Midweek Reflections on 2015

'Idal (Justice), 19 Masá’il (Questions), 172 BE - Wednesday, December 30, 2015 about 8:51 AM Pacific Standard Time

It's been an interesting year and a stressful year. Why are interesting years always stressful years? I moved from a studio apartment into a two bedroom apartment. Two months latter a friend moved in with me to help with the housekeeping and cooking. I'm eating better because my diet is much more balanced. I don't eat a balanced diet if I have to cook for myself.

I appear to be catching up on some of my bills. It is easier to pay the power bill in this apartment then in the other one, but I'm not sure why. Perhaps this apartment is better insulated or the rooms are better arranged. I don't know how else you could arrange the rooms in a studio apartment; I just had a living area and a bathroom. This apartment has a two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room, but, so far, the electric bill was cheaper then in the studio. However, that may change next year.

This year I was able to purchase two new dresses, a blouse, a fanny pack, a hat, and a new hoodie. I still have to go through my closet because the blouse I put on this morning seems a little tight, so I may end up giving it away in January. I'll decide that when I take it off later today.

As I said, 2015 was an interesting and stressful year. I'm no longer feeling stress which may have something to do with my diet. It could also be that I'm being more conscious about putting stressful situations in God's hands. I'm glad things seem to be leveling out and praying that things continue at the same pace in the coming year.

Meditation Monday: A Good Start to the Workweek

Kamal (Perfection), 17 Masá’il (Questions), 172 BE - Monday, December 28, 2015 about 8:05 AM Pacific Standard Time

On Monday morning
meditation and coffee
begins the workweek.

A good start to the last week in December 2015 with three days to go until New Year's Day 2016. My morning meditation begins with prayer and then sitting quietly under my meditation blanket. I think I will change that slightly to include reading the scriptures before I start my meditation. If I wait until after I meditate to read the scriptures, I sometimes skip that part because of breakfast. After breakfast I start my day, which means I don't accomplish my scripture reading until later in the day.

Prayer, meditation,
another cup of coffee
hotcakes for breakfast.

Summary Saturday: The Week of December 20-26, 2015

Jalal (Glory), 15 Masá’il (Questions), 172 BE - Saturday, December 26, 2015 about 10:30 AM Pacific Standard Time

It's been a good week. I had some successes and I had some failures. I found numerous things to be thankful for. I discovered some attributes I need to work on. In five day a new Gregorian will begin, which is the time most people establish New Year's Resolutions. I no longer make New Year's Resolutions.

I make tentative goals for the first two and one-half months of the Gregorian year. Then on Naw-Ruz, which falls on the spring equinox, I make permanent New Year's goals. I celebrate a New Year on Naw-Ruz and in 2016 it falls on March 20. I have five items on my tentative goals list. I will write steps to accomplish those items before the end of 2015 and then I will confirm them by March 20, 2016.

Tentative Goals List

1. Reading List
2. Novels to finish
3. Novels to edit
4. Poem forms to attempt
5. Exercise program

Thankful Thursday: A Thankful Thursday Birthday

Istijlal (Majesty), 13 Masá’il (Questions), 172 BE - Thursday, December 24, 2015 about 6:30 AM Pacific Standard Time

Today, I am 69 years young.

I was born on Tuesday, December 24, 1946 at eleven minutes before midnight. Today, I am thankful that I was born on Christmas Eve. I haven't always been thankful for my birthday. When I was younger, I wished my birthday was some other month besides December. Sometimes it is difficult to realize that a holiday birthday is a blessing.

During the holiday season it is difficult to find things to be thankful for. This is a hectic time of year with stress levels and irritation rising. Christmas Eve is the day last minute Christmas shoppers crowd the streets, the malls, and other stores. People are hurrying to buy that last minute gift to put under the tree. I do not drive on Christmas Eve because of the traffic. I do not go shopping on Christmas Eve because of the crowded malls and stores. I stay home on Christmas Eve unless someone else is picking me up and doing the driving.

01. I am thankful that Christmas Eve is my birthday.
02. I am thankful that I stay home on Christmas Eve.
03. I am thankful that I no longer celebrate Christmas.
04. I am thankful that Christ was born into this world.
05. I am thankful for the birthday cards I receive.
06. I am thankful for the Christmas cards I receive.
07. I am thankful for the memories of happy Christmases from my childhood.
08. I am thankful for the beautiful Christmas songs.
09. I am thankful for the parodies of Christmas songs.
10. I am thankful for the dress I purchased on Wednesday with a Christmas tree on the front.

Even though I do not celebrate Christmas, there are aspects of the holiday I enjoy. I enjoy listening to Christmas songs and carols, especially those that my Grandmother and Grandfather liked. I enjoy some of the Christmas specials, especially those I remember watching with my mother. Today and tomorrow I will stay at home, when I do go outside my apartment it will be for a short walk and to wish neighbors a Happy Holiday or Merry Christmas (depending on the winter holiday they celebrate).

Transformation Tuesday: Do Something Unplanned Once in a While

'Idal (Justice), 12 Masá’il (Questionsh), 172 BE - Tuesday, December 22, 2015 about 7:53 Pacific Standard Time

I planned to make this post earlier today, however, I decided to go shopping. I went to a second hand store to purchase some clothes. I spent longer then I expected, but I had a good reason. After picking out a purple dress and a blue blouse (I still have to find a skirt to go with the blouse) I looked at the used books they had. There was a sale on the books, if I bought four books I could get one free. I looked at all the paper backs they had and picked out the Lord of the Rings series, The Hobbit, and a book from the Dragon Riders of Pern series. I now have all my reading material for 2016.

When I came home, I ate lunch and then took a nap. I slept all afternoon. I think sleeping on the couch is getting to me so I have to put my bed frame, box springs, and mattress together so I can sleep in my own bed in 2016. I did not plan to take a nap, but I am glad I did. Taking an unplanned afternoon nap helps in the transformation process because it gives a person's body and mind a chance to rest.

In my last entry, I said I would include the daily themes for this blog. This late in the evening I am not going to compose another entry, so here are those themes.

Themes for this Blog

Sunday: Spiritual Sunday
Monday: Meditation Monday
Tuesday: Transformation Tuesday
Wednesday: Midweek Reflections
Thursday: Thankful Thursday
Friday: Overcoming Fear Friday
Saturday: Summary Saturday

Spiritual Sunday: Getting Back to the Spiritual Basics of Transformation

Jamal (Beauty), 9 Masá’il (Questions), 172 BE - Sunday, December 20, 2015 about 7:39 AM Pacific Standard Time

Several years ago, when I started this blog the theme was spiritual transformation. My expertise in this area comes from my own personal struggle to walk my chosen spiritual path. I did all right keeping to this theme in the early years, but then I got away from it. I got distracted because of difficulties or by difficulties I encountered in the quests for spiritual transformation and walking my spiritual path. As a result the entries to this blog suffered through lack of focus on the main topic.

My blog entries were not the only thing that suffered. My personal life suffered because of the lack of focus. I stopped attending spiritual services. I used several excuses for not attending the services, but the truth is I simply lost my way. I let the material aspects of life outweigh the spiritual. This has caused no end of problems in my personal life. Therefor I am returning to the basics of prayer, meditation, and scripture reading.

I have wanted to do this for a long time, but I kept putting it off. On December 24, 2015, I will turn 69 years old. I am in poor to fair health, therefore, I cannot procrastinate any longer. I have to make a list of the priorities which I want to accomplish before my soul ascends into the next world. One of those things is improving my writing ability. Writing about spiritual transformation will do that. It will also help me overcome some of the fears that have haunted my thoughts lately. Check back for further discussion on this subject and a list of the daily topic themes on Tuesday, December 22.

Where Has 2015 Gone?

Istiqlal (Independence), 7 Masá’il (Questions), 172 BE - Friday, December 18, 2015 about 10:37 AM Pacific Standard  Time

Where has 2015 gone?
It seems like just yesterday
we were celebrating a New Year
with fireworks and good cheer.

Ten Things I need to do Before December 24, 2015

Fidal (Grace), 4 Masá’il (Questions), 172 BE - Tuesday, December 15, 2015 about 10:08 AM Pacific Standard Time

On December 24, I will be 69 years old. There are at least ten things I have to do before I officially turn one year older. A couple of those things I have put off doing for a while, but I cannot put them off any longer. Therefore, I am listing everything I need to accomplish before my birthday next week.

01. Purchase black cartridge for my Canon MG2520 printer.
02. Mail package containing tablecloth my mother painted to my brother in Colorado.
03. Mail package containing tablecloth my mother painted to my brother in San Diego.
04. Clean out red storage container sitting to the right of the computer desk.
05. Put my mattress and box springs on my bed frame.
06. Mail card to friend in Oklahoma.
07. Mail cards to writing.com friends.
08. Pick up senior commodities.
09. Order back and knee braces.
10. Purchase myself a birthday present.

Sunday Morning in Las Vegas

Jamal (Beauty), 2 Masá’il (Questions), 172 BE - Sunday, December 13, 2015 about 5:54 AM Pacific Standard Time

It's a cold Sunday morning in Las Vegas. The temperature if 40 degrees with a wind chill of 40 and snow on Mount Charleston. I put on a sweater this morning because it felt cold. When I woke up about 4:00 AM it was 39 degrees with a wind chill of 35. We are experiencing a severe weather alert which consist of a wind advisory. I haven't looked outside to see if the wind is blowing. I know it was blowing last night when I went to bed. However, it wasn't blowing when I got up this morning. Even if I don't look outside, I always know when the wind is blowing because I can hear it pushing litter down the street or causing some other weird noise.

Cold Sunday morning
I sip hot coffee and write
My muse warming up

 

Friday Afternoon in Las Vegas

Istiqlal (Independence), 19 Qawl (Speech), 172 BE - Friday, December 11, 2015 about 3:35 PM Pacific Standard Time

Friday afternoon
a chilly wind is blowing
snow on the mountain

This morning I went to the laundromat and washed this months dirty clothes. In 2016 I will have to increase the laundry runs from once a month to twice a month. Two more things I have to do in 2016 is increase my exercise routine and get some new clothes. I have not had in new clothes in a year or two, so I think I need to get something new in the coming year.

I am not looking forward to going clothes shopping. I used to enjoy it, but since Mom died it is no fun any more. I need someone to talk to when I shop for clothes, someone to ask "How would this look on me?" Since I have no none to go with me then I have to go by myself. I like grocery shopping by myself, but not clothes shopping.

December Birthday Wish

'Idal (Justice), 17 Qawl (Speech), 172 BE - Wednesday, December 9, 2015 about 3:57 PM Pacific Standard Time

My birthday approaches,
I will be another year older
and I hope another year wiser.

I would like a dream catcher
to hang above my bed;
I could either tell my family
or purchase it myself.

Now that I have a bed,
a box springs,
and a mattress
I only need a dream catcher
to make my bedroom
complete.

This coming week,
I have to unpack the sheets
I brought with me
and hope
they fit the bed.

I guess I could ask
my family for sheets,
but I think I would rather
have a dream catcher.

Monday Meditations: Morning Doctor's Appointment

Kamal (Perfection), 15 Qawl (Speech), 172 BE - Monday, December 7, 2015 about 2:18 PM Pacific Daylight Time

I spent most of the morning in my doctor's office waiting to see my the nurse practitioner. Normally I arrive early, but his morning I arrived only about ten or fifteen minutes before I had to see her. I still had to wait about thirty minutes to see the nurse. While I waited I closed my eyes and meditated.

Meditating was a relaxing experience. By the time the nurse saw me I was calm, which helped my blood pressure, and in a good mood. Meditating also seems to have helped my memory because I remembered to ask questions about the new prescription. When I pick up the prescription on Tuesday, I have to as the pharmacist a couple of questions.

Holiday Time 2015

Jalal (Glory), 13 Qawl (Speech), 172 BE - Saturday, December 5, 2015 about 3:59 PM Pacific Standard Time

It's holiday time again. It isn't the holidays that I celebrate, but somebody celebrates the December holidays. Since I have family members and friends who celebrate this time of year, I will endeavor to send them some items that my mother made before her death in November of 2012. I have lugged these items with me through two moves and have no intention of lugging them through another move. Not that I'm planning to move any time soon.

I moved once in 2014 and again at the beginning of this year. I think two moves in two years is enough to satisfy my migratory urge for a while. However, since I didn't plan to move this year it might be a good idea to mail the stuff to my brothers. That way, if I have to make another unplanned move I won't lug those items with me. Also, both of my brothers celebrate the December holiday which makes this a good time to mail stuff to them.

Another Birthday Approaches

'Idal (Justice), 10 Qawl (Speech), 172 BE - Wednesday, December 2, 2015 about 4:13 PM Pacific Standard Time

Another birthday approaches, not silently on cats feet, but singing Christmas songs from my childhood. December always brings back memories from growing up in Blackwell, Oklahoma. Some memories are welcome and some I would just as soon forget. The problem with forgetting the bad memories is that I might forget the good ones as well. Since I don't want to forget the good memories, I will deal with the bad ones.

I have found, that the best way to deal with bad memories is to write about them. Most of the time I make pen and paper journal entries about these memories. However, sometime I write them into short stories or poems. I prefer short stories or journal entries because it is easier to deal with these memories in that way.