Muse
Apr 25, 2017
The Camera Man and Other Relationship Revelations: A Short Story
Introduction
I didn’t know the purpose of the event at the local golf club. Just that Brent, a new acquaintance, had sent me an email, suggesting I attend. My instincts told me this would be a different group of people and I’m always eager to make new friends.
I had relocated to the Island four years prior, from a small town in south Jersey. I left my beautiful art studio; Sam, a rescue dog who lovingly howled whenever I asked him to talk to me; Dr. Cat, my huge tortoise shell tabby I had adopted at an ASPCA event in Minneapolis; an impressive social life with the community leaders who were of substantial means and gave freely to the college; and, my husband, the president.
Leaving was a challenge, in many ways. Yet, it was the best decision I had made in a very long time. It was liberating, to say the least. However, without a doubt, leaving was formidable…but, not for the reasons one would assume. Let me explain.
(To continue, click on the chapters below.)
My art studio was less than a year old.
I am passionate about passion.
“What a revolting development this is!”
But, alas, before the afternoon was complete, the Camera Man came unglued.
Thank you, Camera Man!
Note: I have tried to recreate events, locales and conversations from my memories of them. In order to maintain their anonymity in some instances, I have changed the names of individuals and places, I may have changed some identifying characteristics and details such as physical properties, occupations and places of residence.
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Apr 24, 2017
Our greatest fear...
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson
Often said to have been quoted in a speech by Nelson Mandela.
The source is Return to Love by Marianne Williamson, Harper Collins, 1992. —Peter McLaughlin
I’ve been travelling abroad for three years to date. I'm blogging, posting information about my books, adding fun podcasts and wonderful photos all over Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia.
DiannAbroad.com captures my experiences as a senior solo nomad, as well as my transformation from a homeowner living in Florida... to owning nothing, except a guitar, a laptop, a tennis racket and no more clothes than fit in a medium size suitcase. And, thankfully, the transformation continues to morph into even more independence and a greater acceptance that my spirit needs to be free and it is gratefully nestled deep into my DNA.
Alas, now I breathe easier, even as I see incredible breathtaking sights! I travel lighter, despite the weight of my suitcase, guitar and backpack. I love more fully. My play is more childlike, undeterred by my senior status.
At the time of this writing, I am taking a Charter for Compassion course entitled "Awakening the Sage Within." Sage-ing® (aka Spiritual Eldering or Conscious Aging) provides a model for living a different, more satisfying way to grow older - to enjoy a conscious, compassionate, and joyful latter part of life. This course provides experiences that require me to reflection and dig deep into self evaluation. Happily, I am even more in touch with my passion to travel and write. It truly is a spiritual journal and adds to my spiritual journey.
I'm preparing to teach an online course "Opening Your Heart to Compassionate Travel." Travel, it is well known, is transformative in a variety of ways. However, for significant, meaningful transformation, the traveler must have an open heart. That is, a heart receptive to tolerance, empathy, appreciation and, ultimately, compassion for others and the cultures in which they live. Without this, travel is mere sight seeing...a missed opportunity to embrace our complicated, challenging world and to learn to love one another.
Come join me and write to me as I continue my journey and mirror March Proust’s ideal: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
May 13, 2017
"When a woman is SOUL EMPOWERED, nothing and no-one can hold her." - Judith Kusel
"She is free to fly where she wishes and how she wishes too. She is free to love and be loved - but always with the full understanding that she is not meant to stand in anyone's shadow, but in her OWN LIGHT.
She is meant to shine, as she serves with all that she has, and she walks the highest paths of truth, authenticity, integrity, for she cannot do any other.
She knows how to put healthy boundaries down, and where she begins and ends, and therefore will not allow anyone to walk all over her.
A soul-empowered woman, has a vision, a purpose, a calling greater than the sum total of self, and she has an open heart, and every day she asks for her heart center to be opened up more and more, so that she can learn to love unconditionally, herself and others.
A soul empowered woman knows what she wants, and she will not settle for less than what she is WORTH.
She is also not afraid to walk her path alone if need be, for she would rather be out there creating the best life for herself, and blaze new trails for humanity, than to shackled and chained, and therefore then have others dictate her destiny. She learnt from all those past lives where this happened, and she is now transcending that, and finding her wings, and flying free.
She is at home within herself, and therefore does not seek validation OUTSIDE of herself anymore, but knows that all she is, and all she is becoming is there, within her, her own soul and her infinite Creation as Soul by the Divine.
She is radiant.
She is beautiful - for her INNER beauty is boundless and therefore eternal and she does not need to prove this to anyone."
Thank you, Judith Kusel, for your inspirational writing!
Are YOU soul empowered? Tell me about it? Let's start a dialogue.
Please click on the BUTTON below.
Thank you, in advance, for sharing.
