Think of Others ~by Pema Chödrön

 "Sharing the heart is a
simple practice that can be used at any time and in every situation. It
enlarges our view and helps us remember our interconnection."

"The essence of this practice is that when we encounter pain in our life we
breathe into our heart with the recognition that others also feel this. It’s a
way of acknowledging when we are closing down and of training to open up. When
we encounter any pleasure or tenderness in our life, we cherish that and
rejoice. Then we make the wish that others could also experience this delight
or this relief."

"In a nutshell, when life is pleasant, think of others. When life is a burden,
think of others. If this is the only training we ever remember to do, it will
benefit us tremendously and everyone else as well. It’s a way of bringing
whatever we encounter onto the path of awakening compassion."

This Labor Day week-end
many of us will enjoy the relaxation offered by an extra day off. You may gather with family and friends to share in the fruits of your labor. Think of those who have given so much for our benefit and offer them your gratefulness.

Blessings for
Celebration  -by John O' Donohue

"Now is the time to free the heart / Let all intentions and worries stop, / Free the joy within the self , /Awaken to the wonder of your life."

" Open your eyes and see the friends / Whose hearts recognize your face as kin, / Those whose kindness watchful and near, / Encourages you to live everything here."

 "See the
gifts the years have given, / Things
your effort could never earn, / The
health to enjoy who you want to be / And the
mind to mirror mystery."

 Remember
too, those who are laboring without the luxury of a relaxing weekend; let's hope that their turn will come soon.

 For One
Who Is Exhausted  (Excerpt) –by John O'Donohue

 "When the
rhythm of the heart becomes hectic, / Time takes
on the strain until it breaks; / Then all
the unattended stress falls in / On the
mind like an endless, increasing weight."

 "Weariness
invades your spirit. / Gravity
begins falling inside you, / Dragging
down every bone."

 "Take refuge
in your senses, open up / To the
small miracles you rushed through."

 "Imitate
the habit of twilight, / Taking
time to open the well of color / That
fostered the brightness of day.

 "Draw alongside
the silence of stone / Until
its calmness, can claim you. / Be
excessively gentle with yourself."    

 Contributed by ~liz Sorensen Wessel

Blessings of John O' Donohue from his book "To Bless the Space Between Us"

Mandala by ~liz