Freedom for me

I struggle some days to come up with something to post on this blog.  Nothing much has changed from day to day lately.  My life is fairly predictable at the moment.  I meditate in the morning, read the paper and some blog posts, do something physically challenging (=exercise), go to meetings, visit the boat, spend time with my wife and dogs, meet with sponsees, and read, write in my journal and on this blog.

There is so little drama and chaos at the moment.  I attribute that to inner peace, grace, luck, the way the stars are lined up, retirement--who knows for sure.  I simply accept the peace that has come and am grateful for it.  The feeling of contentment is like drifting on a smooth ocean, lazily aware of what is around me but not concerned about storms or blustery winds or being run over by a huge container ship, or highjacked by pirates.

I've noticed that the posts that get the most comments are those that occur during times of crisis and sadness.  People reach out to lend a steadying voice.  That voice is within me most days now.  I feel it guiding me in my daily life.  Not reacting to annoyances of life with anger or self-pity is a great gift.  The gift has been acquired slowly and requires daily maintenance.  I tend it as I would a delicate plant or one of my beloved dogs.

I still struggle internally with my own demons of rejection and abandonment. But their voices are muted for the most part because I realize that they can be drowned out by new voices of hope, friendship, love, and acceptance.  I feel apart of so much these days.  I have no power struggles, no achievements that I must tout, no one breathing down my neck to produce more.  This feels like freedom to me on all fronts.

The skeleton key unlocks the mind and swings open the door of imagination. A far better place than here A much safer place than there The quintessential somewhere The mystical nowhere The enigmatic anywhere My gift to you - the key to everywhere.
The mortal will find itself lost while the soul always knows the way it is grateful for the darkness and celebrates the day
I can give you peace my peace I give you... but I cannot be your savior or your god - I cannot be the light along your path - I can only give you the lamp and point the way.
The blind will see... the deaf will hear... but those who choose reason will never understand.
Woe to the ones who think they know the answers they will cease to ask the questions that may be their own salvation.
We possess the knowledge of the Universe from conception. Once born we are taught to forget.
If we cannot look out at our world and see our children's vision then we are truly blind we are unable to lead them to paradise.
Even people who are in the dark search for their shadows. Shadows exist only if there is light. We will never find total darkness - not even in death... ...and we always cast a shadow no matter how overcast our skies become. You are never alone."
Do not listen to the voice that shouts to you from behind desks behind podiums behind altars. Do not pay attention to the orators and the opportunists. Do not be distracted by the promises made behind masks. Listen to the quiet. Listen to the whispers as they gently guide you through the assaults of man's absurdities. Listen to the gentle breathing of your mother and lay your head to rest in her peace and in her warm embrace and understand that truth and power lie within you. Breathe silence.
The free bird will always return to the cage sooner or later to seek food and water and the loving hand of it's caretaker. ― M. Teresa Clayton