What may seem like a negative event now, can turn out later to actually be a positive shift in our lives.
Let go of the judgmental mind.
Some of the best advice that I have been given is to adopt an innermost attitude of gratitude.
Let go of judgement and adopt an attitude of gratitude surrounding each moment. Having an open, cheerful approach to life helps to uncover the opportunities life is offering.
The story of the man who who had all kinds of hardships as well as positive events occur in his life helps me remember his go to phrase:
“Maybe so, maybe not.”
This phrase is one of a few phrases which aid in life.
Wherever someone said to the man,
” That’s an amazing event which happened to you! You’re so lucky!”
The man would reply, “Maye so, maybe not.”
Or, a so called unfortunate event would occur, and people would say, ” Oh , no you’re are so unlucky that that happened to you!”
The man would again reply with the same response, ” Maybe so, maybe not.” Revealing that his response was nonjudgmental, no matter what.
Each event in life unfounds and the outcomes are simply not labeled “good” or “bad”.
This story which could go on and on on with so called positive or negative outcomes is just like what happens in our lives!
The go to phase, “Maybe so. Maybe not. ” helps me remember, we never know how something happening will effect life. Like the quote of the day says today:
“Every exit is an entry somewhere else.”
“Let go or be dragged.” Is another priceless piece of advice. Allow life to give whatever it wants.
“This too will pass.” Is another phrase which is a wonderful way to let go of the mind when it wants to lock in on something which it may proceeds as negative.
All together with these, I would have to add that acceptance of the Now has made a big difference in life.
Relax and enjoy the present moment in which you’re living; it is the only moment you have!

Stop, Look and Go!
STOP- and become awake, alert and aware now!
LOOK- at what at life! What opportunities are there? Pay attention- awake, alert and Awareness are all part of saying yes to life’s love and truth.
GO – for what life is serving you in a grateful way!
Embrace the moment and go out of your comfort zone to follow the truth.
So today, when I’m busy, I will do what Ose also says by using my breath I will become aware of the universe.
Thank you Brother David!

The daily gifts I receive from others are tolerance and patience ; to name just a few.
I can pass these on to others in my everyday attitude. By practicing tolerance and patience with others I give a gift to myself and the world.
In today’s world we can see that we need an antidote to anger and hatred.
Patience and tolerance are the antidote to anger and hatred.
The more we try to open up with people and offer our patience and tolerance the more we can be the chage in the world that we want to see. ( Gandhi said it best!)
Jesus also taught tolerance and to turn the other cheek. Deny they self and to treat others the way we would have them treat us.
Wouldn’t we all like to be treated with patience and tolerance?
We don’t always have to be in perfect agreement in order to cultivate tolerance and patience.

Being in the flow of life means saying yes to the present moment. not working against or not accepting the whatever the present moment offers is the pushing away of the flow of
Life.
Brother David says it very clearly when talks about practicing the three steps of gratitude. To be awake, aware and alert, are all ways of saying yes to the flow of life.
Number one, wake up! When we wake up to the surprise of life we say yes to the flow of life.
I really appreciate this wonderful way of teaching us how to create the beginners mind, like the mind of a child. We can ask ourselves everyday: “isn’t this surprising?”
What a wonderful way to practice reminding ourselves of how each moment is a gift to us and all we have to do is open up our minds to an attitude of gratitude.
We can open up to the the next step by being aware of the flow of life’s opportunities. And as Brother David points out, these opportunities may be for us to simply enjoy whatever it is life is presenting us!
! He says that the more we do this practice of awareness the easier it becomes to recognize difficult or painful experiences as opportunities, as gifts. How grateful we are then shows itself by the alertness with which we respond to opportunities.
Responding alertly, means we spontaneously rise to whatever is happening.
I see this spontaneous alertness as the flow of life. Being spontaneously alert means being g open and seeing what is the “yes” in this moment? How can I find the good here and what can I do to create joy and love here?
The flow of life is this river of opportunity to be grateful for every gift.

Sometimes being in a difficult situation can make us be defensive.
I tried practicing defensiveness the other day when I knew I had to go to a meeting that I didn’t want to have.
I used the opportunity of the meeting to put down my defenses and my attacking mind. It made my inner self feel somehow less vulnerable. When I chose to accept whatever life was at the very moment and say yes to whatever was happening, I felt somehow lighter.
This whole practice is going to take me some time, because I have never done it before! I decided to make it an experiment and put into practice the idea of: yes to life! I’m loookng forward to adding to it.

What matters to me is a connection to the universe or Source. Peace of mind, as well as unity with truth and love.
The Four Immeasurable Thoughts are my intentions for all setient beings:
May all sentient beings have happiness
and the causes of happiness;
May all sentient beings be free from suffering
and the causes of suffering;
May all sentient beings never be separated from
the happiness that knows no suffering;
May all sentient beings live in equanimity,
free from attachment and aversion.