What’s courage got to do with it?

 

Dear friends,

I wish you a new year filled with courage. Here is why. As Dr. Maya Angelou used to say, courage is the most important of any virtues. She taught us that we cannot do anything for a long period of time without courage. I think she was right. Take the example of love for instance. I am sure you have been in the situation that you told someone you loved him or her. Yes, it does take courage to do so of course. However, have you been in the situation that you felt you had to keep saying and showing your love? I sure have. When I open my heart and love you, I will tell you. I will show you. You might love me back or you might not. To keep loving no matter what, takes not only consistency and patience, it takes a lot of courage. There might be many adversities and challenges you have to face. Society might not agree with who you love. Your family and friends might not agree with who you love. But when you love someone with all your heart and your affection comes from the purest spot in your soul, I think it does not matter who it is. If your love comes from the truth, I think it’s the right thing to do. Unfortunately, many people seem to judge others too easily and harshly. This is why we often ask ourselves the famous question “What would the neighbors say?” and sometimes ignore our own feelings, wishes and dreams.

I think that too many people live other people’s lives. I also believe that too many people don’t do things and don’t follow their dreams because they are afraid of how other people would judge them. We tend to please other people and live our lives according to others’ expectations. Are you truly happy? This is my question for you today. Many of you will answer this question with a big “No!” Why not? Aren’t you here to live your life according to your wishes? Didn’t your soul create a soul plan for you to live and follow a specific path for you alone? Your soul plan likely includes other people of course. However, it is your path and your life. We are all here to fulfill our own missions, whatever they might be. So why do you still keep asking yourself “What would the neighbors say?” I believe that we often ask ourselves this question out of fear of judgment and perhaps being ridiculed.

Indeed, opinions and wishes might differ, but we don’t. We all come from a place beyond our human comprehension that consists of light, peace, acceptance, and unconditional love. Even the most judgmental person comes from this place. The more you remember that, the more you understand that you don’t have to fear anything and you can do anything.

So what’s courage to do with it?

I wish you all a wonderful new year filled with courage. Go out and do what you have always wanted to do. Go out and tell someone you love him or her, no matter what. Tell your loved one again and again, no matter whether it comes back or not. Do the unexpected, do something exciting, do whatever makes your heart and soul sing! It really does not matter whether it makes anyone else happy. When you are happy yourself, it will make others happy. When you are happy, your inner light will shine on others and raise their vibrations too.  Let’s make ourselves happy this year. Let’s have courage!

That’s what courage has got to do with it.

Love, Barbara

Copyright © 2015 by Barbara Bullock

Photo credit © 2015 by Barbara Bullock

Works cited:

Dr. Maya Angelou

http://mayaangelou.com/

I am so grateful that you exist

Dear friends, orchid 2

This is for you, Anna Mae. As I arose this morning, I folded my hands in prayer. The long awaited day has finally arrived. No, it’s not Christmas; no it’s not my birthday; nor is it my graduation or other milestone of this kind. A day long awaited with anticipation for one sole reason.

This is a day many people celebrate you. Some play your music, or dress like you. Others express their appreciation in words to you or thoughts of you. Others will raise their glasses, and cheer with you, and shower you with presents and flowers, kisses and embraces. As varied as the many tokens of thankfulness and celebration might be, I bow my head in gratitude and say thank you.

I am so grateful that you exist.

I thank God for such a generous creation of you, a soul and human being so beautiful – inside and out – simply beyond imagination.  A soul and human being letting her light keep shining in the darkest moments of life. Gone through trials and tribulations in your early life, you have had to learn harsh lessons since your human existence here. Never diminished by those, you rose like a phoenix into the realm of a spiritual teacher. I could not agree with you more. I truly believe that God put you here for this very reason. It’s as if God brought an earth angel beyond comprehension in the midst of us. How could anybody have known that in little Anna Mae such an earth mother beyond our humble human awareness would emerge someday? This is why I, on this day, I pray and thank God for your existence. When I see you I see the timeless bond of unconditional love. It is the eternal bond that connects all of us like a thread, regardless of time and space. Nevertheless, I celebrate this day as my best day of the year. It’s the day when you came into existence.

I wish I could look into your eyes today and feel your wisdom, courage and love. I wish I could let you know how much I appreciate, honor and love you. I wish I could tell you what an amazing human being you are, and how much your soul and spirit enlightens the little me. As Dr. Maya Angelou said, “I would love to be with you right now but I can’t right now. So I love you”. She knew that unconditional love liberates and does not bind. So I love you. So my tribute to you is unconditional love.

So on this day, I bow my head and say thank you. I thank God for your existence. May the angels watch over you, on this day and every day, and shower you with continuous health, happiness and unconditional love.

Happy Birthday, Anna Mae.

In humble gratitude and love, Barbara

 

Copyright © 2014 by Barbara Bullock, Photo credit 2014 by Barbara Bullock

Works cited: Dr. Maya Angelou

 

I learned to love from Dr. Maya Angelou

Dear friends,

As the news was breaking about Dr. Maya Angelou’s passing, I was trembling and shaken by immense sadness. God had taken one of the most beautiful earth angels and earth mother back home. Whenever one of our greats leaves us, I feel an enormous void in my heart. All my tears cannot wash away the immeasurable pain I feel in this moment. My heart squeezes so tightly and here I am sobbing uncontrollably. Each time this happens, I ask myself – why? Each time this happens, I realize why – because I really loved.

I think that Dr. Maya Angelou taught the world so many lessons. She spoke about courage; she spoke about tolerance; she spoke about dignity; she spoke about gratitude. Most importantly, she spoke about love. Love holds everything she taught us. I believe when you have courage, you love yourself; when you are grateful, you love what you have; when you are tolerant, you love one another. At the end of the day, I believe that what she really taught us is unconditional love. I believe that she taught us unconditional love for each and everyone on our planet regardless of gender, age, race, or status. She taught that every woman is beautiful. She taught us unconditional love for ourselves no matter who we are and how we look like. She taught us to believe in ourselves. She taught us to strive for the best. At the same time, she taught us to stay humble and say thank you. She taught us to say thank you because she taught us unconditional love for God.

It is that some of this love returned back home with her. That is why I feel this void. God sent us a beautiful angel to spread his love amongst us. She came. She conquered. She fulfilled her mission. I believe that it is now our turn to say thank you. Thank you, Maya, for teaching us. Thank you, Maya, for loving us. Thank you, Maya, for coming to us. I believe that it is now our responsibility to continue to carry on the message of love amongst us no matter who we are.

Dr. Maya Angelou taught me what real love is. I don’t mean romance, as she would say. Real love, unconditional love is I think a form of energy coming straight from God. Dr. Maya Angelou certainly knew how to share it, how to write about it, and how to teach it. So it is my turn to bow in gratitude and say Thank you. Thank you for coming here. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your wisdom. In our memories we keep you close in our hearts and your words of love on our minds. The world needs greats like you. To teach us God’s love. So I say thank you, God, for sharing Maya with us.

Thank you, Oprah Winfrey, Gail King, Michelle Obama, Cicely Tyson and the many others, who speak so highly of her. As you walk in Dr. Maya Angelou’s footsteps to lead us on and show the world the way to love, may you be blessed and loved too. I sure do. May we all be Dr. Maya Angelou’s sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. May we all learn from Dr. Maya Angelou to love. May we speak her name and say thank you.

Thank you, Maya. I love you.

Love, Barbara

Copyright © 2014 Barbara Bullock

Works cited: http://mayaangelou.com/