lunedì 29 giugno 2020

IF THIS HELPS



Thursday 24 March 2016



This morning I woke up very early, and, wanting to take advantage of the quiet and read something,
I came across yet another article written by a young woman on depression, anxiety, panic attacks,
difficulty in relationships, etc.
Those words brought to mind different situations experienced especially during my childhood and
adolescence. It made me think of the internal wars that have been going on in recent days, wars
in which young people in particular, still so fragile, find themselves greatly involved.
All of this reminded me that I have a moral duty to try to be somehow helpful by sharing some advice
from my personal experiences. So I turn to those who may need it, and hope it will help.

1. Remember that you have free will

Life is a wonderful gift that has been given to you. You have the power through your choices
 to make it better. Although it may not often seem that way, it all depends on you and not on others:
this is such a wonderful thing.

2. Focus on all that is good and positive

And share it !! Train your mind to do this and you will learn not only to feel better, 
but also to make those around you feel better by sending them good vibes.

3. Give thanks as much as possible, sincerely and deeply.

Do not miss an opportunity to give thanks even for the smallest things and for what we tend
to take for granted. Gratitude is very powerful: it brings up joy, makes us more humble,
and makes us realize what we already have.

4. Search for nature

When you can, find a moment of solitude. WWherever you prefer, whether it be in your room,
the place  you love in the meadow, in front of a sunset, in a wood, etc.
Go out and hug the trees !!!!
There is nothing like nature to regenerate the soul (body and spirit together) and 
you can feel the power of creation.

5. Use your talents to have joy and help others

But also use your own experiences !!! Don't waste even a minute wanting to give a hand
to those who find themselves where you once stood. You've been there.
You can be more useful than you think and you will realize how many blessings are reserved
for you thanks  to this-to know that you have raised, comforted or somehow made someone 
happy is pure joy !!

6. Fill your mind and heart with everything that edifies the Spirit,

that brings peace, serenity, joy, that teaches you important lessons, that enriches you spiritually and makes you become a better person. Avoid what fills you with nothing and take away space for the rest.

7. Research the beauty and nobility

that brings you closer to the divine and surround yourself with it: books, poetry, music, art ...

8. The most important relationship  you need to cultivate is that 
with your Heavenly Father.

Heaven is not just an ornament, it is there for everyone: use it!!!
Make yours become an ever deeper relationship and, opening your heart
to Him, lose yourself in Him in long chats.
You will understand that you are truly never alone.
He knows your heart better than you do.
His unconditional love is the driving force of everything, 
including getting you up in the morning.
Feeling that love is the biggest push you can have.

9. Don't force yourself, but love yourself !

Don't force yourself to do something that isn't in tune with what you are,
or something you simply don't feel ready for -perhaps it's just the wrong time.
It is of no benefit to you or to others to force something, especially in relationships
with others. Instead, remember to love yourself! 
Follow a good diet (lbut love food!), give yourself a healthy rest,
try to find your psycho-emotional balance.
Remember that you are you, unique and irreplaceable, and this what makes you special.
Avoid comparisons with others unless you want to be inspired to be a better person.
And don't think you're not "normal".
What does "normal" even mean anyways?

10. Relax and Keep It Light!

Use your sense of humor to put every situation in the right perspective.
Laughing is so good for the health, it relaxes and often brings things back
to the right perspective and reminds you that after all.. 
we are here on earth to experience joy!  :)


I sincerely thank those who inspired me to writw this today reminding me
one again of my task in this life  by renewing my testimony that
our weaknesses will one day be our strenght.


A hug


Eleonora









giovedì 18 giugno 2020

TRANSFORM THE WOUNDS

April 26, 2016

I want to say a profound thank you to an individual in particular today.
I do not know her. Her name is Luisa Luce Campana (also by coincidence she has my own surname 😄) 
and she always shares positive and inspirational thoughts.
A  couple of days ago, I read something that led me to reflect and not to hold back what 
I want to say.
It all starts with a sentence by Lucia Giovannini taken from her book The power of questions.

"In Kinsugi every crack, rather than being hidden, is clearly highlighted and enhanced.
In Japanese culture it is believed that when somethng has suffered an injury and has a history, 
it becomes more beautiful."

Luisa writes:

"A vase that falls and shatters.
The pieces are scattered on the floor and we bend over to pick them up,
thinking that by now this object is unrecoverable.
Is it really? Or have we just learned that something even more beautiful cannot 
be made out of something shattered?
There is an ancient practice that enhances by filling every fracture with gold
as a sign of a great experience that brings change and wealth.
Does this also happen in our culture? Unfortunately not.
We live in a reality that hides every scar, body and soul.
They teach us to be ashamed of those signs that pass through the body 
as a memory of a life experience.
They teach us to hide without showing the traces of suffering and furrows
that cross the soul.
Almost as if life were to be a straight line made of events established at the beginning,
and not an extraordinary experience as it really is.
How would things change if we considered what we call defects, scars, pains,
things impossible to overcome as unique signs of our exclusivity?
What would it be like to change the look of how we observe our life?
Fixing a vase by gluing it with gold is the expression of an exaltation of the unique
value of that object.
we are also UNIQUE.
There never existed and never will exist, a being like us.
This is where our true beauty lies.
When we love each other, when we learn to do it deeply, we fill our body and soul
with gold, light."

The image of the broken vase reminded me of Elder Holland's splendid speech
on depression and mental illness during the October 2013 general conference.




So how do you best respond when mental or emotional challenges confront you
or those you love? Above all, never lose faith in your Father in Heaven,
who loves you more than you can comprehend. (...)
It is there for you when you are sad or happy,discouraged or hopeful.
God's love is there for you whether or not you fell you deserve [it].
It's simply always there. (...)
Trust in God.
Hold on in  His love.
Know that one day the dawn will break brightly and all shadows of mortality
will flee.
Though we may feel we are "like a broke vessel",
as the Psalmist says, we must remember, 
that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter.


Today April 26, 2016, the day before Easter, I can only homage to my Heavenly Father 
and my Savior who, for having given His life, has given us all the opportunity 
to have eternal happyness.
For Him, nobody is a "broken vessel" but each is considered a precious vessel.
Through His wounds now covered with gold He also fills mine.

Thanks!!!!

Eleonora

Ps Here you can find the entire speech by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland




Photocredit by www.eticamente.net


mercoledì 17 giugno 2020

Filtri

Non mi è mai piaciuto farmi fotografare.
Non è un vezzo.
E' proprio che non sono fotogenica.
D'altro canto mi accorgevo quanto invece lo fossero amici, parenti, conoscenti.
Nelle foto tutti bellissimi.
Poi ho scoperto un piccolo trucco: si chiamano filtri.
Con un filtro puoi ringiovanire, avere un sorriso smagliante, un'acconciatura come appena usciti dal parrucchiere, un make up da star, ecc,
Oggi in famiglia e tra amici ci siamo sbellicati ritoccando i nostri ritratti con Faceapp, l'applicazione del momento.
E tra una risata e un'altra è arrivata anche una riflessione.
In un mondo ossessionato dall'apparenza attiviamo filtri per ottenere maggiore bellezza.
Intanto però ricordiamoci di farlo anche con quelli che esaltano la nostra bellezza interiore.
Non sono app.
Ma si possono ottenere molto velocemente se si vuole.
Ve ne sono diversi.
Si chiamano gentilezza. linguaggio pulito, autocontrollo, pazienza, dolcezza..
E più filtri di questi useremo non solo non maschereremo  nulla di noi stessi ma saremo genuini e sinceri.
Saremo realmente bellissimi.

Un abbraccio.

Eleonora



144

Con accenti gentili parliamo

Con zelo

1.Con accenti gentili parliamo

a casa e dovunque siam,

la dolcezza trasforma ̑ogni cuore

se ̑usiamo ̑un linguaggio d’amor.

Chi ̑è triste sarà rincuorato,

coraggio ̑e speranza riavrà.

Se nubi oscurano ̑il cielo,

portiam gentilezza ̑e bontà.

Le parole gentili che pronuncerem,

nessuno potrà mai scordar.

Chi ci ̑ascolta udrà dolci note

che giungono liete dal cuor.

2.Come ̑i raggi dell’alba sui monti

risveglian la gioia nel cuor,

come ̑il canto di mille fontane

è ̑il dolce linguaggio d’amor.

Pei nostri accenti gentili

sorrider potrà il mondo ̑inter.

Ciascuno potrà ̑allor gioire

d’un caldo affetto sincer.

Le parole gentili che pronuncerem,

nessuno potrà mai scordar.

Chi ci ̑ascolta udrà dolci note

che giungono liete dal cuor.

Testo: Joseph L. Townsend, 1849–1942

Musica: Ebenezer Beesley, 1840–1906

Efesini 4:29–32

Proverbi 16:24





PS: bè qui mi sono divertita :)


venerdì 12 giugno 2020

Una "buona" crostata




Ieri il mio Jacob (dieci anni) all'ingresso del supermercato, notando un ragazzo che (lui non sapeva)
abitualmente chiede un qualche aiuto, mi prende da parte e mi dice all'orecchio:
"Mamma, posso prendere qualcosa per lui?"
Così Jacob ha scelto una bella e buona crostata al cioccolata.
Quando siamo usciti è andato a lasciargliela e, quando è tornato, con un sorriso compiaciuto 
mi ha rivelato: "Mamma, mi sento proprio felice".
E così abbiamo continuato parlando di quanto ci si senta bene a donare. 
Senza ma. Senza se.
Mi ha ricordato di una volta in cui una signora anziana mi aveva teso la mano chiedendo 
qualche spiccio e che dopo averglieli dati un uomo si era rivolto a me ammonendomi 
di non farlo più perchè (a suo dire) la signora era ricca  e truffava le persone così.
La mia reazione molto tranquilla è stata:
"Non importa. Se dovesse essere così il problema sarebbe suo, non mio. Io intanto so di avere
fatto la cosa giusta".
Il Salvatore ha offerto il Suo amore, il Suo sacrificio a ognuno di noi.
Senza ma. Senza se.

"Riconoscendo che ogni cosa buona viene da Gesù Cristo, 
noi trasmetteremo più efficacemente la nostra fede agli altri.
Avremo coraggio quando ci troveremo davanti a compiti e situazioni
apparentemente impossibili.
Rafforzeremo la nostra determinazione a osservare le alleanze
che abbiamo stipulato per seguire il Salvatore.
Saremo riempiti dell'amore di Dio,
vorremo aiutare coloro che si trovano in difficoltà
senza esprimere giudizi,
ameremo i nostri figli e li cresceremo in rettitudine,
manterremo la remissione dei nostri peccati e gioiremo sempre.
Questi sono i frutti straordinari che derivano dal ricordare 
la bontà e la misericordia di Dio."

                          (da Considerate la bontà e la grandezza di Dio 
                                         anz Renlund
                                            conferenza generale aprile 2020)





                 
Photocredit to daveramsey.com

Ps Vale la pena leggere l'articolo da cui ho preso questa immagine :)