Soul Searching

Been thinking a lot about life, probably because there has been so much loss lately.  What is my purpose here on this plane?  What makes me happy?  Why don't I take time for the things that feed my soul?
Why do I so often try and extinguish my passion?  Old programming?  Well, isn't it time to move this along, and quickly!?
Need more creative time.  I feel the passion and then get caught up in "stuff" and get off the track.
My pledge to myself is that in the next week, I set time aside just for creativity.  My soul needs it.

With the weekend coming up it is a perfect time to unplug, tune in and CREATE~ 

I have made a pact with myself.  I am DOING it.  

Saddness, loss and tonglen

Lately, there has been a lot of loss and grief around me.  My work partner just lost her dad.  There was another senseless suicide. Another friend miles away from her Dad and worried because he is along in years and in the hospital.  My dearest friend's ex husband, and father of her children is in Hospice and suffering immeasurably.  How do you console those in such pain?  I really don't know.  My heart reaches out to them and Pema Chodron has helped me a lot by talking about Tonglen.  Here is a little of what she says about it: 

"The tonglen practice is a method for connecting with suffering —ours and that which is all around us— everywhere we go. It is a method for overcoming fear of suffering and for dissolving the tightness of our heart. Primarily it is a method for awakening the compassion that is inherent in all of us.
We begin the practice by taking on the suffering of a person we know to be hurting and who we wish to help. For instance, if you know of a child who is being hurt, you breathe in the wish to take away all the pain and fear of that child. Then, as you breathe out, you send the child happiness, joy or whatever would relieve their pain. This is the core of the practice: breathing in other's pain so they can be well and have more space to relax and open, and breathing out, sending them relaxation or whatever you feel would bring them relief and happiness. However, we often cannot do this practice because we come face to face with our own fear, our own resistance, anger, or whatever our personal pain, our personal stuckness happens to be at that moment. "

I remember this concept from years ago when I was going through a difficult time. I remember thinking it could never work, that it was just kind of Buddhist, new age gobbldey gook.  But, you know what?  It really does work!
I remember during my difficult time it worked.  I tried it again over the past few days and focused on breathing in all the pain and breathing out relief, peace, joy and love.  It worked.  At a time when you feel totally helpless to do anything, this is a practice that makes a difference.  I find I am spending more time in meditation and being very observant of my breath throughout the day.  I am sending out love and light, peace and harmony to those I love and even those I don't.  At a time when you fell helpless...give it a try.  We really are all connected you know.