Dear Newly Divorced,

Dear newly divorced, You can't go back, you are divorced now. Take a breath and look forward. You will now embark on a new life. Whether you like it or not, you will. Just like when you were born, you were thrown into a new world. Embrace it! Start planting the seeds of your new life and be patient. Be careful of the seeds you choose, for you now can do what you thought you never could. Enjoy building your new life! When you plant seeds in the garden, you don't dig them up every day to see if they have sprouted yet. You simply water them and clear away the weeds; you know that the seeds will grow in time. Similarly, just do your daily practice and cultivate a kind heart. Abandon impatience and instead be content creating the causes for goodness; the results will come when they're ready. -Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron ~(gail)~

You are more than just body parts.... you are a special.

I am not a followerer of "stars" but I will make this an exception. It's all over the news that Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy. A woman considered so beautiful and considered so sexy by men and women, had her breasts removed. Not, only that, but her life partner and father of her children is still around. A man also considered sexy and "rich". Of all that they have done to help the world and less fortunate, this may be the most meaningful one. To think that men have abandoned their wives because they felt that the woman was not "sexy" enough. Men have been known to leave their longtime wives for younger women. They have abandoned their children as well. Men and women have believed they are "too good" to be with someone who does not present themselves in a "sexy" manner. Dating sites are full of women putting emphasis on their breasts. In short, we live in a superficial world where "looks" are emphasized.Some men have actually persuaded their wives and girlfriends against chemotherapy so that they don't lose their hair. I am touched by how the Pitt-Jolie partnership has gracefully handled Angelina's situation and decision. We are all human and no one is perfect, imperfection is part of perfection in my opinion. Once we meet someone and commit to them, we are commited to them and their soul. Not to their body parts and genitalia. In true committment, the better or worse part, the parts can go, but the love and comitment should be there until death takes it away from this earth. I applaud the Pitt-Jolies. Many they have many years of health and happiness.

Happy Mother's Day

This weekend is Mother's Day. Not everyone is a mother and not everyone has a mother. I invite everyone to celebrate the elder women in their lives. I have found that many people express sadness for the loss of their mothers and claim to hate the day. I think we need to bring positive energy into our lives and honor our lives. On Sunday, I will honor my mother and women that perhaps do not even have children but are our teachers, doctors and people that make our life special. They may have devoted their lives to a career, and perhaps were not meant to be biological but spiritual and adopted mothers of many. Remember, the secret to happiness is to value and celebrate what we have.