EVERYTHING
©Aliana Alani 2019
Everything that you are
Every cell, every molecule
Every bit of star dust
is You
Twinkling in the night sky
Sparkling in the morning dew
Laughing for the sheer joy of it
Everything that you are
is You
And everything
is who You are
Everything
Amazing, isn’t it
Alright, all you bits of starlight out there – it’s that time again!
SO, get out there, kiss a leprechaun if you can find one (they’re a wily group, wonderfully mischievous and gorgeous fun, so watch out!!), wear all things green (or at least one), and if you must, go do ‘the green beer’ thing too (not my favorite way of marking the day but…). We do not recommend colouring whatever river happens to be nearby, but since Chicago has gone and done it, well what the…!
Quote Yeats, Beckett, a bit of Myles na Gopaleen if you can (look that one up), wax poetic about the slow air, and generally give a thumbs up and a GOOD GOD, YOU’RE WONDERFUL to the day.
That would ST. PATRICK’S DAY, in case you missed the clues.
And to all my dear and beautiful friends in The Green – Love ya bunches – Wish I was there!!
HAPPY ST. PAT’S DAY, EVERYONE!
Yes, it’s that day again when those of us in the North celebrate the leaf (maple, of course), the syrup (also maple), the moose, the elk, the beaver, and of course, the loon (no, not the coin but that’s okay to celebrate too). We can be found waxing poetic about the skies, the vastness of the land, the beauty of the waters (cold though they might be), the music, the vino, the micro-beer, and all other things wonderfully Canadian. Now that we are in the time of summer warmth (and for some of you it is truly hot hot), you might even discover a few of us thinking fondly of snowy chilly times, but only briefly, you understand, none of us wanting to inadvertently call the frozen realm toward us any time soon.
So go out there and celebrate. Wave a flag, lift a glass of cheer, say EH! if you must (clearly I’m not a fan), share a memory with someone near (only the good ones are allowed today), be generous, be polite (another quintessential Canadian trait), be happy, and remember – shower your life, your friends, and your world with loving kindness … for if ever loving kindness was needed, it’s now.
HAPPY CANADA DAY EVERYONE!
Alright you lovers of Green, it’s that day again. So go on now, grab that Guinness, put shamrocks in your hair, wear green anywhere you can think of (hah), quote Irish poets who come to mind (there are a lot of them), watch your favorite Irish actors in your favorite Irish movies, do something kind for someone and don’t tell anyone (that’s an old Irish tradition), and wish the best of the best for everyone you meet.
And of course, give a topping of the hat (I’m assuming you’ll be wearing one) to the wee ones and their clans (of which there are many), should you be blessed enough to meet them.
It’s a special day but it’s also meant to be fun (also known as a bit of craic), so go have some!
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!
STORIES –
by: Aliana Alani ©2018
You can love them or hate them.
Laugh till you cry or cry till you sob.
You can bravely follow page by page,
Or sneak peek to the end, to be sure to be sure.
You can raise their swords of truth as though they were your own,
Or shake your head at the sheer folly of where they appear to go.
Through them – you can be a swashbuckler, a Cinderella, an angel, or a spy.
You can dust off your dancing shoes,
Or race that Formula One car to the finish.
In some, you can even fly.
And if they are good enough – if they are well told –
They will, at some point, capture your heart.
From that moment on, for however long a time,
You will believe them to be your own.
For those of you who celebrate this time of year – may the true spirit of Christmas fill your hearts and grace your days during this special time. May laughter, joy, and magic ring throughout each moment. And whether your Christmas is ringed with winter white or island palms, may love and harmony prevail.
To all in this beautiful often fragile world – I wish you great joy, unending peace, and a life filled with kindness and love.
May your Christmas be merry. May your Holiday be bright.
TODAY IS SUNDAY – our LET’S MAKE SUNDAY A DAY OF LOVE day. Whether we share that love with those close to our hearts, or with casual friends or strangers through kindness and compassion, it is a day where we choose to allow Love to be the guiding light within out lives.
In a world currently up to its proverbial rafters in drama, let alone the real pain and suffering so many are going through, Love is needed more than ever. To see the other through the eyes of Love is to give our hearts a chance to open to the world as it is meant to be. It is an opportunity to offer the one gift you can truly give that can know no bounds – the Love That Passeth All Understanding. Touch that within yourself, allow it to flow forth unconditionally, and you will have found the door to Home.
Here in the Great White North – not so white yet but large and definitely North – it is also THANKSGIVING WEEKEND – a time of gratitude when we acknowledge, appreciate, and give thanks for all that has been given to us. We give thanks for the kindnesses that have been offered, for the food on our tables, the friendships that prosper, and the blessings that have been given. And for the opportunity each day provides for us to share our gifts and our love with the world.
And so I thank you, each and everyone of you, wherever you may be, for your courage and willingness to step beyond the norm, to share your kindness with others, your laughter, your joy, your smile; to dare to love, and in loving, nourish your visions of a world of harmony, balance, and yes, even peace – so that one day, hopefully very soon, those visions will have become our reality.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!
Remember
Love is the answer.
Always has been. Always will be.
So roll out that inner carpet of love and let your open heart be a beacon of caring for our world. Share your kindness, your compassion, your laughter and your joy with those around you. Water your garden of life with love – and then send some out into our world as a gentle wave of healing for us all.
See the world through love-filled eyes that love may begin to blossom everywhere again. Listen only to the inner chords of love and watch how things within you change. Smile. Breathe. Catch the sparkles of beauty that dance before you. They’ve always been there. They just prefer to dance to the tune of love.
And drink in some of that love for yourself as well. After all, it’s who you truly are.
Remember
Love is the answer
Always has been. Always will be.
“True laughter from an enlightened soul is an expression of divine joy and a high manifestation of wisdom and compassion with the Oneness of being.” 
Jorge Pereira
22shangrila 