"Feel the freedom that comes 

when you are at peace with yourself. 

Feel the blessings that come when you 

open your heart to everyone and everything. 

Feel the ease of being playful, the excitement of

being alive, the joy of embracing your life. 

When you give yourself away to love, 

you get the whole world back in return. 

When you give yourself away to love, 

every day becomes a wondrous celebration."

Philip M. Berk, writer and holistic healer

(Source: NicolaKaresh, edited by RoseAlma)

Thankful Thursday

(Source: aBeautifulRippleEffect, edited by RoseAlma)

Today I am thankful for the smiles of Target strangers.

I had my first outing in a few days. Went to our local Target with my parents. It must have been a while since I've been around so many people. Because for the first time in over a year, I was aware of lots of stares from people. I'm fairly certain (though it is only an educated guess) that what draws the attention of so many is the fact that a twenty-something girl is walking around on oxygen. Usually, if people of the general public see anyone on oxygen, it is the elderly. So seeing someone young with it makes them wonder. That is what I've come to surmise anyway. 

I adjusted to these routine stares long ago, when I first started wearing oxygen regularly (about a year ago). I was to the point that I didn't notice anymore; it had become white noise. But today it felt almost like it did when I wore the cannulas in a store for the first time ever: so many pairs of eyes, numerous double-takes, people looking with their mouths hanging open. Nothing ill-intentioned or outright rude. Just obviously confused and very much curious. With all these cold, blank stares, it makes quite a difference when a kind stranger breaks that glass case around me with a warm smile. I received a few of those smiles today, and each one touched my heart. Made me human again. And for that, I am so very thankful.

Beautiful people, what warms your heart? What are you thankful for?

"Sorrow prepares you for joy. 

It violently sweeps everything out of your house,

so that new joy can find space to enter.

It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart,

so that fresh green leaves can grow in their place.

It pulls up the rotten roots,

so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow.

Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart,

far better things will take their place."

Rumi (1207-1273)

(Source: MaWanPark, edited by RoseAlma)

"Love is Coursing Through My Veins"

(Source: LoveisCoursing, edited by RoseAlma)

"Love came and became like blood in my body.

It rushed through my veins and encircled my heart.

Everywhere I looked, I saw one thing.

Love's name written on my limbs,

on my left palm, on my forehead,

on the back of my neck, on my right big toe...

Oh, my friend,

all that you see of me is just a shell,

and the rest belongs to love."

Rumi (1207-1273)

"Peace can start with just one heart."

Holly Near (1949-), American teacher and songwriter

(Source: OneWorldOneHeart)

"No one is born hating another person 

because of the color of his skin, 

or his background, or his religion. 

People must learn to hate, 

and if they can learn to hate, 

they can be taught to love. 

For love comes more naturally 

to the human heart."

Nelson Mandela (1918-), 

South African president

"Cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings."

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BC),
the Buddha, Indian spiritual teacher

(Source: MettaRefuge, edited by RoseAlma)

From the readers...

A quote shared by a beautiful reader named Lindsay:

"Have a heart that never hardens, 

a temper that never tires, 

a touch that never hurts."

Charles Dickens (1812-1870), 

English novelist of the Victorian period

(Photo taken and edited by RoseAlma)

Thank you for sharing, Lindsay. Everyone feel free to do the same. ♥

Loveful, Thoughtful Friday

Hello beautiful souls. ♥

This Friday I share with you some words and a quote from a beautiful reader named Megan. She writes:

"The Avett Brothers has always been a very special band to me, and this song in particular carries meaning. It was the first song by them that I ever heard, and it's always summed up my feelings about love. Love doesn't have to be fancy. It doesn't have to mean expensive gifts, detailed dates, or every spare minute spent together. Sometimes it's as simple as a dance in a crowd of singing people, under the stars, on a chilly October night..."

'Well, life is ever-changing,  

but I can always find a constant 

and comfort in your love.

With your heart, my soul is bound 

and as we dance I know 

that heaven will be found.'

(Swept Away by The Avett Brothers)

Megan, you bring up a beautiful and significant perspective on love. In this case, we are speaking of romantic love. But I believe this mindset could translate into our love for anyone. Love should not be about prices, gifts, extravagant dates, or grand romantic gestures. With family and friends, it shouldn't be about expensive meals or holiday gifts or the favors you do. Love, genuine love, flows effortlessly. Instead of thinking of ourselves and wondering what our loved ones can do for us, let's turn it around. Think about what we can do for the ones we love. We should always try to show our love. And in it's purest, most genuine form. Act from the heart, and only from the heart. This practice will likely fill our lives with inexplicable warmth and beauty.

Thank you so much for writing in, Megan. Your sharing has added light, insight, and love to our community. More questions and comments ahead in the coming week. I encourage all you beautiful readers to join in the love and fun; send in your questions, comments, quotes, insights, and anything else. 

All is welcome, all is love. Send it here: we.are.one@inbox.com

Enjoy your weekend, sweet readers.

Take a step outside and smell the lovely air for me. ♥

Peace and love.

Rosie

"One who does not hate any creature, 

who is friendly and compassionate... 

is dear to me."

Bhagavad Gita, Hindu scripture

(Source: theHeartArtist, edited by RoseAlma)

Beautiful Earth

Yesterday I was sitting at my hospital window, watching the sun sink down into the earth. The colors were so rich, the warmth so palpable. Rolling hills, speckled with shadowy violet trees, hugged the gold-laiden horizon. And the way the two gently met captured my heart. It made me immediately wonder, "How can people not want to protect this earth? It is so beautiful." I couldn't help the tears that followed.

Earth is our mother. Without her majestic and graceful existence, we cannot be. And yet many human beings give her no thought, no love. But no one is more deserving. If we think about it openly and objectively, it is quite simple to see that we must love the sweet earth before all else. In order to spread our love for all humanity, we first must give all the love in our hearts to the earth. For she is our home. Our beautiful, delicate home. And loving her will strengthen and enliven our love for all that is.

This video beautifully illustrates the majesty of our sweet earth. ♥

Do what you can for the earth. It needs our infinite love.

Thankful Thursday

(Source: Dr. Akilah, edited by RoseAlma)

Today I am thankful for the sun. Having been in the hospital since very early Monday, I have not been outside and in the company of the sun for a long while. And loving nature as I do, my heart was experiencing withdrawals. I needed the warm sun, the crisp air, and the beautiful sounds of the natural world around me.
And for a few moments, I was granted that precious gift. 'Til we meet again, beautiful earth. ♥

I am also grateful for my incredibly beautiful parents. They're with me through it all.
And I am so very blessed to have their warmth, protection, and love.

Sweet people, what are you thankful for this week and this day?

Thankful Thursday

(Source: davidrisley, edited by RoseAlma)

This Thursday I am grateful for my oldest brother, Jason. He recently moved back up to Tennessee after living down in Florida. And for now, he is staying with us at my parents' house. Usually he keeps to himself. He's quiet and incredibly creative, always working on some new project.

The past few days, I've unexpectedly found myself in the middle of another exacerbation - a bout of sickness related to my CF. I'm on IV antibiotics through my port-a-cath. And now ordinary, everyday things have become harder than ever.

This afternoon, I was sitting and doing one of my seemingly regular breathing treatments with a vibrating therapy vest for my chest. I've done this ever since I was a child, and it is routine for me. But the past few days, ever since my lung function has dropped, doing the vest makes me feel like I am suffocating. I quickly become overheated and end up gasping for air. 

Well, this particular time with vest, Jason was the only one in the room. The moment he saw my pale, gasping face, he knew what to do. He turned on our portable standup fan and pointed it in my direction (but not at my face, because he knew that would make it hard for me to breathe too). I started crying a bit, as it was one of my toughest moments yet. Jason came over and held my hand tightly as I closed my eyes and tried to find an equilibrium. His energy and love made an immediate difference. For the rest of the treatment, instead of thinking about how scared I was or how hard it was to breathe, I thought about how much I love my brother. And what a loving heart he carries around so quietly in his chest.

I am thankful for my oldest brother Jason. My quiet, loving protector.

Beautiful ones, what are you thankful for?

"You are the soul of the soul of the universe, 

and your name is Love."

Rumi (1207-1273)

(Source: theMapisnottheTerritory, edited by RoseAlma)

"Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you."

Rumi (1207-1273), Persian Muslim poet and theologian

(Source: KaleidoSoul, edited by RoseAlma)