See those flowers there in the cup?  That is in my office, sitting on the table that is behind my chair.  The fragrance is wonderful!! And it just makes me smile, makes the day better and easier some how. 

My 2 year old grand daughter was here on Saturday and we were outside exploring.  I pointed out the flowers near the fence, and said "oh those smell really good" .  She ran right over, grabbed one and picked it, faster then I could say no don't .. 

My only concern was I wanted to save the flower and not toss it, and I was pretty sure her 2 year old brain was not going to want to go inside and get it in water, since outside was way more fun. 

But I told her the truth, that she had a very special flower, the kind that needs put in water, and into my office and then we could come back out.  She was very excited to help, and now two days later, I still have the memory and the beautiful flower and the scent that makes me so happy!

I always suggest that plants carry a purpose for you to grow them.  Just remember that sometimes the simple things are enough.  The plants that warm your soul and make you smile feed you in a way that food does not. 

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I love this conversation, and it is one of those that is as old as time - yet always fresh and today. 

We all know (even if we do not practice it all of the time) that things happen that we do not have control over -- BUT we have control of how we handle it.  Part of that in truth often comes from knowing where we stand, what we do (or won't do), our values, our beliefs before it is needed.  Then we can stand in who we are, when "stuff" comes up. 

There are a lot of ways to describe where you come from - you may come from a place or yes or you may come from a place of no.  

A place of no could look like, I am focused just on my family right now, and just my business so my answer to fundraisers, movies, dinner parties - all start in a place of NO.  An exception might be that your mother is honored for 50 years of service at the school - so you start with no, but move to a specific yes.  

Hopefully those times of coming from a no are short periods of time. 

A place of YES can look like I have 20 hours a month available for charity or non-profit work.  I am choosing to take the time that my kids are at visitation investing in something I believe in, giving back and keeping ME busy so I am keeping a positive focus when they are gone.  So now I am looking with a YES mindset to helping with a mailing, making some phone calls, working as a docent one Saturday a month etc.  

Some other examples are coming from a place of calm instead of a place of fear.  You can see an example of what I mean by that at my new project that is all about teaching calm.  

Another example could be I am going to start with and come from a place of spirit, I know that everyone has one good thing in them, and is walking their own struggles on their path, before I decide I will make sure I have found a good thing in them and that I was open to what their struggles might be .. 

Where do you come from? 

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Saint Patrick Day is always an interesting "scene" in the pagan circles it seems.  Many choose to wear black, or to wear green snakes in honor of the Druids past.  

As you may know St. Patrick is known for driving the "snakes out of Ireland" and the snakes are not actually slithering on the ground snakes but instead meant to represent the snake on the staff of a druid or early pagan.  Moving the old religion out and bringing in the Christ based early church beliefs. 

What many do not know is that one of the things he was sent to do (by the church) was to get to know the folks, get to know the religion, learn the basics, the beliefs the ways and then to write them down.  Creating a written record of the old ways that before were instead passed down by memorization and story and application.  

This was a return trip for him, as he was there when he was younger working as an indentured servant or slave  - any way because of him there are some early records of some of the teachings and the ways.  As he grew older he even made a decision to protect those writings, as he was less comfortable with what the church was doing with them, and how they planned to use the material. 

St. Patrick like most everyone I have ever known, had some good stuff - had some bad stuff, did stuff for his beliefs, and his job - grew as he learned more.   Frankly I am not in the position of saying someone should be or should not be a saint - it is not my faith or my way.  

BUT I think this holiday is a good reminder for folks that things are rarely if ever black or white - instead history is written and re-written by the winners or those in charge, and life is lived in the grey. 
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Regardless of what faith you have or practice I think March is a time in North America that folks are looking forward to longer and brighter days.  You hear folks talking about lighter mornings, and evenings that are not dark and of warmth and new growth.  

And the scent, so many folks are discussing the smells.  I love the earth coming back from its winter hibernation scents too.  Of course it happens way before the scent of buds and flowers, it starts with the dirt warming enough to release the fragrant reminder that it is still there and is already working on birthing new growth. 
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