A Note From Anne

Dear ,

Today I'm returning from a two day trip to the Hill Country. Hill Country is located in central Texas and it's home to ranches, clear rivers, and lakes. Parts of Hill Country look like an Italian hillside. There's something magical about Hill Country and it's only a three to four hour trip from Houston.

Too often we don't take to the hills because we think we don't have the time or money, but a one night trip often gives one a fresh perspective. Jim and I once spent the night about 40 miles from home in a nice hotel in downtown Houston. We went to their sports club and worked out, dined in the hotel restaurant, and went out to hear live music. It was a memorable self-made holiday.

People call life the rat race, and we call ourselves the human race, but I suggest putting the races aside for a day or two and creating a human rest – a nice nest-y place where you step out of the routine and into the magical. Give up your "someday I am going to Paris" at least for today and take one small step out of the ordinary. Don't use that big trip you've not taking for years as an excuse not to take a little time off. When you chose to take a couple of days off, you will be surprised at how quickly you can return to the EZ and flow of living.

Anne

  The Power of Old

I am an old lady. When I say that, people react as if I cursed. They are quick to point out that my assessment is clearly not true. "You don't look old; you don't act old." But it is true; I am an old person. I am 65. If that's not old, when do I get to call myself old? How does an old person act? Do they all act alike? I have the wrinkles to prove I'm old and I am not afraid them. Why is a wrinkle not okay? People act like old is a pejorative, a curse, or a sin. To me, being 65 is not a bad thing. It's just a what is. Can you imagine a 15 year-old person saying, "I'm young." And people rushing to tell them that they are not young, they are wise. No one cares about young, but when it comes to the words "old" and "aging," people are afraid.

I once asked a friend how old she was. She responded. "I don't play that game." This woman was not just an acquaintance; I'd known her for a long time. She doesn't play the age game – what is the age game? Our age is just a number. It should not to be a number to hide; it should be one to relate how long the body has been on the planet. Age is just a fact, not a death threat. People believe because I say I am old, it means I am washed up, decrepit, sick, and incompetent.

When people are young, they want to be older. When people are old, they want to be younger. When can we stop and allow how things are to be just as they are?

When I was middle-aged, I imagined people would think I was wise when I was older. I thought about the benefits of aging. I looked into the future with respect, not with remorse, regret, or fear. In many ways, being old is easier than being young. Here are nine reasons why I like being old.

• I don't care what time I get out of bed. I will get out in the morning, to walk my dog, but probably not at 6 AM. It will be after I've read, meditated a bit, listened to a favorite song or two. I can get my work done on a very loose schedule. Who cares what time I arise?
• I don't care what time I get in bed at night. Can you tell I like my bed? I can get in bed at 9 PM and read and draw and it doesn't matter. It's comfy there and in the winter, it's cozy.
• I rarely wear makeup. It saves time and money. When I wear makeup, it is minimal.
• I wear the same thing two or three days in a row. I used to wear a different outfit every day, but not now. I haven't turned into a hag, but everything is more relaxed and laid back.
• I have more money. Even though we live on a relatively modest income, we have no debt, so we don’t need as much to live comfortably. I've given up most of my money drama. The need to get more money no longer runs my life. That is freedom.
• I can take a nap in the middle of the day without feeling guilty. Sometimes I fall asleep in front of soothing fire and in 15 minutes I'm up and back at my desk.
• A lot of people treat me with care, doing things like being sure I arrive safely to my car. They carry things, open doors. It's not necessary, but it's good when young people are thoughtful toward me. I don't feel marginalized; I feel cherished. I admit, when they asked me if I wanted a wheel chair at the airport, they had taken it too far. I could have probably outrun any of them!
• Discounts at the movies and senior discounts in general. It may be silly, but I like those discounts. When I was 64, I was eager for 65 to arrive so I could get those benefits.
• Medicare. The two visits I've made to the doctor's since I've been on Medicare have been fabulous. There was no waiting and I had cool and kind doctors.

I had a good friend for ten years. She never let me see her without her false teeth. I'm sure she died with those teeth in her mouth. She would not leave home without her bright red lipstick. She was a beautiful woman, but she always focused on her appearance. I had a neighbor who lived across the street. He rarely wore his false teeth. I admit, it was different looking, but he was very comfortable without his teeth. I found his attitude refreshing. Aging removes the focus from the need to look good all the time. There's less need to be concerned about what others think about me.

Aging is an adventure, not a terrorist plot. Think of aging in a new way, as:

A
Greatly
Inspired
Never-ending
Gateway

We all age and finally reach old age. Why not make it an adventure, because when we do, our lives will always be easier and easier.

Anne

  Quotes

"Take more risks; you cannot take your life to unprecedented levels without making mistakes."
  – Unknown

"The stronger the defense, the greater the attack."
  – Unknown

“Our conditioned reference points are located in our thoughts."
  – Gangaji

  Houston Theosophical Society

Anne Sermons Gillis currently serves as the president of the Houston Lodge of the Theosophical Society.

We encourage our members to live a life in service to humanity, in stillness through mediation, and in study of ancient wisdom.

"Recognition of the unique value of every living being expresses itself in reverence for life, compassion for all, sympathy with the need of all individuals to find truth for themselves, and respect for all religious traditions."
   --The Theosophical World View

Meetings are held on the first and third Saturdays at 10 AM Central Time in Houston, Texas.

For more information visit The Houston Lodge or visit our national organization at http://www.Theosophical.org.

  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

Now available on Kindle. Click for details.

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

Now available on Kindle. Click for details.

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

Now available on Kindle. Click for details.

  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

All times below are Central Time.
February 6 and 13, 2014
Thur., 1:00 – 3:00 PM
"EZosophy"
Lone Star College ALL Program
Kingwood Campus
20000 Kingwood Drive
Kingwood, TX 77339-3801
281-312-1600

February 9, 2014
Sun., 11:00 AM
"Strength"
Unity Church of Practical Christianity
15920 Piper’s View Dr.
Meadow Community Association
Webster, TX 77598-2550
281-520-4047

February 19 and 26, 2014
Wed., 10:00 – 11:50 AM
"EZosophy"
Lone Star College ALL Program
Montgomery Campus
3200 College Park Drive
Conroe, TX 77384-4500
936-273-7000

March 7 and 18, 2014
Fri. & Tue., 10:00 – 11:50 AM
"Alive, Awake, Aware"
Lone Star College ALL Program
Montgomery Campus
3200 College Park Drive
Conroe, TX 77384-4500
936-273-7000

  Healthy Living

Five Reasons to Hug a Tree

1. Gets you outside. New view, new attitude.
2. Gets you to do something different. You get out of the box.
3. Tree medicine helps clear your energy field and perks you up.
4. Gets you into nature. People who stay inside all the time often suffer from nature deficit disorder.
5. Feels good and often evokes a smile.

What made me think about tree hugging? I found an unpublished manuscript on healing written by a friend. Brett was wild. She had Afro styled short red hair and wore big jewelry which she designed and crafted. She lived for years with cancer, but finally died from the disease. She was my go to person for alternative health. She lived life out loud. She studied with Max Luscher, the color guru, Carl Jung, and even was able to gain entry into the famous, but almost impossible to get into, Vatican library. She was called the crystal guru by Time Magazine and appeared on CNN. She bloomed when under the spotlight.

We once took a crystal hunting trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas. We dug in the mud, visited rock shops, and had loads of girl talk. We fell in love with each other right away. She was attracted to my playful nature and I was fascinated by everything about her. We were spirit sisters – wild women.

Brett's manuscript talks about a magnetic like field around the earth. The energy is concentrated in natural settings and thinned out in populated areas. Hugging trees helps align one's energy with the natural flow and restores our energy bodies. These ideas were not new to me, but it had been too long since I hugged a tree.

The day after reading a few pages from her book, I marched into my tree-filled back yard and backed up to a tree. I leaned in and rested against her. So sweet. Then I turned around and hugged her. I found myself smiling. My mind was far from the digital world I live in and I did feel better after hugging Margie.

Go meet a tree. Have you ever gotten close to a tree in your yard or one near where you live? Give a tree a chance. Reach out and hug a tree and I bet you won't be able to hold back that smile. Happy tree hugging.

  Anne Talks

"Life Changing Insights on How to Have the Right Mindset" Interview by Dr. Alan Simberg. Anne is the second guest on the hour show and comes on at about the 35 minute mark. (26:00)

"Breathe: Surrender: Living in the Present" Take 13 minutes out to breathe. Get ready to breathe from the very beginning. (14:27)

"Dealing With Emotions and Going Beyond" Anne's Dealing with Emotions Teleseminar. (54:01)

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Editor/Publisher: Charles David Heineke of TheDoorway.org.

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