Tired of all that snow, ice and weather roulette that Mother Nature has been throwing our way. In many places in North America, she has been having her fun doling out a droll mixture of nasty and nice. While cities and towns around NY city were being bombarded with a nasty snow and ice storm, NY city itself was a balmy 70 degrees. Totally unexpected for the unlucky tourists who arrived in their winter togs for Christmas in New York. That is what life is, isn’t it. One adventure after another. No matter how well we think we have prepared for the day, something usually crops up that is totally not in the plans.
Instead of snow, I went in search of some tropical holiday ambiance. Since it wasn’t practical for me to try to actually travel at this time of year, like you I’ve seen the television coverage of the over crowded airports and all the delayed and cancelled flights, I went into the virtual world of Second Life. In SL I can listen and watch the world go by in the comfort of my home. Today I visited Eliza Wierwight’s Art of Christmas at PATRON, it was my first time to visit her build , it won’t be the last. She is a gifted artist. Her art works are available for sale, with some items shown as 100% profit to one of her causes.
She not only creates an amazing world for you to visit, she has an interest in saving the elephants of Asia. There are places one can donate all through her build. Save the elephant Foundation. http://www.saveelephant.org/index.html (a Thai non profit organization)
I went in to escape from the snow and the constant talk about the weather. In doing so, I spent a pleasant half hour exploring the creativity of an artist till today that was unknown to me, and discovering a cause that was also new to me. In Canada, elephants are not top of mind.
December is a month of STRESS in capital letters. Whether it is happy stress or anxious, sad, worrisome stress, no matter how you cut the cake, it is stress. It seems everyone around me is being “stressed” about something, There are warnings galore about making sure you don’t over exert when shoveling, that seniors dress properly for the cold weather, children and adults are being warned about the dangers of catching a virus/flu, Of course a biggie is “don’t drink and drive”. My two cents. Remember to take time to pray/ meditate. Make time for YOU. Stay mindful and present. No one else can do these things for you. You are the master/mistress of your life.
It isn’t enough to just do things that make us happy, we need to find outcomes that include those around us. Like that little pebble that drops into pond. It creates a little plop, and slowly one ripple begins, then two, three and soon the pond has many expanding ripples that reach out and merge till all the water has felt the impact of the little pebble. Be the catalyst of a happy day. Share your smile, keep your internal batteries charged, stay tuned to GOD/TAO and bring your mega watt smile along with you in all you do. LIFE IS ART
The challenges we deal with in life make us stronger!
PL Precept # 11 Always be with God (PL Church of Perfect Liberty)
dymoonblog 
Written
on January 1, 2014