BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF

 

It is only 10:30AM and I am already having a full day, it seems like lots is happening. There were two stray dogs in the yard a few minutes ago. I suspect they were let off by an owner who couldn't keep them. We have had this experience before. If one has chickens, sheep and other small animals one needs to be cautious. The last time it happened, we were able to find the owner. The dog was lost. There is a different feeling about these dogs.

It's another beautiful day. Cool, it was 41 degrees F when I got up. Autumn has clearly arrived. Here in Minnesota, there is always a day or two that sends a clear message that the seasons are changing. I got a message from a reader in St Petersburg, Florida. It started me thinking about the season's changes in other latitudes. I spent 4 years in the South; {South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana} I tried to recall what the Season changes were like. It is too long ago, I can't remember; nothing like here though, with our first frost in the Fall, the coloring and falling of the leaves, then Winter's first snow. In the Spring there is a great renewal; the snow melts, green things pop out of the ground, buds swell on the trees and leaves unfurl. Then there is the first thunder storm of Spring. The Spring's graduation to Summer is less spectacular, than the other transitions.

Autumn is my favorite season............ except............. that it is followed by Winter. The Winter experience in Minnesota can be great. Many people love it. But lets face it...... it is Winter..... it is long. As I get older, I understand why so many folks of retirement age, escape Minnesota and head South. My parents headed South after Christmas every year. They had a camper. First they went to Big Bend Park in Texas, stayed there for a few weeks then headed for California for a couple months. They returned to Minnesota in Early April.

Yesterday, I had an experience where I realized I was a work in progress. I acted in outrage, over what somebody said, I could have, as easily, made my point with gentleness. I have been feeling bad, off and on, ever since. I know feeling bad doesn't make sense. It doesn't help me or the other person. I will forgive myself and move on.

We are all heading in the same direction, but we are on different paths, we can't see everything on someone else's path and we cannot judge. WE CANNOT JUDGE. When we really, truly accept that we cannot judge, a peace comes over us. We do not have to monitor anybody else on their chosen path. Trust the Loving Universe to guide your neighbor. It is not my[our] job.

But we are works in progress. We will err. That is okay. That is how we learn. We need to be as gentle on ourselves, as we wished to be, on our neighbor.

I have chores to do and errands to run. The problem with the dogs seems to have taken care of itself. They have disappeared from the yard. Perhaps they do belong to a neighbor, however, I didn't recognize them.

Include yourself, in your intent, to be gentle and loving to everyone.

Love and Peace, Gregg