Tao of Cat

This morning I took notice of my cat Sage’s approach on obtaining the “window seat” (a chair in front of the window). This spot is predominately occupied my tuxedo cat Gracie, however this morning Sage had a desire to lay there. I watched how Sage carefully approached the chair mindful that Gracie was watching her from the windowsill. Once Sage got to the chair the inevitable happened she was hissed away by “the boss”. Un daunted and following the “Way” Sage stayed low and found a quiet spot in the hall. After thirty minutes passed I noticed Sage was sleeping comfortably on the “Window Seat” Gracie was asleep in a patch of sunlight not far off!

Sage knew there would be another opportunity to use the chair, she didn’t fight for it she followed the principle of non-resistance choosing peace, then allowing the universe to take its course she manifested her presence on the chair!

I’ve learned yet another lesson from my aptly named cat; conflict doesn’t resolve anything! I will try to remember this while seeking my place in the sun!

Namaste,

Run Why?

A Sunday morning in the middle of August, light breeze sun filled sky – Left foot, right foot music playing each step taking me further from my home then half way around the loop and getting closer to home. Thoughts of past events future adventures, then the following thought;

Why run? For the challenge, for health, for people who can’t, for a cause, for the fun of it, for the love of it, for the T Shirt, for the friendships, for the peace of mind, for the peace… Why not run!

Who Are We?

I’ve been reading a lot of Wayne Dyer and I’ve been thinking a lot about a topic he writes and speaks about often… Who are we? Not the you on the outside the you on the inside?

We often have “Buddy Days” at my martial arts school and we give the buddies a HELLO MY NAME IS tag. Just play along for a second, say you were a buddy what would you write on your name tag? Most people would answer what they like being called “Gin” for instance. Yet there is so much more that follows, people will give their names and then how THEY DEFINE themselves. For instance Gin, former RN, sixth dan, martial arts student 28 years, Sarah and Manny’s daughter, Bristolian, NHSN grad, BHS class of 75, Aries… This is only a sample the list is endless…

If you could humor me a moment and write a list of your Definitions. Then cross off all the things you accomplished, do, own, were born into… and notice what’s left.

Nothing, your parents gave you your name… We can morph into anything we want to become, because we are spirits, living in a human body. The Ego needs to be defined… Our energy just seeks peace…

Ginnie

Staying Flexible On The Road…

Flexibility is not to be overlooked! This opening sentence has meaning on so many levels… (Insert whine about recent injury), as you may know by now I’ve sustained an aggravating injury. The injury may or may not have been due to a lack of flexibility but it could have been worse if I hadn’t been moderately flexible and it could have been less if I was very flexible. This notion got me to thinking on all the other areas in life that may have had a different outcomes because of flexibility .

I’m not just speaking about physical flexibility but flexibility in my beliefs. How many times has my thinking been rigid about a person, a place, a religion, my time, the list is endless! I’m so glad that I was flexible enough to believe a woman of twenty-seven can start martial arts and that same woman at forty could open her own school! I’m also saddened that there may have been times where I wasn’t flexible enough in a relationship and lost a friend. There may have been a time or two when my schedule wasn’t flexible enough to have spent with a loved one who’s now passed. How many foods have gone untasted, experiences lost because of my rigid beliefs…

Let’s take this to a universal level, how many wars have been waged and lives lost because of our “lack of flexibility”? The lesson for today is to practice stretching in all areas of our lives, it’s a great way to prevent injuries!

(Tao 76)

“At birth all people are soft and yielding.

At death they are hard and stiff,

All green plants are tender and yielding.

At death they are brittle and dry.

When hard and rigid,

We consort with death.

When soft and flexible,

We affirm greater life.”

Blessings,

Ginnie