Marilynne Rudick: Live Like Sisyphus

Marilynne Rudick: Live Like Sisyphus

This morning, I managed to topple a plant my wife thought she had made topple-proof. You see, I’d done it before. “How’d you do that?” she asked. I didn’t know. These things happen in ways I cannot explain or even understand.

When I had almost refilled the pot, the plant fell over again, which made me angrier. “Damn it,” I said in a tone that reminded me of my Dad’s voice. My Dad lives on not only in me, but also in my sister Marilynne Rudick. Like our father, Marilynne refuses to let a disease define who she is. My sister lives as full a life as she can imagine despite her M.S. My Dad did the same with polio.

After refilling the pot the second time, I remembered my sister had just fallen yesterday. She broke her leg and needed surgery while traveling in Spain. I realized I had no business feeling sorry for myself. And I decided I could forgive Marilynne and her husband Bob if, for a brief instant, they felt the same.

Marilynne, at age 68, and Bob left for an extended vacation to learn Spanish extensively and explore the country. Before she left, Marilynne announced, “I’m feeling good. I can do this, and I want to do this.” Despite the fall, I know that Marilynne and Bob will pick themselves up, dust themselves off and continue their climb, like Sisyphus.

The story of Sisyphus comes from Greek mythology. He was punished for his self-aggrandizing craftiness and deceitfulness by being forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill for eternity, since the boulder would always roll back down. He had to repeat this chore forever.

The ancient Greeks saw Sisyphus as eternally punished. Albert Camus felt this was the human condition: You can live in despair or take a leap of faith and climb again. I have no doubt Marilynne will never allow herself to be defined by the limitations of her disease. She’ll rise and rise again. And I know Bob does everything in his power to support her with loving care.

Thank you, Marilynne and Bob. Like Marilynne, I try not to allow myself to be limited unnecessarily by whatever that comes my way. I try to keep the faith that someday I’ll reach the mountaintop. And like Bob, I wish to do embody character, responsibility, rectitude and dignity. I wish to exhibit a sense of what is right to my wife, my family and everyone I come in contact with.

Behind this good writer is a great editor; Mark Bloom. Learn more about Mark's talents at 

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Another Train: The Poozies

I know it’s hard
When you get confused
You can crown yourself with fear
And you feel you cannot move
You’re building worlds
That don’t exist
Imagination plays the worst tricks
There’s another train
There always is
Maybe the next one is yours
Get up and climb aboard
Another train

Trevor Lewis: Tuned In

 Trevor Lewis: Tuned In

I met Trevor Lewis by chance when we were paired up for a one-on-one following attending a business networking event. We traded our gifts. I shared ideas for marketing his business and gave him the names of some people who shared his values. In return, he did an emotion clearing for me. It became clear his intuitive skills went beyond my own. Yet unlike many who have exceptional abilities, he was humble and had a gift for empowering others rather than exalting himself.

After my emotion clearing, I discovered two potential printing companies for my business within one hour. Prior to that, I’d spent months unable to find the right one. When next I saw Trevor, I told him the story, and he spontaneously handed me the business card of the fellow I had decided to use for my printing. Without knowing why, he had intuitively put the card in his pocket just before meeting me.

I consider myself a highly sensitive person, but Trevor uses meditation and mindfulness to develop his abilities beyond anything I or anyone else can do. He’s served as a mentor and spiritual guide in my life’s journey. He listens and affirms my being and helps me find clarity and purpose in my life. If you’re interested in Trevor’s services, visit: www.thrivingempath.com.

Empath is a word used chiefly in science fiction, but it’s a word that describes Trevor Lewis. He’s a person with the paranormal ability to apprehend the mental or emotional state of another individual.

Thank you, Trevor; I wish to be tuned in like you. And just so there is no confusion: to be tuned in is to associate yourself with what’s happening or with your surroundings. Tune in!

Behind this good writer is a great editor; Mark Bloom. Learn more about Mark's talents at 

 Mark Bloom: Clear, concise online writing services

http://www.thrivingempath.com/

"Within You Without You" by the Beatles (the first British invasion)

We were talking about the space between us all
And the people who hide themselves behind a wall of illusion
Never glimpse the truth, then it's far too late, when they pass away
We were talking about the love we all could share
When we find it, to try our best to hold it there with our love
With our love, we could save the world, if they only knew

Try to realize it's all within yourself
No one else can make you change
And to see you're really only very small
And life flows on within you and without you

We were talking about the love that's gone so cold
And the people who gain the world and lose their soul
They don't know, they can't see, are you one of them?

When you've seen beyond yourself then you may find
Peace of mind is waiting there
And the time will come when you see we're all one
And life flows on within you and without you

Lance Kurland: Living in Harmony

Lance Kurland: Living in Harmony

 Lance creating magic with his music

When I moved to Asheville, North Carolina, in June 2014, one of the first people to reach out to me was Lance Kurland, an intuitive healer and collaborative singer/songwriter disguised as an insurance salesman. Lance defied all stereotypes of what it meant to sell insurance.

Lance shared an idea he had for creating passive income. Even if I never earn a cent from his idea, I’ll still appreciate his kindness and generosity. So I’d like to reciprocate by creating a way for Lance to have his passive income. Think of it as an insurance policy in case his way doesn’t pan out.

Like me, Lance had learned Reiki, an energy healing technique. But while I was content to follow the principles, Lance created his own way of doing it. When he demonstrated his techniques, I could tell he really felt the energy. I found myself wondering what the world would be like if Lance fully devoted himself to healing others with his energy work and his music. He’s an extraordinary man.

By the way, an intuitive healer is one who relies on the use of all five senses to locate and correct imbalances in the energetic flow within the body. Similarly, an energy healer uses different techniques to stimulate the body’s systems to self-heal. Both healing modalities facilitate spiritual growth as well.

I’ve learned to trust Lance’s ability to judge the character of other people. I know I’d get along with any of his friends. As an example, I once met a “successful businesswoman” who, without speaking with me directly, became indignant that I had no desire to hire her to take my business to a place I neither wanted nor needed. I questioned myself repeatedly after that meeting, seeking some fault of my own.

Later, I learned that Lance had somehow offended this woman when they met. If the man devoted to creating harmony in this world had upset her, then something must be wrong with her, not me. Thank you, Lance; I wish to live in harmony with the world, just like you.

When I say “harmony,” I’m referring to an orderly or pleasing combination of elements in a whole — in other words, the order and harmony of the universe. Harmony is also a combination of simultaneous musical notes that produce pleasing chords and chord progressions.

Behind this good writer is a great editor; Mark Bloom. Learn more about Mark's talents at 

 Mark Bloom: Clear, concise online writing services

People Who Make Music Together by Paul Hindemith

"People who make music together, cannot be enemies, cannot be enemies, at least while the music lasts. We are friends forever when we sing together; the whole world is better when we sing. So let's sing forever, hold our hands together, make the whole world better, come and sing."

People Who Make Music Together

Lance Kurland sings for inspiration