Do We Suffer From Sideshow Syndrome?

Some guy once said, “When you're born you get a ticket to the freak show …”

I agree. In life, there are times when I get this uneasy feeling of being lost – like I’m wandering into a seedy sideshow of unusuals and shadowy figures. It’s uncomfortable. Yet, there it is – it comes into “town” and pitches tent every so often.

The world offers its own versions of the The Bearded Lady, The Elephant Man and The Siamese Twins. For each of us, the absurd comes in various ways. Mine are different than yours and I dare not list, for what may be perfectly normal and acceptable to you, may not be to me. (OK … I’ll list one … The other day, I actually saw a TV interview conducted by a green M&M … what the ???)

So do we embrace or abhor the weird ways of the world?

The reality is, we live in this wonderful, weird world, so, to a certain extent, the freakishness is inescapable. However, its imperative we learn to protect our spirit from the oddities that confound us.

Simple Ways To Avoid the Sideshow Syndrome

“Don’t Look.” You’ll be tempted. Sometimes just removing yourself from an uncomfortable situation will give you enough strength to nurture your spirit.

"OK … You Looked." Nothing wrong with that, but now you’re feeling a bit of that uneasiness. You paid your penny, but no one says you have to stay! Nurture your spirit with an activity that draws out your inner and removes that outer film. Find an activity that “returns you to you!” – something genuine, real and not manufactured.

Cocoon and protect your precious spirit. Live simple, so the small sacred moments are the ones that direct you to what is real and not the freakish dark and confusing corners of this “show” we call life.

Scared Sacred ... Where Is The C?

Its dark, too quiet and the only thing I can feel is my racing heartbeat. Out of somewhere deep and primeval, a sob rises out of my throat. Fear has found me ... surrounded me and pinned me down for another long night of assault.

Where and when did this sweet little girl Jeanne ... become so scared? Well ... this sweet (not so little) girl, Jeanne is still scared. Perhaps not always of the dark, but of the dark unknown of her life. I still sob. I am still scared. Scared of growing old. Scared of being without my wonderful parents. Scared of the storms. SCARED.

Strangely enough, as I started writing my blog, I found myself being scared not to spell "Scared" instead "Sacred." A mental "whoa" came to me. Why not write about The Sacred Scared.

It seems like an oxymoron -- "Scared" has no place with the "Sacred!" However, being scared can actually lead you to the Everyday Sacred. The chance to see your true sacred self ... The spiritual self that gently leads you to a greater understand of the worlds around you.

How? If you look purely at the words themselves -- the only difference between the two words is the placement of the "c." How do you "see/C" your problems or fears?

Does it depend on your perspective ... how do you see or view what is scaring you?

Simply Sacred Step for today:: When you find yourself scared. Open your mind. Breathe ... Don't Sweat ... Just allow the fear to happen. Stop. Where is that "C?"

"Scared = sacred." When something new or different scares you, you're experiencing a sacred moment within your soul and within the universe. - Sarah Ban Breathnacht

Simply Put, Jeanne

If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance!

I’m so glad I don’t have to think about breathing. If I did – I’d be long gone!

We came into this world autoset for one thing ... breathing! As we floated silently in our mother's womb we practiced breathing! Then came the moment when our lungs made contact with oxygen and instantaneously we started breathing in and out ... in and out.

To this day, we don't give this much thought. The one thing which gives us life is the one thing we don't think about.

I know I don't.

In the creation text, we are shown "God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul."

This breath of life allows us to "become a living soul" ... taking in life, beauty and allowing each of us the chance to experience the simply sacred.

Simply Step for Today: Breathe ... now take one slow, deep breath with consciousness ... another breath with purpose. What is your purpose?

Just like your breath, giving you life ... your purpose gives you life and direction. What is your sacred direction? If you don't know yet ... it OK ... just keep breathing ... keep living. And just like that little tiny life you were ... when you make contact with your life's purpose ... your direction will be automatic ... just like breathing!

Simply put, Jeanne

The Sacred and Selfish: Moi?

I am selfish. By nature, I've always been. This blog is an excellent example! Yet, I keep thinking this selfishness can be turned into a bit of selflessness.

"Simply Sacred" is my little project to help me (and I hope others) find the sacred in simple, everyday life. In everyday terms, "DON'T SWEAT THE SACRED!"

I've decided I'm just not the type who wants "complicated." So, I've decided its time to streamline my eternal progression by doing one small thing each day. At this point, I don't know what form the streamlining will take. Perhaps I will post a thought or simple step each day ... or whenever the muse hits me. Some posts will be serious and others, more lighthearted. Posts will be honest, yet thought provoking.

I want to liken this progression as taking stepping stones. Sometimes steps will take you and I across sweet babbling brooks of life and other times, we will find ourselves scared and fearful of crossing raging rivers.

Will you join me on this path of the "Simply Sacred?"

Please visit "Simply Sacred" often. PLEASE post your friendly thoughts and through your words help others find the sacred.