Reflections, orchids and birthdays

Wow! Look at that orchid over there.
Across from the fish monger where we sat snacking on kibbling Friday afternoon, I spotted an amazing creature that was more beautiful than words (or photos) can describe - so I brought her home. She now sits on my window sill with what I hope is as beautiful a countenance as the one I saw on her face outside that flower shop.



Through a glass darkly...
Ever since the early days of this blog when I began getting reactions to my post-stroke "positiveness", I've wondered whether human perception of the world wasn't upside-down. Just as a looking glass reflects our body back to us in reverse, so the world we perceive reflects our inside-out, upside-down perception of our selves.

Case in point: my stroke - or what I sometimes refer to as my "Stroke of Genius". Most people I share my story with are either surprised by my attitude or inspired or both. There have been an exceptional few who congratulated me on my achievement of new attitude but most times because they've made the journey themselves.

Based on this, I have come to see that the majority of people are inclined to believe that suffering is not only the norm after such an occurrence but also a more "natural", human response.

But what makes it so? Why is it that most believe suffering through life experiences as a victim is preferred while an "odd" few move through the same life experiences as though they were given a free membership to a spiritual spa and retreat center?

I believe it is because we have taught ourselves the wrong definition of pain - literally. I no longer believe it is or exists for the reasons we think it does. Certainly, pain is something to be avoided - no one wants to feel pain, either psychologically or physically - but, when it does occur, it comes in response to unnecessary suffering and therefore brings with it a golden learning opportunity to overcome it. Pain is given to us as a tool for moving beyond suffering. This probably sounds contradictory to you. Pain causes suffering, right? No, and that's my point. It only causes suffering if we choose suffering over acceptance.

For if we have prepared ourselves well, when pain comes, we will move toward it with acceptance instead of suffering from the prison sentence we perceive it to be by denying it's existence. And when we get to the other side, if we have chosen acceptance, we will be better off than we were before. For even if we look like damaged goods on the outside, we are renewed, clean and whole within.

Inside us, we all contain the wisdom needed to positively face pain when it arrives on our doorstep (or our inbox, loving thine enemy). It may seem as though I am ungrateful or suffered terribly for that experience but I am and did not. When pain does arrive, we have just to recognize it for what it really is and welcome its arrival. For if we turn it away without accepting what it came to teach, it will simply keep coming until we do or die.

Key take-away: the more we accept, the less we suffer. It's easier than you think.

Birthday and best wishes
Happy birthday, Micheal Shin. Hope it's a good one, little buddy. Here's a little gift site from me, where you (or your mom) can read a little about the origins of the Force, you know, like in Star Wars. Ever hear of Qigong for healthier kids? I used to study something similar when I lived in Atlanta. Really cool. The Force is still with me. And, if you blow out any candles or rip open gift wrap, may the Force be with you, too!

And best wishes to my pal and yours, Nancy H. I've been thinking of you since I got your mail. You're healing well and with great spirit, too. As we say in the RFD, keep on keepin' on, sista! And thanks for keeping us posted.

Without you, this would not be possible
Most times, it is not until I sit down and write an entry that I figure out what a particular experience was there to teach me. I suppose this is why journal writing is encouraged for artists and the like. Thank you for Being and for helping me to articulate this particular idea. It's one that has been building for some time.