Big shout out to all you phenomenal British Columbia BraveHearts for packing the house & sharing a beautiful day of Inspiration in Action!!!! Let's Rise & Release!!! Love, Dr. Sugar
I received this AWAKENING article and as I read it I thought perhaps it speaks to many so I will share it here with my BraveHeart Sisters.
THE AWAKENING(Author Unknown)
A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening. You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change...or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that neither of you is Prince Charming or Cinderella and that in the real [perceptual] world there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of 'happily ever after' must begin with you...and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance. You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are ... and that's OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.
And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself...and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself...and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness. You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what you should wear, what you should do for a living, how much money you should make, what you should drive, how and where you should live, who you should marry, the importance of having and raising children, and what you owe your parents, family, and friends.
You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with ... and in the process you learn to go with your instincts. You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a 'consumer' looking for your next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake. Then you learn about love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. And you learn that being alone does not mean being lonely. You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK....and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things you want ... and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands. You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise. You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve...and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone...and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber baron of all: FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening. And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego.
You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls. You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire. And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart and God by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life youwant to live as best you can.
The greatest gift is love. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy & share our love with humanity.
Thought this little story was worth sharing.... The greatest gift is love. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy & share our love with humanity.
Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day ("who really ought to get a job") is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day That of all the gifts you give us Lord, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.
7 days of workshops, keynote speakers, live music, arts & culture, green marketplace, networking & special traditional ceremonies presented by Cree Nation, Peru and Brazil and so much more!
Sisters of Avalon,
Sending bountiful blessings from Grail Springs on this exquisite night of perfection of the Summer Solstice. If you have received this meditation invitation it is because I know that you consciously carry the essence of the legacy of women past, women of Avalon perhaps. As many of you have already expressed to me your strong connection or feelings for the legends of Avalon, I ask that you connect with the spirit of the divine feminine tonight. This evening I will do a Peace Ceremony on this land in preparation for our gathering. Thank you to Satya for your vision and calling out to me with your message…
In your mind’s eye, for a few minutes if you can, please cross with me through mists of Avalon tonight, (one of us is actually in Glastonbury this night) holding the image of us joining hands in a large circle surrounding the sacred labyrinth which is at the heart of Grail Springs. And in amongst our feet are gathered all creatures of the forest that we have beckoned to come and join us, and all creatures of the sky, and the creatures of the surrounding lake. Let us also invite the first Nations who walked these lands before us, the women, the men, their children, and let us invite the settlers who forged a new life, let us invite all those who have walked these land before us to hold this space with us tonight and throughout the faire… Let us all stand together in this circle of oneness and hold the essence of ‘Gracious Peace’ in our hearts and our minds. Let all past battles be complete. Let the necessary healing ignite and be allowed to come to peace and wholeness. The land, the people, the creatures, our planet, let us all be joined in the realization that we are indeed One and need each other to each play our part in the magnificent orchestra of life (for all you musicians out there!)
Ladies - the dates of the Grail Lady Faire falls between the most potent time of the year – specifically – the cosmic energies are set up for major world transformation. We are bookended by a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse. Imagine…
I am counting the nights…. to be One with you All…. Much love and Light, Madeleine
"In your light I learn how to love In your beauty how to make poems You dance inside my chest where no one sees you But sometimes, I do And that sight becomes this art."
Are you GROWING or DYING? There is a Universal Law that we see exhibited in Nature every day that says...You are either GROWING or DYING.... We see this in the flowers that sprout in the Spring, Bloom in the Summer and then Die with the first Frost of Winter. Growing....Growing.....Growing.....then Dying.
We see this in high speed when we go into our beautiful flower garden and decide to cut a flower from it's plant and bring it to our dining room table to add beauty to the room. As soon as we cut the stem, we hasten the dying process even though the beautiful flower will still look vibrant for a few more days....it has already begun to die.
So I wonder..... What about people???....I look around at women everywhere and have to wonder.... are we growing or are we dying. We begin life and learn to walk and talk and read and write and then we grow up and learn how to fall in love, we get married, we have kids, we learn how to be a mom, we go to college and get a job or career.... Growing....Growing....Growing
And then something seems to happen at around the age of 22 or 23 in my experience/observation .... Women fall into the ROLES of life. "Mom" "Wife" "Doctor or Nurse or Real Estate Agent or Banker or Cosmetologist" and they lose sight of WHO THEY ARE.... They hop on the hamster wheel of life and stop growing.... Go to work from 8-5, cook dinner, watch tv, go to sleep.... Go to work from 8-5, go to the grocery store, watch tv, go to sleep.... Go to work from 8-5, take kids to soccer, watch tv, go to sleep.... Go to work from 8-5, clean the house, watch tv, go to sleep.... Go to work from 8-5, do the laundry, watch tv, go to sleep.....
I see women on the hamster wheel of life and I wonder.....if they are asleep to who they are, if they have become only their roles, if they are no longer GROWING....... have they begun the long slow painful process of dying for the next 50 or 60 years????
I was pondering this idea preparing to go on stage in the Pacific Northwest a few days ago when one of my clients called to mastermind.... I tossed the idea out to her and posted below (with her permission) is a most eloquent reply Thank you to my dear colleague and BraveHeart Sister LISA BUCKALEW
Hi Dr Sugar. ~~~~Thank you for the great conversation today. ~~~~ I trust you will embody the essence of life and the choice to LIVE! in your speech tonight. ~~~~~ Love, light and many healing hugs shared by all. ~~~~Awesome! ~~~~With love,~~~~Lisa Buckalew ~~~~Healing is in Art - http://www.lisasbotanicals.com
I have been sitting outside feeling myself as the flower in the vase on the table. I am a flower. Someone has picked me, severed me from my mother the earth and my days are short and numbered. Facts of life, earth cycles and death.. I was going to die, to sleep for a while in seed form in the fall anyway. This selection for the vase has simply accelerated the process. Knowing that these next few days are my last I want to make them my best.
My purpose. To embody the essence of my life thus far, my time in the meadow, my time in the rain and my time in the sun. To truly BE the beautiful and healing flower I was born to be ...
I use all of my energy to pull water from the vase up through my stem and then using the last of my transformative powers I push that water through my internal parts and out into my petals. I blossom to the fullest degree that I am able and allow the peace of the meadow and the rain and the sun to be displayed in full, beautiful, healing color through that which I am. A flower.
When faced with the inevitability of death and then accepting it, I chose to live out the remainder of my days to the fullest.
My message to the other flowers still in the field ...
Do not count the days until autumn, make the days count. What if you too are severed from the earth before you expected and have only a few short days left. You will want to know what it felt like to really live. Wake up! Live! Feel the sway in the breeze, feel the rain on your skin. Feel the sun on your face. BE who you are! LIVE!!!
"Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other - it doesn't matter who it is - and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other."
Mother Teresa 1910-1997, Roman Catholic Missionary
"An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.” Buddha
One of the most frequent questions I get in interviews is this, ‘how do you get the toxic people out of your life?’ Truthfully, the answer is simply to let them go and yet the weight of guilt associated with ‘cherry picking’ in our relationships is enough to put up with the disappointments, disagreements, lack of trust and inauthenticity. If clutter can weigh you down, so can your toxic relationships and this week we are going to turn our focus there and clean them up.
In the realm of personal development it is said that a person’s income tends to be within 20% of the 5 people they spend the most time with outside of their immediate family. I would like to propose that our attitude also is a direct reflection of these five same people. The obvious conclusion would be that if you want to attract more money, more abundance and joy into your life then changing your social circle should be at the top of your list. Successful people definitely think differently. Their attitude, when confronted with a challenge, is ‘how do I fix this?’ Someone who is just getting by will tend to ask ‘why is this happening to me?’ There is a significant difference.
At Step Into Your Power we want you to have an abundance mentality. We want you to thrive and not just survive. Your attitude is truly your latitude and your friends may be holding you back from the beautiful life you dream of.
The first part of this week’s challenge centers on the attitudes of your friends. Do your friends complain? Are they critical? Do they talk about others behind their backs? Are they acting like victims of circumstance? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions then it is time to select yourself out of this group. If you want to go further and live a life of abundance, spending too much time with people who are negative will definitely drag you down.
A few years ago I helped a friend release over one hundred pounds. She looked great and she felt terrific. Her husband loved her new healthy body and she was a role model for her children.
Unfortunately this woman’s friends were not supportive. They criticized her weight loss. They told her that it was unhealthy. They spoke about her behind her back.
The most vocal friend was a woman who, herself, was overweight. This supposed friend was so negative and would often bring my friend to tears. One day my friend had enough and said to this negative friend, ‘you were not so worried about me when I was one hundred pounds overweight, you were not worried about my heart or my cholesterol. You were fine as long as we were able to sit around the pool and have cocktails and now I have decided to get healthy and you are concerned. Perhaps you are jealous.’
Needless to say, my friend began spending less time with this woman and found a new group of friends that included other health minded women. Today, three years later, she has maintained her weight loss and looks fantastic. She is surrounded by people who support her healthy lifestyle.
Breaking up with your friends can be really challenging. Waves of emotions ranging from guilt to anger to sadness often come with letting go. Deciding to discontinue a friendship does not have to be something permanent; in fact it can be a temporary parting of ways that becomes mutually beneficial.
If the friendship has some value, or you are in some sort of business relationship or committee with a friend where you must continue to work together then having a clearing conversation can be very healthy. Going into the conversation be clear on your intention; decide that no matter what you are seeing the positives in the other person regardless of what is going on. Secondly take responsibility if you have had any part to play in the negativity. For example, perhaps you have a friend who gossips, which bothers you now but in the past you also played the part of the rumourmonger. Now, you have decided to have a more positive outlook and attract greater opportunities into your life and you are no longer willing to berate others behind their backs.
Go into the conversation and let your friend know that you are sorry for your part in the behaviour and you are now in the process of change. Let this friend know that you no longer feel comfortable in the presence of these types of conversations and that your friendship is still important.
Years ago I belonged to a group of women that met for dinner occasionally. After the idle chitchat talk would eventually turn to others. One night, after a few glasses of wine, one woman began to openly criticise another woman whom we all knew. Uncomfortable with the situation I suggested we change the conversation as it was not appropriate to talk about others without them there.
Most of the women appreciated the change in direction of the conversation because in reality – if we are gossiping or having a critical spirit against someone else then it is being done tenfold to us.
Whether your friends are gossips, critical, negative or victims this is the week to clean those friendships up. Decide what kind of person you want to be and look for new people to connect with who serve this different point of view. Let your friends know what types of behaviour you are willing and unwilling to participate in; you never know, they may have been feeling the same way.
Great, supportive, uplifting friendships are rare and when you find them, they are important to nurture. Whether you are letting go or doing a course correct with your friends this week, I wish you the absolute best with this process. You are destined for greatness and a few good friends who support your goals and dreams will be that veritable wind beneath your wings.
Saw this great article today by my friend and colleague Susan Sly and wanted to share with my BraveHeart sisters. I trust you will enjoy her words as much as I did.
Thought for the day…………..This was sent to me so I am sharing .... sometimes we must remember who, why, what, where and when….. and of course, what's next?
Much love to my BraveHeart SISTERS….. you make my life more meaningful as we journey together.
....... A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter
'Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.
'Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women...your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women always do.'
What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'
But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.
After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:
THIS SAYS IT ALL:
Time passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up. Jobs come and go. Love waxes and wanes. Men don't do what they're supposed to do. Hearts break. Parents die. Colleagues forget favors. Careers end.
BUT......... Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.
When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.
Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.
BRAVEHEART SISTERS, Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!
The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.
2010 and off to an Amazing Start. I wanted to share a beautiful eye-opening video with my BraveHeart Sisters. Have you ever compared your life to a Train ride? Me neither - at least not until today when I watched this video.... Could you consider that life is like a series of train rides.... you get on you get off... you take many journeys.... there will be delays, there will be accidents, there will be hopes and dreams and challenges and good-byes.... we must make the best of the journey and look for the good in all those who we meet in our travels...We are all on this train ride together and we should strive to make the journey memorable and joyous!
I loved the message in this video and the photos are so cute!
Enjoy!
I am so happy to be on this Train Ride with each of you!
Happy New Year BraveHeart Sisters! We are off to an amazing start on the Best Year ever!!!!
So much has been said of 2009
and the decade of the naughts
most of these articles focusing on the negative things that have come to pass over the last decade.....
sure we could look at it that way..... but why?....other than to acknowledge the lessons we've learned along the way and the places from which we have come.... to honor the women we used to be and look forward to the women we are becoming.
Besides along with all that 2009 brought.... we have much to be grateful for because 2009 brought the world www. BraveHeartWomen.com a place for Purpose Driven women from around the Globe who are Living their lives as Inspiration In Action to come together as One Voice in one awesome awesome site on the net.
AS I was reflecting on how grateful I am for BraveHeart Women, I came across an article in Success Magazine talking about Success Strategies and it made me think of our inspirational Founder Dr. Ellie Drake and what a wise leader she is. Of course she is Inspirational. Of course she is Empowering. Of course she does things with Ease. And of course she clearly has big bold plans for this BraveHeart Women Community. Plans which I personally am very excited to see unfold!!
Ellie Drake is a visionary and a leader of extraordinary depth...one who I am so very proud to call my friend....one who I am so very honored to follow and to walk beside as a BraveHeart Woman!
Ellie is working passionately every day to bring like-minded women from around the world together - so we can all share inspiration and become even more inspired - so we can teach & share our wisdom and we can learn & grow together - so we can find our soul-sisters and we can lend a hand & make a difference.... and together we can all make a difference in 2010!
It is going to be a GREAT year.... a BraveHeart year and I so look forward to sharing an Amazing 2010 with all of my BraveHeart Sisters!!!
I have been seeing patients all day today and with each interaction I feel my heart so full of gratitude for good health and for the ability to be in service.
So grateful that my dad at the age of 77 is still healthy and working every day.
So grateful that I have 3 perfectly healthy, happy, smiling, bright-eyed, funny wonderful children.
So grateful that I am married to my best-friend and that I fall deeper and deeper in love with him every single day.
So grateful for all my BraveHeart sisters!
So grateful that I am working on Christmas Eve but will have Christmas day off to spend with family.
This year is the first year that we will be having the entire family over to OUR HOUSE!!!! I must be getting OLD or BRAVE or BOLD or something...... Mom's family, Dad's family, Rick's family, friends, the whole crew..... should be quite a day and quite a FULL house!!.
We have had Christmas music playing in the clinic all day and whenever I hear one of my favorite Christmas songs I announce to the entire clinic.... "This is MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG!"
It started this morning with "Little Drummer Boy" .... I loved that song so much as a kid in the school play.
And then "I Want to Wish you a Merry Christmas - Feliz Navidad" ..... oh that is a great song - - I remember running around in Jr. High singing at the top of my lungs.
And then "Oh Holy Night" ...... that was one of my mom's favorites.
"Jingle Bell Rock".... does it get any better than that?
"Sleigh Bells"..... I remember getting the lead piano part for 5 years in a row playing this song..... oh girl that was such an honor.
"Blue Chrismas"..... I am such a closet ELVIS fan. Mmmmmm I love that man!
And of course the song above - a classic - "Happy Christmas"
I have been singing the day away as I care for my patients. I just loudly announced to the clinic "I LOVE this song"...... as Rockin Around the Christmas Tree comes on the radio.... the entire clinic turns to me and says.... "YES Dr. Singleton..... WE KNOW..... you love this song and you love your life....!!!!" haha
So my BraveHeart Sisters. I want to send wishes of the wamest kind from my Heart to Yours and from my Home to Yours. May you enjoy time with those you love. May your heart be filled with Love, Peace, Joy and Gratitude. May the coming 2010 be full of Abundance and Happiness!
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