Changing the World - Music PPT

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Loving-kindness

I am consistently amazed at how this beautiful Universe works. I love the little (and big) messages that are given to show me "the way." Yesterday, I had a great friend tell me that my last blog post inspired her to "speak up" and call 3-1-1 to report two dogs left in a hot car with the windows rolled up. This makes me think about all of the wonderful changes that are going to be made when we all support and act with loving-kindness.

I have also been trying to sort through my feelings about activism and how to do it without aggression and anger fueling my agenda, because anger and aggression just don't "feel right." So, here is the message I received today from Pema Chodron's book, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times...

When we hold on to our opinions with aggression,

no matter how valid our cause, we are simply adding

more aggression to the planet, and violence and pain increase.

Cultivating nonaggression is cultivating peace.

How perfect is that! I have a sense of peace this morning that I will and am making a difference in the birthing world. I will ask for the patience to help me maintain my nonaggression and subdue the feeling of immediacy that begets agendas and anger while overshadowing the essential aspects of clarity of mind, and openness.

I am excited to continue my journey and witness the beauty and empowerment of women experiencing the wonder of conception, pregnancy, birth and mothering.

Much love, peace and gratitude to all of you that share the path of loving-kindness!

Speak Up!

I read a quote today: "Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes." So, here I am...speaking, and if you could hear me or see me...I am shaking. I am shaking because changes to our maternity system need to happen NOW! I was also inspired by something else I read the other day...set your goal to be like someone you admire. Today is the day that I am going to start speaking up, speaking from my heart so that I can start to make changes like all of those women that I admire so much. After I rattled off my passions and goals to my dad today, he asked me, "So, you are going to be a shaker?" Yes, Dad, I am going to be a mover & shaker. I am going to continue researching and start talking and writing louder, because my whispers aren't helping moms and babies and families. I am committed to help other women find their voices, so that they can speak what their hearts are telling them and assist them in breaking through the cultural ideology surrounding birth in the US. I will make mistakes along the way, and I invite you to point them out to me, so that I can learn from them. This is the only way to invoke a transformation that will save and improve lives. Today, I vow to speak my mind, even if my voice shakes. Do you?

Birth and Death

I was honored to attend the birth of a beautiful baby boy just recently. Because he died at 40 weeks gestation, I am still processing through this birth. I am going through all of the emotions and nurturing them as they arrive. Hopefully, I can express my thoughts soon, so that my words will be helpful to anyone who may be confronted with the death of a baby. Until then, much peace and gratitude to all transformed by this sweet baby and to all of those who have assisted me through this process.

Busy, busy, busy...

Just so you all know that I haven’t forgotten about you, I have been busy, busy, busy and blogging has not been my top priority :-)

Here are all of the things I have going on:

Postpartum Doula Training Program online with Birth Arts International

Advanced Women’s Herbal & Aromatherapy Online Course with Birth Arts International

Hypno-Doula Certification

Apprentice Midwife with the lovely, Debra Day

Portfolio Evaluation Process for my CPM through NARM

GRE preparation for admittance to graduate school Fall 2011

Birth Arts International Doula Training Instructor planning for a doula training in Austin Fall 2010

JinGui Qi Gong Training

Not to mention observing the home-learning of our two children, taking care of numerous pets, being a loving wife, enjoying friends & sometimes cleaning the house!!!

My 1st Assist

Early Sunday morning, Debra called me with two simple words, “Come on!” This was my cue to meet her at my first homebirth as a midwife’s apprentice. I was so excited, but apprehensive. I was excited to be attending a home birth but apprehensive about the discoveries I would make... “Do I agree with Debra’s birth philosophies? Would we work well together? Would I feel comfortable being in the midwife role?”

I learned so much in the early morning hours of March 28th. I learned that I was on the right path. I learned that I was where I was meant to be. For the few previous months, I had been following my intuition and walking through the many doors of opportunities. These opportunities lead me here, to this beautiful birth and I was grateful.

I fell more in love with Debra during this birth, and this birth confirmed our connection and ability to work together. It also confirmed my ability to be in the role as a midwife. Maybe one day, I will share with the mom how special her birth was to me. Maybe one day, I will share with you the story of my first “catch.” Now how amazing is that?

Ibu (Mother) Robin Lim

I met Robin Lim at the CIMS forum a couple of weeks ago. This woman is amazing! She is so full of love and doing a great service from her heart. She is a midwife with 3 birthing centers in Bali, Aceh and Haiti. Her website (http://www.bumisehatbali.org/) has field notes from Haiti and a list of supplies that each birthing center is in need of.

One of her daughters also attended the conference and showed a screening of her new movie dedicated to the work her mother has done. This documentary is amazing!

It is women like these that give me the inspiration to follow my heart and make a positive impact on our world. They are a great testimony to the power of love!