Alexandra Brooks – Friday's Child

The Inciting Incident

January 27th, 2012

Temptation falls away when we allow each one we meet to save us … – A Course In Miracles

The inciting incident. A catalyst, situation, or happening responsible for propelling us into a new direction or way of being. A twist of fate raising the stakes of our story. A happening changing our perspective forever, often allowing us to see the light behind the darkness. An inciting incident may be so powerful its influence can be a force for healing. The mighty shove we need to let go of our foolishness and get on with the better business of our lives.

Some people call it turning 60.

This past Wednesday was my birthday. I spent the day answering the phone and return texting well wishers. My knocking front door brought delivery people into my foyer. Flowers, cookies, candy, chotchkes, gift cards, you name it the boys in brown and the ladies in blue left a whole lotta love behind for Alex.

Of course; “You shouldn’t have!” But I am so glad you did.

In the evening (a gaggle of my giggling girlfriends in tow) I was taken to a local south-of-the-border favorite spot. We swilled “Mango Rita’s” bigger than our heads and picked at spicy food. At my request it was an All Girl Planet Party. Not that I don’t appreciate the Yang fella’s but when you are turning 60 you are given a chance to keep it real in a very distinctive way. I chose to honor my inner goddess by surrounding myself with other goddesses.

I have to admit I never grew out of my 10 year old ‘Girl’s Only’ mentality. I love my lipstick toting posse!

One of the goddesses brought along one of those party ice-breaker question games. It was a real hit. and it was fun to share personal and not-so-personal information with women of like mind and spirit. At the end of the evening we made individual wishes and blew out our cupcake candles. It was a love-fest and we all the best time ever.

We shouldn’t wait for candle-lit pink frosted butter cream moments to connect to our source of happiness. But we tend to do just that. And we perpetrate the illusion of our separateness by doing so. Our sadness, our aloneness, our petty grievances all disappear when we allow ourselves to be saved. Saved by love.

Make no mistake we are all of us only love and we are here to save each other.

I’ve been on a Soul Path my entire life. What have I been searching for? Soul Mates. Over the years I have collected a pretty bright and gifted Soul Gang. The people in my life meant to save me. The best bit is I get to save them too! I am currently digging for treasure here in The Heartland and I am quite pleased with my findings.

So back to that party game.

Q: Are you currently rich?

A: No.

Q: Are you currently thin?

A: No.

Q: Are you currently living in your dream house?

A: No.

Q: Are you currently saved?

A: YES!!!

Q: What celebrity would you currently like to sleep with?

A: Andrea Bocelli

Q: Why?

A: I already told you I am currently NOT THIN!! ;^}

Have a sweet one!

***For all those in The Friday’s Child Circle of Prayer and for all those in need. We send… Love, Light and Oceans of Bliss for the Highest Good of All. And so it is!

Please Share:

Categories Fear, Life, Love, Weight Release
Comments (0)

The Tender Trap

by alexandrabrooks

January 20th, 2012

When you don’t want to be where you are, you create suffering for yourself. Change happens through acceptance, kindness and relaxation — not resistance, not warfare, not fights. – Geneen Roth

It’s one thing to “delve – into – 12″ and hope for the best. It is quite another to create more chaos than poetry.

How good are you at bouncing back after a fall from grace? Do you meet the fall with elegance or do you add to your humiliation with anger? This new year is bound to bewitch, bother and bewilder at times. It’s called LIFE. And life tends to be sweeter if we meet it with tenderness.

Not to go all Matthew I on you or anything but I find that kindness begets elegance. Elegance begets charisma. Charisma begets love. Love begets understanding. Understanding will forever beget acceptance. And acceptance is where solutions live. Bible!

Maybe you have had a set back or major disappointment? You don’t want to BE there. Anyone with an ounce of empathy can relate to this.

The problem is your stinkin’ thinkin’ has brought you to a place of suffering over this unwanted condition. You are in attack mode trying to protect what remains. You want it all to change this minute but you are too defeated and angry to make it happen. You’venow got a messy house all up in your head to clean.

Where’s that damn lazy maid when ya really need her, eh?!

The faster we resolve to make love and not war on a “sitch” the faster our psychic feet will hit the ground. We can be on the fast track to acceptance in no time at all. Acceptance begets creativity! Nothing good can happen until that alchemal moment. When the battle within and the fighting with others ends. Mediation. Detente.

Keep in mind… resistance will always follow a manic state of trying too hard. It’s exhausting. We must RELAX. Grace Happens. But it only happens for those who are strong enough to get up and answer the door when it comes knocking.

If prosperous American institutions like Hostess and Eastman Kodak must file for bankruptcy because of lack of vision? You can only imagine what can happen to little ol’ you if you are too distracted by anger to see the big picture and accept a healing when it is offered.

Ya know, bankruptcy is filed for under Chapters?

Wherever you are today. Wherever it is you don’t want to be? It’s just another chapter in the book. Read it, file it under lessons learned, and gently move on to the next chapter. The chapter where the party starts and there is elegance ever after.

Have a sweet one!

**For all those in the Friday’s Child Circle of Prayer and for all those in need. We send… Love, Light and Oceans of Bliss for the Highest Good of All.

And so it is!

Please Share:

Categories Fear, Life, Love, Weight Release
Comments (6)

You Actually

by alexandrabrooks

January 13th, 2012

This year will bring you much happiness. – Hyvee Fortune Cookie

It is snowing here in The Heartland. Locals say; “We need it.” I say, unless you are a polar bear you may likely do very well without it. There is however something kind of magical about snow. The naked brown tree branches do look better laden with the fluffy white stuff.

No matter. Winter will turn to Spring on this we can rely.

I have been thinking a lot lately about reliability. People and things to be safely relied upon. Trusting other people to pull through on their word alone. Pull through and do it with a smile.

A miracle in of itself it seems.

As far as “things” go? I believe I can only rely upon the fact that nothing will ever stay the same. And if I want something badly enough I had better be prepared to provide it for myself.

So, other than The Divine and a good cup of coffee in the morning it looks as though we are pretty much left to our own devices here. It only serves us to be where we need to be when we need to be there.

How do you stack up in the reliability corner?

I can honestly tell you I wish I could have come through for myself many more times than I have to date. I haven’t blown it altogether but I haven’t exactly been a rock either.

It is a good thing that today is another day to get it right. Even better we have a whole new year to get it right.

Our ability to be there for ourselves will color the measure of our happiness. There is still time for us to be happy and participate in the happiness of others. Time to stand up for ourselves and deliver on demand our truest self. The self we came here to become. The self we can be relied upon to be.

Other people, sorry circumstances, and our cable providers will let us down more than we will ever be able to keep track of. We need to treat ourselves with more respect and show up.

1) We must claim our ability to be unfailingly reliable and represent for ourselves.

2) Forgive ourselves for any previous lack of fortitude.

3) Call upon The Divine to intercede and make the crooked way straight.

4) Accept the healing only letting go and letting The Divine do her job can bring.

Let the miracles begin.

Have a sweet one!

**For all those in The Friday’s Child Circle of Prayer and for all those in need. We send… Love, Light and Oceans of Bliss for the Highest Good of All.

And so it is!

Please Share:

Categories Fear, Life, Love, Weight Release
Comments (0)

Almost Love

by alexandrabrooks

January 6th, 2012

Our human relationships and our relationship to life in general is at the same level of elevation. Give or take five feet. Kind of like Boston and Memphis.

If we accept a certain grade of deprivation from our loved ones then it isn’t much of a stretch when we don’t get what we want out of life either. If you are amongst the people who do not expect to be treated well here is what you have to look forward to.

Sometimes the world and your most beloved will get it right. But more over they will get it all wrong. IT being what you need to feel to know you are loved. The sorry thing is – you may be so used to benign neglect it doesn’t really bother you all that much when you are undervalued. You don’t have the where-with-all to expect more.

Is it really too much to ask that everyone ( Universe included ) behave as though they “get you” and appreciate your gifts? Not just once in a blue moon but 98% of the time?

Or is being misunderstood the new black?

You can’t possibly feel cherished when your heart is in the hands of a fool. In the game of life if you don’t stand up and speak up your voice will never be heard. You will never know the power of being loved by someone who wants to love you just the way you are.

It is also highly unlikely that you will find your place at the table of Prosperity. Why? Because the only people deserving of sitting at that particular table are the ones willing to risk it all to be truly seen.

Have a sweet one!

***For all those in The Friday’s Child Circle of Prayer and for all those in need. We send… Love, Light and Oceans of Bliss for the Highest Good of All.

And so it is!

Please Share:

Categories Fear, Life, Love, Weight Release
Comments (4)

2012 And Growing

by alexandrabrooks

December 30th, 2011

It’s not where you start it’s where you finish. – Dorothy Fields

Where did we start?

In so many ways 2011 has been a year of damage control rather than progress. Much like riding the wave of aftershocks after an earthquake. Most of us are a bit dazed and confused from the drama of the world splitting open. We haven’t been able to clean up the mess because the room is still moving. Inertia rules but we are hope-full.

Was 2011 a pill or were we just taking our medicine?

We lost Liz, Amy, Steve, Joltin’ Joe and Clarence just to name a few.

Fashion brought back the 80′s. Wall Street brought back the 30′s.

Passion united two future Kings with their Queens and it was so 50′s.

That Humpdashian thing was just a mess altogether. But thank G and President O the troops are coming home from Iraq! After a mere decade? Don’t get me started.

So… progress?

I say yes if only because saying no is for quitters. Winded though we may be we are not down for the count.

The Dorothy Fields quote above is the title of a favorite song of mine. “It’s Not Where You Start It’s Where You Finish” from the Broadway musical “Two For The Seesaw.” It was first sung by Tommy Tune but the song is most associated with Barbara Cook. The fabulous Barabra Cook whose talent and contribution to the musical stage was recently celebrated with a prestigious Kennedy Center Honor.

Barbara is 84 and has recently released the CD; “You Make Me Feel So Young.” So, she knows a thing or three about starts and finishes.

“It’s not where you start it’s how you finish. It’s not how you go it’s how you land. A hun-dred to one shot, they call him a klutz — Can out run the favorite all he needs is the guts. Your final return will not diminish. And you can be the cream of the crop; It’s not how you start, it’s where you finish. And you’re gonna finish on top!!!” Ya gotta love that Dorothy Fields… lyric writer and “Ru” all in one darling little hit songwriter.

I woke up singing this song and I intend to keep on singing it right along with another Barbara C song. ( You may be thinking “Losing My Mind” but noooo my Broadway Babies. ) There is a great song from Bernstein’s “Candide” called “Make Our Garden Grow.” I feel the lyrics are perfect for this resolutional time of year. I intend to at least hum them til 2013.

“We’re neither pure nor wise nor good. We do the best we know. We’ll build our house and chop our wood – and make our garden grow. ”

Whether you found yourself on top of 2011 or not 2012 is sure to be a growth year like no other.

2012…

Have a sweet one!

*For all those in The Friday’s Child Circle of Prayer and for all those in need. We send… Love, Light and Oceans of Bliss for the Highest Good of All.

And so it is!

Please Share:

Categories Fear, Life, Love, Weight Release
Comments (2)

Holiday Joy Or Cryin’ In The Sink?

by alexandrabrooks

December 23rd, 2011

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is the fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. – Agnes M. Pharo

Here is what I know-I know-I know about blessings rich and eternal. It is highly unlikely to find ourselves awash in a shower of such blessed eternalness if we are feeling sad and disconnected from The Magic .

I have expressed this so many times before but it does bear repeating. This time of year can be a tricky little B.

It is supposed to be filled with glad tidings, comfort and joy. But for many The Holiday’s have become a disheartening reminder of just how challenge-filled life can be.

Unless you are one of the infamous 1% the last four years have most likely been trying. The last two years have been an exercise in; “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.” And this past year? Can you say; “Suck Fest?”

”Suck Fest!!!”

There ya go. I’ve said it for you.

So much turmoil and so little time to really enjoy it. I mean really, where have all the answers gone?

Living our lives believing in The Magic seems rather high-toned new aged nonsense right about now, eh? Of course we can always play the victim but it isn’t advised.

If you are at a loss for answers? I suggest you stop asking trick questions.

There is nothing we would enjoy more than to find the answers to life - all wrapped up with pretty paper in a box with a bow under a tree. Now that would be a present worth opening? Thank you Santa you have outdone yourself Dude!

But that ain’t-a-gonna happen.

We want. We have desires. We long for positive-change. We pray for a way out of what ever unhappiness we are facing. The thing is what we want cannot be accessed in the usual way. Being good is not The Magic.

It is not an exercise in discipline because it is not a low-carb diet of deprivation.

Will power is not required.

A good attitude is not required.

What is required is F-A-I-T-H. ( And you can keep your bad attitude if it gets you through the night. )

Faith. Step. Courage. Step. Hope. Step. Tenderness. Step. Positive action. Step up and try not to lose your footing, k?

You cannot be preoccupied with a yesterday gone and focus properly. You will fall.

I love Christmastime because it is the greatest reminder of The Magic on any given day. Anything can happen.

Anything will happen if you are lost and afraid to believe.

If the picture in your mind of last time you were feeling The Magic finds you dressed in a Norma Kamali jump suit with big shoulder pads? It is time reclaim your Wonder, baby. Take your Faith out for a walk and see if you can just get enough fresh air to get your heart started again.

BELIEVE.

Believe in yourself if nothing else.

I know it feels like a long shot.

But…

The Magic is there.

Happy Holiday’s Kidz~

Have a sweet one!

***For all those in The Friday’s Child Circle of Prayer and for all those in need. We send… Love, Light and Oceans of Bliss for the Highest Good of All.

And so it is!

Please Share:

Categories Fear, Life, Love, Weight Release
Comments (2)

Imago

by alexandrabrooks

December 16th, 2011

A dear friend of mine from Sebastopol sent a bag of Christmas goodies to me. Amongst the kind offerings was a magnetic bookmark that said; “She was on a journey back to her wings.” This expression captured my imagination. Where are our wings?

We all have pieces of ourselves we refuse to claim. Our families. Our 20 year old selves. Our fears. Maybe it is just too close to the bone? It brings back unhappy memories. It doesn’t mesh with who-we-think-we-are-now. We try to shake it all off but like a wad of gum on the sole of our shoes that mess is just sticky! We are going to walk around with it until we clean it up properly.

I really feel there comes a time in life when we need to pick up the lost pieces of the puzzle. We will never be whole without those pieces. Those pieces are what our wings are made of. The fiber of our being.

Instead of reclaimation. (A solo act if there ever was one.) Most of us foolishly try to mend ourselves through others.

Through the Imago - a seemingly “perfect person” our subconscious mind creates and we are programmed to fall in love with. We then think we are in this relationship for all of the good stuff they offer us. The problem is we are in the relationship for quite the opposite. To heal a broken past. The mirror reflects everything we tried to forget and it is damn painful.

Most of us never get past the bickering.

We are heading into a new year. Maybe it’s time for a little trip?

Begin your journey with the light of self-acceptance.

Accept it ALL!

All by yourself.

You know… before you invite other people over for game night.

Acceptance is the self-healing mechanisim strong enough to power your new-found wings.

You didn’t really think someone else was going to clean all that up for ya didjya?

Have a sweet one!

***For all those in The Friday’s Child Circle of Prayer and for all those in need. We send… Love, Light and Oceans of Bliss for the Highest Good of All.

And so it is!

Please Share:

Categories Fear, Life, Love, Weight Release
Comments (2)

Resolve To Resolve

by alexandrabrooks

December 9th, 2011

Once you learn to quit it becomes a habit. – Vince Lombardi

Our biggest challenge in life is trying to change what we know we must change. Change of any kind makes me want to quit before I even get started. There is that whispering shadow voice in the back of my mind that says; ” Look kid, don’t even bother. You’re just gonna hurt yourself.

I understand self-talk with a bad attitude. What I don’t understand is why we choose to hold on to unhappiness just to avoid the inevitable difficulty of self-change?

We give up on ourselves with such wild abandon. If someone else would treat us this way we would be outraged.

In order to embrace the process of change gladly we need to let go of our inclination to quit before we get started. Quitting should not be a habit. Even if it does feel like a justified habit born of disappointment.

If you know there is something you must change or forever be uncomfortable?

Make a decision. Take action.

And don’t stop til you get to the other side of the equation. Do not allow that ol’ bully resistance to knock you into next week and then some.

Fight back!!!

And never, ever, ever, ever, give up.

Even if you have to kiss the floor a hundred times before you get the new dance steps right.

Keep on dancin.’

Have a sweet one!

*For all those in The Friday’s Child Circle of Prayer and for all those in need. We send… Love, Light and Oceans of Bliss for the Highest Good of All.

And so it is!

Please Share:

Categories Fear, Life, Love, Weight Release
Comments (0)

Storybook Treasures

by alexandrabrooks

December 2nd, 2011

Angels can fly directly into the heart of a matter. – Author Unknown

I Read for a loyal favorite client last night who happens to be in the film industry. We are both avid book readers and she recommended a book for me to read she felt I would enjoy. If anyone would know the constructs of a great story it would be this fabulous lady. Of course I will be reading this book!

My client friend knows what we both understand about storytelling.

Great stories are metaphors.

Metaphors that mirror the spirit and reflect the labyrinth of the unconscious mind.

When you open a good book you have accepted an invitation to join a hero on a journey. A journey of truth because a great story is the guardian angel of truth and wisdom.

As you read along Archetypes will present themselves.

Archetypes are symbolic, original energy forms acting as characters and conduits between Truth and the lessons our hero must experience to know his Truth. In page after page these Archetypes will offer our hero whatever they have to share.

When one character takes its leave on the page another will appear.

Just as they appear in real life.

In any story worth reading recognizable patterns will emerge. Patterns, you as the reader, are meant to identify. Once done you will be able to follow the trail of the patterns that lead you to the heart of the story – the theme.

Whether we are reading a book or trying to make sense of our own lives we tend to look for signs along the way. Hints, clues written in bold text or spoken in a whisper.

Stories about Divine Protection have a universal theme.

This protection may take the form of a super-hero, a magical ring, a hidden closet leading us to an enchanted land…

The main theme in my life’s story has always been about Protection. And I continue to look for signs.

At a certain time of day the rainbow reflection of an angel appears in the house I am looking after. It shimmers and dances on a buttermilk colored wall as the sun pours in through the prism glass window creating this beautiful sight.

I discovered this angel awhile back on a day I had asked for a specific sign.

A sign that my days spent here would be protected by angels.

Since that day, my morning pattern is to sit still and meditate until the sun reaches that sweet spot and my dancing rainbow angel is once again revealed.

This heroine’s journey has always been protected by angels. Whenever I am foolish enough to forget this wisdom I now have a delightful reminder. I am reminded to tell a better story.

A story worthy of a hero.

A story of Wisdom found. A story of Light in the darkness. A story of Love that lasts forever.

A story only angels know.

Just like the stories I have read every day of my life since I was a very young girl.

Well, I’m off to the library to pick up the book my friend told me about. It’s gonna be a great read I just know it.

Have a sweet one!

*** For all those in The Friday’s Child Circle of Prayer and for all those in need. We send… Love, Light and Oceans of Bliss for the Highest Good of All.

And so it is!

Please Share:

Categories Fear, Life, Love, Weight Release
Comments (0)

A Sweeter Season

by alexandrabrooks

November 25th, 2011

There is nothing in the world stronger than gentleness. – Han Suyin

It spares time, energy, and agita to believe in the basic goodness in everyone and just be sweet.

It is our expectation beyond the assumed basic goodness that gets us into trouble. Why is it that the people we love the most are the people we expect the most from? Why do we have so much trouble cutting our dearly beloved the slack the dearly deserve?

It is not their job to live up to our childhood Cinderella/Cinderfella expectations. You know this, right?

We humans are flawed. Some of us more so then others. Clearly, none of us are going to be magically transformed just because someone we love would prefer us to be their dream of the perfect friend, brother, or significant other.

It has really struck me lately how we will often treat total strangers with more kindness and respect than the people who have our backs every day of our lives. Is it because the people close to us have disappointed us a few times too many? Hurt our feelings or crossed the line of what we consider to be acceptable behavior? Maybe they let us alone when we needed to be looked after?

Well, no matter the excuse or the root of their poor behavior? We owe it to ourselves to be forgiving and kind. It is our soul lesson not their soul lesson that needs to be absorbed.

It is the day after our national day of Gratitude here in The States. The season of love has officially begun.

My habit is to try to get the lessons of the year learned before I move into a new year.

2011 is a numerological 4 year. A 4 year is all about creating a solid foundation to use as a platform for the next 5 years to come.

With a 5 year of changes 2012 looming large I have made it my business to play whatever catch-up I must to commit myself to a gentler way of being. Having an infinite capacity for forgiveness is not enough. I need to learn to forgive people and be kind before they fall from grace.

My expectations are only expectations. They are not “the rules.”

I’ve been working on this lesson all year. It is now become an avocation.

Believe me; it is not exactly easy breezy for a professional smart-ass chick from Pittsburgh to achieve the kinder gentler aspects of a way of being. But I am workin’ on workin’ it. I’m doing this because I really do believe in Han Suyin’s words of wisdom above.

There really is nothing in the world stronger than gentleness.

I have a few more weeks to learn this lesson or have all the changes to come in 2012 be affected by my lack of “give.”

There is power in numbers.

Join me!

Let me know how the kinder-gentler-stronger you is workin’ for ya? As always, I support you %1oo on your journey.

If you need a little help? Pick up a phone…

I’m around.

Have a sweet one!

*** For all those in the Friday’s Child Circle of Prayer and for all those in need. We send… Love, Light and Oceans of Bliss for the Highest Good of All.

And so it is!

Please Share:

Categories Fear, Life, Love, Weight Release
Comments (0)

The Inciting Incident

The Tender Trap

You Actually

Almost Love

2012 And Growing

Holiday Joy Or Cryin’ In The Sink?

Imago

Resolve To Resolve

Storybook Treasures

A Sweeter Season

Subscribe to Blog Posts

Testimonials

Like Box

Twitter Updates