One More Step - Happy Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, when you give thanks for all that you have, remember to look within and give thanks for your tenacity, your willpower, inner strength, pluck, and spirit that lifts you and others, day after day, even when you think the well has run dry. Keep going. Success was founded on...

... One More Step

I’d rather walk humbly than put on airs      Understand than be understood
Be the foundation instead of top floor
Do all the things I should

I’d rather build up than tear apart
The spirit of those I love
Lead with no fanfare, quietly, calm
Be the olive branch and the dove

I’d rather stay in the game ‘til the end
Than bow out when the going gets tough
Count my blessings from all things great
When others cry, “It’s enough!”

Success is built by staying strong                       
It ascends the steps of hard knocks
It’s not the goal or destination
It’s life’s lessons and building blocks

I’ll be strong and brave, won’t ever give  in                         
Will resist the temptation to quit
There will be times when the urge is to stop
There’ll be times when there’s no more grit

To all these challenges, I say to myself
“Just one more step I take”
One more step through the darkest of night
‘Til the clock chimes dawn’s daybreak

One more step and then I’ll rest
One more step I go
One more step to prove I can
One more step to show

One and one and one step more
Ignoring burst blisters and pain
Uphill, downhill, horizon bound
Under blazing sun, through rain

I’d rather walk humbly with strong reserve
I’ll crawl on my knees to keep going
I can cover the wounds on my knees and my soul
I will do this without others knowing

And when the last step is covered with grass
And when the last breath is no more
I’ll know in my heart that one more step
Led me up to and through the door

Copyright©2014 D. Desser All Rights Reserved

Calling for Sunny Skies

Last night called for sunny skies –  light and breezy. Not a chance of rain. The perfect forecast.

A magnificent day to look forward to.

This morning, after receiving a sombre call, the winds of change swooped in and proved it to be a day without fair skies. A day that bitterly cast aside sunshine and resolved itself to gray and gloom.

One phone call received from an ill wind was all it took to allow the depletion of the soul and spirit. One phone call. 

One  Single  Call

How much power do we have? How much power do we give away? Why do we give it away? And how can we stop this intrusion that wreaks havoc with our disposition?

Mahatma Gandhi said, "Nobody can hurt me without my permission." 

This is a simple truth. What we allow to happen is an invasion of our minds by another's negative thoughts and words. Physical strength is important, but to be strong of mind gives strength until the very end of our days, when our physicality becomes part of a dim, distant past.

Think about what you will and won't permit in your own personal life. You may not be able to halt what goes on elsewhere, but you have the power to limit access of others to your mind and thoughts. 

When you do your spirit soars with confidence as you empower yourself.

Your disposition will be that of a spiritually strong individual.

Cast off the mean spirited words of the less enlightened and continue to walk your path to inner tranquility - a victory of sorts. It takes practice and resolve, but what you gain is well worth it.

We are responsible for our own good feelings. By structuring our thought patterns to limit the negative and increase the positive, we create a shift in our own nature that can be far-reaching; benefiting others as well as ourselves.

Give yourself a few moments to reflect and rebuild your thoughts. 
The skies are bound to clear up.

Lemon Wedge Moon

There’s a lemon-wedge of a moon tonight, suspended in a deepening blue tranquil sky that speaks of possibilities.

The moon and sky are a part of the universe, which is a part of me, and of which we are all a part. We’re connected as we hear unspoken words of longing, wishing, expecting, thoughts of inner peace, gratitude, happiness, acknowledgements of blessings.

This particular twilight is our special moment, just moon and me.

There's not a bird in the sky. No airplanes. Tree leaves are still. The pool motor has completed its eight-hour run and is now silent. No low hum of electricity from neighboring homes, not even a distant dog barking.

It’s an intimate moment, one to be treasured.

Snugly wrapped in a terry robe sitting upright on a poolside lounge, I am surrounded by the still air. I breathe in the scent of laundered towels, the delicate sweetness of  blooms, and a hint of chlorine.

Moon and I communicate. 

Moon rises, the star of the evening, but pays close attention. Moon is a good listener. I bounce ideas off of moon and hear moon’s message of quiet wisdom. I feel moon’s connectedness to me, a mere human, one of many, but moon, moon is just one.

I feel special, chosen, singled out.

Moon is not illuminated by ego. Moon knows that without sun’s gracious gift, there’s no spotlight. Yet, I recognize that without moon, romance could easily take a turn for the worse. This is a part of our discussion, romance, and moon’s role in the June, spoon of it. I hold my breath, waiting for pearls of wisdom. Moon does not disappoint.

There’s a lemon-wedge of a moon tonight, suspended in a deepening blue tranquil sky that speaks of possibilities.

Tonight, moon chose me.

Copyright © 2014 Deborah Desser. All rights reserved.

Green Beans, Garlic and a Facebook Connection

Post an item about GMO's or parenting and you receive a thumbs-up from 52 of your 3,074 Facebook (FB) friends. Success! Twenty dishes you can make with green beans and garlic was shared by 49 friends. Awesome!
 

A good many do this to stay in touch. It's a way of reaching more people with less energy. We can have mediocre to non-existent relationships with hundreds and thousands.

Is this satisfying? Do you feel the same level of satisfaction as when you finish your plate of green beans and garlic? It filled an empty space of time or hunger, but just temporarily.

It has been said more than once that quality trumps quantity.

I'm reminded of the Business Networking International (BNI) meetings I used to attend every Thursday morning at 7 a.m. in downtown Fort Lauderdale.  We shared leads and referrals with our business associates, the intent being to boost their business, as well as our own.

Another thing we did to help increase our client base was to set up one-to-ones. The premise was, and still is, that when you get to know someone a little better, you often find that you can be the link between them and one of your own clients/friends/family members. Relationship building takes time, and more importantly, is an inroad to a more personal connection. Just by spending a little quality time you may find that you have much in common with someone you might never have gotten to know.

Large gatherings and social events, both online and in person, are wonderful ways to network and socialize, however, intimate discussions and personal connections will never take a back seat to them.

A tip of the hat to Facebook and other social sites that are linking people with long-lost friends.

Now it's time to pick up the phone and make a call – your new acquaintance, or old friend, might know an even better way to prepare green beans and garlic!

The Pushmi-Pullyu of the Middle East

The "Pushmi-Pullyu" is a character from Dr. Dolittle - a two-headed animal joined by one body. At one end is the gazelle, at the other the unicorn. Quite an interesting combination when you consider the following:

• The gazelle is known as the plucky underdog of the animal kingdom - fast and agile enough to escape the jaws of its predators; an intelligent animal that adapts, has keen vision and rather quickly senses enemies in its vicinity. They can sprint, stot (straight-legged bounce) and have permanent horns. They are resilient, graceful beasts.

• The unicorn, while thought of in mythical terms as exceptional, appears in the Bible nine times, where it is mentioned that it is a wild and dangerous animal and cannot be tamed. It is thought that the unicorn is fashioned after the wild ox and/or rhinoceros. Myth states that darkness and winter will ensue should the unicorn's horn ever be broken or lost.

That is how the Pushmi-Pullyu is portrayed in the first Dr. Dolittle movie. 

In the remake the beast is a two-headed llama, both heads at the same end.

The Gaza Strip is one body of land with political and religious polarities not unlike the Dr. Dolittle character – the "Pushmi-Pullyu" of the Middle East, so to speak. One head chews its cud while the other speaks. 

One group of people wants to maintain peace through intelligence and vision, and one group wishes to remain wild, untamed and oblivious of the terror and devastation left in their wake. One side brings improvements to health, technology and quality of life, the other snuffs out life.

The Israelis are plucky underdogs. They do not know the meaning of defeat and do not bow to any aggressor that wants to uproot their forward way of thinking and lust for life.

May the "gazelles" of the Middle East continue to combine their intelligence and agility to outwit the beast at the other end. Or even better, may they live as portrayed in the second version of the film, as two heads, two peoples in harmony, both on the same side.

Peace in the Middle East?

The only time I ever knew political fear on a national level was when my son was in elementary school. That morning my husband called from work and asked, "Have you turned on the TV?" I ran to the television set as he continued, "I just heard on the radio that the United States is under attack!" 

It seemed ridiculous. The U.S. under attack? How was this possible? But we were. 

For the first and only time in my life, I felt vulnerable and fearful, easily reached with no place to hide. Parents were rushing over to schools to collect their children, in our city and cities all over the country. Bear in mind that the events were unfolding in New York, Philadelphia and Washington.

That didn't matter to me. It felt like it was in my own backyard. Right here in South Florida. 

September 11, 2001 changed the idea that the United States was impenetrable and a safe haven, protecting us from those who wished to bring us harm.

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It is frightening and disturbing. It denies every individual peace of mind, and relegates hope to a completely different realm - an unfathomable hinterland - when one considers the complexities of hate and terrorism.

Yet, my fear is on a separate level. I live in the United States of America. Prior to the States I lived in Canada, where I was born and raised. In other words, a fairly peaceful existence. A co-existence of many different people.

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Peace.

Will it ever happen in the Middle East as long as there exists a we and a them? Will there ever be a mirrored reflection of both sides as one? The absurd polarity of it is this – exchange sides and we become them and they become us. We are all interchangeable. We will never know peace until both sides recognize that we are, all of us, God's children.

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"KILL THEM ALL A GOOD MUZZY IS A DEAD MUZZY" is a comment posted on a friend's Facebook page July 8, 2014. I take serious exception to this kind of rant. Remember, turn the tables and that is what is being said of the Israelis by ignorant, terrorist radicals who have no concept of acceptance, tolerance, peace or love. Until the masses have an understanding that radical terrorists of a race or religion do not reflect nor represent all of their people, there will continue to be this insane behavior and attempted annihilation of an innocent group of people. Judging all because of a few has never bode well.

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The Israelis have only seconds before incoming missiles hit any number of targets. The Iron Dome launches rockets that have intercepted many medium and long range rockets, but not all. The Israelis live under constant fear, stressed for the safety of their children and their own lives.

Does this mean that one's comment, as noted above, is legitimate? Wouldn't it be better to work towards raising the bar, rather than sinking to the lowest common denominator?

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How can this be done? 

I wish I had the answer.

Will there ever be peace in the Middle East? 

I wish I knew, and that the answer was a globally resounding YES!

What can any of us do about this sad and disturbing episodic travesty? 

Let us pray for enlightenment. Let us meditate for morality and human consciousness. Let us vow not to turn into hate mongers. Let us continue to differentiate right from wrong and remain on the elevated side of right.

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May the Middle East know peace, now, in our time.  Amen.

© 2014 Deborah Desser

Peace

Where can I find a little peace? is not an uncommon query. We hear it, we say it, we believe it.

The truth of the matter is, peace is everywhere, when it is planted in the mind, heart, soul and spirit. When we pay attention to our thoughts, listen to our breathing, become mindful of our practices and acknowledge our blessings, peace forms and grows.

As peace grows in our minds, it takes hold in our surroundings and situations, spreading roots, bearing new green shoots of optimism, love, happiness.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."—Jimi Hendrix 

"Nobody can bring you peace but yourself."—Ralph Waldo Emerson 

"Peace is its own reward."—Mahatma Gandhi 

"The real and lasting victories are those of peace, and not war."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson 

"If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies."—Desmond Tutu

Peace be within you.