Wheel Joy, Light Someone’s Moment Week Jan 23-29

In President Obama’s Union speech he used inspirational storytelling of real people to speak about three goals for his country.  This week and the next 48 ones will be stories about real people. My stories will be about moments in time inspiration or a life experience of what is happening now.  Here is one such story.

While on the train going to class, the driver announced that there would not be any working lifts to street level at Lambert North station.  Everyone could exit at Waterloo for the ten minutes walk or walk the 84 steps up to street level at Lambert North.  No way, I said in silence, I was not walking to Waterloo as I was already late for my class, so I braved a slow snail’s pace for the stairs.  I braced myself for this ordeal.  From the platform I pulled up into my core body and walked 20 steps towards the lift area.  At the turning, I saw an elder woman who seemed to be confused, mumbling out loud and walking back and forth from the lifts’ area.  When I arrived at the entrance to the stairs she dropped her head and stood silently near the entrance.  Ms Sciatica was frowning into a Black Dog moment; I smiled through my teeth to her saying, ‘No way John Wayne, not today.’

Me: The lifts aren’t working today.  We were instructed to walk the 84 steps.

Lady: I don’t know if I can walk those stairs.

Me: We will support each other, smiling; don’t worry you can do it.

She stepped up four of the steep and circular concrete stairs with steel rails for grip support upward and her Black Dog appeared as well the smell of dampness.  There were damp urinated smell and black mop water in the crevices of the concrete, like London’s dungeons in the days of old.  The lights were dim and spooky with sounds of fast footsteps coming up and going, behind and in front of us.  

Lady: I can’t go any further with this heavy bag (rucksack with books).

She stopped and leaned forward as though her body had no control of its own, to push itself up the stairs.  I paused two steps behind her to observe the situation.

Me: Can you put the bag on your back?

She was already leaning far into the winding stairs, overweight, swollen feet with a slight hunch over the shoulders.  She was silent at my suggestion, as she stopped in her tracks with one foot forward and the other on the back step, as though in prayer.   Maybe a pray to the legs.

 Me: Give me your bag.

Lady: It’s heavy.

Me.  Don’t worry.  I will manage.  Take my carrier bag.

She looked at me, as though to say, ‘and you would do that for me’.

Lady: It’s very light.

She dragged herself up a few more steps like someone with a large sack of potatoes.  At this moment I was feeling her Black Dog, so I speeded up the stairs to get in front of her in hopes that my presence would motivate and encourage her to soldier onward.  I continued with a slow and steady balance of stepping so that Ms Sciatica wouldn’t have a chance to complain.  My 36 steps at home prepared me for this moment.  Thank the good Lawd for strong arms and legs, I say to my yoga teacher, Toby.  With my shoulder bag of books and her rucksack on my left side, I was able to hold on to the the railing for support.  Being in front helped her to continue upward.  Her Black Dog moaned and groaned at every step but I ignore them with my steady climbing.  When we got to the first landing, I waited with a smile until she caught up.

Me: You’re at the first landing.  Keep going. 

She lifted her head and managed to smile.  There were only a few more steps to go before seeing daylight. 

Me:  We are here.  Yipee.

There were men, young and older, speeding up and down the stairs, as though in a marathon.  They didn’t bother to lift their heads to ask if we needed any assistant.  Just like some mothers’ children [a comedy sitcom from the 60’s England].   

Lady: Oh, thank you.  What would I have done without you?

Me: You would have walked every step or wait until the morning.

The station’s attendant said that the lifts would be out for the day. 

She finally lifted her back to standing and gave me the biggest hug.  Bigger than a bear, smile.  We walked out of the station in the same directions only to discover that we were students at the same college studying different courses, she crafts and me printmaking.  We said our goodbyes and went to different buildings.

You can say that this stranger got a bite of joy and she will remember that journey for a very long time.  Oprah would love this story.  Some stories are so strong that they stay with us forever.  Stories make us laugh.  They make us cry.  They make us shout for joy.  A great story makes you feel and that’s what a story is about.  What’s your story.  Be well with a joyful heart to give another, a good moment in their day.  Dorothy

Light Cometh Week January 16-22

If you want a change in 2011 don’t sleep with Black Dog.  Have you ever noticed the behavior of a dog?  Yes, it takes on the behavior of others.  When my aunt Lucille ate her scrambled eggs and bacon, her dog Terra ate the same.  She refused to eat dog food.  I wonder if Terra ever ate those collard greens with ham hocks and cornbread with her front paws.  That would have been an eye full of a dog eating with its paws.

Everyone has a Black Dog moment, the one that drags you in the dirt and down to the lowest denominator.  This week Black Dog shows its ugliness.  Anything can trigger its appearance, such as weight problems, belittlement, finances, relationships, health, a bad hair day or the weather.  Black Dog is the exterior that brings chaos of explosions in our visible world.  As for me, using my mirrored inner behavior I can bring bits of joy to paste across my face so that others have something to view, instead of the look of a Black Dog image.  I know it’s hard to turn away from moments being in the world from so many distractions.  But JOY comes at a moment’s notice just be attentive to bring it into the soul to feel and observe it in the body and from the natural environment. Black Dog eats at our inner light, the joy that keeps us afloat in every moment.  It’s that light that others try to sneak to kill or suck up for their own Black Dogs.  Be on the alert, Black Dog is at every corner waiting to take bites out of your JOY.

My Black Dog poem – ‘Calm Down Black Dog’ Ó 2006 DLMc

An amazing overbearing cool day with Mohammed Ali and George Foreman,

contenders in May with sounds of iron fists beating one scanned swollen shuteye

during an overcast sky; the grandstand shouted missiles of golden light,

a thundering force over a dampen West London to achieve greatness, of course.

My feet step into Inner Space, while shadow ghosts fanned side to side;

they footrace my steps in a chase from strong density at the corner stone

of Jessop incuriosity. An uneasy presence into Inner Space,

the room to meditate balanced my shadowed entrance weaving spiritual

reading in a trance. Suddenly, a vicious bark from behind attacked

my inner sanctuary, that grumbled sound, not so kind.

It was Black Dog’s darksome whinge that framed my aura despoiling

my stability that had no foundation to hold me in that moment’s ashram. 

Silence strengthen my composure with renewed fragility

while she jumped up and down to comprehend the voice of confidence

in my solitude stance, a new bitch friend.

Calm down Black Dog!   Calm down. 

The strokes of healing touches radiated spectrum energy

was the breakdown into that piercing vocal sound; as such,

brooms twirl inside chimneys to cloud-over dispositions,

past lives centuries old, the current fashions. That’s it breath

in and breathe out.  Yes!  That’s it.   Pout sanctuary breaths

of calm for a brighten and happier dog in any disposition.

Be well and kick your Black Dog into the light.  Dorothy

Light Up Darkness Week Jan 9-15

January lights the heart with darkness but this week enlightened the eyes with ‘travelling light on the Undie-ground’.   A specific group of travellers, the brave hearted, all body sizes, were instructed to act naturally while travelling on the underground tube starting at the Bakerloo Line from Charing Cross to Paddington, at peak time for the annual No Trousers Day on the Underground.   This event has been going since 2002 from the original group Improv Everywhere in New York; and it has spread around the world to promote stillness.  I think the word would be…SHOCK.  

This is nothing compared to the annual naked bike riders, in June through the Mall.  I am sure the Queen got a shock from the Palace windows.  I say why not have an annual day called ‘bath’ since this is one hygiene that never gets any attention.  The department stores could get lots of business during this economical over spilled.  People could splash out on lovely smelling shower/bath gels.  This could be set up/down Regents and Oxford Streets.  Now this would be something to see and the swell and the River Thames’ smell that comes through my shower pipes would make my hay fever REJOICE, smile; and the restaurants could serve raw foods on the day for those who would need zinc in the diet for those smelly swinging arm holders.

As for Admiral Nelson with all of his navigating skills he cannot steer the weather for more daylight this week.  He must be thinking of tumbling down to see and hear what the weather whiners are in grief.  Better yet, Nelson, I say stay above the grounds to smell better air.

Be well and stay in some type of light to keep the gloom away.  I am staying near my ‘day light’ lamp to keep my eyes from sleep in these dark days of January.  Dorothy

Week Jan 2-8 Eat Greens Keep Well

There is nothing like finishing the course and starting a new year full of hope for one’s goals and visions in whatever one wants to pursue.    I am starting the year with a full bowl to the brim with spiritual sustenance, renewed and refreshed and fully satisfied.  I lift my heart, at this time with the knowledge that a wonderful year will be filled with the very best that I can accomplish and over flowing.  I accept and feel this glorious moment in gratitude and expect many miracles with faith and trust in the Mighty Good Lawd, preparing the way for me as I visualize each step onto the many paths that will take me along the by-ways of my new adventures, into 2011.  I will remember that a grateful heart is an open heart as it will be easier for me to work in and through an open heart.  I found this to be true in 2010, having an open heart and being gracious and grateful and giving to others in need. 

As for me being happy, it will be PRIORITY in 2011 and I repeat ‘Happy’,

words from the writings of Sri Chinmoy.

Be happy in the morning with what you have.  

Be happy in the evening with what you are.  Be happy.

Don't complain. Who complains, the blind beggar in you?  

When you complain, you dance in the mire of ignorance-condition.

When you don't complain, all conditions of the world are at your feet,

and God gives you a new name: aspiration.

Aspiration is the supreme wealth in the world of light and delight.

Be happy.  You will grow into God's greatest blessing, His highest pride.

Be happy.  Today's world wants you to enjoy its surrendering breath.
Tomorrow's world wants you to enjoy its fulfilling breath.

Be happy.  Do you want never to be poor? Then be happy.
Do you want ever to be great? Then be happy.

Be happy.  You will get what you like most. You will be what you like best.

Be happy.  When you are happy, you and God command each other.
God commands you lovingly. You command God hastily.
When you are unhappy, the Hostile Forces command you ruthlessly,
doubt commands you openly, bondage commands you triumphantly and fear
commands you unconditionally.

Be happy.  God sees in you His aspiring Creation, His transforming Realisation,
His illumining Revelation and His fulfilling Manifestation.

Be happy.  God sees in you another God. God sees you as another God.
God sees you and He as One.

Be well and keep to your set goals for this New Year.  No cheating.