I love you!

I love you! The most wonderful, uplifting phrase in all the world. It does matter what language you say it in, it always has the same effect. So, how often do you say it? Do you say it enough to those in your life that matter? Could you say it to a complete stranger?

I tell my wife, child and family members that I can that I love them. We close all our conversations with "Love ya, bye!". I even tell my dog, cats and garden plants that I love them. But I am like a majority of people out there who probably would not and could not tell someone I do not know that I love them. I mean the animals and plants will not try to have me arrested or give me weird looks. OK, so the cats give me weird looks all the time but they are cats, they just do that.

So, how can I say "I love you" without actually saying it. Actually, there are numerous ways I can do this and I will share a few of them with you.

1. I can just smile at people. A smile can say "I love you". It has at least a similar effect as uttering that wonderful phrase. When you smile at someone, you are letting them know that you care. And if they smile back then you have connected on the soul level.

2. I can just think "I love you". Sure, our thoughts are creative. That energy is released into the Universe and does have a positive affect, so why not walk around and think "I love you" about everything, especially yourself. It is the energy that is most important here so release your "love" energy for all the world to feel. Quite frankly we do not tell ourselves enough that we love who we are. Like I have always said it all begins with us, so go ahead, tell yourself that you love yourself.

3. I can give a gift to someone, donate to charity or volunteer for a worthy cause. All of these actions say "I love you" and just like thinking it, you spread the energy.

4. I can just look into someones eyes and with a look of love, I can connect and share the "love" energy, so words are not really even necessary. Did you ever do that? Just look deep into someones eyes and connect with their very soul. Wow, that is always a powerful moment.

5. I can write a poem, song or letter in which I express my love for someone, something or even the entire world.

6. Finally, I can just be loving towards myself and others. I can give a compliment, open a door, help someone load groceries in their car. I can get a massage, meditate, take a walk or eat my favorite desert.

There are as many ways that you and I can spread love either by actually saying "I love you" or doing and thinking loving things. The possibilities are as endless as the Universe.

So, let's all go out there and spread love in every way we can. I know it will have an immediate impact on you and the world.

I leave you today with this quote:

"Don't spend your precious time asking 'Why isn't the world a better place?' It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is 'How can I make it better?' To that there is an answer." - Leo F. Buscaglia

I LOVE YOU!

Harry

Copyright 2008, Harry Shade, All Rights Reserved

It's the little things!

I have often said that it is finding the joy in the simple, little things in life, that make the most difference and can provide the greatest happiness. Today I want to talk about two of those simple things that make my life so beautiful.

First of all, I want to tell you about my friend, Edward. Edward is a greeter at our local Meijer Department Store, which is a department store and grocery all wrapped in one. (I believe WalMart calls them Supercenters.) Edward is probably in his late 60's to early 70's and emigrated to the U.S., the son of Greek and Egyptian parents. The one thing that stands out about Edward is he always has a smile on his face and not any ordinary smile but rather one that lights up his whole face and is one of the most angelic smiles that I have probably ever seen. There is even a twinkle in his eye.

Now for most people going to the store is not exactly their idea of fun but I truly look forward to seeing Edward. I know earlier I called him a friend but he is more like an angel on Earth. That man brightens up my day every time I see him. I do not know how much he gets paid but he is priceless to me. The way I look at it, Meijer definitely gets their money's worth when Edward is there. I am not the only one Edward has this effect on because I have watched him interacting with other Meijer customers and by their reactions he has many people who look forward to being in Edward's presence.

I do recall several weeks ago that I did not see Edward for about 14 days and I prayed that he was OK and in my heart I knew he must have been on vacation. Well, when I walked in that store and saw him there, I was both relieved and excited. I asked him where he had been and in his broken English he told me he had been on vacation. I was thrilled to see him again and now I can't wait to go to Meijer to see if my angel, Edward is there. I'll tell you another way that Meijer was smart to emply this man. I probably go to that store more than I normally would simply because of Edward.

The next thing is simply playing Frisbee with my dog, Toby. It is so hilarious and joyous to see him get so excited when I ask him if he wants to go play "Frisbee". And the pure joy on his face when he is running back after catching another throw is absolutely priceless. It's funny it does not cost any money to go to the park and play with Toby however the sometimes overwhelming feelings of love and joy I get from it are without a doubt worth more than all the money in the world.



If you want to live a fulfilled and balanced life, seek out the simple things that bring you joy and spend as much time in their presence as you possibly can and when you cannot physically be in their presence, carry them in your heart and they will always be with you.

I leave you today with this quote:

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

Copyright 2008, Harry Shade, All rights reserved.

What are you attracting into your life?

I spoke with someone who called the other day and wanted to run something past me. She was continuing to have some issues with a friend of hers. This friend was constantly correcting her in a very negative fashion. She had tried over a very lengthy time to ask the other party to not be so mean spirited about her "constructive criticism", to no avail. She even went as far as to try and remove this person from her life but always seemed to draw this person into her life.

I listened to the story and as compassionate I was about her situation (I had heard passionate complaints from this person about the very same situation on other occasions.) I just had to ask some very direct questions:

"Why do keep drawing this person back into your life?"

"Why do you feel the need to have her in your life?"

"What about you feels the need to be criticized in such a negative way?"

"Why do you need to have someone tell you your not right or good enough, etc?"

"Why can't you let her go?"

You see, we attract everything to us, be they people, places, things and/or experiences. We do this through our thoughts both conscious and unconscious. We do it because there is a lesson that we need to learn, a choice we need to make or they have attracted us into their life. Yes, others attract us into their lives for the very same reasons. I have said many times that we are both student and teacher.

Where most people have a problem with what I am saying is this makes them responsible for what is going on in their lives. If you can get past the "hurt" of the ego and look at your life objectively, you cannot help but see that what I am saying is the truth. Now, if you are not "learning" anything and you keep attracting the same things into your life, then quite frankly, you are choosing to not learn. Everything we do has choices and consequences attached to them.

After a few minutes of conversing and she providing answers to my questions, she said she wanted to cut ties with this person but felt guilty about it. I then asked:

"Why do you not think that cutting ties with this person is not an act of love?"

There was an "aha" moment right there. I could feel it and hear it in her voice.

You see we also let fear control how we look at things. Fear, guilt, anxiety, hate, prejudices, etc, all can cloud our thinking and judgement. Here is a situation where one person is in emotional pain and is so concerned with the guilt they will feel for getting away from the pain, that they would rather endure the pain. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, too many of us are too familiar with it. Getting yourself out of a detrimental relationship is not selfish, it is self preservation.

Is that not an act of love? Not only is it an act of love, it is for both parties. If you release someone from your life and thank them for their friendship, lesson, experiences whatever they have provided to you and if you can see how you have been good for each other but the time is now to part from one another, then it is an act of love, pure and simple. And no you do not have to verbally express these things to the other party just be grateful in your heart and release them or release the pain or whatever you need to release.

Today I leave you with this quote: "Bad times have a value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

That's all for today!

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

Copyright 2008, Harry Shade, All rights reserved.

A Book Review, "Zero Limits" by Dr. Joe Vitale & Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len

Before I begin the review I do have to say that not having electricity for a little over four days last week, while not allowing me the opportunity to work at my home office, certainly provided time for me to catch up on my reading and one of the books I read was "Zero Limits". Reading that book has been some of the most productive time I have spent in a long, long time.

I have read literally hundreds of self-help, philosophy, spiritual and religious books but before I read "Zero Limits, " by Dr. Joe Vitale and Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, master teacher of the updated Ho’oponopono system, I had never heard of the Hawaiian Ho'oponopono system.

I was not too far into the book when I filled with both intrigue and some frustration. I was so intrigued that I did not put the book down until I finished it. It took me about three hours to complete it but what I learned will be with me for a lifetime.

Even though I had always knew and practiced that I could not change anyone else, I had always thought that I could at least influence their decisions with my training and guidance. I was not prepared to hear that whatever I encountered in my life was a lesson for something I had to clear from myself, not them. Sure, I know that everything I encounter is a mirror unto myself, I just never had it put to me so eloquently and simply.

Dr. Len is truly an outstanding and wise teacher and Dr. Vitale brings this method to the masses with such integrity and love. I am now practicing Ho'opnonpono everyday and looking for a workshop by Dr. Len where I can experience more of this wonderful system.

One of the most beautiful things about the system is it's relative simplicity. Dr. Len says that he is constantly clearing and that by working on himself he sees changes happen around him. What does he do to "clear" himself and what is the basics of Ho'oponopono. These four statements that you repeat silently to yourself.

1. I love you.
2. I'm sorry.
3. Please forgive me.
4. Thank you.

That's it. This is what Dr. Len did to successfully treat patients locked up in a prison ward for the criminally insane without even seeing them. All he did was read their files and used the system to clear himself. The rest as they say is history.

I highly recommend you get this book and expose yourself to this beautiful system for self improvement.

That's all for today!

Blessings!

Harry