Calamities

One of the daily thoughts I receive comes from Neale Donald Walsh.

This one was was especially poignant:

On this day of your life, I believe God wants you to know
that nothing is ever as bleak as it looks.
Everything, in fact, is a blessing.

I know, I know… that is sometimes very hard
to believe. How can a sudden, calamitous event in one’s life
be a blessing? It takes a longer view, I know,
to see this wonderful truth. Even a diagnosis
of a terminal illness could be seen as another gift
from life when experienced from a particular perspective.

It is an opportunity for us to express once again,
at the next highest level, Who We Really Are.
And, if it turns out that, at the Soul level, we have
indeed decided to leave our present physicality
in this particular way and time, that, too,
would be an expression of our Highest Self.

And so, all “calamities” are blessings,
not yet understood by the Mind.

God knew this was a good day
for you to hear this…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perhaps every day is a good day to recall that “calamities” are blessings.

Those who have been following “Sailing Lady Gail” likely know that this week has brought calamities in the “Adventures of Doug and Stacey.” Their first open-water sail was 30 hours of 8-foot-plus rolling waves. Stacey violently vomited for 20 hours so Doug had to stay at the helm without sleep. When they got into safe harbor they were both spent.

I saw a powerful video on Facebook. While the video is 10 things you should never do to a person with Alzheimer’s, it outlines appropriate kindness to persons in all challenging circumstances.

1. Never argue, instead agree.

2. Never reason, instead divert.

3. Never shame, instead distract.

4. Never lecture, instead reassure.

5. Never say “Remember,” instead reminisce.

6. Never say “I told you,” instead repeat.

7. Never say, “You can’t,” instead let them do what they can.

8. Never command, instead ask.

9. Never condescend, instead encourage.

10. Never force, instead reinforce.

The closing message is: Remember that your loved one with Alzheimer’s can understand kind touch, laughter, and smiles even if they’ve lost most of their verbal skills.

As they await the arrival of some parts to repair an electrical issue on the boat, Doug and Stacey are being cared for well by her Uncle Jack Basham in Largo, Florida.

They are receiving lots of kind touch, laughter and smiles!

And after a few days on dry land, Stacey and Doug are now back to the dream drawing board. Details to follow….