Many of you know how much I adore being on the boardwalk on my bicycle. As the weather warms up it ends up being an activity that comprises 2 hours of my day. I love the physical benefits of cardiovascular health it provides. I relish the intake of all the negative ions I am breathing to promote good health. I soak up the Vitamin D when blessed with a shining sun. When riding with others I enjoy good conversation and many laughs. For those of you that read my Peru adventure I am continuing the tradition of slow and steady as I make my way up and down the boardwalk over and over. And when riding alone I do some of my best thinking – numerous chapters for my upcoming book were actually birthed upon my bicycle seat. I also take the time to go inward and pay attention to my thinking and my attitude. So often my bike ride becomes a moving meditation. Time for some confession – I have gotten on my bicycle and been really annoyed with the many folk who don’t follow the rules and walk in the bike lane. Not only is it distracting but it is very dangerous. I have judged others as they are out walking, riding, running. Realizing that this is not a healthy attitude to possess I started to pray for everyone on the boardwalk as I rode by them. I would ride by and in my mind send them love, light and healing energy. It felt much better than having the nasties. It did, however, create this illusion that I was responsible for healing them. What can I say? The doctor within doesn’t go away when I walk out of the office…..I have been active with this practice for a while now and have found it helpful. Sending out loving energy can only help to improve the Earth and her inhabitants.
I am getting closer to finishing my training as a Wellness Inventory Coach. This process has been changing my life in the most profound ways and I am excited to start sharing this work with all of you so you can benefit too! Yesterday -I had a homework assignment to go people watch and just quietly say in my mind “I welcome you as you are”. This sounded like a familiar exercise since I had been already practicing sending out loving energy to others. With mother nature on my side and the sun shining brightly I hopped on my bicycle excited to feel the ocean breeze and do my homework. The first thing I noticed was a freeing feeling in my body. How lovely it was to ride by all of these glorious human beings and just accept them as they were. Without trying to change them or pick apart their imperfections or character styles that didn’t appeal to me. I also became acutely aware of how words are so important and can change our experience. Even though I had previously been shining love on others it had been coming from a place of me wanting to heal/fix them. By changing my statement and now just welcoming them as they were -I was performing the greatest healing act of all – acceptance and acknowledgment. I also noticed that as I was accepting them just as they are I was allowing myself to accept myself just as I am. This perhaps was the greatest gift. How many times had I judged or been annoyed with others because I was judging or annoyed with myself. The world truly is a full length mirror -it is just our job to continually remember that.
And so I invite you all to do a little homework yourself – it’s a simple 6 words that can change your life and those around you. Try it with your loved ones, friends, co-workers, neighbors, strangers and anyone else you can think of. Allow yourself to discover what happens in your life when you embrace and “Welcome others as they are”….
Namaste and Have a Beautiful Week!
Dr. Stills
