ENJOY LIFE MAGAZINE

Flashbacks of the times we've had Some made us laugh and some made us sad  ..."Same Ole Love (365 Days)" Wait, wait I'm not done ... allow me to refresh your memory a little more .... Memories Light the corners of my mind ... misty watercolor memories ...of the way we were ... Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind ... Smiles we gave to one another... For the way we were ... can it be that it was all so simple then... or has time rewritten every line... If we had the chance to do it all again ... Tell me - Would we? Could we? "The Way We Were".

Good question ... if you could do life again, or repeat a love affair maybe even just set the hands of time back for 10 or 15 minutes would you? What makes your memories pleasant thoughts and what makes them awful flashbacks that keep you stuck in the past? Well the answer is simple; the events that surround the memory create pleasant thoughts or ill feelings and it doesn't take the brain of a rocket scientist to figure this out. However, it does take a lot of soul cleansing to release negative thoughts and to stop FLASHING BACK on things that you just can't change. 

Life goes on ....  Why waste your precious time thinking on "how things use to be" its time to fast forward and live life the way you see yourself in 5 to 10 years from now ... or even 5 minutes away. If you plan to be a mother, then begin to act like a mother would act .... prepare your MIND, BODY & SOUL. If you want to be a college graduate, then get enrolled in school, study, and absorb knowledge - learn and with in 2- 4yrs you'll have a degree. The key is to step into position NOW. Don't waste time thinking about what you COULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE or WOULD HAVE done. Fast forward, and take a look at what tomorrow may bring. Envision yourself doing positive things, and releave your mine of yesterday because yesterday is not yours to change. No matter how you try to recreate the past its already written. And, while you have no control over the future ... no matter how you plan your life somethings are always subject to change.  But, wouldn't you rather focus on a positive future instead of of flashing back to people, places or things that caused bad memories? If you answered, "YES", shook your head and hummed, "Mmmhm", or  yelled out "I know that's right" Well then,  same here ... so let's fast forward, no flashbacks allowed!

It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday, but living in the past is no way to live "life"... the past is stagnant - dead - filled with good, bad and indifferent memories. When a you're truely living, your life is full of activity and motion. You can most definiately learn from your past but you can not change it, not one bit. 

But he said ... and she did ...  and they all hurt me ... AND LIFE GOES ON! The time you spend contemplating why someone treated you wrong is time that could be spent helping you get one step closer to YOUR BRIGHT FUTURE. 

Written by Valerie Woods

Ah, Peace.  Divine order is what keeps the universe spinning in a controlled like manner.  And, it is what keeps the soul in the divine flow with the universe.  You’re probably saying how I can achieve peace when there are so many stressful situations around me.  To that I answer, just go within.  I have found that this works for me.  My day just doesn’t seem to go right until I go within.  Some call it meditation.  Some call it being still.  What ever name you give it, it is an excellent way to stay centered and focused. 

There are several methods of meditation.  The one that I use that works for me is as follows:

Start off by sitting comfortably on a padded floor or chair in a quiet room with eyes closed.   Saying a prayer of protection is a must.  During meditate the spirit actually travels.  Prayer is a protective shield; just decree that God’s protective light surrounds around you.  

First, began the meditation by breathing deeply and slowly.  As you inhale visualize each breath cleansing and calming the body starting with the toes, feet, ankles, calves, knees and so on.  With each exhale visualize toxins and stress leaving the body.

Following the relaxing breathing exercise; return to normal breathing and start repeating one syllable positive words silently.  Example:  love, light, God, Christ, peace, Yah, faith, etc.   You will find that your mind has a mind of its own. You’re going to be thinking of things you need to do, things you have to do, what you’re going to have for dinner.  Any and everything is going to pop up in your mind.  But, be gentle with yourself and come back to the meditation each time you find your thoughts drifting away.

Next, imagine yourself in a beautiful setting of your choice.  My favorites are a beautiful beach with white sand, blue sky and ocean or sitting near a water fall in a green sunlit forest.  You can do this while silently repeating the one syllable word if you like.  To take it even further you may want to meet the spiritual guide of your choice there.  It may be Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed or whomever you choose.  Greet them and begin to walk to a house that you see several feet ahead.  The house represents you.  Visualize the house in detail.  When you reach the door open with the key that you have in your hands.  Walk inside (still accompanied by your spiritual teacher); down a beautiful hall way to a lovely bedroom (the bedroom represents your heart).  Inside the bedroom are two chairs.  One chair is for you, the other for your spiritual teacher.  You both sit and you pick up the remote, which is then used to close the drapes, blinds and door.  You find yourself in total (but pleasant) darkness.  Begin to meditate on emptiness.

Start off with five minute meditations.  Add five minutes at your own pace.  Work your way up to a twenty minute meditation or more if you desire .  Do this every day and you will find that your thinking will be clearer,  every day stress will not ruffle you and you will begin to look and feel calmer and more youthful.   Meditation lowers the pulse rate, quiets the mind and helps you “be still”. Learning to “be still” has brought miracles to my life, obstacles seem to vanish and life flows along at a smoother pace. I rarely miss a day of meditation and when I do, I can feel the difference.

It is extremely important to view the world through the eyes Of God (remember we were made in His image).  How do we do this? Simply ask God to help you.  When you ask your higher self for assistance, it is always there.  When you see the world through the eyes of your God self, it is then that you realize there is never any reason to get upset.  In other words don’t sweat the small stuff and in reality everything is small stuff.  Things are never as bad as it seems.

I have learned to include my higher self in every phase of my life.  It is like having a Genie in a Bottle.  Ask and you shall receive.  Be consistent with your “being still”.  Remember practice makes permanent. A calm mind coupled with patience is a powerful tool. 

How did I get here? Have you ever asked yourself that question? Have you ever wandered how you ended up in your current situation? Whether it’s

Believe it or not your life is what you make it. I’d often rationalize with myself, acknowledging my mistakes first, and then I would always conclude that one reason or another was why my reality is what it is today. What I learned was that I will never gain a moment of yesterday back, but that I can learn from my past mistakes and move forward. I also learned not to flash back so much on negative memories, it slows your day down and you can’t enjoy today when you’re living in yesterday.  I have a friend who once shouted at me angrily because I was thinking about things that I didn’t have. I was thinking about my situation (at the time) in a negative way. My friend became very angry and in so many words he said that I was acting ungrateful. He also asked me a question that has stuck with me since then. He asked me who controls my thoughts. I answered him and said I do; I control my thoughts. Hearing myself out loud acknowledge that I’m in control of my thoughts really made me realize that I am also in control of my life and that I needed to regroup and do better. I realized that pondering on things that I don’t have control over, comparing my life’s accomplishments to someone else and feeling sorry for my self was a waste of time.

So what does all that mumbo jumbo mean; it simply means that we have the ability to make life what we want it to be. Your fate is based on the choices that you make today. The choices that you make today will reflect your tomorrow and while you can’t erase yesterday and you can’t fast forward to tomorrow, you can live in the present and create your reality day by day.

I will manage my time effectively

I will give 100%                  

If necessary 105%                         

Stay focused

Stay away from negative attitudes

I am a Winner, Visionary and Achiever 

I will remember to be Polite, Courteous and Considerate of others feelings

I will smile to better my health and to receive a smile in return

I will think of this day as the most important day of my life and I will expect positive results!

I will Welcome the Challenges

I will embrace change

Overcome Obstacles and

Most of all I will Enjoy my Day!