Patience, Grasshopper

This week’s message is very short, just a sentence, though it’s certainly one heckuva packed sentence. It has to do with patience, something that I’ve (and I’m sure almost everybody) has struggled with from time to time. It can be frustrating, consuming and downright discouraging when you have a goal that doesn’t occur in the timeframe you had in mind. And we Americans live in such an instant gratification society; patience isn’t always our strongest virtue.

I also know that there are times when desire is so intense that it overshadows everything else. When this happens, it leaves little room for joy in the present moment. But isn’t present moment actually all we’ve got? Life is just one long string of present moments, so if we’re always thinking about future desires without any thought of what’s going on right now, we’re not really living at all.

If you find yourself feeling frustrated or unhappy that something in particular hasn’t yet come your way, take a look around and see what you presently have that is working. No matter how tough things are, we can always find something. Whatever is it, make a practice of appreciating something in the present moment. For instance, do you despise shopping, but need to do a few things? Maybe the checker has a pleasant disposition. Allow yourself to appreciate that. Take time to notice flowers, sunshine, rain, a smile, words of a loved one… There are so many little things along the course of a day to be grateful for. They don’t always have to be loud, grand or accompanied by thunderclap. Gathering the small stuff is what makes life sweet. Then when the loud, grand thunderclaps occur, that’s just icing on the cake.

Wishing you extra-large slices of pie, and a life filled with plenty of frosting.

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From Over There:

“Only through a desire to enjoy the journey will you have patience to endure the path.”

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Featured Guest: The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle

To make the journey into the Now we will need to leave our analytical mind and its false created self, the ego, behind. From the very first page of this extraordinary book, we move rapidly into a significantly higher altitude where we breathe a lighter air. We become connected to the indestructible essence of our Being, “The eternal, ever present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life that are subject to birth and death.” 

Although the journey is challenging, Eckhart Tolle uses simple language and an easy question and answer format to guide us. A word of mouth phenomenon since its first publication, The Power of Now is one of those rare books with the power to create an experience in readers, one that can radically change their lives for the better. To learn more, please visit: eckharttolle.com/books/now

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If you'd like more information, to book an appointment, or check out the current class schedule, please visit molliejensen.com.

Laugh It Up

My next-door neighbor is a character and a half. She often has me laughing without even meaning to. As I write this Sunday morning I can hear her next door playing the piano and singing at the top of her lungs while cracking herself up at the same time. She’s having a rip-roaring time and it’s hilarious to hear. I can hear her laughing, which makes me laugh, and also makes me realize how much I enjoy her as a neighbor. I can feel a sense of connection without her being in the same room.  

Laughter is so infectious.  We’ve all had those experiences while in a group where one person begins to laugh, then everyone starts laughing and before you know it you can’t stop. You get to laughing so hard that your belly aches and you have a hard time catching your breath, yet it feels so good to get out. It really is a great form of release and can unify people in no time.

Finding the humor in day-to-day life is so necessary for survival on this planet. So many challenging things are thrown our way, and when life feels out of control just getting up in the morning can be a daunting task. Keeping a sense of humor, and trying to find the levity amongst the turmoil can make such a huge difference in whether you allow yourself to sink or swim. And remember, your laughter just might be exactly what someone else needs to hear to help lift them up.

Let’s get the ripple going…

With Love.

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From Over There:

“Lightness and joy are a divine state of being. To attain this state one must be open to looking at life through the lens of compassion and humor. Humor mixed with love and humility creates a state that deeply connects one another soul to soul.  Humor that brings one to laughter releases tension in the body and mind, and promotes positivity.  The greater continuation of this state of being one can achieve, greater the happiness.”

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Featured Guest: Camp Winnarainbow

Camp Winnarainbow provides a training ground to nurture leaders for a peaceful, harmonious and sustainable world by teaching responsibility for one’s own behavior and developing confidence, inner security and appropriate self-expression. We encourage respect for oneself, others, and the environment while valuing the uniqueness of each individual, within the diversity of racial, cultural, economic, and religious backgrounds that comprise our camp community.

Our performance philosophy emphasizes taking risks in a physically and emotionally safe environment. Drawing from the world of circus and theatrical arts, we teach timing, balance, and a sense of humor. We honor the creative spirit of each child in an atmosphere of approval and mutual encouragement. To learn more, please visit: campwinnarainbow.org.

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If you'd like more information, to book an appointment, or check out the current class schedule, please visit molliejensen.com.

I Reject That

This week’s post is not about one of my cats. I figured that yet another cat related post and I’m swiftly heading toward crazy cat lady status, and I’m not quite ready for that badge of honor yet. Give me a couple of years or so on that one.  So when I sat down to write this I had something somewhat in mind, but as often occurs “they” had something else to say.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner I find it interesting (or maybe more appropriately, timely) that this week’s message is about rejection. I mean come on, nobody likes rejection or feeling rejected. For that matter, I doubt most people like doing the rejecting either. It just feels icky, and if you let it, can give your confidence a rattling. So in this world of mixed up people trying to awkwardly connect, how do we avoid it? I’m not sure that it’s entirely possible to do, but I do think that we can take the sting down a notch or two.

Rejection comes in all forms – work, dating, social groups, you name it – and it all hurts. For this newsletter, and in honor of the rapidly approaching Hallmark card holiday, we’ll look at it from the perspective of forging new social interactions. The trick is in how you approach them. Do you have a plan mapped out within 30 seconds of what you want to happen, or do you just go with the flow when meeting someone new? We’ve all had those moments when we’ve been instantly smitten, as in “Man that guy/girl is cuuuuuuute!”, but that usually has absolutely nothing to do with them as a person. And we haven’t even begun to know what odd idiosyncrasies (we all have them to varying degrees) lay beneath that gorgeous exterior. Not to mention prospective new friendships. Do you size people up instantly, or let them reveal themselves in their own time?

Such delicate creatures we can be. If we take the time to understand the myriad ways we all approach new interactions, maybe, just maybe we can be more forgiving and open to connecting, and not so quick to judge those that don’t answer back.

Happy Valentine’s Day to y’all whether your Valentine be a spouse, partner, child, or yes, a cat.

With Love.

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From Over There:

“Feelings of rejection come when there is attachment to a particular outcome. If one remains unattached, one will be more flexible when life presents a different result than what was expected or desired. To stay unattached is to first ask yourself why you desire attention from a certain individual. What are the motives behind the desire? If the desire is to fill a sense of emptiness within, then this individual will be viewed from a false perspective. This approach ultimately has potential for both parties to become dissatisfied.  If one finds the desired individual genuinely interesting and like-minded then the potential relationship is approached from a much improved vantage point. From this more empowered place of attraction one increases opportunities to connect with individuals of the same mindset, and will have less attachment to whether the focus of desire reciprocates the intended connection. It is through this simple intent to create connection – without a preconceived desired outcome – that opens for more truthful and long-lasting relationships.”

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Featured Guest: Rainier Maria Rilke

This week, one of my favorite quotes by Rainier Maria Rilke:

“I’m so glad you are here…it helps me realize how beautiful my world is.”

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If you'd like more information, to book an appointment, or check out the current class schedule, please visit molliejensen.com.

Not-So-Wild Things

In the last post I talked about the passing of my old cat and little buddy Curtis. This week I want to give a shout out to our other cat, Abby. She’s a sweet little rescue from the Humane Society that came into our lives about four years ago. A tiny little thing, she was dropped off at the shelter with her set of newly born kittens, herself barely out of kittenhood at the time. You could tell she was streetwise, and was more trusting of other animals than humans. Unfortunately, I’m sure she had good reason.

We were very patient with her, didn’t force affection or expect her to be the instant love that Curtis was. She had her own mind, which usually meant spending most of the time outdoors away from us, no doubt hunting some poor unsuspecting critters. After the first year she started to warm up, allowing petting and actually sitting by us here and there. Although she may not ever be a full-fledged lap cat, she has grown very fond and trusting of me. She lets me know when it’s time to give a good ear scratching, and follows me around at night until I get the message that it’s time to go to bed. She’ll now lay curled up beside me, and since the recent passing of Curtis (who even on his last day was stealing her food), she has become a bit cuddlier and more relaxed.

Although Miss Abby has a wild streak, it’s also very apparent that she’s quite happy living with us and now enjoys human contact and love. After the rough start she had, I’m more than happy to give it to her. Bringing these little creatures into the family can enrich their life and yours. It’s our responsibility to give them the safe, nurturing environment they deserve if we decide to let them into our home. This week’s message is a re-post from a couple years back. Give it a read and then go kiss your cat, or dog, or rabbit, or goat, or whatever. They’ll be happy you did.

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From Over There:

"It is the responsibility of humankind to accept caring for the well-being of domesticated animals. Animals that are domesticated by humans and kept as pets have received conditioning that gives them some human-like qualities and neurosis that make them more vulnerable than their counterparts in the wild. The domesticated animal must be treated as a member of the family unit in order to feel safe, and able to interact in a positive way. 

The canine is the most human-like and vulnerable of the domesticated animal, in general, and would have a more difficult time adapting back into the wild, unlike the feline which, for the most part, could adapt quickly. Mistreatment and neglect of these domesticated pets is equivalent to abandonment of a small child and should be treated with the same concern. They should not be viewed like their counterparts in the wild. This is the responsibility of humans who created this condition for these animals."

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Featured Guest: The Gentle BarnThe Gentle Barn rescues, rehabilitates and gives sanctuary to severely abused animals. It is also host to abused children, kids recovering from substance abuse, kids on probation, foster kids, and children and adults with mental, emotional, and physical challenges.
Through the interaction with animals, the kids learn forgiveness, courage, strength, leadership skills, trust, empathy, and kindness. The healing that takes place when the kids get together with the animals is miraculous. To learn more about The Gentle Barn, please visit gentlebarn.org.

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If you'd like more information, to book an appointment, or check out the current class schedule, please visit molliejensen.com.