“PITY THOSE WHO LIVE WITHOUT LOVE”

I have recently re-watched the Harry Potter series and I love the reoccurring themes of friendship, honor, faith and love.  I especially love the scene in the final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part II, where Harry seems to have died and is encountered by his old headmaster – Professor Albus Dumbledore.  Harry briefly chats about where he is and whether or not the encounter is actually happening.  The scene is fantastic and offers the most profound message of love to all of us when Albus says to Harry:  “Do not pity the dead Harry, Pity the living and above all, those who live without love.”  

I love these movies – they offer an escape from the monotony of our every day lives and allow us to imagine a world where anything is possible as long as you believe it is.

J.K. Rowling is brilliant and is the perfect example that with perseverance, faith and patience that your dreams can come true.

You can buy the Harry Potter movies on iTunes.  To learn more about J.K. Rowling, please visit here official website – http://www.jkrowling.com/en_US/#/about-jk-rowling

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

GOOD and EVIL

Today – I was introduced to Kahlil Gibran by a friend at work.  I was amazed that I have never heard of him before.  She read a passage from his book “Prophet” and I was completly mesmerized by the beauty of his words.

I told Suzanne (the friend who introduced me to Kahlil Gibran) that I believed it was no coincidence that she shared his work with me at that precise moment, just as she was introduced to him so many years prior.  These moments happen for a reason – they enter our lives because we are ready to receive whatever messages the universe is trying to give to us.  For me – it is to share his profound and positive words with all of you.  I look forward to reading the rest of his book(s) and I hope that his words move you as much as they have moved me.  Here is a passage from the book “Prophet”:

And one of the elders of the city said, “Speak to us of Good and Evil.”

And he answered:

Of the good in you I can speak, but not of the evil.

For what is evil but good tortured by its own hunger and thirst?

Verily when good is hungry it seeks food even in dark caves, and when it thirsts, it drinks even of dead waters.

You are good when you are one with yourself.

Yet when you are not one with yourself you are not evil.

For a divided house is not a den of thieves; it is only a divided house.

And a ship without rudder may wander aimlessly among perilous isles yet sink not to the bottom.

You are good when you strive to give of yourself.

Yet you are not evil when you seek gain for yourself.

For when you strive for gain you are but a root that clings to the earth and sucks at her breast.

Surely the fruit cannot say to the root, “Be like me, ripe and full and ever giving of your abundance.”

For to the fruit giving is a need, as receiving is a need to the root.

You are good when you are fully awake in your speech,

Yet you are not evil when you sleep while your tongue staggers without purpose.

And even stumbling speech may strengthen a weak tongue.

You are good when you walk to your goal firmly and with bold steps.

Yet you are not evil when you go thither limping.

Even those who limp go not backward.

But you who are strong and swift, see that you do not limp before the lame, deeming it kindness.

You are good in countless ways, and you are not evil when you are not good,

You are only loitering and sluggard.

Pity that the stags cannot teach swiftness to the turtles.

In your longing for your giant self lies your goodness: and that longing is in all of you.

But in some of you that longing is a torrent rushing with might to the sea, carrying the secrets of the hillsides and the songs of the forest.

And in others it is a flat stream that loses itself in angles and bends and lingers before it reaches the shore.

But let not him who longs much say to him who longs little, “Wherefore are you slow and halting?”

For the truly good ask not the naked, “Where is your garment?” nor the houseless, “What has befallen your house?” 

Kahlil Gibran’s words are inspirational and are examples of what we, as a positive global consciousness, can help create in our world today!

Thank you Suzanne for introducing me to such a wonderful poet/author.  Your own personal life reflections and experiences inspire me and am a grateful that you have allowed me to experience your past memories through your recollections.

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

THANKSGIVING – WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

Ask your friends and family about the origins of Thanksgiving and why it is celebrated – you might be surprised at how many different answers you will receive.

In Canada:

The origin of the first Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to the explorer Martin Frobisher who have been trying to find a safe northern passage to the Pacific Ocean.  After surviving the journey from England through many storms and icebergs, Frobisher was thankful for his survival and decided to celebrate in order to give thanks in making such a treacherous journey through storms and icebergs.

In the United States of America:

Thanksgiving officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens,” to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26.

Thanksgiving to me – should happen everyday (minus the glutinous consumption of all the pork/turkey/beef/fish and every other animal that people can think about eating) and should be about being grateful on so many levels such as; having good health, loving friends and family, having enough food to eat, having clean water, nature and helping those who are less fortunate than we are.  Today, I find, like many other holidays – that there is no gratitude in celebrating that said holiday.

THANKSGIVING and what it means to me, everyday:

T – Togetherness

A time when we come together and celebrate those people in our lives who have encouraged us, shown us compassion, love and kindness without any judgements.

H – Happiness

When you come together to give thanks and to celebrate the great and encouraging people in our lives – this will only bring happiness, love and joy into your life.  Think of how you feel as you remember those moments when you received help from those loving and positive people in your lives….happiness and love will guide us through many trials and tribulations in our lives.

A – Acceptance

We should learn to accept the differences of all people the touch our lives.  It doesn’t matter if someone else lives their lives in a different manner than you – as long as they live with honesty, generosity, integrity, compassion, love and kindness than all will be well.

N – Nature 

Respecting nature and giving back to mother earth not only allows our environment to thrive, but it will also rejuvenate your spirit to know that you are connecting with all of the universe and the beauty it has to offer.

K – Karma

The Hinduism/Buddhism meaning of karma suggest the effects of ones actions that will determine his/her destiny in his/her next incarnation.  The energy we give out into the universe is the energy that is returned to us in our current life cycle.  Why give negative energy when that is all you will receive.  I prefer to live a life were I do my best to send out positive vibrations into the universe so that positivity is returned back to me.  I prefer to live with love, joy, happiness and kindness that with hate, anger, hurt and resentment.

S – Sincerity  

If you are sincere, honest and genuine – people will know who you truly are and will love you based on that sincerity.  Don’t pretend to be someone you are not just to please others – if you are sincere within yourself, honest with yourself and genuine with yourself – it won’t even matter what others think!

G – Gratitude

There is nothing more pleasing than being grateful for those people in my life that offer me support, love, acceptance, kindness, compassion and encouragement.  Along with being grateful for those great and generous individuals in our lives it is important to be grateful for the things you have – your health, your understanding, your compassion, your kindness and your love.

I – Imagination

Imagine a world that is inclusive, happy, accepting, respects nature, only sends positivity into the universe, is sincere and gracious…..we can make it happen – imagination is not only fantasy, it can be a reality!

V- Value

Know that yourself have a sense of value.  We are all valuable and have so much to offer one another.  See the value in yourself and see it in others.

I – Impact

If you know you have value, you know that you can create a positive impact in our world.  What positive impact will you create to make our world a more positive one?

N – Natural

If we are true to ourselves we are being natural and organic beings.  In this natural state – we will have no anxiety in wanting to please others because we will not have to.

G – Good

Everyone has goodness in them – we just have to ensure that this goodness becomes part of our each and every day in our lives.  Acting out of goodness is emotionally satisfying and rewarding.  Try it out by committing random acts of kindness everyday.

T – Togetherness, H – Happiness, A – Acceptance, N – Nature, K – Karma, S– Sincerity, G – Gratitude, I – Imagination, V – Value, I – Impact, N – Natural, G – Good.

To me that is what THANKSGIVING is all about each and every day!