Old Souls

    I'm sitting on my porch, as I often do during these sweet spring days, and I look up at the tree in my front yard. Truly an "old soul." Glorious in form and function, it's hundred plus years of life evidenced by the height and breadth of it. Branches reaching toward the sun and bark rippled with the folds of time. It is a wondrous thing, this monument to nature. A home for birds and bugs, shade for the weary, cleaning the air and providing nourishment for wildlife. Taking nothing more than it needs and giving so much. Oh, that we would be so wise! 

     As I study this beautiful tree, I'm reflecting back on this morning's gathering. Life is such a funny thing. Really it's just the flicker of a flame. A nanosecond in the hugeness of eternity. A blip on the radar. We are only here for a few precious years. Today's fellowship was a moment of clarity for me. An opportunity to pay tribute to all our beautiful female residents this Mother's Day, and to honor their families. A chance to look into the faces of those who have lived so much longer than I, and who are clearly nearing the last years of their journey. To gaze into the eyes of my elders, to hold a hand, listen to, hug, kiss and thank each one for the blessing they are in my life. These precious "old souls" teach me something new every day, and I am filled with gratitude. For them, for my life & for the opportunity I have each day to serve.

     Breathe in this life my friends! And when you breathe out, be sure you are breathing life INTO those around you. Take no more than you need and give abundantly. I pray we all may live our lives as nobly as the Maple in my yard. 

God Bless, Namaste, and as always SHARE THE LOVE. ~P.Frye

Cameras, Selfies and Real Self Esteem

I kind of envy today's youth. With the invent of the cell phone camera & Facebook/Twitter/Instagram, etc, girls today have more confidence and awareness of what they look like. When I was a little baby we had Kodak Instamatic cameras, but the film was very expensive. When we did use a "regular" camera, you had no way of knowing how the shot looked (or even remembering WHAT shots were taken) until you dropped off the film at the local pharmacy or Five-n-Dime that shipped them off for development. Picture taking of an official nature was about the only way history was being recorded. Picture Day at school. Family photos with the photographer from Olan Mills (remember when they came to the home?) and then later at the JC Penney portrait studio. Photo day was an event to be dreaded, and you still didn't know how they'd turn out until they were developed. Then, there began to spring up places that did the development IN THE STORE. You still had to wait for days, sometimes weeks, and then go in to pick them up. Again, COST was always a factor and there was yet the element of surprise. ("I don't remember taking that picture!"). 

By now I was fully aware that I was "fat & unattractive" & cameras were to be avoided. I was sure that I always looked as hideous as a rushed, underpaid, bad photographer always captured me looking. Yes. I have/had mirrors. But obviously my vision of how I looked was not reflected in the yearly photos scheduled to ruin my life. 

Fast forward to today's culture. The "Selfie" (next to photos of food and fashion) is THE main photo shared on Social Media. But I can't get into it. I've become the bad photographer and still loathe any snapshot of me (unless it's in a group I'm hiding behind.) I guess the ratio of "Selfies" to other shots in my profile will be the gage of whether or not I ever truly develop any self esteem. 

In the meantime, I'll keep sharing Memes designed by someone else and reposting shots of great food I've made. 

We are ONE

The world has lead us to believe that "I am alone in this; a single entity who must fend for myself. An individual soul left to my own devices and solitary- an island in the storm." We feel abandoned. The walls close in, and we become frustrated and claustrophobic. We turn those thoughts and judgements in on ourselves, like a knife on an enemy. 

When we realize that everyone is an extension of ourselves we become WE and not ME. In our togetherness there is power, a palpable energy of motion toward the positive. When we focus on US our eyes are opened, our viewpoint expanded, and our hearts are filled with love and compassion. The scripture reads, "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." But it should also read, "Whatsoever ye do unto yourself, so also is it done unto all mankind." In other words, BE KIND TO YOURSELF. You and I are one. We are all one, and we must unlearn the me-centered, isolated, destructive ways of the world. We must recognize that ALL things are sacred. That the breath of God gave life to all, and none is less than any other. If we are to save our world, make better our circumstances, improve our relations and preserve our resources, we MUST be kind always and in ALL ways. 

God bless, Namaste and as always SHARE THE LOVE. ~P.Frye

Easter and Resurrection

Resurrection. A recurring theme today and throughout history. In nature, in religious texts, in our daily experiences- whether we realize it or not. Every day we are resurrected from the death of sleep and awaken a new being, able to mold and shape a new experience for ourselves. Our humanity, so "real" and permanent to us, is actually a pliable, changeable, ever-renewing resurrection. Each morning we have a choice of who and what we will be. When we allow the news, media, gossip, friend's drama, family stress and career pressure to consume us, we are shrouded in a fog of doom & gloom; a perpetual state of zombie-hood. The walking dead. We begrudgingly pry our eyelids open and go through the motions- motivated by fear, shame and panic. When morning comes we can consciously decide to "give up the ghost", essentially die to our old ways. To exhale the stale, rancid stench of death and breathe in the love of God. To be born again and start anew. It's not a one-time thing. Not a now-or-never event. Not an "either you choose it or loose it" plan. We can resurrect our life each and every day! It is a choice and entirely up to us. 

As a Christ-follower, today I celebrate the resurrection of He who lead the way.  But whatever your beliefs, I pray you have a beautiful Sunday. May this day be the day you come alive with LOVE, and let die the old, unhappy ways of your past. Live fearlessly. Live bravely. Live with LOVE and share it abundantly. God bless & Namaste. ~P.Frye

The American Dream

We have, as Americans, the mentality that life is a contest. That we are racing AGAINST each other to make the most money, have the nicest cars/homes, have the most prestigious degrees and occupations, or even just be the "favorite" child or employee. It is utter nonsense, and if you are still under the impression that this is a good thing, than you are sadly mistaken. Life is NOT a contest. If there are any losers, then we ALL lose. Life is a journey and humankind, animals, plants and the earth itself are ONE. We are all connected on a cellular level...on a spiritual plane unseen by the human eye. Ancient tribes and cultures have known this for centuries. That, in order to thrive and succeed, we must care for and uplift even the least of these! That every thing that breathes, crawls, grows and inhabits our world is, in essence, an extension of ourselves. But we Americans, in our pride and self-importance, have shunned this truth in the name of achieving "the American Dream." IT IS TIME WE HAD A NEW DREAM. A dream for the health and happiness of every person, every animal, every culture and ecosystem, every microbe on our planet be respected, revered and reverenced as a holy entity...WHOLE-LY a sacred piece of the oneness that IS US. It is time to wake up from the old American dream, and end the nightmare of our brothers and sisters. Dream with me of a better world, and let's work together to improve and enlighten the blessing that is this beautiful gift of LIFE.  

God Bless, Namaste, and as always, SHARE THE LOVE. ~P.Frye

We Have More Than Enough

What would happen if everyone spent more time thinking about the comfort and peace of others and less about their own? What if our first thought was for the starving masses rather than which restaurant at which we're going to eat? What if we thought of the homeless when we complain about our messy house? What if we remembered the unemployed when we gripe about our mundane 9 to 5? What if, instead of getting the new outfit (just 'cause it's so cute) we clothed another who has far less? Things are just things, but our souls are interconnected with every other being. There is no separation. We have bought into the idea that me and mine are why I am here and that the more I have or can buy/get/obtain the happier I'll be. It is a great lie. When even "the least of these" is deprived we are ALL bankrupt. The Great American Dream has become just a guise for the greed and corruption of corporations and governments. If they keep us afraid and selfish then we will continue to buy their GIVE-ME-MORE doctrine. More stuff. More medications. More food (GMO's filled with artificial this and preservative that), more cars and tv's and toys and things. An endless parade of objects that ultimately drain our resources and numb our senses. We are living a lie. We were designed by the Great Creator to BE more, not WANT more. We were designed to minister to one another. To be servants TO one another and to our Lord. If we can break the cycle, the  hypnotic trance we've allowed ourselves to slip into, we can take ownership of our world and create a beautiful life for EVERYONE. It is time to go from ME to WE. And it all begins with conscious thought. Comfort and peace is everyone's Divine birthright. And until we each take responsibility for that, then the light will continue to diminish more and more each day. Look into the eyes of the hungry child, the homeless woman, the jobless man. They are you. You are them. "There but for the grace of God go I." 

God Bless, Namaste, and as always, SHARE THE LOVE. ~P.Frye

It is TIME

2014 could be the year. It SHOULD be the year. By all accounts, it absolutely, without a doubt, unquestionably MUST be the year. The year I learn...no, LET me love myself. Yes, I'm successful in my career. Yes, I'm happily married. Yes, I am "beautiful". ( Wide, brown eyes with long lashes, naturally straight teeth, facial features symmetrical, nothing abnormally large or small or misshapen.)  But because I've spent most of my life being a "fat chic", I find myself saying the most ugly, hateful, downright mean things to myself. Things I would never say to another soul. And I judge my entire worth on how tightly or loosely my clothing fits. On how many chins I can count in a bad photograph. On the wiggle & jiggle of my lower biceps. Or how much extra boob squeezes out the side of my once-nicely-fitting bra. Would I judge an entire friendship or acquaintance based on such silly parameters? Never! And yet, my own worth is measured by the unattainable standards set by a society that has devalued women for centuries! Ridiculous! 

So this is the year. 2014 will be the year I stop hating my body. The year I begin to thank my body for being two legs that can run, jump, dance and play. Two arms that are strong, capable, caring and courageous. Feet with rhythm, muscles that work hard. Hands that play the piano, draw, write, create and build. A heart that has been weakened by the abuse of cigarettes and lack of exercise, but with the compassion and caring of Divine Love. The whole package...still young enough to make changes for health, all in the name of LOVING MYSELF. It will not be about a number on a scale. It will not be about the size on the label of my jeans. It will not be about fitting into someone else's idea of what I "should" look like. It will be about SHARING THE LOVE WITH MYSELF.  It will be all about me. By me. For me. Me and only me. 

I'm going to start saying "Thank you." when someone compliments me. I'm going to start speaking LOVE to myself and silence the dismissing, self-depricating terms I've thus far told myself. Even the skinny chics who I've rolled my eyes at when they've complained about a feature they didn't like about themselves. I'm sorry I did that. We are, each one of us, perfect & wonderful JUST THE WAY WE ARE. Sure, we can improve & love ourselves more fully. But acceptance of what we are NOW is the beginning of the journey. Accept it...it is TRUTH. And it's time that the truth set us free.

It's just frickin' time.

Amen?

GodBless, Namaste & as always... SHARE THE LOVE! ~P.Frye