I remember when I made the decision to add more love to life on a daily basis. I had always done it intuitively, but when, just shy of age 16, I got my first job working at a local McDonald’s, I knew it wasn’t my looks that were going to win friends and influence people! I was in an awkward teenage phase with coke-bottle glasses, braces, rubber bands across my front teeth, and wild hair. Adding to the look was the polyester brown, white, and yellow uniform I wore on the job!
Just when I felt I couldn’t be any more un-fashionable, we had to wear pins that said, “Hi! I’m a big Mac Builder!” I was a tomboy who never really cared too much about looks, but I knew if I wanted to make new friends on the job, at that age and stage, I’d have to come up with a personality that made up for the fact that at the moment, I was no beauty queen! I decided I would stop being shy around new people and started to focus on simply being helpful and kind.
Soon I had many friends on the job.
I think the decision stemmed from a story my mom told me, that wasn’t exactly related but made a point that etched itself in my soul. She had many temporary jobs to supplement the family income while raising us. One was working as an assistant at a doctor’s office. Rules were different back then and she was called back once to help while the Doc performed a minor office surgery. She told him she was too squeamish to watch, whereupon he told her to “get over it and focus on helping the patient!” So much for bedside manner, but the point really got to me.
Was it possible to get over ourselves by helping others? I tried it many times and found out it really worked.
When I felt shy and insecure, I made the decision to be helpful and kind and focus on others, and lo and behold I no longer felt shy and they didn’t react negatively.
When I was upset at someone I did something nice for myself or them, even if only a few sincere prayers, and lo and behold, it shifted my own energy. Frequently the other person was nicer too.
During the last two years when there were plenty of challenges in my own life, a lot less support than usual, and so many tugs and pulls on my energy that I felt like the jump rope on a school playground, what got me through it again, was focusing on adding a little more love to life.
As a result, joy has continued to be my companion even in spite of challenges. My mom had a chance to leave the planet a few weeks ago. She had major surgery and the angels said she’d make it through if she wanted, but would have a choice. I knew it. She knew it too, and although she wouldn’t talk of it, she got too busy to talk to me in the days leading up to the surgery. I had to accept that. This was how she was coping with her fears. I chose to focus on loving her and her success.
On the day of the surgery, I took a few hours off to join my mom in spirit even though we were thousands of miles away. Sure enough, she did have an opportunity to leave. The hospital put the wrong size tube in her throat and she nearly choked to death in recovery. In spite of the fear she felt she had a strong will to live and did. She’s recovered well and was shaken of course, but glad to be here. I didn’t look back. I just gave thanks. Her choice to live, or not, wasn’t mine to make. The only decision I had was to choose love or fear. I chose love.
I attempt to add more love to life every day in so many ways. I got out in the mornings and appreciate the sunrise, the birds, the still-cool morning air. I visit my plants and flowers and sniff and touch them with appreciation. The eggplant leaves are getting fuzzy. The fragrant dill is going to seed, and the basil is looking like it can’t wait to start growing. My cattails that magically appeared in the garden years ago are back and I gave up trying to prune them back. Instead, I planted peppers amidst them so they can lean on one another. The five-minute garden walk yields so much love and appreciation it could fuel me all day! And then I go to work and resolve to love each client as if they were the only person in my life during the time I am with them.
This world has a lot of unloving behaviors that we can’t control, in the 3D sense of physically controlling them. However, we can love within our sphere of influence, and make the 5D contribution – a loving and peaceful vibration that ripples out to all the world and worlds beyond. If enough of us focused on that, the vibrations of violence and war could not exist within our field of love.
Here are a few ideas to help you add more love to life.
1. Take an appreciation stay-cation…if only for a minute or two!
One of the reasons we feel so great on vacation is that we’re appreciating everything! We love the time off. We love the environment. We love the company. We love so much about our vacations that they feel like heaven. While time off and a beautiful atmosphere certainly contribute to our loving attitude, the angels say the vibration of appreciation is the real cause for the joy we feel.
So, they urge us to take an Appreciation Staycation instead! Appreciate all you can about where you are, who you’re with, and what is coming. Give thanks for your home, and all the comforts you have. Give thanks for running water and a hot (or cold!) shower. Give thanks for your soap, your towels, the feel of the floor under your feet, your family, friends, etc… You get the idea. Appreciation will always add more love to life. It plugs you into an abundant vibration… and it feels wonderful.
2. Engage in random acts of kindness
I’m frequently carrying bugs outside the house in the little jar dedicated to the task. It is a random act of kindness. Sometimes I do the pay-it-forward game at Starbucks where you buy coffee for the person behind you. That’s fun and feels good. Sometimes I get the urge to just say something to a stranger, only to find it is what they need to hear. There are a gazillion ways we can do a random act of kindness. It does add more love to life but the best part is that you feel more loving too⁄
3. Don’t forget yourself!
Adding more love to life also means adding more love to your life. Ask yourself, “How can I love myself or my life a little more?” I am constantly looking for ways to make life more beautiful, functional, or pleasant. While changing old habits and routines can be daunting, if you pick one small thing you can do to dive right into your desired change that will be an act of love. I did one situp the other day. Getting moving was love. Not pushing myself was love You can add more love to your life, and therefore the world, simply through the power of choice!
The world needs more love now, and for the sake of our own happiness and health, we need to plug into love more deliberately. Luckily there are a gazillion teeny, tiny, loving moments to be had. There are thousands of things and people to appreciate on a given day. There are so many ways you can add love to life – and your life because what flows through you, must first flow to you!
Have a beautiful week 🙂
Ann
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