Monday Blessing: Rejoice

Hi.  Welcome.  I am *so glad* you chose to join me in this space today.

I am sharing from my heart today, because I’d like to show you that it is possible to open your heart and rejoice at what you do have..rather than allow external circumstances to manipulate you into less than peace filled.  When external happens, I embrace it for the experience…I try not to label it good or bad, just accept it as it is.  My life is made up of moments and I choose how to experience those moments.  I choose to accept delight, wonder, love, laughter, awe, joy, peace, creativity, passion, deliciousness….I choose, “it” does not choose me…I *create*..and I choose to create my life. 

Here are two days of that:

On paper, I had a rough week.  I have removed the power from the details, so I may now share that my car did not pass the CA smog test–there is a chance it may be retired.  I was flexed off work a total of four days with no pay.  And my yearly boat insurance is due from that check.  Bummer…perhaps…

I’m about keeping my heart open, so I take those things and think *thank you* for these opportunities–surely they are opportunities–thank you and please show me how to allow my heart to remain open and allow me to embrace what is golden here.

So, I find myself on Friday the 13th–typically a day associated with bad luck–and my boss had called in the middle of the night to flex me off work yet again…This time was different though because during the day we had a conversation about the recent lack of morals within my department and he looked me in the eyes and said you will be here working tomorrow.  Several times.  Then texted me in the middle of the night to flex me off.  It hurt.  However…

My children were sleeping peacefully.  I looked around the boat and had the thought: *I am living a dream*. There were meteor showers predicted for pre-dawn.  I now had three days off work with the children commitment free.  So, I had a choice–as I have a choice every moment–to let external affect my internal or to let my internal rule the day…

I chose to let my internal rule the day…When my children woke we planned to *celebrate* Summer for three days.  And guess what?  As Always happens each and every time that I open my heart in the midst of that which I may not understand..God and the Universe met me in spectacular ways…I choose to rejoice in all that I do have, not worry or panic over what I do not…

I do not have photos to share…however:

In the morning, because I now had time, I was able to work with a few new clients and in doing so open my heart in a huge way…When I guide you through peace, it also magnifies my peace…

My children and I have season passes to a local theme park, and my car actually works and is legal for thirty days, so….When my children woke, they were very surprised to see me, and squealed with delight when I explained since I was home we could spend the day at the theme park..They hurriedly dressed and excitedly got into the car…they knew to accept this treat open heartedly:)  *That* is one way the Universe works, to take what I have and multiply it…”stuck at home” turned into a day at the theme park..requiring no resources from me except an open heart.

As the children and I were driving home after our amazing day together, the sliver of moon shone brightly and there were a few stars, we were singing and dancing to the music in the car (because we love car karaoke), and my son said “Mom, there’s the moon…I bet you are happy now”…My heart flooded with love, for my son knows…he truly knows…And what an understatement he spoke, really. Truly blessed is how I felt.  What do I need in this world but the ability to open my heart and allow love, music, fun, laughter, moonbeams to energize it….I am loved beyond measure exactly as I am, exactly where I am….Blessed indeed.

That would have been “enough”.  I also know I am nestled in God’s hand and the power of the Universe is unlimited.  So, I woke Saturday with an open heart..Please continue to show me the way…

I read this beautiful essay from Evita Stories From an Unconditionally Generous Heart–please read it when you have a chance, your heart will soar.  My heart shot to the moon after reading it..I did not think in terms of loss, man sure wish I had that..but rather in terms of excitement–“can you believe that one day I will be wrapped in Light so beauty filled and loving”  what an exciting thought!  I am blessed to “know” Evita and her readers, lit my heart with love and hope.  Thank you, Evita, for sharing, and thank you God and the Universe for allowing me to See 🙂

In love with the world..I set the intention to clean the outside of the boat…a chore that can take the entire day…Love allowed me to have the mindset that we would wear our bathing suits, splash and make it fun, eat snacks, play…so instead of a “chore” it would be a fun activity.  Instead of grumbling about hard work, we splashed, laughed, cleaned…and when we were almost done, we heard loud live music quite close to us, by the clubhouse pool.  It was national marina day and our marina was throwing a pool party…so already in our bathing suits, with the boat washed well, we headed over to the party.  We ate delicious food, the kids swam and played while I spoke with neighbors I hadn’t seen in a while, of course we brought our hula hoops and *that* was entertaining…Rejoice!  Wait, I didn’t mention the dessert table…four tables packed with every dessert you could imagine! Ah yea, life is good:)

As a family, we tackled a chore in a fun way, and in allowing our hearts to remain open to the day we were blessed beyond what we could have asked for…*That* would have been more than enough….

All of us feeling quite content, we walked home and on the way heard loud live music in the other direction, from the park next to the boat..A concert in the park..So we changed clothes, gathered our stuff and headed over.  It turned out to be my favorite local guitarist with her zydeco band.  Are you familiar with Zydeco?  From Louisiana..French, Caribbean, toe tapping, heart racing kind of bluesy music…guitar, drums, accordion, washboard, violins…bottom line: Zydeco is happy music, no way around that…So, as my children played with their friends…under the brilliant setting sun, with the wind gently caressing my legs, and my skirt flowing (all sensations that I love) I danced with people I did not know…Are you kidding me..this is my life????  I allowed my heart to remain open and was rewarded ten thousand fold…Blessed indeed…because I chose to embrace those blessings…

And the bonus…yep there is a bonus…after such a full day, we came home to a boat as clean as can be…what a feeling that is! Home sweet home…

As you read, do you remember my boss lied, I lost four days of pay, my car is about to be retired, my boat insurance is due?  or are you there giving praise under the moonlight, eating delicious food, thinking about friendships and dessert, dancing under the setting sun…

See, it’s a choice..and I choose to give power to blessings, with ease I allow my life to unfold, as I concentrate on what is good and allow *that* to fill up my moments…

I choose to rejoice…

May you open your heart and rejoice with me?

And, I’d like you to dance with me..so this video is my favorite local guitarist and her Zydeco band…

Much peace,

Joy