Over the past few months while visiting Jean's husband, I have befriended a 60 year old woman named Susan who is legally blind, suffers from multiple sclerosis and is confined to a wheel chair. Earlier in her life, Susan was a singer, songwriter, playwright and taught English as a second language in Japan and the US.
Each Sunday when I visit, we all gather around the piano in the recreation area and sing songs from an earlier time. In spite of her physical challenges, Susan’s spirit shines brighter than most in the room. She’s always happy to see me and seems to enjoy our side chats. Because of her neurological challenges, she tends to repeat herself. She will say, “You know I love to sing," then ten minutes later, she'll make the same statement.
I respond, "I can see that..and you're good at it."
After we sing the song New York, New York, she'll blurt out, “You know what? I try to listen to people. Listening to people is very important.”
I agree with her knowing that in some way, the Universe is sending me a message through her because I get to hear that message at least five times before I leave. Consciousness helps clarity, so I wonder, Where in my life am I not listening enough?
After we finish singing Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Susan will turn to me and ask some simple but profound questions like, “What do you love to do? What makes your heart sing?”
Simple question right? Try to answer it. I often tell her, “I love to write.”
Not letting me get away with a superficial answer, she takes the question one step deeper, and says, “Don’t give me that. Everyone loves to write. What do you really love to do?”
I respond, “I love to write on my blog. I love when my writing leaves people better off than they were before. Making people feel good about themselves and their life is very satisfying.”
She responds, “See, that’s what I mean.”
By the time I leave the nursing home, she’s asked me the same question five times. No matter how many times she asks, I still have to think about it. For example, I’ve responded, “I love to walk on the beach.”
She’ll say, “So what. Everyone likes to walk on the beach. So what do you love about walking on the beach?”
She’s like Yoda in a wheel chair. She won’t let you off the hook until you have a deeper understanding of what you really love to do. Spiritual teachers come in many different packages when the student is ready.
After observing and talking with her for several weeks, I told her that she brings positive energy to everyone she encounters. She responds offhandedly, “I know that. That’s what I’m here for!”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
R. Ann Rousseau writes about metaphysical, spiritual and astrology topics on her blog Explore Beyond the Usual. She is author of the new novel Portsmouth, A Love Story. If you would like to be notified when the novel is available for sale, please email us info@explorebeyondtheusual.com
Other Blog Posts by R. Ann Rousseau: Wishes Fulfilled - Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion with Wayne Dyer, A Facebook Message from a Friend in Spirit, Are You Having a Life Crisis? Do You Know What Integrity Is? Wishes Fulfilled - Mastering the Art of Manifesting Book Review, Authentic Power - Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, KEM - Sophisticated, Sexy, Soulful and Spiritual, Are You Out of Alignment? Choice Point Book Review, The Middle Lane, Clean Your Mirrors, Three Feet From Gold - Book Review, Do You Need a Most Benevolent Outcome? As Above So Below January 2012 Astrology Forecast, We Are All Connected Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, Release the Anger: Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, One Big Global Blogging Family, Book Review - Psychic Exploration A Challenge for Science, Hay House Radio's New Show SoundWave A Bit Hit!, Do You Believe in Soul Mates, The Future of Astrology, You Always Had the Power- Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Love Doesn't Hurt - Oprah's Life Class Discussion, The Unconditional Love of Animals-Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Your Life is Whispering to You. Pay Attention. Oprah's Life Class Discussion, The Power of a Second Chance: Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Aging : Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Connecting the Dots- Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Speech, The Truth Will Set You Free, Discussion of Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Premiere: The World Beyond, A Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom Moment, Breaking Out the Top Shelf Advice for Rough Times, Eat Dessert First -The Art of Extreme Self Care, Queen of the Law of Least Effort-Seven Spiritual Laws of Success Book Review, The Secret of Instant Healing Book Review, Transforming Fate into Destiny Book Review, Awakening the Lightworker Within Book Review, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Book Review, Trust Your Gut Book Review, The Spirit Whisperer Book Review, Astrology for the Light Side of the Brain Book Review, My 9/11 Story, How to Be Inspired Book Review, Infinite Quest Book Review, Biology of Belief Book Review, The Morning Breeze Has Secrets to Tell, The Gentle Way II Book Review, Do You Fear or Respect Mother Nature?, You Can Heal Your Life Movie Review, Hereafter Movie Review, North Wind Blowing -Time for a Change, Presence University, Impossible Situations are Great Opportunities, Do You Have Enough?, Moon Tides Soul Passages Book Review, Compromise with the Varmints! Yankee Doodle Discord Book Review, A Wright Brothers Moment! The Sacred Promise Book Review
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