Dead Fish

"...and always remember my child...only dead fish go with the flow."  This is from one of my favorite greeting cards by Great Cosmic Happy Ass - a staple at the Higher Self Bookstore.  For many years now I have differentiated the phrases "Be in the flow" and "Go with the flow."  The dead fish statement is maybe a little strong (but it is funny), but makes the point that sometimes just going with the flow allows for non-action, non-commitment, and non-focus.  I'm not saying that I don't step into that river from time to time, but the intention I hold is to BE IN the flow.

Abraham (channeled by Ester Hicks) explains the difference, and adds that trying to paddle upstream, against the flow (of the Universe) will not bring to you what it is you truly want.  As I understand it, as I focus on what I want, be clear on what I want, the Universe will start the flow of what it is I say I want to me.  Yes, action is often required and as I am in the flow, the action required will be clear to me.

Sometimes being in the flow takes me gently, easily to my desires.  And then, there are those days where I feel like I am continuously bouncing into boulders!  Depending on my issue, there may be days and days, weeks, months even, when I keep crashing into boulders or skinning my knees on hidden rocks or just getting stuck.  Funny how many of these boulders look exactly alike.  Who the heck put all these obstacles in my way?  Why are they trying to sabotage my flow to my desires?

'Tis I, I know - it would be so much easier to blame someone else, though.  So I ask the boulder, "Hey, Boulder!  Just what is it you want me to get?  What is the lesson here?  Don't be making me try to paddle upstream!"  The boulder often doesn't answer.  So I push myself around it and, lo and behold!  There it is again!

There are no shortcuts.  The limitations I have put in front of me can only be removed by me.  I can ask for help, and I do, except when I don't.  Hey, maybe I like the colors of black and blue! Beating myself up only keeps me down, so I do the work.  We all have to do the work, eventually, I mean - isn't that why we are all here?  To remember who we are and create!

Don't be a dead fish.  That's my advice.  Me?  I'm gonna ride me some rapids!

Have You Ever Been Mellow...On A Treadmill?

The song has been playing in my head the past few days.  When I anticipate writing this blog at this time of the month, I pay closer attention to the voices in my head - thanks, Olivia!  I'm thinking this song is here because for the past few months, I've been wanting to write about being stuck on a treadmill - that's the word that keeps coming up for me, sad to say.

Have I Ever Been Mellow?  Well, of course!  From time to time, here and there, fleetingly, and, it's been a while.  Hmm.  Mellow for me means, calm and peaceful, quietly joyous. What stops me?  I don't even think I hold that as an intention these days.  I'm going to have to write Olivia Newton John a thank you card for reminding me what's been missing.

Now, I haven't been totally clueless.  Feeling stuck in the midst of an seemingly endless to-do list has brought about the vision of a hamster on a treadmill.  The thing is, I know better.  I just can't get off of it!  Maybe I'm afraid that if I do, the wheel would stop spinning and I wouldn't have fulfilled my promises to you, and you, and me.  You have expectations of me - keep the doors open, the shelves stocked, the floors clean, the events promoted, etc., etc. - and I love meeting those expectations!  I really do!

You've never been in this place, right?  You have?!?  Tell me, how did you get to be mellow on the treadmill?  Oh, I see.  You made time.  You made it important to be mellow, to meditate, to sit and breath, to have fun, to make the doing of the to-do list fascinating, a game.  It is all a game, isn't it?

Okay, I'm going to do it!  I'm going to change the channel on my "reality TV" and schedule only programs that lift my spirit, make me laugh, feed my soul, and air according to my own time schedule!  Thanks for the awesome advice!  I knew I could count on you!