What's Important? What's Important Now?
This blog is a place to touch and be touched. A context for expression and a catalyst for action. This is Laura's favorite quote:
You cannot stay on the summit forever,
You have to come down again . . .
So why bother in the first place?
Just this: What is above knows what is below,
but what is below does not know what is above.
One climbs, one sees. One descends,
One sees no longer but one has seen.
There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions
By the memory of what one saw higher up.
When one can no longer see, one can at least still know.
— Rene Daumal
What will YOU do today?
posted by Anonymous at 8/17/2005 08:34:00 PM
19 Comments:
Tell Laura I love her.
Tell Laura I care.
Tell Laura I heard her request to support Judy and I am there.
Thursday, August 18, 2005 1:15:00 PM
Dearest Laura,
You will always be in my heart and oddly enough in my spine. You have given me more gifts than I could ever describe that have my spine be strong and straight and true. There are no words for how much you have touched my life so I join you in this Live Well Journey. Today I will take some time to find where and how I will do that. I will also look for the music to share as music is deeply important to me as well. You are a miracle worker. I will hold this for you if you forget.
I love you.
L.A.
Thursday, August 18, 2005 2:46:00 PM
O sweet and wonderful Laura: all I can think to say to you right now is that for the last week I have been working on making you a wooden carving of an angel, because, in my mind, that reflects your deepest and most natural personality. I shall send it to you soon,I hope.
Saturday, August 20, 2005 10:22:00 AM
Dear Laura,
I've got my yellow bracelet -- the one that you gave to me a year ago, and am wearing it. You and Judy are in my thoughts and heart every day. You have impacted my own journey in profound ways, and are a beacon of courage. You remind me over and over again of this question... what's important? What's important now?
I send you love,
Art
Sunday, August 21, 2005 11:03:00 AM
Darling Laura,
This touch and be touched topic seems most appropriate. That's all I want to do. Touch you. Love you. I love the image of you and Judy flying all over the world holding hands. That brings a smile. I also absolutely support you and believe in your beautiful adventure. Congratulations Judy, honey. Congratulations, the two of you on your life together. Know that I love you.
Keri
Sunday, August 21, 2005 11:41:00 AM
Dear Laura,
Here's the poem...
I'm happy that it touched you.
Much love to you, Margaret
Impermanence
The crowd sits
in rows of folding chairs
attentive and earnest
while the teacher on stage
speaks modestly
about the essential nature of reality,
about the part of us which has
always been here and doesn’t die,
about the one who looks through our eyes
witnessing every moment of this life,
about the illusion of form –
and I look around at everyone
listening and have a sudden urge
to run my fingers
through each person’s hair,
to stroke the soft cheeks
turned toward the stage,
to love them all
in these lumpy human forms,
right now.
Maybe my religion is
a love affair with illusion –
so be it.
Maybe if I sacrifice this life
in the only fire there is,
then I can love it even more.
We all know of impermanence,
that the price of admission here
is that we will lose it all –
how can we bear both the beauty
and the loss?
I must have chosen
once, naively, to bear it.
I must have known, somehow,
that it would be worth it to feel
the sacrifice that loving
always is,
that if I could let my heart break
and then leave it that way,
ecstasy and grief, which were
really never separate,
would find each other again.
I must have been hungry
for the exquisite simplicity of form –
fingers through hair,
your eyes meeting mine,
the treasure of a day,
just one more day here
under blue sky.
I must have known that in the end,
my losses would be strung
one after another
like Christmas lights
leading me home.
Margaret Barkley
Monday, August 22, 2005 11:07:00 PM
Laura, what's important now is allies. If this is not a bigger game, I don't know what is.
You are embarking on a journey that others have gone on before, with what some might call miraculous outcomes.
I have a friend, George, who has gone to Brazil three times to see the healer you'll be visiting. He has offered to be a resource for you on how to be most present for this opportunity.
I have seen his video of what happened and I can just see you sinking into that place and bringing all your fiery power, intensity, curiosity -- and then surrender into what is.
He awaits your call, if you choose. 617-909-1783.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005 6:46:00 AM
I didn't know whether to blog or not as we talk so often anyway. Then on seeing how this works I wanted to be part of bringing more love and creativity to your life.
Laura against so many odds I have seen you retain your clarity of vision and not too many of us are able to really achieve this. You have much to be proud of.
And here you are still out there engaging with this vibrant world.
Lets keep exploring so we can find those answers, and be OK with loosing them now and again. Loose our way abit, only to find that we have known the way all this time.
Love you loads
Linda
Tuesday, August 23, 2005 9:06:00 AM
that anonymous blogger was me Linda J. Taylor. Will I ever get blogging first time around :-)
Tuesday, August 23, 2005 9:10:00 AM
Dear Laura,
First things first, Two great healers, one of which I have had personal experience with, both have had great sucess with healing cancer. The first one is Mac Atkinson,
451 Gilchrist Hill Rd
Hartford, NY 12838
Mac's numb-er is 518-632-5621. H-e is an old kute, and doesn't look at all like a healer should look, he wears flannel shirts and is very gruff, and has healed many a cancer.
The second Healer is Greg Joseph, "healspir@aol.com", cell - 925-586-5124. Someone you know and I know, who I don't want to mention in this BLOG, was healed of cancer by Greg Joseph.
Now that I have my masculine fix it energy out of the way, please know that I love you and am holding you in my heart as well and whole.
Pat
Wednesday, August 24, 2005 12:18:00 PM
Dear Laura,
It's starting to sink in, the seriousnes of this disease. Our friend Robert "accused" me of being in denial today. I responded that it just didn't seem real because you are so full of life, big vibrant, strong life. I see your health w/ my eyes & feel it with my heart.
Now that I learn that the tumor on your spine has grown it's slowly sinking in. You are the closest person to me to be touched by an "untreatable" cancer. Yes, I have been very lucky indeed. Now I am blessed in a very diferent way. How is it possible?
Blessed that you are sharing your courageous journey & living out loud. Blessed that you have invited me in & on this wild & adventurous trip, a class 4 river. They might say it's a class 5- unrunable, & no I'm not buying it, (call it denial) You're in the raft, you've got a hell of a team, let's go!
So, I told Robert that I thought it would be irresponsible to believe that this cancer will be fatal for you. Miracles happen all the time. "Spontaneous" remissions (miracles) happen! & I've been there! Healing happens. I believe it wants to.
Okay I have an idea...Can't we (all 5000 of us) thank the cancer A LOT for coming & send it off where it will have a very important & prestigious job of eating up a harmful oil spill somewhere? A simple job reassignment, a promotion even. Thing is, Laura, CLEARLY you are not a suitable host for this cancer. You're fierce, sometimes nasty & will kick it's butt! It would be very wise for the cancer to go now.
Laura, I am livng in your reminder to me of my own mortality & terminal situation! The finiteness of Spirit in flesh. Your journey wakes me to what is important. This NOW moment that I live & breath & connect with life everywhere happening now, just this. Savoring what is here, I stop looking for what is not.
So Laura, I savor you! Bless You! Love You! Thank You! By the way I think you are being Savored, Loved & Blessed the world 'round! Pass the salt.
Well done girl. The Fumbling, soaring, laughing & crying. All of it. Your grace is mighty, your will strong,& your Game pretty ******* big.
Not only that! You are more soft & beautiful than ever.
Thank You so much for being in my life,
I love you.
MLMFMO!
Lisa
Tuesday, August 30, 2005 12:41:00 AM
Hello My Dear Laura - what is important now? Listening for the pauses in the music -watching for the shimmering spider webs emerging everywhere as fall silently approaches - smelling the warm luscious fragrance of aging blackberries - savouring the multiplicities of connections that allow us to bring healing love into your L2 and your chest, and to accompany you and Judy on your journey to Brazil.
Small miracles happening all the time - everywhere. The infiniteness of one breath.
And the magic power of love.
Always with you,
Brenda
Wednesday, August 31, 2005 8:20:00 PM
Laura,
I'm one of the thousands of coaches who learned from you - parts of your wit, wisdom, courage, and challenge live in me from the last time we met at Leadership 4 years ago. What's important NOW? Live well and Live strong. Take risks, take risks, take risks.
If you are open to any other alternative healing methods please have someone contact me at nmontier@comcast.net.
I send you wiggles, chuckles laughter, expansion, and humor and peace and power. Thank you for sending peace, pain, love, openness, fear, commitment, intention, inspiration, courage.
Nancy
Thursday, September 01, 2005 9:07:00 PM
Dearest Laura - thank you for sharing your thoughts and questions about what lies ahead - what your life is to be about - about chemo - and about your journey. They have already started to be part of my converations in my head with you as I raft along the river of my own breast cancer journey. Yesterday I started my first chemo treatment. Before hand, I took time to be by the ocean and take in the beauty. I told my body that it was about to have some very powerful drugs injected into it and asked for acceptance and understanding. When the question arose as to 'why?', the surprisingly simple and doable answer for me was " so that I can be a witness to the immense beauty of creation/nature." I simply can't fathom leaving our earth sooner than I need to. I sense that this answer is the one for the calm waters of the river. I imagine that a different answer will emerge when going through white water rapids.
I am grateful that you so lovingly share your journey with us, and for those like me, your thoughts and your questions are like the night stars. Your journey to John of God sounds courageous - in the sense of new lands and language, and new spiritual realms. I loved learning about your reconnection with prayer and gratitude and with an earlier self.
Holding you and Judy close in my heart,
Love
Brenda
Wednesday, September 14, 2005 8:25:00 AM
Dear Laura,
I am touched to know how well you are actively living. Your example shines even more than usual. I wish you the best in prayer. You certainly are fulfilling your life in the highest possible ways and raise the standards for us all. Bless You and Rock On!
Saturday, November 19, 2005 8:07:00 PM
I'm reprinting a poem Laura shared with a few of us recently. It is titled "The Real Woman Creed", but is should be called "The Real Person's Creed".
"I believe that within me lies an extraordinary radiance, and
I commit to letting my light loose in the world.
I believe that the source of my power and wisdom is in the center of my
Being, and I commit to acting from this place of strength.
I believe that I possess an abundance of passion and creative
Potential and I commit to the expression of these gifts.
I believe that the time has come to let go of old notions and unhealthy
Attitudes, and I commit to re-examine what I have been told
About beauty and dismiss what insults my soul.
I believe that negative thoughts and words compromise my
Well-being, and I commit to thinking and speaking
Positively about myself and others.
I believe that young women are in need of positive role models, and
I commit to being an example of authenticity and self-love.
I believe in the relationship between my well-being and
the well-being of the planet, and I commit to a life of mindfulness
that regards all living things as holy and worthy of my love.
I believe it si my spiritual responsibility to care for my body
With respect, kindness and compassion. I commit to balancing
My life in such a way that my physical being is
Fully expressed and nurtured.
I believe that joy is an essential part of wellness, and I commit to
Removing obstacles to joy and creating a life that is full of exuberance.
I believe that a woman who loves herself is a powerful, passionate,
Attractive force, and I commit, from this day forward, to loving myself
Deeply and extravagantly."
With Hope, Breeze
Friday, December 16, 2005 5:03:00 PM
12/24/05
As I was skating around the icerink this morning I suddenly thought that it is time in 2006 to reinvent myself. Then I thought, maybe not so much reinvent myself, as let out the person I am really when I am not reacting to life instead of living it.
So when you ask what's important, what's important now? I'm thinking there are a lot of things I want to add into my life my friend. More business, more opportunity to share my gifts is always welcome. But really there are many activities I would like to be doing and I notice that I was waiting for more time, more company, more money, an invitation.
Perhaps I just get started and do it all anyway and money, time and company will appear. So cheers to an active 2006 where I become the invitor. I hope to enjoy some Life with you in this new year.
Love, Breeze
Saturday, December 24, 2005 11:39:00 AM
I see you in my dreams, well, feisty, vital. You are a gift to us all.
What's important? Abiding non-dual awareness, stripping away the layers of ego that keep me in Palto's cave. I'll meet you on the outside when I get there...
love, Jan
Tuesday, March 14, 2006 5:35:00 AM
good grief -- that is Plato's cave, not palto. Should I have hit preview before publishing this "oops"? My splendid coach of many years ago would say, Caught you being human again...
Tuesday, March 14, 2006 5:38:00 AM
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