Have you ever been stung by a bee? A wasp? A hornet? I sure have and it hurts! The initial sting is the most intense and slowly it lessens and fades. Why do they sting? Bees don’t start their day seeking people to hurt. Bees sting when they feel threatened. Bees sting as a protective device.

Bee stings got me thinking about people stings. Why do people sting you with their words and actions? Ah, people sting too when they are feeling threatened and need to self protect. Some people sting in response to others as they feel stung by your words and actions. Others sting first to keep you from stinging them. Is it possible that knowing the words and actions chosen by others are coming from fear rather than hate will lessen the hurt? Perhaps if you realized their harsh words and actions were there coat of armor (stingers), it would lessen the pain for you? Perhaps you wouldn’t take it as personally and be able to look beyond their hurtful words and actions and see the fear behind it. Perhaps knowing this, you wouldn’t swat them away as your own self protection armor engages and allow gentleness and compassion to show up.

Affirmation: I choose kind and loving words and actions.

(S)he Said:

“To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee.” ~ William H. Walton

“Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.”  ~ William Arthur Ward

“Speak with contempt of none, from slave to king, the meanest Bee hath, and will use, a sting.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

Music to My Ears:

Bringing Home My Babe Bumble Bee

Flight of the Bumble Bee  ~Maksim

For the next week I invite you to become aware of:

Your words – do they lift you and others up, or do they hold you back?

 Your reactions – do you knee-jerk react expecting what was said and done came from meanness? Or do you look behind it and see the fear creating the situation.

Your worthiness – by affirming and validating you are worthy of great love, great happiness, and great abundance. Others words and actions can’t sting you when you are filled with self love, as you fully understand you are simply a mirror of their internal fears.

Mostly, I wish you a week of seeing the good in you and others, seeing the love in you and others, and seeing the possibilities in you and others. When you see the honey rather than the sting, you allow goodness, love, and possibilities to expand.

Until next time, BEE good to yourself and others and have a positive focus kind of week.

What is your favorite season? Mine is summer. I love the sun. I love longer days. But mostly, I love being on the water and sailing.  While I love summer, others prefer spring, fall, or winter as their favorite season. Rather than bemoaning the seasons you aren’t so fond of, wouldn’t it be more fun to look for the opportunities within each of them?

I find seasonal changes very similar to personal changes. When we are on a new path there are times of great love, happiness and excitement similar to of our favorite season. There are times where doubt and fear filter into the experience not unlike how we feel when our least favorite season is impending.  When you are able to look at the big picture of life and see how the ebbs and flows, the peaks and valleys, and the happy and contrasting experiences blend together to create a life filled with amazing opportunities to love bigger and live better, wouldn’t each experience be more vibrant and love filled?

Affirmation:  Each season allows me a time to love deeper.

(S)he Said:

“To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.”  ~ George Santayana

“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy”  ~ William Blake

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:  if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”  ~ Anne Bradstreet

Music to my ears:

Seasons of Love ~ Rent

Seasons in the Sun ~ Terry Jacks

Seasons Change ~ Expose

For the next week I invite you to celebrate the current season by:

Appreciating whatever season you are in. Find the beauty in the moment; even if it’s not your favorite, there is great love there.

Looking for the good in all experiences as when you look for the good, the challenging moments are lessened.

Mostly, my wish for you this week is to enjoy life moment by moment, experience by experience, by seeing that each season offers the opportunity to love, laugh, grow, and become your best self.

Until next time, season’s greetings!

How is your memory?

When someone transitions that meant a lot to us, we often forgive and forget perceived wrong doings, and focus on the joys that they brought to us. We focus on the laughter and love they shared with us. When someone leaves us do to divorce, break-up etc., we often focus on all the perceived wrong doings and focus on the pain they shared with us.

If we could remember that everyone in our lives serve a purpose whether it’s a season, a reason, or a lifetime, perhaps we could live happier and healthier lives today in this moment. How would your living relationships change if you realized they served a purpose or they wouldn’t be part of your life to begin with?

Affirmation:  Today is tomorrow’s memory, so I will make them loving ones.

(S)he Said:

“We cannot change our memories, but we can change their meaning and the power they have over us.” ~ David Seamands

“We do not remember days, we remember moments. The richness of life lies in the memories we have forgotten.” ~ Cesare Pavese

“Memory is the diary we all carry around with us.” ~ Oscar Wild

Music to My Ears

Memories   ~ Cats

Memories ~ Elvis Presley

Memories   ~ Backstreet Boys

For the next week, I invite you to remember to:

Love you, others, and the world. When you approach the day from love, relationships and experiences become easier and better.

Be gentle with yourself and others by knowing everyone is doing the best they can in the moment. Take a deep breath, know that it’s an experience you get to choose to see as good or bad, and be gentle.

Mostly, I wish you a week filled with making happy and loving new memories for yourself and those you love. When you go about your day knowing you are the creator of your experiences…the good and the perceived bad ones, you are empowered to create a happier and healthier day…you know, the kind of day you deserve!

Until next time, my memory is pretty good. How about yours?