Responsibility is our ability to respond and how we choose to respond. It does not mean we have obligation. I choose to respond to things according to my ability to respond. That's what responsibility means to me.

Nope, not exactly. I can guess at the answer though - perhaps we are here because we are part of the body of the whole that is experiencing life. I sense that life, this thing we are in, wants to experience itself in as many ways as it can, that it has always done this and will always do it. Even our choosing to experience is part of its choosing. Our experience is nested with its experience. I've used this quote before here but I'll share it again:

"We are not to know why this and that masters us-
Real life makes no reply, only that it enraptures us-
Makes us familiar with it."
  - Rilke -

But, all this said, my friend Gerry would say, "Who could say?"

There has been change and always will be. I'm not sure I have done all the change or just been in the flow of what is changing. Let's just say, I try not to resist the change which is natural in the universe. I do try to transform my mind daily, to allow it more suppleness, more gentleness, more in-the-flow-ness.

Now how do I know what others see? In this separation play, my ego, blessed that it is, sees what it sees. The bigger picture, as I'm informed within, is perfect. So, I aim to see perfection in everything. It sometimes hides in darker places though.

Ahhhhhhh, yeah!

By being present as it arises and doing the best I can.

Well, lots of people on GAIA - Debyemm, Laurie, LadyBear, Samme, AlcheMystic, Mimi (the Mimi's), Shameslaya, Carla, Tinkonthebrink, Thalam, MamaSue, Attainment, C.G., Sandy and Sandi, Clare, Ted, Zephyr (Gael), Kes, Sylvia, Jeannie, Jaguar Peaceful Warrior, Laura, Centria, FastDart, Ohmsmom, Jeff Stroud, Mascha, helenrscp, Mila, Janet, Nicole, Rose, Wendy, HummingBird, Jenni, Spirit Warrior, Enlightened Thinker, Mum's the Word, Jacqueline-Marie, Jung Girl, Little Big O, Mila, Susan #1, Mu, Nut, Awakened, Dave . . . and so many more. WISDOM SURROUNDS ME!

Life has given me itself, and how loving that is. Who am I to expect? Life is my lover and invites me to show up each day to be present. Life is the present of presence, and I SOOOOOOOOOO love it. So, I expect that it will always be this way, in this incarnation and after.

Who can say? What's next for me, today, at this time is - I'm playing flute with a friend who is playing oboe, at a local church for their 11am service. Sould be great ! Y'all know I'm a DIVA at flute-playing, don't you? Hopefully it will be recorded.

Lala is going with me and she is excited. We both look good and smell good . . . (yes, we clean up well)!

Not anticipating much, just a big lunch after playing! I'm always so hungry.

I am part of the tree yet a new branch. I have many of their physical and emotional attributes, but have my own unique mental and spiritual attributes. I am different from them in that I don't mind stepping outside the box, coloring outside the lines, at the risk of disappointing others in their expectation of how I "should be". My father was inconsistent and I am very consistent. My dad played the victim and I did not. He was not able to see that the choices he made led to the consequences being lived out in his life. I see those choices and accept the consequences, thus always trying to make better choices for a better life.

My mother usually did not set clear boundaries and this is something that I'm currently working on, especially in my closer relationships. She wanted to set these boundaries but didn't know how. I am different in that I explore different ways, not their ways, to live fuller and more abundantly. My father was cold and selfish and my mother was open and loving, always extending her love to others. I am definitely more like my mom in this aspect. My mom was the container for warm love.

So, we are alike and different! I am unique even while I carry some of their energy. The leaf is still a part of the tree but newer, fresher. We live in an never-ending evolving universe. The property is in continuous rearrangement. This is the nature of the body of ONE LOVE.

It is easy being me. It is easy being green, just ask the trees and the grass (as long as they are not competing with humanities pollution). I AM GREEN - one of my favorite colors.

My big ol' open heart that is filled with compassion.

The quiet. I get up at 4:30am each morning and have for years. This is the best time to meditate - before the energy gets muddy. I love the mornings, sitting in my little back yard, talking to the trees, listening to that inner voice.

My beautiful Lala laughing at kitty this morning. The innocence of a child radiated through my heart like a thousand suns.

For me, a real question leads to the next question . . . a question seeks to bring more understanding to our experience of what is.

I experienced what I call 3rd chakra blow out on Thursday evening, stuff (crap) that I've been holding in and onto for a long time. It is manifesting in a physical way but my now wanting to hold my belly in. I'm just too relaxed now to do that. I'm terribly thirsty and sense that this is the element that relates to that area and the element that will help me heal. "Still waters run deep." I sat outside this morning in the cool mist and felt it move through my body, the soothing and cleansing mist of love. I have an urge to just be in the water, to have it on my feet, to drink it, to let it wash over me. So, today I will take a luxurious bath, using some AlcheMystic products (be sure to see Mimi's products - they have such healing qualities). I wish I could be Niagra Falls, just sitting listening to its force, wash over the falls.

Anybody here got some 3rd chakra healing information you'd like to share?