| | Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....Page 1 of 2 (1, 2) | Ah, so we've come this far...to this place of mid/late-mid or even later life. We've survived the many/various pitfalls and come to a place where, hopefully, we've learned more of the truth about who we are....who others are...what gives us joy in this journey and where we want to go with what we have left of it.
Most of us have heard about/experienced the self-discoveries that are beneath our surface when we willingly "peel back the layers of the onion" which is "us". Like the innocense of a child who is engrained with beliefs about life and then discovers "the real truth" as she/he moves along--opening to new places of "knowing" who they really are, who others are. Breaking free of the limiting, false stories somehow imprinted on us as absolute truth.
That is the joy of discovery. The gift. The "new freedom" of being more self-realized. I think that the process of recognition is constant. Each new experience, triumph or tragedey and everything in between brings us, I believe, new gifts. For me, at this phase of my life, I love to hear the stories others have to tell....and I listen for their "gifts", their own recognition of who they are/who they have become/what they hold dear as a result.
SO...I'm asking, gentle human, what is the very best gift you have received from living this life...the very best of YOU/who you are...that you celebrate...joyfully/or mischieviously--LOL-- because it has given you more of YOU?? | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 7:28:36 AM | I have been given many gifts that help me through life:
The ability to be able to see life as a child sees something that amazes them, i am still as enthusiastic now
As i was when i was a silly 16 year old girl, it annoys some but, it makes life fun for me, kids love me!
I am learning, to find the real purpose in work and not let politics weigh me down.
Before i go to work I ask god to use me, and help me find the best way to reach people, I then say to myself my purpose for today is to help as well as i can.
I try to remember everyday that today is the day.
I have learned to laugh at myself and accept myself.
I have learned that i like being a woman and that i feel more femine now than i ever have. | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 7:41:07 AM | What an awesome uplifting inspiring thread!!
"Karma1160" has done such a beautiful job of speaking not only for herself but for me that I'm going to have to think about what I can write that will do justice to hers:)
Very much looking forward to the sharing that your topic will give to all of us. Thanks so much, "Stargazin53" - you're the best:) | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 8:01:49 AM | Leaving the Christian church, losing 100 pounds, leaving my ex-husband, and getting an MA are the best gifts that I "gave" to myself. After the ex, I moved halfway across the country to live with a man the same age as my sons. It was a tumultuous, heartbreaking seven year experience, but it made me a much stronger woman.
I do not regret much in my life and I don't think that I would change anything. Every experience that I have had brought me to where I am right now, and I like where I am. I learned more from the bad times than I did the good times, and those bad times make me appreciate the good even more.
The best gift? Coming to the realization that I, and I alone, am responsible for my happiness and where I find myself in life. From reading these forums for years, I see that many, many people refuse to take responsibility for themselves and would rather blame others for their unhappiness and bad situation. | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 8:25:15 AM | How beautiful..thanks for this thread, a great reminder.
I there are so many gifts. My freedom is one, I will cherish it always. I found Christ, and become a minister, and in doing so became a law enforcement chaplain. I have the gift of healing, so I do Reiki healings by donation, and will be setting up a session with the local veterans soon.
But the greatest gift I have is TIME. There is time to do what ever needs done. The world works that way, and I had in the past thought I had to hurry through life. I now realize that we are all right where we are supposed to be, a some total of all our life experiences.
I am blessed in so many ways, my past was a bit rocky at times, but in learning those lessons I was able to skip the bigger pitfalls later on... so its really all good. | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 8:42:44 AM | My very best gift has been my children.
I have been blessed with three amazing individuals who have taught me sooooo much.
I married young (18) and that relationship lasted 10 years.
When that ended I quickly moved into another one, that lasted 20 years.
Through my kids teenage years I stressed to them to take their time.
Marry when they are older, and have children when they start their 30's
As they themselves need time to grow and figure out who they are
I said that, because I did not have the opportunity or foresight to do so.
I told them to date ... LOTS of suitors.
Make a list of what they liked and didn't like,
and move on until they found their ideal mate.
So when my kids helped me end my second relationship,
because I was not capable of doing so
as I have a bad habit of trying to fix the unfixable
I was TOLD by them that I could not date just one person
I had to date LOTS
and make a list of what I liked and didn't like
and move on until I found my perfect mate.
They listened.
And I heard my own words come from them.
So I have now been single for 6 years.
And have learned so much about myself
And I don't think I would have done that
Unless my children pointed it out to ME.
So thank God for them.
Life is good! | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 9:56:48 AM | | My two sons are my greatest gift in life. They bring out the best in me, have been a source of encouragement during the course of my life while I competed in various venues..To this day we continue to fan one another flames and so it goes when my flame has gone out there will be two flames still burning brightly.. | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 10:25:27 AM | @ Karma: thanks for posting, I love all of it, especially these tidbits:
-"asking God"--when facing work on a very challenging unit of mentally ill patients, I used to carry a "prayer rock" in my pocket. It knocked around in there with pens, bandage scissors, spare change. Invariably throughout my shift I would pull it out while searching for some other something. I used it as a reminder to connect with "goodness" and to remind myself why I was there. I too, often ask "God" to use my life.
-"feeling feminine"--I was such a tomboy as a kid, it's funny how that carries over as we get older. :) I think I could count on..umm, 2 fingers the #s of times I've painted my toenails. Last year I dated a man who could KISS-oh my--just KISS. Yay! What fun...and, I cannot explain this entirely but he just made me WANT to paint my toenails RED. Woolordy:) !! and, so, I do now from time to time....just to celebrate being feminine.
@Ready: your unique experience will come to ya girl, I know that....:) lookin' forward to your words.
@ Gwen: the tough times teach us some of the very best stuff, don't they? and breaking away from a system that teaches fear & shame ( as tooo many rigid belief systems can)....THAT can pave the threshold to discovery, eh?
@ Wonder: I looooove Reiki. Because it's all about the energy fields we carry. Out of curiosity, years ago, I volunteered in a Healing Arts Center and experienced/witnessed the gentleness of Reiki...what a great way to care for others. :)
@U Make it: LOL---learning through our kids is the best! Humbling, touching, fun! :)
@Native: "fanning the flames" :)
I'm so enjoying your stories :) thank you. Here's to more celebratin' the gifts! Cheers! | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 10:30:53 AM | I guess it was a gift of sorts
when
I watched a man who I thought I hated die a lingering, pitiful, pain-filled death.
I was very surprised to find that if I could have, I would have relieved his suffering.
This made me more human / humane; eliminated hate from my toolbox of coping strategies. | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 10:42:09 AM | My gifts have all happened to be from men.
My father taught be to stand tall, all 5 feet of me. Taught me to be a human being, how to treat others and the basic "you better be able to stand in front of a mirror and like the person that is staring back".
The second man in my life was my husband. He continued where my father left off (although my father continues to this day to teach me things at 83). My husband gave me courage and strength and the gift of love and oh so much more.
My sons - I learned from burying one just how precious life is and from my other son I have his continued love and gift of grandchildren.
I am blessed to have had and continue to have some very special men in my life, many have taught me a lot. One in particular is teaching me as I write this. I continue to grow - there is no end to my growth or potential.
If you rest/you rust. We all have to continue on the journey of life with continued learning, giving and growing. It is our duty, per se, so don't waste it. The gifts will keep coming, if we allow ourselves to have an open mind and an open heart - the gifts will never end. | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 11:43:51 AM |
I am blessed to have had and continue to have some very special men in my life, many have taught me a lot. One in particular is teaching me as I write this. I continue to grow
OMG: you little --- all 5 feet of you little:) --- hold out, u! "One in particular" eh, My Canadian Friend? I intend to enjoy the mere thought of this "one in particular" man while away this weekend helping one son move and returning home to run (hopefully --- ok: wishfully thinking? OK: WALKING) at our annual 5K Father's Day Race to Cure ALS.
But I shall return (hopefully still on my feet) to hear more about all these "precious gifts." And share my own.
Have a great weekend, My Forum Friends. You women totally rock. (So where are the men and their blessings, eh?)
P.S. For starters, I'm grateful to one of these Forum Friends for teaching me about how to use this site's italics !
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 11:57:30 AM | The very best gift I've received is bravery. I know that whatever this life throws my way, good or "bad", I can trust myself to deal with it BEYOND my so called capabilities so...bring it on!
Great thread wise woman Star. | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 12:19:49 PM | The most precious gift I received was my son. I literally waited a very long time for him but he was worth it, and I'm so proud of him, and so grateful that I get to care for him and to raise him. He has taught me more about myself than anything else ever could.
Nice post by the way. | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 1:21:12 PM |
I am blessed to have had and continue to have some very special men in my life, many have taught me a lot. One in particular is teaching me as I write this. I continue to grow
OMG: you little --- all 5 feet of you little:) --- hold out, u! "One in particular" eh, My Canadian Friend? I intend to enjoy the mere thought of this "one in particular" man while away this weekend
:o) this tickles me so much because there has been the slightest of increased "softness" I've noticed in your posts the past several weeks, Welsh. An added hint of gentleness. Good men help us remember/celebrate our emotional softness, methinks. :) Enjoy, enjoy !
@ Dame: hahaa, we can be warrior women when we have to be, too! :)
@Livin': them babies of ours again--the gift that keeps on givin'. :) | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 2:20:50 PM | ""this tickles me so much because there has been the slightest of increased "softness" I've noticed in your posts the past several weeks,"" Lol, don't go thinking I have mellowed - I still can't put up with "stupid". And yanno, I used to be the common sense gal around here, then you get more involved with the forums and realize WTF...and I've learned not to respond to those that purposefully bait - why get a ban from responding to an idiot.
BUT, I know there are so many things that are good and what to be thankful for. | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/14/2012 8:23:34 PM | What an awesome thread... thanks OP...
My kids are the first; they are amazing, wonderful, stellar human beings and a blessing I am touched to have been given. To those who have lost children, my heart so incredibly goes out to you.
The second; working with people going through separation and divorce, has been humbling, enriching and inspirational in spite of the work that goes into it; watching people who are unable to know ANTYHING about themselves, who can barely hold their head up, shaking like a leaf and where some takes 40 passes back and forth from the car to the door of wherever the event is if it was their first; going from that to paying it forward, smiling, laughing and reaching out to other people;
those who go from reeling and absolutely in terrifying pain to smiling, laughing and outright dating...
those whose kids could barely look at them and hated them all of a sudden having the lightbulb go off and see clearly the actions of hte parent rather than just the poison of the enraged one...
Those have been incredibly wonderful to see and experience. I am glad to be part of a small part of their healing and moving forward; and they inspire me daily; many of the men and women I am around in it.
But one of the most amazing gifts was the first year of my divorce. Was at the piano and it was the first time I'd played since I moved out and had gotten the kids to school and had not started my first client session.
Opened the windows as it was mid spring; and started to play (was just making something up). This songbird I didn't recognize started to sing along with the piano. I stopped to listen and they stopped. I started again, he started to sing again. I kept playing; he kept singing. I ended up bridging the song and he actually adapted his song to the piano. I ended up playing with that songbird for ninety minutes; with he and I literally doing an improv duet that mid spring morning. The second i FINALLY had to stop (i was 20 minutes late for my session but I didn't have the heart to stop it was so incredible); I removed my fingers from the piano and he instantaneously flew away, and I never saw him again.
But I will never forget that morning early after the divorce in my new apartment, knowing everything was going to be ok. Because I had just experienced a miracle, and I knew somehow had affirmed life wasn't over. It was just beginning. | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/15/2012 4:48:21 AM | The bestest gift I ever recieved was having a man I was lucky enough to call my father giving me the tools and skills that helped me gain enough confidence to live the life I ultimately chose to live. The man will be with me forever, and I already happy to say, the daughter has figured it out too!!!!! He'd be smiling right now if he was still with us.
After that, everything else is gravy. | |
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| Layers of Discovery...the precious gifts of this life.....
Posted: 6/15/2012 2:44:19 PM | Well, I think "Stargazin" should become an inspirational writer. Somebody ask where all the men were...well, this is more of a sentimental mushy female sort of thread, but I'll ante up my one cent worth (sorry about the second penny, it just rolled under the refridgerator)
I just try to be a good man by allowing my friends and neighbors to borrow and break all my power tools and lawn equipment, because I'm in it for the after life. I'm agnostic, but plan to convert to Islam on my death bed for those 72 virgins ( I'm praying to Allah that at least 71 of them are lying about their virtue).....with any luck, that should kill me for the second time, and I can start all over again!
But!...while I'm still here, my gift is my daughter, grandson and many long term friends that make getting up in the morning very worthwhile! | |
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