NATIONAL FRIENDSHIP WEEK

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 'How about going to lunch in a half hour?' She would gas up and stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain.' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet... We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I'll let you know,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord..

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I sent this to you.

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask ' How are you?' Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say 'Hi?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away..... Life is not a race Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

It's National Friendship Week.. Show your friends how much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND. If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a circle of friends.

To those I have sent this to... I cherish our friendship and appreciate all you do.
'Life may not be the party we hoped for... but while we are here we might as well dance! - Anonymous

SNAP, CRACKLE, POP

SNAP, CRACKLE AND POP
Here it is January! The snow has melted and today it is rainy, windy and great to be by the fire crackling in my wood stove. However, as I was sitting looking into the fire a memory came to me of a hot - and I mean hot summer day in Houston, Texas with no air conditioning. In those days most people rarely had air conditioning. We had swamp coolers - or window fans where the water trickled over it. However, that is not necessarily my memory - only a side effect.

This was during the days of women wearing girdles to tuck their tummies in when all it did was push the excess fat up to the waist. I was working in Houston, Texas where the humidity was at a high level and I had worn a new girdle to work. Of course, the office had no air conditioning. The girdle was a new edition from Playtex, which was a rubber perforated girdle.

I put off going to the bathroom as long as possible and finally I had no recourse but to go. Somehow I managed to get the girdle down and sighed with relief. Then when it came to pulling it up again, I began the struggle and this began with a snap, a crackle and a pop. Lordy, lordy, I thought I was going to die because it wouldn't move up over my sweating abdomen. I finally realized it just was not going to work, so I managed to get it down to my ankles and with a big sigh I stepped out of it and threw it in the trash bin.

As I walked out, there were several men standing next to the water cooler smirking. I almost flipped them off, but with a flip of my head I managed to walk to my desk breathing with relief and to hell with wearing girdles.

THE FORK IN THE ROAD

THE FORK IN THE ROAD - Bettye Johnson (Copyright)

One morning I awoke and knew this was the day I would seek my future. I looked around my house and already noticed the cobwebs and dust forming and I told myself, 'this is the past.' I walked outside and became aware the atmosphere seemed different. I shrugged my shoulders and went outside the gate without closing it. As I walked on the road, everything appeared to be different. It was the same, but not the same. Strange. My energy was high and I felt a lightness in my chest, or as some would say, my heart. I became unaware of time and as I became aware of the road, I noticed it began to narrow. Soon I came to a fork in the road.

Perplexed, I paused to ponder which path I would take. Hmm, two paths. Is this what is meant in the old song "I'll take the high road and you'll take the low road…?" Swiftly my decision came and I chose the road to the right. After what seemed a long time, I came to a river with a path bridge over it. I was about to step on it, when a troll-like figure came out from under the bridge and shouted to me, "Halt! Ye cannot pass until you pay the toll!"

I was amazed at this little figure with his gnarled body something like an old wizened stunted tree. He stood there glaring up at me. He only came to my knee. Looking at me from under busy brows and eyes somewhat beady, he held out a blackened pot. "In here," he said in a booming, crackly-like voice. "Yew'll not pass until yew pay me a toll."

Upon realizing I had not brought any money with me, I showed him my empty pockets. "I, I have no money to pay you," I managed to say while he glared at me with baleful eyes. "I want none of yare money. T'would do me no good. No, I want yare hidden treasure – that which yew thinks none would know." And he cackled a loud booming sort of laugh.

"I, I don't understand what you mean by hidden treasure." I stood perplexed while my mind was working in a flash review to understand what hidden treasure this troll might want. He continued to glare and finally said, "I want all yare guilt. I want all yare hidden, shameful acts. I want all yare jealousies." He again cackled an odd-like laugh while continuing to hold the pot before me. Searching within my memory, old hurts and resentments began surfacing. The odd troll cackled his raucous laugh again. "He, he. Spit 'em out. Spit 'em out in the pot. T'will give me a feast to eat this day."

Slowly I began spitting the words out into the pot. I finally felt emptied. "Yare holding back!" he shouted as he jumped up and down. "Spit it out! Spit it out!" Again, I searched within my mind and I remembered I had found a coin purse on the sidewalk in a far off place when I was so young and unworldly. I had not attempted to find the owner and kept it. It had bought me a bag of candy. Could this be it? I thought. The wizened old troll cackled it again. Ye see? Ye did have one more old treasure and I want it. Spit it out!" Following his directions, I spit it in the pot and looked at him.

Still cackling his raucous laugh, he stepped aside and I crossed the bridge. I noticed the road was getting wider and the landscape appeared to be bright with a shining sun. I became aware of a field of flowers that were the colors of the rainbow and my heart began palpitating with excitement. I was approaching another river and there was a footbridge to cross, but ahead of me on the bridge stood a regal figure in a long robe. In his hand, he held a staff carved with many symbols. As I neared, he held the staff up and shouted, "Ye cannot pass this way!" Shocked with surprise, I halted. Somehow, I knew he was a wizard with his long white beard and silvery white hair that flowed down to his shoulders. Of course, he wore a long midnight blue robe trimmed in gold at the hem, the edges of the sleeves and around the neck. Then I looked into his eyes and could not move my eyes away from his. I felt I locked into a vise of power and I was.

Somehow, I found my voice and asked him if he was a wizard. "And what if I am?" he replied. I managed to stammer that I was seeking my future and surely crossing this bridge would assist me. Never moving his eyes away from mine, I felt him smile a bit. With a flash, he disappeared and there before me was an old bent man wearing what looked to appear as old threadbare pants and shirt with tears and holes in them. His long white hair was a tangled mess and his long beard was yellowed and as he opened his mouth, I noticed gaping spaces where there should have been teeth. He was holding a branch of a tree as his staff. I gasped and found myself speechless. "So ye want to see a wizard. And what do yew think a wizard should look like? Suddenly with a quick flick of his staff, my eyes were released from him and instantly in front of me was an old woman dressed in the long midnight blue robe trimmed in gold. Her hair was white as snow and was wrapped around her head in a braid. A gold crown was perched on the top of her head. Beside him – uh her was a stand with a big thick book opened to a page. I gulped and I think my eyes bugged out. With a tinkly-like chuckle, she asked me whom I was expecting. I was so flabbergasted that I could not answer.

She smiled in a gentle way and asked me, "Do you think all wizards are men? Don't you know that there is a large cadre of female wizards?" I shook my head with a no nod and she continued speaking. "We are the Sisterhood of the Way." The way? I was about to ask about the way when with a long pointy finger, she began turning the pages. "Hmm," she uttered. "Here is a future that might fit you. I see some trouble in this one."

"Trouble?" I squeaked. "Oh no sir, I mean madam , I do not want trouble. I have lived enough trouble in the past."

Looking at the book again, she turned a few more pages and I strained to see what kind of writing it was, but all I saw were blank pages. This perplexed me and I was about to say something when she stopped on a page and muttered, "This might fit what you are looking for." Quickly I asked, "Are there any wars?"

"Wars?" The wizard looked at me sadly before replying further. "Yes, there are wars but not major ones."

"Oh no, I cannot live that future. There has to be something more. I have seen all the wars I need to see." I replied.

With her long pointy finger, she turned some more pages. "Ah, here is one that fits you," she said as she again looked at me with is deep piercing eyes that were dark as dark as can be."Yes, it could be the one just for you."

I managed to say in a small voice, "What will this future be madam?" I really did not know how to address a wizard of the Way.

Now her eyes began twinkling a bit, as she looked at me. "This future is about the merging of science and spirituality into one."

"But madam, how can that be? There are so many religions and different ideologies." I managed to say.

"Ah, but that is changing in this future." The wizard looked at me with a sparkle in her eyes and went on to say, "It really depends on your level of acceptance."

"Acceptance?" I managed to stutter.

"Aye, acceptance." Too many people have a low level of acceptance and fail to see the miracles that abound around them."

"But madam, how can one see a miracle?"

The wizard locked her eyes on mine and I felt as though my feet were glued to the ground. "That's because the inner eyes are stuck on the past and the inner eye cannot see the miracles. You must turn away from the past. This is why you took the right fork in the road. You want a future and I have seen it for you. It is up to you to live it."

"But, how can I live it when I'm not sure what it is?" I managed to stutter.

"Ah, that is the journey and its mysteries to be unveiled. Before you leave, I will give you magic words. These can be used for either good or bad. It is up to you to remember the right use. These magic words are 'I Am.' These two powerful words determine your future."

"I am?" I squeaked with trepidation.

"Yes, I Am. If you were to say 'I Am tired' then you will be tired. However, if you were to say "I Am filled with energy,' then you will feel energetic. When you think I Am, remember to use it for what you want and never for what you do not want." The wizard looked at her book again. "Here are two more words that are powerful when used correctly, 'I know.' As an example, you can tell yourself, 'I know the right path to take," and you always will. The wizard closed her book and she moved aside so I could cross the bridge. I was about to step on to the bridge when she said, "P.S. Never look back. There are more forks in the road ahead and if you use the words I gave you, you will move into the future you seek."

Trembling, I stepped on to the bridge with my mind churning with what I had heard. I was in the middle of the bridge when I stopped and looked back to see if the wizard was still there and plop! I stumbled and almost fell off the bridge because there were no handrails. As I was attempting to pull myself back on the bridge because I was hanging on with my hands to the edge, I heard a roar of laughter and a voice boomed, "I told you to never look back!"

JOIN ME IN BEING A SHIFT-CHANGER

Yes, I have created the For Freedom Now Project and what does that have to do with being a Shift-Changer? Everything. I have long had a love affair with words and during my lifetime, I have come to understand the power of words. Some words are weak such as 'maybe' because in indicates indecision. Two words that I have used in the past and I know others use it constantly are 'cannot' or 'can't'. Cannot or can't indicate that something will not happen or will not be done. I recently heard someone speak about someone out of work and the statement made was "he can't get a job." Well, as long as 'can't' is used, he won't.

So, how can we change bad or unhappy situations around? It only takes two words to change anything as long as these words are spoke or thought sincerely. These two words are the foundation of the For Freedom Now Project. The first word is love or LOVE and it carries within it a powerful frequency when said with sincerity. Masaru Emoto has proven through his experiments that by placing the word Love on the outside of a bottle of polluted water, that after a short period of time the water will become clean. Now that is power! Love is Source power or as some will say God-power.

Gratitude is another powerful word. Gratitude goes hand-in-hand with 'thank you' and especially when spoke or thought of with sincerity. Gratitude carries a frequency that can also change many things. The ancients knew the power of gratitude and this is why blessing our food and blessing others was handed down through the ages. Gratitude or thank you when spoken over a meal or a glass of water or wine, can change the molecular structure.

The Freedom Now Project is very simple and all that is required is a commitment to focus or pray once a day (or more) using the words love and gratitude and encompass the world with these two words. These two words will link us mind-to-mind and when done with thoughtfulness and intent, we can shift the awareness of the world from abuse, poverty, war, enslavement, bigotry, prejudice, rape, and enable the world to evolve into something greater. This is the time to heal our woundedness. Now is the opportunity to heal and give to the world a shift that will lift it up into something evolutionary.

Again, please join me in this project. For more information: http://www.forfreedomnow.weebly.com/

Bettye Johnson

A NEW WORLD

World making has a delicious connotation. Would it be similar to a washerwoman who would scrub it clean? On the other hand, would we be an artist and paint new over the old? Having been an avid researcher of history and ancient history, it is as stated, in Eccl.1:9 "There is nothing new under the sun" and in some ways it appears this is semi-true. I say semi, because there are always new avenues of thought to pursue.

It appears that there have always been wars, enslavement, political plotters, murders, plagues, the rich, the poor, and subjugation of women, rape, and the robber barons. Today it is said there are six billion on this planet. Now that is many people with each one having different perceptions. Here we are in the year 2008 and we still have prejudices, discrimination, wars, rape, child abuse, female abuse, controllers and the barons of old who have become corporations.

What has brought us to this point in time? Some will say it is genetics, that's just the way it is, or my religion tells me this or that. There are a host of reasons and excuses for human behavior. Yes, we have great technology today, but if one observes people, we can note that many are part of a herd of cows following a leader. Therefore, what can bring about a new world—a different world? Ah, that's a question rarely posed. Why not begin with our self? What can we bring to a new empty table? A new world?

Are we bringing old, worn-out beliefs, habits, resentments, guilt, jealousies and other relics of the past, or do we bring to our empty table a new and different perspective? This calls for radical self-examination. What hidden thoughts do we harbor? What emotions are we suppressing? What words do we use over-and-over unconsciously?

Each of us is a thread in the tapestry of life. Some of us may appear to be the same color, but our hue—our tint is different. Each of us carries within us our own stamp of uniqueness. Perhaps it is time to remove the blinders we wear and allow new and different ideas and perspectives to flow in. Now we have change and an opportunity to see a new world unfolding within us as it moves into the outer reality. It is a challenge to move out of the herd. There are temptations to hang on to the past. This is a journey others have previously made while creating a new world for themselves. They became the eye in the center of the storm raging around them.

If each of us made a choice and moved out of the mold—the herd think of how exquisite it will be to live in a new world of our making. We each can become the center of calm while the outer world appears to be falling apart. We each can become the artist and paint a new scenario, or the writer who can write a new script. Each of us have the capability to create our own personal new world. From adversity comes the jewel.

LOVE AND GRATITUDE

I have written about love and gratitude in previous articles, and I cannot stress the importance of creating our life with the powerful frequency of Love and Gratitude. It can override any situation when evoked sincerely. We are living in trying times on this planet and societies have become steeped with fears, judgments, prejudices and control. Where did these beliefs/attitudes come from? There really is not any one culprit, however various religions have done much to perpetuate these and it is time for us to look at our religious beliefs. Religion and spirituality is not the same thing. Religion is man-made while spirituality comes within with a direct connection to that which created us. Some may call this connection God, Allah, Buddha or whatever name one wants to place on it. All plants, animals and water respond to love and gratitude. Even the earth responds to love and gratitude. This is ancient knowledge.

I have gone through a period of my life where I was judgmental, had prejudices , thought I was a victim, anger, jealousy, and I realized that those emotions and attitudes did not serve me. No, they made me sick and miserable. This is when I began my awakening as described in my book Awakening the Genie Within. I have discovered that to live a balanced life that my main tools are observation, love and gratitude.

We can change our lives by observing our beliefs, attitudes and emotions and discarding those that no longer contribute to our well-being or happiness. In speaking about love, I am not addressing romantic love, or parental love. I am writing about universal love and when we can place a non-biased love as a blessing on people, places, events, our food, our drink, our animals, plants and this Earth, we have altered the frequencies and a blossoming occurs not only in our self but also in others.

Love has many attributes such as kindness, acceptance, understanding, allowing, with no judgments or prejudices. I have learned that the more I put into action these attributes that my life has less chaos. I have learned for myself to mentally stand back, observe my reactions, and then choose to change them. It is a challenge at times to observe situations, which spawns herd mentality. It takes courage to step out of the box, but it can be done. Complacency stagnates love. It lulls one into a false sense of security. I have realized that there are times to speak out on issues, but there is also a time when to keep silent and observe until I realize that something wonderful may come from this.

Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation. It is also acknowledgement of a benefit received or will receive. I grew up in a household where we said a blessing for our food at every meal. I never understood why and it appeared to be a rote action. A true blessing is one said silently or vocally with focused intent. The blessing of food, drink or anything is also ancient knowledge. The pagans used blessings and gratitude long before the Christians. There are many stories of people who gave a blessing, a prayer of thanks for something they knew they would receive.

From my perspective if more people would begin blessing their lives and the people in their lives along with their possessions, jobs, the problems would fade away because showing gratitude for everything opens doors to new possibilities. Margaret Cho stated it quite well, "Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone's life forever."

A WISE WOMAN LEADS

We are living in a chaotic time with turmoil erupting and spewing all over the world. Here in the U.S. we have a nominee for vice-president and there is much controversy regarding her qualifications and her ability to govern for all the people. Having read many articles about Sarah Palin, I began to think of the qualifications I want to have in a woman who would represent my interests in a fair way. Here are my list of qualifications for any woman in a position of power:

QUALIFICATIONS: (Some of them.)

* A wise woman will be open-minded and willing to see all sides of the issues.

*A wise woman will be able to stand the heat and friction of adversities and adversaries.

*A wise woman will remove herself from favoritism or cronyism. Friends are not always the best allies.

*A wise woman would study the issues in depth before making decisions.

*A wise woman will seek counsel from wise people and then use her innate knowing to make a decision.

*A wise woman will not force her spiritual/religious beliefs on others, but allow each to have her or his own connection to God.

*A wise woman will keep religion out of politics.

*A wise woman may not condone abortion, but will not support restrictions on the way a woman chooses to use her body.
*A wise woman will be courageous, have integrity and uphold the Constitution of the United States.

* A wise woman has a fountain of knowledge and wisdom and uses her mind accordingly.

Is it possible to have a woman with the above qualities lead this country? I would hope so. I am one of the first to admit that not all women have admirable qualities just as there are men who do not have admirable qualities. However, there are women and men who have integrity, are honorable and speak their truth. It is time for them to come forward to lead this nation and it can begin with only one person to lead the way.

It is time for people all over the world to move out of flatlander thinking and open their minds to a grander future. It is time to awaken to conscious awareness and take responsibility for one's words, thoughts and actions.

I have used the image of the Goddess Athena or some call her Goddess Minerva. She represents Wisdom and Truth and is also a Warrior.