The Navigator

Archive for December, 2008

Words of wisdom from Barbara De Angelis:

If we did not have problems, we would never learn strength;
If we did not have struggles, we would never learn resilience;
If we did not have delays, we would never learn patience;
If we did not have resistance, we would never learn perseverance;
If we did not have hopelessness, we would never learn faith;
If we did not have suffering, we would never learn compassion.

Between mind and heart, intellect and emotion
lies an intuitive insight and a silent wisdom
that is guiding each and every step.
~ DailyGuru.com

We don’t see things as they are; we see them as we are. – Anais Nin.

For me, this rings so true. I know whenever my insecurities get the best of me, this is why. I often make up stories based on how I’m feeling about something and it rarely serves me in a positive way other than to remind me of my work that still needs to be done.

What are your thoughts on this?

25 Random Things About Me

1. I’m 42 but most people think I’m much younger and are very surprised to find out I have a 22 year old daughter.

2. My favorite food is the tomato. There’s nothing like a tomato that’s fully ripe and full of juice, so much juice that you have to eat it over the sink so you don’t get it all over your clothes but it still gets all over your face. I used to sometimes eat them with sugar but now I always eat them with Krazy Salt.

3. One of my favorite songs growing up was Mercedes Benz by Janice Joplin because my dream car was a Mercedes. I thought I would know I was successful when I had one.

4. I now know a car is no measure of success. My measures of success include making a difference for someone every day, knowing that I’m on the right path because I’m doing what I love and having fun, and being able to comfortably financially support my family.

5. I really miss my Bonneville. While I love my iPod hook up, my Bonneville had it all and the way her seats hugged me and made me feel so cozy and welcome every time I climbed in – nothing has compared.

6. I am proud of the fact that I had the courage to leave my secure job with a good paycheck to pursue my dream.

7. Even though my grandma has been gone for almost 30 years, I still miss her.

8. One of my all time favorite shows is Charmed because I want kick a** powers like they have. Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to orb from one place to the next? Blow up things with your hands? Stare hard at something and move it?

9. One of my other all time favorite shows is I Dream of Jeannie because I wanted to be her. I didn’t want to live in a bottle or have a master or where that funny outfit but I really wanted to be able to cross my arms, blink and get whatever I wanted.

10. Part of me believes that I can cross my arms, blink and get whatever I wanted.

11. I know I’m here to connect with others but that scares me at times because it feels so vulnerable.

12. I don’t like to be vulnerable because that’s how we get hurt. I’ve had enough hurt in my life.

13. I know I can’t truly give or receive love unless I’m choosing to be vulnerable. What a vicious circle.

14. I’m willing to be vulnerable.

15. My cat’s name is Shanti. It means peace in Sanskrit. Peace is what I crave in life. That and connection with others.

16. I also crave real conversations. I want to talk about who you are, what you love, what causes you pain, what your dreams are…the real you.

17. My dream vacation is a trip to Greece. I want a vacation. Right now, any place will do – preferably something warm.

18. My husband puts up with a lot and is very kind and funny. My daughter Amanda is strong and courageous. My daughter Kayla is empathic and social. My brother is one of the most generous people I know. My mom is also one of the most generous people I know. I love my family.

19. I have many great people in my life. I am grateful for each and every one of them. I am who I am because of everyone around me.

20. I don’t like surprises. I think it has something to do with control. Not that I’m saying I have a problem with control. OK, sometimes I kind of do.

21. I wish I knew what my pets were thinking about all the time. I wonder if they feel the same way about me.

22. I love 70s music. It feeds my soul.

23. I love to be pampered. I love my feet being rubbed. I love massages. I love going out to a decent restaurant and having someone serve me. I think we all deserve to be pampered once in a while.

24. I love technology. I love gadgets. I love the internet. Google is one of my best friends.

25. I’m ready to be who I really am and to let others see all of me.
I think learning random things about people is fun. I’d love to hear some random things about you.

The Butterfly

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.

One day a small opening appeared and he sat and watched the butterfly as it struggled for several hours to force its body through the little hole. Then, it seemed to stop making progress. It appeared that it had gotten as far as it could.

The man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily but it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would expand and be able to support the body which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent its whole life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It was never able to fly.

What the man, in kindness, and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required to get through the tiny opening were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved freedom.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through life without obstacles, it would cripple us.

We would not be as strong as we would have been. And…We would never fly!

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”
Meister Eckhart
Today I am thankful that when I don’t have the courage to do something I know I should, I can trust that the Universe will take care of it for me.

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