Fireside | i am april rucker - Part 2
The other day I was thinking, earth isn’t any of our homes, so essentially we’re all tourists here so I guess that would make earth a vacation! How are you enjoying your vacation here on earth?
Some of us take vacations and cover the “to see list” of the Fromer’s guide, others of us use them to sleep and relax, others go to be seen, to reconnect to self, others to connect to people, etc…
Think about why you take vacations here on earth when you do- do you take them to recharge, get away from it all, experience a new place, connect with family, try new things, obligation, etc… I think there is a correlation here between what we’re looking for here on earth and why you most often take vacations on earth.
So … while your on your earth “vacation” why not enjoy it, make the best of it!
Here’s some Steps to enjoy your vacation on earth:
So many of us are focused on our goals, what we’re looking for, on our phones scrolling Facebook pictures. While your focusing on your goal the universe is painting the most magical experiences for you and you are missing it. Imagine this, someone sitting on a tour bus freaking out about a business deal or relationship while on either side of them the universe is painting Fantasia type portraits and experiences. The bus is driving past beautiful waterfalls and ruins while their thinking about the business deal, how their outfit looks, if that person texted them back.
Look up, look around or you going to miss what’s actually going on rather than what you think is going on.
Drama drama drama. My new slogan has become “not my monkeys not my circus”.
Don’t sit and listen to it, don’t engage or play in or dabble with. Drama is like a mud pit even if your standing by observing your gonna get dirty. Walk away saying… Yup not my monkeys not my circus. And who wants to deal with drama on “vacation” anyway.
If you wouldn’t go on vacation with them why are you spending your earth “vacation” with them.
Find playmates who believe in magic. Who treat you with love, who make you laugh, who make
you want to spread your wings, and Who give you balance. Who do you want to travel with?
“Always say “yes” to the present moment. What could be more futile, more insane, than to create inner resistance to what already is? what could be more insane than to oppose life itself, which is now and always now? Surrender to what is. Say “yes” to life – and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you.” – Eckhart Tolle
 Photo By: Jamierodriguez37
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Yes we’ve all been there on vacation with a bad sunburn, shoulders looking like a crab, booty beat red from snorkeling all day and you feel miserable and uncomfortable. Wondering why this had to happen to you in the middle of your vaca. It’s ruined your whole trip. How does this translate to earth “vacation”? Listen, stuffs gonna happen that could ruin or dampen your vaca it’s all about perspective.
What are you focusing on?
Who’s planning your excursions? Packing for you? Are you packing and planning for everyone? If you’re doing all the planning and prepping-STOP. Stop doing everything for everyone on their “vacation” and enjoy yours. Everyone’s “vacation” is their responsibility.
Be grateful for the delays, the crashes, Be grateful for the rained out beach vacation, be grateful for the mosquito bite. Find ways to Be grateful for your earth vacation.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter
words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy
I know this one can be tough for some of us- but I’m not meaning shoes (by all means bring the
shoes!) stop bringing all of the old crap with you. Imagine yourself with luggage full of all the
stories, pains, aches, 3-10 luggage carts rolling up behind you everywhere you go. Don’t keep
bringing it with you on all you earth “vacations”- your going to
10. Laugh. Stop taking it all so seriously.
Laugh about it. Laugh your socks off. Sometimes when you’ve missed the tour bus, tripped and
broken your camera, lost your wallet at the iguana infested beach you just have to laugh. Stop
and just try to laugh about it all.
I attended graduated school in Boston and lived a block from the notorious Fenway Park, you could literally hear the cheers, announcers and clapping from the green monster from my apartment on Boylston Street. At the time I didn’t know much about baseball, growing up in the south I knew A-Z about football and basketball- But baseball was a new thing for me.
My first game at Fenway was September 1st 2001 against the Yankees. The baseball grounds were packed like a concert, people cheering, Vendors throwing hot dogs, while the rivalry of the ages between the Yankees and the Red Sox was palpable as I was entering the huge gates off of Van Ness Street.
As the day went on I kept track of the program learning the team, how the batters moved to the pitch, about the bull pen, how the players psyched up. I also learned that day how there is no sound In the world like a baseball hitting a glove. It was invigorating and exciting. 5 innings in to my first game I looked down to notice my toughly guarded heart was gone, gone to the Red Sox and it will be with them forever.
That night back home, I was looking over the program at batting averages and percentages. All sports calculate the percentage rates of the an athlete, throughout seasons, years, decades even. In the programs and logs you can count the attempts and the connections of each athlete. Every attempt and every connection is right there to see, then they are all calculated into a percentage. In baseball it’s called batting average, golf is + or – par, basketball a shot percentage, etc… It looks like this
It got me thinking how many attempts we make in life and how we look at them.
I began asking what would our life stats look like?
The attempts, the successes, the “failures”… in sports stats all the numbers, attempts and connections are all the same font, same size, same color (notice in above example). No one is recorded in bigger acknowledgment, or shame (smaller font) than the other – no matter how big or small the connection or miss was, no matter if it was a World Series winning hit or loss- it’s recorded all the same. But I think in life we have started changing the font of our mis-attempts or successes – we moved it to avant garde Bold font or changed the size to 5 or 20 on some of those attempts and connections. If we looked at it all like a game stat- knowing we were going to be the whole of those attempts and misses would our perspective change?
think about life in the big picture:
When you look at the stats of your life what do your attempts look like – are you swinging the bat, taking the shot- hit or miss- if you looked at your life stats over the last 2 years lets say, how many attempts have you really made? What if in life we counted the attempts as triumphs too rather than just the successes: Every successful and failed business deal, every relationship, mistake, triumph…
It’s all going into the same percentage.
Michael Jordan once said,
So the next time you make an attempt and it connects or not visualize it going in to your life stats : looking like this,
Attempts—– connections
1,040——— 341 …… 33% (feb 1st)
1,212…………452……. 37% (feb 15th)
1,459……………533….. 37% (March 21st)
17,111………….6,430…. 38% (December 2016)
The percentage is going to change every second, every minute, every year. But it will never change if you don’t make the attempt.
Change your life stats, honor every swing and miss- every mistake- every triumph- every award.
… and remember this loss or win has the same font and size as all the others in the “life stats”, it’s all about percentages.
The Red Sox lost that muggy September day in 2001, but I loved every minute of my first game at Fenway. I wouldn’t have changed the outcome, the popcorn in my hair, the music on the megatron, the man crying down the row from me with every miss. My first game with the Red Sox was a loss. But, on October 27th 2004 I watched them win one of the most amazing World Series journeys to date.
As fox sports said:
“And 86 years of close calls, heartbreaking finishes and suffering were over.”
And you know what, that win was so worth the attempt and loss I watched that previous September day. Dancing around my apartment with my best friend, screaming “the Red Sox are World Series champs”, that game – the loss 3 years before didn’t even cross my mind.
Make your life stats worth the journey to earth university!
For the past couple of years I have thought a great deal about the beautiful footprints poem. It’s such a special piece about our constant connection to source/great spirit/God/goddess. A poem, a moment in time that is so special.
Many of you I am sure know this poem:
While I honor this poem immensely in its power and truth, I would like to offer another rendition of this classic.
One night I dreamed I was walking
along the beach with mother and father God.
Many scenes from my life flashed
Across the sky. In each scene I had notice footprints across the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was only one.
This bothered me because at the low periods of my life,
When I was suffering from anguish,
Sorrow or defeat. I could only see
One set of footprints, So I said to the Mother God,
“you promised me that if I trusted a higher path, you would walk
with me always. But I have noticed that during
my most trying times of my life there has been only
one set of footprints in the sand.
“Why when I needed you most have you not been there for me?”
Then Father and Mother God replied
“My child the years where you have only seen one set
of footprints is when You remembered that
I am within you always. That you were made from my light.
You are one divine droplet of my energy.
It was during your darkest times that you chose to let your
soul remember we are never separate, nor could we ever be-
I flow within you as you do within me.
During these times of despair you triumphed
and remembered who you are.”
I offer this rendition for you to remember source is always within you. You are a droplet of source energy. One unique expression of source. In those low times, reaching to find that aspect of source within us is the moment we truly begin to make OUR own footprint. Source/ great spirit/mother God/father God is always with us. Every second of every day. It is a part of us just like our blood, our dermis, it can never be split or separated from us, no matter if we believe, deny or refute that aspect of ourselves.
We don’t need source to carry us, we need to remember we carry source within us.
Source always has our backs. We are limitless beings, made up of the fantastic and awe inspiring source energy. Remember who you are and what you carry within you.
Place your hands on your belly and breath for a moment and feel that unique droplet of source energy that you have within you, You are the only one on the planet with that aspect of source within you! How cool is that!!!
With every footprint in your sands of life walk knowing source is within you always in all ways!
In second grade my french teacher was Madame Riggs, she was a native of France and had this elegance to her that I thought at the time only came from France. Her shoes were always regal kitten heals and she had ornate accessories and broaches that I was sure at the time must have come from distant royal family members. She was always doing at home dye treatments on her hair so it was exciting to anticipate how the Reds were going to turn out- pink or auburn or how the blondes and brunette had been streaked through. Always humming a little tune, making these elaborate masks with beads and lace and her desk decorated with beautiful glass bottles. Madame had been my French teacher since kindergarten so I had had a lot of time to fully observe her.
During the holidays though she always had a different approach. While all of the other teachers decorated their room like Christmas exploded (which being honest is so much fun to me too), Madame always had a beautiful simple white candle next to a Yule log cake, called a buche de Nol, and some type of Christmas “mask” she had decorated that year. There was always soft gentle French carols playing in the room and she always had some warm magical cider or hot cocoa with “sophisticated” glasses for us to drink out of.
She announced on one of the early days in December that we needed to take our shoes off and line them up in the hall and that we would be in our socks the rest of class. I was ecstatic about this,I had no idea what was going on but I got to be in my socks in Madame’s room and there was a surprise coming, plus I had my Christmas socks on so this was a win win! She started telling us the story of Pere Noel, “Father Christmas”, (the French Santa Claus) and their traditions. She spoke how the children and adults would place their shoes out by the fireplace and Father Christmas would then fill the shoes with toys and treats of nuts and fruits. I was speechless, how did I not know about this magical Father Christmas, my parents hadn’t told me- maybe they didn’t know either?. I was on the edge of my seat with every soft flowing word she spoke. She spoke of Pere Noel’s long flowing red robe and how he comes earlier in December.
As class concluded she gave us all a hug and said to calmly go into the hall and check our shoes. My heart was racing, had Father Christmas come during class and I had missed him? I thought I should have kept an eye on the window how could I have not seen this magical man, maybe I could catch him and give him a hug and meet his donkey.
As I was scrambling to pack up my pencil case, Madame came up to me and said “sometimes some of us need to learn how to receive during the holidays, especially the ones who are so great at giving”- she smiled and said Joyuex Noel gave me a huge hug and I hit the door running. At the time not fully ingesting what she had just said to me.
Out in the hall my classmates were squealing, our shoes had been filled by Father Christmas. I couldn’t believe it, Pere Noel had been just out in the hallway just then. I was so excited I began running down the hall shoes in hand to find my mom (she worked at the school) to tell her what had happened.
My mom was in her office and listened so excitedly to my story and looked at every single treat I had received. She said she had a couple more things to finish up and I told her we needed to call dad to come get me because I had to get home right away because I had to take care of some urgent things, (I had to make sure my parents and I were ready for Father Christmas).
When my dad arrived I was still in my socks holding my shoes, toys and treats flying everywhere- I screamed and squealed the whole way home telling my dad about Father Christmas – we got home, he said he had to finish with some work in the yard and did I need his help with what was so urgent- I told him no I had everything under control. ( he smiled but I knew there was some concern of oh no what is she up to).
For the next two hours I lined every hallway in the house with my shoes, my dads shoes, my moms shoes, snow boots, my grannies slippers she kept in the guest bedroom- my dog muffin didn’t have shoes so I was brainstorming what I could do for him. But eventually, I had us all covered. When my parents came in that day I can remember them saying “oh my goodness”.
For the next week I lined all of our shoes, excitedly receiving fruits and little gifts all week. Then one day my dad came and said that Father Christmas was on vacation til next year. A little sad I said ok, but man what a ride Father Christmas had given us.
To this day we laugh about me lining the hallway with shoes, but now older, I often reflect on what Madame told me that day- that didn’t really sink in til many years later- that the holidays can teach us how to receive. How to receive not just gifts, but love, hugs, magical moments, to receive blessings and miracles, to receive the joy of company of others, to receive hope and grace.
I know a lot of people talk about the giving piece and the part about “it’s not the gift that matters”. But what I’m noticing the most about the majority of people is that they don’t know how to receive. So in honor of Father Christmas teaching us how to receive, put a pair of shoes bythe fireplace this holiday season or in a place you will notice, to remind you to receive this holiday season. Receive all the love being sent to you, receive all of the hugs and hope, receive the prayers and blessings from the universe. Rumi once said “if you wish for light be ready to receive light”. This holiday season allow yourself to receive!!!
I am wishing you all a beautiful holiday season!
The AWE Story:
Motivated by a desire to bring intention to daily life, AWE began when I asked my father to focus on A Word Everyday that inspired him. He noticed that each Word infused his day and decided to choose Words for our family, sending daily text messages with each individually selected Word each morning. The result was an alignment between each person’s Word and the events and attitudes of their day. Interest grew and we knew we had to create a way to share the power of AWE.
The Latin phrase, “age quod agis”, the literal translation is “do what you are doing”, but in essence, it means “whatever you do, do it well” – whatever you do, do it with all of yourself. I have always believed and adhered to that adage “whatever you are doing do it well”.
So often we are rushing through our daily tasks, phone calls, jobs, traffic, etc… Not even realizing what energy we are creating with every “mindless” and mindful task. We tend to show up for the tasks that matter to us: our spiritual practice, that big business meeting, that possible networking connection. But how are you showing up for those things that won’t seemingly benefit you.
How do you drive in traffic?
How do you deal with each interaction with family or friends?
Are you present and “showing up” as much as you are for the person you want to impress?
How do you undertake those daily tasks that don’t interest you but have to get done?
How do you deal with and show up for those things you don’t want to deal with or face?
Are you just “doing” this job to get to something better?
Every single thing your putting even a smidgen of your energy into matters. If your rushing through “to get there, for that”, you are telling the universe I’m only showing up for those things that could benefit or that matter to me. In a sense you are controlling what the universe can bring to you, teach you, show you. You miss the aha or the clarity that could come from that moment while washing dishes, or because you were rushing through traffic you missed the 6 bumper stickers that answered your current plaguing question, or what if you not honoring a financial obligation to a family member in a just manner changed your vibration and the way the universe brought you the flow of abundance. What if making that phone call to someone you have been ignoring sparked an idea, healed a wound… all of these seemingly “insignificant” things matter.
It’s almost like someone giving you a speech about treating the planet kindly and then getting on the phone and being short with their friend. Consistency of your energy matters. Will your friends and family say that you show up the same way you do for business as you do for them?
Do you take as much pride and care in washing the dishes by hand as you did writing that love letter? When your meditating, finding that inner peace and then you choose to gossip what is that saying?
Are all of your expressions of self matching?
Are you consistent and proud of how you show up? Where do you notice inconsistencies of how you are showing up?
Is it easier for you to honor tasks when they benefit others, or when they benefit you?
With every task are you showing up with honor, kindness and grace for the task at hand?
Can you say about yourself, “they know I will show up and do a good job no matter what I am doing”?
Whatever you do ..do it well. Wellness is presence. so when your presence is in everything you do it will automatically be done well.
“Doing well, doesn’t mean perfect- it means doing the best you can at the moment.”
Whether winning a gold medal in the Olympics, a child making crafts, giving care to the elderly, doing our best work wherever we are (office, store, school, hospital) at whatever we do- we fulfill our destiny, living out the vibration we are creating with every single task, choice, and interaction.
The seemingly small task, action, words and choices are creating your vibration, thus changing the outcome, universal flow, perception and manifestation of the things that you feel matter. “Age quod agis” means acting with wisdom, discernment, integrity, empathy and compassion – qualities that emanate from the inner being/the soul – qualities that are not driven by ego, greed or time lines. It means doing well, from moment to moment, with your whole self.
1. Your sacred imagination – Your dreams and, more specifically, your imagination form a sacred space. This is not something you should deny or assume doesn’t exist anymore as it did during your childhood. Try not to contaminate your imagination with negativity or the things you don’t want to materialize in your life. Do not allow disempowering ides of how your life used to be take up space in your imagination.
“Your imagination is your own fertile field for growing any seedling that you choose to plant for a future harvest.”
Don’t let your “reality” or how you see the world today govern your imagination. Imagine and mentally visualize where you want your life to be in the future.
2. Affirm your imagination – Rely on your inner spiritual guide and permit your thoughts to transform. Be confident and persistent about what your mind can already see in the future. Use empowering “I am” affirmations. Affirm, “I am love”. “I am happiness.” “I am prosperous.” “Be fearless, and let those ideals be your reality.
3. Feel your new reality -“Make your future dream a personal fact, by assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled.” Dyer suggests that knowing something spiritually is experiencing it – feeling it. “By literally feeling the reality of the state you seek, which is firmly in your imagination, you have the means of creating miracles,” Dyer writes. He cites Neville Goddard from the Feeling is the Secret, “a change of feeling is a change of destiny.”
Your feelings affect your subconscious mind, and what you feel is what manifests in your life.
4. Intention and attention -What you focus on and pay attention to materializes.
“You never allow your outer circumstances to deflect you from your desires.”
Instead of focusing on the results and the current circumstances of your life, focus on your dreams and desires. Stay true to the vision you have for your life and what you believe is possible for you. Have trust and faith that your dreams and desires will come true, no matter what the outside circumstances appear to be.
Use superglue to attach your intentions to your imagination.
5.Wake up (in your sleep) – Use sleep as a way to propel what you’re envisioning and to make your dreams materialize.
You can reprogram your subconscious mind by changing what you think about before going to bed. Be mindful of the thoughts that are floating through your mind.
Stay positive, hopeful and confident about your wishes and dreams, especially before you snooze. Feel peace; right before you fall asleep, visualize and assume that your dreams have already come true. Allow your pre-sleep ritual to reprogram your mind so that you’ll fall asleep imagining your dreams coming true.
Dyer encourages you to transform your life by escaping reality and staying true to the unlimited possibilities in your imagination
“Seek divine wealth, not the paltry tinsel of earth. After acquiring inward treasures you will find that outward supply is always forthcoming.” Srimati Kashi Moni, Autobiography of a Yogi
*all text is from Wayne Dyer teachings
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Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.
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Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.
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Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
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Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.
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Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours.
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Respect all things that are placed upon this earth – whether it be people or plant.
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Honor other people’s thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.
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Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.
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All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven.
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Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.
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Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your worldly family.
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Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life’s lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.
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Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.
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Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this universe.
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Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self – all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.
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Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.
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Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others – especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden.
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Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.
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Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.
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Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.
This originally appeared in the “Inter-Tribal Times,” October, 1994