Forgiveness Thoughts

Forgiveness is a tedious topic. I try not to give it too much thought, but it is the topic that is coming up today. I will try to focus on freeing the resentments I cling to, because these are a burden, and I want to return to dignity and a ground of love. "Though the action itself may remain forever unforgivable, the human is always forgivable."

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and prepare for Grandson fun.

 

Agenda:

1. Ongo journal

2. Read "The Sweet Spot"
3. Fall Cleaning and Home projects

4. Leaf School plans

5. Creative visualization

1. Ongo journal:

I'm taking a 12-week non-violent communication class. Week seven is Forgiveness. "In Ongo we ... use the word forgiveness to describe the act of opening our hearts to thoughts, words, and actions that we have a tough time loving. ... Ultimately, it means deeply seeing the humanity in ourselves and others."

The practice today is to make a list of the work still ahead - of beliefs, habits, behaviors, words, actions, I'd like to (someday) forgive myself and others for.

Journal: 

• Well, I could someday forgive all the petty, unkind words thrown at me and by me - because we need respect and understanding.
• I could forgive the complicity in the destruction of the earth by me and others - because we need comfort and ease.
• I could forgive my impatience with myself and others - because we feel urgency, and need support.

2. Read "The Sweet Spot":

I'm reading this book by Christine Carter (2015), about "How to Find Your Groove". The thesis is that when we hit from our sweet spot we have optimum power and the greatest ease. Chapter 4 is Cracking the Habit Code, a "habit-crafting intensive." 

I'm working on a basic exercise plan  - some simple stretches and abs, a better than nothing daily routine that might build into something bigger. I've drafted a detailed script, with triggers and a built-in inherent reward. I'm starting really, really small - I just move my chair and do a rag doll stretch every day, and more if I can. The goal is to create a habit that doesn't depend on willpower, doing something so small that the habit begins to initiated and the groove is formed. It's been working for several weeks now! I've got a daily habit forming.

Tip #20 is regroup, revise, and double down. Whenever I meet an unforeseen obstacle, such as when I sleep in and feel rushed, or when I wake up with a sore throat, or when I have computer problems - make a note of the obstacle and possible ways to refine my script to deal with them next time. Keep making tweaks and keep trying because when I truly create a major habit groove it will become foundational evidence of my power and strength.

Tip #21 is see relapse as an opportunity to begin again, stronger. Don't let my history of giving up convince me that I am a lost cause. This is an upward spiral that circles back to a new beginning, one rung higher than last time. If I relapse, simply begin again with Tip #1.

3. Fall Cleaning and Home projects:

Fall cleaning has an entirely different feel and focus than spring cleaning. In the fall we finish up, pack away, and "batten the hatches"-- we put away all the outdoor stuff, air out the sweaters, and prepare for winter. 

This week I will continue fall cleaning in the living room. I plan to:

• Put away Halloween and Die los de Muertos.
• Clean the front porch and door, and hang dried corn.
• Perhaps clean windows and put down storm windows.

And we are trucking right along on our big renovation project. We have an almost torn down old shed, and two weeks until our spa is delivered. My next steps:

• Call the electrician.
• Call someone about the broken panes of glass.
• Remove thimbleberry and dirt from the hot tub site.
• Clear out the junk left in the yard, and find places for it.
• Design a shower, bench area, bamboo planter, screen, and steps.
  

4. Leaf School plans:

Our fall schedule includes a two day pre-school, with coloring pages on a different theme each week, related outdoor projects, field trips, and art. I want to focus on nature awareness, process art and basic art skills (drawing, painting, cutting, glueing, etc.).

This week the theme is leaves:

1. Go on a leaf collecting walk and explore colors, crunchy textures, and earthy scents.
2. Play the leaf catching game.
3. Press some leaves.
4. Draw patterns on leaves with metallic markers (pre-writing skills)
5. Collect fall leaf and tree books. 
6. Make leaf luminaries (glueing)
7. Make a leaf garland (sewing)
8. Make leaf rubbings (color)

5. Creative Visualization:\

Every month, at the waxing gibbous moon (my last push for action), I call on the practice of visualization to help me to see the next steps towards bringing my goals to fruition.

Today I shine a light on our backyard hot tub and deck project.

Creative visualization is a technique that uses my imagination to create change. (Because of my visual and auditory sensitivity, this is the best process for knowing what I'm feeling.) It has these steps:

• First, set an intention: Say, "Today I call on the Spirit of Love to bring me clarity and open my eyes to a vision of my deck and spa area, complete and beautiful." 

• Center and relax each part of my body: With each breath, allow my awareness to deepen and become softer. No stress. No rush. I walk or float in an imaginary void. Open a connection to Spirit. Feel a soft warmth begin to grow and spread through me, until I am radiating quiet energy.

• Create a clear, detailed picture in my mind, as though the objective has been reached. Paint a vivid mental image of walking outside, seeing the lights and plants, and stepping up and along a clean walkway, to hang my robe and towel on a covered hook, and descend into our lovely hot tub to soak, sip a drink, and look out on the bamboo, and the stars (or sunrise); put as much positive energy into the images as possible. 

• Lastly, affirm that this is what I want with a short positive phrase in the present tense: "Today I will take the next steps towards manifesting my back yard oasis."

• Give thanks and return: Saying thanks out loud is how I acknowledge the reality of the gift of my vision.

The thought-image is like a signal-flare that guides the physical thing or deed to manifest in my life (and it's a good way to keep my intentions in my mind). I will carry the vision of the completed goal with me, and focus on it often during the day, in a gentle manner.