To learn how to stay clear and present as a consistent way of being.  Right actions will always come from that place.  Really struggling with clear and present right now.  :-/ 

Inner stillness in the midst of a flurry of activity.  

I went on a youth empowerment retreat this past june.  Months before I knew I'd be working with teenagers this school year.  It was incredible preparation.

Community is huge in my life.  My school community, work community, and I recently moved into a beautiful co-op community of awesome individuals who all bless my life.

Unquestionably, my bedroom.  My life is extremely full right now.  Lots of activity.  It's so important for me to have quiet time to recharge and replenish.

Yes. I have grown into it.  :-)

I am amazed at the endless opportunities we receive to "see ourselves" ... I mean really see ourselves.  To see where we are on our journey.  To observe our reactions to things, people, and situations.  To notice the things that cause us to have emotional reactions, or more accurately, the things we choose to emotionally react to. 

I am noticing the places where I still need to learn to be more honest.  I am noticing what happens when I am not.  I am noticing that even in those moments, I still deserve my own forgiveness and compassion.  I am noticing that even as I am typing this, my heart is opening and tears are beginning to flow.  I am noticing the cleansing effect of our tears.  I am noticing the space that opens inside after strong emotions begin to pass.  I am noticing that it feels so much better to meet difficulty by softening in the face of it, rather than hardening.  I am noticing how much more loving I feel towards the "strangers" in my immediate environment after swabbing my own heart with self-compassion.  I am noticing the difference between how I felt when I began typing this entry, and how I feel now.

Noticing.

Just noticing.

;-) 

Pretty colors and awe inspiring architecture.

So...  I hadn't been so active on this site since I joined.  Quite honestly the internet can be a bit much for me sometimes.  I get way too many emails, and often feel completely inundated by it all.  But I'm thankful for the recent motivation to be more active here.  And now I understand why I have all but abandoned my facebook page.  :-)  It's a matter of energy drain vs energy enhancer.  I feel enlivened after only spending a short amount of time here.  And that's exactly how I like it.  Short and sweet.  :-)

Until next time...

Love,

Ra

I am happy to finally be comfortable with... not having all the answers.  I'm comfortable with saying "I don't know."  I'm comfortable with making a decision that I don't know the results of.  I'm comfortable with "simply trying."  I'm comfortable with things not turning out quite how I expected, because so often they turn out way better than I expected.  And even when they don't, I'm comfortable with the knowledge that everything indeed happens as it should.  :-)