I would imagine we have all been at “crossroads” in our life at one time or another along our journey. Making important life choices can be daunting and takes us out of our “comfort zone”. We have to trust our intuition and have faith that we are making the right decision. 

It can be as literal as taking a walk and trusting your gut as to going forward, turning back, or taking a right or left turn. Usually on a walk we have a destination in mind, but sometimes it is fun to explore and discover new places, offering ourselves a chance for serendipity to occur. 

When we travel to a new neighborhood, new city, new country, nowadays we rely on our cell phone GPS system to find our way. We miss out on making a “wrong turn” that could change our entire plan for the day or even our life. 

Sometimes it is good to turn off the GPS mapping and trust our instincts, and discover destinations we would not have had on our electronic map. Opening ourselves up to serendipitous happenings is surely a Zenful way to let go and trust the Universe to show us the way. 

We need to follow and listen to our inner guidance “GPS – Gratitude, Purpose, Soul” system! Our Zen Intuition will always lead us along the divine path, but we need to listen and have faith that we are in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.  

One of my favorite quotes by Helen Keller is: “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all.” She surely had to trust her instincts to find her way in life. 

I also love this quote: “A smile of encouragement at the right moment may act like sunlight on a closed up flower; it may be the turning point for a struggling life.”

Click on photo if interested to purchase a print

PEACE Sedona Photo by Marlene Rose Besso Click on photo if interested to purchase a print

The Beatles song title: “Let It Be” is brilliant! Of course the lyrics are brilliant as well, and had very personal meaning for Paul McCartney when he wrote them about his Mother. The lyrics are timeless, and can be just as meaningful today, as in 1969 about our current world condition. It is a vision for Peace & Love that we all hope for.

When I find myself in “times of trouble” saying “Let It Be”, is very comforting and brings me back to a Zen Attitude. Listening to the music is also very soothing and healing. Combined together with the lyrics and music, it can reverse your mood and create harmony in your soul. 

If you feel sad and blue, turn on a favorite Beatles Song and observe your mood changing, and a smile returning to your soul. Here are the lyrics to “Let It Be” by Paul McCartney. Thanks Paul for giving us all the gift of your beautiful lyrics and music from your heart. We feel it Zenfully. 

Reading the quote about the Raven reminded me of this photo I took a few years ago. Click on photo if interested in purchasing a print.

I discovered a wonderful interpretation on the meaning of birds soaring and chirping into your space on Thought.com, here is an excerpt by: Whitney Hopler

Birds have inspired human beings throughout history with their ability to rise above the Earth. Something about birds soaring through the air stirs our souls, motivating us to rise above our earthly concerns and learn more about a greater world beyond our Earth: the spiritual realm. Birds and angels share a special bond, as well, since both symbolize the beauty of spiritual growth and angels sometimes even choose to appear with wings, like birds.

Angels Appearing as Birds

Thinking about my Mom today! She has been gone 3 decades. I look at our picture together every morning while I do my stretches, since it is on the wall in front of my exercise bench. This photo is one of 3 photos that I have of us together. It is from the late 50’s, I was maybe 6 years old? I had it reprinted several years ago, and I hand-tinted it with oils. It has gone through many resolutions, including uploading this one, so it’s not perfect, but to me it is perfection. My dad and brother were in this photo too, but for today on Mother’s Day, I cropped them out! This is sadly the ONLY photo I have of all us together! 

Our family was filled with love, but also sickness, sorrow and pain. You see, my Mom was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when she was pregnant with me in 1953. My brother is 2 years older, so he had a Mom to care for him who was not sick at the time of his birth. I am so grateful my parents had quality time together during their courtship and early marriage with the birth of their first son. I have many pictures of them smiling and looking oh so glamorous in the late 40’s and early 50’s! I cherish those photos when she was just beginning her love affair with my Dad, and starting their life chapter as newlyweds and first time parents. 

I will never understand why her destiny suddenly took a devastating turn in her early adult life? To get a diagnosis of MS in the early 1950’s was difficult without MRI’s, but she exhibited all the symptoms in succession and then some in remission. There were no medications to reverse her suffering at that time, in fact it is still a dreadful diagnosis nowadays, but there are more options for a better quality of life, but sadly no cure yet. 

I wrote an essay this morning about our love and lives together, it can be read in full on the Zen Essay page. 

The first piano song I ever wrote was for my Mom, I call it: “Mother and Daughter’s Love”. I will include the lyrics below and a link to listen on SoundCloud. 

Happy Mother’s Day Mom, I miss you and love you always! You are my hero and angel. I hope you are celebrating a Zenful Afterlife, and I hope one day we will be together again in laughter and Zen Love!

Mom and Me in 1959 ?

Tell me why oh why oh? Tell me why oh why oh? Did we share such sadness in both our lives in both our lives Tell me why oh why oh? Tell me why oh why oh? Mother and daughters destiny brokenhearted dreams in sickness, sorrow and pain. But we got by with love. I forgive you mother dear. Please forgive me too. And I will always love you. All Rights Reserved 2013 Lyrics and Piano Music created by Marlene Rose Besso 2/4/2012 My Glamorous Mom