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We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. |
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Gratitude is Not for Wusses Gratitude is not easily accomplished by cute sayings, like “have an attitude of gratitude”. It takes courage. Living in gratitude takes desire or willingness to forgive. It takes a perception of life as something that is to be experienced in all of its fullness instead of controlled as if it were a movie or a play. If we live in gratitude for everything, then our cup is always full. If we are grateful for life itself, and more importantly, if we are grateful for growth, then everything we experience brings with it an opportunity for joy, knowledge, acceptance, and ultimately peace. But if life to us is nothing but a movie script, then the minute someone forgets a line or reads off the wrong page, or the set falls apart, we panic and believe that life has done us wrong. Meister Eckhart: once said "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice." ……What a liberating way to live. Here is a 3:30 minute video entitled Thank God I: Attitude of Gratitude. This video might make you uncomfortable and even mad, at the very least it will make you think. Let us know how it affected you in the upcoming Gratitude Teleconferene Forum.
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Interesting Items Living Life in Appreciation - a 3 minute video with Abraham (Esther Hicks) audio Love Without Conditions - check out Cindy's blog Optimist Creed - 2:10 minute video Get Back Up, Nick Vujicic - a 5:18 minute video that really helps you understand gratitude on a day to day basis. Uplifting Inspiration - a 4:35 video. We like the video, but are not familiar with the website or product listed at the end.
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Bucket List #1
by Cindy Shelton
I had no expectations of Yellowstone other than it being a National Park. I entered the park, and was immediately overcome by its beauty. There were majestic trees, snow capped mountains, meadows, beautiful valleys, and the freshest of air. The day I entered the 
park the weather was constantly changing as I drove through rain, snow, and sunshine.
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I have to confess that I am a tree nut. It is almost unbearable
when I think about trees being felled or catching on fire. And because of the enormous Yellowstone fire that occurred many years ago, I had decided not to go back for a while. My
heart was prepared for disappointment. So my first day in the park was
poignant, amazing, and joyful all at the same time. To me there were
scenes everywhere of devastation, renewal, awesome beauty and hope. I
realized that no matter how large the initial destruction, nature does
renew itself and over time paints a whole new picture.
Since I am an artist I was constantly framing pictures everywhere I
traveled. There were the geysers, bubbling mud holes, and sometimes
steam just popping out of nowhere. It seemed
My excitement always grew when I saw cars pulled off to the side of the
road, because I knew that signified an unfolding animal scene. On one hill there was a herd of mama elk calling to their babies in a
primal mother tone. From the road we peered down into a green valley
where we watched a mother wolf feed her 5 young cubs.What a treat!Then I got caught behind a buffalo mass moving along the pavement in a way that said, "This is my park not yours!" It was annoying, but cool.
more...
"A thousand Yellowstone wonders are calling, 'Look up and down and round about you!'" John Muir - 1898 |
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Is Little Fluffy Really Psychic?
I know everyone thinks their pet is special, but is little Fluffy really psychic? Years ago I read a very interesting book by Rupert Sheldrake "Dogs that Know When Their Owners are Coming Home". Sheldrake has studied natural sciences at Cambridge, philosophy at Harvard, and obtained a PhD. from Cambridge in biosciences. As he takes a look at our relationships with animals, he not only recounts amusing stories, but relays more scientific proof that pets are more than
"Seven years after she acquired Carlo, my daughter went to teacher training college and rang us infrequently. However, when the phone did ring and it was Marian,... Carlo would bound up the stairs (the phone was on the half landing) before I had picked up the receiver. There was no way that this cat could have known my daughter was to ring us. It was a standing joke when he bounded up the stairs that Marian was on the other end of the line. He never did this at any other time and was not allowed upstairs anyway. " [Dogs that Know When Their Owners are Coming Home, p. 149} more ...
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Baxter Speaks
My friend Jewls has this huge multi-colored Akita named Baxter who is also a therapy dog. She would take him to children’s hospital to cheer up the kids with extended stays. One day Jewls decided to take him to a Pet Psychic who was teaching a class on how to communicate with your animal. She told me that her dog was so excited after class when he was able to telepathically talk with others and for them to hear him. Well, I thought that was a nice story, but I don’t know how much I believe. So, I am over at her house and we were catching up on girl talk. When all of a sudden a loud booming voice in my head said “Let me In”. It startled me so badly that I leaped out of the chair, and immediately looked for Baxter. I had not realized he was outside and now wanted back in. Wow, could he talk.
by Cindy Shelton
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If you have some amazing pet stories and would like to share them, send to cynthia@cynthialeeshelton.com and put pet story in the subject line. If we choose your story, we will send you a notice by email. |
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flowing water deposited multi-colored minerals. These formed rock like terraces that were birthed over eons of years. The running water over the terraces was constantly changing due to earthquakes. So what it looks like one year could be different the next. One of the most amazing water features in the park was Yellowstone Falls. This famous waterfall tumbled 308 feet amidst a setting filled with stunning rock formations of vibrant colors. It seemed alive with pinks, corals, yellows, and rust colors. An artist's dream.
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One afternoon, I watched Old Faithful perform as if it was a talented vaudeville act. It would tease me, by shooting out a little stream, then a little more. Then it would wait to build the suspense. As the audience and myself waited in anticipation, Old Faithful shot high up in majestic splendor to a round of oohs and ahs. At Yellowstone, even the signs were entertaining. There was a sign that said "Road closed due to POOP conditions". Does that mean the road was covered a mile high in animal poop? I never did find out, but I snapped a picture as proof of what I had seen. 
This park was such a surprise to me. I have been in many National Parks
and it was definitely one of the best. I would encourage anyone who has
never been to this park to place it high on your "bucket list". Yellowstone 
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The most memorable sighting for me were the 2 bears that I was compelled to photograph despite Cindy's warnings. There was no way I was going to pass up this opportunity. There were about 20 of us photographing with 2 rangers watching over our safety. The bears were contentedly lunching across the road until they looked up and saw this gaggle of people. Maybe they got tired of being stared at or maybe we just looked like a better lunch, I don't know.
But in a heartbeat they were quickly upon us. I could hear the ranger
saying as if from a distance "Move quickly, but DON'T RUN". My legs did
not get the message and they took me as fast as they could to the
safety of the car where Cindy smuggly sat. Okay, maybe she was a little
bit right.
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Fluffy Continuation Then, there is the rabbit Blackie who would go into a frenzy, running around his owner's legs each time to alert the owner that she was about to have a seizure.
Sheldrake's book is filled with scientific studies and anecdotal tales such as these that at the very least make you question previous perceptions of animals. Is Fluffy really psychic? I don't know. Why don't you ask Fluffy! |
Gratitude Teleconference Forum Join Cindy and Lexi as we lead a community discussion on gratitude. Everyone that receives the Spiritual Potpourri Newsletter is invited.
Date: 07/18/2009 (Saturday)
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| Cynthia Lee Shelton is a licensed social worker who combines tradtional cognitive therapy with insight she receives from her angels and guides. Lexi Genewein is currently self employed and has owned several businesses in the past. She is also an artist. | ||||||
| Copyright 2009 | ||||||
like around every corner
were gorgeous mountain ranges or lush peaceful valleys. And of course,
like Cindy I found the waterfalls, streams, and ponds breath-taking. The park at times felt so ancient that I just knew over the next hill
would be dinosaurs, cavemen, or at least a few Native Americans holding
a tribal dance.
furry little lap warmers. Here is an excerpt from the book.
So for me Yellowstone Park spelled surprise. I was seduced by the ongoing beauty, and the constant renewal combined with the ancient history of the oldest park in America. I loved this park as a child and as a young adult. But, I probably loved it more this time around, because there is a different appreciation that comes with age. Life is great and full of surprises and everywhere I looked Yellowstone sang to me that song. 