Resistance is Futile
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My daughter takes jujitsu. As I observed her class on Friday night it occurred to me that the basic principles of jujitsu offer a good strategy for living. 
I am fascinated to watch my daughter throw opponents who are much larger and heavier than she is. The technique for doing this is based on the principle of using the attacker’s energy against him rather than to oppose or resist directly.
My daughter and others in her belt rank seem to effortlessly use their opponent’s strength and movement to throw him swiftly and efficiently.
By contrast, I noticed the lower belts use force and resistance against their opponent. In doing so, they struggle harder and longer, exert more effort, and clumsily throw their opponent, often folding or falling under the pressure.
In jujitsu, as in life, nonresistance can be effortless; resistance can be effortful.
In life, we can resist, fight against, and complain about our current reality: a bad haircut, a child who is struggling, traffic that is moving slower than we need to go, a health challenge that is not going away, the promotion we counted on and didn’t get.
Or, we can accept life as is. Not from a place of giving up or helplessness. But from a place of strength and an inner knowing that when we move with the energy of whatever comes our way we are better able to use our own power and resourcefulness to manage through life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Resistance causes us to tense up, lose energy, and fall hard. Nonresistance allows us to flow and roll with whatever life throws our way.
Which will you choose today? 
Changing Perspectives
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Lesson learned. (Again! 
)
While driving to MA last week to visit my dad, a tree had fallen across the parkway and all the cars were forced to exit. I felt annoyed at the inconvenience, frustrated as I tried to meander my way further up on the parkway, and sad that it would shorten my time with Dad.
Once back on the parkway, another tree had fallen on the opposite side. Those cars were at a complete stop. There was a long stretch of road between exits and the cars had nowhere to go.
I felt grateful that I was not in one of those cars!
On my way back home later that evening, I drove past a car that had careened into a stone embankment. The car was ablaze.
As I prayed for those souls, I felt grateful that I was not in that car.
I believe that the Universe served up these three parkway incidents as a reminder: whatever challenge I am facing, there is always someone, somewhere who has it worse.
Remembering this can provide much-needed perspective when managing through life’s ups and downs. Perspective can take us out of the trenches of our sorrow, give us space to breathe and experience something outside of ourselves, and provide renewed strength to soldier on.
Wishing us all new and greater perspective as we look at life so that can we experience not only our blessings but even our difficulties greater appreciation. 
Feeling Grateful Today . . .
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Weather Report
by BJ Gallagher
“Any day I’m vertical is a good day”
…that’s what I always say.
And I give thanks for my health.
If you ask me, “How are you?”
I’ll answer, “GREAT!”
because in saying so, I make it so.
And I give thanks that I can choose my attitude.
When life gives me dark clouds and rain,
I appreciate the moisture that brings
a soft curl to my hair.
When life gives me sunshine,
I gratefully turn my face up
to feel its warmth on my cheeks.
When life brings fog,
I hug my sweater around me
and give thanks for the cool
shroud of mystery that makes
the familiar seem different and intriguing.
When life brings the snow,
I dash outside to catch
the first flakes on my
tongue, relishing the
icy miracle that is a snowflake.
Life’s events and experiences
are like the weather–
They come and go,
no matter what my preference.
So, what the heck?!
I might as well decide to enjoy them.
For indeed, there IS a time for every
purpose under heaven.
Each season brings its
own unique blessings…
…AND I GIVE THANKS!
