagues.
  • I am grateful for the interesting tools and software I will be learning and using, stretching myself.
  • I am grateful I took a 30-minute walk after work.
  • I am grateful I cooked a healthy, hot dinner meal.
  • I am grateful for a new friend I met online whose message to me was hanging out for four years!!
  • I am grateful for feeling super tired—the “good” tired—which I expect will give me a peaceful, deep sleep.
  • I am grateful for a life of abundance in so many ways thanks to Spirit!

Freedom and Joy

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Freedom and Joy

Click the image to listen to Francine Jarry’s upbeat song…

Two of today’s readings were about freedom and joy, so I contemplated on where they were showing up in my life.

“There is a Power operating through me; a Presence, inspiring, guiding, and sustaining me. Upon this Power, I place my reliance.

“I know the Creative Law of Good is infinite and has all power to accomplish. I know Its whole desire for me is freedom and joy. Therefore, I declare that this freedom and joy are mine today… I know freedom and joy cannot be separated from me…”

– “365 Science of Mind: A Year of Daily Wisdom from Ernest Holmes,” May 22

Last week I resigned from my job in the financial technical services field and tomorrow I start my new one in higher education. When not a sole entrepreneur, most of my career has been in the financial services field as a technical writer, analyst, and trainer. However, I did work in academia, but it was as an adjunct instructor in the field of computer science and information technology. Tomorrow I get to start working in a position melding it all: working in academia as a technical writing consultant and trainer on a financial transformation project. I think that’s pretty awesome of Spirit to bring it all together!

I am excited and feel a sense of freedom and joy. In this new adventure, I will get to make use of my experience and talents, freeing up my creativity that has often been stifled at many of the jobs. The joy is in the environment and people.

Over the course of four interviews, I met nine people I will be working with and they all seem professional, organized, talented, welcoming, and enjoy working collaboratively on a regular basis. And, to you the reader, this may sound really weird, but I was overjoyed when I received the eight-page Onboarding Plan and Schedule for the first ten days! They are ready for me and in action to get me settled. On my last gig there was no orientation, no one knew what team I was to work on, and the work assigned to me made very little use of all that I have to offer.

My new adventure is a breath of fresh air; I so look forward to learning and making a meaningful contribution to my colleagues and the organization as a whole.

“How grateful I am for freedom and joy.”

– Deborah Perdue, RScP “Science of Mind Magazine,” May 22, 2022

Centered on God

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“It is not true that suffering ennobles the character.” – W. Somerset Maugham

“… our attitude determines whether we find a situation painful. We can be overwhelmed by suffering if we choose. Or we can accept our changing circumstances as natural and growth enhancing.

“If we stay centered on God… we won’t be traumatized by the pain and turmoil of change.”

– “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” May 21
*As We Understand God

God Centered LifePainful times surely come my way like they do for everyone else, but I truly believe that suffering is optional, that I get to choose how I respond to the painful occurrence.

In fact, I get to choose how I respond to all situations that arise in my life. My attitude determines not just whether I find a situation painful; my attitude determines how all situations will unfold and their end result.

When I stay centered on God and walk with Spirit, whether during painful times, times of joy, and everything in between, my life is richer, I grow, and I draw closer to Spirit, always my goal.

In the Gap

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In the Gap

Today I am living in the gap.

Yesterday I resigned from my remote contract position at a financial technical services company effective after close of business. Today I took the day off to attend to personal tasks and appointments needing to be done on a weekday. Monday I start my new remote contract position in the academic world at a university in the Pacific Northwest.

I am in the gap between jobs, between income streaming in, yet knowing come Monday, I’m back in the flow of financial prosperity. Source is surely with me—I’m not in fear about losing a day’s pay and I feel peaceful. I’m also excited about the change.

Often, when I’ve been between contracts, it’s because a contract ended unexpectedly. Then my job is job hunting, a full-time endeavor, that is unpaid. In turn, that means I’m living off savings (which these days I’m grateful to have some), taking away money for other expenditures or future retirement (if that is ever feasible for me).

I am grateful that for the past couple years I have been in control of my job role destiny, having started looking for new opportunities before the current one I was in ended either as expected or not. Even when I was given three days’ notice that my contract would abruptly end due to COVID, I landed a job within a week. I just have to think that Source is taking care of me and surely demonstrating that It wants only good for me.

It feels freeing to be in the gap this weekend, while being wildly excited about my new role that feels like it may be the best job fit ever for my experience, skills, and talent, not to mention my temperament. I’ve got some social plans this weekend, adding to the richness of my life. I am most grateful to be in this space. Thank You, Spirit!

Happy weekend!