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REFLECTIONS OF A MINDFUL HEART AND SOUL

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REFLECTIONS OF A MINDFUL HEART  AND SOUL

Monthly Archives: April 2017

A Child Learns A Lesson From A Tree.

30 Sunday Apr 2017

Posted by Yu/stan/kema in Photos, Poetry, Psychology, spirituality

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A reason for being., birds, bonitavista.tumblr.com., faith, hope, insects, Lessons learned in nature., people., Pinterest photo- facebook Timeline., Pinterest photo-facilisimo.com., Pinterest photo-Mayford Woods, poetry by Yu/stan/kema, purpose, Rocky Mountain Angel., trees

A small child wandered through the forest

Looking for hope, hungry for a bit of faith

That something existed bigger than her.

She needed to find a reason for being.

 

Found on Pinterest on 4-29-17. bonitavista.tumblr.com. Mayford Woods, CrewKerne, Somerset.

She leaned against a giant tree

And put her arms around its trunk.

She closed her eyes and tried to rest.

 

After an hour had passed, she noticed

The bark of the tree was rough. 

Insects scurried back and forth

In between the ridges in the bark.

The tree provided shelter and food

For the insects passing by.

 

She breathed in the cool air

And embraced the solitude that 

Surrounded her in the forest glade.

A bird flew above her head

And perched on the tree’s branches.

 

Found on Facebook Timeline on 8-8-16. Rocky Mountain Angel.

Nearby, came the chirps from a nest

Hidden in a canopy of leaves and twigs.

Again, this tree was providing shelter

For many of the creatures in the forest.

 

The child could feel the energy coming

From the heart and soul of the tree.

She could feel its unique vibrations

Enter her body and expand her soul,

Until she too felt as one with the tree.

 

“I feel renewed,” she cried.                            

Found on Pinterest on 4-30-17. Saved from an article on facilisimo.com.

“This energy is bigger than me.

I too, am made by God’s hand

To provide support for those

In need of renewal and hope.”

“All of us are  part of the whole,”

She said.  

Yu/stan/kema

 

Why We Need To Be Responsible For Others.

27 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by Yu/stan/kema in Article., photo, Psychology, quote, spirituality

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Article by Yu/stan/kema., Being responsible., Civilizations that survive help others., Found on GoodTherapy.org., People needing others, picture quote- Maya Angelou.

Found on GoodTherapy.org. Maya Angelou.

These are strange times we live in. People often remark that they don’t want to be responsible for anybody else. Some call others, who need help, “moochers.” So many unkind things are being said about those in need. I feel angry when this happens. It is  people judging other people without knowing much about them.

Somewhere inside us all, is a little bit of knowledge that tells us: factors enter in on whether people need help or not in the real world. The social class we are born into, the money we have in our family, the intelligence we have, the resources available for us to use, and the support of people who encourage us. Some families are abusive and abandon their children. Others are addicted to alcohol or drugs. There are many other variables that enter in.

Since time began, it has always been true that people want and need each other. It is also true that a group is more likely to survive than someone who is alone. People band together for protection, for food, for companionship. We come together to procreate, to solve problems, to raise children, and to share out of our bounty. Successful civilizations are those which take care of the young, the old, the disabled, and the poor. They take responsibility for their people because they know with just one blink of an eye, they could be the one in need.

If we are stripped of our skin, we are alike. We all feel hunger, want love and attention, need clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. We all want to keep our sense of dignity, to be treated with respect, and we want people to understand that every one deserves a chance to pursuit happiness.

I have never forgotten what it was like to live in poverty with alcoholic parents. I have never forgotten what real hunger feels like. I will always remember the school that gave me a warm meal for the day, for I had no money to buy it. Later, I was given shelter, food to eat every day, clean clothes to wear, and a safe place to live in a Children’s Home. These are things I did not have without people helping me. Scholarships were available for me to go to college. I would not have been able to go otherwise.

I earned professional degrees, and I was able to find good jobs. None of it would have happened without help from others. In the end, I was able to help others in need. I never forgot that each of us are more alike than we can possibly imagine. Each of us deserves respect when we do reach out for help. If our civilization survives, it will be because people take responsibility for those in need.

Yu/stan/kema.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love Is Found All-around Us.

24 Monday Apr 2017

Posted by Yu/stan/kema in photo, Poetry

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Tags

Learning to embrace nature., Pinterest picture- Vladimir Volegov., poetry by Yu/stan/kema, Teaching a child to value and love nature., The love of a mother and daughter., The pull of the sea., Volegov.com.

Found on 2-11-17 on Pinterest. Vladimir Volegov. Volegov.com. Don’t be afraid.

The slender, graceful woman

Walked down the path to the sea.

She had her daughter with her

Who was the age of three.

 

They stopped to smell the flowers,

And she called each flower by name.

She knelt and smelled each fragrance,

For none was exactly the same.

 

She taught her daughter to sing

To the birds, flowers, and bees,

And to take the time to rest

Under the near-by trees.

 

They praised God for the beauty,

And searched the deep blue sky.

They saw a flock of sea gulls,

And waved as they flew by.

 

Her Mother laughed and cried,

As she swung her in the air.

She held her for a moment,

And softly touched her hair.

 

She said, “sweet child, I love you,”

As she took her by the hand.

They skipped down to the sea

Where the water lapped the sand.

 

They stepped into the water

And played in the sun-lit surf.

They searched for shells in the sea,

Their voices filled with mirth.

 

Even from a distance,

You could tell, they were one:

The woman, the girl, and the sea

Underneath the noon-day sun.

Yu/stan/kema

There Is A Need For Human Kindness.

21 Friday Apr 2017

Posted by Yu/stan/kema in Photos, Poetry, Quotes, spirituality, Uncategorized

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Tags

Let's bring kindness back., Pinterest photo quote- Emily Dickinson., Pinterest photo quote-the funnybeaver.com, Poetry by Yu/stan/kema., The need for kindness

People have forgotten

How to watch each other’s back.

Consumed with our problems,

It’s common sense we lack.

 

Found on Pinterest on 4-20-17. the funnybeaver.com.

We have become complacent

Living self-indulgent lives.

We don’t take time to notice

Tears in someone’s eyes.

 

We turn away our faces, 

From the poor on the street.

We check our cell phones,

As we quickly retreat.

 

We tell ourselves we’re happy,

Avoiding other  people’s pain.

We refuse to shelter others

From the pouring rain.

 

Yet, think how much better

This whole world could be,

If I was kind to you,

And you were kind to me.

 

Found on Pinterest on 4-20-17. Poem by Emily Dickinson.

A little human kindness

Could go a long way,

Towards making earth a heaven

By the kind words we say.

 

So, let’s help one another,

With compassion in our souls,

Respect Mother Nature,

And make kindness our goal.

 

Loving kindness is the key

For us all, to survive.

Let’s trust one another,

And keep hope alive.

 -Yu/stan/kema-

 

 

 

 

 

The Power Of Words And Meanings.

19 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by Yu/stan/kema in Article., photo, Psychology, quote, spirituality

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

God communicates with words., Meanings and definitions., Meanings., Pinterest photo quote-Ursula K. Le Guin., rethinkpress.com., They have power., wordpress.com., words, Words can influence others., Written by Yu/stan/kema.

The world around us is constantly changing. The way we process information and store information is in a state of flux. Even the way we interact and communicate with each other may be different day by day. We may interact through art, poetry, articles, internet, twitter, e-mail, phone messages, cell phones, texting, and so forth.

Words are often used by us to get a thought out in to the open for discussion. We quote poetry when we want to invoke a special meaning and feeling. We text when we are in a hurry. When words have importance, we prefer to say them face to face, looking into another’s eyes. Pure joy can start us singing the words we want to say. Words guide us, inspire us, and they help us organize our lives in such a way so that others can give us what we need.

When I was a child, a man’s word was his bond. It told others that he was trust worthy and reliable, and he would do what he promised to do. Words had meanings that made it clear to others what the words represented. Facts were seen as the truth, and  there was no second guessing, no “alternative facts” to manipulate or hide the truth.

Facts and truth are reliable. They give us a foundation to build upon. Truth gives us a sense of security, a knowing in our gut, a certainty in our heart, and a guide for our soul. Words help us define “what is.” They can travel through time and help us understand what love and friendship is. Words can hurt and destroy others when used unwisely, with ignorance, and disrespect. Words can also transform us as human beings.

God used words to communicate with His people, and these words have survived the ravages of time. The most powerful words God used was to describe Himself as: “The Great I Am.” For years, I struggled with the meaning of these words. When I was able to communicate more intimately within myself, and I was able to define myself as “who I am,”  I could see more clearly the meaning of the “Great I Am.”

To me, God was saying, “I exist. I matter.” ” I am a fact of the universe.”        ” What you see me do is who I am.” ” What I say is who I Am.” “I stand for something.” “I Am forever.”

It is important for each of us to remember that what we say and do, has power to influence others.  Words do matter. They help us define who we really are, and they validate our existence.

Yu/stan/kema 

Found on Pinterest on 4-19-17. Also wordpress.com. Ursula K. Le Guin. rethinkpress.com.

 

I Found Peace In A Wild Flower.

15 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by Yu/stan/kema in Photos, Poetry, spirituality, Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

anniesannuals.com, Being mindful of the blue flower., Blue flowers, Going for a walk, Heart of gold., Peace found in a flower., Pinterest photos., Poetry of Yu/stan/kema., Spider-wort, Wikimedia Foundation., wild flowers

I went for a walk

To clear my troubled mind,

And to my surprise,

I looked down to find:

 

Found on Pinterest on 4-14-17. Blue Spider-wort. anniesannuals.com

A lovely blue flower

The color of the sky.

It was simply exquisite.

I could not pass by.

 

I sat on the ground and

I watched it for a while.

I swear by the stars,

I think I saw it smile.

 

It had three petals

Symmetrically placed,

And at it’s very center

God’s finger had traced, 

 

A heart of pure gold

That drew my soul in.

I could feel my heart beat

And my troubles rescind.

 

Found on Pinterest on 4-14-17. Saved from Wikimedia Foundation. Western Spider-wort/ Prairie Spider-wort. Hans Palta, Ph.d.

A peace flowed within me

As I joined with the flower.

I tarried there

For more than an hour.

 

As I got up  to leave,

My troubles went away.

Joy filled my heart and

I was happy I stayed.

Yu/stan/kema

Kindness Matters.

06 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by Yu/stan/kema in Photos, Poetry, Psychology, quote, spirituality

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

A great task was being accomplished., A human being and an ant meet., Doing God's work., Kindness matters., Pinterest photo quote-Live Purposefully Now.com., Pinterest photo-Akhyar Maha., Poetry by Yu/stan/kema., We all need help in life.

I was walking down the street, 

And I happened to look down

To see a wondrous feat:

An ant was on the ground,                             

Found on Pinterest on 4-6-17. by Akhyar Maha on Fivehundredpx.

Hauling food twice his size.

He was focused on his goal,

And unaware of his demise.

 

The ant was black like coal,

And much to his surprise,

My shoes blocked his way.

“Would you please step aside?”

“Let me make it home today.”

” I have no time to hide.”

 

Well, I knew that I was big,

And he was a little guy.

I could snap him like a twig,

Or let him go on by.

But what if it was me,

Struggling in the soil?

What if I had a family,

And I was trying to toil

So that my kids could eat?

 

So I bent down to the earth, 

And said these words so sweet:             

Found on Pinterest on 4-4-17. Live Purposefully Now.com.

“Though little, you have worth.

Climb on my dusty shoes.

I’ll take you quickly home.

You have nothing left to lose.”

 

So the ant hopped on board,

And I took him home that night.

I did a deed for the Lord.

Love in me, burned bright.

Yu/stan/kema

 

 

 

 

For One Who Sings With Joy.

05 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by Yu/stan/kema in Photos, Poetry, Psychology, quote, spirituality, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

brings peace, Can help others feel whole inside., comfort, Facebook timeline photo, Pinterest photo quote-ecogentleman.com., Poetry by Yu/stan/kema., relief, Singing is a gift., Singing is a way to pray., Singing with joy.

Sing with the angels.

Sing to your God.

Lift your voice to heaven,

Found on Pinterest on 4-4-17. Ecogentleman.com.

And kneel in the sod.

 

Sit in the shadows,

As the darkness falls.

Sing out a note,

When the Nightingale calls.

 

Always remember,

Your voice is a gift.

It brings great joy

To the spirits you lift.

 

With each song you sing

And notes you release,

Your songs bring comfort 

To those who need peace.

 

Found on Facebook Timeline on 9-9-16.

Each person you meet,

Needs what you can give.

They are often in pain

And are struggling to live.

 

So, sing with your heart, 

And give from your soul.

Your singing can help

Someone become whole.

Yu/stan/kema

 

Living In A World Of Infusions. Part Two.

01 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by Yu/stan/kema in Article., Psychology, spirituality

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Article by Yu/stan/kema., Dealing with chronic illness., Ig solutions, Infusions., side effects., what I have learned since being sick.

I walk into the front door of the Infusion Center. I feel weary, weary of the time and the energy it takes to stay and do what I must do.. sometimes reluctantly and tearfully… but I know it’s what keeps me alive. So, I resign myself to the process. I am alone, as always. Even after three years, I am still afraid of the needles, of having to stay in a room for eight hours, being told I can’t leave, and knowing I have to keep one arm still.

The infusion room is long and the chair recliners are placed in a semi-circle facing the nurses station. Overhead, the white fluorescent lights make it easy for the nurses to do their jobs. It also helps me see the needles are sharp, the vials of drugs are filled and ready to be released, by a syringe, into my arm. Nurses move to get the chairs ready for the task ahead. Chairs are wiped down and disinfected, and pillow cases are removed, and replaced with clean ones

Patients recline and try to get comfortable. Many look tired, their faces weary, and pale. Their bodies are thin. I can see in their eyes, they are resigned to treatment.  I rarely see them smile. Most of them have relatives or friends sitting close by. I see in their faces the dread of having an IV put in their arms. Some become irritated, or angry. Some patients cry, or become detached to what is going on. Most of them sleep through treatment with a blanket around them. The nurses wear gloves and a few wear face masks.

I walk across the infusion room to a table placed by my chair. I open my bag, and place a newspaper, People magazines, a novel, and a writing pad on top. I shove pillows behind my back, get comfortable, and start reading.This  keeps me distracted as a nurse hangs a bag of saline from a pole. She cleans a place on my arm, and after one to five tries, she jams the needle home.

I feel my body tense. I hope that this time, one stick will do. I experience a multitude of emotions. I try not to swear. Sometimes, I want to strike out but I don’t. I bite my lip and tell a joke to improve my mood and behavior. I make the nurses laugh to hide the pain. They inject me with a drug to prevent nausea. The second drug helps with other unpleasant side effects. The third injection is Benadryl which helps with  allergic reactions, and I take Tylenol for pain.

When the saline bag is empty, the nurse replaces it with an Ig solution in a bag. The solution is pumped into my arm at a slow rate so my body will handle the medication with fewer side effects. That takes about seven hours lying still. I am given a ham sandwich at lunch which I look forward to. It breaks the monotony and is a positive reward for sticking it out in treatment. The Benadryl makes me sleepy so I nod as I read, and sometimes I fall asleep.

I am in my fourth year of treatment. Some days are good and some days are hard. The hard days are when I am nauseated, have diarrhea, experience muscle jerks, or become so exhausted, I can barely move. The good days are when I have the energy to see a movie, eat a meal with a friend, or go outdoors with my dogs.

I have days I am depressed and days when I experience joy. I am learning skills to reduce stress, and I am doing better at self-care. I am learning to accept my limitations,  explore my inner world, and come to terms with death. I know now I am stronger than I thought, and I have so much to learn. Hopefully, when my life is over, I will have grown spiritually, been a better friend and mother, and will have fulfilled my purpose in life.

Yu/stan/kema

” These words were written so that others who have a chronic illness can see, we are silent heroes, who try every day to live our lives the best way we can. Every day is a challenge and an opportunity for us to grow as people. We are human and we have our ups and downs, our fears, and our moments of triumph. We go on living, taking one step at a time, and we carry hope for the future. Even though we are ill, our lives matter.”     Yu/stan/kema   

 

 

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Living In A World Of Infusions. Part One.

01 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by Yu/stan/kema in Article., Psychology

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Article written by Yu/stan/kema, chronic illness., Difficulties, Immune Disorders., IV infusions, Lessons learned., Living with, Part one

When I was first told I would have to have infusions for the rest of my life, because I was low on antibodies, I knew someone had made a mistake. I was in the hospital with pneumonia at the time. My Dr. said, because I was older, my body had stopped producing enough antibodies to fight off germs. He remarked, ” that happens a lot after the age of 60.” I went home, and he did more testing. The test results indicated I did have something wrong with my immune system.

He told me there was only one treatment for this illness, an infusion every month that would restore the needed amount of antibodies to fight off infections and other diseases. I could refuse to have the infusions, live in my house, and never go out. I would still be at greater risk for cancer, and some other illnesses. I loved going to the movies, eating with friends, going shopping, but that meant leaving the house and putting myself at risk to catch diseases.

I went through periods of depression, severe fatigue, mental fog, and felt miserable. My energy level was steadily falling. I couldn’t do the things I use to do. I could not concentrate and reading was difficult.

Being able to do my job became impossible. I worked with people and people could get sick and carry germs. To do my job took concentration and energy which was fading fast. If I wanted to have a life, I needed to make the tough decision of having treatment.

I went for my first infusion and had severe side effects. I ended up being allergic to the solution. I had to wait several months, before trying a different one. This time, I had to drive a distance to a hospital infusion center. I went by myself and went into a room full of chair recliners.

The chairs were in a semi-circle facing the nursing station. There were about fifteen chairs filled with people. Some were getting transfusions of blood, others were given solutions for different diseases like Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Auto-immune diseases, and Immune disorders. Some infusions took an hour or two. Others took four hours or more.

I had to remain in a room for four to five hours. I had an IV. placed in my arm and had to keep my arm still so I didn’t set off an alarm that was annoying and loud. A nurse had to come over and fix it before the noise would end. Most of the patients slept during their infusions. I, of course, did activities to relieve my boredom and distract me from it all. I never slept during the day and wasn’t about to start now.

It took me a year and a half to work through the denial and grief I felt about having this illness. I grieved because my lifestyle had changed so much. I felt weak, helpless, and defeated. It took me another year to work through my anger.

I had a hard time getting my body in the car to make the trip to the hospital. I would sit in my car before going in. It would take a while to climb the stairs to the hospital. I would carry on a two-way conversation in my head: “I don’t want to.” “You know you have to.” ” It isn’t fair. I’m not doing it.” ” You know you have to if you want to feel better.”

It’s been three years since the first infusion. I am learning more about acceptance. I walk right into the infusion center now. I go every two weeks because I need a slow infusion rate. I’ve been working through my anger. I was angry at God, myself, and the whole world.

I’ve dealt with a lot, on my own, with the infusions.  Therapy has helped me cope more effectively with stress and accepting things I can’t change. I have more good days than bad. In Part Two, I will share a day in the infusion center, and ways I have grown from it all.

Yu/stan/kema

 

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