“Everything can be EZ or at least EZier.” -- Anne Sermons Gillis

  A Note From Anne   

Dear ,

  EZing Into Life's Synchronicities

As we whizzed by in our car, I looked directly into the eyes of a hitchhiker. It was a much deeper connection than when two people see each other; a lightning bolt went through me. I can only remember a few times that's happened in my life. Once in New Orleans, when a woman looked into my eyes as we passed on the sidewalk – it was a very intimate, sexual look. I chose to keep on going and didn't look back, but I can still feel that look. Another occurred when a South American indigenous shaman looked into me. His eyes penetrated and I could feel him down to my toes. Nothing was said, it was a quite experience, and the brief meeting was one of deep knowing.

So here I am, riding at 40 kilometers an hour down the road less travelled, and I sense this bond with a woman. I had the feeling we should pick her and her companion up. Jim was on the phone so I didn't interrupt him. Even though we never pick up hitchhikers in the US, things operate a little differently on the South Caribbean side of Costa Rica. My friend told me after his car rusted out that he decided not to replace it. "How do you get around?" I inquired. "I ride my bike; take a bus when I travel cross country, or hitchhike." His speech sanctified our action as chauffeurs for the car-less, bike-less, hitchhiking westerners in the area.

When Jim was free, I told him about the woman and my thinking we should have picked her up. He assured me she would get another ride and we continued on our way to a vegetarian restaurant. It was closed. A nearby person suggested we go to The Reef Restaurant. He gave us fail proof directions, but since the name of the restaurant was not in English but was in Spanish--El Arrecife, we passed it by. There were no street signs – it was just a go one block turn left, go two blocks, go right, kind-of-a-thing, and defining what made up a block was equally confusing. Finally we arrived to find they were serving hamburgers that night. "Let's go back to our little favorite place in Mazanillo." We left, returned to the main road, and in about a mile, who do we see? – my "eye" soul mate. We stopped, and my soul mate and her friend got in the car. "Thanks for the ride; it's getting dark and I think we missed our turn." "Where are you going?" I asked. "To The Reef Restaurant. We are meeting a friend there." Miraculously we knew exactly where that well-hidden place was – we just left. We furiously talked for the eight minute drive to the restaurant, deposited them at the Reef, and topped off our evening at our favorite local restaurant.

I love that life is connected, that I can get a gut hit and recognize another nonapparent reality. We finished off our Costa Rican synchronicity when our inn keeper told us that the couple who owned the property next to us was none other than "Anne and Jim." The universe is funny. There are three Anne and Jim's on our street, and when we moved in our home, there was a Jim living on both sides. Come to find out, our house was occupied by two previous Jims. Now my husband, Jim, is the "Jim" occupant.

What does it mean? Who knows? Does it have to mean anything? Can't it just be that as we pass though life we notice this non-demanding, life-supportive source? For me, when I try to take the metaphysical route and figure out the not-so-apparent underlying cause, I get caught in mystical intellectualism. I did that for years, and I am much happier now that I'm less of a head and more of an observer. Some universal messages are easy to read, but when my prying takes me on an endless psychoanalytic scavenger hunt, I find it best to enjoy life's canvases, not try to figure out how they were painted. This approach is the act of simplicity. We rarely allow ourselves the mental luxury of simplicity, but simplicity is so close. Our need to complicate, even the good, can get in the way of our EZ. People relish in the idea that life is a choice, but when it comes to simplicity, awareness is the door. Choice makes us figure things out; awareness allows us to discover an EZier life. Take this moment to be alive, awake, and aware, and when you do, you will find that life can be EZier and EZier. Take it EZ, make it EZ, and have an EZ day.

Anne

  Health Tip: How to Be Sick

I'm sitting in bed with a fever of about 101° F. My sinuses burn, and when I breathe deeply, pain shoots up my side from broken ribs. I sleep on my side but can't sleep on my preferred side because of the rib problem.  And I have to write a health tip. It seems foolish. Maybe I could write an ode to illness. Perhaps I can embrace the inconvenient bed call that's landed me in Wobbly World.

Today I am health-tip-less woman. I will speak grandly of health in the future, but today, I'm giving my ultimate illness tips. This is what I do when I get sick (I am talking about a cold, not a heart attack):

• No self recrimination – I did not consciously choose to get sick.
• Eat healthy comfort foods, like banana or tomato sandwiches on Ezekiel Bread and soup. Jim just made some split pea soup. You know what those are for you.
• Take it easy – I cut back on my activities – especially physical ones.
• Drink plenty of water.
• When my sinuses are inflamed, I flush them with salt water and baking soda.
• Then just wait to recover.

Being sick is simple and EZ when you have a non-life-threatening illness, and even the more difficult health challenges of can always be EZier.

  Anne's Books

Standing in The Dark

EZosophy Book

Offbeat Prayers

Click here to see all three of Anne's books

What people are saying about Standing in the Dark:

"Standing in the Dark, by Anne Sermons Gillis, isn't just another positive thinking book. It's a book about the difficult times in life and what we can do to make it through them. It does, however, give us positive ways to make life easier. It's a short book, but it's one that may just turn your thinking on its head, which will probably be the best thing that's happened to your thinking in a long time. It's about how to bring more ease into a life that isn't easy all of the time. Anne discusses six main areas of life: Ease, Mission, Health, Relationships, Money, and Loss."
  – Charles David Heineke, Bonham, TX

What people are saying about EZosophy: The Art and Wisdom of Easy or at Least Easier Living:

"Although most conscious people understand that life doesn't have to a struggle, the "how to" has been missing... until now. Anne's book makes it "easy."
  – T. Harv Eker - Bestselling author and Founder of Peak Potentials Training

What people are saying about Offbeat Prayers for the Modern Mystic:

"I love your book. It is filled with much wisdom, humor and heart. Really beautiful."
  – Alan Cohen author, Enough Already, mentions Anne and EZosophy on page 99

  Quotes

"Go naked into the truth. Dragging what helped us in the past, into the present, binds us. Radical presence is the experience of who we are; words, concepts, and beliefs – all those things that helped in the past – are useless when we realize no help is necessary. We already are what we seek.”
  – Anne Sermons Gillis

"Celebrate your friends' strengths and minimize their weaknesses.”
  – Anne Sermons Gillis

"Take the time to be still, to be silent, and to listen. Love blooms in those soft unspoken moments."
  – Anne Sermons Gillis

  What is EZosophy?

What is EZosophy? Click the graphic above to find out.

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  Anne's Services

  Schedule Anne

You may reach Anne by phone at 281-419-1775 or click the button below to contact Anne by email. Anne is also available to officiate at weddings and funerals.

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  Anne's Schedule

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Schedule Anne for your group.

  Anne Talks

Relationship Patterns and Healing Them

Dealing With Emotions and Going Beyond

  Ask Annie G

Sharon

Dear Sharon,

You have asked a subjective question by asking my opinion, so the answer is very personal. I have political preferences, which I will not voice, and viewpoints as a therapist. I can look at the situation in many different ways, but if I look through the eyes of fear, I will be personally harmed by the shutdown. Maybe it’s best to have some thoughts like, "The government shutdown is benefiting me in ways that I cannot see and the highest good for all is working its way into every dimension of this situation." Maybe I can bless the situation, "May everyone benefit in miraculous ways from this shutdown."

I always hold that my good is coming regardless of any person or circumstance, and that viewpoint takes the fear out the situation. I’ve signed petitions, written to my congressmen, and protected my investments: that’s my action. But as far as fixing it, I have no advice. I think when I relinquish drama, whether it be about the government shutdown or any other situation I don’t like, my life becomes EZier. All situations lend themselves to personal dissatisfaction. Changing what I can and accepting what I can’t is my personal path to peace.

Thanks for asking,

Annie G

NOTE: Send your questions on life, health, food, spirituality, and relationships to Annie G.

  Anne Art

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Editor/Publisher: Charles David Heineke of TheDoorwayBlog.

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