Anne's Note highlights visits with some of her family during the holidays. The main article, Love’s Fast Food, contrasts personal love with loving itself. The Healthy Living section highlights Best Tips From 2014. The Anne Talk is Love is Now. The Featured Product is Anne's One Year Seminar.

The EZ Mantra: "Everything can be EZ or at least EZier." – Anne Sermons Gillis

  A Note From Anne

Dear ,

Click the image to see Anne's Grans larger.

“Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin' into the future.” These lyrics, from the song Fly Like an Eagle, gather more meaning as they circle in my mind year after year. It’s as if I can’t hold onto the days as they meld together. Weeks, months, and years slide light speed, past marriage, childbirth, divorce, career, vacations, tragedy, and celebrations.

New Year’s, which was only days ago, seems like a distant memory, yet these last few days of the year, though they whirled by, were precious. Seeing my grandchildren and my daughter and son-in-law was so sweet. Even though the twins got bronchitis, they still put out many joyful noises. Baby coos are like magic. They open the heart. My mouth was almost sore from smiling so much!

We left last Charleston Monday and went to see my niece, her husband, and my sister in Ormond Beach, Florida. This brief time was awesome (excuse me for using the most overused word currently afloat in the U.S., but it really applies here). Seeing my niece, Cat, is almost like seeing my sister. She favors her mom and wears the family tradition of humor proudly. My oldest sister, Jo, Cat’s mom, has dementia, and even though she doesn’t know who I am, seeing her brings back memories of the good times we spent together. She was wise, ten years older than I, and my mentor. But time keeps on slipping and her life has a vacancy, and it’s she. She’s gone. I chose to remember the good of the past and not mourn about the loss of the present. What good would it do? Just more drama.

I love how time heals heartbreak, erases the trauma of physical pain, and always brings us into a new Now. No matter what happened in the past we always end up right here in the moment of now and in the expansive Now that transcends limits. Now is clean, safe, and sacred, and when we live in that space we find that life can be EZier and EZier.

  Love’s Fast Food

Victoria’s eyes rested on his rugged jaw as if her life depended on it. He was her answer to every fantasy, but now he was dead. He was able to take a temporary physical form, but she knew the ethereal body wouldn’t last. He was minutes from disappearing forever. Her heart was already mourning the loss. Life would not smile again and the love of her life would fade from her memory, unless she could find a way to bring him permanently back to life.

She knew the Creminians had secret ways. Her mother told stories of the dead coming to life. It was a long time ago, but the ancient practices held the key to immortality and reanimation of the deceased.  “Hold on my love,” she shouts across the divide. “I will spend my life finding The Way.”

This could be an excerpt from a modern love story. It’s a story of unrequited love. Victoria’s life and well-being depend on her lover’s existence. Unfortunately this is the illusion of the western way. We worship the idea that the love of a special person will bring delight to our world, fill our hearts with love, and give meaning and purpose to our lives.

Looking for a partner to fulfill our lives is like eating fast food. Fast food will fill you up for a while, even bring a smile, but if all one eats is fast food, then their health will eventually suffer. The body needs natural whole foods on a regular basis to flourish.

We need more than the love of a partner to feed the soul. Romantic love is not a soul-lution. It is not a bad thing; it is just a fleeting thing. It is a groovy kind of love, as the song says, but romantic love is the fast food of love. Being in the presence of one who deeply loves himself or herself and one who knows their true identity, brings us much closer to love than when we are with one who expresses their undying affection for us.

Doesn’t it feel good to be around someone who loves all of life, including themselves and others? They have nothing to prove and don’t need to get anything from anyone. They don’t live life with a hidden agenda. People flock to gurus because of the nourishing love that flows from such self-realized saints, but ultimately the saint points the disciple in another direction. The guru points them back to themselves and illuminates the disciple so s/he can see the light within.

The New Year is a time of reflection. What is my life about? Why am I here? How should I spend my time and energy? Ultimately the question that puts an end to all questioning is, “Who am I?” These are the questions that allow us to bring accountability to our lives and the questions that open the door to a real soul-lution. Forget the worn out questions like “Why am I not rich, successful, loved, or appreciated?” These are dead end questions.

If the questions above leave you flat, then learn the ways of the mind. Learn how to listen to that which is deep within. Allow the mind to spend its time learning to listen, rather than learning how to fix things. I’m not speaking about leaving things broken. Of course we have to fix a flat tire. I’m speaking of touching the ground of being as a way of living, rather than reaching to the stars for more fast food. Forget about love stories, fantasies, and longing. They are bits of desire that lead to suffering. Why would anyone consciously choose to suffer? Let’s be about life, satisfaction, love, and well-being. It’s our destiny to show up in our lives and to awaken to our true selves. May this year reflect the peace and joy in life and may you always find that life can be EZier and EZier.

Anne

  Quotes

"Answers will come in time. Or perhaps the unnecessary questions will disappear." – Jeff Foster

"Whatever the present moment, accept it as if you had chosen it." – Eckhart Tolle

"There is a time to act, a time to react, and a time to relax."
– Anne Sermons Gillis

  Anne Art

Click image for a larger view

Click image for a larger view

  Featured Product This Week

  What is EZosophy?

Click the graphic above to find out.

NOTE: If you are viewing this on a cell phone, be sure to scroll to the right to see the other column.

  Healthy Living

Best Tips From 2014

I write a weekly healthy living section that explores all kinds of healing ideas, from what we think to what we put on our bodies. Looking back, three health tips from the past stand out.

1. Coconut oil deodorant. A recipe for coconut oil deodorant was featured in an earlier article but later I found that the plain oil alone makes a great deodorant. I use coconut oil exclusively as deodorant. It is so effective you only have to use it two or three times a week. The oil tends to be solid in the winter so take a small wooden paddle, scoop out a bit, and rub it in your palms until it melts. Apply. Here’s the original article.
2. Dryer balls. The article about dryer balls gave several options; I adopted the easiest solution -- aluminum balls. Roll aluminum foil into three, three-inch-in-diameter balls. Keep them in your dryer and you will have no static and soft clothes. Saves money and contributes to healthier bodies and a healthier planet. Here’s the original article.
3. Oming. This seems like such a new agey weird thing, but I adopted a ten minute daily om practice and it is calming and helps my sinuses. If you want to calm your mind but can’t meditate, this is for you. The practice is also a good warm up to your daily meditation. If you remember the article, I don’t do this when I’m traveling. People think I’m weird enough anyway. Here’s the original article.

Anne

  Anne Talks

This week's Anne Talk is a guided meditation entitled Love is Now.

Consider sharing this newsletter with someone who would appreciate it.

Need to subscribe to Anne's weekly newsletter? Complete this form and click Submit to do it. Subscribe to Anne's Weekly Newsletter. Name: Email: Thank you. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you can UNsubscribe by clicking this link. Follow Anne:            Share Anne:      If this newsletter inspires you or touches you in some way, please consider donating to help keep the EZ message going out to the world. Donations may be sent to: Anne Sermons Gillis 52 W. Tallowberry Dr. The Woodlands, TX 77381 Or send via PayPal.   Anne's Services Need a Coach or a Rent-a-Friend? Interested in getting ongoing support? Try life coaching with Anne. Anne offers options for both short-term and long-term coaching. Contact her for details. Click here to contact Anne by email or Click here to view information on Anne's One Year Seminar.   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.   Anne's Schedule All times here are Central Time. You must register with Lone Star College to attend these classes. Wed. & Fri., Feb. 18 and 20, 2015 10:00 AM-Noon, “Synchronicity” Lone Star College ALL Program Montgomery Campus Tue. & Thu., Mar. 3 and 5, 2015 1:00-3:00 PM, “Synchronicity” Lone Star College ALL Program Kingwood Campus extension in New Caney (LSC-EMCID Center) Wed. & Fri., Apr. 8 and 10, 2015 10:00 AM-Noon, “EZosophy” Lone Star College ALL Program Montgomery Campus Tue. & Thu., Apr. 14 and 16, 2015 1:00-3:00 PM, “Alive, Awake, Aware” Lone Star College ALL Program Kingwood Campus extension in New Caney (LSC-EMCID Center) Wed. & Fri., May 6 and 8, 2015    10:00 AM-Noon, “Alive, Awake, Aware” Lone Star College ALL Program Montgomery Campus Disclaimer: Some links in this newsletter may be affiliate links and may pay a commission if an item is purchased. Do your own due diligence to determine if a product is appropriate for your use. Editor & Publisher: Charles David Heineke of TheDoorway.org.