News of late has been incredibly disturbing. The kind that you can’t wrap your head around and makes you want to bury your head in the sand, or stick fingers in your ears and run down the street screaming, kind.
I have a tendency to take on the woes of the world – in my mind, of course. It weighs me down, depletes my energy, and generates a useless anger that paralyzes me.
Not a good thing. Not for me, or anyone else, and least of all for the world.
My friend, Amy, recently listened to my ranting, and in her calm, loving voice said to me “Why are you taking on all this negative energy? When you do that, you end up putting more negativity out into the world, and frankly, the world has more than enough to go around.”
Wow. I needed that.
She then reminded me that the best way to deal with struggles that we have no control over is to trust that things will work the way they’re supposed to, and in the meantime, to consciously act with compassion. For others and for ourselves.
Consciously act with compassion. I like that.
Some days, it’s easier said than done, of course. And some people are easier to be compassionate with than others. But I’ve lived long enough to see truth (or otherwise), when I hear it. And this is truth.
So, when I get into these mind-spins, I have to do a better job of focusing on remembering all the wonderful things in the world. While there are events that can bring you down, life is full of joy as well.
Case in point. Last Sunday afternoon, I pulled up the YouTube video of James Cordon and Paul McCartney doing “Carpool Karaoke.” It was fantastic and brought back so many sweet memories as they sang different old Beatles’ songs. You know what a Beatles fan I am, so seeing and listening to Paul in such a personal setting, recounting old times, was such a joy.
As Paul was recalling memories of the Beatles music, he told the story of just after his mother Mary had passed away. It seems she came to him in a dream and assured him things were going to be fine and not to worry. She told him to just . . . let it be.
Let it be. The song, of course, is a beautiful favorite, but hearing him explain what it meant was another reminder of what Amy said. Trust that things will be all right, and live with compassion and love in your heart. Just let it be.
The only way we will ever find or create peace and compassion in the world is to first BE that peace and compassion. Like Ghandi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” So if that’s the only action each of us takes, it will be enough.
Yoga helps me let it be. It helps me quiet the “monkey mind,” and reconnect with my better self.
What do you do when trying times begin to invade your joy?
I recently came across this poem and it really hit home for me. It’s a gentle reminder of antidotes for those times when life tries to get the better of you.
“You’ll need coffee shops and sunsets and road trips.
Airplanes and passports and new songs and old songs,
but people more than anything else.
You will need other people and
you will need to be that other person to someone else,
a living, breathing, screaming invitation
to believe better things.”
– Jamie Tworkowski
Till next time,
Judy
Good to see another post I was worried! Jack is recovering from open heart surgery = so scary ~ especially since he is78! I had to keep my 4 word prayer going “ let go ~ let God”. He is on the road to recovery so my breathing is normalizing. Good to hear from you, bobbi
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Bob, so glad Jack is recovering. Such a huge thing to go through. I love your prayer – have it used it many times in my life. xxx
After I’m done performing my “spin dance” in my mind, I’m reminded that God is always in control and I’m gifted with the Peace that surpasses all understanding ! Not always easy but the reward is so sweet! Great piece Jude 💕
Love ya Bobbi! Be praying for you and Jack and the boys
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Thanks, June. I appreciate your sweet words. xxx
One of your best! Wow!!
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Thank you, Joan. xxx
This is so great!! We waste so much time focusing on issues we have no control of. When I’m dealing with negative thoughts I try to remind myself to STOP, ask myself, do I have control of this, if not, give it to the lord and release it from my thoughts. Focus on the things I have control on. Like a mouse in a wheel, Going and going never ending up anywhere and running out of energy. Gosh we could use all that energy for so many other things. Thanks cheeem!
This is so great!! We waste so much time focusing on issues we have no control of. When I’m dealing with negative thoughts I try to remind myself to STOP, ask myself, do I have control of this, if not, give it to the lord and release it from my thoughts. Focus on the things I have control on. Like a mouse in a wheel, Going and going never ending up anywhere and running out of energy. Gosh we could use all that energy for so many other things. Thanks cheeem!
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Dearest, you are someone who always seems to exude grace in difficult times. I love that about you. xxx
I choose to feel the anger, talk about it, and look for ways that I can help change things. Taking action, however insignificant it may be, helps me feel better. During the peak of the Government child kidnapping, I called all for my senators and representative, told them that our government was kidnapping children and expressed my emotion and rage.
However, I must admit that last night, I was considering a move to Australia, if they are still letting us into their country, when I heard about Kennedy’s retirement. Who wants to live in a country like that change forebodes?
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Tina, I completely understand your anger, and I think what you’re doing is admirable. I think showing up and expressing ourselves is critical. Please don’t move to Australia. We all need each other – now more than ever. xxx
Judy, I fully support your PAC. Let me know how I can be of assistance.
sigh…. this one was very needed this week, Judy. Not sure that I can “Let it be” but I can try consciously act with compassion. It’s worth a try.
xoxo
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Thanks, Bev. For me, letting it be means letting the anger go. Then act in ways where I feel I can help. If I keep the anger in my heart, personally, it impedes any other progress I can make. xxx
Judy, I am astounded! Just yesterday morning (another great song), while reading a podcast transcript on English history I noticed a reference to Paul McCartney karaoke in the sidebar. I don’t subscribe to iTunes and would not have known about it otherwise. And I hadn’t gone to this podcast in months. I only had time to listen to the first few minutes, but did hear him tell the story of his mother. Yes, tears and a new meaning for the song for me. The cosmos, serendipity or whatever, was speaking!
That’d should have said uTube. Darn spell check!
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Yay for serendipity!
Thanks to you I just spent 24 minutes with a smile on my face and happiness in my heart watching Mcartney and Corden on u tube ! What a gift of joy and a needed escape from Trump Agony . Loved your blog and a great reminder to Let It Be ❤️
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Thanks Pammy. And I’m so glad you watched the McCartney video. It was such a joy. It’s amazing are utterly profound the impact of the Beatles was on us. Still love them after all these years. Love you, too. xxx
Thanks so much, dear Judy. You’re always such a reassuring voice, and we need more of that lately than ever, it seems! I was going to make some joke that in bad times, I just drink a lot. Then I thought about it and realized that when I’m stressed, I’ll often tell the husband that we need to go hang out at one of our local outdoor patio restaurants or lounges. There we’ll have a cocktail, relax, inevitably run into friends we haven’t seen for a while, and then I’ll feel so much more connected to our town and so much better about the general state of affairs. Of course, we are blessed to live in such a great community and with such nice weather. 🙂
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Oh Laurel, I so relate to what you said. Finding community is always such a balm for me. And you dear woman are part of my community. xxx
This is so good Judy. Your profound thoughts to “consciously live with compassion and love in your heart and let it be” really resonates with me. This is something to contemplate deeply and often. Love you.
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Thank you, Candy. Love you, too!!