Anne's Note, Enough Stuff, shows an example of how letting go of "stuff" can make our lives EZier. The main article, Forbidden Fruit, explains how life can be EZier when we turn some of our "Forbidden Fruit" into palatable bites. Healthy Living talks about and provides some Music to Relax Your Pet. The Anne Talk provides a video by Anne showing how to prepare Roasted Eggplant. The Featured Product this month is Standing in the Dark.

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

  A Note From Anne

Dear ,

Enough Stuff!

I just watched a video (click the image below to view it) about a young Canadian couple who chose to travel and live in their van. Since I'm in the process of clearing out stuff to prepare for our upcoming move, this video was especially interesting to me. The couple, Danielle and Mat, have created a blog to document their life. If you're interested in learning more about them and how to live smaller, you can visit their blog at www.exploringalternatives.ca and their YouTube channel.

It was just what I needed, an example of how little it takes to live. As I let go of things, for our move, I wonder why I have so many things. It easy to receive a gift or buy something and put it away when it is no longer useful, not to be touched until the death of the owner or a move. Last week I wrote about “getting.” This week I’m thinking about “getting rid of.” I’m sure letting things go makes life EZier.

I once had a maid who came weekly. She remarked that as fast as I took things out of the back door to get rid of them, I brought more in the front door to replace them. I’m praying that I can let go of my attachments! I think it’s working.

When the Buddhist monk asked his teacher if it was okay for him to use e-mail, he replied, “It’s okay as long as you don’t use attachments.” (joke)

I’m recycling what I can, selling some, giving stuff to friends, and donating the rest. I consider it my responsibility to keep things out of the landfill. I can’t do that with all things, but I can do it with most things. One of our three responsibilities is to take care of our body, and that responsibility expands to the physical and includes the earth body. Everything we buy is our responsibility until we give it to someone else, but for the things we keep, it’s on us, and the less we buy and throw away, the EZier life becomes on us and on every living thing. I think I may be learning this lesson for the rest of my life, but I am happy for the deepening understanding this move has given me about stuff! My new motto, “Enough stuff.”

Anne

  Forbidden Fruit

There are numerous videos on the internet with a blaring caption: “Hurry up before this video is banned.” It’s such an obvious marketing ploy, I wonder how many people fall for it and click to watch the video. We love the forbidden fruit. It is one of the defining stories of the Judeo-Christian religion. Eve was tempted by the apple, and her determination not to take a bite fueled her drive to eat that apple.

That’s why acceptance of what is and the ability not to get caught up in all kinds of fantasies about our thoughts help us escape the drive to do what is forbidden. We take things and turn them into a drama drenched choice based on intrigue and rebelling from what we’ve turned into a pseudo authority. When we remove the guilt and unacceptability from an event or thought, we can make a real choice in the situation.

I had a couple come in for counseling because they were not having sex. I gave them some communication skills homework and told them that they needed to work with me for six weeks, and in order for healing to occur, it was vital that they abstain from sex for two weeks. Since they had problems with sex, I assured them it would be easy for them to refrain from sex. I could barely hold in my laughter. I set up a forbidden fruit scenario. The next week they came in and told me they would not need my help. They had solved the problem on their own.

Acceptance is not resignation; it’s just not resisting what is happening. Acceptance can be called an EZosophy principle because it makes life so much EZier. EZosophist Alert: One of the EZiest ways to have life the way we want it is to choose what we have and make it okay. Try this thought on, “Just for today, I’ll make this okay.” It’s a silly little thought, but sometimes our minds make drama too real, when it’s possible to take a simple idea, implement it, and make life EZier.

Anne

  Quotes

"When we criticize others, we chip a little part of ourselves away."
— Rev. Dr. Jesse Jennings

"Egoic thoughts are provocative and intoxicating, but irrelevant to life. They are just a mind trip, and we don’t go on that trip alone. We take everyone we can seduce along for the ride."
— Anne Sermons Gillis

"Life is not one size fits all, or is it?"
— Anne Sermons Gillis

  Featured Product This Month

  What is EZosophy?

Click the graphic above to learn more.

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

  Healthy Living

Music to Relax Your Pet

Recently my friend dashed off from a wedding we were both attending. She exclaimed that her kitchen manager called at the last minute and could not come that night, so she had to leave to take care of the kitchen. The volunteer’s dog died and she couldn’t hold it together well enough to be in charge of the refreshments. She had just lost her best friend.

Some people see pets as less than precious; they are just animals. But most of us regard our pets as family.  We don’t even think of our animal friend as a pet. That terminology seems diminutive. As animal lovers, we want our pets to be happy and healthy, so we give them plenty of love, exercise, and good food.

When things change around our house, our dog Lucy feels the change. She is nervous when familiar furniture disappears or when boxes hover in the corner. We give her extra hugs and try to spend more time with her. I was thrilled to find “Relax My Dog” music. Lucy likes it. She sits by me as I work on the computer and rests. Not only that, the music is relaxing for me too. Maybe your dog will like it. There are also YouTubes for relaxing cats too, and my husband likes it as well!

Here’s Lucy’s favorite: 2.5 hours of sweet doggy dreams music.

And for cats, try 1 hour of music for cats.

Anne

  Anne Talks

This video, Roasted Eggplant -The Reluctant Gourmet, features roasted eggplant. The EZ Secret diet is simple. Eat raw when you can, eat natural foods, preferably organic, no processed foods, and restrict grain usage. We have three responsibilities in life: 1. Take care of our minds; 2. Take care of our hearts (the metaphorical heart); and 3. Take care of our bodies. When we take care of our hearts, the other two fall into place. P.S.: My blog, The EZ Secret, mentioned in this video, is not online because it was recently hacked.

  Anne Art

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  Anne's Schedule

All times here are Central Time.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015
7 PM, "EZosophy"
Creative Life Spiritual Center
5326 Spring Stuebner Rd. Ste. 200
Spring, Texas 77389
Phone: 281-350-5157

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.