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Vegas Jackpot Recently, my husband and I took a trip to Las Vegas. We had never been there before, and let me just say that the people-watching is fabulous, far superior to anywhere else we’ve ever been, including state fairs, city festivals, concerts, and expos. Probably because it truly is “the city that never sleeps,” so the people-watching opportunities are nonstop. Las Vegas makes people everywhere else seem, well, predictable. Yet somewhere in the midst of my watching enthrallment, a Buddha quote came to mind: “He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.” Buddhism has been around since at least 480 B.C., and Las Vegas has to be one of the best places in the world to validate Buddha's ancient philosophy for yourself, as well as for some in-your-face self-discovery. A case in point is the man I saw at the breakfast buffet. (Hey, it’s Vegas; you have to do at least one buffet, right?) While the man was away from his table, one of the efficient waitresses whisked away his plate. She was, perhaps, a little too efficient, because when the man returned he threw a royal fit because his plate was missing. The waitress apologized profusely and offered to replace the plate of food with another, but no, that would not do, he said, because he couldn’t remember what was on his plate. If you’ve never been to a buffet before, let me assure you that there are acres of food available for your choosing. The food on display is both a vivid example of gluttony and an artful showcasing of human talent. You will not starve. So does our perturbed fellow accept that his plate is gone and fill another? No. He makes a beeline to the waitress station and begins to dig through the pile of dirty dishes looking for his plate. His excuse is that he needs to see what was on it because he can’t possibly assemble such a masterpiece ever again. By now, he has pulled into his little drama two other waitresses. He was the most ridiculous-looking man I had ever seen. And then Buddha’s words hit me: “He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings…” This man digging through the garbage was me. Everytime I won’t accept what is happening in my life, I am this man. Everytime I can’t move on with my life, I am this man. Everytime I refuse to forgive someone, I am this man. Everytime I sit in judgment of someone, I am this man. Jackpot! Copyright 2006 by Mary M. Bauer |
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Getting to Know Me, Myself, and I Who am I? That’s a no-brainer question, some might say as they point to their driver’s license and social security card—unmitigated proof that they know who they are. But you are more than a human being with a few identification cards in your wallet. Simply put: you are the greatest miracle ever created. You are much more powerful than you let yourself believe. You can do and be anything you desire. You have the power to create sickness or health, poverty or wealth. You do not have to put up with poverty, disease, abuse, crises, or mediocrity. All the wisdom you ever need is inside you. You are the powerful creator of your reality and as such, what you believe, you will see. You have three very effective tools that help create the world as you view it. These tools are your thoughts, words, and actions. If used consciously, these tools yield intelligent creation. Life will be a great joy and blessing to you. If used unconsciously—that is to say, if you aren’t aware of what you’re thinking, saying, or doing, you are likely to experience life as a burden that you must endure. Life is governed by unchangeable universal laws and principles. These laws and principles are strictly mechanical in their workings and do not reason whether something is good or bad. One of these principles is called cause and effect and can be used to explain that if you touch a live electric wire, you will get a shock. It is always this way and never changes. Cause and effect does not reason whether getting shocked is good or bad for you. The principle of cause and effect applies equally to everything and everyone, including us as human beings. Our thoughts or beliefs are the cause preceding our reality. Our reality is the result (effect) of our thoughts. For many of us our thinking has become nothing more than an incessant “voice” in our heads that does nothing but complain, judge, and limit. Yet cause and effect cannot veer from its perfect creative structure, regardless of thought quality. Negative and destructive thoughts create a world of the same, just as beautiful and loving thoughts create a joyful life. To live a life worthy of a powerful creator like you, start with an honest audit of the quality of your thinking. Keep track of every one of your thoughts for five consecutive minutes and you’ll soon discover how perfectly life mirrors what you believe. Guide your thoughts toward your greatest wish for yourself; weed out all those that do not match what you want to see and your world will change dramatically. You really are that powerful. Copyright © 2006 by Mary M. Bauer |
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Take a Shot Recently, I had a dream about learning to fly a helicopter. Even in my dream it proved a very difficult task. There were so may things to watch out for—towers, power lines, etc—and so much responsibility as I had passengers with me. But it was also fulfilling and fun. I felt a true sense accomplishment …until I woke up. Okay, so in real life I doubt I’ll ever pilot a helicopter; at least I don’t foresee it happening in the near future. However, my point is that life gets stale if a person doesn’t keep learning new skills. Too many times I hear people talk about what they wish their lives were like, yet their every action is the exact opposite of what they say they want. They sabotage and limit their experiences with excuses such as ‘I can’t’ or ‘I’m not talented’ and so on. And nothing kills a dream faster than “what if”. What if they say no? What if I fail? What if I succeed? Yes, succeed. Many people believe success to be a burden. My patented responses to all what ifs are a few simple truths: The answer is always no if you don’t at least ask; there’s no real failure except the failure to try; don’t count your chickens before they hatch. In my opinion, failure to try is one of the biggest sins a person can ever commit. It’s a conscious and direct violation against humanity and the person’s very own divinity within. We all have many talents. These talents help make our lives easier and more enjoyable. If used with regularity, they instill in us a healthy confidence and a larger idea about who we are. Let me ask you; is there anything more attractive in this life than someone who knows who they are? Building confidence requires having new experiences and learning new skills. But cutting off your options with such silliness as those ‘what ifs,’ you cut off your chances for growth. By saying no to a challenge, you also say no to your talents; no to the people who could benefit from your experience; no to building self-confidence; and no to your Creator who has already provided within you everything you need to grow. The next time you have the urge to try something new, don’t subvert the action. Shut up that whiny voice inside your head with all of its doubts and fears by simply rising to the challenge. Enroll yourself in classes or take that trip you always wanted to take. No money? That’s still not an excuse. Get a part-time job learning a new skill. Go to the library and read books on the subjects that interest you. A question I ask myself regularly is that if I died today what would I regret not doing, learning, experiencing? Then I go do it. As hockey great Wayne Gretzky once said, “One hundred percent of the shots you don’t take, don’t go in.” Copyright © 2002 by Mary M. Bauer |
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Spring Cleaning Ah, spring—warm days, birds nesting, green grass, and house cleaning. That’s right, house cleaning. Spring is an opportunity to reorganize those cupboards and closets, wash down walls and ceilings, haul draperies and bedspreads to the dry cleaners, clean the carpets, polish the furniture and every scrap of wood in the house including doors and trim, repaint painted surfaces, reseal grout, strip the wax from the “no wax” floors and then reapply it …yeah, right. No one does all that, do they? The fact is, I used to do all that and more. It took a full two weeks to spring clean our 2,300 square foot home. But since moving to the farm several years ago, my spring ritual takes less than three seconds: unlock the latch, open the window, and breathe deeply. Ah, spring. Don’t get me wrong. I still believe in a clean, organized house, and whittle away at it on a weekly basis. I just don’t launch the full-scale war anymore. I’ve become a “spot” cleaner—a person who only uses the mop and bucket when things actually get dirty. Admittedly, there’s probably some psychological value in scouring away the symbolic winter grime to make ready for fresh spring dirt, but truthfully, I don’t miss the hassle or the lemon-fresh fumes. So, why the change in me? Why abandon ancestral tradition? The answer is simple, really. I’ve decided there’s a different house that needs my full attention, and that’s the one within. I work diligently to clear the cobwebs responsible for blinding my inner vision, and chip away at the mind-clogging gunk that narrows my perspective. No longer will I fill my days with things I deem unnecessary, but instead enjoy my moments and make each one count. On a balmy spring day I’m likely to putz in the garden, fill a planter with petunias, or take a leisurely stroll in the woods with the little beagle grunting by my side. How quickly an hour passes when swinging in a hammock, or combing a cow, or daydreaming by the crackling light of a bonfire. Outwardly, not one of these activities qualifies as a worldly achievement, but what the world thinks doesn’t concern me much. Time to myself to do the things I love brings clarity and peace to my existence. I feel healthier, happier, and less stressed. And as a pleasant byproduct I’ve noticed a new focus and efficiency to my work. I seem to accomplish considerably more in less time. The decision to no longer spring clean is really only a tiny piece of my ongoing life’s puzzle, but it was the one I was searching for at the time. I placed it right between the pieces labeled upheaval and chaos. They made for a perfect fit. How much of each day do you spend tangled in your own cobwebs? Copyright © 2000 by Mary M. Bauer |
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Real Mothers It takes more than the twinkle in a father’s eye to bring a life into this world, but I’ll skip the anatomy lesson and just say that without your mother you wouldn’t be here. That fact alone should be enough to keep you worshiping at her feet, but from my own experience as a mother and a daughter I know it takes more than labor pains to form a lasting bond. However, you don’t actually have to give birth to feel all the joys and sorrows of motherhood. There are many loving caregivers, both male and female, who make pretty darn good mothers. So what does it take to be a real mother? The best description I’ve heard to date is that real mothers know their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox. That says it all as far as I’m concerned. A friend of mine, who is a real mom, shared with me a child’s thoughts on mothers during the different stages of growth:
I think the reason we take our mothers for granted sometimes is because we’re certain about their love for us. Quite the payback, isn’t it? The really lucky children know they are loved even during those times when their mother may not like them much. My own mother once remarked, “God made teenagers so it would be easier to let children go.” I’m not about to discuss the deeds that lead to her analysis, but I have since figured out what she was talking about; my own kids provided the answer. I believe a mother’s greatest gift to a child is her selfless, unconditional love. It allows the freedom for independence, yet provides the security so necessary for healthy growth. Real mothers know a child’s growth is not measured by height or years or grade, but by the degree of one’s self-assurance, compassion for others, love of life, sense of purpose, motivation, and conscious awareness. Copyright © 2000 by Mary M. Bauer |
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