Time and time again

"If I had to live my life over again, I'd dare to make

more mistakes next time. I'd relax. I would limber up.

I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take

fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would

take more trips.

I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers.

I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have

fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who

live seriously and sanely, hour after hour, day after day.

Oh, I've had my moments.

And if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them.

In fact, I'd try to have nothing else, just moments, one after

another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.

I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere

without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat

and a parachute. If I had it to do again,

I would travel lighter than I have. If I had to live my life over,

I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way

later in the fall. I would go to more dances.

I would ride more merry-go-rounds.

I would pick more daisies."

-Nadine Stair

Change and I are friends.

As life changes and friendships evolve or fall apart it's nice to look upon these words of wisdom and maybe not feel so lost. It has helped me many times.

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A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON . . . It is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realise is that our need has been met, ourdesire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

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I'm not really religious but if I was anything I'd be a buddhist. I'll never forget a few years ago I went to a community festival in Mordialloc. They had brought some buddhist monks out from Tibet to do some ceremonies for the 3 days. Over this time, amongst other things, the monks made a Mandala from colored sand. This thing was intricate and beautiful and I had never seen anything like it before. It took skill to create it, and lots of time. Then at the end of the ceremony they threw the sand away and destroyed the mandala. I think this was to signify our dependence on materialistic things.