Loss

Time goes by in the blink of an eye. That is the one thing I know for certain. It seems like only yesterday that I was a teenager, then an adult, and now here I am, in my fifties. I have had so many incredible experiences to date; some brilliant, exciting, overwhelming, even joyous and uplifting. Then there’s been some experiences that have been challenging, devastating, and really confronting.

However, as I look back over the years, every single experience has gifted me in some way. Often, it can be challenging to find the gift in a difficult situation, but I can assure you, there is always a gift. It is always your responsibility to find the positive, beautiful, and inspiring present that is waiting to be unwrapped.

As we mature, we are often asked the following questions:

Would you go back and change anything?

Is there anything in your past that you would do differently?

Personally, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every piece of my past has enriched my life in some way. Every person who has come into my life has taught me something valuable.There have been no wrong choices – just lessons and gifts.

These are my 10 greatest gifts to date.

1. Manners

Times have changed, there is no denying that, but has society managed to keep up, in regards to manners? My parents instilled in us the importance of good manners, courtesy, respect for others, and most importantly, treating others as you wish to be treated. This gift from my parents has been one of my greatest gifts to date. YES, it is the gift that just keeps giving.

In business, showcasing proper business etiquette says a lot about you as a leader. As a person, and in regards to everyday life, good manners show your true essence and character. Manners can help you strengthen relationships, as well as change your life and the lives of so many around you.

2. Childlike energy

As kids, we were encouraged to have fun, play outside, and enjoy life. I never had a care in the world as a child. It was easy to create, imagine, and quite literally experience real freedom. My father (who is almost 90 years of age) to this day has still retained his love of fun, play, and sense of childlike energy. I have watched him with his great grandchildren, and I am sure that they think he is the same age as they are.

Having real fun can improve relationships. It can inspire us to be more creative and it can really help to reduce stress levels. Most of us are so burdened with commitments that we rarely stop and have fun. Somewhere in between being a kid and then being an adult, we forget how to play.

Don’t lose your childlike energy. Get outside, play more, and have fun. Laugh, dance, sing, be silly. Not only will it benefit your wellness, it will also keep you feeling young.

3. Family

There is an old saying, “You don’t get to pick your family”; but maybe (just maybe) we do.

Do we choose our parents before we are born to master certain life lessons? Patience, commitment, connection, tolerance, pure love – these are all life lessons my family has gifted to me. Family is always there, whether you need them or not. I treasure the gift of my family most of all.

4. Soul family

If you are really blessed, at some point in your life, the universe will gift you with finding your soul family. This year, I met my soul family. From one chance meeting that led to a gathering of like-minded souls, I realized that I had finally found my soul family.

Your soul family is the spiritual equivalent to your birth family here on Earth. When you meet your soul family and feel surrounded by kindred spirits, you will really notice that your heart and your soul can heal and regenerate.

5. Peace

I began meditating over 10 years ago. Meditation changed my life. It gifted me with real inner peace. It has provided me with the most priceless sense of well-being, as well as a clearness and clarity that has quite literally opened up a whole new world.

6. Setbacks and challenges

I don’t think anyone travels through life without experiencing setbacks and hard times. You can let your challenges knock you down or you can choose to let them be your greatest opportunity for growth. Life doesn’t always get easier, but we can always get stronger and more resilient. In turn, this gifts us with strength. Real strength is in your soul.

7. Self-belief

It is our birth right to have a healthy amount of self-worth and self-belief. It is the foundation for success. Believe that you can, and you are half way there. Self-belief has gifted me with opportunities and priceless experiences. It has allowed me to connect with the most amazing people worldwide.

In a society where we tend to put older people out to pasture and overlook their experience and wisdom, self-belief has gifted me with the determination to live a full life. If I let society take away my ability to share my life experiences to date, quite simply because of the number on my birth certificate, I would only be living half a life.

8. Loss

The passing of some of my precious family members and also my dearest friends has gifted me with the following:

Life is short, live it.

Your life can change in a heartbeat. Love it.

The people you love might be taken away from you, but their memory stays locked In your heart forever.

9. Love

There is no greater gift than love. Whether that love comes from heart-to-heart connections with partners, children, friends, or pets, love is the greatest gift of all

10. A new day

Every new day is a gift. It’s a gift denied to so many. A new day is a new beginning and another chance to change your life for the better.

Conclusion

In my fifty something years, I have come to believe there is a gift in everything.

Life is the greatest and most precious gift of all.

Featured photo credit: Viktor Hanacek via picjumbo.com

by Gregg Prescott, M.S.
Editor, In5D.com

In loving memory of my beloved sister Lola, July 12, 1958-December 30, 2011

Some cultures celebrate the death of a loved one instead of mourning for them which makes a lot more sense than the grieving process, but it is easier said than done when it involves the loss of a family member or someone close to you.

As evidenced by many near death experiences, crossing over to the other side is painless and often occurs before the body is officially deceased, which alleviates any fear while promoting a sense of warmth, comfort and love.

Most people who have a near death experience are often greeted by deceased family members after they follow the tunnel toward the light, although it is not time for them to be officially reunited with their loved ones. These are the people who bring back the eternal message of love for us.

There is no more pain for our loved ones as they join their family and soul groups on the other side. Most people who have a near death experience truly wish for us not to grieve for them because they are safe and loved. If anything, they would want us to be happy for them, knowing that in time, we will all be reunited.

In the meanwhile, the process is much more difficult on this side of the veil. For this incarnation, we will no longer be able to hug or talk to our loved ones, which creates a void of emptiness that is irreplaceable.

What many of us fail to realize is that we are all on a time schedule that we agreed upon in our soul contracts. When we were on the other side, it didn’t really seem to matter when we passed because we knew that we would return to Source, our soul groups and the unconditional love that we were feeling when we made our contracts. Besides, time is non-existent on the other side, so there is very little difference between 23 years or 5,000 years, it’s just a number.

I recently wrote an article after having an amazing psychic consultation with Shawn Cohen. I didn’t write everything I was told in that particular article, but close friends know the rest of the story. Shawn mentioned she saw the number 3 in regard to my sister, Lola, meaning she wasn’t sure if Lola had 3 days, weeks or months to live. As it turned out, Lola passed exactly 3 months after my sister Tara first visited Lola when she became seriously ill.

My Message to YOU from my Psychic Reading by Shawn Cohen

Additionally in this reading, my paternal grandfather mentioned that my sisters and I should not only follow the light when we pass, but also the smell of my grandmother’s pirogues. That statement was specifically directed for Lola, but I couldn’t write it that way in the article. (I made pirogues for dinner on the evening of her death)

I also received a message from Lola’s boyfriend who died in a car accident. He said, “Tell Lola there is no reason to mourn.” He added a lot more, but this is how people view death on the other side. They don’t want us to be sad because sadness isn’t part of their loving existence on the other side.

For example, even when a near death experience involves having a spouse and children on this side of the veil, people still do not want to return to this lifestyle after experiencing the unconditional love on the other side. Those who have experienced a near death are constantly reminding us that “I’m okay on the other side, please don’t worry about me!”

One of my friends on Facebook used Shawn’s services and stated the following:

“And when the time comes, you have a friend in Shawn Cohen, who can tell you that your sister is doing wonderful now…. Thank you, Gregg, for posting about Shawn, on your website. She helped me connect with my mom, dad, and brother.”

Shawn helped to provide the needed closure for my sister in regard to her relationship with her deceased boyfriend. Lola had me retell this reading to her time and time again.

I was assured by my grandfather that Lola would hold on until January 9th, 2012 for me to be able to fly out to visit her, but free will always takes precedence. Every night before I went to sleep, I connected with Lola’s higher self and told her not to hang on for me, and that it was alright to pass on to the other side whenever she was ready. More than my own selfish needs, I wanted her to be without pain and in the arms of loved ones on the other side.

While the sands of time may seem to erase some of the experiences we have created with our loved ones, they are all recorded in the Akashic Records to be relived during our life review when we pass over to the other side. In this scenario, we view our life in regard to how we made a difference to the people who we encountered throughout our journey. Then, we view our life through THEIR eyes.

Santos Bonacci said something that will always stay with me. He stated (and I’m paraphrasing) “From the second the sperm fertilizes the egg, we begin dying. We were alive before that moment”.

In the end, there is no separation. We truly are spiritual beings having a human experience.

Lola Helen Prescott was a loving soul whose heart was as big as her smile. As an amazing artist, Lola’s style reflected her own creative perspective which was absolutely unique. Her love for animals and nature equally matched her love for humanity. She has made a huge, positive difference in the lives of many people and is dearly missed by all.

See you on the other side, sis. ❤

Dreamers of the New Earth

JO ETTLES: “The 10 Greatest Gifts I Have Received In 50 Something Years”