Exploring Love and Fear

I share an experience I had this morning as part of me exploring love and fear.  Enjoy!

Tears today, from both of us.  I pondered are these tears of love or fear?

It started when Scott played John Legend's, “All of Me.”  Words and music below for you.

We hugged each other as we listened and softly sang the words to each other, emphasizing certain words that resonate with our relationship.

Smart mouth
Crazy, out of my mind
magical mystery ride
curves, edges,
worst distraction
perfect imperfections

The Universe answered with a synchronicity.   As we left the house for work, Scott changed the radio station.  "All of Me" was just starting to play.

Again my tears.  I realized this is all about our love, our relationship, our perfect imperfection.  This song was written by a 30 something inspired by his fiancé.  I marvel that it resonates so deeply with a couple of 50 somethings who have been married for over 30 years.

I will close with John Legend’s lyrics.  He has looked into my soul, perhaps our collective souls and sings of the ups and downs of love . . .

What would I do without your smart mouth?
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright

My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, ohoh

How many times do I have to tell you
Even when you're crying you're beautiful too
The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood
You're my downfall, you're my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can't stop singing, it's ringing, in my head for you

My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, ohoh

Give me all of you
Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it's hard

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you

I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, ohoh

http://youtu.be/450p7goxZqg

John Ruskin

"When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece"  - John Ruskin

Khalil Gibran

"Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth, follow only beauty, and obey only love. "

- Khalil Gibran

Buddha

"Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule."

- Buddha

Mother Teresa

"Spread love everywhere you go."

- Mother Teresa

Oscar Wilde

"Keep love in your heart. A life without it, is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead."
- Oscar Wilde 

Rumi

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray."

- Rumi

Peter Ustinov

"Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit. "

- Peter Ustinov

Mother Teresa

"Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. The rest will be given."

- Mother Teresa

Marcus Aurelius

"Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart."

- Marcus Aurelius

Jean Anouilh

"Love is, above all, the gift of oneself."

-   Jean Anouilh

Ivan Panin

"For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it."

- Ivan Panin

Soren Kierkegaard

"When one has once fully entered the realm of love, the world - no matter how imperfect - becomes rich and beautiful, it consists solely of opportunities for love."

- Soren Kierkegaard

Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Franklin P. Jones

"Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."

- Franklin P. Jones

Steve Jobs

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do."

- Steve Jobs

Mother Teresa

"Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence light new light in the hearts of people."

- Mother Teresa

Insomnia

I have been dealing with insomnia or sleep issues for some time.  There is a lot of finger pointing as you try to determine the cause….the root cause…and it seems to change depending on what my mind has going at the minute….I think that may be the culprit.....

I have done just about everything that I can think of to chase sleep.  Here are some of the things that come to mind easily:

all kinds of over the counter remedies;

various prescriptions;

OTC supplements;

Tart cherry juice;

Lavender oil;

Magnesium tablets;

praying and pleading;

talking to my angels and guides for help;

warm baths;

warm baths with essential oils and salts;

warm baths with romaine lettuce leaves;

alcohol (wine, white, dark, etc);

hot milk before bed;

watching TV;

pitch dark room;

fans;

sleeping alone;

sleeping in cold room;

sleeping alfresco; 

listening to nature sounds (rain, bugs, waves, etc);

eating Scottish oatmeal;

eating Ezekiel bread with peanut butter;

new pillows, bed and sheets;

yellow lights in my bedroom (side table lamps & reading lamp);

OTC hormone creams;

essential oils on my head and feet;

essential oils on my pillow and sheets

listening to: chants, delta waves, Native American music, hypnosis CDs of all kinds;

meditations of all sorts;

not sleeping;

counting backwards from 300 by 1s and by 3s and by 5s……;

going through the alphabet (forward and backwards) with first names (boys then girls) (Alice, Barbie, Carol, etc);

plugging my ears and covering my eyes;

noise canceling headset;

So you see the picture.  I am drawn to the news, TV programs or internet when I hear or see anything about sleep studies or remedies.

We socialized the other night with a friend who is a retired doctor.  I don’t know how the topic of insomnia came up, but I was all ears when he started to talk about his solution.  He is a Heart Math advocate and I do believe there is truth there.  I believe Heart Math’s premise is to get out of your head, out of your ego and think, breath, love….from your Heart.

In my situation, it seems so much of my issues come from my head....infinite to do lists, rethink past scenarios, ponder future events, worry about my family and friends.  I think the common denominator is my head and ego....so Heart Math does seem to make sense to me.

He said his answer to insomnia is simple.  Be open, allow …take a deep breath and invite in Love from the Universe (or God or …….) then exhale and give Gratitude back to the Universe … repeat until morning comes.  Breathe in…. Love; Breathe out…. Gratitude.

I have been trying this simple "mantra" of sorts and it has helped me.

I hope it helps you.

Jean Anouilh

"Love is, above all, the gift of oneself."

- Jean Anouilh

Robert Muller

"To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness."

- Robert Muller