The Gift of an Ordinary Day
This is totally exquisite. If you have grown children, you will absolutely relate. If your kids are still at home, this is something to remind you of what you have. If you don't have kids, it's still a profound comtemplation on letting go and enjoying the moment.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:07 AM | Comments (1)
February 27, 2013The Five Regrets of the Dying
Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives.
She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai, which gathered so much attention that she put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.
Ware writes of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of their lives, and how we might learn from their wisdom.
"When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently," she says, "common themes surfaced again and again."
THE FIVE REGRETS OF THE DYING
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
"This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it."
2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
"This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence."
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
"Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result."
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
"Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying."
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
"This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again."
Thanks to David Passes for the heads up
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:08 PM | Comments (1)
February 22, 2013Video Highlights from African Tour
Highlights of Prem Rawat's recent tour of Africa
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:16 AM | Comments (0)
February 21, 2013No Synonym for Thesaurus
Did you know that there's no synonym in the thesaurus for "thesaurus"?
And while the eskimoes may have 52 words for "snow," the rest of us are left howling in the wind when it comes time to expressing what we really mean by "love."
That being said, here goes -- what it feels like, to me, whenever I get to listen to Prem Rawat's message of peace.
1. Coming home
2. Being rebooted
3. Going back to Square One, only to discover there is no square -- only wide-open space.
4. The answer to every Zen koan ever asked
5. A spa for the soul
6. Finding buried treasure in my own backyard
7. Letting go of everything
8. The first day of Spring
9. Sunbathing on the roof at the top of the world
10. Unplugging from the madness
11. Following the yellow brick road
12. An early Thanksgiving
13. The cherry on top of the sundae I feel no guilt about eating
14. A cool breeze
15. The eye of the storm
16. Falling in love for the first time
17. Putting down my heavy load
18. Opening a present I didn't think I deserved
19. Pushing "pause" on the universal remote
20. Being at the most incredible party in the world
21. The space between in breath and out
22. Being kissed by the infinite
23. The music Mozart listened to when he was done composing
24. Effortlessly experiencing the virtues all religions espouse
25. The promised land
26. Consciousness revealed
27. A grand slam home run in the bottom of the ninth
28. Happiness squared
29. The breath within the breath
30. Landing on Free Parking in Monopoly
31. The blissful breaking of my pinata
32. A diamond cutter's stroke
33. Knocking on heaven's door, only to discover I am knocking from the inside
34. Experiencing that each step is also an arrival
35. Discovering a secret room in my house
36. Receiving a very large inheritance
37. The happy marriage of laughter and tears
38. George Carlin, Mel Brooks, Jonathan Winters, Groucho Marx, Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin, Steven Wright, Peter Sellers, Sid Caesar, Jerry Seinfeld, Henny Youngman, Bill Hicks, Chris Rock, and Santa Claus all laughing at a joke no one can remember.
39. Surfing Hawaiian waves of love
40. These two whirling dervishes walk into a bar
Cartoon
Brush stroke
Photo
Illustration
Illustration
Photo
Photo
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:10 PM | Comments (1)
February 19, 2013The Call for Peace
Beautiful new video by Wendy Lewis
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:25 AM | Comments (0)
February 18, 2013President of Italian Senate Honors Prem Rawat
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:11 PM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2013We're All in This Together
The first time I met Joan Apter she was standing in a field in Montrose, Colorado speaking to anyone who would listen about the experience of connecting to the timeless place of love inside every single human being on the planet.
I stood there and listened and she waxed on and on, never tiring, always giving, sharing, and radiating joy. It's 41 years later and Joan is still at it, God bless her.
A few months ago, Joan was diagnosed with breast cancer and, as you might imagine, the medical bills are piling up.
Which is why I'm taking this moment to ask you to consider making a donation, via IndieGoGo, to help pay Joan's medical expenses.
Every little bit helps.
Please give what you can and let's show our love and support to this amazing human being.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:08 PM | Comments (2)
February 12, 2013It's Always Something
One thing that's common to most of us is that we tend to focus on what's wrong, instead of what's right... to see what's missing instead of what we have... to let the ever-changing dramas of our lives take us over. If this describes you, know there is an alternative...
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 02:19 AM | Comments (0)
February 10, 2013A Little Lightheaded
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:04 AM | Comments (0)
February 07, 2013Feel at Home in this Moment
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:35 PM | Comments (0)
February 06, 2013Close, But No Cigar
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Prem Rawat's new book
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 06:49 PM | Comments (0)
February 05, 2013Remember This Feeling Big People?
Prem Rawat in Surat
WOPG TV schedule
Digital Peace Cards
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:15 PM | Comments (0)
February 03, 2013How About a Department of Peace?
Excerpted from The Greatest Truth of All
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 03:04 PM | Comments (0)
February 02, 2013A Wealth that is Priceless
Excerpted from The Greatest Truth Of All
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 02:43 PM | Comments (0)
