WILLING TO CHANGE ONE"S BELIEF'S AND UNDERSTANDING THAT CHANGE IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

How would you describe yourself when it comes to regarding your beliefs and traditions? Would you say you are adamant in your beliefs? Or maybe even rigid in them? Or maybe you consider yourself flexible when it comes right down to it? I believe most of us are just so set in our beliefs and ways of living that we oft times argue our point of view in trying to get others to think and act as we do. Don't get me wrong, I do feel that one should be firm in their beliefs, but not so firm that they are not willing to alter or completely change the beliefs if more truth comes into their range of perception. I personally know folks who are so inflexible in their ways that they will not even listen to another's possibilities about how things really are. And I feel that is the reason so many folks are not really satisfied with their beliefs and ways of doing things. They just keep on believing the "old' things they have accepted as truth and if anyone does question them about it they just get a little self righteous and even indignant at times. I feel that all of us as human beings should keep an open mind about everything we allow to enter our sphere of thinking. You and I may not agree on everything but that still doesn't mean one of us is right and the other is wrong. All it really means is that we each perceive the same thing in a different light. But if one will be flexible enough to just consider that what we purpose as our truth isn't necessarily the same truth that another needs. My hope is that all of you are able to keep an open mind about everything that you believe, everything that you have read, heard, or seen, and that you are willing to change if the time comes when you feel it is the right thing to do. I know in my own personal experiences of this life that the greatest freedom I ever gained was when I realized I did not have to be "right". There is no right or wrong, only our perceptions of it is truly real. I will leave you with a quote from Lao-Tzu who once stated the following: "Men(women, children) are born soft and supple; Dead they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus, whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail." As I bid you a fond farewell may I once again remind you to try and do something nice for someone today. Become a part of life's solutions and walk with your head held high and your heart full of unconditional love for all. Also remember to be good to yourself and even better to those around you. "HUGS" to all of you amazing folks that I share this planet with. I wish for you and yours the very best of everything!

BACK STABBERS

I have often been amazed by how often I have witnessed both myself and others being stabbed in the back by ones whom we have been nothing  but good to. And more times than not they choose to do this over some kind of monetary award. Nothing much surprises me any more as to what some folks will do to others for money. I still  think it is such a shame that one will choose money over the option of being nice to someone, especially those that they know. If you don't believe me I would suggest you tune in to last week's episode of "Survivor" the reality show on CBS network. In that episode I watched as Brenda chose to give up her individual reward so the rest of the "tribe" would instead get the reward. A very nice thing to do for someone else I must say. And then immediately after she did the honorable thing for the others 3 of them decided to "blindside" her and get her voted off the show. Now, I do realize this is a "game" and 1 million dollars is at stake for the winner, so you may say she was just dumb to give the reward up. But on a deeper level I watched her crying after she was voted out and she had a very legitimate reason for being upset. The ones she went out of her way to be nice to had stuck a dagger in her back and she was very hurt. The sad  thing though is that I've either been treated that way over a lot less than 1 million dollars and I've seen others back stabbed by so called friends for a few dollars. It's a sad state of events when people take advantage of others for any reason but to me it is especially sad when it happens over money. I try not to become too jaded as I realize there are a lot more honest caring people in the world than there are those who are"backstabbers", but it is very disheartening when I see things like that happen to good people. Thankfully I've been able to rise above all the times I've been used and abused and my hope is that you are able to do the same if and when something like that happens to yourself. And believe me, if you are a kind, caring, and giving person the chances are you will be taken advantage of a time or two. But hang in there and remember that it will only be an opportunity for you to grow into an even more caring person. As a matter of fact I have come to the realization that those who have used me in any way are the losers, and not me! As long as one can forgive others for their heartless acts then in my opinion they are truly the "winners". If you can today,  try and forgive anyone who has done you wrong and reach out and do a little something nice for someone just because you want to. And if you do that , I do believe that it will make your day a lot brighter also. Hey, I love all you folks, even those who haven't treated me exactly nice! So take care my friends and to all the beautiful mothers out there I want to wish you the best Mother's Day ever! Me, being a guy, I will not ever fully comprehend the unconditional love a mother has for her kids and all the sacrifices they make for them.  But I dare say that has to be the "Hardest" job in the world--being a good mom- so to all of you I can only say Bless your hearts! And those of you reading this who have a mother who is still alive please go out of your way to do something extraordinary for your mom this sunday! And remember, she is the only mother you will ever have! And to my dearly departed mom who passed away the day after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 2001 I want you to know that you were always the best mom ever! I can't say for sure what happens to any of us when we make our transition from human back to spirit but I do believe my mom is listening from within my own heart. God bless you mom You are the best! To all of you folks I sincerely wish you and yours the very best of everything  now and forever! "HUGS"