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As a kid I remember asking questions in Sunday School. I was not received well. I learned early that adults don't always have the answers', yet they would rather make up an answer. On the flip side a lovely great cousin would ask "A penny for your thoughts". To me this was the beginning of freedom. What are you little one thinking of? How are you enjoying life without someone telling you what, when and how to live? A daydreaming, dressing up, playful, creative, imaginative, relaxed, effortless mind is freedom. An inner Smile exuding equanimity, compassion and connection.

I always think back to animals and children. We literally can be in agony coming into this world, our mothers and us...the tearing and tearing or real cries. The cold air, the extreme heat of labor, pushing and breathing. Truly if one were to describe this life-giving experience one would not choose it. I was NOT going to become a mother because of it. Then you have our ending, often pain, disease, humans missing humans but it all must end/ evolve to a less tangible connection. Everything in-between has to relate to Falling Apart and Coming Back on repeat. The leaves, the oceans drops, the air and cloud vapors and the stars where we are said to begin.

I suffered from anxiety at night during the pandemic until 2 seniors told me that I needed to meditate. When I finally did, I got a restful night's sleep. I then practiced moving meditation Healing Qi Gong and later I Liq Chuan Tai Chi. I have never heard the saying that Meditation is Going Home, but alas it truly IS!

Born an African Methodist Episcopalian but actually Muslim parents who were not allowed to raise us Muslim. Grandparents and Great Grandparents lived, preached and worshipped among the German Mennonite's and Quakers of Pennsylvania. I love the book and movie Life of Pi! I related to the main character's love of God when I read it. Have had the best Jewish teachers, mentors and friends. Buddhism brought me light that Christianity darkened. Finally read/ learned WE are the LIGHT! The spiritual lives within us. Moving meditation/ Healing Qi Gong helped me to not only feel this but be a part of a whole cosmos through Awaken Call 100 Day Qi Gong during the pandemic. Continued with Tai Chi and regular practice of Qi Gong. Diversity and an Open Mind can often fuel your conviction of connectedness. I admit I was afraid to let go, get lost from my heritage but the music still moves me and I appreciate the strength it gave my ancestors for me to exist.

Yes Sadhguru, Osho and Tolle! Born a Christian but actually Muslim parents who were not allowed to raise us Muslim. I love the book and movie Life of Pi! I related to the main character's love of God when I read it. Have had the best Jewish teachers, mentors and friends. Buddhism brought me light that Christianity darkened. Finally read/ learned WE are the LIGHT! The spiritual lives within us. Moving meditation helped me to not only feel this but be a part of a whole cosmos!

I am sorry that happened to you and am in agreement that people take advantage of others. I have seen that in my partners siblings calling with a sad story over and over expecting a bank. However I think the point is to only give when your heart is aligned with it. Don't enable people but only strengthen their resolve to get back on their feet. My Mom had a choice to go on welfare but I cried and told her no because I only knew those who stayed on it and didn't attempt to do better. I have a Master's Degree and $75,000 debt but I love my job a Not-for profit where I would have been forgiven in 2 years. I will die with debt but I was given an opportunity that in turn helps others on a daily basis.

I was recently surprisedly stung on the lip by a bee and had severe pain spreading through my face and jaw. It caught me off guard, all of it as I was outdoors having a great exercise session, feeling strong and young again. My face, lip, gums and jaw swelled bigger the morning after and continued to worsen every morning than the night before when I thought things were getting better. I had things to do, to go out in public, go to work etc. I am not vain but the looks one gets from a swollen face are interesting. Like I am contagious or a battered woman. 10 days later was when I felt no residual toxins in my face. I did not initially see a Dr as a I knew they could not help me but only prescribe something for the next time. People thought they knew the answer, but I had to ride through it. Continue my regular routine of sleep, water, exercise and nutrition. No quick fix.

I am fortunate to need my imagination for helping seniors to have a pleasant day no matter the impairment they are dealing with. I literally couldn't do my job otherwise.

When the pandemic started and I had already seen the report years earlier about IT being a matter of WHEN, I took to the streets of my neighborhood as an essential worker that worked every day. I looked at every tree on the walk I had taken for years, almost a decade. I noted the differences and took pictures with hope to one day draw each of them. Some have them have been cut down and no longer exist, but I continue to notice the trees and the shadows they grace us with.

As a minority I felt outside but with my families diverse religious & musical connections inside. Then add art, in my family an outsider yet in my Art & Performing Arts schools and colleges inside. Then I went into design as a minority and again an outsider. Now I work with Seniors and We are ALL and Everything. Qi Gong and the Pandemic fixed it ALL.

The comments add more thoughts to ponder. We simply live in a different world than the people who embodied spiritual practice. Our minds have evolved even as a newborn baby coming out of the womb. Spiritual Fast food is a snack of spirituality and sustains you in the moment until you get a wake-up call. A call of awakening. This was Covid's gift to me 10 days of Qi Gong that turned to 100 days but more than that introduced me to a worldwide positive community. I had always wanted to do Qi Gong but never had an opportunity. I tell everyone who will listen to try but it is a base, like Americanized Yoga. The true guru's practice the origin tradition which I think most of us strive for, yet we have to work, take care of house and simply rest. Trials and tribulations have always turned humans to spirituality, we live now in such a comfortable world that is now changing to uncomfortable. So, we will strive again to Surrender, Sweat, Silence and Structure. Love this reminder!

All the comedians know this which is why Sherri, Ellen and Rosie had such good ratings! When life gets stressful it is easy to forget to laugh but if you were on your last day of life I would hope one would find a reason to laugh and smile. I love the combination of faith as my grandmother's closest friends were my friends too because they were so hilarious. Laughing and cackling like children at a restaurant after church or a musical concert they all performed in. Such JOY I was exposed to as a little kid.

I work with many Tibetan's who grew up in India and never have been home. They are the closest thing to that type of non-violent human but they do have a religion. I am not any religion anymore and many people are stumped but the division is why. I love all living things but definitely get angry especially with drivers texting lol. I practice moving meditation and sleep and eat well which adds to my non-reactiveness yet when I feel reactive it used to catch me off guard. I think the more of us who seek understanding and open dialogue with ourselves and one another the closer we can get.