The Anne Report tells how Anne's sister Lois became a Two-Time Grammy Winner. The Main article, Facing Genuine Pain and Suffering, examines the life of St. Francis and how he overcame pain and suffering. The Healthy Living article, Body Drugs Drag Us Around, reminds us to avoid toxic chemicals that can enter the body through skin care products. The Anne Talk is What Are You Thinking? The Nature of Thought. It's a teleseminar presented on April 4, 2012. The Featured Product this month is Anne's new reprint of EZosophy: The Art and Wisdom of Easy or At Least Easier Living. Click here to learn about Anne's newest book, Words Make a Difference.

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

Living EZosophy, February 21, 2017
Published Weekly on Tuesday Mornings

Phone: 281-419-1775
Email: anne@annegillis.com

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  The Anne Report

Two-Time Grammy Winner

Dear ,

Today I fly to see my grands in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. We have two weeks together, and I promise to rev up my JPM’s (joy per minute) for the trip. I think they are the ones who rev it up for me!

Last week the world recognized musical accomplishments in an event we call the Grammys. The first Grammys occurred in 1959 and were called the Gramophone Awards. The day before the Grammys I received a note from my sister Lois. She just had her second grandchild. She is affectionately known to her grandchildren as “Grammy.”

Here’s the note. “My night's tomorrow night...the Grammys! Did I tell you I'm still bragging about being a two-time Grammy winner? Before, I was just a hopeful. I'd like to thank my son Vic and my daughter Bear Rachel, who produced and directed, for their excellent achievement and stunning creation. Without their diligence and love, I would never have won this great honor. So I thank you with all my heart! Equal pay for equal work! Tear down that wall! We all are one! All lives matter! L   L   L   MW   MB   Two-Time Grammy Winner”

Anne’s grandniece, Julia

Until next week, this is the Anne Report.

Anne

  Main Article

Facing Genuine Pain and Suffering

EZosophy is a philosophy that calls us away from ego driven suffering. EZosophy does not deny that we experience real physical and emotional tribulations. Individuals suffer, communities suffer, America suffers, and the world suffers. Suffering is not just individual; all suffering pulls at the fabric of humanity.

One of the most beloved saints of all times, St. Francis, overcame tremendous suffering. He was born into a wealthy family. He ran around  with his drinking buddies and eventually went to war – or at least participated in a skirmish. He fought for his city and was taken and held prisoner for more than a year. After his release he wanted to become a soldier, but illness kept him from military service.

Can you imagine? He was to be one of the greatest saints in history and he wanted to join the army! No wonder he kept getting sick. Deep down the seeds of spirituality were planted and his body said, “Hell no, you won’t go.” None-the-less, he planned to marry, but after seeking guidance, he was called back to a more solitary spiritual life. Eventually he became the original animal whisperer, a respected spiritual teacher and leader, and attained sainthood from the Catholic church.

Once I was in love and planned to marry. Many things got in the way of the marriage; it never occurred.  I didn’t understand. I wanted, longed for an explanation. I asked for help and guidance through this dark night. The St. Francis story led the way to understanding. When the young man’s path was blocked from his chosen career and his marriage, he might have felt sorry for himself or complained about the unfairness of life. Instead, Francis was led deeper into the spiritual life. This wasn’t the end of his life; it was his renaissance. But things didn’t go so smoothly for Francis; actually, his life was miserable. His community thought he was crazy. He was guided by a voice his friends and family did not understand. Yet, under pressure, Francis grew into a spiritual giant. The following thought is attributed to the great saint. “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” The saying sounds too contemporary to be the words of a 13th century mystic, but it does describe how Francis lived his life.

While I was not happy that Francis suffered, I was happy to find that even saints, maybe especially saints, suffer. It was comforting to know that I was not the only one - even the most spiritually astute suffer.

Ego driven suffering can be cleared up in an instant, but an instant cure for genuine suffering rarely exists. The trying times anoint us and guide us. These wearisome times, at their best, evoke compassion and humility. When we are on top, it’s so easy to serve the egoic mind, but when tragedy strikes, it brings with it the ability to reach into our deepest spiritual strengths and reach out to our support systems. This is what makes our situations EZier. We might not be able to carry our 50 pound load, but when a friend joins with us or someone wipes our tears, it lightens our load. And when there is no one else to count on, something can rise from deep within to soothe us. We are never left alone.

We must navigate genuine suffering with care so as to not complicate suffering by suffering about our suffering. This is affectionately referred to as feeling sorry for ourselves or having a chip on our shoulder. We can’t use tough times as a bargaining chip to get others’ attention and resources. That’s like trying to go into the back door of life. When we rise up and face difficult situations, such as a loss, and don’t complicate the circumstances by involving the ego, we receive assistance from other realms and join a flow that eventually carries us past the pain.  It’s called integration. Our past pain becomes a part of us that informs us and sends us into higher levels of compassion, but the pain no longer dominates our lives.

The saints, the foremost champions, and the greatest losers go through times of genuine loss and suffering. While we can’t escape these times, we can be sure that we do not travel alone. The eight word miracle mantra, “Everything can be EZ (Ego driven suffering can improve right now!) or at least EZier,” speaks to the nature of suffering and recovery. We are the champions of our lives, and whether life is peachy or downright sucky, we exist in a matrix of love that guides and guards us, even when we are too weary to look. Love says, “You may not be able to see it from where you are standing, but I assure you that everything is okay. The Supreme Okayness is with you and you are safe.” Our lives have already been saved, so when tough times befall us, we can be assured that we will make it though. This is the promise of the spiritual life, that we will make it through and emerge and reemerge into the adventure called life, and that every pain, every burden, every mistake – all will be renewed, restored, and revitalized if we allow it to be. We must give up our ego driven suffering, face our genuine suffering, and surrender to the Source. Spirit brings us the present of life, but we must open it to receive its gift and trust that the good and the bad work together to provide exactly what we need to be free, joyful, and fulfilled.

You may find the following links about St. Francis engaging:

• Story of St. Francis’ life

• St. Francis miracles

• St. Francis Animal quotes

Anne

  Quotes

Anne Affirmations

"All lingering negative effects from the past are immediately transformed and used only for my good and the good of others."

"Our culture embraces, champions, and develops its courage to create; therefore, our society is uplifted and created as a greater state of creativity, civility, harmony, compassion, and generosity."

"My reality is blessed by vitality, and I release all ego driven struggle, stress, strain, and suffering. As I release imaginary ego contrived pain, those around me sense a new freedom and a sense of safety in their lives. We do not go home alone. We carry each other to the promised land."

Quotes

"Fear says, 'I will keep you safe.' Love says, 'You are already safe.'"
-- Pat Rodegast

"Vitality comes from reality, not from addictive patterns of spending, thrills, greed, or forced power. These are false gods."
-- Anne Sermons Gillis

"We have free speech, but that doesn’t mean we have to respect anyone who uses this privilege in uncensored bursts of hate, opinion, and outrage. We must use our right to free speech wisely and never use it as an open opportunity to be cold-hearted, to speak against what we don’t understand, or to be angry righteous. There is a moral code that must be respected by all of humanity and this code, when kept, delivers us from our egos."
-- Anne Sermons Gillis

  Featured Product This Month

At last, the reprint of EZosophy: The art of EZ or at Least EZier Living, is out. If you've been wanting an EZier life, this book provides a clear path toward EZ.

EZosophy:The Art and Wisdom of Easy or At Least Easier Living is a simple philosophy that radically changes lives. It is a book for the spiritually-based reader who no longer values the ego driven struggle of contemporary life.

EZosophy will help readers:

• Give up Hard Attacks. Hardaholic no more.
• Drop the drama.
• Make your life EZier. Ease is not indolence. Rather, ease is the art of accomplishment without struggle.
• Learn to identify ego driven suffering (EDS).

  Healthy Living

Body Drugs Drag Us Around

What is a body drug? A body drug is any chemical that drags the body down. Any substance made in a laboratory is a drug. Bodies were made and created from all natural substances and designed to handle only natural substances. When we eat or apply natural substances to the body, the body continues to vibrate in harmony. The skin eats everything we put on it, including water, shampoos, makeup, body lotions, soaps, and hand creams. Natural substances have a resonance or harmonious sound and frequency. Chemically produced substances, when applied to the body, create dissonance. This dissonance is minor, but it is like a river that eventually wears away the rock. This dissonance takes a toll on the body. It’s like a child: if they whine for a minute or two, we can put up with it, but when everything they communicate is in a whiney voice, we lose our patience. The chemical or poisons have a cumulative effect on the body.

The European Union bans 1,300 chemicals in body care products that remain in body care products in the United States. This list, of 10 Toxic Beauty Ingredients to Avoid, was compiled by Vanessa Cunningham.

• Parabens
• Synthetic colors
• Fragrance
• Phthalates
• Triclosan
• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) / Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
• Formaldehyde
• Toluene

Avoiding these chemicals is a step toward reclaiming our health. My daughter Elizabeth sells a skin care line that not only does not put these chemicals in their makeup, they lobby congress for consumer protection. While this article was not meant to be an advertisement for her business, I think it’s a great idea to point you in a good direction.

We are not meant to feel tired all the time. Our bodies respond to healthy living, and when we use products that are in harmony with our bodies, we not only stay healthier, we have more energy. It’s time to stop relying on coffee and sugar to keep us going. When we eat healthy foods and use safe products on our bodies, we feel healthier and healthier.

If you have any healthy living tips for the newsletter, send them to me at anne@annegillis.com.

  Anne Talks

What Are You Thinking?
The Nature of Thought

Today's Anne Talk is What Are You Thinking? The Nature of Thought, a teleseminar presented on April 4, 2012. What drives thought and how useful is thought? Time: 28:20.

  Anne Art

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  Anne's Schedule

All times here are Central Time
unless otherwise specified.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017
5:30-6:45 PM
Words Make a Difference
lecture and book signing
Unity Bookstore, 2929 Unity Drive
Houston, TX 77057
713-782-4050

  Call or Email Anne Now to Schedule
  Her for Your Meeting.

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.