The value in you - Facebook post Aug. 29 2014

Good morning! And it is a quiet, cozy, sunny, flow-filled new day....sliding in easy-like with a subtle smile...I got my "good mornings", my "hugs and kisses" and I sit in open-hearted wonder...
Maybe, as I come to really relish and enjoy the idea and wonder in the creation, appreciation, intrication, specification, intention, aspiration, and celebration of "me" being here by no small feat... ‪#‎thankyouGod‬ ....I also look to those around me (familiar or "stranger") and wonder if they really ever wonder about all that has come together to make them "possible" here in this world today as well...I see how others really enjoy putting themselves together....even in eccentric and creative ways....how they sit and smile (shyly) at the enjoying of their family and chosen friends...but I also see the "holding back"....and the unwilling "pull backs"...and the hesitated "Hi's and Hellos"....and wonder if we could every truly (ALL) connect with honouring the value of OURselves that IS in others....

AND then, even more obvious, are the comments against those things in life we have "deemed" unworthy from our unknowing and small pinpoint on the map of the world scape...the harsh comments that I would never wish to say or for others to hear....and in that I am saddened and thankful...that from early on I have heard many of those daggers whiz by my ears at others and even more so at myself...and seeing how the daggers fly right back around and find a target...oy!

...so as I sit here, I am not reflecting from the space of the mind I have now...or that I choose to have in the future, but from the place that I "was"...in the heart of "battle"...when I reached out to make friends of strangers, and connect with those that needed to receive a smile...the things that made me "weird" and "strange" then still resonate as "me" now...and still I will say "hi" with a bright smile...because I see you as valued and worthy and a part of makes the wonder and the awe in this day HERE on this earth possible

Enjoy this beautiful and wonder-full day!
‪#‎withgratitude‬ ‪#‎sawubona‬ ‪#‎Lovefirst‬ ‪#‎Lovelifefull‬

Loving Your Unseen Self

 Good morning! The things I love about me go completely unseen for the most part...how I feel when I encourage others...how I help and nurture others to connect and to build on their dreams...how I truly help to build up those around me...how I celebrate the growth in people, plants and even weeds in my yard...how I open up my eyes in the morning and thank God for bringing me into another new day...

When I am asked what more do I need in life, it truly is difficult to answer...not because my house is spotless and fully organized, or that I drive the best of vehicles, and that I live in an expansive and newly renovated home, or that my children are truly amazing (well, actually... ) and conflict free, or that my finances are overflowing to a point where I am philanthropic, and my marriage is without bumps (but yes it is also wonderful...I love my relationship...)...it's difficult to answer because I truly enjoy it all with all its wonderful facets...it sparkles in MY eyes as wondrous and awesome...ever-unfolding...infinite in possibilities...and a joy to be in.

So yes, thank you God for this beautiful, rich, multi-faceted gem of a day!

#thankyouGod #filledwithglory #newday #stillLiving #livelifefull #gratefuloverflow

Happy un-birthday party for me!

 Good morning! This morning in honour of my un-birthday (was on Sunday), the boys threw me a party...out of Lego

Yes, I was a Lego character in a Lego house and got to choose from many yellow-faced characters whom I would invite to my part-y (kid history voice... ) I got to open my "gifts" and I received... $100, A plant from Naboo (from Obi-Wan Kenobi) , a golden ninja katana (from the Ninjago crew), a full-length leather dress, a lantern and a servant nindroid. WOW! What a great party and wonderful gifts...it took them a day to put it all together

Now to enjoy the rest of my day

Enjoy a beautiful day beyond wonder

#thankyouGod #LegoLove #itsthethought #imaginationsinUse #delight #happydaay

The greatest light

"The greatest light is hidden in the darkness"....

Some of what I am about to share may be quite in an ambiguous state that it may not make sense...just keep reading though...

To even share from my life...LOL the thought of it brings me to tears...not only for its content, but for the fact that noone has really heard it all and the ones who know and have heard and listened to it most completely, are my very own children.

What do you say when you have realized that you carry the burden of a family legacy...?

Hi, my name is Elisa and I was diagnosed with clinical depression over 20 years ago.  Not the kind that deals with a mismanagement of thoughts and emotions...or stems from not being trained in the coping skills that help you to manage stress and can be treated through therapy and counselling...but one that stems from a history of mental illness combine with metabolic markers that cause imbalances in the body. When my dear doctor friend shared this with me I laughed inside and out.  Not only was I a teenager going into University at the time, but I also knew...this would be quite the challenge to face and manage for a lifetime.  The good news, it explained all the inexplicable that we had been trying to explain with my health.  Stress from school and sports, and family life, and peer pressures was simply not enough....the multiple prescriptions that we looked into but ruled out due to their matching symptoms and my sensitivity to chemicals and....ARRRRRGGHHH! LOL....that expression you just read sums it all up.  That's how it feels...no matter how much you understand about it, no matter how much support you get (LOL, and no I don't have that kind of support in my life...but at least I had some), no matter, no matter, no matter....sometimes some things are just a part of who you are...for a reason greater than yourself.  And no, I didn't think about it that way at the time, but what I did think and know at the time was this...

...that those who did understand me, and could relate to me, were often in a much darker place than me...LOL with more support and willing hearts to help.  Some of them could not see past the darkness no matter how much they tried and a few of them died in their wandering...

...but even then I was gifted to realize that I (me as a being) wasn't the depression...it was something I would pass through from time to time...some were short and some were...much longer...and it's not that I wanted to keep it to myself...I did seek counselling and life was ironic enough to give the strange opportunity to see that counsellors need counselling too. (haha...I didn't continue with those sessions after that point )

...I went to that place...that dark space within and I asked for silence...well, I had to keep interrupting the constant talker that is a terrible listener and doesn't know when to shhhhhh!....but yes, over time the chatter got less and less and less....and the conversation and tone shifted and at that point, I received the silence...and I try and go there as often as possible...into the dark and silent (not the dark and brooding).  And in that space is where I connect to the Greatest light.  It fills me up from the inside out and beyond... and when I open my eyes and things take form again, it amazes me how my view has shifted.  Same stuff!  Same mess!  Same piles, but different.

Sometimes we just need to remember...to go there.  Things feel heavy?  Lighten up the load...one thing at a time...celebrate the progress...recognize the process. Things feel hopeless? What are you personally hopeful for?  Sometimes we forget....I know I do.

Even today, I share in experiences in my relationships that use depression as a tool of compassion...a way to help others to move forward and through....but it hasn't absolved me from the experience itself.  I still have and experience metabolic imbalances and along with the traditional emotional "soup" that I have to spoon through...but when those moments happen...I allow...I allow the part of me that knows it is not defined by depression to observe and be patient...it is a slow burn of keeping the light going even when it seems extra dark....

...and I remember, that nothing is ever really hidden....we just choose what we see...

" “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" ~ Matthew 6:22-23

Your #perspective IS that important.  We choose how we will see... #loveandlight

All our lights in this world helps it to be a bright place for us all.

 Good morning! My grief is my honour to carry....my empathetic experience and insight into some of the hardest place to stand with oneself...is a gift. I want to say that even though this last month was quite challenging to endure (and even longer still...this has been a life-long journey.... I mainly share my insights and gratitudes more than I share the details, stories, and grievances), it really helps me to see and remember that I hold a very specific space in this world ....of the little flickering flame in the dark, cold room with a huge elephant that has the sniffles....my flame may go dim, but it burns from a very hot and continuous source...only going to the dimmest of moments was I able to see not only the source of my flame, but to recognize and see the flame and light within others.

If you feel that you can not see your light, know that there is someone who sees and recognizes and loves your light, no matter how dim it may feel...and that it's not coming from a small spark on the end of a candle in front of an elephant ready to sneeze, but from a roaring, ever-burning furnace and we get the choice to decide how bright and hot it shines. Realize that you are connected to the source of your little flame (or blow-torch...)...all our lights in this world helps it to be a bright place for us all.

#thankyouGod #fromthedepths #myheartgoesoutto #sawubona #RIPRobinWilliams

Gratitude overflow for being me

 Good morning! Have you ever begun to choke up with tears welling up in your eyes at just the thought....that there is something wonderful about you and all the blessings in your life?

That you are blessed to sit, and see, and hear, and touch, and feel...and that behind that all, you decided that you would experience seeing, and hearing (noticing), and touching (making tangible connections), and feeling (inside and out).

And it is a beautiful day indeed..

#thankyouGod #anewday #startagain #fresh #gratitude #blessed