Wednesday, May 23, 2012

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

20 comments:

  1. Quite often, all people are interested in is dirt, and usually when it is covering other people.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Man. I LOVE the quiet times when you can hear what the universe is saying.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Could you have chosen a more inspiring quote? I think not. Syd, your spiritual journey is an inspiration to me and provides me with hope that I, too, can experience joy and hope in the midst of the storm. I appreciate your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Peace...what a concept. Enjoy the hard earned consequence of your efforts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. so true on drowning out the voices with other voices and changing the tape...There is so little drama and chaos at the moment...and that is a great thing isnt it? smiles

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are an inspiration Syd . . . I hope to find that contentment one day. I love reading here.

    ReplyDelete
  7. People love the drama. I adore the peace. I see my rants get more attention than my appreciation. I'm glad you are enjoying peace. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your post today makes me hopeful that I too will be in a similar position one day - no drama, no chaos, no stress from drama and chaos. I'd even take "minimal" if it can't be "none!" I have been attending Al-Anon meetings for 5 months as well as seeing a counselor on my own that I am grateful is available to me through work. I am only able to attend one Al-Anon meeting a week because of my commute, work schedule, and caring for a 2 1/2 year old, so your blog and several others have been a great help to me. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am learning to breathe-in the freedom and how to breathe in the silence."Breathe Silence"....Love it!! I am also learning how to listen for the whispers from my soul and the whispers I hear from the Universe. Thank you for a fabulous post Syd. Just what I needed to hear today.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Syd; maybe those just want you to Enjoy Your Reverie.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's a good place you're in. Enjoy.

    I don't comment on all your posts but I usually carry away something - a beautiful image, a serene feeling, an outlook different from my own, a realization that everyday life can be so different from place to place depending on the weather and interests, and on and on ...

    ReplyDelete
  12. Syd! How blessed you are! A calm and peaceful life...that is a beautiful thing and you choose to share it here with each us, thus WE are also blessed!

    Some days I feel like I write about nothing...I mean seriously, who wants to keep hearing about my fat a$$ losing weight still?! But you told me a long time ago that my blog is my space to write what I want. I have always taken that to heart. Even if not one other soul reads it and comments at least I got my thoughts out and writing helps me to sort through everything. It is my gift to myself. I am glad you are here in our blogger world. My comment the other day was just a reminder...not a criticism. I hope it came across as such.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love coming here daily. Although I am knew in this journey I hope and pray for peace daily! Thank you for always posting and inspiring me!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I've said it before, here, about one of your posts, but this gives me hope.

    You're ability to be at peace is wonderful...especially if you are able to self-soothe, even on the rough days.

    Thank you, Syd.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a peaceful post. Thank you for sharing! That is an amazing quote. Breathing silence can be peaceful. Glad you are enjoying your serenity. A beautiful gift indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  16. The quiet times, something to be grateful for -- lovely post, Syd.

    ReplyDelete
  17. You are there Syd. You can stop walking for a bit, finding what you found is the answer you looked long and diligently for. But never shun a good old donnybrook either...keeps the heart pumping ha ha ha ha I had my once a decade one yesterday and I feel fine...

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great quote!

    I have also found that the crisis information always attracts more.

    I guess thats why my sponsor stresses staying in touch with that first step experience, and to continue to share that in order to find the connection with the newcomer.

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm at that peaceful place also. Sometimes I have to stop and remember it's real, because I lived on the fuel of stress for so long.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I miss the peaceful place. I am looking for it and feel one day I will arrive there.

    With a little help from my blogger friends, of course.

    ReplyDelete

Let me know what you think. I like reading what you have to say.