My End of Year Inspirational Love Note:Farewell 2013

As we prepare to cross the bridge of time together tonight from 2013 into 2014, let us do so leaving all baggage and blockage behind that will weigh us down, slow us down, block us or prevent us from moving forward and progressing upward and onward to our higher greater good in the coming year.

Let us welcome in the new year 2014 with an open and receptive heart ready and willing to give our best and receive the very best life has in store for us in return. Let us go forth across the bridge of time into 2014 with open arms and high expectations for the glorious future full of blessings that lies before us.

Lastly, let us remember that no matter what you went through in the year now ending the best is still yet to come. And though you may have uncertainty's about what the future holds remember that it is God who holds your future. Therefore, go in peace and love knowing all is well. See you on the other side of the bridge to the New Year 2014.

"Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of the old. Behold, I will do a new thing..." Isaiah 43:18

Until next time...I surround you in Love & light! So remember to keep your heart open and your LOVE light on.


A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
Copyright 2013
References: Holy Bible, Lamsa's Aramaic Translation

All That I Am: An Affirmative Poem of Self Evaluation...Realization...and Revelation

I Am...Amazing...Beautiful...Radiant...Divine.

I Am...Giving...Peaceful...Harmonious...
Just...Zenful...one of a kind.

I AM...Humble...Gifted...Incredibly Talented...
Whole and Complete.

I Am...Generous...Genuine......Gentle...Caring...Courageous....
And impossible to Defeat.

I AM...Fearless...Faithful...Reliable...Creative...Unique.

I Am...Healthy...Wealthy...Abundant...
And Successful in all that I seek. 
I Am...Inspirational....Humorous...Hopeful...
Spiritually Strong yet Meek.

I Am...Classy...Considerate...Clever...Confident...
Faithful and Kind.
I Am...Loyal...Loving...Compassionate...Understanding...
And I let my God-Light Shine.

I Am...Respectful...Honest...Committed...Trustworthy...
Romantic...Passionate and Poetically Sublime.
I Am...Resourceful and Resilient with Fortitude
that stands the test of time.

I Am...Fiercely Persistent and full of Determination...
Yet, Patient because I know that I am
worthy of all I dream of.

I Am...Joyful...Graceful...Grateful...
Faith-filled and Spirit-filled with Reverence for God
whom I put no one above.
I Am Extraordinary...I Am Phenomenal...
I Am Feminine Energy Personified...
I Am Love.

A One Love Production

By Anna "M. Hendricks

Original Copyright September 2013

Revised Copyright December 2013

Honesty,Trust and Respect:The Three Key Elements To a Healthy Relationship

I am a firm believer that honesty really is the best policy in relationships. The problem with this is that the truth is often hard to hear and even more difficult to accept even from someone you know truly loves you and has your best interest at heart. For this reason, people say they welcome honesty in their relationships and do perfectly well giving it. Ironically, most people are shocked to discover they really can't handle when it's their turn to be on the receiving end of it. The other problem here is that you cannot give to or do for another what you have not yet learned to give to or do for yourself.

In other words, you cannot experience a healthy relationship dynamic with another if you do not have a healthy relationship with yourself. So if you notice that people seem to run amuck in your life, because you have not learned how to set healthy boundaries for yourself that you stick to no matter who it is attempting to cross them, then you do not have a healthy relationship with yourself. Likewise, you cannot be honest with another if you have not learned to be honest with yourself about unhealthy behavior patterns you may have. 

In fact, if you were to be completely honest with yourself as you read this article and you know the aforementioned person sounds a little or a lot like you. As hard as it may be to accept, find the courage to do a self-awareness audit by taking a good, honest look at the role you played in the outcome of your past relationship experiences.  What you will most likely find is that you have certain, attitudes, beliefs and behavior patterns  that have proven themselves, by the repeated undesirable outcome of your relationship history, to be unhealthy and not conducive to maintaining the kind of lasting and loving relationship you desire. Therefore, honesty, trust and respect are not only the three key elements that are important for having a healthy relationship with others but with yourself as well.

A healthy relationship with yourself or others cannot survive without the three key elements of trust, honesty and respect. And you cannot have one while lacking the other because each one leads to the development of the other. Speaking personally from my own self-awareness, I know that I cannot grow to respect someone I cannot be honest with. Nor am I able to trust people who have not also earned my respect. The key word in that sentence is earned because while trust, honesty and respect are three key essential elements to a healthy relationship, they are also virtues that should be earned not just handed over on a silver platter. 

However,  the catch 22 here is you cannot be honest with your genuine feelings with someone you cannot trust your heart with. Nor can you trust someone you do not respect or who does not make you feel respected by their repeated negative or unhealthy behavior patterns in your relationships.

So what do you do in this case? I say, when your relationship comes to this point it's time to seriously consider if it's even worth your continued effort to try to maintain it. I say this because it's virtually impossible to maintain a healthy relationship that lacks the room or ability for open, honest, heartfelt communication even when the truth hurts and in most cases it does. And you don't have to be mean, purposely hurtful or demeaning in order to be honest with someone. In all communications with another you can and should use tact, compassion for the other persons feelings and a sense of decorum. When people choose to do the latter when expressing their feelings and say it's all in the name of, "I'm just being honesty", they're are lying. When people are nasty, critical, judgmental and demeaning they are not having honest communication from a heart of love with good intentions. 

They are instead having fear based conversation rooted in their own hurt. Their words are coming from their shattered ego and broken pride usually stemming from some unhealed wounded place within them they have not dealt with. Or your heartfelt honesty shared with them in the past or present that they were unable to handle, accept and digest as the hard-core truth about them or the situation you both are going through. So they wait until you're having a vulnerable moment and they dumb all their ugly, negative words on you disguised as " the truth."

The real truth is they are making a sad, unloving attempt to make you hurt because they are hurting. And as the saying goes, hurt people...hurt other people. So when this happens don't buy into it or take it personally because it's absolutely not about you. Nor is it the kind of honest, open, heartfelt communication we're talking about here. 

That being said, I stand on my opening statement and belief that you cannot have, build or maintain a healthy relationship dynamic without the three key elements of honest, trust and respect. I believe this so strongly not only because these three virtues are the core principles for living my life. They are standards in which I hold myself to and expect from others in my relationships. In fact, these three virtues are so important to me that, as a new mom, I am already planting these seeds as core values to live by in my eighteen month old daughter.

Also, my personal life experiences and relationships have taught me, if nothing else, that you cannot have a genuine affinity with another if the relationship the two of you share does not afford or allow authenticity. More simply put, if your relationship does not allow you room to be "real" with each other on a deep genuine level then what you have is not authentic. If you're having to walk around on egg shells all the time because the minute you speak your truth from your heart it upsets the apple cart and all peace is suddenly lost. Then you have to question if you really have genuine energy of peace between you to begin with. 

If you have to candy coat your words all the time because the other person can't handle you being direct and honest even when you are kind, calm and loving in your approach they still become defensive and shut down all communication. Yes, all relationships be it family, friends or romantic partners, experience growth spurts where you have arguments. However, a relationship that has an authentic exchange of love energy is one where both parties understand that the real purpose of relationships is to help each individual grow and gain better understanding and awareness of self and love for their own personal development and the other person involved.

In an authentic relationship where there is also a genuine affinity and exchange of  honesty, trust and respect, you both equally care about each others personal growth, happiness and overall well being. And a relationship cannot grow, thrive or reach its full potential, nor can the two people involved in it grow and reach their full potential, without these three key elements. Why not you may ask? Because at the end of the day, and at the heart of the matter, honesty through open, heartfelt communication builds trust..trust builds respect. The three of these elements together leads to the strengthening of the bond between the two of you which nurtures and prospers your relationship in genuine...authentic..deep and abiding...Love. 


Until next time...I surround you in love & light! So always keep your heart open and your LOVE light on.



A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
Copyright 2013

Twelve Days of Christmas:Uprooting Your Unforgiveness Weeds and Planting New Love Seeds

Today marks the countdown to the 12 days of Christmas. So continuing with my Inspirational Love Note theme on forgiveness this month, let's bring it to a culmination together by trying a little forgiveness exercise.

For the next 12 days think of, mediate on, pray on and ponder what weeds of resentment, anger, and unforgiveness you need to pull up from the garden of your heart and mind.

When Spirit reveals to you who or what you're still harboring resentment toward and need to forgive, past or present, write the persons name or the situation down on a piece of paper. Once you have your list pray over it everyday for the next 12 days. Then on Christmas Eve night, light a candle and hold the piece of paper with your list on it up to your heart and affirm:

"Through the power of Christ in me, I now forgive every person & situation on this list. Divine Love is now adjusting my life and healing my pain. I now release you and bless you so that I may go free to continue my life path in peace and harmony." 

Then burn or flush that list down the toilet and wake up on Christmas Day, the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ, with clear intentions, expectations and a proclamation of it being your day of emotional rebirth, healing and a new beginning on your path of Love. 

Until next time I surround you in Love & Light! So always keep your heart open and your LOVE light on. 


A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
Copyright 2013
Affirmation enclosed are the original words by author of article

Healing Your Inner Child Through The Power of Forgiveness

Anyone who has children, or has worked extensively with children as a profession, knows that when they reach the toddler stage of development it's very common that they begin to "act out." Why is it then when we see a newborn baby or infant crying we recognize it as normal behavior yet we have an entirely different perception of a toddler having a tantrum? In fact, our initial response to a  fussy or crying infant is usually, "Awwww...don't cry baby." We then follow up that initial reaction by holding and coddling the baby while showering him or her with high doses of patience, love, attentiveness, empathy and compassion.

In contrast, when that once cute little infant reaches the stage of toddler and begins displaying age appropriate behavior for that stage of development as well, otherwise known as "the forbidden temper tantrum", all our patience, attentiveness, empathy and compassion goes out the window. Instead of giving the toddler the same understanding and patience we did during its infant stage, like probing to figure out the root cause of their undesirable behavior, we become frustrated and try to force them into having model behavior. 

As a society we quickly blame the parents, especially the mother, as failing to properly discipline the child. Some people also place judgmental labels on the toddler behaving like this as being bad or spoiled. And who thought it was a good idea to even go as far as to stamp this stage of child development as the parentally dreaded, "terrible twos"?

Truth is, just like the infant, a toddler does not have the vocabulary, understanding or emotional skill level yet to effectively express what they’re feeling either. So, in most cases, they are simply acting out some emotional or physical need or desire they are not getting. They have also not yet learned a better way to get their parents or caregivers attention to meet that need. 

Just as likely, they may be mirroring the same behavior they see the adults in their life handle their emotions when not getting their needs or desires met. For example, they may frequently see mom and dad bickering, arguing and fussing with each other a lot. Perhaps the primary adults in the child's life are often screaming curse words, slamming doors, stomping or exuding negative angry energy and body language toward each other while the child is present witnessing the chaos.

Sounds childish and irresponsible? Absolutely! However, this is because, just like a physical child, adults have an inner child that occasionally behaves in this same childlike way as a toddler having a knock down, drag out, ugly, tantrum. And when they do it's usually for the same or similar childlike reasons a toddler does. If that sounds too ridiculous for you to accept or believe then perhaps no one ever informed you that emotional maturity is NOT synonymous with age. 

Like a toddler just learning the use of language as a form of communicating its thoughts and feelings, some adults do not always have the vocabulary rage, communication skills and emotional maturity level to effectively and appropriately express their thoughts, feelings or desires.  Equally so, no one may have ever properly taught or shown them by example how to handle emotional situations and express their intense frustrations and anger in a healthy way.

More often than not, people who are well into adulthood still lacking the ability to respond rather than react to situations that arouse intense emotions,thereby resulting in them expressing their anger and frustrations like a toddler having a tantrum, is usually because they grew up in a home environment where such behavior was the norm.  In fact, library and book store shelves are filled with books written by experts who have done studies on human behavior and proven that, unless someone in our childhood teaches us differently, we usually take into our adulthood interactions with others the same social and emotional behavior patterns learned from our parents and childhood environment. 

So in the aforementioned case of the adult still lacking the social, emotional and communication skills and abilities of a mature adult, they probably saw such emotional conduct and behavior demonstrated by the adults who raised them. If this is the case, they are most likely none the wiser that such behavior is inappropriate as an adult and pushes people away. Truth is, we are products of our environment which is why most of us reach adulthood still struggling with and trying to overcome issues and wounds that goes deep back into our childhood and is in desperate need of healing. 

Unfortunately, in order to heal your emotionally wounded places you are required to also be emotionally vulnerable enough to face your wounded places within. For most people this is not an easy task to accomplish due to fear of being rejected, judged, criticized or looked down on by others once the mask is off and your wounded inner child has been exposed.

What's funny is when we see such behavior in other adults, that mirror the tantrum prone toddler, we tend to label them as “crazy”. Yet, when our own, childlike behavior or “inner crazy” comes out we excuse or justify it as venting or blowing off steam. But at the end of the day yelling, shouting, cursing, slamming doors and pouting, i.e. staying mad for hours or days at a time, is an adults inner child having a toddler tantrum. 

So the next time someone says or does something that causes a disturbances in you or pushes your buttons resulting in you having an adult tantrum. First, remember they are just that, your buttons and you are the only one responsible for your actions or reactions regardless of what anyone else says or does. Second, remember the manner in which you choose to react or respond to something or someone is ALWAYS about you not the other person. It is a reflection of what's already going on inside you, not the other person. So own your "stuff".

Lastly, should you find yourself reacting to what someone says or does in a manner very similar to a toddler having a tantrum, remember it’s just your inner child reacting to a need or desire that’s not being met. Like the infant crying and the toddler pitching a fit trying to get mommy and daddy's attention to its needs, your strong childlike reaction is your inner child's way of getting your attention to its needs. 

It is a direct indication of your inner child attempting to bring to your awareness the wounded places you are still holding on to from past hurts that are still in need of healing.  The same is true when you see this behavior in other adults in your life. And just like with a toddler it is best to calm down and respond NOT react.

And the best response to your inner child's cry for help and healing is to refer back to paragraph one of this article to the example of the infant baby crying. Then find some place private and quiet you can go to be still and embrace your inner child with high doses of patience, compassion, understanding.

Follow up by probing yourself, perhaps with the aid of a therapist if necessary, to uncover the root cause or reasons for your repeated undesirable, socially unacceptable, strong emotional reactions and behavior. Also, be honest with yourself, and those closest to you if necessary, especially if your explosive emotional episodes is jeopardizing your relationship with your spouse or mate. 

Most importantly, repeatedly give your inner child the maximum doses of love and forgiveness you are capable of giving, no matter how many toddler like tantrums you continue to have along your journey to self healing.

Until next time...I surround you in love & light! So always keep your heart open and your LOVE light on. 

  


A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
Copyright 2013

Peace: The Gift Forgiveness Gives To You

Forgiving others can be challenging depending on the degree of the perceived offense. Yet, often times forgiving ourselves can be even harder to do. In this human experience we are all subject to making mistakes. We say things we don't mean in the heat of an intense emotional upset that we later regret. We also allow our deep seated fears to sometimes control our behavior and cause us to to act out in a manner we later feel embarrassed or ashamed of. 

Yes, we all have a touch of crazy within us to one degree or another. And when the "crazy" within ourselves comes out, causing us to have temporary insanity, we experience moments where we do or say things that does not reflect our true character or represent our core believes and standards for living. When this happens we can be very hard on ourselves for such slip ups. In fact, we're often times harder on ourselves for making mistakes than we tend to be on others for their humanness.

Perhaps it has something to do with the idea that we expect other people to have a touch of crazy but not ourselves. Or it could be that we some how think we are exempt from such human tendencies. So when we fall short of the otherwise perfect image we secretly and subconsciously have in our minds of ourselves it can be hard to accept and even harder to forgive. 

The mind begins it's incessant negative chatter saying things like, "why did you say that to him or her...you never think before you speak." Or, "You're such an idiot, why did you do that...you know better than that, your mother/father would be so ashamed of you for doing that if he or she were still alive." Here's another good one, "You're such a failure, how could you allow yourself to get pregnant again." Or, "No one will ever love you now that you're a two time divorcee. You're so unworthy of love."

Why do we punish ourselves so harshly like this for simply being human. Living is about learning and the best teacher to help us learn is our own life experiences. Forgiving ourselves for our mistakes allows us to get the lesson and the blessing that comes along with every experience we go through in life. And the extra bonus gift that comes along with self-forgiveness is inner peace also known as peace of mind.

Truth is, when you forgive yourself you are no more condoning your own inappropriate behavior than you are when you forgive someone else. What you are in effect doing by forgiving yourself is loving yourself enough to extend the same grace to yourself as you do to others when they err.

Self-forgiveness allows you to remember that you too are a child of the Most High God. And as Peter said in, Acts 10:34, "...God is no respecter of persons." This means the same goodness, grace, mercy and forgiveness that is available to others from God is also readily available to you. It also means the unconditional love that Holy scripture tells us God has for all His people includes you as well. But you have to learn to accept yourself unconditionally as God does in order to feel such abiding love within and the pathway to such love is through self-forgiveness.

So the next time you're "inner roommate" is playing the recording that reminds you of all your past mistakes, mess-ups, and missed opportunities non-stop, the way to shut it up is to pray for forgiveness, then forgive yourself. And the next time your deep seated fears makes your inner crazy show up causing you to behave in a manner that is so unlike you, just remember this acronym for the word PEACE by, Iyanla Vanzant, best selling author, teacher and life coach on her television show, Fix My Life, from her book, Until Today!, she writes,  "Please Excuse All Crazy Experiences."

Forgive yourself , spend no more time beating yourself up. Allow yourself to move beyond the feelings and thoughts of shame, guilt, embarrassment and unworthiness. As long as you are living you are going to make mistakes in order to continue learning and growing. Yet, if no one ever told you before know as of today that no matter how many mistakes you make, as a child of God, you will always be worthy of Love.

Until next time...I surround you in Love & Light! So always keep you heart open and your Love Light on.

A One Love Production

By Anna M. Hendricks

Copyright 2013
References: Holy Bible, Lamsa's Aramaic Translation, Until Today!, Iyanla Vanzant

Two Key Elements of Unconditional Love: Forgiveness and Grace

Loving unconditionally also means learning to extend grace and forgiveness to another for things both big and small. It’s not always the major offenses like betrayal, deceit or disloyalty that lead to the breakdown of a relationship. Sometimes it’s the little things that we fail to truly forgive and let go. Over time such small offenses build up and turn into an unconscious resentment that begins to show up in our attitude and behavior when interacting with the person.

For example, certain personality differences, habits and repeated small mistakes or oversights made by the person that your, more meticulous, attention to detail, personality type finds extremely annoying, careless or irresponsible about the other person. However, before you judge the imperfections of another so harshly remember in our human nature we are all flawed to one degree or another. This means, as hard as this may be to believe, accept or digest, the truth is that you too have some personality traits, habits or idiosyncrasies that really annoy someone else, rather they’ve brought it to your attention or not.

This is not just with friends and those we work with but it’s especially true in our close personal relationships of those we have to live with as well. Like a husband, wife, romantic partner, roommate, or siblings who still live at home with mom and dad. Maintaining a meaningful relationship of any kind is hard within itself. Yet, trying to sustain a relationship on top of adding co-habitation to the mix to raises this challenge to a whole new level.

Anytime you put two or more people in the same living space together it requires a great deal of patience, compassion, understanding, consideration, and yes…enormous amounts of grace…i.e. forgiveness. Why? Because although we meet people throughout life with whom we have much in common, reality is, God made no two people exactly alike. Which in effect means, in order to live in harmony we have to learn to accept the differences between our personalities and another’s that in due time will surely show up. And the best way to accomplish this huge feat is by finding a way to embrace rather than resist the things about another that makes them as unique as your own personality quirks also makes you uniquely you.

So the next time your spouse, mate, lover, co-worker, sibling or friend does that thing he or she does that just really irks your nerves, remember this scripture from Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Be patience and extend them a little grace.

Forgive, let go and don’t sweat the small stuff because in the grand scheme of things if that person, you otherwise so dearly love, were to die tomorrow all those little habits and things they do that annoy you so much would suddenly become small things. So why not see them for the truth of what they really are now. Doing so will allow you to get on with enjoying your relationship and loving that person to the best of your ability while they’re still here today. As I’ve said before I say again as a reminder. “To err is human but to forgive is divine.”

Until next time…I surround you in Love & Light! So always keep your heart open and your Love light on.

A One Love Production

By Anna M. Hendricks

Copyright 2013

The Power and Importance of Forgiveness

December is here already which means it's time for us to prepare our final farewells to yet another year that has so quickly gone by. In doing so, we also cross the bridge into another new year filled with excitement and uncertainty over the unknown possibilities of dreams still ahead of us to fulfill, and new wonderful experiences yet to unfold. And the best way to kick off  the new year is with a mental and emotional clean slate. Along with an open heart ready to embrace life and all the love that makes life worth living. 

So to help you bring 2013 to a close in peace and enter 2014 ready to prosper, my Inspirational Love Note messages to you this month will be on, The Power and Importance of Forgiveness. Here's why....

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year that brings us together with family, love ones and old friends we haven't seen or  spent quality time with in awhile. Yet, this time of year often also reunite us with people we haven't seen or talk to in a while for a reason. That reason most often being due to a falling out, an argument, misunderstanding or mistake from the past that led to deep wounds, hurt feelings, and a broken relationship that now desperately needs mending. 

However, while a relationship may desperately NEED mending doesn't always mean it's possible to do in every situation. Especially if  the damage done was severe and the offender refuses to apologize. Even worst, they may be unable to see the inappropriateness of their actions, words or behavior that resulted in the painful outcome. Or they just flat out and stubbornly don't feel they did anything wrong. 

Yet, despite the pain the situation may have caused you to endure and the other persons unwillingness to at least meet you half way on the road to redemption, your lack of forgiveness of the person or situation causes you to suffer more than anything they may have said or done that caused your initial hurt. Holding on to grievances, resentment, anger, over things of the past does you a huge disservice and brings you absolutely no good. 

In fact, holding grudges is a complete waste of your energy and time because it takes more energy to stay mad than it does to forgive and move on with your life. It also poisons your heart which blocks your blessings, keeps you locked in a mental and emotional prison, and over time can even begin to negatively affect your health. 

So you see, in truth, forgiveness is NEVER about or for the benefit of the other person. Forgiveness is ALWAYS about and for you. Contrary to what many perceive and believe about it, forgiveness doesn't let the other person off the hook, validate, or excuse their behavior or offense. Nor does it prove them right and you wrong. Forgiveness doesn't even mean or require that you resume having a relationship with the person. 

And it most certainly doesn't mean that you are weak and they are strong. It takes a great deal of spiritual and emotional strength and maturity to perform the act of forgiveness. Therefore, it is you who are proving to be the strong one by choosing not to allow the behavior of another to steal your inner power and joy. 

Forgiveness free's your mind, purifies your heart, heals your soul, and allows you to move on with your life while continuing to let your love light shine. It also allows you to be more open and receptive to your blessings, use your energy more productively. Most importantly, forgiveness allows you to spend your precious time here on earth sharing your life with those who are truly deserving of being a part of it.  Remember, to error is human...but to forgive is divine.

Until next time I surround you in Love & Light! So always keep your heart open and your Love light on. 

A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
Copyright 2013

The Tie That Binds: A Poem for Humanity

Order our steps dear Lord throughout this day,

in everything we may do, think or say....

Help us to see only the glory of you

in all things I pray...

Direct our steps Lord in a good and orderly way

Teach us...guide us...let your love abide us

Lend us your wisdom

and in our affairs of the heart remind us,

that your Holy Spirit is the tie that binds us

Help us to forgive and heal our wounds

both present and past...

That we may find peace in our hearts at last

Lastly dear Lord, yet most importantly,

remove the veil of judgement from our eyes,

and awaken our consciousness that we may

all begin to clearly see...

In Truth and in Spirit we are one big family,

that must overcome our human differences

and learn to live in harmony.

Until next time...I surround you in Love & Light! So remember to keep your heart open and your Love light on. 

A One Love Production
By Anna "Ms.Poet" Hendricks
Copyright 2013

Cryin' is Like Takin' Your Soul to the Dry Cleaners

I often wonder why people find honor in stubbornness and pride,

instead of honoring what they’re truly feelin’ inside.
Why is cryin’ looked down on like you’re doing something wrong.
And who’s the fool that started the myth that for a man to cry
means he ain’t strong.

Well I say…brother if you're in pain it would behoove you
to cry very hard and long.
‘Cause be it woman or man what people don’t seem
to understand...
Is that cryin’ is like takin’ your soul to the dry cleaners.

See there’s a huge misperception that being in tune with
your feelings only applies to the meek...
And just because women aren't afraid to be vulnerable,
doesn't mean we’re emotionally weak.

Now pull up a chair and listen closely while
I tell you what I know.
When the trials and tribulations of life are high,
yet your endurance is kinda low…
It takes a lot of spiritual strength and wisdom
to give it to God and let it go.

See holdin’ on to negative emotions blocks
your blessings and the opportunity to grow.
So if you’re lookin’ for a peace that passes
all human understanding…
Just open your heart and let the poison flow.
‘Cause cryin’ is like takin’ your soul to the dry cleaners.

A One Love Production
(From the personal journals of Anna Ms. Poet Hendricks)
Original Copyright July 2003, revised March 2011 & November 2013 

Thanksgiving:The Perfect Time for Gratitude and Forgiveness

"To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the sun."  ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

With the end of November bringing with it Thanksgiving, which officially kicks off the Holiday Season, it's usually the time of year when we begin to reflect on all the things in our lives we are grateful for and appreciate most. However, it's also the perfect time to take inventory of our hearts and ask God to reveal to us who or what in our lives we need to forgive, release and let go. It is the perfect time to take notice of the relationships, beliefs, attitudes, habits, situations and/or material things in our lives that we've out grown.

So as you contemplate and prepare your menu for this weeks Thanksgiving feast, try adding a little gratitude and forgiveness to your list of perfect side dishes to compliment your turkey dinner this year. Give thanks for all that you have while also forgiving all that has left you feeling hurt and release that which you no longer need.

To resist the cycle of change, that is part of the natural process of life, is like trying to swim against the tide of an ocean rather than relax and go with the flow and direction of the current, which would require a lot less effort on your part. By continuing to hold on to things out of fear of moving forward, despite the clear evidence life is showing us that it's time to move on, we do more of a disservice than good to both ourselves and those involved in or affected by the situation.

When we look to nature as an example of how to actively practice non-resistance of the seasons of change in life for releasing and letting go, we see how the tree's do no fight with the change of season from summer to fall because they know that the onset of fall means it's time to shed their leaves. If you watch closely during this process it almost seems as if the trees open up and embrace the change, instead of resisting, as they effortlessly allow the leaves to change color from moist rich green to a dry blend of red, russet and yellow as they gently detach from the tree branches and gently float to the ground.

When this process is complete the once fully blossomed trees now appear to our human eyes to be left standing with bare and barren branches leaving the tree looking lifeless. However, from the perspective of the tree, I imagine it probably feels much happier, lighter and free with all those leaves finally gone and no longer weighing down its branches.

Such is the case with releasing the relationships, thoughts and things that represent the leaves weighing down the branches of our lives. Using the aforementioned example of the trees knowing when to shed their leaves with non-resistance, it would behoove us to also practice non-resistance when the time comes for us to let go of whatever is holding us back from freely moving forward to the next season of our lives as well. And there's no better time to take inventory of what needs to be released from our lives than now.

By expressing gratitude for what you have received and surrendering that which you no longer need back into the universe you are not only allowing that person, place, or thing to move on to its higher good, you are also making room for the next wave of blessings that's sure to come in your own life as well. So in the end, it benefits all involved to practice non-resistance to this natural process of release, letting go, growth and change.

Yet, until we reach a state of self-mastery consciousness, which most of us will probably not achieve in this lifetime, the art of non-resistance to such major shifts and changes in this human experience is much easier said than done. This is why I believe supports groups are so successful because there is power in working together as a group of people with the same end goal in mind who are also on one accord in consciousness about attaining that end goal.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the sun." So let's use this time and season that's ripe for forgiveness and healing to purifying our hearts, cleanse our minds and sweep out the debris of negative thoughts, judgments, beliefs, perceptions, and resentments that have been cluttering up the floors, doors and closet spaces of our minds.

Let's  bring this last week of the month to a close by being a support to one another for growth and healing. Together let's prepare for the high expectations of our glorious future in the coming new year, by willingly releasing what needs to be released, letting go of whomever we need to let go, and forgiving whoever or whatever we still need to forgive. With an open and non-resistant heart, attitude and mind, let's surrender it all to God. In fact, let's take this opportunity of this Thanksgiving Holiday to put our faith and trust back in the infallible hands of God where it rightfully belongs, rather than placing them in the imperfect hands of people, things or situations.

And to help us stay focused on this "end goal", to free ourselves of anything blocking us from having and keeping an open and receptive heart of love, all of my Inspirational Love Notes, shared with you through my poems, articles and quotes, for the rest of this week will be in alignment with the theme of renunciation and renewal. Let's heal our hearts and move forward in love together. After all...as children of the Most High God we are more than worth the effort.


Until next time...I surround you in Love & Light! So remember to keep your hearts open and your love lights on.


A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
Copyright 2013

Affirmation of Spiritual Observation

I am the observer...

I am not that which I observe.

I am in the world yet not of it.

Though I experience the world,

I am not that which I experience.

 

I am the spirit that dwells within...

The conscious Being,

aware of all that is unfolding

outside of me and around me

that appeals to my senses of taste...

touch...hearing...sight...and smell.

 

Yet I do not have to respond or react

to all that appeals to my senses of taste...

touch...hearing..sight...and smell.

I can choose...to sit back and simply observe,

allowing nothing to disturb the peaceful calm

of my soul...

 

I am at peace...I am calm

And all is well.

 

 

 

A One Love Production

By Anna M. Hendricks

copyright 2013 

The Three keys to Unlocking Your Blessings

What a joy-filled day it is when it's a day you begin by giving praise and thanksgiving to God for all that you have, everything He's already done, and the promise of blessings you anticipate in your heart that by your faith you know are still yet to come. What an awesome feeling it is to wake up in the morning, go about your day, and go to bed at night with your mind and soul at peace. What an even greater feeling it is to have your heart and spirit filled with the assurance that all is well and in divine order despite what appears to be going on outside you or around you because you know your blessings are on the way.  And the three keys to unlocking your blessings are forgiveness, praise and an attitude of gratitude.

With so much madness and mayhem going on in the world in which we live today you have to have something solid and dependable to stand on. After listening to all the negative stories we hear repeated daily on the news, at work or even on social media websites, we need something to give us the reassurance that despite the overwhelming constant changes going on in the world, everything is going to be alright. Otherwise, you're prone to lose your mind, become deeply depressed, and overcome by fear, doubt and uncertainty about the future.

Without the reassurance that a higher power much bigger than us is at work and always working in your favor, you will become consumed with worry over what's going to happen to you. Or how you're going to take care of your family. Before long, without even consciously realizing it, your mind becomes so focused on trying to figure out the future that you're no longer living fully in the present. When this happens, you begin to overlook the good in your life and take for granted the blessings you already have right in front of you now.

But when you have a strong relationship with God and a solid spiritual foundation to keep you grounded, the negative things unfolding around you in the world don't have the same affect on you. The depressing stories you hear in the news everyday won't cause you to become paralyzed with fear. Even the unpleasant or challenging circumstances in your own personal life won't have the power to break your spirit or penetrate your soul. While all these things may temporarily cause you to feel down they won't be able to take you out. Why?

Because when you know that our Divine Creator and the God you serve is much bigger, greater, stronger and more powerful than any person, situation, employer, health issue, financial situation, or government system in the entire universe, you're able to rest assured that no weapon formed against you can prosper. You will also know that the governments of this world can stay shut down as long as they like. Because the Kingdom of God never shuts down, never turns you down, never shuts you out, never cuts you off, never lays off, or closes it's doors. Nor does it ever fire. Rather, it fully employs and always has a perfect position for you open for hire.

In essence, what I am saying is when you know that you are a child of the Most High God you trust that God is well able to meet all your needs regardless of  what's happening in our physical world. When you have faith in the promise of  Gods word, according to the Holy Scriptures, that He will never leave or forsake you you will also know that everything is always working together for your highest good. When you come to the realization that while the world is ever changing God is the one constant in the entire universe you will believe undoubtedly the scripture in 1 Corinthians 2:9 that says, "But as it is written, The eye has not seen and the ear has not heard and the heart of man has not conceived the things which God has prepared for those who love him." And when you remember that God's word can not return to Him void, you will begin to stand on the aforementioned scripture as your Truth unwavering until the supply for your need manifest.

An even better example, is when you have a personal testimony from a similar or worst situation in your past that God brought you out of  better off and further ahead than you were when the situation began. You can refer back to that experience as confirmation that what God did for you before He is well able to do for you again.

Until next time...I surround you with Love & Light! So remember to always keep your love light on.

A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
copyright October 2013
References: Holy Bible, Lamsa Aramaic Translation

Life Unbound:The Freedom of Living Beyond Our Fears

True freedom doesn't come from acquiring wealth.

Nor does it come by attaining great knowledge

or academic degrees.

Although all of the aforementioned things

definitely contribute largely to expanding 

our opportunities and allow us to afford

more pleasurable comforts in life...

True freedom is achieved when we

learn to face and conquer the things

in life we fear the most.

Thus, fearless living is limitless living.

For it is not until we learn to live fearlessly 

that we obtain the true power it takes to attain

any of our life goals.

 Therefore, let us strive to create a

 life unbound by the limitations of our fears.

Only then can we begin to experience the essence

of truly living life to its fullest potential at all.

Until next time...I surround you in Love & light! So remember to keep your love lights on!

A One Love Production

By Anna "Ms. Poet" Hendricks

Original copyright July 2013

Revised copyright October 2013

Consciously Creating Your Day and Truly Living it

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" 

~ Psalm 118:24

If you had just discovered that today was the last day of your life how would you choose to live it out? Who or what kind of people would you choose to be around to spend the last few precious hours of your life with? What kind of thoughts would you keep? What memories would you choose to focus on in your final hours? What experiences from your past would you want to recall in your mind to hold on to that impacted your life the most?

Would you waste the last twenty four hours of life dwelling on all the negative things from your past? Or would you choose to use your final hours more wisely by resolving to clean your emotional house through forgiveness of all ills of the past and opening your heart to fully experience and express love again one last time?

Well, why wait until the last day of your life to do all the above. Why continue going through your day being pushed, pulled, reacting to and ingesting whatever is thrown at you from your external environment? This doesn't have to be your reality anymore. You have the power within you now to consciously create the kind of day you desire to experience. And it all starts by consciously choosing what you want to see, experience and feel about your day regardless of what happens around you or what anyone says or does to you.

Another way to set your best day in motion and truly living it is by controlling what goes into your consciousness from the first moment the day starts. For example, instead of turning on the tv or radio before you even brush your teeth or have your coffee, try taking a few minutes after waking up to sit still, be quiet and get centered. Even the holy scriptures tells us in Isaiah 30:15, "In quietness and in hope shall be your strength".

So tomorrow when you wake up, try being still for a few minutes. Listen to the small voice of your spirit whispering words of wisdom to your soul. Connect with the vibration of love in your heart center. Focus on the rhythm of each breath you take. As you inhale and exhale allow the feeling of gratitude to permeate your entire body. Embrace the realization that you are experiencing the presence and power of God in each breath of life you breathe. Close your physical eyes and consciously visualize how you want your day to unfold by first seeing it unfold as you desire through your minds eye. Then release that vision and the desired outcome of your day to the universe. Go on about your day trusting in the divine process to work out all the details in a perfect way.

Why continue coming home at the end of the day frustrated by people and things outside of you. Choose to no longer allow things outside of you, and your thoughts about how you feel about what's happening outside of you, to dictate whether your day is good or bad. Decide for yourself how you wanna feel about your day by deciding the kind of day you want to have from the moment the day begins.

 After all, every creation starts as a thought visualized in the mind before manifesting in the physical.  Yet, for those who may think this sounds like a bunch of metaphysical mumble jumbo. Remember, the highest creation ever manifested began as a thought in the divine mind of God. That  most powerful divine thought I'm referring to was manifested in the physical expression as the human race, which includes you and me.

With that said, I invite and encourage you to take a listen to the short video excerpt attached below of an online seminar by spiritual enlightenment teacher and author,  JZ Knight, for more insight on, Consciously Creating your Day and Truly Living it. Then go create the kind of day that will bring the most peace, love, joy, honor and fulfillment to yourself and those around you. While your at it, embrace the goodness of the day as if it was the last day of your life. See it...believe it...achieve it!




Until next time...I surround you in Love & Light! So remember to keep your love light on.


A One Love Production
Article written by Anna M. Hendricks
copyright 2013
Bible verse quotes, The Holy Bible, Lamsa Aramaic Translation
Video excerpt, 5 of 6 Online Beginning Event, Create Your Day,
JZ Knight, also known as Ramtha, shared from YouTube.com

Dare to Stretch Your Faith: A 40 Day Challenge That Will Transform Your Life

Although I have many things in my life for which I deeply appreciate and feel grateful for, I have to admit that I'm still not yet where I'd like to be. Nor do I feel I'm expressing at the level of all that I know I have the potential to become. Truth is, no matter how much we accomplish or how much older we get, as long as we are still alive and on the journey of  this human experience there is always room for growth. There is always more we can learn to help us evolve to the next level of spiritual awareness to become a better version of ourselves.

There is always room for us to learn how to love more deeply and unconditionally. We can always learn how to be more compassionate and express more patience with ourselves and others. There is always room to over come some fear we're secretly struggling with that's blocking us from achieving a goal, realizing a dream or living at the level of spiritual awareness we would like to be at. We can always learn how to experiencing a greater level of joy and happiness in our lives. And no matter how spiritual we may consider ourselves to be, there is always room to stretch our faith a little bit more. I know this all rings true for me. If any of this sounds like you too then this Inspirational Love Note is written just for you. 

Attached below is prayer of faith from one of my favorite books in my personal library, Until Today! Daily Devotions for Spiritual Growth and Peace of Mind, by Bestselling Author, Inspirational Speaker, New Thought Spiritual Teacher and TV Personality, Iyanla Vanzant. I have been using this prayer for the few days during my daily prayer and meditation time and have already seen results in my life. In addition, I have been led in my spirit to take a challenge of  faith by continuing to say this prayer for the next 40 days and see how God proves Himself by helping me grow in my faith and transform my life from the inside out.

I invite you join me on this journey to greater faith and life transforming experience by committing to take this 40 day faith challenge as well. It's easy! And it only takes about 5 minutes of your time every morning and every night with potential results that I'm sure will prove to be well worth your time and effort.

Just use the prayer I've shared with you below, by Iyanla Vanzant, and say it every morning upon awaking and every night before retiring to bed for the next 40 days. Beware however, this prayer is a very powerfully written prayer. And as with any prayer for transformation in your life, if you say it with conviction believing in your heart to see results, things may suddenly appear to go wrong in your life circumstances. If this should happen, don't stop doing the prayer.

In fact, that is the moment you should dig your heels in deeper and continue the prayer with even greater conviction of heart because that is sign it is working. Whenever begin doing spiritual work that stretches us beyond our comfort zones and moves us to a new level of personal growth and development, there is often the appearance of chaos just before the new order sets it. Another way of  conveying this concept is the old saying, it's always the darkest just before the dawn.

So hang in there because should you take this challenge it's important that you stay committed and not break the 40 Day chain of thought, as it takes 40 days for the spiritual transformation to be completed. And there are various ways that transformation may take form in your life. It may be a mental transformation where you begin change your perception about a person or situation in your life for the better. Or an emotional transformation compelling you to forgive something or someone where your unforgiveness has been keeping you blocked or holding you back from receiving your own blessings and greater good.

It may also come in the form of a transformation in a long standing health situation you've been praying to see turned around. Or a relationship transformation you've desired to see mended and have harmony between you and the other person involved restored. Then of coarse it may be a physical transformation in the form of a job you've been in need of suddenly manifesting. Or a breakthrough with a goal or dream you've been waiting to see materialize finally start to move forward showing signs of success. My point is, there is a myriad of ways God can prove Himself and transform your life through your commitment to taking this 40 Day challenge to stretch your faith.

Remember, when you take one step toward God, He will take two steps toward you. So consider your commitment to taking this 40 Day Faith Challenge one very big step toward God on your behalf.

I'm excited to take this challenge with you. I'm also looking forward to hearing from you and sharing with you all the wonderful life transforming changes that I'm expecting to see unfold in my life and yours as we take the next 40 days to stretch our faith together. You can share your comments and feedback on the transformations that begin to occur in your life as a result of taking this challenge either here on my blog or in my Inspirational Poems & Love Notes group page on FaceBook if you're already signed up as a member there. Don't forget, as with anything in life, it only works if you work it.

Prayer of Faith:

"I now call the activity of the Holy Spirit into every cell, every tissue, every organ of my being. I invite the Holy Spirit to lovingly transform every energy, every belief, every idea, every understanding, every decision, every expectation, every judgment, every motivation and every behavior, bringing them into alignment with the perfect will of God, so that I may take the next step toward the divine plan for my life.

I now call the activity of the Holy Spirit into every cell, every tissue, every organ of my being. I invite the Holy Spirit to lovingly transform every energy, every belief, every idea, every understanding, every decision, every expectation, every judgment, every motivation and every behavior, bringing them into alignment with the perfect peace of God, so that I may take the next step toward the divine plan for my life.

I now call the activity of the Holy Spirit into every cell, every tissue, every organ of my being. I invite the Holy Spirit to lovingly transform every energy, every belief, every idea, every understanding, every decision, every expectation, every judgment, every motivation and every behavior, bringing them into alignment with the perfect love of God, so that I may take the next step toward the divine plan for my life. For all I have received and all that is yet to come, I am so very grateful! And So It Is!" ~ Iyanla Vanzant

Until next time...I surround you in Love & Light! So remember to always let your Love light shine!

A One Love Production
By Anna M. Hendricks
copyright 2013