Growing up in the 1960s in Los Angeles, I remember riding around in the car with my mom listening to various songs on the radio. Smiling and probably seat beltless, we would sing these songs as if we were performing on stage. Mini-skirts were all the rage, and we often wore matching outfits that my mom had sewn for us.

One song that I really remember singing and hearing as a 5 or 6 year old child, was Jackie DeShannon's version of "What the World Needs Now is Love". Click here to listen. The song was recorded in 1965, written by Hal David and composed by Burt Bacharach.  

Part of the lyrics read:

"What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
no not just for some but for everyone."

The words are so timely. Then. Today. Tomorrow. 

At that young age, I remember feeling so moved by this song, the melody, and the lyrics. I took it to heart. I felt the feelings and the plea behind the song. I knew it was true.

What I want to say today, on this World Gratitude Day, International Peace Day and of course, "Do you remember the 21st of September?" (Earth Wind and Fire) day, is that children can listen.

Young children can take such a simple and yet powerful message to heart. They feel and integrate messages of love through our direct efforts and also by happenstance when a beautiful song comes on the radio.

It's so important -- what we share with children. It's so important to remember that children are like sponges that can sop up messages of love. Messages that stay with them for a lifetime.

On this wonderfully marked day, I can think of no more powerful message than, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love. No not just for some, but for everyone."

Yes.

Love and gratitude,
Blessed

Have something you want to say? We would love to hear from you in the comments section below. Thanks for tuning in!

(Copyright Jane Hart, 2018 )

​I recently interviewed a friend and doctor who was traveling to Tanzania to help preserve the indigenous wisdom of local healers. When these healers die, their knowledge will be lost forever unless it is preserved. So my friend is taking a computer and recording equipment to these men so that they can record what they know and pass it on to younger generations and people around the world. It turns out that these healers know a lot about treating snake bites.

This made me think...

Each of us is FILLED with wisdom, which will leave with us when we exit this earthly plane. Each of us has incredible UNIQUE knowledge and perspectives that we have gathered during years of living. Each of us has something SPECIAL to share with the world. 

If we don't share our spark, that special thing, our knowledge will be lost forever. That knowledge that could inspire, ignite, help and even save someone's life.

Are you downloading what you know to the world?

Today I was driving down Clifton Blvd, and I saw a man at an intersection holding a sign that said "Be very kind to one another." Then he flipped the sign for those of us stopped at the light, and the other side of the sign said, "You might save someone's life!" Wow.

I felt so calmed after I saw that. Like, wow, there is a kindness movement happening. We see and hear so much bad, but if we flooded the world with good it would heal us. I swear that everyone driving around me at that moment slowed and calmed down. I could feel it.

Powerful.

Powerful because that one guy said, "I'm gonna do this. I don't care what it looks like. I'm going to share what I know." I wanted to know so much more about him and his mission.

Think about it...each of us has very specific knowledge that we have gathered through joys, trials, formal and life education, travel, creativity and relationships. Think about what you have learned because of the specific circumstances of your life, the education that has come your way. The things that you have chosen to learn more about and even become an expert in.

What if we don't share that knowledge with the world? The world will not be the same.

Think of the one poem, the video, the social media post, the book, the movie, the person who helped save your soul, save your life with their message. They likely don't even know the impact they have had on you and your being. You may not have even met the person or people behind the inspiration. And yet it mattered.

It mattered to them so much that they wrote that thing down, crafted the poem, produced the movie, published the book, spoke up, made the phone call. Stood at the intersection with their sign. And it mattered to you and likely so many others because it got you out of that rut, or you said, "Aha! There is someone else like me out there! I am not alone." Or "Hallelujah that thing inspires me to be more of who I am meant to be!"

So how can you share your pearls and your wisdom with the world? Write an article or blog or book? Post about things that will help others? Offer your speaking services to schools, corporations, organizations? Create art? Share photographs? Start a business? Tell a friend who is hurting what you know and that you've been there? Teach? Go to an online forum on a topic you are familiar with and share? There are a thousand ways.

​How can you share your knowledge, your beautiful learnings and your creativity? Today? Tomorrow? Next week?

Fellow sister or brother, do not act like you don't know you are special. You are. Make a brag list of everything you know and all of your talents. You have superpowers inside of you. You just have to leap, dance, dig, and spit it out for the rest of us. Don't go to the grave without having shared with us what you know and what could help and inspire us. Please. 

I look forward to hearing about what you have shared with our world...very much.

Have something you want to say? Please post in the comments section below. We would LOVE to hear from you.

In Shared Wisdom,
Blessed

(Written by Jane Hart, copyright 2018)

A conversation with my mom a week ago:
Mom: My word for 2018 is sticking.
Me: MOM! I told you not to tell anyone until December 31st.
Mom: (Laughing hilariously)
Me: What?
Mom: No! My word is not STICKING, it's that the word I have chosen remains the word I want to use!
Me: (Laughing hilariously)
Yesterday
Mom: My word is nailed.
Me: MOM!!!
Mom: (Laughing again) No, no, no...you know what I mean!

​Happy almost 2018! At first I wrote 2017 for the title and the greeting! Yep, nope, it's almost 2018!!!!!! Can I get a shout out for a new year? A clean slate? A fresh start? Yes!!!!!

So today is the day that we post our Words of the Year on the blog. Please, for all of us, post it in the comments section below because THAT WAY...we all get to learn about each of our inspiring words!!

What is a Word of the Year? It is a word that you choose to help guide and direct and comfort and move you toward your highest self, your greatest needs, your precious desires. Or...it's just a word to have fun with throughout the year to remind you of beauty, fun and love!

Now read that paragraph above again...look how many words you could choose from that alone if you haven't already thought of one!

So a bit about my word for 2018 and then on to yours!!

I had so many potential words this year that it made my head spin! I considered the word amalgamation to include them all, however, that just reminded me of the dentist. 

A couple of days ago I asked a friend a question that I knew was unanswerable...or so I thought. I said, "What word will let me know that everything will work out and I will accomplish what I desire?" Without skipping a beat, and I don't believe even 2 seconds went by, she said, "Faith".

Faith.

FAITH.

THAT'S IT!!

Yay!!!

My word for 2018 is FAITH. It brings me great peace, which is what I am wanting more of and feels just right. Thank you friend and Universe for guiding me to this word in the final moments of 2017!

AND NOW...never start a sentence with and....YOUR WORD OF THE YEAR!

Please post your word in the comments section below and please feel free to share with us how you chose your word! Can't wait to read your postings!!

BTW...if you need help choosing a word email or call me!! 

And mom...it's time for your actual word posting now!

May you be richly blessed, comforted, cared for, loved, listened to, heard, hugged, and kept in God's protection and prosperity in 2018!

Love,
Blessed 

Ask.

My word for 2017.

An incredibly profound and forward moving word.

A word that requires action, bravery, courage, chutzpah.

A helpful word that reminds you, it's ok to ASK.

Ask.

Ask invites us to live our lives and address our needs. Ask suggests that what we want or need is on the other side of one question.

Ask has taken me out of my comfort zone and brought me so many types of gifts that I might not have had otherwise...even too many to describe here.

Ask is profound, sharing, caring, committed.

Ask is about getting closer to people and expanding horizons.

There were so many occasions this year when I wanted to ask something and would not have if this were not my Word of the Year. It's as if I would pause and realize, "Wait, ASK is my word! I CAN ask that!"

Ask is about permission and is a teacher. 

I am ever so grateful for the word ASK -- I give it 5 stars and highly recommend it as a Word of the Year!! I do not think I have perfected the art of asking yet. There is so much more to ask.

Just a reminder that on December 31, 2017 I will send the annual post for our new words for 2018! We look forward to hearing about the words that will inspire and guide you and perhaps change your life! But don't share just yet...

For now, did you have a word for 2017? How has it served you? Will you share your insights about your 2017 word in the comments section below? We look forward to hearing from you -- your words inspire us!

Love,
Blessed

There have been times in my life when I felt disconnected from God. I remember when I was 19, attending the University of Nevada in Reno and driving up the Mount Rose Highway to Lake Tahoe with my mother. I said to her, "I can't feel God. I usually can feel God, but I can't feel God." 

My mother was quiet for a bit, and then she said to me, "I have felt that way too."

That was just what I needed to not feel so alone and enough to make me feel like my God connection would return.

When someone told me recently, "I think God has forgotten about me" it pulled on my heart strings. Now, after years of living, I know that feeling so well.

During some of my toughest years, I would shake my fist at God and say,"Where are you? Where are you?" Then I would be quiet and would feel God gently saying, "I'm right here."

I grew to understand that God is not the author of our pain, trouble, confusion and chaos. No, God is love. God is a comforter.

Whenever I feel distant from God, I think of the Seals and Crofts song "Get Closer". The lyrics say, "Darlin' if you want me to be closer to you, get closer to me."

That is always the case. If we want to be closer, we need to get closer! 

God does not withdraw...we do. When we draw closer, so does God.

For me, getting closer may mean praying and meditating on the word. Being outside in nature and feeling the fresh air can help many of us, or going to church or temple, reading something spiritual or inspirational or doing random acts of kindness...

As we begin the Holiday season, many may feel distant from friends, family and even God. Remember that God is an ever-loving presence that is the Source of our good, creativity and love. Also, remember that many of us have felt distanced from those we love and from God...you are not alone.

Any thoughts or comments you want to share from your own experience? What are some ways that help you feel closer to God or Source? We would love to hear from you in the comments section below.

"Darlin' if you want me to be closer to you, get closer to me!" I love that song.

Happy Thanksgiving to all...you are loved!
Love,
Blessed

As the seasons change, so do our lives. Expectedly, unexpectedly...things change.

It’s so difficult when you lose or have to leave a relationship because of death, some other type of loss, distance, separation or conflict, and then, on top of the loss, be challenged with having to turn your cleaving to someone or something else. This can be a very challenging time. I know this by experience.

After years of having a multitude of stable relationships, whether through girlfriends, family, workmates, healthcare practitioners, or spiritual leaders, I then suffered 20 years of significant continual loss. I never knew that I shouldn’t be taking all of those steady relationships for granted -- that everything could change so drastically. 
​
When I buried two of my closest friends back to back, a primary care physician said to me, “You now have the very difficult task of developing new relationships.” It was one of the most real things that a clinician said to me during that time. It wasn’t easy to hear, however, I knew it was true.

Now, I have yet another relationship threatened very unexpectedly. I see that I have to cleave to new sources of support. So, instead of focusing over and over again on the uncertainty of this relationship, which has been very available and supportive during the last year, I need to shift. Shifting can be difficult, infuriating, unsettling, saddening (is that a word?), and strangely...hopeful.

So I am shifting to what I have always shifted to through all of these losses and transitions, which is “Wow, I wonder how God will bless me now? I wonder what blessings will come from this change? I wonder how things will get better as a result of this shift?"

The one thing that I have learned with certainty through all of this change is that I am always, always blessed in the tragedy or as a result of the change. Always. I call them Change Blessings. Unfortunately, those blessings may not arrive right away – I wish they did – but they do eventually arrive.

I started playing a game yesterday in my mind, which was to think about my life as it was before the staggering loss and pretend that I was that person then. It was amazing how helpful it was. I could feel all of the support that I had then and felt like I could move forward with confidence! I am going to keep trying this. Shifting and living “as if”. I will write another blog soon about "living as if" -- a powerful life tool. 

Remember, if you are experiencing loss or change...blessings are on the way! Look to find them...

What helps you shift or give you hope when life throws you a curve ball, a change you didn't expect or welcome? Would love to hear your beautiful words of advice in the comments section below. 
​
Love,
Blessed

Permission.

Permission.

We need permission…

Permission to paint, explore, move on, be different, stay the same.

Permission to be our true God-given selves and follow our dreams.

As I journey forward in massive career and life change I find that, more than anything, I need permission.

Permission to move forward into my dreams of being an artist, teaching art, living on beaches, predominantly living outside, truly connecting, making eye contact, deep listening, abundant color, cooking, painting, fun…

Yes, more than anything, I need permission, and after all these years, this permission can only really come from myself. There is no physical other standing over me saying, “It’s ok. Go ahead. The road is clear. You will be safe.”

No, this permission has to come from a place of uncertainty and great courage and earned knowing and God-given power. Power fought for and fighting for, leaning in and listening power. That is where permission will come from this time.

This is warrior work my friends. Don’t think it small when you come up against your doubts that tell you perhaps your dreams aren’t good enough, or realistic enough, or grownup enough, or even worse, not attainable.

Keep taking the next step. 

As Wayne Dyer, PhD, says in the book Wishes Fulfilled, “Now you can choose to consciously participate in this non-sensory supreme reality—your imagination—where you assume your future dream to be a present fact and live from this new awareness.” The key sentence that follows,“This isn’t pretending or fooling yourself, it is inviting your spirit rather than your physical form to generate the creative essence of your reality. It’s what it means to transform your life.”

More simply put my friends…dream until your dreams come true.

Yes.

Dream.

Dive deep for…permission…from yourself.

Permission.

Say it loud!

Have something you want to say? We would love to hear from you in the comments section below.

Love,
Blessed

(Copyright Jane Hart 2017)

Life is a mix. Our relationships with the world and the people in it are dynamic and ever changing. One minute we are mindful of each other, and the next minute we are unmindful.

​Recently, as I was driving around town, I was amazed at how many people in cars let me go ahead of them or let me enter into a long line that I otherwise would still be waiting to enter. Everyone was so kind that I noticed the loving kindness.

The next day...well, you know.

Life and people -- us people -- are not always consistent, not always present.

As a minor and first world example -- because we each have very big examples of this point -- I went into two craft stores and asked for help from customer service. In store #1 when I asked about their products, the women workers said they had no idea what I was looking for and had never heard of the product. After the manager shrugged her shoulders and walked away, rather than walking out and leaving, I spoke up, "Do you think we could look up the product online? The internet says you have the product." Another worker said, "I'll do it," and added, "but you will have to follow me to another department." She trudged off. 

It took everything in my being not to say "isn't this your job?" 

But I kept thinking of the years of mindfulness training that I have experienced. What a waste if I didn't put all that education into practice. So after the experience of the worker's "not" help of not finding the product and acting irritated throughout our interaction, I said instead, "Thank you so much for taking the time to look that up for me. I really appreciate it."  Of course, I had to make a conscious decision to say this to her. I was teaching myself how to be mindful in that moment, and of course, her attitude shifted.

Store #2, same scenario. Never heard of the product, we don't have that, not moving to help me find it. Well, don't you know, I found that lonesome little product sitting on a shelf. As I approached the check out counter with product in hand there was a long, long line. I was feeling tired and thought about leaving. At that moment, the woman in front of me turned around and offered me a 25% off coupon. I accepted her gift and thanked her.

Life is a mix.

It's difficult, then it's good, then generous, then meager, then surprising, then maddening, then confusing and then joyful. We are mindful and then not mindful.

Here is my prayer around this topic:

Lord, teach me to be patient. Teach me to love even when I don't feel like loving. Teach me to listen when my first reaction is to speak. On the other hand, help me to speak up when that is the mindful action that is needed. Teach me to let the other driver go ahead. Teach me to help, and help me put into practice all that I have learned about being ever mindful of your children here on earth. We are each so very, very Precious. Let us treat each other that way. 

Life is a mix. Let's slow down and be ever mindful of each other.

Have something you would like to add to the conversation? Please share your thoughts in the comments section. We want to hear from yoU!

Love,
Blessed