A Wealthy Soul

[Fred Steeves]

Bob Seger has a classic old song called "Travelin Man", that contains the following line




Sometimes at night, I see their faces
I feel the traces they've left on my soul
But those are the memories that make me a wealthy soul
I tell you those are the memories that make me a wealthy soul


He's talking about both "good" and "bad" memories, and of course we all have them. Also, we have all both wronged other people, and been wronged by other people. It all kind of comes out in the wash doesn't it? Or atleast it should anyway...

Can you feel the traces that others have left on your soul? I sure can, and am thankful for every one. We seem to take turns painting life experience on each other like artists, and like the "Blank Canvas" thread, no-one knows what the finished product may be. Ever ponder what traces on other's souls you have made along this long and winding road? And continue to do even today? Interesting question isn't it?

This me thinks is a fundamental life question, wherein lies a major part of this great exam we are undertaking, and I challenge myself with it daily: "Are you able to make peace with yourself, and your human experience?"

It's a tall order, but the more it's filled, the wealthier the soul.

Cheers,
Fred

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[4evrneo]

Ah Fred !
I love the way you pull interesting perceptions from so many things, like songs. I am a wealthier soul for getting to experience Fred Steeves perspectives on life.

Thanks for sharing

Annette

[WhiteFeather]

Part of The Soul Collective Journey,,,if you will. Great Post Fred, your always thinking.

[GloriousPoetry]

Thank you for reminding me of how experience makes me rich in this lifetime.

Many Blessings,
Gloria

[genevieve]

The other day I had a vivid recollection of a boy I knew when I was 10 years old (I'm 62 now). He was part of my carpool to school, so I saw him every school day.

His mother had taken thalidomide, which resulted in his having flippers instead of arms and hands, and he needed braces on both legs.

He was the happiest, friendliest, most joyful person I'd ever met, and I looked forward to his great cheer every day because I was often unhappy.

Jimmie probably had no awareness of how much he meant to me, but all these years later I'm still blessing him and thanking him for his shining light. He'd probably be surprised to know that I even remember him. I doubt that he remembers me, but maybe he does.

Same for the young man who made a gallant show of opening a shop door for me one day when I was 18 and in a state of despair. He was a flash in my life--10 seconds at most--yet his smiling attention helped shift me.

Every moment counts. Every interaction can be full of grace and leave traces on others' souls. Carpe diem.

Peace Love Joy & Harmony,
Genevieve

[Fred Steeves]

When I started a new school in 7th grade, it quickly became apparent that if you wanted to be part of the "cool" crowd, you had to be part of making fun of this certain girl in class. I don't recall anything in particular that she did to deserve this, save that she wasn't just like everyone else, which at that age can be a mortal sin. It didn't matter where it was, whether in class, the lunchroom, chapel, or the playground, there were snyde remarks, passed notes, giggling, pointing, that sort of thing. Sometimes if the needling was sharp enough, she would go off crying. That was the big prize. I was never even close to being the ring leader, but I did certainly join in to be "cool".

Of course it's too late to apologize to her now, what's done is done. But, one trace she left on my soul is that I absolutely despise ridicule, whether in public, or snickering in the shadows. I'm quite sure we left traces on her soul too. I don't know if she remembers me personally or not, but hopefully she went on to become a very adept student of tolerence and forgiveness.

Cheers,
Fred

[mosquito]

When I was a practising acupuncturist there were many many patients who enriched my life, but 2 in particular who left a lasting impression on me:

One was a man of 92 with cancer, I used to go to his house to collect him and then take him home after treatment and he never tired of telling me that - "no matter what your problems are, there's always someone who's worse off".

The other was a lady in her 60s who had had 16 (yes, 16) joint replacements because of her rheumatoid arthritis. She had difficulty walking and could not move any of the joints in her hands, so could do virtually nothing for herself, but I never once heard her complain about her problems. She always said exactly the same as the other man, that there was always someone worse off. The only thing she used to complain about was other people's selfishness. A real inspiration.

Experiences like those we're sharing are literally priceless, so I'm glad you've used the word "wealthy" in the title Fred, a timely reminder that love isn't the only thing which money can't buy.

[jagman]

when I was a teenager in 9th grade I played football so I was excepted in the cool crowd. There was a boy who went to our school that was gay. Our football coach encouraged us to make fun of him. When I think of this, I almost get physically ILL. That poor boy never did anything to hurt anyone. About 6 months later he dropped out of school. I truly hate that I was a part of this. Facing demons of the past is a hard thing to do, But I do believe we must face these transgressions,So we can grow spiritually. Forgiving yourself is also essential.

[Fred Steeves]

My dad added a lot of wealth to my soul growing up. Nothing earthshattering, just the simple things, you know? Like the time when I was 11 or 12, and he volunteered to take over coaching our little league baseball team, when something happened to the regular coach. That was really cool for a little kid, having your dad be the coach. I was so proud. The whole team liked him too, and really appreciated what he did. At the end of the season we got a brand new baseball, everyone signed it, and we also got a little statue of an open baseball glove for it to sit on. He still has it.

Dad's been rather sick off and on for the past several months, moreso on recently. He's 70 now. I didn't realize just how sick he has gotten, and quickly, until I talked to him on the phone last evening. He's been to0 proud(the man thing), to tell me just how bad it is, but now that he's so weak he's having to cancel all his work coming up, and it's even hard to walk his dogs, he must have figured enough is enough there.

The CT scan he got back yesterday showed the same as a previous x-ray showed, fluid build up in the lungs. It sure sounds like Pulmonary edema of some type, but these Ivy League doctors don't seem to have a clue, and are just "treating" the symptons. He's got an appointment with a Pulmonologist on Monday, so I'm going to go there with him, and also stay with him for... I don't know how long. He lives more than an hour away, but from what my sister says, his place is getting pretty dirty too. That means he must be having a hard time just with things like making food for himself.

I reckon there comes the time when it's time to give back, and take care of your parents. It will be an honor to do so, and I bet I'll see that old baseball in the glove still sitting on his dresser, right where it has sat for the last 35 years. http://nexus.2012info.ca/forum/images/smilies/newadditions/smile.gif

Cheers,
Fred

[genevieve]

Fred--

I became the primary caregiver for my mom when she was sent home from the hospital to die. She was put on hospice (meaning: she had less than six months to live).

Surprise! She survived her six months and was kicked off hospice; later was put back on and survived again and was kicked off; and then put on a final time. The hospice people had never heard of anyone lasting that long.

During those two years she unknowingly taught me how to truly love, and I know I was not the only one who learned something invaluable.

Enjoy your time with your father. Go into your heart when/if the going gets tough.

Appreciate everything that your father has taught you and what he's teaching you now.

Your wealth is about to vastly increase.


Blessings to you and your father.

Peace Love Joy & Harmony,
Genevieve

[Daughter of Time]

Yes Steve! True indeed!

Lately I have been learning to accept my painful experiences - not to condone them - but to acknowledge them.

I have been learning to look at my life with all its pain and pleasure, bliss and sorrow, successes and defeats, accomplishments and failures, elations and depressions, and all the baffling experiences I've had, as being part and parcel of having a full human experience.

The current challenge for me is to understand all the experiences and to simplify them in a way that they can be easily expressed and eventually serve me in attaining wisdom which in turn will help others understand their own journeys.

Wisdom comes painfully, and only in drops, but it does come if we let it.

[GammaMO]

I'm Canadian and when I was 18 years old, I was very depressed, lost and mixed-up. My parents decided to take the whole family to Southern California for winter break. I spent most of the vacation off moping by myself.

While sitting alone in a restaurant, a lady walked over to me, bent down, smiled, looked into my eyes and said "Cheer up, sweetie", then walked away.

I'll never forget that. Why would a stranger would take the time and effort to do that?? It brought me back to the land of the living. :) I remember thinking how Americans were such nice people! ;)

[Billy]

Of course it's too late to apologize to her now, what's done is done. But, one trace she left on my soul is that I absolutely despise ridicule, whether in public, or snickering in the shadows. I'm quite sure we left traces on her soul too. I don't know if she remembers me personally or not, but hopefully she went on to become a very adept student of tolerence and forgiveness.

Cheers,
Fred

Hey Brother it is never too late on the level of consciousness.

Many years ago under the guidance of my shaman, I was asked while in a meditative state of roll playing of getting to know my archetypes, to go back into my past and apologize to those I had caused harm and forgive those i believed had caused harm to me. Picturing in my minds eye each individual I, even the guy who had sexually abused me as a child. I forgave and said sorry to each of them.

Then i was asked to thank them all for all negative and positive experiences. that had made me into the person i am today. Now that was hard to do with some experiences. But with a reminder not to be emotionally attached to other peoples baggage as it belonged to them and not me, I was able to do this.

I cannot express the feeling of freedom from all past negative experiences that I felt and it has carried through my lives journey. It is never too late.

Something I posted in another thread.


embrace the negativity with love, allow it to go through you're being then release it. you have now transformed darkness into light.

Shine on

Peace be with you.

[latshaw]

When I was a young girl ( about 10) in grade school, there was a little girl who was very quiet and didn't seem to have many friends - she basically was a loner. One day she was with a neighbor friend of hers and they were discussing birthdays, and getting invited to eat lunch with friends at their homes. I happened to be there when this conversation took place. I heard Diane (the quiet one) to her young neighbor..."I have never been invited to anyone's house for lunch." As young as I was, it made an impression because I went home and asked my mom if I could invite Diane to lunch. My mom said OK. I invited Diane to lunch and she was thrilled and completely surprised. My mother set the large dining room table with all her best china and glassware (the same she used for the holidays, etc. I was surprised at the spread as well! But that's not the end of the story.

Years later - 5 years out of high school I attended our Senior High School Reunion. I sat at a table with 5 other couples. One of the couples was Diane and her husband. The first thing she said to her husband when she introduced me to him was....
"this is the girl I told you about that invited me to lunch when I was a little girl." Needless to say my mouth dropped open in memory of the incident and the shock that she remembered that day when she came to lunch! Keep in mind that while Diane and I were aquainted in and through school, we never really hung out.

The point to all this? I had forgotten all about the incident and absolutely no idea the impact it would have. It was just an innocent gesture from one little girl unaware of "spiritual" stuff to another little girl. It turns out that Diane told her husband it was the reason she wanted them to register as foster parents since she was unable to have children.

Had I not gone to the reunion, I never would have been aware of the ripples in the pond. Fred - you have been a ripple in my pond today because I haven't thought of that incident since the reunion in 1968! Two little girls had lunch in 1955 and gave the opportunity for blessings in the life of my mother, myself, Diane, her husband, and countless foster children. And today, I can add you to the list Fred and it is 2012! That is 57 years - over half a century! Proof in the pudding - there are no coincidences. Penetrating light to you...latshaw :cool:

[Fred Steeves]

The point to all this? I had forgotten all about the incident and absolutely no idea the impact it would have. It was just an innocent gesture from one little girl unaware of "spiritual" stuff to another little girl. It turns out that Diane told her husband it was the reason she wanted them to register as foster parents since she was unable to have children.
little girls had lunch in 1955 and gave the opportunity for blessings in the life of my mother, myself, Diane, her husband, and countless foster children.

Awesome story Latshaw, thanks for sharing that! It's an excellent reminder of the power we have, to create or destroy, that many are unaware they even possess. This is precisely why even if I'm having a lousy day, I'll try to atleast smile at someone in passing anyway. For all I know they may be having the worst day of their life, and a simple smile from a stranger might just help a little bit. Of course I'll forget about it almost immediately, but it may make a lasting impression on them. We never know.

Cheers,
Fred