Acceptance
My spiritual journey began December 10, 1963. I am the youngest of five children. 3 brothers and 1 sister. My eldest brother is only 6 yrs old than me, Good old Irish Catholic family ;o)
Ultrasound was not developed yet so my arrival, though expected and wanted came as quite the surprise for you see I was born with Ectodermal Dysplasias which is a nice collection of rare diseases; in my case this includes anodontia, chronic conjunctivitis, endometriosis, low immune system, chronic ear infections, chronic rhinitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, missing 2 digits on each hand and the same digits on each foot. It is grand that I match and I thank God for my thumbs! Although all of these diseases have been painful in their own way none of them held me back from living an independent life a blessing I thank God for also!
Thankfully I was blessed with loving, accepting parents. My Mom tells me that the 1st day she brought me home from the hospital she set me down with my brothers and sisters showed them how I was different, allowed them to ask questions and answered them as honestly as possible and then my Mom told them that they were to treat me no different than they would each other. Man did they take that one to heart ;o) I developed "normally" without requiring any special help. I can do most anything anyone else can and have actually discovered a few things I can do with my hands that people with five digits can't!
Only problem with this is that no one really explained to me that others weren't used to being around someone who was different like me and this left me unprepared for entering the bigger world. I didn't really fully realize how different I might seem to others until I started school. No one had ever made a big deal about me I was just one of many kids that grew up on my block. That was all to change when I started school and there were other children there that had never experienced being around someone different. Kids can be and are sometimes very cruel especially to each other. Alien, monster, three fingered this/that. Some of their reactions left me sad, hurt and confused To be completely honest here I cried through most of my grade school and into junior hight until I finally stood up for myself in 8th grade but that's another long story. This is a perfect example of it starts in the home. I've found that the kids who teased me were the ones that had asked their parents why someone was different and the parents hushed them off or scolled them rather than honestly and lovingly answering.
I am 43 yrs old now and I'd like to say that I like me but I can't honestly say that as there are some traits I need to work on. BUT I can say that I accept me as I am and LOVE me! I am very out going. Far from shy! I love laughter and enjoy being a clown! I even enjoy helping others learn to be accepting of themselves as well as others! I've even have some of the kids from grade school apologize to me as an adult for being so mean when we were kids! Which I do accept and respect but it's not required to say your sorry as by accepting me as an adult your actions are speaking louder than that little word ever could!
Peace
Cailen
Your posting deserves five
Your posting deserves five stars, Cailen. One for your honesty. Two for your bravery and determination. Three for your own acceptance, even of those who are not accepting. Four for your story of showing us what can be. Despite the unkindness and lack of understanding you received in elementary school, you yourself became kind and understanding. Five for posting so that all of us can read your story which proves that we are not our body.
Will you tell us how you came to Heavenletters and spirituality?
Incidentally, I was the youngest of five as well. In my case, that made me the one who didn't know anything!
Wow! Five stars! Woohoo
:blushing: Wow! Five stars! Woohoo :p :thumbup: Thank-you for your kind words Gloria.
As for how I came across Heavenletters is through Lady Isis site. I like reading the posts on her site and usually check out any of the links available and follow my intuition as to continuing visiting them or not. Heavenletters just sort of pulled me in. The Daily Heavenletters. They really resonate deep within me so here I am :big
As for how I came across spirituality, it wasn't really a "coming" across something as it has always been a close part of my center. As I've stated I was raised a Roman Catholic under Vatican 1. I knew at a very early age that I did not believe in this faith nor most it's teaching, Though some enlightenment can be gained from these teaching they just aren't my cup of tea, if you please. So I made sure that I was not to do my confirmation. I do not practice any type of organized religion but do not judge those who are very faithful to them as many people very close to me are. I am what I would describe as a searcher. As I study the writings of most religions as well as gnostic, celtic ect, Yes, I read a lot.
For me, being spiritual is quite different than being religious. Being spiritual is being in tune. It's not rules and judgements it's learning together, sharing, caring and enjoying all that creation is offering. Most of all it is LOVE. All You Need is LOVE! Love of self, love of others, love of animals, birds, insects Mother Earth. Ok, wait I'm starting to sound like a flower child :p :thumbup:
Peace
Cailen
Dearest Cailen, First I will
Dearest Cailen,
First I will say, Thank you very much, Second I will say I love you and you are so wonderful a spirit, a benevolent child of God. What you just wrote is so powerful and inspiring.
You see, you have just stated that nothing can stop us from progressing upward in life, nothing at all, not even what someone thought of us.
Love is truly what we have been, what we are and what we will always be. Thank you dear one for your heart.
With gratitude and blessing
Ekene
Blessings be unto you
:wub: Blessings be unto you Ekene! Your words of kindness and love are so very uplifting! To share a wee bit of a secret with you, it's taken me sometime and practice writing to actually summit my thoughts here as it seems most write beautiful poetry and though every now and again I have moments when I come up with a line of poetry I'm more of the type where the sentence, "poet and don't even know it" comes to mind! Receiving positive feedback such as yours is grand indeed! :thumbup: I've had many friends suggest to me that I should write a book and share my journey, wisdoms and little stories with all but everytime I sit down to write my mind goes dead blank! Give me an ear and I'll tell you about why I feel butterflies were named incorrectly and why I call them flutterbyes! Maybe this forum is my avenue to at least getting some of my thoughts out there and shared with others!
Peace
Cailen
Dearest Cailen, I thank you
Dearest Cailen,
I thank you very very much for your sharing, I have appreciated very much all that you have written. I’d like to join the five stars from Gloria dear Cailen, and I am glad that you found Heavenletters or that Heavenletters found you!! :)
I think it is so true and wonderful what you say about LOVE, for that’s really IT. All we need is LOVE and I think all suffering, or most suffering arise out of the lack of love. :wub:
I love your sounding like a flower child dear Cailen. I don’t put limits, I can pray and join whoever prays God in what ever way may be, and I have done this, but often it’s the other side who puts them, but that’s no problem either, I love to share what can be shared, when there is stop, each one will go further on their own way to God and it’s ok, we all ONE but we feel and think all differently. :p
Many thanks again dear Cailen, I’d love to hear more from you dear !!! :blushing:
Love and blessings from Italy
Berit
P.S.: I am 42, 11 november 64, so we are quite near from age, although all that matters is how our hearts feel. Hugs to you dear !!! :blushing:
Berit
11/11/64! My neice, who is
;) 11/11/64! My neice, who is actually more like a daughter to me, shares the same date as you with the exception of the year as she was born in 1987, makes it easy to remember her birthday because when said aloud the date sort of rhymes! 11 11 87 :p
Honestly I love the idea of sounding like a flower child especially since my passion is gardening! People always tell me gardening looks like so much work but it's my joy! I've purposely set out plants that feed natures littler beings. Bees, flutterbyes, birds, spiders, grasshoppers, squirrels ect. Although the squirrels and I tend to go round and round as they like to dig up tulip bulbs and leave me whole peanuts in return! Eat the peanuts NOT the tulips but they just look at me as if to ask where the condiments are! Little stinkers.
Thank you, Berit for your kind words as well as warm welcome! I, too am very happy that fate showed me the way to HeavenLetters and look forward to contributing more!
Peace,
Cailen
Dearest Cailen, you are such
Dearest Cailen,
you are such an inspiration! I feel all warm inside from just READING your words - I imagine you must be such a heartwarm person to be around!
What a weird coincidence - I am born 11 11 81 :)
And in norwegian butterflies are called "sommerfugl" which means summer-bird! I like your idea of flutterbye more, though :)
much love to you!
Dearest Cailen and
Dearest Cailen and Margaretha,
the 11 11 is really crowded now, wonderful ! :Rolleyes:
I am glad you did find Heavenletters, you are so sweet and wonderful ! :wub:
A most dear hug from Milan to both of you, and lots of LOVE LIGHT AND JOY!! :blushing:
...flutterby is really nice I think, also sommerfugl !!! :)
Berit
Wow! I've never thought of
Huh: Wow! I've never thought of myself as an inspiration! What a grand role to play! I am used to people referring to me as "PollyAnna" as I usually look at life from a cup half full viewpoint! Even so called negative happenings tend to have a silver lining that is positive if only for the lesson learned through the negative experience.
:big 11 11 seems to be this weeks number!! My niece will be excited to hear that I've met so many people who share her special day!
So glad I mentioned my thoughts on flutterbyes as I've never heard what butterflies are called in other areas of Mother Earth! Just figured everyone called them butterflies! I LOVE Sommerfugl especailly since it means summer bird! That suits a butterfly much better than butterfly! I'll have to research into how the butterfly got it's name -- just out of curiousity!
Thank you very much for your uplifting words Margaretha -- you've left me all giddy inside -- heck I might even go and leave lip prints on my mirror -- darn where's the winking smiley when you need him?? Out to lunch I bet ;o)
Peace,
Cailen