A thorn

But he that dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose. ~Anne Bronte

A rose is the visible result of an infinitude of complicated goings on in the bosom of the earth and in the air above, and similarly a work of art is the product of strange activities in the human mind. ~Clive Bell

It has been a long day.  One I did not expect to take up so much of my time.  I had no idea the picture I took this morning of my mother's garden (the rose is called a Peace rose) or the quotes I chose would have such an impact on my day.  

If one does not reach out, how can one expect to grab onto what one wants?  You cannot expect to reap rewards for which you do not also accept the pain.  I have been living as a recluse for about two years now, though few people would actually recognize that.  My most intimate, close relationships are with people on the internet.  And while some I have met in person and our friendship withstood that test, I have very few bonds like that in my real life.  If I don't risk the chance of being rejected and hurt again, how can I expect to find the intimate moments I can share with another?  I don't mean sex, though someday I wish to have that connection with someone.  I mean the deep intellectual connect, spiritual moments that lead to connections.  I rarely, if at all, have that anymore.  I have a hard time reaching out, because I am constantly plagued by memories of pain.  But what is pain without pleasure?

Everything is connected to each other.  Me to you, to the air, to the ocean.  We are all energy, all of us connected to each other in a multitude of invisible strands.  And today, I was given the chance to see that.  My body does not always function as it should, especially as a woman.  And, so far, there is no medical reason for it.  But today, I was at a conference and experienced someone perform Reiki on me.  When the woman put her hands to my head and heart, shoulders and back, I felt a sensation not unlike cooling bubbling water within my body.  And when I got home, my body that has been betraying me released.  I experienced a new beginning today, like the Peace rose waiting to bloom, my body relaxed.  

I am grateful for the angel who touched me today.  I can only hope to be able to reach out and feel that touch again, and share it with those I know and love.

A beginning

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." ~ Seneca (Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)

"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are." ~ J. Piermont Morgan (Life coach)

In everyone's life, they face several new beginnings: new job, new relationship, new baby, new house, a new day.  How many beginnings are we given everyday?  A morning, a sunrise, a greeting, a meal, a shower.  Every moment in the day gives us the chance to make a change, a change in the direction we're going.  And how many of those new beginnings do we ignore?  How many do we let pass us by only to lament their passing?

I started this blog to embrace those beginnings.  One of my favorite beginnings of all time is the picture above.  No, I didn't take it today.  It's over 100 degrees outside, and I don't look forward to going out in it.  Instead, this is a picture I took from my camera phone last week.  It is a lovely picture of my sister-in-law and her new baby from an outdoor concert with the Air Force Rock Band.  Her birth, her life is one of my favorite new beginnings.  Abby is so full of life, from day one.  When I held her in my arms for the first time, she wasn't even 24 hours old.  She grabbed my hair, danced her arms and legs to the sounds in the room, and was the most precious thing I've ever held in my arms.  

Someday soon, I want to have a precious child of my own.  But I cannot get to that place in my life if I don't take charge of the beginnings given to me in my life.  

Blessings to the new beginnings in all of our lives.

~Zabby

Purpose Filled Life

This blog is going to be exploring the spiritual side of my life, the side of my life that I haven't focused on enough.  

Within this blog will be pictures of whatever I find inspirational for one reason or another.  Not taken from my nice camera, but my cell phone.  Consider it a travel scope of the brilliance around me.

Also, I'll be looking around the internet for quotes or written bits that inspire me too.

But most importantly, I will be exploring the spirituality of my life, with not only the photos and quotes, but my own written observations and discussions.

And while I'm on this journey into my id and ego, feel free to follow along with me and comment where you like.