Harness Your Power: Express Your Love

An emotional and interesting week it has been.  Late Sunday night I received a call from a good friend who told me that her 22 year old daughter with Cystic Fibrosis had passed away.  Life is short. 

On Friday evening I went to the viewing.  I was impressed by the incredible outpouring of love and support shown by friends and family.  This young woman had made an incredible impact on people with her courage, resilience and determination to live a full life in spite of her debilitating condition.

As I looked at each of the people standing in line at the viewing I realized that this 22 year old girl continued to live in the hearts of each of these people.  In fact, the love she had shared with all of these people lives on.  Love has no end.  Love continues to grow and deepen whether we are present on earth or not.

Share your love.  Give it freely.  Don't hold back because of your fear or insecurity.  Instead, offer it generously.  Lavish it on those you meet.  Love is what makes a lasting impact.  We are beings of love here to join with one another in love.

Today was the funeral.  Another imprint left deep on my heart was the amazing connection between those at the funeral.  Hugs, kisses, holding of hands, patting of shoulders...so much touching and kindness extended all around the room.  Why don't we see more of this shared freely between people every day?

Take the time to share your love through these embraces.  Wouldn't every day feel better if you received a loving touch from those who are close to you and even from those who are merely acquaintances. 

As one of my friends reminded this evening, the people in our lives are merely "on loan" to us for a period of time.  We never know when that time will come to a close.  So, express love NOW.

Later in the week I received an email from a college teammate who had her first child.  Ironically the baby was born the same day that the 22 year old had passed away.  Life ebbs and flows.  People arrive and people depart.  The Eternal spirit is present here and continues on when we leave our body behind.

I offer you my love today,

Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.
http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Enjoy Every Moment

(This picture is of my children-- Maggie on the left, Skye on the right-- posing by their first pet, a little blue fish. They were so full of joy when they got it several weeks ago.)

This week I had three extra kids at home. My nephews and nieces from London came for a visit. They are 17, 11 and 9 in age.

When visitors arrive our schedules change and our spaces are full. In the past I would have felt a sense of resistance and pressure with this change but instead, I made a conscious effort to truly go with the flow. In doing so, I had a wonderful time. In fact, I found many opportunities to bring out my inner child and experience things I haven’t done in years.

In one week I’ve gone swimming several times, played miniature golf, colored pictures, played hide-n-seek and duck duck goose, drove a go-kart at top speed, ate water ice, ate Popsicles, cooked all sorts of meals and tickled a lot of kids. It’s been a freeing opportunity for me to simply have fun.

I’ve also found enjoyment in watching my children interact with their older cousins. There is a genuine care between all of them. While the big ones like to tease the little ones at times, overall, they all have gotten along well and laughed a lot together. My youngest one, Skye, particularly loves her 11 year old cousin Daniel. Each morning when she wakes up she hops in bed to snuggle with her cousin. It is very sweet to see the bonds develop within the group.

An insight I gained into myself this week is that I hold beliefs that certain activities are more “valuable” and “worthwhile” than others. For example, it seems that deep inside I believe that working is more important than having fun. I recognize this because of the resistance and self-judgment I experience as I have fun. My thoughts often move toward, “Your time would be better used if you were writing or coaching.” I know this pattern I have. As I see my mind go that direction I know that I can stop and shift my thinking to, “it is such a pleasure to have fun and engage in any activity when I give it my attention.”

I’ve been learning to allow myself to be in each moment more fully. As I release these judgments I have and fully engage myself in whatever it is I’m doing and with whoever it is I’m interacting with, I find that my life experience becomes truly joyful.

I encourage you this week to watch the judgments you place on spending time and on the different roles you play. Do you think work is more important than play? Do you find yourself feeling more important when you are at work than when you are playing a parental role? Just watch your judgments. Learn from them. Understand the beliefs you hold.

What if there were no hierarchy of ways to spend time and instead, the attention you gave the moment was the only standard you really needed. Am I fully present right now? Am I giving my full attention and energy to what I’m doing? Am I allowing myself to experience the intensity, joy and wonder of any activity I’m doing?

Lots to think about!
Enjoy the contemplation. Have fun.
I certainly am.

Hugs to all,
Patricia Omoqui

http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/