The Healing Power of Touch February 16, 2012

From the moment of birth we crave touch, to be held, caressed, nurtured. The cry of an infant can be silenced just by bringing them into our arms.  A child’s fear relinquished with a hug.  Affection displayed by the holding of hands.  Even a simple touch on the shoulder of another can bring comfort.  As humans we need touch from birth and on through to death.  I have a Hospice patient that I visit weekly.  At one of our visits he was not feeling well and remained in bed.  I sat by his side just holding his hand.  I told him that I would remain for our hour together whether he was asleep or awake and just hold his hand, and he said to me “Thank-you, I don’t get to do that much any more”.  We do tend to neglect the elderly when it comes to touching.  We believe them to be too frail or too ill to touch, when if fact they welcome the peace that is given by just a simple touch of the hand.  Even our pets crave attention, begging for another rub behind the ear or rolling over for that pat on the belly, or the kitty that constantly rubs between our legs.  It really is an interesting phenomenon!

This is why the hands on technique of Reiki works so beautifully.  Combined with the universal life force energy, the touch of Reiki hands is soothing, comforting and healing.  It is like receiving an hour-long hug!  And who wouldn’t want that!

Even if  you think that you don’t have time for Reiki for yourself, at the very least take a moment to give a hug, hold a hand, touch a shoulder, and then make some time for Reiki!

Just for Today…do not anger February 1, 2012

Emotions are an amazing phenomena of being a human being, and anger is so intriguing to me.  We can be angered by the silliest of things.  I’ll admit that I visit with anger quite frequently when driving in the car.  I can feel angered because someone wants to get in front of me.  “I was here first and I have the perfect amount of distance between me and the car in front of me! No way am I letting you in!  And if you don’t have your blinker on, forget it!”  Where does that anger come from???? I am working very hard at coming to terms with the fact that I do not actually own the road.  It makes me laugh, really, that I can feel anger toward someone who I do not even know just because they are trying to get where they are going.  The good news is that I recognize that and now I can change my perception.  And that is what anger is for us, it is a signal that we need to change our perception.  It is an opportunity for us to make a shift or a change in our life that allows us to let go of the anger and move forward.

Anger is such a strong emotion.  Do you notice that when you are around someone who is angered that you just feel uncomfortable and it is also easier for you to then be angered too?  We are so easily influenced by anger.  And that is why we have to let it go.  Recognize that signal that it is giving you and shift your perception.  Especially if it is something from the past.  Some of us can hold onto things from the past that can bring up anger in us over and over again.  We need to let go of what we cannot change and move forward, toward happiness.  I know that it is easier said than done.  But just realizing that anger is trying to tell us something about ourselves is a start.

As a Reiki practitioner, we learn the Reiki ideals that we recite each day.  The first of Dr Mikao Usui’s Reiki Ideals is, “Just for today…do not anger”. That’s right, just for today.  Don’t worry about tomorrow or the next day or next month.  Just for TODAY, do not anger.  Make a conscious effort not to be angered.  And when anger does arise, consciously change your perception.  Happiness is there for you always.  It is our choice whether to be happy or not.

I choose happiness!

A New Year, A New Day January 19, 2012

A new year, a new day…a time to rethink what we want out of life and start a fresh beginning.  New Year Resolution, right?  My New Year Resolution every year is just to Be Happy, and I have accomplished that every year!  But what about the dreaded diet, giving up chocolate and exercising.  We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to accomplish these things only to give up usually by February, right around Valentines day.  I say we need to quit being so hard on ourselves.  We should start with remembering to love ourselves just the way we are.  Then we can expand by knowing there is always room for improvement mentally, physically and spiritually.  As human beings we are always on a quest for something more and we have infinite possibilities for growth.  We don’t have to wait until January every year to make a change in our life, but it works for us a lot like changing the batteries every year in our smoke detectors.

January is named from the Roman god Janus who is the god of the doorway.  There are magnificent things awaiting on the other side of the door!  Take a moment to set your intentions for what you would like to manifest in your life this year and then open the door.  It is all there just waiting for you!

My intention this year is to give Reiki to as many people as possible.  I believe that everyone should have access to the peace, well being and healing that is received through Reiki.  So I have made it my new mission to give Reiki to all who need it regardless of the ability to pay by offering Reiki for donations only.  I am opening the door and on the other side I see a line of people forming ready to receive Reiki!

I wish you all a beautiful and prosperous year full of abundance!

Living Aloha and Embracing ‘Ohana January 10, 2012

I just spent the last two weeks with my family (husband, 3 kids, parents and sister) on the most amazing Hawaiian vacation!  Some of you may cringe at the thought of spending two weeks in close quarters with family, but that to me is just what made it special!  Sincerely and honestly, it would not have been the same had I not had them to share it with.  In all of the breathtaking moments that we shared, it reminded me of the importance of friends and family.  Isn’t it true that at the first sight of a full moon you turn to the person next to you and say “Look!”?  We take pictures of moments in our lives so that we can share them.  At the first glance of something beautiful or amazing, we are immediately looking for someone close by to see it too!  It doesn’t matter what kind of people we are, the beauty in life makes us smile and just feel good inside, and that is definitely something to be shared.  And what is even more awesome is that we have someone to share with.  It could be a friend, family, lover, crush, co-worker or even a stranger.  Sharing moments is what connects us, it reminds us that we are not alone on this journey.  Here are some excerpts from an article I read while in Hawaii called Living Aloha.

“Aloha means we are able to recognize and appreciate the uniqueness and differences each of us bring into this world.  It is that aloha, caring and spirituality that allows us to appreciate our differences as we build on each others strengths and journey on this magnificent path we call “Life.”"

“Embracing ‘Ohana flows out of a lifestyle of aloha.  ‘Ohana: ‘Oha means “to sprout”, the “buds” of the offshoots. With the “na” added, ‘Ohana literally means “offshoots”.  This term signifies family. ‘Ohana is where we come from; this is where you get your teaching of basic values and principles of life. ‘Ohana is not an exclusive way of upbringing but it is for the stranger at work or the friend across the street and for the one with no shelter or food to eat.  When we embrace we are saying we accept you, we include you, and you are now ‘ohana.”

“This flows from “Living Aloha and Embracing Ohana.  It is a true picture of what’s in your heart.  Make good choices.  Live in peace.  Honor and respect your family, friends and those strangers who pass through your life.  These are memories which impact and change our lives and all those we come in contact with.  We have been entrusted with gifts of kindness and graciousness that can be used to touch lives daily.”

Big Island Visitor Guide Dec, 2011

Take a moment to be grateful for those moments to be shared and for those we have to share them with!

Aloha!

“Family is a way of holding hands with forever.” -Noah benShea

 

 

 

A time of giving December 21, 2011

As I was pondering about what to write in this weeks blog my husband says “how about helping people out that we have been in their shoes”.  In other words, we have all experienced hard times at some point or another.  We know what it is like to struggle, whether it be financially, physically or emotionally.  Believe it or not, that struggle puts us in a position to help others.  Just from having those experiences, not only do we know the pain it can bring, but we also know that we survived it.  This is a beautiful thing!  We survived and now we can share that experience with others in hopes of helping to carry them through their hard times.  Just like with Sage’s story.  Out of deep sorrow and loss came many blessings and enlightenment not just to me but to many.  Giving back to those in need can be as simple as a non-judgmental ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, arms to hug with, or empathizing words of wisdom.  Or take it further and donate items to a women’s shelter or your local animal shelter, volunteer, or give to another charity.  Take a friend out for lunch or coffee and listen to them twice as much as you speak.  There are so many ways we can give of ourselves without spending a dime.  There is always a lesson to be learned, cherished and shared.  And this is the season of giving!

 

“If nature has made you a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart.

And though there may be times when your hands are empty,

your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that.”

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Just for today…do not worry December 14, 2011

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly. “- Buddha

Also another Reiki ideal by Dr. Mikao Usui…”Just for today… do not worry”.

All we have is this moment right now.  What do we do with it?  We make the best of it…the most of it.   We remember to be grateful for it.  For with each moment we have we are experiencing existence. We cannot change the past, we can only learn from it, and the future has yet to happen.  That is also one of the things that I learned from Sage.  We have to let go of the “what ifs?”  The “what ifs” can apply to the past and the future;  “what if I had done this” or  “what if this happens”.  Those are the types of thoughts that form worry.  And I know it is not easy to let them go.  In fact, even with meditation, prayer and Reiki on my side, I catch myself slipping into the “what if” zone.  After all, we are human.  But what I should know by now is that my energy is better spent elsewhere.  Being grateful for this moment.  Being grateful that I have bills to pay, because this means I am provided with shelter and warmth. Oh yes! I know that sounds crazy!  Try to think of the things that make us worry most instead as an exchange of energy with the universe.  And then be grateful for the goodness that  has been given to you.  Remember, goodness can be found in very small things.

A great book to read on this subject that I recommended earlier in this blog is Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now.

 

Gratefulness December 7, 2011

One of the Reiki ideals by Dr.  Usui is to remember to be grateful each day.  This Thanksgiving, as we sat around the dinner table I asked everyone (everyone being my husband, three kids and one cousin) to mention things that they were grateful for.  Their answers were the usual things like this food, our family, our dogs, the Xbox and being together.  For a short time I kept a journal and would randomly ask my kids the same question and write it down.  Here are some of their answers:  Water on a hot day, the computer, our dog, not being sick, playing with my toys, zoo camp, donuts at school and David Cook staying on American Idol (this was in 2008).  I got to thinking about some of the small things that we might forget to be grateful for like each breath we take, waking up each day, hearing music that can take our memory back to a specific time and place, a smile from a stranger as we pass each other, seeing the moon in the sky when it is daytime and reminding us of the vastness of our existence, and mostly that we exist at all.  The awesomeness that is us!   I think that sometimes we all get so caught up in our world that we forget how amazing it is that we are living, breathing, sentient human beings.  Now that is something to be grateful for!  Every one of the things mentioned in these lists are worthy of gratitude no matter how silly they may seem.  I urge you all not to wait for Thanksgiving each year.  Take a moment each day to think of something that you are grateful for no matter how small or silly it may seem.  Even on days when we might be struggling with life more than usual.  Being thankful brings more goodness and more things to be thankful for into our lives!  How easy is that?

How I Got From There to Here, the end November 16, 2011

Since my last moments with Sage, I have been doing much soul-searching and spiritual discovery.  I knew that I had to move forward with my life.  I began reading more about life, metaphysics, consciousness and spirituality.  Some of the books I read were, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, The Four Agreements, The Power of Now and A New Earth. I read books on natural healing and herbal medicine.  I found yoga and began meditating. Through yoga I have found a community that is like a second family to me.  I found the beauty of wellness through Reiki and became a Reiki Master.  I even began a distance learning program to become a Master Herbalist.  But through all of this, the best thing of all is that I have found myself.  I am living life, loving life and enjoying life, and as my mentor Marydale at Param Yoga Healing Arts Center puts it, “Life Happens”!

And that is how I got from there to here.  And here I am, offering myself to you!

My hope is that through this story you can find your own inspiration and know that whatever struggles or obstacles you may face along the way, that life happens and its okay.  We just need to find the best way for us to move through it, learn from it, grow from it and smile about it!

I hope to continue with this blog by sharing with you things that have helped shape me along my journey.  Favorite books, quotes, recipes, herbal remedies, relaxation techniques, humor and personal experiences.  I hope that you will find them helpful and that you too will find peace in you!

How I Got From There to Here part 6 November 9, 2011

I remember how overwhelmed I was at his memorial.  Not in regards to grieving, but because of the multitude of over 200 people who were there to celebrate and remember him, and support us.  It was an amazing thing.  His young life was so short yet touched such a great many people, and always smiling.  I was so taken by the amount of love and support I had witnessed that I vowed I would spend the rest of my life trying to do the same for others.  I emerged from the experience like a butterfly, strong, free and ready to take on a new life.

He taught me a great lesson about life.  Live it! Love it! Enjoy it! Do it smiling!  And don’t fear the “what ifs”.  I am not saying that I did not spend time grieving, I certainly did.  But I had to let go of the “poor me” and the “why me” and move back into a life of “it’s okay to be me”.  I had to put the pain of the past behind me and focus on the only moment that matters, NOW.   And from that moment on that is what I did.

I found the strength to put an extremely unhealthy relationship behind me (although through that relationship I gained Sage’s half-sister  Jade, who is like a daughter to me, and I have seen her blossom into such a beautiful  Rose).  I went back to work and worked for a group that did Pediatric Rehabilitation through speech, physical and occupational therapy.  In addition to learning from the phenomenal women who treated and loved these children as their own, I felt like I was somehow supporting the parents through their own journey.  I found my husband, who showed me that men really can be thoughtful, compassionate and true.  He reminds me every day how funny life is and always keeps me laughing.  I had three children,  each of which teach me something new every day, their hearts and minds wide open to the world around them.  I am grateful for every laugh, every tear, every sunset, every moon, every rainy day, every butterfly, every meal and every moment we share together.

How I Got From There to Here Part 5 November 4, 2011

The next morning after not much sleep, Marilyn filmed our reaction to our long-awaited day.  The last four months had felt like a lifetime.  I was optimistic, Sage’s father pessimistic.  It was exciting and petrifying.  Dr. Wood reviewed with us the possible outcomes and stressed the importance of Sage’s quality of life.  We had to be prepared for any outcome.  Family joined us as we waited through the surgery.  We stayed at the Ronald McDonald House.  For those of you who shun McDonald’s fatty Happy Meals, I can tell you that they got it right with the Ronald McDonald House.  It is a place for family of chronically ill children to stay while they are hospitalized.  It was a beautiful, peaceful space away from the hospital.

Several hours later, the transplant team and Sage emerged following a successful surgery.  I remember the first time he opened his eyes and looked up at me.  Sweet, sweet boy could smile with his eyes.  It was the last time I would see his spirit through his eyes.  By the second day after surgery he began to look glassy-eyed, and by the third day he was in a coma.  His body had rejected the liver causing toxins to build up in his body and fluid put pressure on his brain.  This was the moment Dr. Wood had spoken about.  We had to think about what kind of life we wanted Sage to live.  He was brain-dead now.  We had to decide about keeping him on life support.  After much painful thought and a multitude of tears, it was decided that the best thing to do for Sage was to let him go.  As we said our good-byes, the entire staff and transplant team cried along with us.  I struggled with the “what ifs” for many years following.

There was no question at his death that we would donate his organs.  Because of the medications he received, we were only able to donate his eyes.  His gift restored sight in two individuals.  I am sure you can see his smile in their eyes.