Driving With the Brakes On

"Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life."

n     Mary Manin Morrissey

This quote reminds me of a song by Del Amitri called “Driving With the Brakes On”.  The first time I heard that song, I felt sad for the person who was living it.  It seems as though he was wanting so much more or something different for his life but was afraid to move forward.  He was moving forward with trepidation.  He was unsure of his choice and wanted desperately not to hurt anyone.  But he eventually made his decision and later sings, “But unless the moon falls tonight- Or if continents collide- Nothing’s going to make me- Break from her side.”  At this point in the song, his voice raises, the instruments get louder and one can hear the passion come soaring through his vocals. 

He had been spending so much time thinking and worrying over his past that he was “driving with the brakes on”.  He wasn’t living.  He was caught up in emotions and events that no longer served him.  He was letting guilt drive him rather than self-love.  But when he finally made his decision and only looked forward, the passion and vigor returned to his life…

Are you driving with the brakes on?  Are you swimming with your boots on?  Are you willing to let go, release old pain and fear and allow renewed energy to take you soaring?  All it takes is to be willing.  The universe will take care of the rest.  It’s time to live for you!  It’s time to enjoy your dreams and live your best life!

Namaste’

Stairway to Heaven

“Stairway to Heaven”

Performed by Led Zepellin written by Jimmy Page.

          Tonight I was on my way to fill my tank with gas on the way to retrieving my daughter from work.  I was very sleepy having just put my little one to bed in a dark, warm cozy room so I was in a peaceful contemplative mood.  Being I grew up with older brothers during the Led Zepellin era, their songs are all ingrained in me.  I played Barbies while my bros had their bluesy-rock, sultry sounds blaring from the rooms next door.  Unbeknownst to me I grew to know every song (but not their titles) and developed a deep love for the music.  As the years progressed, I still listened to them but really only with my ears and not my soul.  Being the lyrics were embedded in me so very long ago when I was so young, I didn’t really understand them or even try to. 

          Tonight was a different story.  I felt like I not only “heard” the lyrics, but I “felt” them as well.  A new awareness of what they might mean came over me in a quiet knowing.  Being that art (music ) of all forms is left to the imagination and interpretation I am going to share what my thoughts/feelings were this quiet evening drive.  The reason for the long intro into this blog is because I have such a huge respect and appreciation for what I believe to be one of the greatest  bands of all time. I only wish to share with you what I believe the message Jimmy Page was sending out to the people.

“And a new day will dawn for those who stand long and the forests will echo with laughter.”

My Interpretation:

I believe this speaks of those of us who stand strong (long) in faith no matter what happens in our life. Those are the ones who will find happiness on the other side.  Those who stand strong in the storms of life will emerge on the other side to a beautiful day. At all times throughout life, we have choices:

"Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on."

  We have the choice to take the high road or the low road- to take the path of least resistance or the path that feels “right” no matter what the resistance.  We can keep trudging forward through the muck and mud or we can let it swallow us up.

For all of you who never give up- For all of you that accept your trials and rise above- For all of you that have found  yourself off path and redirected your life- For all of you that stay strong in faith no matter what…

This song is their gift to you…

Forgiveness

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”          Lewis B.  Smedes

…to set a prisoner free…   You may ask yourself:  What does this mean?  How can I apply this to my life?  Is there someone I’m needing to forgive and I am choosing not to?

Fellow souls,  forgiveness is not an act of weakness it is an act of strength.  To hold onto a past hurt or grievance is only to carry pain and fear in our hearts.  We mistakenly believe we are punishing the offender when we are truly only punishing ourselves.   We believe that by holding on we are in control of a situation where we once felt out of control.  We bind ourselves to the past and are unable to move forward with wholeness through our lives.

Some of us are still steadfastly unwilling to forgive.  Would it be even a possibility for those of you to at least take a brief glimpse into it?  Would you be willing to at least look at the possibility of your personal freedom through forgiveness?  If the answer is yes, please try this:

“I am willing to take at a look at forgiving_________for ________.”

This mere suggestion to the Universe lets it know you are at least willing to look at the possibility of moving forward.  It shows you are tired of being bound to the past and harboring the ugly inside.   The Universe will then start aligning things for you to find this peace.

Let go…  Bring your freedom back…  Don’t go on one more day allowing your power and energy to be taken from you.  Embrace forgiveness…  Embrace healing!                                Namaste’