To heal Invisible injuries we need to feel unconditional love, forgiveness, compassion and patience within ourselves.

This is completely possible.

People in my profession speak a lot about having strong, clear boundaries and managing expectations.  It’s true. These are important.  However, good judgement and compassion always replaces guidelines and rules.

One day last week, I worked late.  After a long, busy day, I packed up and was ready to leave.  Before I got to the outer door, someone stopped me and asked, “Can I see you?”  I looked at him and said, “Can you come back tomorrow?”  The look in his eyes told me that tomorrow was not good enough.  He said, “I don’t know how I’m going to feel tomorrow.”

My inner voice, my soul, told me that he needed kindness more than anything else so we turned around and went back into my office.  We spoke for a half hour.  He explained why he was upset and then left.  The next time I saw him, there was a renewed sense of self and balance.

I am pretty sure that it was my heart and not any particular skill-set that made the difference.  I showed this individual kindness and compassion.  I gave my time and did not leave.  Kindness was the intervention and the agent of change.

To me, this demonstrates that the right help at the right time can make the world of difference.  Giving of your time tells others that they are important.  It tells them that someone really cares. It tells them they matter.

Listening to your soul and leading with your heart is important.  Treating others with kindness is essential.

With all the challenges happening in the world, more kindness will make a difference.

Please tell me what you think!

 

Many of us are concerned about what’s happening on the world stage. We look at the big picture and shake our heads in disbelief.

How can we expect to have World Peace if we can’t get along among ourselves?  How can we expect countries to act respectfully towards each other when we are challenged to act respectfully with each other?

The college faculty union and management teams are on opposite sides of the table. Their views about what should happen are divergent. This makes me very, very sad.

Good companies and good employees take care of each other. They have compassionate view points. They understand each other.  They work collaboratively toward a common goal.  They care deeply.

All parties should consider what is in the greatest good i.e., what is most fair for the students. Without a doubt, it is most important and fair to resolve our differences without disrupting their education.  We can disagree about the issues and eventually resolve them over time.  Or, we can have a change of heart, work collaboratively and take care of each other.

Both sides of the college system have an opportunity to show Ontario and all of Canada how to bring peace to the table.

We have a responsibility to provide the highest quality education to those who come to learn from us. We seek to encourage, challenge and inspire our students to be innovators, creators and enthusiastic agents of positive change. Let’s be an example of this!

Let’s choose caring over conflict.

Are you on a spiritual path but your loved ones express themselves differently?  It happens quite often!

Do you want to balance your need for meditation and spiritual wisdom with the needs of you loved ones?

It’s easy!  Come on a Peaceful Heart Peaceful Mind Meditation cruise!! Have the very best of both worlds.

While you are in a meditation class for a little while, others can be enjoying the activities on the cruise ship!  You will happily join them later.  It’s perfect!

Our meditation classes are heart-filled and focused on discovering inner peace and creating well-being.

We are waiting for you.  Register today!

For more information about the cruise itinerary, meditation schedule and to register, go to:

https://peacefulheartpeacefulmind.com/event/meditation-cruise-vacation/

For additional information, call Carrie 416 726-9945 or email carrie@peacefulheartpeacefulmind.com

It is never easy to raise a child with a disability.

My mom, dad and I certainly had many challenges over the years.  Sometimes, things were extremely painful for us all. However, time and forgiveness softens our edges and opens our hearts so we can see things very clearly.  I deeply honour and appreciate my parents now.  It is like our rocky past relationship did not even happen.

When I was small, my mom took me to physiotherapy every day even if it meant pulling me through the snow on a sled and walking many blocks to get there.  My dad used to carry me on his shoulders when I got tired and could not walk.  He did this so much that he developed a pinched nerve in his neck. As a family, we did a lot of camping, went ice skating and enjoyed roller skating.  I never sat on the side lines.  They found a way to include me.

I had many orthopedic surgeries growing up.  My mom used to get yelled at by the head nurse when she would bring me in home cooked food. (It was the only food I would eat). My dad used to draw cartoon characters on balloons and give them to me and the other children on the floor.  They worried a lot. It broke their hearts when I cried (and sometimes screamed) to go home with them at the end of visiting hours.

As an adult, I look back on these experiences and many others, not from my perspective, but theirs.  I can’t imagine how difficult it was for them to raise me.  They were only 20-something when I was born!  They were practically kids themselves. What did they know?  They were learning as they went along!

And whoosh… my heart opens with the deepest love.

Mom and dad, I love and appreciate you more than words can say!

It really is ironic that I am planning a Peaceful Heart, Peaceful Mind Meditation Cruise event.  For a long time, I was resistant to cruising. My husband, Lorne, who went on his first cruise in 2005 came home “cruise crazy” and would often coax me to join him. He was convinced that I would love it. So, we went on a cruise together in 2013.  Well, it turns out that he was right.  It is a perfect vacation for us.   Maybe it’s the perfect vacation for you too!

Let me tell you my story:

My husband and I are very, very different people.  The saying that opposites attract describes us perfectly!  However, we share one most important quality – our very deep, sincere and enormous love for it each other.  For this reason, and a few others, I decided to give a cruise vacation a try.

This is what I learned about myself and cruising:

• I did not feel sea sick on the ship. This surprised me!
• I enjoy spending more quality time with my hubby because the captain drives the ship.
• I meet people who are happy, friendly, kind and interesting. They touch my heart in so many ways.
• I respect the crew because they work so hard. They sacrifice a lot being away from their families. I appreciate them.
• I can choose to have quiet times (yin) and fun, boisterous times (yang).
• The evenings are filled with live music, entertaining stage productions, comedy shows and dancing under the stars.
• There is an abundance of food choices and dining venues, casual and more formal. No cooking or dishwashing for the entire week.
• The kitchen will make customized vegetarian meals if I don’t like what is on the menu. I have always been a picky eater.
• There are always interesting activities happening (as well as activities I am not keen on). There’s something for everyone.
• I can participate in the organized activities – as much or as little as I want to.
• I can go on excursions and do activities in port, if I chose to get off the ship.
• I can, and often do, stay on the ship while the ship in in port and enjoy the quiet, less crowded atmosphere to read or meditate.
• The ship is reasonably wheelchair accessible!
• It is a very welcome break to be in warm weather in the middle of winter.

Now, a cruise is a vacation that my husband and I both love!

So, come cruise with us, especially if you love, or are curious about meditation and self-healing!  We have eight rooms (double occupancy) on hold.  Is one of them waiting for you?

Please share this post with your friends!!

I live in a world that is not always wheelchair friendly.  Yet, I’m creative and usually find ways around it.  Still, sometimes, a situation can surprise me.

Several weeks ago, I was working late. I hadn’t eaten and was very hungry.  On the way home, I decided to get a piece of pizza.  My neighbourhood pizza parlor is not wheelchair accessible.  It has steps up to their door.  Undeterred, I waited for a customer to come by.  I asked him to let the counter staff know that I wanted a slice of veggie pizza.

Surprisingly, the customer came back to the door with a message, “Go home and order your pizza by phone”.  I was speechless.

At home, I went on Facebook and messaged the company privately.  They responded right away with an apology.  They said they would speak to the manager and he would get back to me.   I received no follow up call.

 

One thing I learned in my life is that everyone has their story.  When we listen and respond with a compassionate heart things become easier… instantly.

There may be many reasons why I was turned away.  These are my top three reasons (based only on my speculation):

1)  Staff was not able to leave the counter unattended and come to the door.

2)  Staff misunderstood my order because I only wanted a slice.

3)  Staff were inexperienced and did not know the best way to deal with my request.

 

I did not get my pizza that night but I learned to be kind.

There is an Amish proverb that says, “Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in their place.”

What a beautiful world we would create if everyone responded with an understanding heart!

 

I was recently was on a cruise vacation with my husband.  We had a fabulous time.  The whole experience was wonderful.  There were many memorable moments.

Early on, we met another couple and their adult son Andy who also uses a wheelchair.  We certainly enjoyed meeting them and spending time together.

One afternoon, as the five of us were sitting together listening to an acoustic guitar player, a woman approached us.  She was in tears!  Talking to all of us, she said, “The love I feel when I look at you is so big that it literally moves me to tears.  May I take your picture?”  We all smiled and said yes!

This woman’s reaction was sweet!  But, what was she responding to?  We weren’t doing anything special.  We were simply sitting there!   I think she felt:

The power of Love.

The power of Friendship.

The power of Open-heartedness.

The power of Happiness.

I believe all of us are powerful and have the capacity to make a difference when we have an open heart.

Please let me know what you think!

Then, go to my Events page at:  http://PeacefulHeartPeacefulMind.com   I am planning a Peaceful Heart, Peaceful Mind Meditation Cruise in February 2018.  I’d be thrilled if you came along!

It seems that we live in a society where productivity, achievement and success are valued.  I agree that these are important. I see how they all fit together.  However, what I see as most important is LOVE.

Love can be expressed in so many different ways:  in relationships, words, touch, writing, song, music, dance, respect.  There is no greater feeling than to love deeply and be loved in return.  There is no greater feeling than the oneness that comes from knowing we are part of a greater whole.  There is no greater feeling than knowing Divine Love.

If Love is so beautiful, why then do people struggle so much with self-love?

Loving ourselves should come first, but often, it does not.  We are so tough on ourselves.  Our expectations are high as we go through our day.  We cannot seem to forgive ourselves (or others, sometimes) for mistakes made.  We hold our pain deeply and secretly.

I adore the recent body-positive movement.  It is brilliant and significant.  We need to embrace our bodies in a healthy way – whatever shape and size they are.

I believe that the world needs a SELF-LOVE MOVEMENT, too!   Do you agree?

Let me know what you think!  Email me, like me on social media, message me, connect with me through my website PeacefulHeartPeacefulMind.com.  Let’s raise our voices in SELF LOVE.

In my life, I have talked with, asked questions and listened to others.  I have searched for the answer to a big question that is very important.  My question is: What do people need?  Allow me to share what I have learned.

I have learned that, above all else, people need a Peaceful Heart and a Peaceful Mind. Within these two states of being, everything is found:  Love, Forgiveness Compassion, Connection, Happiness, Understanding, Purpose, and more! When we have a Peaceful Heart and a Peaceful Mind we reach a state of Pure Inner Balance.

I decided to rebrand my website to reflect these most powerful states.  It was exciting to go through this transformation because it highlighted a significant goal for myself.  It also showed me how I want to help others.

So, just for a moment, indulge….  imagine a world filled where people possess Peaceful Hearts and Peaceful Minds.  What is this world like for you?

I believe it would be a world where helpfulness, generosity, sharing, kindness, love and harmony would be our first responses to each other.  I envision that physical health would improve as well because of the powerful, restorative mind-body connection.

I believe that a positive mental state and open-heartedness affects our overall well-being in extraordinary ways!

I welcome you to visit my website: PeacefulHeartPeacefulMind.com    Come share your ideas with me!