Tag Archives: Spirituality

Path Forward for the United States of America 2022

Our political party leanings should not keep law breakers and violence promoters from being held accountable for their actions.

May our US laws hold true, may there be accountability, and may we as a nation clean up this mess and build a better future. May our focus be on creating health and building up our people and infrastructure, harnessing the wind/sun/water for energy.

May we value our children by giving their parents/teachers/health providers the education/tools/infrastructure to keep them healthy and growing into caring citizens for OUR future.

May we support liberty, justice, and freedom with accountability for all our businesses, citizens and guests.

May we continue this experiment known as the United States and continue to work towards a more perfect union.

May ALL citizens and guests be given autonomy and rights over their OWN bodies, and accountability to realize their personal rights do not include access to other peoples’ bodies.

May ALL US citizens be free to practice (or not practice) any faith they feel called towards.

May ALL US citizens and guests be held accountable for their individual actions – from the white/black hooded characters bashing business windows in the dead of night, to the president of the US inciting his followers to violence against the vice president and our constitution.

May ALL businesses in US jurisdiction be part of the solution of economic stability by paying their employees a living wage in the area of the country in which they are employed, providing working conditions and benefits that they as owners would be happy to work in.

Our service members know that with great freedom comes great responsibility. May we as a nation push through the growing pains of our (seemingly) teenage rebellious years, and move on towards maturity as a nation, becoming a leader in thought and in deed.

Barb Hughes

Money and Fame

We’ve been conditioned to believe that ‘winner takes all’ and ‘if I have money/fame, THEN I’ll be secure, I’ll have friends/be popular, have meaning and feel accomplishment in my life’.

This video leaves with a question at the end.  I would add an additional question:

What do I have in abundance?

Often we don’t see our own abilities as worthwhile/abundant because they’re not reflected back as valued in society.  As we wrestle with personal values and the simple things that sustain us – quietly sharing the things we DO have in abundance – the result is joy.  Appreciating what we have begins by not judging ourselves that we aren’t rich/famous/thin/successful enough.  At first our personal abundance may look silly or useless, but sit with the tiny simplicity of it, and it may take on a life of its own, crafting a way to bring joy not just to us but to others.

Here’s an example of a simple abundance from my own life.

Our house breeds clothes.  When the kids were small  I set up a clothes and stuff swap for entertainment in our home.  We moved what we wanted to other rooms, and set up marked areas with signage so guests would know where to place their unwanted things for swapping.

It was a hoot! Fun was had by all as friends and family brought over things they didn’t need and we socialized and swapped. The kids pretty much stayed in the toy room and found new toys to take home, the parents socialized and found things we needed, I was able to clear out clutter we didn’t need anymore and found things we could use.  I found a creative and socially fun use for my abundance.  It brought me joy.

My abundance (clothes and stuff that seems to breed in the attic) wasn’t money, or fame, or power.  It was ‘just’ clothes and stuff.  It was something simple. I started looking for ways to be creative with what I saw as my abundance.

To make a long story short, after years of experimenting I created Swap Positive– started with the simple abundance of extra clothes.

Sharing abundance gives joy.

What do you have extra in your life?  What do you have a lot of?  What is your abundance? Are you someone who can’t wipe the smile off your face?  Do you have way too many empty toilet paper tubes?  Do you get a thrill from constantly holding babies?  If you give away your extra, what kind of joy will you bring to yourself and to others? If you smile at people it could make a positive difference in their day.  Maybe a local preschool would love those toilet paper tubes for the ongoing projects they have, and appreciate your steady supply?  A hospital might need someone to hold premie newborns, or a church/school/clinic nursery might appreciate your skills so young mothers can get a short refreshing breather. What you see as ‘not really anything’, or maybe even feel guilty about, might be what you have in abundance.  Realizing and using your abundance creatively could make all the difference in how you see yourself and your place in this world.  Being rich, famous, and powerful doesn’t bring joy, but maybe having too many toilet paper tubes or egg cartons might be the beginning of a new chapter of joy and giving in your life?

Barb

Honoring Tomb-time

With Easter and stories of new life and resurrection on our minds, I wanted to explore a side of Easter that I’ve never heard discussed before.

I saw a comment on facebook from a friend of mine that said:

“Sick. Depressed. More than I can handle”.

Without having context to that comment, it got me to thinking.  How many of us have felt that way at one time or another? It sucks. Sometimes life gets sucked out and so it just sucks. Lack of health sucks. Trying to keep a smile on sucks. Having a person/pet you love die sucks. Getting out of bed sucks. Watching people just not ‘get it’ sucks. Not being able to do anything about it sucks. Not having energy sucks. About the only things that don’t suck at times might include:

1. the love and kindness of a spouse who cares/close family who will listen and not judge

2. soft organic flannel sheets

3. Hyberbole and a half dark humor

I wonder if sometimes ‘hitting bottom’ might possibly be compared to a place like Christ in the tomb: cold, dark, quiet, a suspended life. And that’s OK. It’s OK to be buried for awhile. In fact, maybe that’s part of the Easter Story? Maybe instead of rushing to the resurrection, maybe it’s OK to be in the tomb? Maybe it’s not a ‘fault’ to be in the tomb? Maybe it’s just part of a – can I say it – healthy life to be in the tomb?  Even if we don’t know how long it will last?  Especially if we don’t know how long it will last?

Yes, resurrection does come, and we celebrate that, but maybe there is also a place to respect the times in our lives that represent tombs?  Why do we fear the cold, dark, quiet, suspended times?  Is it because in American culture those are seen as ‘weak’, or ‘useless’, or ‘bad’, or ‘unproductive’…and we feel shamed for them?  What would happen if those times of depression/grief, or “tomb-time”, had a different, purposeful meaning in our culture?  Do other cultures have a place of respect for those times in a person’s life?

How can we incorporate a safe, honorable, and healthy place for those -including ourselves – who are experiencing tomb-time?  If we had a different perspective, maybe we wouldn’t feel the cultural need to deny, try to cheer-lead it away, or shame it?  Maybe tomb-time is an important part of a healthy life?

Some possible resources: the book Tear Soup , online helps from Tear Soup.

Barb

Good News Network gets a fantastic make-over

The Good News Network was started by Geri Weis-Corbley in 1997, and I’ve enjoyed the little encouraging stories sent to my email inbox for many years.  Recently the Good News Network went through a transformation, and is now a free and easily navigated news service. The insight and direction of Geri’s work and attitude are cutting edge cultural creative.  Check out more information about what she’s doing, why, the history, how you can get involved by sending in your own stories, and more here.  Now you can start and end your day with GOOD news from the Good News Network  – rated #1 on Google.

Book: Journey of Souls: Case Studies Of Life Between Lives

journeyofsoulsWhether religious or not, this is a fascinating look into an unexplored possibility of what happens after death. I enjoyed the example of the creator/source being an active and living presence in our lives – here and in the hereafter- as opposed to the current working definition that tends to separate the creator as the big judge outside that has created a hierarchy of painful separation through rules, rewards, and punishments.

Author Michael Newton PH.D has a background as a counseling psychologist, master hypnotherapist, teacher, and researcher. This book covers such topics as How it feels to die, What you see and feel right after death, When and where you learn to recognize soul mates on earth, Different levels of souls- beginning/intermediate/and advanced, What happens to “disturbed” souls, and The purpose of life and manifestation of a Creator.

If you’re able and willing to stretch your mind and imagination, enjoy this fresh look at the age old idea of ‘what happens after we die?’.

Are Bronies changing the face of masculinity?

Are the qualities of friendship, fun, working together, inclusiveness, and kindness ONLY male traits; female traits; or are they human traits?

These hero’s are making the world a happier, kinder, more inclusive place; creating 3D men (instead of men chained in a 2D world box of destruction, disfunction, and distance).

The freedom of age

Women talking about what they love about their age and how they see themselves grow and thrive.  No matter what your age, from 4 to 93, here’s how to love your age.

Book: Choosing Easy World

photo 1You know all those books that tell you “just have a positive mental attitude?”  Well, this book is the manual on how to achieve that effortlessly.   Read this mix of practical examples, storytelling, science, and you can be in easy world as well.   If you believe there could be parallel universes or realities…why not parallel worlds of difficult and easy?  This book gives tools to actively (or at times quite passively) change your perspective to make joy your main operating source instead of fear/control/worry.

 

Julia Rogers Hamrick’s writing style makes this book a fast read.  I can see how many of the good things that have happened to me, the “wow, I can’t believe my luck!” experiences, took place when I was in what this book refers to as ‘Easy World’.  It’s the world of flow, of connection, of joy and fun and hard work that ends in satisfaction.  This Easy World perspective isn’t a striving place or a place of pushing, worry, stress, etc.    And it’s not a pill you take once and everything is peachy.  It’s a place to live.  Take a journey through Choosing Easy World by Julia Rogers Hamrick, and see if your perspective changes for the better.

If this is the change happening in school football, then I’m a believer

This middle school football team shows how a hero is made by showing respect, dignity, and appreciation.  The quarterback has some very touching things to say about his own growth as well.  Food for thought.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/family-life/great-kids/olivet-team-conspires-for-touching-touchdown.html

Star Trek fans continue the adventure

This Star Trek fan fiction takes over where a previous TV episode left off, and is crafted in the Gene Roddenberry style with an emphasis on message just like the original Star Trek. And the lighting/costumes/music/flow is so similar to the TV show. Took me a little bit to get used to the characters, but I could easily fall in love with them if this turned into a series.

If you want to see this web series become a reality, feel free to contribute to the kickstarter campaign here.

*update* as of 10/27/13 the kickstarter project has been funded, so you can look forward to at least 3 new episodes:)

Tapping your face can change a bad childhood

This video shows the history and science of how tapping certain acupressure points can help heal painful emotions – and bring about positive change – on a cellular level.

Another thing I like about this, is you can access these videos free online – free health care!

Can bullying be an immune reaction?

We’ve all seen it happen: the kind, patient person suddenly flares up and bites someone’s head off for no reason.  Could the reason ‘nice’ people lash out for no apparent reason be related to their immune system? Take for instance, if you get a tickle in your throat: your body/immune system – without engaging your mind – will try to cough it out automatically. So what if that same subconscious nervous system immune response also works in other ways to expel things from the mind that are deemed by our nervous system as ‘irritants’ as well?

Example: You have a lot of Continue reading

The neighborhood we all want

Here’s your feel good moment for today – a song written and sung by my husband. Video shot and produced by my daughter. This is a song about the neighborbood we want to see – local, global, and spiritual.

Programmer teaches homeless man to code

Homeless_man_learns_coding-MEDIUMHere’s a great Labor Day story: Pat McConlogue, a NYC programmer and entrepreneur, offered Leo, a homeless man, either $100 or the chance to learn how to code.  Leo chose learning to code.  After only a few days of tutoring, Leo now has a facebook page and wants to design a website or an app featuring social environmental change so others can make small changes for the greater good.  Leo is concerned about greenhouse gases and deforestation, and wants the U.S. to lead by example to create a better world – and Leo wants to play a part.

Pat has gotten a lot of flack for offering to help a homeless man.  I think a lot of people with new ideas get flack (to start with), and I’m happy to say that Pat went through with his idea, even though naysayers were trashing him.

Pat and Leo’s story encourages me not to give up on my ideas, even if others say they won’t work or aren’t good enough.   Because how do you know it won’t work until you give it a go?

How might your small ideas and what you have to offer help give someone a leg up or begin positive change in the world?

Thanks to the Good News Network for this story on Patrick and Leo.

Hypnotherapy helps change brain hardware

Rose of Heartwise HypnotherapyHumans only use a small percentage of our brains.  That’s because 7% of our brain goes to conscious thought, and 93% to subconscious.  Our subconscious is our processing hardware used for things like breathing, heartbeat, blood, walking, digesting, etc.  It also processes our dreams, and includes our memory banks and experience – which can include phobias, bad habits, and other things we find hard for our conscious mind to control.

I’ve found a business that is working to help re-wire the subconscious hardware so we can change some of the ingrained habits at the core level.  Rose Ludwig, RN CHt, is the founder of Heartwise Hypnotherapy in Vancouver Washington.  As a licensed Consulting Hypnotist, she also has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, is a Registered Nurse, a former professional bodywork practitioner, and has trained in several other healing modalities.  Rose works with her clients in areas such as stress management, enhancing creativity and imagination, management of physical problems (morning sickness, snoring, preparation for surgery, more energy), ego strengthening (self image, exam confidence, improving self-esteem), habit and behavior changes (smoking cessation, weight control, nail biting, motivation to exercise) and phobias/fears (fear of dentists, spiders, public speaking, dogs, needles, etc.).  Rose first of all LISTENS to find out Continue reading

Healing for transgenerational trauma

Sylvia Bull:RoweThere’s a new way to approach the healing of trauma.  Collective trauma happens to groups of people through war, disease, terrorist attack, natural disasters, mass shootings, and attempted genocide.  Transgenerational trauma takes place in groups historically over generations – such as those whose relatives suffered during the holocaust.   Effects are specific:  fear, rage, depression, survivor guilt, and physical responses in the brain and body that can lead to illness and a sense of disconnection or detachment.  Collective trauma can be transmitted down generations and throughout communities in such possible ways as poverty, alcoholism, depression, sexual abuse, etc.

Dr. Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart is one of the pioneers of applying Continue reading

My computer has been holding me hostage

Last mid-week I visited my sister in a small rural town for a few days.  We enjoyed visiting with her women friends at her house for a potluck dinner.  My sister and I walked through a local forest munching a snack of woodland sorrel and the first ripe salmon berries as we smelled the fresh ferns, and viewed the straggly moss hanging off the vibrant green trees and crumbling nurse logs.  We took her small perky dog to a field and my sister combed out copious amounts of the dogs winter undercoat to take off the weight/warmth for spring, allowing the fur to blow through the field to be picked up by birds for their nests.  We went to a local teashop for sandwiches, tea and brainstorming.  When my sister was at work I journaled, read, and took a hot bath in the quiet privacy of her home.  It was bliss.  One thing I didn’t do was go online, as my sister’s home has no Continue reading

Imagine a world without hate

It took me a couple of times to get the full impact of this hero video.  It’s only about a minute long, but it welds a powerful punch to visually project how, by standing up for each another, we can help build a better world for all of us.

Thanks to Upworthy for the above video.

Sharing skills: a world-wide online teaching and learning community

Teaching and learning from each other has never been easier.  Skillshare is a global marketplace for classes, where you can learn real-world skills from anyone, anywhere.  Skillshare powers thousands of creative, collaborative classes on everything from programming to design to crafts.

If you have knowledge to share- Become a Teacher.  If you want to learn something- Browse Classes.

Here’s how it works.

1. Post a Class:  Posting a Skillshare class Continue reading

Improve your look – make-over videos!

ReVamp! salonspa in Uptown Minneapolis was voted “Best of the Twin Cities” by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine, and is regularly featured in local and national print, radio, television and internet presentations. Christopher Hopkins’ original vision continues with the mission: “To inspire beauty and enrich lives in a spirit of friendliness, professionalism, and joy.”

From the website of The Make Over Guy  here’s a bunch of make-over videos of women 40+!

Such fun to watch, and a great way to get better ideas on what might work for me/you as well.  If you can afford it and are in the Minneapolis area, go for it!

Here’s just one example of how to show yourself love: a make-over from the site.