Then, Monday night, I started to see flashes of light (photopsia) from the periphery of my left eye.  I blew it off – not recommended – and went to sleep.

As I showered the next morning, I suddenly noticed what appeared to be a black spider over my shoulder. She multiplied into quite a few black, lacy images dancing vibrantly about in my visual field.

I called my doctor and was told to go immediately to the eye doctor.  He said, “Tell the staff you may be having a “retinal” emergency.”

Emergency?  Was I ready for a medical emergency?

On the positive side:

• My car had a full tank of gas;
• My insurance card, list of drug sensitivities, and doctor’s phone number was in my wallet.

On the down side:

• My cell phone was dead.
• I didn’t know the location of the nearest emergency room.

Meeting my Destiny

I grabbed my Swiss Army crafted computer bag.  It houses all my key personal items like my wallet, cell phone, and calendar.  I threw in my prayer beads (gently, of course), medication, and an apple.  Then, I headed my car north toward my destiny.

Thanks to the cold, my brain was too fuzzy too drift into wild scenarios.  The frenzied dark creatures in my field of vision had gradually morphed into one less wild, lacy friend.

A piece of the gelatin-like substance (vitreous humour) had separated from my retina.

“Posterior vitreous detachment” is a common condition for older adults, but not rare for people in their 40’s or 50’s either.  Not serious, but there is a small risk of retinal detachment.

It’s important to monitor symptoms for the next week.  Any sign of serious symptoms – like loss of vision or a veil descended over the eye – I need to hightail it back to the eye doctor or emergency room.  For the time being, I need to rest, not move my head around a lot, or bend over and pick up heavy things.

Tuesday night, I had another episode of photopsia.  My doctor – having already check my eyes thoroughly – felt confident enough to have me rest at home and simply return the next morning for another check.  Generally, photopsia can be an early sign of a retinal tear or detachment and should be checked immediately by a doctor.

Wednesday meant another round of dilation.  Another round of looking.  Thankfully, there’s still no evidence of a retinal tear or detachment.  This time I brought my I-Pod, which is full of inspirational teachings.  Just in case I had to be put on a plane to Honolulu; there are no retina specialists on the Big Island.

Be Prepared

I’m not the kind of person who is usually prepared.  But this time, I felt relatively prepared because I store all the main things I need in my Swiss Army bag. I always have it nearby at night in the event of a natural disaster.

The earthquake in Japan made me think more about being prepared.  At the time, I wrote about how to prepare for a natural disaster.  I haven’t turned over an entirely new leaf, but I’m a little more prepared as evidenced by the current episode in life changes.

If you would like to be more prepared for a medical emergency, you could print these guides, read them over, and have them close at hand so you will be ready to intelligently deal with whatever arises.

Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide on Emergencies and First Aid

I felt so tired driving home Wednesday, I collapsed into bed.  I eagerly followed the doctor’s advice to rest.  At the same time, I was counting my blessings.

• I feel grateful for the body’s elegant system of communication called “symptoms”.
• I feel grateful to have a medical doctor that I can actually call on the phone.
• I feel grateful to have a conscientious, caring, and competent eye doctor.
• I feel grateful that I was relatively prepared.
• I feel grateful that I remembered my spiritual priorities when I packed my bag.
• I feel grateful that my mind didn’t wig out over possible scenarios.

All this reminded me once again that anything can change in a moment.  For me, the best preparation is having a steady mind.

Due to current affairs, I won’t be posting more on my blog this week.  I need to catch up on rest and catch up on the work I missed.

Are you ready for a medical emergency?  What would you take along?

P. S. Nothing here constitutes medical advice.  If you experience similar symptoms, contact your medical doctor immediately.

• Image:  Compassion Malas
• Eye Image:  Wikipedia

Take a moment to consider your level of satisfaction.  How much effort are you putting into “obsessively”  trying to improve your external conditions rather than being satisfied in the moment?

“In Tibetan, the word for “body” is lü, which means “something you leave behind,” like baggage. Each time we say lü, it reminds us that we are only travelers, taking temporary refuge in this life and this body. In Tibet, people did not distract themselves by spending all their time trying to make their external circumstances more comfortable. They were satisfied if they had enough to eat, clothes on their backs, and a roof over their heads.

Going on, as we do, obsessively trying to improve our conditions, can become an end in itself, and a pointless distraction. Would people in their right mind think of fastidiously redecorating their hotel room every time they checked in to one?”

From Glimpse After Glimpse by Sogyal Rinpoche.  Follow the link to sign up for daily inspirational emails.

This is part of my series of compelling questions.

If you enjoyed this reflection, please share the link with others.  And I would love to connect with you on Google+ or the Always Well Within Facebook Page.  With love, Sandra.

P. S.  In my letter this week, I explored “Love and Attachment”.

108 year-old concentration camp survivor, Alice Herz Sommer, shares the magic of optimism in an interview with Tony Robbins.  Alice wrote her memoir at the age of 104:  A Garden of Eden in Hell: The Life of Alice Herz-Sommer.  Her motto:  “Everything is a present.”

Enjoy!

Are you often agitated or easily knocked off balance?  Do you frequently succumb to impulses or have trouble with consistency and staying true to your purpose and priorities?

You’ve probably noticed – and even envied – the sense of presence and confidence that exudes from people who are rooted within themselves.   People who have their feet firmly planted on the ground.

You can develop this same sense of poise and self-assurance. 

In fact, the capacity to feel centered already exists within you.  The trick is to consistently use your awareness to remember and cultivate it.

An Essential Formula to Activate A Confident Presence

As an active thinker and trauma survivor, it’s sometimes a struggle to keep my own feet firmly planted on the ground.  I’ve discovered these three elements are key for coming back down to earth:

• Inhabit the body.
• Remain anchored in the present moment.
• Feel connected to the earth beneath your feet.

Here are some simple methods to help you actualize these elements in your life.

12 Ways to Re-Inhabit Your Body and Reconnect with Your Ground

First, a small warning.

Naturally, your habit of thinking, daydreaming, agitation, or losing your self will attempt to intrude when you try to establish this new way of being. That’s par for the course.

Whenever your mind starts to take over or begins to float away, just gently bring it back to your focus:  your body, the present moment, or the earth.  Just gently bring yourself back.  There’s no need for reprimands.  In fact, they are usually counter-productive.

1. Walk barefoot and feel the ground.
2. Walk mindfully.  Place your attention on your steps; on the feeling and sensation of walking.  When your mind wanders, bring it back to the act of walking.
3. Sit on the ground.  Feeling the stability and substantiality of the earth.  Breathe it in.  Let this feeling permeate and pervade your whole body and being.
4. Practice any form of breath awareness like belly breathing or counting your breaths.
5. Engage in a relaxation exercise like a body scan meditation or progressive muscle relaxation.
6. Receive bodywork and tune into the touch, the pressure, the changes occurring in your body as your muscles release and relax.
7. Share moments of touch with another person or a pet.
8. Try movement practices like Tai Chi, Qigong, or Yoga or movement therapies like The Feldenkrais Method of Somantic Education or the Alexander Technique.
9. Dance.
10. Exercise.
11. Practice a body-based meditation like the Four Foundations of Mindfulness or practices of meditative concentration.
12. Imagine a cord of golden energy traveling from your lower body deep into the center of the earth.

Start with just one activity that would be easy and enjoyable to integrate into your life.  Regular practice is essential to change.  So set an achievable goal to practice a set amount of time and a certain number of days each week.  Make it fun and a special gift to yourself.

If you would like to feel more stable, confident, and sure, give some of these exercises a try.  In time, you’ll exude a new sense of presence and others will be taking note of you.

Do you find it challenging to stay rooted in yourself?  What helps you?

If you enjoyed this articles, please share the link with others.  I would love to connect with you on Google+ or the Always Well Within Facebook Page.  With love, Sandra.

Tess Marshall

This is a guest post from the indomitable Tess Marshall from The Bold Life.

I know several women that are looking for life partners.

I think when we consistently put ourselves in a state of love or when we become love, love will find us.

We are either in a fearful state or a loving state at all times. These are the only two emotions. All other emotions are derivatives of love or fear.

When I am depressed, sad, and angry or hurt, I am living in fear. If I am feeling joy, peace, appreciation or happiness, I am living in a state of love.

I would suggest that if you want to find a loving partner it’s a good idea to “be” the love you want to find.

This doesn’t mean that a loving partner will come into your life. That may be dependent upon your soul’s plan for this lifetime.

When we are immersed in love, we are living our true purpose. We are healed and as we heal we help heal the world.

• If we want love, we need to be more giving.
• If we want love, we need to open our hearts to receive.
• If we want love, we need to be more loving.

Become the love that you seek and love will surround you, enfold you, protect you, and heal you.

The following statements will help you recognize which state you’re in, love or fear.

• My fearful self envies you. My loving self is amazed by you.
• My fearful self condemns you. My loving self blesses you.
• My fearful self attacks you. My loving self forgives you.
• My fearful self believes that I’m inadequate.
• My loving self knows that I am enough.
• My fearful self wants it all. My loving self has all it needs.
• My fearful self says stay busy. My loving self says sit still.
• My fearful self is hungry. My loving self is full.
• My fearful self is unhappy. My loving self knows joy.
• My fearful self sees separation. My loving self sees unity.
• My fearful self is selfish. My loving self is kind.
• My fearful self is judgmental. My loving self is accepting.
• My fearful self sees the negative. My loving self sees the positive.
• My fearful self is desperate. My loving self is content.
• My fearful self wants to whine. My loving self wants to praise.
• My fearful self wants to condemn you. My loving self want to raise you up.
• My fearful self wants to control. My loving self wants to flow.
• My fearful has an agenda. My loving self has a mission.
• My fearful self wears a mask. My loving self is transparent.
• My fearful self keeps score. My loving self keeps peace.
• My fearful self lives in darkness. My loving self becomes the light.
• My fearful self is in the future. My loving self is savoring now.
• My fearful self shuts down. My loving self opens up.
• My fearful self is an expert. My loving self is doesn’t know.
• My fearful self is unworthy. My loving self is delightful.
• My fearful self is complicated. My loving self is simple.
• My fearful self is difficult. My loving self is easy.
• My fearful self fears the future. My loving self expects the best.

Each moment is an opportunity to choose love over fear. When we make the wrong choice, we can choose again.

If you want to give and receive more love. Give up your fear. You happiness and freedom depend on it.

Tess Marshall blogs at The Bold Life.

She has just written a new e-course, Take Your Fear and Shove It: Be Bold, Play Big, and Shine Bright.

Pressfield emphasizes focusing on the craft of writing itself rather than the outcome.  He quotes the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture, which says:

“We have the right to our labor, but not the fruits of our labor.”

If that thought intrigues you, give a listen!  He also talks about battling your inner demons that keep you from your craft, whether it’s writing or another passion you have.

Steven Pressfield and the Battle for Productivity at CopyBlogger.

If you like the interview, please share the link with others.  You can also connect with me on the Always Well Within Facebook Page.  Thanks  for your support!  Warmest wishes, Sandra

“An effortless compassion can arise for all beings who have not realized their true nature. So limitless is it that if tears could express it, you would cry without end. Not only compassion, but tremendous skillful means can be born when you realize the nature of mind. Also you are naturally liberated from all suffering and fear, such as the fear of birth, death and the intermediate state. Then if you were to speak of the joy and bliss that arise from this realization, it is said by the buddhas that if you were to gather all the glory, enjoyment, pleasure and happiness of the world and put it all together, it would not approach one tiny fraction of the bliss that you experience upon realizing the nature of mind.”

- Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche

More Inspirational Gems

Thank you so much for reading.  If this quote inspired you, please share the link with others.  You can also connect with me on the Always Well Within Facebook Page.  Thanks  for your support!  Warmest wishes, Sandra

Have your ever been immediately captivated by the mood, thought, or emotion that dominated your mind when you fell asleep?

Or spontaneously drawn ahead, into the plans and activities of the day?

Our first thoughts and actions of the day are potent.  They contain the power to influence the next 24 hours.  Here’s an alternative to being enslaved by whatever pops into your mind as you awaken.

In a recent public talk, the Dalai Lama shared what he does when he wakes up each morning, at 3:00 am no less!

The Dalai Lama reflects on infinite altruism and interdependence. 

A Simple Morning Exercise to Transform Your Day

When speaking to students in Limerick, Ireland the Dalai Lama offered this essential advice – a simple daily exercise – to start off the day with a positive attitude.

1. Reflect on and cultivate compassion.
2. Look at the world from the view that everything is interdependent and interconnected.

He recommends reflecting on these ideas and qualities each morning.  Spending a few moments actually thinking about them, investigating their common sense, and bringing them to life.  For example, consider the fact that there are 6 billion people living on the planet and they all have the seed of compassion within them.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all gave birth to compassion?

By consistently reflecting on these ideas, you will gradually come to have a conviction about the importance of positive inner values like kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.  You will be able to see that these qualities are the basis for helping others, but they also uplift you too.  This will naturally lead to more peace of mind, a crucial quality in these chaotic times.

Determination

Determination is another key element in the Dalai Lama’s morning exercise.  After cultivating a mind filled with altruism and considering interdependence, even before the crack of dawn, the Dalai Lama then arouses a strong sense of determination:

“For the rest of the day, I will dedicate my body, speech, and mind to the welfare of others.”

By embracing these simple reflections every morning, he observes there’s a beneficial knock-on effect all day long and even in his dreams.

Our thoughts have power!  You can deploy this capacity for goodness and your own inner peace by shaping your intention and motivation early each and every day, as soon as you wake up.

What’s your mind like in the morning?  Do you have a positive morning ritual?

If you enjoyed this article, please share the link with others.  Illuminations from the Heart, my new subscription letter starts this weekend.  Check it out.   With love, Sandra.

Illuminations from the Heart

In these weekly reflections, I reveal my innermost thoughts, deepest reflections, challenging trials, and personal epiphanies as I explore what it means to live authentically with awareness and compassion in a turbulent and troubled world.

Sometimes, my words are interwoven with inspiration and stories from the great wisdom traditions.  Sometimes, they spill out raw and straight from the heart.  Other times, they contain practical, down-to-earth guidance.

Illuminations from the Heart will give you pause for thought.  It is inner nourishment to encourage and strengthen you as it simultaneously lights up your own path of personal evolution.

The Practical Details

• The current subscription rate is $5 a month via Amazon Payments.
• You can unsubscribe at anytime.
• My weekly letter will arrive in your inbox every Sunday.
• There’s no archive, you simply receive a new letter each week.
• Once you subscribe, your first letter will arrive the next Sunday.

If you enjoy my writing on Always Well Within and would like to go deeper, please consider subscribing to Illuminations from the Heart.

I’ll continue to offer the same free content on Always Well Within.  My letter is for those who would like to delve deeper, enjoy more of the goodness, and support my evolution as an independent writer.

Sample Excerpt

January 15th, 2011:   Manifesting or Unfolding?

“Isn’t it human nature to always want something different than what is?

Will I trample this moment and attach to creating something I perceive as better, more suitable, and more to my liking?  As soon as I begin wanting something different – improved health, more security, the dissolution of pain, a new gadget, the perfect house, or anything else – I’ve entered into the realm of attachment and grasping, the very source of suffering.  I’m living in the future or motivated by the past.  I’m living on the fuel of hope and fear.

Wouldn’t it be exhilarating to be completely free of hope and fear, attachment and aversion?”

Subscribe to Illuminations from the Heart.

Thank you so much for your interest and support.  With love and gratitude, Sandra

These free e-books, composed and compiled by two remarkable heart-centered writers, bring together the insights of more than fifty bloggers as well as their own invaluable guidance and advice.

This Is Your Year by Evita Ochel from Evolving Beings

52 evolving beings share resources and wisdom to help expand your consciousness throughout the year.

“This is YOUR year. So whether you want to find meaning in your life, improve your health, deepen a spiritual practice, attract financial abundance or heal past emotional, mental or physical pain, you will find something of value for you in the following pages. My intention is that you find the resources and wisdom shared uplifting, inspiring and empowering to take action in your life and improve wherever you may be. Each of us deserves a life based on joy, love, health and inner peace.”

Positive Living Handbook:  50 Soulful Ways to Be Positive Today and Everyday by Zeenat Merchant Syal from Positive Provocations.

“All you have to do to remain positive and happy today and everyday is open and read any ONE soulful way. Just one. Read it, feel it, understand it and implement it in your life. One positive dose daily is all you need to keep that positive spirit UP!

There is no magic pill here. No frills. Just pure positivity that will nourish your being completely: mind, heart and soul, and nudge you in the positive direction every time you read one of these ways.”

I’m honored to be included among the luminaries presented in these pages.

To download your free copy, click on the links for each title.  You will find the e-book highlighted in the sidebar at each site with an opportunity to subscribe and receive the e-book as a gift.  Enjoy!

Please share this article with others who might need or enjoy a special dose of inspiration and encouragement.  With love, Sandra