Healing Energy Share for Sunday,

February 26, 2006

Gain Disguised As Loss

Art is the act of structuring time. "Look at it this way," a piece of art says. "Here's how I see it." As the novelist Eve Babitz remarks, "It's all in the frame." This is particularly true when what we are dealing with is an artistic loss.

Every loss must always be viewed as a potential gain; it's all in the framing.

Every end is a beginning. We know that. But we tend to forget it as we move through grief. Struck by a loss, we focus, understandably, on what we leave behind, such as a lost dream of a work's successful fruition and its buoyant reception.

We need to focus on what lies ahead. This can be tricky. We may not know what lies ahead. And, if the present hurts this badly, we tend to view the future as impending pain.

"Gain disguised as loss" is a potent tool. To acquire it, simply and brutally ask yourself: "How can this loss serve me? Where does it point my work?" The answers will surprise and liberate you.

The trick is to metabolize pain as energy. The key to doing that is to know, to trust, and to act as if a silver lining exists if you are only willing to look at something differently or to walk through a different door, one that you may have balked at.

The film director John Cassavetes once said, "In order to catch the ball, you have to want to catch the ball." This can be taken to mean, "Stop complaining about the lousy curves you get thrown and stretch, reach for what you really want."

I have tried to follow this advice.

Ask yourself "How?" instead of "Why me?" My mother had a number of terminal illnesses throughout my entire childhood and I took on more responsibility at home. I tried to keep myself focused on what lay ahead and do the things I was most passionate about in my life. So, while studying hard for school, I also became very active with music, art, and dance. My mother passed away when I was 19 and I had just left Guam then to live in San Diego, California. I struggled afterwards for a year and a half with guilt, blaming myself for not being present when she died.

That experience taught me one of my biggest and greatest lessons. That existing in a state of guilt and depression would only keep me from moving on. I wanted to honor my mother and realized I could only do that by releasing any fear and anxiety about my future. I learned that whenever I was willing to ask "What's next?" I moved ahead.

After that period, I made the committment to finish my education at the University of Hawaii and fulfill my passions in music, dance and theatre. I eventually moved to Virginia, got into network engineering, while studying tai chi and got the opportunity to meet my first Reiki teacher.

The transitions to these new experiences were sometimes scary and painful. But, more often than not, when I started asking the right questions and forming new visions for myself, the people and resources I needed to get to a new place would show up. I also learned that when I have taken "No" or "It can't be done" for a final answer I have stalled and gotten stuck. These experiences taught me that the key to resiliency is self-empowerment and choice.

Let's welcome back Karen James and Michela Buonaguidi to the energy share. I had a wonderful conversation with Karen on the phone yesterday. It is the greatest pleasure to have friends like them. I love you guys!

Let's also welcome a couple of new friends and Chikara-Reiki-Do masters, Austin Ndego of Nigeria, and Gurjinder Strom who hails from Miami, Florida.

I gratefully acknowledge the boost of energy from you and welcome it with open arms. I also send you a boost with LOTS of love, light, and hugs. Enjoy every moment and live the passionate life you intend it to be.

Namaste, (I honor the place in you which is of Love, Truth, Light and of Peace)

Lydia


1. Lydia Smith-Lenardson, Moreno Valley, California, USA
2. Lynn Wilson, Manchester, England, UK
3. Judy Oliver,Vienna, Virginia, USA
4. Joan Anderson, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
5. Wyatt Waro, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
6. Sandra Richer, Banff, Alberta, Canada
7. Lena Goon, Banff, Alberta, Canada
8. Mari Hayama, Berkeley, California, USA
9. Veronica Hansen, Sarina, Queensland, Australia
10. Mirjam Kik, Oude, Tonge, The Netherlands
11. Andy Cooper, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China
12. Sheryl Morris, Calgary, Alberta Canada
13. Andy Yantha, Calgary, Alberta Canada
14. Karen Becker, Carver, Minnesota, USA
15. Linda Prucha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
16. Joseph Bennett, Ventura, California, USA
17. Steve and Karen Edwards, Gunnislake, Cornwall, England
18. Rev. Patricia Lusher, Berlin, Vermont, USA
19. Brian Ramage, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
20. Brian Yeates, Dublin, Ireland
21. Dunni Olasehan, Lagos, Nigeria
22. Austin Ndego, Lagos, Nigeria
23. Michela Buonaguidi, Montecatini Terme (PT), Italy
24. Gurjinder Strom, Miami, Florida, USA
25. Karen James, Harvie Heights, Alberta,Canada