Lamisha Serf-Walls

Dreams Of Past and Present

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I spent much of today in reflection.  I reflected on what this day means to us because of one brave, amazing man and his fight for freedom so many years ago.  What it means today as we welcome in the second term for a President that has a vision much like that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a vision of equality, love, cooperation, and freedom for all.  I soon realized that the vision these two men shared is (as Dr. King so eloquently stated in his famous speech) a dream.  A dream of freedom that is unfolding before our very eyes and I am humbled, inspired, and proud to live during a time in history where dreams for our collective good are getting closer to being our reality and I am reminded that no dream is too big or too small to accomplish.

We each have our own personal dreams that we wish to fulfill in our lifetime and yet these men have dreams that reach far beyond the individual.  They have dreams that span the entire country and effect us as a whole to make this great land a better place.  One that is more peaceful, equal, and fair.  One that brings us together in unity and blurs the lines that divide us and I am grateful.  Grateful beyond words for the courage, vision, and fortitude to keep going when things get tough and never letting go of that dream.  We can all learn something from these amazing leaders about dreaming…no matter what your dream is, never let it go.  Keep fighting, striving, believing, and moving toward your vision step-by-step, because the worst thing you can do is give up on something that means so much.  What if Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had given up?  Where would we be today?

From My Heart

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The post below is something I felt the need to write/share with my FB page earlier today and while some of my recent posts have moved away from my dream journey, creating a better world is truly one of my dreams and so I am sharing it here.

Let me introduce myself in a way that many of you may not know me…

I am a woman, a partner, a lesbian, a mother, a tree-huggin’, animal lovin’, save the planet, peace-maker.  I believe in love, life, and the pursuit of happiness just as much as the next guy.  I believe in equal rights for all, a safe place to raise my children, and leaving a better world than the one I was born into.  I am an Earth savin’, peace-speaking writer, with a heart of gold, who believes in helping others in whatever capacity I can.  I am spiritual and believe that God/the Universe/Spirit or whatever you choose to call this force, did not create us to watch us falter and fail.  I believe that we, as a human race have leaps and bounds to grow and I believe IN us.  I know that we can make this world better, but it isn’t going to be the government or the laws that make us kinder, wiser, more humble with one another.  It isn’t the government that is going to clean up our Earth and make the world a better place.  Sure they are one piece of this extravagant puzzle, but you and I are the tools to create positive change.

I believe in the chain reaction of love and kindness.  Passing from one person to the next until it affects every beautiful human being on this planet.  Pay it forward and back, help each other, uplift instead of speaking down, use your words instead of your fists or worse any other weapons.  Speak kindly to one another, lend a helping hand, believe in your dreams, and help others achieve theirs.  Celebrate our uniqueness, but understand that on the deepest level, we are all the same.  Human beings looking for love, happiness, and peace.

It is no mistake we are here together dealing with some trying and difficult times.  It is no coincidence that there are so many groups it the world working in whatever way they know how to create change.  This is not about a specific agenda or politics.  We are in one of the most incredible times in history and it is up to us to make a difference for generations to come.  So, I ask you to stop the bickering and fighting about who can carry what weapon and stand together against the violence that pervades our world regardless of the form it takes.  Stand together in love and acceptance in one another and give a kind word or smile to those you see struggling.

We will not make a change in hate, we will not make this world a better place by fighting each other tooth and nail and spreading negativity like wild fire to get your point across.  We are given this life for a reason, and I certainly don’t believe that reason was to instill hate in our hearts or the hearts of our children.  Our children are watching our every move, hearing our every word, and absorbing the energy they see in us.  Be a leader in love and in peace.  Teach kindness and understanding over hate and separation.  It is through our teachings of positivity and peace together that this world will be better and I promise that change will not take place by complaining about the politics, control, and financial strife our world seems to be in right now.  However, it will come through you and how you choose to embody this incredible gift of life.

I want to see children growing up in an ever increasing peaceful world.  You may think I see our future through rose-colored glasses and maybe you are right.  But I would rather believe in our ability to create positive change in this world, than believe in the hopelessness of continuing living in our world the way we have been.  I am not willing to give in to the belief that “this is all there is”.  Living is not about surviving, it is about thriving.

The bottom line is this…we can’t keep trying to solve problems with the same energy and consciousness that created them.  We have to step out of that box and try something new…

May this be food for thought that creates inspired action in those of you who read this.

Thank you for reading,
Lamisha

P.S.  Please know this is not something directed at any one person or post.  It is simply something I felt the need to share and express.

 

I Am Listening…

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This week has been one of those weeks, yet again.  It seems like time is speeding up and the number of things that must get done are adding up too and while I could very well freak out about what isn’t getting done, or get anxious about the long list, I am not.  Thanks to my meditation practice, I am staying pretty balanced in my mood and doing what I can each day.  With that said, I am human and I still recognize there is much to be done this week, but right now, I am simply listening.

I am listening to my body, my mind, and my inner voice and letting it guide me through my days.  My body is saying “rest” and I am sure it means I need more sleep.  And though I know I could stay up to get through the last few chapters of a book I am reading so I can get some writing done for it, I will not.  I will listen, and sleep.  My mind is telling me to step back, slow down, and breathe.  So I am.  I have taken far more deep breaths today than I can remember in the last week, simply to focus and center myself.  I am listening.

My inner voice seems to have a lot to say about all the “busyness” that is going on this week.  “Let it go. ”  “It’s not worth it.” “It can wait.”  This voice is gently guiding me to do what is best for me right now and to take care of myself and I am listening.  My inner voice is also providing an unlimited number of creative ideas that I truly can’t wait to begin.  When will that be? I am not sure, but one thing I know is that as long as I am listening and following the little nudges here and there, it will all come together in the right time and space for me.  Until then, I am listening.

What do you need to listen to right now?

Following The Signs To Clarity

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I have talked a little bit about synchronicities and following the signposts of life as you venture down your given path. I have often found these signs in books, quotes, a newsletter, or sometimes even songs where a specific topic or set of words just jump out at me and make me think “Aha!”. Well today was one of those days and boy did I have some things jumping out at me.

Over the last few weeks I have been having an internal struggle about what I believe my truth to be. By truth I mean, where I am going, what I am doing, and how my spirituality and belief system is made up (both about myself and the world/society as a whole). I haven’t ever questioned my truth or my spirituality, and don’t particularly find myself questioning it now, but rather wondering how my truth fits into what others believe etc. In the midst of the fog and somewhat confusion I was feeling, I could hear my internal dialogue asking for clarity. I wasn’t looking for it in any given form, nor did I expect it to come about the way it did, but what I found was a series of synchronicities that kept coming about throughout the day. It was as if the Universe/God/Powers that be, was giving me the clarity I was seeking. Simply put, it was amazing.

I’d like to tell you what it was that set these moments of clarity in motion, but I don’t have a formula. I started my day feeling a bit uneasy and since I am committed to my 100 day meditation challenge, I thought what better way to handle such feelings than to be still and quiet my thoughts. Afterwards, I felt a little better, but couldn’t shake this feeling that left me off balance. So instead of trying to push it away, I sat with it. Moving through my morning the way I would normally and allowing the feelings, uneasiness, and day to progress as it should. That is when I stumbled upon a post from one of my favorite blogs the Journey Through The Chrysalis. I found her words lighten my mood and bring a bit of clarity to what I was feeling. I began to feel better and as I did the signs just kept coming.

Almost immediately after reading that post, I saw a status update on FB and an article posted almost simultaneously, providing even more clarity to my particular situation. And it didn’t stop there. Over the course of the day, I had read, heard, and seen several other articles, videos, and blog posts that were either dealing with this particular issue, or reminding me to be open, something I had forgotten over the last few days. Once I reminded myself of my theme for the year, I relaxed. The uneasiness subsided, the chaotic thoughts in my mind calmed down, and I was still. It was then that I allowed myself to let go of this picture I had painted in my mind as a struggle and looked at it from a different view. It is no longer a struggle, it is simply a way for me to grow, both in my own spirituality, but also in how I deal with everything I see as a struggle.

What looks like a struggle from one view, can be very different when you step out of it for a moment and be still, something I was reminded of in my own meditation as well as from Candy Coated Reality (this post is great). Sometimes you even have to get quiet and just listen and if you don’t hear something right away, give it some time and be open to whatever comes your way, you never know where your guidance may show up.

Gratitude: Fresh Flowers and Spring Weather

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I forgot how much I love the beauty and smell of fresh flowers until today. Today my partner and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary and I bought her flowers as a gift. I found they were just as much a delight for myself as they were a gift for her. There is something about smelling the wonderful smell of flowers inside the house and bringing a little bit of nature indoors. I love being outside and love the visual beauty that flowers provide, along with distinct, yet subtle aroma as well. And so, today I am so grateful for the beauty and aroma that fresh cut flowers bring.

I am also grateful for spring weather. I am well aware that we are in the midst of winter in various places around the U.S. and many areas have recently experienced blizzard like conditions, however today we were blessed in South Carolina with warmer than normal conditions. As I write this, there is a gentle breeze floating in the window with the distinct smell that reminds me of late spring and early summer. The temperature is just right and reminds me of one of my favorite times of year. For this distinct moment, I am grateful.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy each and every moment. Thanks for reading!

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Flowers for my love!