100 Days of Wisdom: Wisdom Day 81 – The wisdom in “bucket lists”? Belonging and love!

Wisdom Day 81: The Wisdom in Bucket Lists? Belonging & Love

Read about the 100 days of Wisdom™ Project by Tonya Marie

Follow me on Twitter @WisdomWhispers and hashtag #100daysofwisdom for more reflections on life, love and the wisdom of Spirit!

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Most bucket lists include things like, “Go on an adventure in a far-off land,” “Learn a new language,“ or “Buy a dream car.” Although all these experiences can make our lives more exciting, the reason we crave these activities goes a little deeper. What drives each of these desires is one common connector, an innate yearning to belong and to feel love. When we do what we love, we become an expression of love and our happiness is infectious.

~ Shannon Kaiser, MindBodyGreen.com

Who doesn’t want to experience a sense of belonging? Who doesn’t want to feel loved? I know I do. But did you know that fulfilling a “throw caution to the wind” “bucket list” style dream could bring you closer to both?

Creating a list of must-dos before you die (aka “kick the bucket”) can lead not only to a sense of accomplishment, by checking off the boxes, but also to an enlivened and enriched life. And just so we’re clear, I’m talking about the life you’re actually living right now … not the one you wish you had lived or hope to live one day.

Saying yes to the things that make your heart sing and spirit thrive expands your capacity to love yourself.When you are filled with self-love you are better able and willing to give love, and to receive love from others. The love within each of us reaches beyond our physical being and reminds us of the connection that already exists between our self and every other divine creation in the universe.

I don’t know about you, but knowing my bucket list goal of spending a summer in France and Italy on a food and wine excursion can actually lead to world healing, peace and love makes me want to start researching today! [Note to self, start researching TODAY!] I’d say that’s one heck of a BONUS and ROBLI (return on bucket list investment).

I admit I never put skydiving and running a marathon in the same category as connectedness. But I guess it does makes sense.

100 Days of Wisdom: Wisdom Day 17 — What I learned from Oprah about turning wounds into wisdom

Wisdom Day 17

Read about the 100 days of Wisdom™ Project by Tonya Marie

Follow me on Twitter @WisdomWhispers and the hashtag #100daysofwisdom for more reflections on life, love and the wisdom of Spirit!

“Turn your wounds into wisdom.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

Five simple words; infinite power and truth.

In these five words Oprah reminds me that in life I will experience all sorts of physical, emotional and spiritual wounds (understatement of the year). But because of free will, I have the power to choose to learn from these wounds. And because of Spirit (my divine nature, my God self) that dwells within me, I have the power to learn from these wounds and transform them into invaluable lessons.

In turn these divinely inspired lessons lift me to my higher life purpose, my reason for being. My wounds are my divine assignment, my greatest spiritual teacher and part of the wisdom constantly being whispered to and through me. They give me new information and therefore another opportunity to “know better” and choose to “do better” with each breath that centers me and each step that propels me forward.

100 Days of Wisdom: Wisdom Day 11 — Sometimes the Most Powerful Prayer You Can Offer is to Speak Your Needs

Wisdom Day 11

Sometimes the Most Powerful Prayer You Can Offer is to Speak Your Needs

Read about the 100 days of Wisdom™ Project by Tonya Marie

Follow me on Twitter @WisdomWhispers and the hashtag #100daysofwisdom for more reflections on life, love and the wisdom of Spirit!

A hardness we can’t see, cold and rigid, begins to form between us and the world, the longer we stay silent about what we need. It is not even about getting what we need, but about admitting, mostly to ourselves, that we do have needs. . . .  Paradoxically, asking even for the things that no one can give, we are relieved and blessed for the asking. For admitting our humanness lets the soul break surface, the way a dolphin leaps for the sun.” ~ Mark Nepo, The Book of Awakening (8/15 entry)

Every day I write. And every day I share my writing in some form or fashion. Sometimes I share because I think or feel something I’ve learned will help others. Other days I share to foster connection and community.

And then there are days like today, when I write as a form of catharsis. Today I write for myself because it is often said you teach what you most need to learn. Selah.

Nepo’s quote above was a divine reminder not only to recognize and accept that I have needs but to give my needs a voice. Making my needs known to others who may be willing and able to meet them is, of course, one lesson. But his more essential point is that I also need to admit to myself what I need without getting caught up in the who, how and when chatter of my ego that leads me to deny that I am in need or to doubt that my needs can actually be met.

But the truth is the one Source — the Creator — has infinite resources (people, places, things) available but we have to be open and willing to receive in unexpected ways that don’t fit neatly in our own plans.

One Source, many resources divinely equipped to make ways out of “no way”.