Miracle of Life

Picture of the fountain at The Saskatoon Farm in Alberta - taken by J Hirst

‘Many people are alive but don’t touch the miracle of being alive.’ ~Thich Nhat Hanh

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I read this quote several times.  It triggered so many questions in my mind. Why would we not touch the miracle of being alive?

As I contemplated and quested in my mind, I realized that several things come in to play in each of our lives.

• Some of us come with a contract to Earth to do the bare minimum of living.
• Some come to experience a variety of things - drugs, alcoholism, debilitating disease, rejection, becoming a cleric or monk, being a hero, and the list goes on.
• Some come with the ability to enjoy Nature and the little miracles that happen each day but are ignored by many.
• Some come to change the world.

Some are on a continuum of the above that lets them see the miracle of life as they become seniors.  How we live is perfect for why we are here.

Blessings,

Judy

Life Is Balanced

The poster says:

For everything you have missed, you have gained something else; And for everything you gain, you lose something else.  It is about your outlook towards life.  You can either regret or rejoice.  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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You choose the pace of the balance in your life.  Choose wisely. 

Blessings,

Judy

A Full Life

 

The poster says:

Eat better. Run more. Lift more. Sleep earlier. Wake up earlier.  Make a good breakfast.  drink water. Read books.  Talk less. Listen more.  Open your eyes.  Love better.  Feel deeper. Be happy.  Experience life.  - Author not known.

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As we move closer to the start of 2026, many of us will begin to make lists of New Year’s resolutions or wishes for the New Year.  The poster above is a wonderful list to start your resolutions. 

Each year, I do a list… 101 wishes for the upcoming year.  You can read my post about it from 2023 at https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2023/01/101-wishes-for-new-years-day-2023.html.

This year, I started early and so far, I have 61 items on my list.  I will add some of these ideas from the poster.  I really like:  open your eyes, and love better.

Many blessings,

Judy

Merry Christmas 2025

Merry Christmas to each of you!  May today be filled with peace, love, and humour.  This Christmas is a bit different for us as our dog who turned fourteen years old a short time ago, is now in his final days.  He has taught us so much over the years.  And, he has taught others too, about loving and accepting new people to your life.

I think that dogs are the only beings that interact with humans that know that Christmas, and every other day of the year, is about love.  

The message that came through my meditation was all around love, and especially love with compassion and without limits.  All dogs seem to have that unbelievable ability to love unconditionally and with a sense of compassion that I marvel at.

This Christmas, I noticed that the number of people walking dogs in our off leash park has increased.   I look at the faces of the people with dogs, and those without, and I see that dog owners seem to be more relaxed, and they seem to be happier with what they are doing.

I chatted with several new comers to the dog walking trail, and found that they had decided that rather than give a lot of presents, that they would adopt a dog for Christmas.  They were finding it challenging to fit in many activities plus a new dog, however, all were happy with their choices.

I wonder, sometimes, how the Universe lines up these pairings of people and dogs.  I wonder how long it takes to get to that place where the right dog and the right people are finally able to live out their contract.  I wonder what happens when a matching does not happen.  

I am so very glad that dogs are working with humans.  We are all better off, I think.

 Blessings,

Judy

How To Accomplish Change

 The poster says:

The three C’s of life:  Choices, Chances, Changes.

You must make a Choice to take a Chance or your life will never Change.

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We are in December, the time of year when many folks start looking at their life and wishing it was different.  It may be the unhappiness of family and friends and their dramas.  Or, it may be a dis-satisfaction with the work or career.  Sometimes, it is a general depression that one is not where they thought they would be at this time.  This is a time to look at the three C’s of life.

If life isn’t going the way that you imagined that it would, then life is telling you that you need to change something.  For each of us, that “something” is different.  Yes, it is because we are unique.  Our differences mean that our choices must be different.  

If someone is telling you and one hundred others that you must make a choice to do “something”, then recognize that all one hundred and one of you are being treated the same, and your differences are not being accounted for.

If you keep making the same choices over and over, you are not only in a pattern, you are in a rut!  The only way that you can get out of the rut is to choose to climb out of it.

If you want to make changes, ask the Angels for help.  They will stand with you and help you shift.

Blessings,

Judy

Self Care at Christmas

 

Over the last several years, I have published several articles about self care.  Today, as we are nine days away from Christmas, please take to heart the idea of making your life easier, especially in the kitchen.  Look at “Load the Dishwasher Twice” about the idea of making dishwashing easier….. https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2025/08/run-dishwasher-twice.ht…

If you are stressing about how you look for Christmas, check out this post… https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2023/01/self-needs-care.html

Lacking energy?  Check out Stretching for More Energy…. https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2023/01/stretching-for-self-care-and-more-energy.html

Here is my favourite post… Self Care at Christmas …. https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2022/12/self-care-at-christmas.html

Remember, only we can truly care for our self.  This post about Responsibility for Self talks about what you can do…. https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2025/01/responsibility-for-our-self.html

Blessings,

Judy

No Arguments

 

The poster says:

For your own sanity, let people think whatever they want.

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Have you noticed that so many people seem to have only half of the information about a subject and then they want to press their understanding of the subject on you.  

As we listen, we know that their knowledge is lacking and that often, they quote an unreliable source.  We can share with them and point out the facts that they are missing.  This will usually lead to an argument.  

Is it worth your time to argue with someone who obviously does not want to admit to all the facts, and, who may have an emotional attachment to their current belief? 

I have accepted that it is far more important for my time and my energy to let people believe what they will.  It is not my job to correct them.  Part of their life journey is to learn what beliefs and values they hold are true and what beliefs and values are not true.  That is the journey of self discovery.  Who are we to create road blocks on the journey.

Many blessings,

Judy

Build A Door

 

The picture says:

If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.  -- Milton Berle

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Many people think that they need to wait for something to happen to them before they can make a change... whether it is about work, home life, or taking a risk.  As Milton Berle says, sometimes you need to build the door to create the opportunity.  

We are not educated as we grow up to look to creating our own thing.  We are taught always to be inside the box.  As we look around, the box is broken and maybe even crushed.  We need to do new things to give ourselves and the next generations a new objective.  

Many of us remember jobs, for example, that no longer exist and technology that is gone that was once state of the art.  As we grow and get creative, we can invent new ways of being.  

Blessings,

Judy

Just Your Life

 

                                                       Picture of Elbow River by J Hirst

What is this? This is just your life. So you do your part, and the rest is clear. It is clear because there has never been anything lacking, despite any beliefs you might have, despite any ideas you might have. There has never been anything lacking. - Elihu Genmyo Smith, "Do Your Best"

 

I really think that this quote says all there is to say about life.

 

Blessings,

Judy

Words Have Power

The sign says:

Dear Life,

When I say “things could not get any worse”, it is NOT a challenge.

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This sign is for all the people that think they have life tough -  and then try to rationalize what they are thinking.   And, we have all done it!

The continuous challenge that each of us has is to speak positively and not in the negative.  We are what we think and speak.

Blessings,

Judy

Three Hornets and Me

 

                   Picture from ridmycritters.com since I do not have a picture of my hornets

In September, we were still having beautiful weather.  I had yard work to do but I sat down to work at my laptop on a project.  As I started to open Microsoft Word, a strange message came up, telling me that I had been hit by a virus and that I needed to download a virus patch.

I recognized the message as a fake, and I immediately turned off access to the internet.  I then tried to use my virus removal software.  However, clever hacker had written the virus to block any program that scanned and removed viruses, Trojans, spyware, or worms.

I was very angry at the hacker that wrote this code.  Coincidently, I was feeling upset about all the yard work that I still had to do, and, I was upset that my dishwasher was not working properly.  I was also sitting in the kitchen.  As I was thinking all these things, three Hornets flew through the open door and settled in the kitchen, at the window, close to my chair. 

The three Hornets were pretty agitated that they could see where they wanted to go – the big outdoors – through the glass, but, they could not get there.  The buzzing got louder and louder.  The Fool in me (the Fool is the first card in the Tarot) laughed and said, “Well, isn’t that Nature imitating Life!” 

I had to laugh too.

Although Hornet has a bad reputation, she is about working with the Earth, about being grounded, about being secluded, and about leaving others alone.  Nothing makes a Hornet angrier than being disturbed in its work.  Again, I laughed.  I was imitating Nature.

Common sense kicked in, and I realized that I would need to fix my laptop, and delete the virus.  I also realized that it would probably take some time. 

Since all things are perfect, I knew that I was not meant to work on the project I was going to start on my computer today. I wasn't meant to do yard work, either. I needed to settle in and fix things.

I am grateful!

Blessings,

Judy

The Tiger Lily

Picture comes from TheMarthaBlog.com because I could not find my picture of lilies.

This post comes from my journal from about ten years ago.  Sometimes, writing something in the past calls me to write it to others.  

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The Tiger Lily always makes me think of my Grandmother who has been deceased for about fifteen years.  She loved the color of the flower, its resilience to drought and to drowning, and she loved that it stands straight up, looking at the Sun.  She would tell my brother and I, when we were five and six, that we should be like the Tiger Lily.

As I am processing big changes in my life, I decided that I would do some yard work.  I realized that my flower beds were looking bedraggled, and decided to go to check out the offerings at the nursery.  I felt like I was pulled over to the perennial section where there was a huge display of tiger lilies and other lilies.  The orange, and yellow, and pink lilies called to a part of my soul, and I went home with six pots of lilies.  

As I thought about my purchase, I realized that I felt happy and peaceful.  I felt the presence of my Grandmother like a warm hug.  Again, I could see Great Spirit’s hand in the way that I was guided out to the yard, and then to the nursery.  I felt the healing presence of great love and compassion.  I planted my lilies and I felt as though the world shifted for me.

Try planting a lily and see if it changes your feelings.

 

Blessings,

Judy

Calm

When everything seems to be in chaos,

Find a place where it is calm. 

Here is the center of creation,

The place where you were born.

Each of you comes from a calmness

Of the Eternal Flame of life. 

It is not your nature to be angry or in upheaval.

You are Elemental.  You are healing.

Remember that most things are not about you;

Indeed, most often life is not about you at all.

Find that place where in the calmness, you can see

That life happens and does not need an explanation.

Be still.

Be calm.

 

Blessings,

Judy

Happy November 1 2025

As November kicks off, people in the Northern Hemisphere are settling in for Winter with its cold and snow and Christmas preparations.  

November is a good month for practicing "letting go" of things, feelings, and family/friends that no longer serve you.  Note that serve does not mean in the sense that they are your servants but in the sense that they do not provide any support or encouragement in your life.  If the person makes your life more difficult by demanding that you do this or that, then that person has an agenda that excludes any benefit to you.

For example, if you want to do something like take art classes and those around you tell you that it is a waste of money or that you do not have talent, then they are an example of someone that does not serve you.  Their most common comeback for what they say is, "I am just looking out for your best interest".  This is a falsehood because it would be in your best interest to experience something new.  They don't want you to move ahead or progress so they make up reasons to hold you back.

Generally, people are competitive and are afraid that you will do better than them, or, be better than them.  Therefore, individuals will try to hold you back, selfishly, so that you do not make them look unsuccessful or lazy or….

Many blessings,

Judy

Think Thoughts That Make You Feel Good!

   

“Think thoughts that make you feel good, make choices that make you feel good, and take actions that make you feel good. Then surrender the outcome, trusting that Life will bring you what you need to grow and be happy.” 

- from You Can Create An Exceptional Life by Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson

Sometimes, we make a decision or choice that leaves us feeling off balance or anxious, and sometimes, guilty.  The only way to avoid these feelings is to think thoughts that are happy and positive.  Those thoughts come from the heart and will always be the right thing at that moment in time.  Thoughts, choices, and actions that come from ego will most often be the cause of all of the drama that shows up in your life.

Blessings,

Judy

You Don’t Know Until You Try

The poster says:

“It’s impossible.” Said pride.

“It’s risky.” Said experience.

“It’s pointless.” Said reason.

“Give it a try.” Whispered the heart.

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I sometimes have the best moments when I am out walking my dog.  Today, I was contemplating whether to try something different in my life.  I have all the reasons that it won’t work.  However, my gut, or instinct, or heart, was telling me to do it anyway.

I wondered if I was being foolish.  Can we really learn a lot of new things at once just because it is our will?  The answer came back, “Yes, you can!  Thy will be done.”   For a moment, the silence was deafening.  I was not in the park.   And then slowly, the sound of rushing water came back.  I could hear the birds singing.  I saw the Sun.

I knew that I need to go ahead with this one new thing in my life.

Wish me luck!

Blessings,

Judy

Welcome October 2025

 

                        Comes from an email from a friend so source is not known

October 1 signifies that in Canada, winter is just around the corner and that snow will be here very soon.    

Snow reminds us that this is a time of sleeping for most of Nature.  It reminds us to finish clearing out the flower beds and the garden, and prepare for next spring.  It is a time when many of us sign up for courses because we are also preparing ourselves for the next spring when we hope to undertake changes in our life style or in our careers.

October then, is about planning.  It is not about making hard and fast rules.  It is about thinking about the choices that you wish to make, and putting those choices in to action.

Blessings,

Judy

Things Simply Happen

 

Things simply happen—we do our rituals, we travel about, we bear children, live among them, and die. We can’t change these facts, but if we cultivate awareness that everyone, everywhere has similar experiences of life and death, it can take the urgency out of our responses, opening a space for equanimity to arise.  - Manjusura, “The View From Above”

I read this passage and felt the “rightness” of it.  We all have our own belief systems, and our beliefs carry us through the dark times.  Everyone has dark times and it seems that we often forget that others have similar experiences.  It is the magic of life that allows us to have similar paths.  From this, we learn new ideas and beliefs.  We grow.  Our mind expands.  We live life more easily.

Blessings,

Judy

Love and Let It Come Back

The poster says, “Whatever you give to life, it gives you back.  Do not hate anybody.  The hatred which comes out from you will someday come back to you.  Love others.  And Love will come back to you.

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So many times we hear the phrase “if a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil….”.  The saying is about the ripple effect of our actions.   

I am thinking about something lovely that my friend Brenda, did for another person.  She came out of Safeway and found a young woman standing, looking lost and sad and cold.  Brenda asked her if she could help the young woman.  The young woman was tired and hungry and had no success getting assistance from the person she had called on the telephone.  

Brenda took her in and bought her a sandwich and coffee, and gave the young woman the only money that she had in her wallet, a five dollar bill.  She said that she knew that this lady needed it more than she did.  

Whatever happens to the young lady, I believe the outcome will be good because someone gave her kindness and hope.  

May your day be wonderful in all ways.

Blessings,

Judy

Be Open

I have been listening to a family member complain of all the things that are wrong in their life.  I did not know how to approach and how to be of help.  

Then, I saw this slide, and I knew that it is not for me to deal with.  I do not even need to be a support.  I need to remind them that they can drop the load that they are carrying at any time.  What you carry is a choice!

When we let go, we let things happen in a natural way, and life is very good.

Blessings,

Judy