Do all in love.

I'm struck again with the fact that we can really create a beautiful life for ourselves and all others if we live it in love. 

Wow. It's crazy how quickly that my mood and philosophy towards life can change when I shift to a place of love. 

Makes me see each and every person, place and thing as an opportunity to invest in ourselves and the love that we can grow. 

I've been growing just within these past few days as I have been on a raw foods diet --eating only plants that are as nature has provided them (not cooked)-- and I've also began a compassion / metta meditation practice every day. 

and that has been really where the magic has happened and began to transform my life from the inside out. 

I think about first, myself. I see a glowing light grow inside of my chest. And then I see it grow until it's all around me, glowing opaque light of love and compassion. I see myself accept life and feel the full freedom, and be happy. and then I pass that light on... I see it grow in a loved one, like my mom. And I see it glow and open up inside of her heart until that love encompasses her body and outwards, until she is living in love and it grows to the people around her as well. 

Then I see it in a dear friend, a loved one as well. I feel their heart opening up and feel them hearing their call to the oneness of the universe. Then I feel the same for someone I'm somewhat close to, like the guy I work with casually but don't feel a deep connection with. I see that same light open up inside of him and expand to encompass his entire body and beyond, continuing to grow. 

Then I feel this for someone I barely know, like the person I see often on the street corner. I feel that love for them in just the same way. 

And then I feel it for someone I may be having trouble with... Possibly someone I've been resisting having thoughts or feelings towards. It could be a tense relationship, damaged times that I don't want to face, or hard times that have just began. And I look into that person's heart, and feel love for them as well. And let that love grow and expand until it's released freedom and love from their bodies and continues to glow and enlarge around all of their relationships. 

Eventually I'd like to continue this practice to encompass the world, then beyond, and eventually every thing, everyone, and all. But for now I'm starting more simply. 

And let me tell you -- this small practice is beyond amazing. It only takes about 15 minutes, and I have resisted it so much. Feeling compassion, forgiveness, and love can feel like one of the most impossible thing to do sometimes. But when I lean into that resistance, I make room for the beauty of life that lies beyond our ceilings of comfort. 

And just that small practice in the morning can completely, totally, utterly transform my day. 

And help me to realize, throughout the day, that I want to choose the option that coincides with love. I want to give others love, I want to live aligned with love, and I want to spread and share love! 

This might sound a bit cheesy or foolish/utopian to be so focused on "love." 

However this is a feeling that can expand, spread, and heal generations. 

We need more love right now, and acceptance. 

I hope that I can continue this practice so that I can one day soon look into the eyes of those that are suffering, those that are inflicting pain, and those that are struggling and open up that love within myself for them - therefore opening up the same love within themselves. 

It's a beautiful thing - and we all have this powerful beauty within us. 

We need to accept the things that are around us. We need to feel the closeness of our human race, and the species of this planet. 

We need to surround ourselves with love and allow it to flourish and spread - and then life will truly become beyond our wildest imagination could ever dream it to be. 

But it starts with love. and it starts with you. and me. us. 

<3 

​Let's do this.