Love Surprise

Happy Valentine’s Day! Sending you good wishes for an abundance of love and a reminder – keep your heart open for love surprises. They are all around, but easy to miss if you close your heart and mind to them.

Here are two amazing love surprises that came into my life.

How do you get a grandson? Just teach a seminar about Desire in The Netherlands, of course! During a “Desire Marks the Path seminar in Utrecht two years ago I mentioned that I did not have grandchildren. A lovely woman named Els came up at a break and told me that her son, Siem, did not have any grandmothers. “Hmm...” we said smiling.

Els went home and told Siem, “I think I found a grandmother for you, but there is one problem – she lives in America.” “America?!?” Siem replied with a big grin.

And so we began. Siem drew grandson-pictures for me. I sent him some cards and a grandmotherly birthday present.

This Christmas Els, Siem and his dad, Kees came to visit. My son Barnaby was with his girlfriend’s family and I shared the holiday with my surprise Dutch family. The amazing thing is that from the moment they arrived we felt like family – all 4 of us. Here we are at a favorite Cathedral city Mexican restaurant the night before they left.

By definition, love surprises come when you least expect them. A couple of weeks ago, I spoke to a very large group at the Betty Ford Center’s Alcohol Awareness Hour about “Making Peace with the Past.”

I talked about my father, and writing “Travelling Free: How to Recover from the Past.” (order info at http://www.mandyevans.com/ ). For the first time, I talked publicly about my childhood.

I told them that when I graduated from highschool, my father came and brought me a watch. I did not see him or hug him or hear him say how proud he was of me. My mother sent him away because he was drunk. I was mad at her and heartbroken for him.

At the end of the program a burly man, about my age, approached me. He said, "That story about when you graduated from highschool, that was for me. That was me, standing outside a chain-link fence with a bottle in my hand watching my child graduate. His eyes filled with tears and mine did too. We hugged each other and held on for a moment. It felt like being held in one big heart that encompassed all time and space to let a father and child share a love surprise about a highschool graduation -- and gratitude for making peace with the past.

Whether you are in a romantic relationship or on your own now, love is all around! Flowers and chocolates are nice to give and receive. Don’t forget to be open to giving a receiving amazing love surprises too -- far beyond anything you thought of.

I hope you will share your thoughts and love surprises here!

With an abundance of love for you,
Mandy

Welcome in 2008

When the calendar measure of time marks a new year, thoughts turn to new beginnings. Instead of resolutions, I focus on what I would like to welcome into my life. This year I noticed with some surprise that I wanted a good deal of less along with my more.

I think conscious, clear awareness of what we want to attract to us or move toward -- what we want to fill our bodies, hearts, souls and lives with matters most. That includes an awareness of what we want to avoid. Sort of like a walk down a lovely lane with a desire to avoid mud puddles from a recent rain – unless of course it’s a hot day and squishy mud on bare feet is just what you want.

It’s so easy to get caught in the trap of what we ought to want or ought to avoid. But each of us is one of a precious kind and our unique desire will lead us down a path we make with our own footsteps. Correct your course as new information becomes available. Be willing to learn! Be willing to be happy!

There is power in awareness and in sharing. It makes things grow. It turns thoughts into reality, reality into life-lessons, life-lessons into awareness.

I hope you will share some of your "welcomings" with us! Here are mine.

I WELCOME IN 2008

MORE:
peace on earth, good will to all
happiness, laughter, love, health, wisdom, good books
smart, funny, kind friends to share good times with who live nearby
creative outlets
healthy ways to be useful and helpful to others
continued prosperity
food, shelter, love for all
physical health and well-being
clearing away false beliefs that limit health, success and happiness
interesting, engaging, enjoyable learning experiences
spiritual growth and enlightenment

LESS:
less pain, harsh judgement, punishment, war
less starvation, torture, cruelty and hatred in the world
less pain in my body
less fat in my body
less reluctance to ask for help

It’s a start! How about you?
Love,
Mandy

Be the Gift

At my age, 66, some people begin to fall apart. I seem to be fusing myself together with arthritic bone spurs and calcium deposits. After a rough night with little sleep, I was feeling very discouraged. I lay awake questioning my own unhappiness (yes, I really do always do that) but I didn’t get very far.

Feeling bad seemed inevitable. That’s the key; it almost always does. Since our beliefs are our version of reality, it’s hard to see them as just beliefs. They seem like reality, inevitable.

I dragged my weary self out to get the mail. The day sparkled around me and I felt my spirits lift. Then I spied him as he tooled around the oleander hedge by the mailboxes, a smiling man with white hair astride a bright red, brand new electric scooter.

“Make every day count!” he said. “”Yes,” I heard myself reply, “It’s all we have. It’s precious.” How had I forgotten?

We chatted for a few minutes. He told me he is from New York. He can’t walk. He pointed to his leg and said there was a steel rod in it. His sons bought him the scooter. He is 92 years old!

As he whizzed off he raised his hand to the bright blue sky. Rounding the corner, he shouted, “It’s a beautiful day!”

And it was. I felt better and better as the hours went by and the sweet encounter warmed my spirits.

What a sweet gift. There is a saying, “Be the change you want to see.” How about, “Be the gift you want to receive?”

Maybe these thoughts will warm your spirits. Maybe you are already feeling wonderful -- spread the word. Imagine if we knew at every moment that this one, now this one, now this one is really all we have.

You are a precious gift. Have a beautiful day!
Love,
Mandy

Amazing Gift

This incredible, amazing, astoundingly beautiful planet is a gift to us all. We do not have to prove our worth, do anything to deserve it or earn the privilege to enjoy it's beauty. It is just here for us, one and all.

Today, where I live in Southern California we have snow on the mountain and rain in the valley. I thought you might like to see it too.

Love,

Mandy

Reunion at Locke

One of the sweet things about visiting my son, Barnaby and his girl friend, Sheri, for Thanksgiving was a trip to Locke for an afternoon with Debbie Mendel (Bruce Di Marsico's widow) and her partner, Russell. Here we are after a delicious lunch.

Bruce Di Marsico created the Option Method for finding and eliminating beliefs that keep people from being happy -- and lots of other things. He was my teacher in the early 70's and I cannot imagine what my life would be without him. I was not a happy camper in those days.

Debbie has recently published a lot of work by Bruce. 

Locke is a fascinating little town in the Sacramento river Delta in Northern, California. It was built for Chinese laborers almost 100 years ago and very little has changed since!

Debbie and I had not seen each other since before Bruce's death in 1995. It was great to share a big hug and a wonderful day full of old memories and exciting new discoveries about each other's lives and work.

Wishing you long, happy relationships filled with love!

Mandy

Happy Thanksgiving

May all of your gratitude be twice blessed, blessing you when you give it and when you receive it!

I am so very grateful to you for sharing your blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving Wherever You Are!

Love,
Mandy

Love and Wild Fires

Thanks to everyone who called and emailed to check on me and my little cabin in Cedar Glen. The smoke is clearing in Palm Springs. We can see the mountains again today.

It is amazing what good knowing that you are cared about does.

I think the cabin is OK. It is in between the Lake Arrowhead and the Running Springs fires. The mandatory evacuation order was lifted yesterday though the fires are still burning nearby.

All of my L.A. and San Diego friends are safe and accounted for and we have all reached out to each other with "Are you OK?"calls -- sometimes re-connecting for the first time in years.

My heart goes out to all of those who lost their homes and loved ones. The quote from William wordsworth in the beginning of my book "Travelling Free" come to mind.

"There is comfort in the strength of love

'Twill make a thing endurable, that else

Would overset the brain, or break the heart.

The outpouring of love and care in Southern California gives me hope for human kind and makes me rejoice to live here. May it expand, continue and support all of those who need our care to rebuild from the ashes.

Love,
Mandy
http://www.mandyevans.com/