The Water of Life

Water of Life
Originally uploaded by questforhappinessfta

Water in all of its forms has always fascinated me. Recently, I had the opportunity to take a walk along a river bank. The sound of the river intrigued me. Its song kept me spellbound! As I watched it flow freely, happily along, swirling against unseen rocks in its path, I was mesmerized by its energy. The longer I looked the more I realized the importance of water in my life – in all life.

Having grown up close to the Atlantic Ocean, I miss all the sights, sounds and smells of the sea when my travels take me far away from it. The sound of the surf, the screech of the seagulls and the smell of the salt air often woke me when I was growing up. Today, I live close to the ocean and I wonder daily at its beauty, majesty and sometimes ruthless power.

Day after day, news flashes force our attention on the heavy pollution of waters and oceans around the world. How can we hear the messages of the river if it is filled with toxic waste? What are we doing as individuals to reverse this process?

First of all, let’s focus on our bodies. What are we taking in that is toxic? Let’s spring clean. Consider the amount of processed food we eat daily along with the disposal containers that these foods come in. Let’s take stock and question our drinking habits. What do we ingest besides food and drink? What about the chemicals found in tobacco and other drugs which wreak havoc on our physical systems?

In addition to what we take into our bodies, let’s consider how we care for them. How much water do we use in our every day activities? How conscious are we of the value of water? When free of contaminants, water cleanses, it refreshes and it even heals.

As we become aware of how we treat our bodies, we realize anew the giftedness of being, of water and of creation. Nothing should be taken for granted. Our eyes become open to the fragility of life – our own life, the life of creatures around us, and the very earth we walk every day. In caring for our planet, we can make wholesome changes which in turn create a sense of wonder in ourselves.

Ponder on the importance of water. Have you ever experienced a lack of it? Think of the many areas in the world where they have little water. Often the water supply they do have is toxic, which causes disease and even death for many young children.

Not long ago, I listened to a radio interview of an eighty-four year old woman from Spain. In her broken English, she described how she conserved water daily. “When I want to brush my teeth,” she explained, “I put the toothpaste on my brush first, then I open the tap and wet it. I close the tap and brush my teeth. I open the tap to clean my brush. I close the tap and brush again. I open the tap to rinse my mouth and then close it.”

What is the message here? Environmentalists tell us that in North America alone each person uses 250 gallons of water a day. If you multiply that number by the entire population and compare it with the water consumption of the rest of the world, it makes us stop and think, doesn’t it?

As you reflect on your lifestyle around water, observe the good habits that are benefitting you, your family and the environment. If this is not the case, then begin to make changes.

Start with little things, such as; being grateful that water is abundant, and that it’s clean and refreshing. Become conscious of leaking taps, using excess water when washing the car or watering the lawn. These are luxuries in countries that must conserve water for food and drink.

Have you ever considered the messages found in water? In his book, The Hidden Messages in Water, Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto documents his findings. The different crystals photographed demonstrate the power of words. Beautiful crystals form when positive statements, such as Thank You, are breathed on the water. When negative statements such as I hate you are spoken, malformed and ugly crystals develop.

Just as words upon water empower the water to change for the better, you too can engage other people in this process. Promote a healthier way of living in food, drink and all the daily activities of your life. Positive reminders every now and then are helpful. The benefits will delight you, your family and the environment.

I want to empower each of you to journey to new wholeness in your daily life, blessing the water daily; grateful for all the wonderful joys you want to experience.

What are your thoughts? Please feel free to leave any comments, questions, or suggestions you’d like to offer.

In peace, and until next time,

Bride

Spring Cleaning Your Way to a New Life

Spring Buds
Originally uploaded by Jim-AR

Have you ever watched the wonder on a little child’s face when she’s holding newborn, yellow chicks in her hands? I remember my mother handing me several of them when I was three or four. I still recall the delight in feeling their warm, furry little active bodies. Mom reminded me not to squeeze them too hard because they were so delicate. Spring reminds me of them and the other new life cropping up at this time in nature.

Seeing the first robin, little shoots of green peeking up, and the crocuses beginning to bloom are all signs that spring has finally arrived. New life, giving me a sense of new hope, is all around me. As the weather warms up, people are seen in their gardens, cleaning up, preparing the soil, planting flowers or vegetables. This new energy seems to move inside the home as well as spring cleaning begins.

This is a good time to move inward and see what needs cleaning there. This is your opportunity to dust away the cobwebs and the deadwood from the winter and the past. If some of life’s events have been making you feel hopeless, now is the time to create new life, watch it take root, blossom, and begin to grow.

If you focus on how you feel, you will notice a couple of things. If you’re feeling down, your energy level is low. If you feel good about yourself and your life, your steps are light and your energy high. Notice if you are one or the other.

“But I’m neither one nor the other,” you say. What do you mean? Do you have a ‘blah’ feeling?

Examine your life and question why you are feeling this way. Take a step back and pretend that you are looking at yourself and your life from the lens of a camera. Do you like what you see? How come?

Describe your life as you see it. Video tape yourself as you answer these questions. As you watch objectively, list the things you would like to change and then brainstorm some solutions.

As you move from noting your feelings, focus on your thinking. Is your thinking the result of your feelings or are your feelings a product of your thinking? If it is the second case, then try thinking something different. For example, if you’re thinking, “My life is dull, boring and lifeless,” change it to “I am living a quiet and peaceful life. I am becoming energized to make a creative, positive change in my life.” Then begin the process by taking a deep breath and repeating these statements often until you begin to believe them and start acting on them. You will find that your spirits begin to lift and your attitude becomes more positive. In turn, you begin to feel better.

This is a good example of spring cleaning. If you have actually tried my suggestion, you will notice that you have moved from feeling down to feeling good, from thinking depressing thoughts to more cheerful ones. In turn, you have more energy to get moving and make those positive changes you identified earlier. The more energy you have, the better life flows creating a beautiful mosaic for yourself.

Just as nature changes from winter to spring so you too can feel a surge of new life and new hope. Listen to the birds, walk in the sunshine and sing a song of nature. Happy Spring!

Feel free to give me feedback about my suggestions. I’ll be writing more in the upcoming days, so stay tuned!

Until next time, be at peace,

Bride