Tag: spiritual

The Future Is Uncertain

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The truth is, nobody knows the future. Life has a way of reminding us of this through unexpected twists and turns, cultivating surreal moments that catch us off guard.

But isn’t this exactly how we’d want it? Alan Watts once suggested that if we could dream any life we wanted, we’d start by fulfilling every desire and experiencing endless pleasure. Yet eventually, we’d crave surprise and risk. Finally, we’d choose the life we’re living now—filled with uncertainty and the thrill of the unknown.

Life is uncertain, and that’s its beauty. It invites us to appreciate each day as it comes, embracing what we don’t know with open hearts. So welcome every sunrise with gratitude and grace, and trust that the uncertainty of today holds the magic of possibility.

A Lesson From Eating Donuts

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For a while, Fridays were “grocery pick-up days” in our family. And just before we’d pick up the groceries, I’d stop at a nearby donut shop and let each of my three daughters choose a donut. Usually, I’d get just enough for them, but on this “donut lesson day,” I decided to treat myself to one as well—and even got an extra for my husband.

On the drive home, my oldest finished her donut and immediately wanted more, glancing at mine hopefully. Another daughter, who had picked a new flavor, was grumbling because she didn’t like it and regretted her choice. So there we were: one daughter, longing for more, and another, frustrated with what she’d chosen.

And as I listened to them, I thought, How similar we are to children sometimes. How often do we ask for more, not even thinking about those who don’t have the luxury of choice? Or get exactly what we wanted, only to find out it’s not what we hoped? It’s like a mirror of life, where we’re constantly balancing gratitude and expectation, fulfillment and frustration. I realized teaching my children to appreciate what they have is challenging, especially when they’re so young and everything is new and full of possibility. Yet, in that moment, I saw myself in them. How many times have I behaved the same way?

And yes, I did end up sharing my donut with my daughter—because I love her. Just as we have a Creator who continues to provide for us, even when we forget to be grateful.

So maybe the donut lesson is this: life gives us chances to learn, to appreciate, and to recognize that sometimes we already have enough. Perhaps, next time we’re tempted to reach for “more,” we can pause and savor what’s already in our hands.

The Heart Of The Buddha

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“The Buddha offered this wonderful image. If you take a handful of salt and pour it into a small bowl of water, the water in the bowl will be too salty to drink. But if you pour the same amount of salt into a large river, people will still be able to drink the river’s water…….because of its immensity, the river has the capacity to receive and transform. The river doesn’t suffer at all because of a handful of salt. If your heart is small, one unjust word or act will make you suffer. But if your heart is large, if you have understanding and compassion, that word or deed will not have the power to make you suffer.” – The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by @thichnhathanhsangha

This teaching reminds us that expanding our hearts, like widening a river, can help us navigate life with greater resilience. When our hearts are small, we feel every slight, and even small challenges can overwhelm us. But as we grow in compassion and understanding, we become capable of holding much more—our hearts become like that vast river. Life will always add “salt” in the form of difficulties or unkind words, but with a heart that’s expansive and compassionate, we can absorb these moments without letting them take away our peace. So let’s strive to cultivate a heart as open and vast as a river, one that can receive, transform, and keep flowing, no matter what comes its way.

A Lesson From A Tree

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We have this tree in our front yard. Originally, it was full of branches, lush with leaves, and provided such beautiful shade. Like all trees, it has its seasons, but we especially loved it in full bloom. It attracted so many birds and added so much life to our yard.

One day, we noticed a crack forming down the middle of the tree. We knew that, in time, it would eventually split. And sure enough, after some time, it did. The tree split all the way through, and my husband carefully cleaned up the fallen half. When I went outside and looked at what was left, I felt a pang of sadness. The tree wasn’t the same—it had lost a big part of itself that day, leaving our yard a bit bare. And yet, the tree remained standing.

I mourned what the tree had lost, but I also took a moment to celebrate all the beauty and shade it had provided over the years.

As much as we’d like to prevent these “splits” from happening, we unfortunately can’t. This is life, and it comes with aches and pains. But if a tree can remain standing after a huge loss and still continue to grow, withstanding both sunshine and storms, then it’s possible that we can, too. Remember—the tree is still standing.

We are like this tree. When we lose a part of ourselves, it’s natural to mourn. But it’s also an opportunity to celebrate—to honor the strength it took to remain standing and to hold hope for new growth. The parts we’ve lost have served us well. They’ve contributed to our growth and shaped who we are, and that’s something to remember with gratitude.

Give Grace To Others

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We could all use a little grace in our lives. None of us are perfect—we’re human, flawed, and always learning. And it’s important to remember that everyone around us is, too. Maybe someone cut you off on the road, didn’t text you back, broke a promise, lied, or your kids aren’t listening. The list goes on. How can we expect grace from others if we’re not willing to offer it ourselves? If you feel upset, consider giving a free pass when you can. Just a bit of grace.

This doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Sometimes it’s challenging to extend grace, especially when we feel hurt. But more often than not, people don’t set out to hurt or upset us. The truth is, we take things personally because we think actions are directed at us, when, in reality, we’re all just working through our own experiences and struggles. Instead of internalizing it, try to meet these moments with compassion. Understand that everyone is going through something, and that understanding can change everything.

Think about the relationships in your life or the encounters you have today—who could you extend a little grace to? Often, that one act of grace can create more peace in our lives than we ever expect.

The Power Of Words

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Many people are oblivious to the power of their words. I can almost guarantee there is something you have said to someone that they have never forgotten. Hopefully, it’s something positive, not something negative. Most often, we tend to remember the things that were said to us that hurt our feelings. I can definitely recall things that have hurt me, and I remember who said them too. I’m sure you can think of a thing or two as well—comments or remarks that have stuck with you for years. It’s crazy, right? One comment, maybe even offhand, and it becomes etched into memory.

This is one of the reasons why I love reading and why I enjoy blogging. Something I may write or say in a blog might resonate with someone, leaving a lasting, hopefully positive, impact. Words are powerful, whether spoken or read, and they shape us in ways we often don’t realize.

There’s a powerful Buddhist teaching that aligns beautifully with this idea: “Before you speak, let it pass through three gates. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” This is a practice worth practicing. If we make it a habit to pause and reflect on these three questions, we might spare others (and ourselves) unnecessary hurt and offer a little more kindness and truth.

Being mindful of our words takes patience, but even small efforts make a difference. When we speak with care and intention, we’re more likely to build others up rather than tear them down, even in the smallest exchanges. After all, in a world where words carry so much power, why not choose to leave behind words that heal, uplift, and inspire?

Embrace YOUR Experience

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I believe one of the reasons we are here is to help others. Helping someone can take countless forms, and one powerful way is through sharing our life experiences. When we go through something challenging, we gain knowledge and wisdom that can support someone else facing a similar path. This is true empathy.

Struggles and obstacles aren’t new—just look at history, which is full of heartache and resilience. Without hardships, we wouldn’t grow, learn, or be able to comfort one another. What you’re going through, others have also faced, and their stories can help you, just as yours can help them. We go through trials so that we can reach back and help others find their way.

We can’t do everything on our own. We need each other, and isn’t it a gift that we have one another for support? Embrace your experiences, knowing they are a bridge to connect, comfort, and uplift others.

Identify Your Potential

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Identifying your potential can be a journey of patience and discovery. What am I meant to do? Am I truly fulfilling my purpose? These questions can feel like having all the right ingredients but no specific recipe for you. The only way to find out is by experimenting—adding a little of this, a bit of that—through trial and error until you figure it out. And when you finally discover the “recipe,” there’s a sense of accomplishment, love, gratitude, and excitement that makes you want to share it with everyone.

Each of us has unique ingredients, our own strengths and passions, to help us become the best we can be. But the process takes patience; it requires a willingness to keep “mixing” even when it’s difficult to see the final outcome. Recipes can be complex, and some steps may seem intimidating, but that’s part of the journey. What we each carry—the potential within us—is uniquely ours. We can’t find our personal recipe by following someone else’s path; we have to look inward.

Today, take a moment to reflect. Write down what you genuinely enjoy, what takes most of your time, and what you feel may be holding you back. This small step can bring you closer to identifying your potential and give you a better understanding of your own ingredients. Remember, you’re creating something meaningful with each step, and it’s all part of the journey.

Allow God To Catch You When You Fall

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When your child is just learning to stand or take those first wobbly steps, you’re always right there—either holding them or standing close by, ready to catch them if they stumble. As parents, we want to shield our children from pain and falls, so we stay close, providing security as they explore their newfound abilities. In this walk of life, we’re that child, and God is our loving, heavenly parent. Yet, just like little ones, we can be stubborn. We want to do it ourselves, to prove our strength and independence. And often, with this mentality, we fall, we get hurt, and we struggle through challenges alone. But God stands by patiently, waiting for us to call on Him, ready to help when we’re willing to ask.

It’s not that He hasn’t reached out to help us already; it’s that we often push Him away, thinking, “I can handle this myself.” So He watches, hoping we’ll one day welcome His guidance, because He knows that while life can be done alone, it doesn’t have to be a hard, lonely walk. God is always there, eager to catch us so we don’t grow weary from the falls. He wants us to find confidence, to walk and even run through life without fear. When we trust Him to catch us, we allow ourselves to take more risks, knowing there’s always a safety net waiting to support us.

I think of my own little one, crawling to the edge of the bed, knowing I’m right there to catch her. If she could talk, I imagine her saying, “Mom, I got this.” And while I’d give her space, I’d still be close, ready to protect her from any fall. If we trust God like that—like a child who knows they’re loved and watched over—we could face anything without fear. Letting Him catch us changes everything, allowing us to walk the path of life with courage, knowing we’re always in safe hands.

Each Day Is A Day Worth Celebrating

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From the moment we are born, the aging process begins. It’s a bit like a piece of fruit, picked from the tree. Once detached from its life source, the fruit starts to age. You can try to preserve it, slow it down, but the end result will be the same. Similarly, once we’re cut from the umbilical cord, we’re on our own journey.

I actually had this thought one day while washing dishes, just staring at our orange tree through the window. It hit me: we’re not all that different from a piece of fruit!

We age every day, knowing the final destination but often shying away from thinking about it. Instead, we distract ourselves, sometimes missing what it means to be truly alive.

But this knowledge is actually a gift. Knowing that life is finite is what gives each day its value. Rather than letting distractions or dark times pull us away from fully experiencing it, let’s see each day for what it is—an opportunity, a miracle in itself. Celebrate in some way, every day. Notice the small wonders around you. And by embracing this outlook, we can help others find the freedom to enjoy their lives too.