Right in Front of You!

How many times has someone said to you, as a word of encouragement: "Sometimes the solution is right in front of you and you just don't see it" or "sometimes what you are seeking is right there and you just don't see it."

I know this to be true, and have experienced it many times but I have to admit when I am frustrated and somebody says that to me there is a little rebel in my head that responds "yah, I am not blind! If there was a solution or my wish had come true I would notice. I'm not that dense."

But the universe has ways of showing us how wrong we can be sometimes.

The story starts at a silent auction. I purchased a basket at the auction that looked appealing because I like to donate to worthy causes, but also because it had 4 gas cards in it and we all know how expensive gas is! I could see myself finding those very useful! So the next week I went in search of a Casey's gas station. I usually go to the gas station two blocks from my house so I was not really familiar where this particular place was, although I knew I had seen one before.

I thought I recalled seeing one way out on University avenue near the highway - so I drove twenty minutes out there only to find there was none there. Then I thought, well perhaps on Hickman near the Living History Farms. But that turned out to be a store, with a sign similar to Caseys but not a gas station. So I took a different road home and ended up driving another 5 miles or so, down Merle Hay Road towards the Interstate 80 and around until I finally gave up.
I thought to myself, "Well, I will just save those gas cards for a day when we are traveling. I am sure I saw one of those stations on the way to Iowa City..."

They stayed in my purse for a few weeks until one day I was driving down a street that I drive down at least 5 times a week for the past 2 years. I always take this street to bypass University, because that street is so busy. I wound around the road as usual, I glanced at the new car lots on the right, took a look at the Play it Again Sports on the left and then, noticed the stop sign was read so I stopped on 35th St.

And there is was, right in front of me, just as it had been for the past 2 years - Casey's gas station.

Next time someone tells me "the solution might be there, you are just not seeing it." I will be more inclined to be inspired by that statement rather than annoyed.

Are you TOO DEEP?

Part of living your dreams is simpliflying life and re-gaining the innocent ability we had as children to see the obvious is things. This is a wonderful joke that illustrates how hard we sometimes try to figure out things and how simple they really are. Living your dreams is simple. Just remember "Tonto":

The Lone Ranger and Tonto went camping in the desert. After they got their tent all set up, both men fell sound asleep. Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, "Kemo Sabe, look towards sky, what you see?"The Lone Ranger replies, "I see millions of stars.""What that tell you?" asked Tonto.

The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says, "Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning.

Theologically, the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What's it tell you, Tonto?"

"Someone stole the tent."

Astronomy Image of the Day

To live our dreams we need to realize the one-ness of ourselves with the universe. What better way to be inspired than to learn more about the universe? This wonderful site shows you a DIFFERENT IMAGE EVERY DAY of the universe. It is called:

Astronomy Picture of the Day. Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2007 November 2 Three Nebulae in Narrow Band http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

The Little Things

I was sent this lovely inspiration by a friend. It helps us to reflect on how the "little things" are not so little as we think. We should live and focus on each moment we live beause these moments are the most important ones in our lives.

The 'L I T T L E ' Things As you might know, the head of a company survived9/11 because his son started kindergarten. Another fellow was alive because it was His turn to bring donuts. One woman was late because herAlarm clock didn't go off in time. One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike Because of an autoaccident. One of themMissed his bus. One spilled food on her clothes and had to take Time to change. One'sCar wouldn't start. One couldn'tGet a taxi. The one that struck me was the manWho put on a new pair of shoes that morning, Took the various means to getto work But before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.That is why he is alive today. Now when I am Stuck in traffic, Miss an elevator, Turn back to answer a ringing telephone ...All the little things that annoy me.I think to myself,This is exactly where I should be the Divine is at work watching over you. At this very moment.. Next time your morning seems to beGoing wrong , The children are slow getting dressed,You can't seem to find the car keys,You hit every traffic light,Don't get mad or frustrated;~Richard A. Singer Jr. MA