Catherine Duffy

Dancing in the Rain

by Guest Blogger on December 20, 2012

The wind is howling. The air is chilly. Trees are bending. The sky is dark with little twinkling stars. There is definitely a feeling of change in the air. Winter has finally come. Blowing its way through reminding me of the power of nature. Reminding me of the power of all that we have no control over. Reminding me to let go and go with the flow.

The rain pelted down on the roof last night almost as if it was trying to smash through. Holding my ears so I could block out the noises and go back to sleep, I was in awe of the power of nature. Of all that is out there that I have no control over. Allowing me to understand when I resist that which is meant to be I will always feel defeated, deflated and rejected. Because it is not for me to control nor for me to understand. But when I go with the flow like the trees bending and flexing in the wind, I will always be okay. I will have nothing to fear. Nothing to hide. I am always safe. Cocooned from the outside destruction.

Pulling the covers over my head. Grateful to have covers and shelter out of the winter storm blowing through my island home. Thinking of all those people less fortunate who have no shelter. Who have no blankets. No bed. No place to call home. Grateful for all I have. Protected from the rain, the wind and the winter gales blowing through.

Waking up this morning at 4.45 watching time slipping by. Knowing I had to get up but not wanting to. Just lying there and watching time slowly tick by. Listening to the sound of silence and enjoying every moment of it. Reveling in the year gone by. Thinking about what’s to come. Hoping this winter storm blows through quick enough that my family gets to travel tomorrow for a short interlude of escape from reality. 

Getting up this morning feeling a twinge of wonder about the changes I feel coming. Feeling life flowing through every part of my body. Appreciating every aspect of my life. Sitting in silence. Letting my fingers guide me this morning. Writing what comes to me and enjoying hearing what my soul is telling me about me. Feeling possibility oozing through every pore of my body. Through every cell that forms my physical being. Allowing the inner me to guide me. Add sparkle to me. Knowing that when I surrender and let go. When I show gratitude and experience it. When I give of myself to those who need it, doors open to a world that allows possibility, hope, faith, love and light to dwell and radiate. 

That’s where I feel I am right now in that house of faith, hope, love, light, peace, possibility and prosperity and for this blessing and feeling I am truly grateful. Howling winds and all.

And then I was led to this quote, “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” And this is why I am feeling so full of life because life is showing me that despite there being a storm howling outside, I am learning to dance in the rain. And what a liberating feeling it is to know I am capable of dancing, growing, moving even in the most harrowing moment. Even in the strongest storm. All I need do is let go and let be. With faith and grace. Knowing this storm too shall pass.

***About Catherine Duffy – A woman in search of truth. A wife trying to love unconditionally. A mother trying to raise good citizens. A writer bursting through. Enjoying life’s journey.  Catherine can be found @duffy_catherine and on her blog from Bermuda · http://bermudacat.blogspot.com.

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Receiving a Powerful Blessing of All Knowing

by Guest Blogger on November 22, 2012

I realized I’ve been manifesting many things without realizing I have. A revelation that has shaken me up. Leaving me puzzled about why I am manifesting some things. But the one prize I have desired for quite some time has been eluding me. Toying with me. Taunting me.  Leaving me questioning why.  Is it because I truly do not believe I am worthy of the prize? Is it because I am in the midst of learning more, teaching more, seeking more in order to be in the frame of mind to allow me to accept that prize? Without question. Without guilt.
I have had a wonderful weekend of total surrender. A weekend where I allowed myself to just be. To stare at the moon as I did last night in gratitude and awe of its beauty. Watching clouds obscure it then pass on by. Watching its light flicker. Watching it shining majestically from its perch in the sky. Filled with wonder and love with this beautiful place we call our world, our universe.
I surrendered to being in the moment every single moment of the day. Spent the day on Saturday chatting with a friend of mine about the fears I am facing – about seeing my life flash before my eyes. Reaching an epiphany with her I had not fully recognized until I spoke the words to her.  Acknowledging to her and to myself that my life seemed to alter in a way  I still don’t understand when I watched my dad snake down the hill to the hospital to see my mother. Only for him to return to let us know she had gone forever from our lives. My life. Never to return.
Is that the point in my life when I began this process of self sabotage? Of believing  I was unworthy because if I was worthy enough, my mother would never have been taken from me. Of  believing if I was too successful , somehow I would have to pay for that success as I paid when my mother was snatched from me overnight? Is this why I keep dancing around my prize because I’m afraid of what can happen? Of what and whom I will invite in?
I looked at the beautiful full moon last night. Staring at it for a long time.  Declaring to the Universe I am ready now – ready to give and receive that which is rightfully mine. Ready to embrace the fact that I am the miracle I was sent here to be. That I am love and light, peace and forgiveness, worthy of all the gifts to be bestowed upon me. With gratitude and abandon. Without question. I am ready.
Watching the light of the moon getting brighter with each declaration. Less clouds covering its face. Allowing me to fully see its light. The universal and unforsaken light of all that is. Filling me with wonder and awe and possibility. Filling me with gratitude and love and light. Filling me with the life force I sometimes take for granted. Filling me up in ways I cannot even begin to describe. Letting me know it is time for me to embrace and acknowledge I am ready. And I am. Ready.
And for receiving this powerful blessing of all knowing, I am truly and honestly grateful. Amen.
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***About Catherine Duffy – A woman in search of truth. A wife trying to love unconditionally. A mother trying to raise good citizens. A writer bursting through. Enjoying life’s journey.  Catherine can be found @duffy_catherine and on her blog from Bermuda · http://bermudacat.blogspot.com.

 

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The Challenge of Present Moment Living

by Guest Blogger on November 15, 2012

What happens when we try too hard? When we push too much? When we feel like time is running out? What happens when we lose patience? When we want everything now rather than waiting for it to materialize? When we do nothing to make it materialize because we are so afraid of failing?
How do we know when we are doing what we are meant to be doing? Or how do we do what we are meant to be doing when we have responsibilities that we can’t just walk away from? Or are we always doing what we are meant to be doing?
When are we ever satisfied? Lately I have been thinking about dreams and goals that I would like to achieve and what I realized is that I have been manifesting many dreams and aspirations in my life. Only to discover that once I achieve them or manifest them they don’t feel the way I thought they would. They don’t bring me the joy I thought they would. The feelings of euphoria don’t last in the way I thought they would. Why is that?
I am finding the journey is so much better than the destination. But yet in some of the cases I have been so busy trying to get to the destination that I have rushed through the journey or been impatient with the journey that when I reach the destination I am disappointed. Leaving me to ask, are we ever satisfied or are we always seeking more?
Questioning when is enough enough? Asking the Universe and the Divine to help me to be more settled. To be more present as lately I am finding my thoughts are all over the place. Not lingering on one thought for too long. But bombarded with all sorts of questions and feelings.  And then I feel overwhelmed so I don’t do anything which leaves me feeling disappointed. Leaving me feeling like I am standing on the opposite side of the street looking out over a beautiful green meadow and there on the other side is the Promised Land that I know is mine but for some reason I can’t get to it. Feeling like it is out of my reach because I am so busy trying to find every reason not to cross the meadow rather than just crossing it. One step at a time. Rather than just enjoying the beauty of the journey.
So this morning I decided to write about my frustrations, my concerns, my disappointments hoping that by doing so I can bring myself back to present moment living rather than worrying about time ahead of me that I have no control over. To remind myself my destination is reached simply by putting one foot in front of the other and going with the flow rather than running at full speed and not seeing the paths along the way that may take me to the Promised Land meant for me rather than the one I think is meant for me.
So today I will surrender and see where I end up rather than trying to end up before I even begin. Surrender to the present moment. Letting go of all expectation and worry and goals and dreams. Taking a page out of my children’ s book to enjoy every moment of my journey.  Present moment living is not as elusive as we believe. It is real. Present all the time. A gift of the Universe. And it is all that we have. And for this lesson I am truly grateful. Amen.
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***About Catherine Duffy – A woman in search of truth. A wife trying to love unconditionally. A mother trying to raise good citizens. A writer bursting through. Enjoying life’s journey. Catherine can be found @duffy_catherine and on her blog from Bermuda · http://bermudacat.blogspot.com.
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Patience is Truly a Virtue

by Guest Blogger on November 8, 2012

My patience is really being tested this morning. I am now finding I am in some sort of cat and mouse game with the Internet. I am having to walk around the house to find pockets where I can get Internet access. My normal sanctuary for writing is off limits. No Internet access – not even on my blackberry.
For some reason we are being plunged into an information void. I feel like we are in a black hole with some sort of gravitational pull that is being thrust upon us for reasons I don’t understand. We have had every techie reviewing our problem and everyone is stumped. Then to wake up this morning to find I am now getting spotty Internet service from my blackberry is really causing me to become paranoid.
What in the world is the Universe trying to tell me? I am standing in the dark in the corner of my Laundry room looking out at the dark morning sky trying to understand the lesson I am meant to get from this torture. Staring at Venus the lone light in the otherwise black sky and asking her for guidance. For the strength to not become too much of a cynic. To accept that sometimes I will not always understand where I’m going or why the truth is being hidden from me but as long as I have faith, patience and the ability to surrender the darkness will be replaced with the light.
And even if I have to keep moving around until I find a path that allows me access to the place I need, then at least I will know it is okay to move. To understand and accept it is okay to do what I need to get me closer to where I am meant to be because sometimes the answer is not black and white. Sometimes it’s grey.
Just like I found a spot in my laundry that has given me a portal to the Internet, I am learning there is always a spot for us to find the portal to our innermost desires. And sometimes it’s under the most trying circumstances because only then are we able to access what we truly need because we are forced to think and operate outside of our comfort zones.
And for this trying lesson I am truly grateful. But I would still really like the Internet back now. Please.

***About Catherine Duffy – A woman in search of truth. A wife trying to love unconditionally. A mother trying to raise good citizens. A writer bursting through. Enjoying life’s journey.  Catherine can be found @duffy_catherine and on her blog from Bermuda · http://bermudacat.blogspot.com.

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In Gratitude for the Empty Cart

by Guest Blogger on October 26, 2012

Last evening I was leaving the office. Going down into the parking lot. Got off the elevator and stepped out to find an empty cart. A cart like a still life painting standing there on its own waiting for its story to be told. Its form to be illustrated. All sorts of emotions passed through me as I looked at that empty cart. The very cart I had seen full, just a few hours earlier, with the possessions, memories, collections of a woman who had been made redundant after having worked for 18 years at the same job. Remembering seeing the woman going back and forth packing up what was her life for 18 years. A life that was no longer hers and my heart broke.
I looked at that empty cart – a symbolic reminder of the fact that we come into this world with nothing and we leave the world the same way, with nothing.  No matter how much we accumulate. No matter how much time we have. We all begin and end the same way. Forcing me to question why we spend so much of our lives accumulating so much stuff only for it to be left behind when we go. When we move to the next dimension. When this life of accumulation means nothing.
I stood and thought about all the things the woman had been taking away from the life that was no longer hers and wondered what it felt like to be closing the door on 18 years of life and walking into the unknown. Looking at the empty cart and thinking about how her whole life has and will change. Wondering if she is fearful. Knowing she has to be fearful. Change always causes fear particularly when it comes when we are least expecting it to come.
Thinking of how that empty cart was the depiction of something that needed to be filled and would be filled once again with someone else’s treasures. Someone else’s new beginning in the same way it had been filled with the woman’s ending.  Like the revolving door. Endings and beginnings. Beginnings and Endings.
I inhaled and exhaled then finally found the will to walk away from the empty cart. Knowing I can’t change what has happened. That I have no control over anyone’s life. Knowing there is a period of grieving we all experience with change. Remembering there is a cycle to everything and that as long as we are present moment living, we will have the power and will to ride the cycles.
Thinking that empty cart was left there for a reason for me. To remind me that not so long ago I was in the same position as the woman. Reminding me that life can change in an instant but as long as I have faith, love, compassion, my own dreams and accept change as an opening for me to explore more about who I am and who I am not then I will be okay. As will she if she takes her time to understand why she is in the position she finds herself.
In gratitude to taking pause to understand the symbolic nature of that empty cart for me. For reminding me life is a revolving door. The empty cart will once again be filled in more ways than that woman thought possible.  I know because the same happened to me and will happen again in the future because life is a cycle of changes.
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***About Catherine Duffy – A woman in search of truth. A wife trying to love unconditionally. A mother trying to raise good citizens. A writer bursting through. Enjoying life’s journey.  Catherine can be found @duffy_catherine and on her blog from Bermuda · http://bermudacat.blogspot.com.
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Learning to stop pursuing to allow space for receiving

by Guest Blogger on October 11, 2012

I don’t know about you but this has been a very strange week for me. A week of searching, seeking and trying to understand who I am and where I am going. A week of questioning , probing. A week of great uncertainty. Where my emotions have been all over the place. Sometimes calm. Others times taking on everyone else’s energy and emotions then flying off the handle.

I have used meditation quite a lot this week to center myself. Refocus. Asking the Universe for guidance. I’m usually a person that can make decisions without too much effort as long as I have the information I need to make decisions. But this week I have found myself faltering. Not making decisions as fast as I would like. Not finding the information I need. Nothing resonating within me.

So this morning I decided to sleep in. To miss the sun rising. To just stay cocooned in bed. Letting my worries and concerns stream through my mind. Unfiltered. Without stopping them. Just letting them come as they saw fit. Surprised by how many there were. Taking them in.

Through this process I realized at the heart of my uncertainty is the fact that I am worrying about tomorrow. About the fact that I am nearing 50 and my life is not where I thought it was going to be. Leaving me wondering about how much time I have left to fulfill my dreams. To show myself and my children how great the mind is as long as we believe. To understand that as long as we believe, as long as we stretch our imaginations, as long as we keep working toward our dreams, we will achieve them.

But my question is, what if the life we dream of is not what we are meant to achieve? What if we keep searching for something that constantly seems to be beyond our reach? What happens then? Do we abandon that dream or do we just keep going where we are and hope that like the butterfly, if we stand still long enough it will flutter to us and land on our shoulder?

Is that what life is teaching me? That I need to give up pursuing and instead try receiving as much as I can. That I need to be patient and let life find me rather than me trying to find it. Is that why I slept in this morning so I could understand that sometimes we just need to be right where we are in the present moment in order to receive what we are meant to receive. That if we are constantly moving in all different directions, changing tactics and trying to reach our end goal before we are ready then we will end up frustrating ourselves and others around us?

That all we need is ask once and then let go and if what we ask for is meant for us we will achieve it. I am going to try to let go. To surrender. Accepting sometimes I won’t be able to because I am human and infallible. That I am full of imperfections and hopes and dreams. To learn to trust I am as I am because I am. Allowing myself to surrender to the abundance and treasures of the Universe to give myself space to receive.

Here’s to a lazy Saturday – giving myself permission to just be….

***About Catherine Duffy – A woman in search of truth. A wife trying to love unconditionally. A mother trying to raise good citizens. A writer bursting through. Enjoying life’s journey.  Catherine can be found @duffy_catherine and on her blog from Bermuda · http://bermudacat.blogspot.com.

 

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In gratitude to the light bringers

by Guest Blogger on September 28, 2012

 recently watched an interview Oprah did with Deepak Chopra and these words resonated so deeply within me, I thought I had to share them. To help spread the light.
In Deepak Chopra’s words, “Life is a field of infinite possibility and an opportunity to evolve in the direction of truthfulness and harmony.
“Love – the ultimate truth at the heart of creation. It is not a sentiment or emotion.
“I want to thank all people who have given me so much love without me even asking for it.”
Oprah asked who would you like to forgive. His response. “They are already forgiven.”
What Chopra would like to be remembered as: “A passing breeze. A pattern of behavior of the Universe that came and is now gone but the fragrance lingers.”
This is why I love Oprah because she fills me with hope through her programs. Whether she lives her life of truth every day that is not for me to judge. But what I know for sure about her is that she is constantly seeking her truth and for likeminded people to help her and the rest of us to find our truth and be it for as long as we can. Recognizing we are all human and infallible. Imperfect. Recognizing every roadblock is a path for growth if we are strong enough to see it as such. If we resilient enough to recognize its pattern.
Oprah brings to us, to me, people that are trying their best to be light beings. People who believe in energy shifting and the power of energy. The power of intention. People that can help us to realise just how powerful we really are. Not in changing the world by trying to change others. But in changing the world by changing ourselves. The way we think. The way we act. The energy we project.
I read Chopra’s wise words again and again because they make me feel so alive. So capable. So full of all the life force that surrounds me every day. So beautiful in a complete way. To know there are people in this world who think like Chopra. Forgive like him. Who believe in the infinite fills me with the Divine power and spirit. Allowing me to shift my thought patterns and hold on to them for as long as I can. And when they retreat to the Dark side, chant them to myself so I can see the Light again.
Thank you to all the light bringers in the world for coming forward and to Oprah for providing the stage for them to be seen by those of us who would not otherwise know of their existence. May the Divine Spirit and Light continue to radiate throughout the world through the minds of those who are willing to share. Reminding us that life is a field of in finite possibility.

 ***About Catherine Duffy – A woman in search of truth. A wife trying to love unconditionally. A mother trying to raise good citizens. A writer bursting through. Enjoying life’s journey. Catherine can be found @duffy_catherine and on her blog from Bermuda · http://bermudacat.blogspot.com.

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A Storm and OWN remind me of the importance of surrender

by Guest Blogger on September 13, 2012

Yesterday I was given one of the greatest gifts and blessings in a long time. I was given a storm which forced me to stay indoors to surrender to the day. And because we were marooned inside we decided that everyone would be able to do what their hearts desired. That meant I got to watch Super Soul Sunday on Facebook. And what a blessing that turned out to be for me.

Yesterday allowed me to understand there is no such thing as chance. No such thing as luck. Instead life is full of synchronicities that draw us to the place where we are meant to be. I looked out the window at the storm that was blowing outside. Stirring up the atmosphere getting rid of all the old making room for the new. While as I sat safely inside, the same happening for Oprah and Iyanla on Super Soul Sunday. I watched the pair of them getting rid of old beliefs and getting rid of old assumptions. Repairing a relationship that needed to be repaired. Listening to each other honestly and openly.

Often with tears in my eyes as I watched two women being honest with each other. Not waiting until they walked away from each other to tear each other apart. Making space for compassion and forgiveness. Empathy and respect. Closing the door to ill will, jealousy and backstabbing. So refreshing.

As I watched these two power houses go through a powerful process of healing, I understood that sometimes we have to go out on our own before we are ready so that we may fall publicly. To be humiliated. And the reason we are meant to is to give us the ability to make room within ourselves to learn the lesson we could not before. To learn humility, patience, compassion, forgiveness, and respect. To learn who we are and who we are not. To learn what we are capable of and what we are not.

Sometimes we have to fall as Iyanla did in order to open ourselves to surrender. To, as Oprah and Iyanla showed on Super Soul Sunday, open our arms wide and surrender to the message of the Universe without any preconceived notions of who we are and who we are meant to be. Only through falling are we able to look up and around to see we are not victims. To see we are creators of our own destiny. To learn we are only hampered by what we allow to happen to us and we cannot blame anyone but ourselves for where we find ourselves in our lives. BECAUSE WE HAVE ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN. Invited in with open arms that which is comfortable for us rather than making space for those uncomfortable times that will take us where we need to go and be.

Thank you Universe for bringing me Tropical Storm Leslie and OWN on the same day. For allowing me the space to understand surrender. To recognize surrender is the process of opening myself up to the lessons I was brought here to learn. Opening myself wide. Letting go of expectations and preconceived notions. For understanding surrendering does not mean giving up and lying down believing we are victims. Not at all. Surrender is the exact opposite.

Surrender means we get up and keep going. Surrender means sending our intentions out into the world. And then we let go by going about being who we are. And when the time is right, when we are ready and when the universe is ready for us, we will get what we desire.
***About Catherine Duffy – A woman in search of truth. A wife trying to love unconditionally. A mother trying to raise good citizens. A writer bursting through. Enjoying life’s journey.  Catherine can be found @duffy_catherine and on her blog from Bermuda · http://bermudacat.blogspot.com.

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