“I was wise enough never to grow up.”–Margaret Mead
Just so you know, this is not a plea for birthday wishes. I already feel blessed by each and every one of you. I know (except when I occasionally get cranky) that I’m deeply loved and, if anything, I want to give birthday wishes.
Because that’s how it works. When we’re filled up with love, with the truth of who we are, it can’t help but gush over to everyone in our vicinity—even if it’s the vicinity of a blog. I write these posts for one reason. I love to write them. I do it for me.
And, yes, that’s another gravitational rule of life. When you do what you love most in all the world, it brings blessings to you AND spills on to others like an over-running cup.
When I blather on about the largesse of the world, I occasionally hear comments like “You’re out of your mind.” And I say, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!
My mind, as useful as it is, has never delivered much joy. It’s too busy keeping track of stuff, making to-do lists and filing all the reasons I should focus on the human meatball part of myself. But boy, when I get “out of my mind,” all I experience is joy and a beautiful awareness that I am so lucky to have occurred at all.
Today’s Course lesson is “There is nothing to fear.” So my third birthday wish for all of you is this: Get out of your fear-producing mind, recognize the Truth and enjoy a big honking birthday celebration on me. #222 Forever!
“Your drive to experience pleasure isn’t a barrier to your spiritual growth, but is in fact essential to it. Cultivating joy can make you a more ethical and compassionate person. Feeling good has something important to teach you every day.”—Rob Brezsny
In the big stage play of life, we all get a role to play, an important part that only we can fulfill.
Recently, it seems, I’ve been assigned to re-translate the workbook from A Course in Miracles into language that isn’t quite so sexist (is ACIM having a #Metoo moment?) and difficult to digest. Like, what does atonement and salvation even mean?
ACIM Lesson 101, like its predecessors of the past few days, is one we’re supposed to repeat every hour.
And it’s an important one. God’s will for me is perfect happiness.
Perfect, of course, means 100 percent. Never stopping. All the time. From sun-up to sun-down. And even when I sleep. It’s SO radical and SO outside our range of experience that how we can even wrap our minds around it. 24/7? How can that be?
So today, in order to hook into just a wee bit of willingness (all I’m ever asked to contribute), I wrote myself a mantra, a little ditty that I plan to repeat A LOT. Quietly, inside my head, since I prefer not to be locked away just yet.
My intention is for it to get stuck in my head the way certain lyrics do. So here it is:
Epic. Awesome. Forever Fine. Happiness, fun and joy are mine.
And because I haven’t shared a favorite song in a while, here’s another great ditty to get stuck in your head.
Pam Grout is the author of 19 books including E-Squared, E-Cubed, Thank & Grow Rich and her new book, Art & Soul,Reloaded: A Year-Long Apprenticeship to Summon the Muses and Ignite Your Daring, Audacious, Creative Side.
“There’s power in looking silly. And not caring that you do.”—Amy Poehler
“He actually caught himself saying things like “Yippee,” as he pranced ridiculously round the house.” ― Douglas Adams
In my new book, Art & Soul, Reloaded, I offer what I call, Zumba for the Soul. These fun, quirky activities, add-on’s to the weekly projects, came straight off a big sheet of butcher block paper I taped to the door of my basement office when my daughter Taz was four.
Recognizing the weighty assignment of being a single parent, I was determined to do a good job raising her. But at the same time, I didn’t want to surrender my free spirit. So on the door-long piece of paper, I magic-markered ideas I could undertake to keep my mojo flowing.
A reviewer on Amazon recently called them silly stunts. And she’s right. They are, for the most part, silly.
Taking your sketchbook to the park, dancing to the bathroom or making a sock money are not listed on too many grownups’ to-do lists. Most would consider such “silly stunts” a ridiculous waste of time.
But are they?
A majority of the adults in this country are bored, lonely and afraid. They’re literally wallowing in rules, in old miserable paradigms. They have forgotten how to have fun.
In fact, if you really want to serve mankind, figure out a way to enjoy yourself and let people know that enjoying yourself is a good thing.
For me, silliness is an important public service.
So today, after one of my possibility posses, I enlisted my friend, Rhonda, to join me in my Zumba practice. You may remember Rhonda’s nickname—Never Say No to Fun Rhonda. I knew she would be the perfect co-conspirator.
The task? Find the most outrageous outfit you can at a Thrift Store. I think you’ll agree we were quite successful.
Most of us don’t spend enough time in the silly zone. We’re too busy following rules, living in ruts. Because we think we have to. Or because we’re conditioned that way. It doesn’t even cross our mind we could try something else.
So maybe you’re not ready to overhaul your wardrobe, but the question I urge you to ask yourself: “What can you do to have a good day? How can you have a little fun?’
Not just today. But every day.
Pam Grout is the author of 19 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality and the just-released, Art & Soul,Reloaded: A Year-Long Apprenticeship to Summon the Muses and Ignite Your Daring, Audacious, Creative Side.
“Clinging creates the bricks and mortar with which we build a conceptual self.”–Michael Singer
For you regulars at the party of this blog, it’s no surprise that a) I love all the friends I’ve made here in cyberspace b) I love supporting fellow creators and spiritual seekers and c) I’m leaving the country here in about 3 hours. So, with no further adieu, I’d like to introduce today’s guest blogger, Klay S. Williams, author and co-owner of a lifestyle-consulting firm.
Take it away, Klay!!!! Hey, that even rhymes!
I am a dreamer. I dream for a living. I am also an analyzer. I analyze for a living. What happens when you’ve been so graciously blessed with both a creative and analytical point of reference? Well, you attempt to select the appropriate times in which you should dream, while allowing yourself the ability to be dangerously free.
Doesn’t work like that, ey? Nah, I didn’t think so either.
The incredible gift of romantic love came and disturbed my being—shook my very soul and transformed it into an abyss of relentless freedom; the kind of freedom that does not ask for permission to enter or whether you’re ready to receive its delectable blessing.
I met my Aussie love on May 2, 2011, with the alluring backdrop of New York City as it dangled it’s DVD collection of every romantic movie ever created, to set the scene for such a new romance. Just as some believe the world was created in 7 days, so was our love. He, an actor, was visiting from Sydney, Australia (on holiday of course) for just a month. Fate would have it that we would haphazardly meet during the last 7 days of his stay, stateside.
Amazing, romantic Disney-like adventures set in. He left on May 9th, returned to Oz and we were left with the painful realization that some interactions, like ours, were needed for the soul, but a grand 24-hour time difference was a bit much. It was finished.
Time quickly passed. I dated a bit. He decided to fully reconcile with a former partner and that would be our story—until a year later, everything changed for both of us and I found myself in Australia, void of any NYC possessions, selling everything to make my way to the unknown world, releasing my apartment and trusting that this love would be so grand, awesome, adventurous and cosmic that I would figure it all out as each day would find it appropriately to be.
And, as if a character from my beloved journal of leading men would arise in real life, love courageously swept us off our feet, to never look back, to be what we both needed and ever dreamt of for one another. After 3 passionate months of effortless travel, easy love and sporadic adventures, we returned to the states together to begin a new life.
To say complication set in would be an understatement. Although, the Universe offered tremendous support for both he and I, it was just not enough to combat what my Aussie love needed to fully be honest with and what I would need to learn. He changed his mind and returned to Australia, with a lot of fear, unsettled dreams and a need to fully discover who he is—truly. I was left with a lot of uncertainty, a survivor’s mentality and the desire to try and not blame him for most things—but a mouth that did.
I had found my Prince Charming. The signs and writing on the wall that seemed to be clear about where he was in life was not as apparent to the lover’s eye—my eye to be exact. Although, I reasoned to myself, time over and over again, that I did everything right—I too, was caught up in love’s initial cast and knew that he was just not ready to be in a relationship.
While pointing the finger at him appeared to be so easy (and don’t forget believable) I remembered that we both participated in this relationship—and while I choose not to live my life as a scapegoat, I equally participated in what was our time, to come together, to give each other a remarkable gift—finding forgiveness and freedom through the gift of love.
I cannot equate all of the life lessons that my former partner experienced, but what I know for sure is that our souls attracted one another. Love (and remember it’s brilliantly pure) attracts us at our deepest levels of understanding, creating a pathway to not just be a feel good apparatus, but a teaching mechanism as well. I gave myself permission to travel back in time when I felt the highest exaltation of love—while simultaneously seeking to touch the bottom of the barrel where I felt pain. And, what I would discover, in between the layers of both sensations was the truth of love. He offered me a compass in reconnecting, and in some cases, connection to my true self—which in turn made a pit stop to the core of my belly where forgiveness presented a cheerful laughter of, “You will love again.”
Lessons are meant to be experienced, felt and learned—but rarely do we understand that lessons are also meant to be forgiven. Through the pain of dismissal and abandonment, the art of forgiving gave me the strongest sense of understanding the gift of freedom—that of which we would soon give to each other through the lessons found in our discomfort. Our beings attracted this moment…to not be a harsh mistake, but rather a forgiving mirror that we both needed in order to live out the highest expression(s) of who we were called to become. It’s never about right or wrong, black or white or your fault vs. mine. Yet, if we are serious about love—true love in all forms—we would understand that forgiveness holds the key towards living.
And, we are then rendered ready to love—not just for another, but most importantly for ourselves.
For more information on Klay S. Williams, reviews, video clips and other media, please visit: http://www.PlanAwithKlay.com
Klay S. Williams, M.Div, is the author of There Is Only Plan A—A Journey Toward Self-Discovery and Renewed Purpose, and co-owner of Harrison Williams, a lifestyle-consulting firm based in New York City. Klay conducts personal and corporate client sessions, workshops, seminars and lectures internationally. Through his leadership and unique philosophy of “There Is Only Plan A,” Klay has unlocked a singular powerhouse where individuals can learn how to live their complete and best life.
“Pain is purposeless, without a cause and with no power to accomplish anything.”–A Course in Miracles
WordPress tells me that this blog post is my 200th since I began blogging 15 months ago. What a fabulous ride it has been. Despite my initial resistance, I discovered that I love blogging about these topics. Writing these posts is one of many highlights of my day.
The number 200 seems like a reason to celebrate and since I’m busy packing for my bucket list-crossing-off trip to Kenya tomorrow, I thought I’d post a sneak preview of the experiments you’ll be hearing about in E-Cubed, the sequel to E-Squared. I’d love to hear below what you think of these corollaries to the 9 principles of E-Squared.
Experiment # 1: The Red Pill Corollary or a Quick Refresher Course
Life emanates from me.
Experiment # 2: The Simon Cowell Corollary or Why you’re not Capable of Judging Anything
Nothing is absolute. Only our thinking makes it so.
Experiment #3: The “Everyone’s your Gayle King” Corollary or There is no “Them”
Being in love with everyone and everything brings you in alignment with the F.P.
Experiment #4: “Your new B.F.F. Corollary or “Money, it’s not complicated.”
Money is nothing but energy and a reflection of your beliefs
Experiment #5: The “Nature Vs. News” Corollary
The field of infinite potentiality offers a Divine 24/7 buzz.
Experiment #6: The “If you say so” Corollary or Your Words are the Wand that Shape your Life
You bring abundance and joy into your life once you stop talking smack about it.
Experiment #7: The Boogie-Woogie Corollary or The Importance of Not Being Earnest
The more fun you have, the better life works.
Experiment # 8: The Right Side of the Bed Corollary or The ten most important minutes of your day
Without cultural training, joy is your natural state.
Experiment # 9: The Ya-ba-da-ba-do Corollary
Life is miraculous and you can’t really die. Furthermore, transcendence is inevitable.
Appendix: The Bonus Marriage of Cana Experiment or It’s time to get D-O-W-N!!!
Pam Grout is the author of 17 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality and the soon-to-be-released sequel, E-Cubed, 9 More Experiments that Prove Mirth, Magic and Merriment is your Full-time Gig.
WordPress tells me that this blog post is my 200th since I began blogging 15 months ago. What a fabulous ride it has been. Despite my initial resistance, I discovered that I love blogging about these topics. Writing these posts is one of many highlights of my day. 