The Darkest Hour by Toni Burnett ...(off topic)

December 18, 2005

The Darkest Hourby Toni BurnettOne of the words that I have become friendly with is "contrast". Inorder to truly know light, we must know darkness. How would we knowwhat it feels like to be happy, if we never felt sadness?In this ever changing universe, a lot of us are going through somerough times right now. Sure, we listen to the news and hear about abooming economy and wonder why our wallet is empty. How often have youasked yourself "why me, why now"? Sure, you've been told to look on thebright side, every cloud has a silver lining. The world wants you tosmile, but you feel as though your life is crumbling around you. Well,you do not have tosmile, it is fine to feel miserable when things are going wrong. Infact, it is a perfectly natural reaction! Of course you can't snap youfingers and rid yourself of your problems. You don't have to smile andshow everyone how strong you are either.I have found that it is best to really take a look at the things inlife that are not right. Feel the energy, and for Pete's sake... feelyour own feelings. They are very real and they are there for a reason.Know however, that no matter how bad things seem right now, they willget better. Just visualize the first rays of sun after a bitter summerstorm. Yes, the sun will shine again!When I look back at the trouble spots in my life, I find that there wasa lesson in every challenge. When you look at each of your problems asa challenge, solutions will find their way to you. Sit down and examineyour life, and yes... kick, scream, and cry, it's okay. Once you havedone that, pick yourself up and take action. What can you do to make itbetter? Who inyour life is dragging you down? You already know the answers. With alittle help from yourself things will begin to change.So go ahead, have a good cry, it is just fine to feel down, for howwould you know what it felt like to be "up", if you were never down.Contrast, a good word to become friends with. And always remember, thedarkest hour is just before dawn. I think I see the sun coming up overthe horizon, yes, dawn has arrived.

December 19, 2005

What wonderful wisdom. It allows one to feel and release negative

feelings without carrying the excess baggage of guilt. Why cant one

feel down or even sorry for ones self without guilt?

There is a valid reason for doing so. It allows one to not only

experience the pain but to look at it closely. This in turn then

lets us decide what coarse of action we wish to take.

It is like cutting your finger. You first experience the pain, you

feel it then see it through the blood that starts to flow. What is

your coarse of action then? First you cleanse the wound then you put

on some medicine and then a bandaid to keep it clean so it can start

the healing process.

By looking at our situations in a different way, by allowing

ourselves a moment or two of tears, we can start the healing

process.

Thank you so much for sharing.

Amaya

December 23, 2005

Amaya, your so very welcome. Its hard to remember that at these times of the year when some of our so very lucky that others are grieving and so fourth.

Blessings to you,

Jennifer

In a message dated 12/19/2005 8:07:07 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, amaquinna writes:

What wonderful wisdom. It allows one to feel and release negative feelings without carrying the excess baggage of guilt. Why cant one feel down or even sorry for ones self without guilt? There is a valid reason for doing so. It allows one to not only experience the pain but to look at it closely. This in turn then lets us decide what coarse of action we wish to take. It is like cutting your finger. You first experience the pain, you feel it then see it through the blood that starts to flow. What is your coarse of action then? First you cleanse the wound then you put on some medicine and then a bandaid to keep it clean so it can start the healing process.By looking at our situations in a different way, by allowing ourselves a moment or two of tears, we can start the healing process. Thank you so much for sharing. Amaya