Tara Lemieux is a mindful wanderer, and faithful stargazer. She is an ardent explorer and lover of finding things previously undiscovered or at the very least mostly not-uncovered. But mostly, and most of all - she's a rambling writer, always in search of a faithful ear.
“Nothing is permanent in this wicked world. Not even our troubles.” ~ Charlie Chaplin
A friend stopped by to chat today. He had noticed over these past few
days that I hadn’t quite been my usual, cheery-chirpy self.
And truth be told, though I try very hard to live each day fully and
completely within every moment, there are times when this can feel a bit
of a challenge.
I had been ‘locked away’ in my thoughts, playing over the words my
doctor had said, “We just have to rule out—that there’s not something
much bigger at play.”
It’s amazing how quickly our minds can get stuck inside of one small little sentence, and one simple moment in time.
“Oh, I guess you’re right,” I offered, hoping quickly to ‘make right’, “I suppose it is that we all have days just like these.”
You know, I have always believed that there are those special souls
among us—who have this gift of finding ‘just the right words.’ And, as
if by some divine higher purpose—these bright spirits find their way to
us, and even on the darkest of nights, when it is that their words are
needed the most. Do you believe in angels? I think, perhaps, now I do.
Because, only and angel can see straight into our heart—and help us to make sense of it all.
And, as my friend leaned in with the softest of smiles in his eyes, he said,
“Just remember, Tara…the mind, is much like the moon at night; shining equally upon everything, yet clinging to nothing, at all.”
And so, there is was my most beautiful message–and an important
reminder for days ‘just like these.’ I had allowed my mind to grip
tightly to a thought, and in that ‘gripping’ I had forgotten how to let go.
Sometimes our minds can be quite tricky this way—in an effort to gain
just a bit of our attention, these thoughts can end up stealing the
show.
And when our thoughts succeed in pulling us so completely away—we end up blocking out the rest of this most amazing world.
And, in doing so, we end up missing the beauty of the moments that
are still here and intended to lift our very spirits—like this one, from
a friend who stopped to say, ‘hello.’
And, even that pup, with all the mischief he may bring, even he finds a way to lighten the soul.
And, if we close off our hearts—rest assured, we might just end up missing it all.
So, tonight and instead of carrying the weight of these thoughts—I’ll be ‘letting go’ and smiling back at the moon.
I suggest that you let go, and smile, too.
“Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.” ~ Charlie Chaplin
He spent hours looking over the photos and articles of his greatest heroes, and dreamed in a way that no one else dare.
But sadly, it seemed—and in spite of his endless enthusiasm and hope, there was no one around him who would believe.
Well, in 1984, he realized this impossible school boy dream when, as a physicist, he became a crew member for the Challenger STS-41-B mission.
On January 28, 1986 (a day I will never forget), Ronald and the entire crew of a later Challenger mission (STS-51-L) perished when the shuttle exploded just seconds after take off.
This is a one of the many stories shared to us by Ronald’s brother,
Carl. He laughs as he retells a story of a 9 year old boy who refused to
leave a “Whites Only” Library until it was that he would be able to
check out his books.
Enjoy, and let us always be reminded how even the tiniest of hearts can effect the greatest changes of all.
Bonus Poem on Rising Above it All:
“….watch me rise like smoke from fire. Watch me fly above your hate. Watch me dance upon your meanness like a ballerina with posture; grace. Watch me laugh over your hatred; watch me soar above your sea of grief. And know that I am out there somewhere… C R U S H I N G.” ― Coco J. Ginger
Sure, the Oscars dragged on (and on and on and on).
And sure, we all got a little bored with the droning on of the endless acceptance speeches and canned comedy shticks.
And, oh my God—do I even really still give a shit?
But yet, here we all are engaging in our own post-Oscar ‘reviews.’
And, in a dialogue that should be dominated by the movies and the awards
and the ‘didn’t you just love what such and such said’s,’ sadly,
there’s just one thing that seems to have gotten stuck in our collective
minds.
That offensive little tweet straight from the Onion’s ‘brilliant’ writer minds.
Seriously, guys?
I mean, I know that there’s this edge in satire—the one that gets
pushed and nudged all the time. But, for God’s sake—she’s nine years
old, and carrying a puppy purse. And this was her big night.
And sadly, it was spoiled by an urge from one of your pot-bellied
writers, who, in an effort to grab just a little bit more of that
uber-competitive ratings space, distilled all of this young gal’s
accomplishments into one vulgar ‘c-word.’
If that were my daughter, someone would be here the ‘clicky-click’ of a shotgun making ready to fire.
“Upon reviewing the impromptu remarks I made Sunday
afternoon, I can now see that I used the wrong words in the wrong way. I
would now like to set the record straight with the American people and
clear up some confusion about what it was I intended to convey. But what
I meant to say was,
“I am a worthless, moronic sack of shit and an utterly irredeemable human being who needs to shut up and go away forever.”
I have to admit, I used to like reading The Onion—but after this? No way in hell.
Ethically, I could never stoop to such obvious ‘click pandering’ by
referring to the Onion’s writing staff as a group of bloated, balding,
geeky Star Wars fanatics with nothing better to do between
Comic-Cons…than to suck down Doritos whilst arguing whether or not one
photon torpedo could screw up your entire day….
Or likewise, whether or not a Federation ships ever made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs…
No, no, that would be wrong (and not at all in line with elephant journals strict standards for satire.)
Hey, come to think of it, that felt kind of good.
Shame on you Onion staff and writers… this time you went too far.
Ronald McNair grew up in Lake City, South Carolina - and at a time in which are Nation was suffering from its greatest civil unrest.
All Ronald ever wanted to be growing up, was an astronaut—which was probably the basis for many a school boy dream.
In 1984, he realized that school boy dream when, as a physicist, he became a crew member for the Challenger STS-41-B mission.
On January 28, 1986 (a day I will never forget), Ronald and the entire crew of a later Challenger mission (STS-51-L) perished when the shuttle exploded just seconds after take off.
This is a one of the many stories shared to us by Ronald's brother, Carl. He laughs as he retells a story of a 9 year old boy who refused to leave a "Whites Only" Library until it was that he could check out his books.
Those were Ronald's very first science books—and spoiler alert, he got everything that he ever dreamed of, and more.
Enjoy, and let us always be reminded how even the tiniest of hearts can effect the greatest changes of all.
A little dose of elephant compassion. via Tara on Pinterest.
“You can keep your face glued to the screen of what is…or, stand up. Stretch. Breathe…and hammer down toward what could be.” – Kristopher Carter, This Epic Life
Recently one of our brilliant writers here at elephant journal wrote a most compelling piece, The Pistorius Case: Why do We Thirst for Blood? For those, who haven’t yet read or have successfully kept their head tucked in the sand, it’s about Oscar Pistorius, the South African double-amputee Olympian, and the tragic killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Specifically, asking the question why are we so drawn to stories of bloodshed and gore?
And yet, in both of these cases, the spike in readership and thoughtful comments was duly and very much noted.
Maybe, there was something to this? Why is it that we are so drawn to these stories of much violence and bloodshed?
Each night, our television channels are strewn with tragic news
events and reality shows. And, each moment of the broadcast day is
filled with the most careful executive decisions intended to maximize
profits and viewership. All of which, has a most profound effect for me
personally, as I often feel this slight tightening in my chest. On some
evening, and even worse still, I find that these stories and shows cause
me to lose a little of my much needed sleep.
And, yet as I sit here typing just this—the sound of a 600 pound.
Sasquatch-hunting, Moonshiner is jumping out at me from just beyond my
TV screen.
Dear, God—when did this happen to me?
It can be hard sometimes to live a mindful life…when
it is, that this world seems to be filled with such misery. We tend to
fall into a trance of old habits, of flipping through life’s “channels”
without much regard for the realness of what is there. Perhaps, in some
way we have sadly grown accustomed to this mess of this misery, in such a
way that we have also acclimated our response to it.
How sad would it be that we are all gripping tightly to suffering, for fear of the not knowing what else is out there?
“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
All fears aside, I have always believed, and always will—that
when it is that we find ourselves clinging on the most, that is
probably the time we most need to let our grip go. It’s in these
moments, of letting go, that I believe we are most able to be the peace.
And, still, some of us choose (perhaps from the smallest space of a
much bigger fear) to metaphorically ‘look away’ from these
things—perhaps, rationalizing at a much deeper spiritual level…if we
don’t ‘see’ it, it doesn’t ‘exist.’
So, then what do we do when life makes us feel like hiding our heads
in the sand? Such that we completely wish to disregard how these stories
make us really feel?
For some of us, it can be seemingly impossible—to look past the initial shock and awe.
But perhaps that is what we most need to do.
Today, as I was meditating I was thinking over these very questions,
pondering back and forth in my own mind—and I was reminded of a few of
my most favorite words shared through the spirit of Thich Nhat Hanh,
“It’s not enough to suffer, we must find peace, too.”
And, that’s when it occurred to me—that maybe it’s not just about
finding the peace within me, but also helping the world find its peace,
as well.
But how do you begin to find peace in a world that is seemingly
strewn with these such stories? That simple thought can make even the
strongest gal feel powerless.
But, we are never powerless… because, we always have a choice.
Why is it that we are drawn to these such stories? Perhaps, down deep
in our collective spiritual human core—our instinct is telling us we
should. Maybe, we are so very drawn to stories just like these because
these are the ones that we need to discuss the most. Because, when it is that we take a moment to really talk about how we feel—that’s when we are compelled to action.
And, I see this also evidence in small ways, every day. I see it when I read an article about a good Samaritan who helped a man reunite with his dog in
which one woman’s simple action, caused a rippling effect of good. In a
much bigger way, we all experienced this as our Nation pulled together
in those days and weeks following 9/11.
It’s that raging flood of emotions in our heart that can bring about the greatest good.
So, perhaps the question to be asked isn’t so much a “why are we
drawn to this bloodshed and violence?” but rather, “what is it that
separates those who view, from those who do?”
What is it that keeps us from examining these events in their most
heart-wrenching fullness? And what is it that prompts a much needed
conversation beyond just the headlines? Such that we may all,
collectively, pause and reflect…and find a better way? Or, better
yet—motivate us to become that change we most wish to see in this world?
We are all so very guilty of it, including myself. Of seeing those
most shocking headlines stories, and not allowing ourselves the time and
space and presence to go just a little bit deeper into our
thoughts—and ask, perhaps, those much harder questions…including, what
can I do to help?
Why is this? In our world that needs our compassion so very
desperately, why are we stopping ourselves from this much needed
thinking and doing?
Is it because, in this process of looking just a bit deeper, that we fear we might just begin to feel helpless?
Or, do we simply convince ourselves that it is not our place to get
involved…that someone better equipped to handle it will (eventually)
come along?
What is it that is keeping us from lending a hand in moments where it
is needed the most? Of really effecting change, and providing
compassion and hope—instead of turning life’s blind eye to those things
which are very real in this increasingly weary world.
In
times such as these, it’s not enough to simply feel the peace
within—rather, we must learn to allow our peace to radiate outwards and
light up the great big world
Not to ever presume, but perhaps that is what Thich Nhat Hanh may have been eluding to?
Yes, this world can be so very painful—at any single moment, we can
feel completely crushed by the weight of our day. There are tragedies
surrounding us, both near and far. And yes, there is violence and hunger
and death all around.
But, in this same world—each day, there is also a magnificent
sunrise…and 24 brand new hours for us to use just as we wish and may.
And, even in those moments that seem most devastating—there is still,
and will always and forever be, a capacity for things to change.
It’s up to us to create a space for compassion and love and
understanding to exist. And that’s not done through some grand sweeping
global change—this is a much smaller change that can only begin within
you.
So, let me ask this just once more again—what is it that moves us
from ‘view’ to ‘do’? Is it just a simple matter of choice? That one,
split-second decision to make things better or simply walk away?
I see you, trying to hide your eyes—thinking that none of this
applies to you, and yet here you are reading over so many beautifully
written articles of living a mindful life. But, guess what? This is our
world, and yours, too. And before you start thinking that you
are just so very small, let me just add that you are a big part of all
of this, too.
Everything you think, everything you say…and all that you do. It all counts. Everything matters.
“Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do, it bears your signature.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
So, instead of just sifting quickly over and through these most
horrific events, why not just once get off of your pondering ass, and do. (authors note: this comment is meant for me, too)
You can even start small, with that person at work—the one who seems
to be having such a bad day. Or, you can brighten up the heart of
someone who at times might lose hope…by just sending a little chocolate
her way.
Or, perhaps there is something much bigger still that has captured
your heart—and in that process, made you feel so very small. But, the
depths and reaches of human kindness is endless. So, you see, you are not so very small, at all.
Do something…anything…but, just don’t turn and walk away. Because, right now…right here, in this moment someone, somewhere in this world most needs you.
So what are you going to do?
Look, I’m just one writer and I have only been on this Earth long
enough to know that I have made some pretty big mistakes. But today, as I
look through all of these news stories and reader comments—I don’t feel
overwhelmed with sadness and sorrow; instead, today, I feel completely
empowered. Sure, I’m just one person—but, I am that one person who had
decided to make a change. And, I’m not going to let my fear or worry
blindly convince me that something is too big for me to do.
And, how wonderful is it that elephant journal has opened a space right here for us all to gather,
and share of our hearts and our spirits? To share with us a small
corner of this much bigger world, so that we may all have a voice to
realize and empower change? To reach out to wonderful readers, like
yourself, and ask the questions that bring us deeper than just the
headline?
And, even though, we have not yet formally ‘met’—trust me when I say,
I can feel this in your heart, too. You are here because, like me, you
wish to find a way to infuse more love, compassion, and peace into your
day—to make a much more mindful impact on your world.
I think when all the headlines are stripped away, we all want the very same thing.
So, take my ‘hand’ as we walk together down this path. Let your heart
be the final arbiter of all that you think, and then do. Fill all of
your actions with love and compassion, even when your fear tries to
steer you the other way.
So with respect to all of these stories and headlines, the ones that
quickly glance across our ‘life screens’ each day, let me just ask this
one simple question…what’s stopping you, my friend?
Because, the question isn’t so much why are we drawn, but rather, what are we going to do when we get there?
“It’s a hard time to be human. We know too much
and too little. Does the breeze need us?
The cliffs? The gulls?
If you’ve managed to do one good thing,
the ocean doesn’t care.
But when Newton’s apple fell toward the earth,
the earth, ever so slightly,
fell toward the apple as well.”
Bonus Video: Thich Nhat Hanh and his thoughts on suffering and compassion.
“To a mind that is still, the whole Universe surrenders.” ~ Lao Tzu
I came across this most wonderful image this morning, a comparison of the Universe and our brains.
And, as is the case with most things in my life and world, this one single image seemed to come at ‘just the very right moment.’
And as I looked it over, and thought for just the shortest of whiles—I felt my whole heart begin to smile.
I had felt just the smallest bit shut off from this world, in an
awfully ‘disconnected’ sort of way—the result of losing myself in a
panic filled, and life altering moment that had occurred a little
earlier last week.
My body one night decided it had most certainly had enough—and in
just the span of a few short breaths, my whole world went black as I
fell nearly lifeless to a most unwelcoming floor.
I spent the next few days in this state of feeling ‘off’—as if my
whole world was sitting just right there beyond a smudged-up lens. It
seems, in that momentary lapse of consciousness, I felt my body break
free from this world.
Sometimes life has this way of shocking us out of our ‘presence’—of causing us, at times, to feel most separate from self.
And then it happens, that something comes forward clearly to remind us that the only thing that has changed is our mind.
My Universe hasn’t changed location—it’s always been just right here (points to heart).
And now, I can’t help but to smile as I think over this irony—that in
this daze of thinking my connection to this great big magnificent
Universe had all but slipped away, that it had actually always been there all along.
And, it only took a moment of my body being completely still, to bring this awareness right back to me where it belonged.
So, whenever it is that you feel most separate from ‘self,’ try to be still, just long enough to remember, that..
“Everything in the universe is within you”—and all you have to do it look within.
Bonus: Some Completely Random Thoughts about the Universe.
“What makes the universe so hard to comprehend is that there’s nothing to compare it with.” ~ Scott Adams
“We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a
very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us
something very special.” ~ Stephen Hawking
“Some people swallow the universe like a pill; they travel on
through the world, like smiling images pushed from behind.” ~ Robert
Louis Stevenson
A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others,
is stronger than any physical force in the universe. ~ Wayne Dyer
“The size of the universe depresses many people, but not me, I’m delighted at it” ~ Alan Watts
“Last night, I lost the world and gained the Universe.” ~C. JoyBell C.
“The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers and
cities; but to know someone here and there who thinks and feels with us,
and though distant, is close to us in spirit – this makes the earth for
us an inhabited garden.” ~ Johann Von Goethe “The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” ~ Eden Phillpotts
and, finally…
“The greatest miracle is this: That
stillness and vastness that enables the universe to be is not just out
there in space—it is also within you.” ~ Eckhart Tolle
I know that you are all probably expecting something sweet on this Valentine's Day... and, I did have something very wonderfully inspiring in queue... and then, as I sat down for my first morning decaf...
I read a story, about a boy. Today, I wish to share this with you.
I read the most disturbing article this morning—and one that has physically turned my stomach, and left me feeling most certainly drained.
It’s not often that I have this type of gut wrenching reactions to
things. Even less frequent, is when this type of ‘breaking news’ has the
capacity to ‘break’ me.
With my illness, I suppose have become just a bit more patient with
this world, and all of the things within it. And, I suppose, through
this—I have learned the true meaning of faith and understanding, as
well.
As a Mother, my instinct is to protect—to be that proverbial ‘Mama
Bear,” stepping in where needed and in order to ensure that all of the
children of this world are cared for…loved…and protected.
As a Buddhist, I try to view this world through a lens of gentle loving kindness and ‘oneness’—to recognize, each day, that we are all
part of the same cloth of inter-connectedness, beautifully spun into
the rich fabric of this Universe. And, with each passing moment, I try
to infuse just a bit more of myself…of my spirit…and, of my
understanding into this great big beautiful Earth that surrounds me…that
surrounds us all.
And, yet, perhaps this is that one story that most needs our understanding.
But, sadly, understanding escapes me now—as my mind is flooded with the very many ways this story should have ended.
And, as my eyes fill with tears, I realize that not all stories can
be blessed with a happy ending—for some, there can never be a ‘happily
ever after.’
But, that doesn’t change my longing for ‘that which might have been.’
And, as I read further, this story pulls my heart deeper still.
On the morning of May 1, 2011, Police were called to the residence
of a modest two-story home in Riverside, California. They were called
there to investigate a murder.
In the living room, and laying slumped over in a chair, was the body of Jeffrey Hall—a father of five, and Southwest Regional Director of the National Socialist Movement
(NSM), a neo-Nazi organization responsible for the promotion of racism
and violence in these, our ‘United’ States. His body, ironically, lay
lifeless under this organization’s banner and flag.
“Joseph: “It’s all my fault.” Officer: “No it’s not.” Joseph: “Then whose fault is it?”
In an article filled with statistics and facts and psychological
ponderings on…these were the words that leapt most from the page.
I guess, that is the bigger question to this story here. Whose fault is it?
For, as with any story just as tragic as this—I know there must be a
much earlier beginning. And, as the detectives began their process of
‘unfolding’ these facts, and just as I had assumed, a much more gruesome
picture emerged.
The conditions of this home, though appalling, were simply masking a much more disturbing history.
With just a little digging, these detectives learned, that Child Protective Services (CPS) had investigated this family not once…not twice…and not even several times in these past few years…but rather, and more shockingly, they learned that CPS had investigated this family on at least 23 separate occasions.
These investigations began when Joseph was just 3-months old, when he
was taken to the ER for treatment of an eye infection. A hospital
worker watched as Joseph’s father brutally shoved the mother and infant
son into a waiting room wall.
But that was just the beginning.
In the years to come these reports would become filled with
horrifying details of neglect and abuse, of toddlers wandering the
streets alone at night, and maggot-filled diapers…of bruises, and bumps,
and busted lips…and of sexual abuse and gross neglect.
But what was ever done? As, with each investigation, CPS would
continue to record these details—and yet, in each and every single one
of these cases, CPS failed to substantiate the claims.
I believe Deputy District Attorney Mike Soccio summed it up rather cleanly when he said,
“Joseph didn’t fall through the cracks; there was no crack that fit Joseph.”
But, the signs were still there. In retrospect, it seems the signs are always there…when it is that we are finally able to take a moment to pause, to look and to finally see this suffering as it really is.
So, whose fault is it when all the signs are there but missed, and cries for help fall to a system overburdened by ‘deaf’ ears?
And more importantly, how do we find a way to make the cracks ‘fit’
so that something like this may not ever happen again? So that each and
every single one of the young hearts of this world may always and
forever have a voice which may be heard?
Sadly, on January 14, 2013, Superior Court Judge Jean P. Leonard
ruled that young Joseph was indeed ‘responsible’ for his actions, and
therefore, convicted him of second-degree murder. And on February 15th,
Joseph will be sentenced for a crime I am still struggling to
understand.
At a time when our Nation is most focused on this topic of gun
violence and control, I’m just curious to know what the other elephant
readers might think? Perhaps, it might help me to better understand.
As, I guess, in this story I am left most wondering—what does ‘responsible’ mean?
And, who is it that is really to blame?
Because, as a Buddhist and practicing ‘Mama Bear’—it seems, I don’t yet quite know how this story should end.
Did this 15-year-old schoolboy from Crownsville, MD just find a cure for pancreatic cancer?
Not quite, but his new invention promises to bring survival rates up to nearly 100 percent.
Jack Andraka has invented a new, low-cost test to detect for the earliest stages of the deadly disease. This brilliant young mind was inspired to take action following the death of his uncle to this most dreaded disease.
A simple ‘dip test’ looks for levels of mesothelin, a biomarker for this disease, in both the blood and urine. This innovative test will potentially revolutionize treatment for pancreatic cancer—a disease which currently kills 19 of the 20 patients diagnosed within the first five years.
The test, in its earliest phase of review, is already over 90 percent
accurate for detecting pancreatic cancer at it’s earliest state; where
once previously this diagnosis was a near certain ‘death sentence,’now there is hope.
And the cost of this test? Only three cents per strip.
I’ll bet that will turn the pharmaceutical heads and lobbyists right straight onto their collective ears.
“How could drops of water know themselves to be a river? Yet the river flows on…"
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery
I woke up extra early this morning, and just to watch this most magnificent sunrise.
The morning air was crisp and icy cold against my cheek, as I closed my eyes and breathed in that first full breath of day.
A little something on believing in those things we know to be there, even when we sometimes can't always see them.
This was found scratched on a cellar wall in Cologne Germany... and
placed there at the hand and heart of a young Jew tucked hidden away
from the atrocities of the Holocaust. This is true faith, and I think it says it all.
How sad would it be that we are all gripping tightly to suffering, for fear of the not knowing what else is out there?
