Making Choices…

I had a most amazing night last night on my computer.

It was filled with insights after I watched clip after clip, of celebrities toasting the wonder of a great woman actress – Meryl Streep.  She was given a lifetime award for acting, and the clips onscreen showed the heartfelt expressions of love from other celebrities – Shirley MacLaine, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kurt Douglas, Goldie Hawn, Nora Ephron, Robert DeNiro – showering their gratitude on Meryl Streep.

As I watched the exchange of love going back and forth, between Meryl and each celebrity onstage, I got caught up in the feeling of being Meryl Streep.

What would it feel like to BE Meryl Streep?  I clicked on other video clips.  Meryl being totally natural with a bronchial infection, coughing, laughing and joking with David Letterman.  Meryl on the Ellen DeGeneres show, putting on a funny hat and improvising different accents with Ellen, just for fun.  And of course, there was Meryl being interviewed playing the part of Julia Child, with her candid comments that she isn’t really a dedicated cook.

So – what did I get from this feeling of BEING?  It felt totally wonderful, exhilarating and delightful.  Feeling the spirit of Meryl is to feel totally in the present, loving, giving and enjoying life. 

Goldie Hawn compared Meryl to a Stradivarius violin, with each string of her life resonating so beautifully… blending family and career harmoniously.  Jack Nicholson said she was “perfect.”  Kurt Douglas said that whoever had the privilege to work with Meryl would just have to fall in love with her. 

Why is that?  Because Meryl expresses love and gratitude so easily to those around her.  It’s natural.  Contagious.  You pick it up and you are uplifted.  You are more than you were before.  (And the celebrities mentioned that too!)  But I FELT it last night.

Naturally, there is only one Meryl Streep.  But we can all be the best US.  

Just think how it could be if we chose to act with love and gratitude in every situation.  Even the tough ones.  Each action we take has a reaction.  In Meryl’s case, I was watching the reactions of love coming back at Meryl.  It made me think – what actions have I taken in my life?  What steps can I take to create the outcomes that I desire?

What limiting core beliefs do I need to recognize to achieve my full potential?

It all started with a seemingly random google search to look up video clips on an actress I’ve always admired – Meryl Streep.  Thank you, Meryl.  You’ve taught me more by watching you as yourself than in all the great film roles you’ve created. 

As Mike Nichols said, “Meryl’s got to be one of those phenomena, like Garbo, that happens once in a generation.”

I join all the others in toasting you, Meryl…. With Love & Gratitude!

Thanksgiving is a special time of year.  A time to reflect on family, friends and all the blessings we have.   A time to freely express our gratitude. 

As I continue learning, we choose our thoughts.  Why not choose positive thoughts every day?

This time of year reminds me to choose to live consciously day…  remembering that we are all connected… and that G-d lives within each of us.  How can we reach out to someone in need and uplift someone else’s life?

In preparing for a presentation this week about Jewish holidays, I came across this story from the Chabad website.  I’d like to share it with you… it’s titled…

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“We Are All One”

In his latter years, the Rebbe would stand for hours every Sunday, as thousands of people, both Jew and non-Jew would stand in line to receive his blessing. The Rebbe would look each person intently straight in the eyes for an eternal moment, often smiling, sometimes answering a question or providing advice, always giving his blessing or answering “amen” to the person’s own request. Each person received from the Rebbe’s hand a dollar bill to be given to any worthy cause of his or her choice.

All agreed that the spectacle was entirely supernatural. As the line went on, the Rebbe became increasingly invigorated, as though he himself was receiving life from these people. When, after many hours, the line would finally dwindle away, the Rebbe would turn to his personal secretary and ask, “Is there no one else?”

It happened one day that an elderly woman waited in line, sitting upon a small chair which she moved ahead together with the line. When she finally arrived before the Rebbe, she could no longer contain herself. “Rebbe, I am younger than you!” she burst out. “And I only sat…and you stand here and greet each person… and just look at you!”

The Rebbe beamed and replied, “When you’re counting jewels you don’t get tired.”

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As November vanishes into December, let us recognize the jewels within each other.  Just as the glorious colors of autumn are so appreciated, we can also make time to appreciate those in our lives now… Thank you!

Thoughts are so powerful.  When we realize we have so much power within us, it’s even more important to focus on how we can extend our loving influence to others.  After all, how can we make the most of our time on earth?

As Elisabeth Kubler-Ross said, “It’s only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth — and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up — that we will begin to live each day to its fullest, as if it was the only one we had.”

I’m grateful to have learned from wonderful spirtually based teachers — both from books and from personal meetings and seminars.  Ultimately, it comes down to conscious living… where we recognize the oneness that we all share.

One such evolved person is Colin Tipping, author of Radical Forgiveness, whose goal is to achieve world peace by the year 2012.  (See:  www.radicalforgiveness.com)

Tipping says, “As you release the pain and self-destructive patterns that have kept you out of joy, stolen your life and blocked your abundance up to now, you will feel a profound feeling of inner peace and freedom.”  At his website, you can sign up for free teleseminars and learn more.

Another wonderfully aware human being is my friend, Bob Burg, bestselling author of “The Go Giver” and speaker.  (www.burg.com/blog)  In a recent blog, Burg talks about cultivating a habit of happiness.  Happiness doesn’t have to “happen” to you… it’s not external.  The emotional foundation to having happiness is by focusing on the attitude of gratitude. 

Burg says, “Your level of gratitude determines your level of happiness, as well as your potential for success.”

So… how can we get to a high level of gratitude?  I feel the answer lies in giving.  When we give, we receive. 

On Friday, July 3rd, I had the supreme privilege of getting a hug an Indian saint, Amma… known throughout the world as “Mother.”  Amma has given over 26 MILLION hugs, and her charitable work in raising millions or dollars has helped countless people across India.  To be in her presence…. to receive her hug… is to feel the utmost unconditional love.  (www.amma.org)

For this week, let us contemplate how we can turn our mind towards gratitude and love…  I find it helpful to spend some morning time in meditation and contemplation… like giving one’s mind a bath before plunging into the daily ups and downs of life.

What’s important to you?