EmployeeNext: Creating success and joy at work

I received this video link for a wonderful gratitude video today.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3Zl9puhwiyw

Today is truly a gift, and gratitude for everything we are, every breath we take, every moment we’ve been given, is divine love in action and will bring us to a state of joy and peace.

I’ve just spent the weekend at a retreat led by a wonderful Catholic priest from Los Angeles, Father Terry Richey. If LA is the City of Angels, he certainly is one of them for me. While I am not Catholic, I did get my childhood education in a Catholic Montessori school. Perhaps that is part of the basis of my love of ritual and tradition. I remember the Latin Mass and being mesmerized by it. But I do not ever remember thinking of the priests as real people, human beings with feelings and experiences that I could relate to.

In my pursuit of my spiritual truth, especially recently, I have spent a great deal of time expanding my understanding of Christianity, and quite a bit of that work has been done in retreat under the guidance of Catholic priests. I have been surprised — in the most joyous and exciting sense of that word — by their vision, deep commitment, humor, love, insight, and most especially, their real humanity — mistakes, flaws, conflict, small victories, and feelings just like mine. I would never have imagined I could identify so completely with someone who on the surface lives a life so different than my own.

How often do we pass each other by because the surface — the exterior — we notice as we glance at our fellow human beings seems so different from ourselves we assume the soul which animates the body we see has nothing in common with our own? How many opportunities for true friendship and sharing are lost?

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At my Unity congregation, we are currently doing a study group on the Course In Miracles. This curriculum has been something I’ve wanted to pursue for a long time, but as is usual in my life, when I’m truly ready, the opportunity just shows up, and all I have to do is say “yes.”

So it is with the Course in Miracles. Years ago a friend gifted me with the book for the Course, and it has been in plastic on my bookshelf for quite a long time. The Course In Miracles is a commitment. I was always a bit intimidated by it — embarking on it is analogous to reading the Bible - takes a year, some willingness and determination, perseverance, and is best done with the support of a group. I’ve taken a few runs at reading the Bible, bought different versions, picked it up, put it down …. I’m a spiritualist, not a religious person, and have really looked for excuses to avoid the reading the Bible as I’ve often associated it with religion rather than spirituality.

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I’ve just returned from a few days of vacation to visit my aunt in Texas. We have a small family and she is the only one still living from my father’s generation. She is 93 years old.

My aunt Nell is an incredible woman. Originally from Missouri, she has that plain and direct style but without any aggression or stubbornness — just honest, direct communication. At the age of 93, she still keeps and cleans two homes, plays bridge, drives, is sharp as ever, and healthy. Not even one prescription medication.

She has lived an amazing life, doing many things that no woman had done before her in her quiet and modest way. She had a wonderful marriage to her best friend and enjoys the love of her son and grandchildren. She has more social engagements still than she can manage! A life well lived by a woman who is truly loved.

As I spent time with her, just being together, playing cards, and telling stories, I watched the simplicity and joy that is attached to everything she does. From the appreciation of simple food and good company, to the plants in her garden, the objects in her home each of which have a story remembered and told, she lives a life of gratitude and pleasure. Although she lost her husband shortly after they retired, she is never lonely and shows not a trace of self-pity. He is everywhere in her memory and she lovingly keeps him alive with stories.

How I aspire to be a woman like my aunt. Accepting and kind to everyone, always polite, not prideful, egotistical, or phony. Still open-minded. Spiritual and caring. Still teachable.

I truly believe that it is our attitudes that affect everything we do. When we are connected spiritually to someone, something, other than ourselves, when we are grateful and positive in our thinking, we infuse ourselves and those around us with health of the mind-body-spirit. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that this wonderful woman should be going strong without a medication in sight at 93. Her attitude of gratitude and joy in living surround her like a gentle, soft aroma. What a gift she is in my life.

How I love the Latin based languages! Often I find the words can be broken down into parts and when we look at them differently a more profound meaning emerges.

I am a member of the Unity Church and attend Sunday services often — we have a wonderful congregation of really magical people with interfaith and new thought backgrounds — and a very inspiring and high vibrating minister to lead us. Today we had a beautiful service with a very moving christening and spiritual message.

We all have spiritual gifts. Often we are unaware of these - we’ve been listening to outside messages defining us in limited ways. But when we begin to seek our own spiritual truth in earnest - seek and ye shall find! I often perceive on an intuitive level — and I often find sources of inspiration everywhere, right out in the open! So today, I was thinking about these two words - Inspiration and Intuition - and their significance in my journey.

When I combined them - I created Inspirtuition - I define this as “to find inspiration intuitively.” And look at the syllabic breakdown — In-Spir-Tu-It — what a lovely interpretation - to “inspire” to it! To reach for something with our spiritual nature rather than our worldly view.

We are all spiritual beings having human experiences — souls with bodies, rather than bodies with souls. When I approach what I perceive with that view — leading with my spirit first — I find inspiration and my intuition is always my faithful, reliable guide.

Our Reverend Kyra shared some wonderful wisdom with us today I wanted to post — rules for living life “in spirit” –

1. Do no harm and start with yourself

2. Do everything you do with honesty and integrity

3. Find your human joy and be thankful for the opportunity

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God” - Teillard de Chardin