Read Gerri's Leaf Story
ON THE PATH...
thoughts along the way
If you start to think the problem is “out there,” stop yourself. That thought is the problem. Stephen Covey
phenomeNEWS presented the 44th Body•Mind•Spirit Festival on April 28. Thousands showed up for the event. Several things happened to me that day. I’d like to share a couple of them with you. I was at a booth looking at their items and picking out tall, colorful peacock feathers. The vendor told me that she was selling out her items and creating new items... she was re-inventing herself. She and her partner were moving to British Columbia to begin a new business there, doing the things she loved. As we talked, a friend of mine, Marge, who I haven’t seen in a while, walked up. Smiles broke out on our faces as we opened our arms to exchange big, warm hugs. “Marge, its been awhile. You look awesome. You look 20 years younger and seem lighter in every way. What did you do and how did you do it?” “I’m re-inventing myself and my life.” That was the same thing the vendor just told me. Marge continued, “My Aunt Helen was my inspiration. She influenced my thinking.” Aunt Helen was married to an alcoholic who never had a sober day in his life.” Her aunt cleaned houses because all of their money went to her husband’s alcohol addiction. They had three daughters and a son. When Helen’s husband died, she was finally free. She was now able to do whatever she wanted with the rest of her life. As a Chippewa Indian, she wanted to give something to her people so she began traveling to many places and gave blankets and quilts to the Indians. Aunt Helen lived a full, adventurous life from that point on. She lived her life consciously to the end. She was 85 when she died and Marge says there wasn’t a wrinkle on her face. Marge told me that she, like her Aunt Helen, is living her life deliberately, moving out of state and re-inventing herself. She said life is an ongoing process, a new life design. Design it as you go. She made changes within by getting rid of the garbage, ill feelings and hurts that she had been carrying around that were affecting her life. She became healthier, ate better, walked more, listened to Abraham and read affirmations from Louise Hay’s You Can Heal Your Life. She practiced forgiveness and letting go. No wonder she looked so good! You must lead your own life. No one will grant you permission. You must treat yourself the way you expect others to treat you. You must live your life in integrity if you want others to respond to the real you. If you don’t claim the life you desire for yourself, who will? Karyn Pettigrew I was catching up with an old school friend, Sharon. She told me that she had been married for 10 years to someone she loved and trusted. She didn’t know Bob was sneaking off to drink. He began drinking more and more, leaving home for days at a time. He was different when he drank; he became belligerent, cruel and verbally abusive. She finally got him to go to AA meetings and therapy. Sharon sought help and discovered Al-Anon. This organization is for people affected by alcoholics. She attended meetings and found out that alcoholism is a disease and no one could make Bob change unless he wanted to. She discovered that going to these meetings helped her find out about who she was. She was finally taking care of herself. Bob wasn’t going to be the focus of her life anymore. She now deals with him differently than she had in the past. Sharon found a new world out there. She found a common thread with others going through the same situation. She began a gratitude list focusing on everything that makes her and her children happy. She replaced her victim mentality with an attitude of gratitude. She began to feel empowered and capable because she has learned that her Higher Power can use every situation, every relationship, every experience, to enhance her life which is building strength, faith and personal growth. She now believes that everyone and everything has a special gift to offer even in our most trying times. We need only to open our eyes to see it. We can have a good day in spite of the addictive behavior of others because every day she knows that the kind of day she has depends on her attitude. Sharon has re-invented her life and I’m so proud of her. We are often in denial of situations in our lives. By facing the reality, taking time alone to reflect and meditate on the Truth of what really is going on, we can then take inspired action to create change. Helen, Marge and Sharon are an inspiration to me. We can all re-invent ourselves anytime we are ready. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change Courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference
phenomeNEWS presented the 44th Body•Mind•Spirit Festival on April 28. Thousands showed up for the event. Several things happened to me that day. I’d like to share a couple of them with you.
I was at a booth looking at their items and picking out tall, colorful peacock feathers. The vendor told me that she was selling out her items and creating new items... she was re-inventing herself. She and her partner were moving to British Columbia to begin a new business there, doing the things she loved. As we talked, a friend of mine, Marge, who I haven’t seen in a while, walked up. Smiles broke out on our faces as we opened our arms to exchange big, warm hugs.
“Marge, its been awhile. You look awesome. You look 20 years younger and seem lighter in every way. What did you do and how did you do it?”
“I’m re-inventing myself and my life.” That was the same thing the vendor just told me.
Marge continued, “My Aunt Helen was my inspiration. She influenced my thinking.” Aunt Helen was married to an alcoholic who never had a sober day in his life.” Her aunt cleaned houses because all of their money went to her husband’s alcohol addiction. They had three daughters and a son. When Helen’s husband died, she was finally free. She was now able to do whatever she wanted with the rest of her life. As a Chippewa Indian, she wanted to give something to her people so she began traveling to many places and gave blankets and quilts to the Indians. Aunt Helen lived a full, adventurous life from that point on. She lived her life consciously to the end. She was 85 when she died and Marge says there wasn’t a wrinkle on her face.
Marge told me that she, like her Aunt Helen, is living her life deliberately, moving out of state and re-inventing herself. She said life is an ongoing process, a new life design. Design it as you go. She made changes within by getting rid of the garbage, ill feelings and hurts that she had been carrying around that were affecting her life. She became healthier, ate better, walked more, listened to Abraham and read affirmations from Louise Hay’s You Can Heal Your Life. She practiced forgiveness and letting go.
No wonder she looked so good!
You must lead your own life. No one will grant you permission. You must treat yourself the way you expect others to treat you. You must live your life in integrity if you want others to respond to the real you. If you don’t claim the life you desire for yourself, who will?
Karyn Pettigrew
I was catching up with an old school friend, Sharon. She told me that she had been married for 10 years to someone she loved and trusted. She didn’t know Bob was sneaking off to drink. He began drinking more and more, leaving home for days at a time. He was different when he drank; he became belligerent, cruel and verbally abusive. She finally got him to go to AA meetings and therapy.
Sharon sought help and discovered Al-Anon. This organization is for people affected by alcoholics. She attended meetings and found out that alcoholism is a disease and no one could make Bob change unless he wanted to. She discovered that going to these meetings helped her find out about who she was. She was finally taking care of herself. Bob wasn’t going to be the focus of her life anymore. She now deals with him differently than she had in the past. Sharon found a new world out there. She found a common thread with others going through the same situation.
She began a gratitude list focusing on everything that makes her and her children happy. She replaced her victim mentality with an attitude of gratitude. She began to feel empowered and capable because she has learned that her Higher Power can use every situation, every relationship, every experience, to enhance her life which is building strength, faith and personal growth. She now believes that everyone and everything has a special gift to offer even in our most trying times. We need only to open our eyes to see it. We can have a good day in spite of the addictive behavior of others because every day she knows that the kind of day she has depends on her attitude. Sharon has re-invented her life and I’m so proud of her.
We are often in denial of situations in our lives. By facing the reality, taking time alone to reflect and meditate on the Truth of what really is going on, we can then take inspired action to create change. Helen, Marge and Sharon are an inspiration to me. We can all re-invent ourselves anytime we are ready.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change Courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference
Gerri Magee is director of advertising and public relations and assistant to the editor of phenomeNEWS. She continues to share her thoughts “On The Path” in this column. She can be reached at gerri@phenomenews.com.
