The Black Sheep

One of a Kind
by Madisyn Taylor

When we move beyond comparisons and accept our differences, we appreciate the significance of our upbringing and socialization in each of our unique life's journey.

Many of us have had an experience in which we felt like the lone black sheep in a vast sea of white sheep. For some of us, however, this sense of not belonging runs more deeply and spans a period of many years. It is possible to feel like the black sheep in families and peer groups that are supportive, as well as in those that are not. Even if we receive no overt criticism regarding our values, there will likely be times when it seems that relatives and friends are humoring us or waiting for us to grow out of a phase. Sometimes we may even think we have been adopted because we are so different from our family members. These feelings are not a sign that we have failed in some way to connect with others. Rather, they should be perceived as the natural result of our willingness to articulate our individuality.

Many black sheep respond to the separateness they feel by pulling back from the very people to whom they might otherwise feel closest and embracing a different group with whom they enjoy a greater degree of commonality. But if you feel that your very nature has set you apart from your peers and relatives, consider that you chose long ago to be raised by a specific family and to come together with specific people so that you could have certain experiences that would contribute to your ongoing evolution. You may be much more sensitive than the people around you or more artistic, aware, spiritual, or imaginative. The disparate temperament of your values and those of your family or peers need not be a catalyst for interpersonal conflict. If you can move beyond comparisons and accept these differences, you will come to appreciate the significant role your upbringing and socialization have played in your life's unique journey.

In time, most black sheep learn to embrace their differences and be thankful for those aspects of their individuality that set them apart from others. We cannot expect that our peers and relatives will suddenly choose to embrace our values and offer us the precise form of support we need. But we can acknowledge the importance of these individuals by devoting a portion of our energy to keeping these relationships healthy while continuing to define our own identities apart from them.

For more information visit dailyom.com

Bird Meditation

Witnessing Nature through Meditation by Madisyn Taylor When it becomes too cold to be outside with nature, bring her inside through your meditation. When the weather gets colder it can be more difficult to get in touch with the marvel of nature as it exists around us. Finding innovative ways to really connect with nature brings us closer to the wonders that envelop our lives. One way to do this is to perform a meditation with our feathered friends, the bird kingdom. Just by taking a few moments each day to watch the bird activity that goes on in our backyards through our windows can bring a sense of calm and well-being to our lives. Watching and being with the birds that we share our garden space with us allows us to experience greater feelings of relaxation and gratitude for the diversity that is always present around us. Simply watching, without judgment or expectations, heightens our awareness of the beauty of nature. If you watch the birds for a long enough period of time you will begin to feel a great sense of deep joy within you knowing we are all truly divine. Doing this with our family members will in turn introduce a meditative practice that can easily be shared and appreciated by all, as well as create deeper bonds with each other through the joy of experiencing the healing power of nature. Looking through our windows and placing a feeder and bird bath in our gardens to attract the birds is a way to call forth beauty into our lives. As we consciously connect with our outer world—even when the weather inhibits us from physically being in it—we see that the splendor we view outside of our windows is simply a reflection of what lies within us. For more information visit dailyom.com

The Gift of a Positive Image

Voicing Faith in Another  by Madisyn Taylor It is important that we all find people that believe in us just as we believe in others.

There are times in our lives when we may find ourselves facing challenges that can seem overwhelming. The situation or task we are struggling with seems hopeless, and it is easy to stop believing in ourselves, our goals, and our dreams. It is during these moments that it can be reassuring and reaffirming to turn to the people in our lives who do believe in us, especially when we are finding it hard to believe in ourselves. An encouraging word, a reassuring look, or hearing the words “I believe in you” from someone who matters can help us turn our situations around in an instant.

Everybody has someone who believes in them, whether this person is a teacher, parent, friend, loved one, or an employer. Often their belief can wrap us in warmth, bolster us, and offer us a supportive hand to grab onto until we can regain our own support. Having that special person who believes in our abilities and our worth is a wonderful gift. But when we are feeling unworthy, it may be difficult to take in something so precious. We may even feel like we need to do it all on our own and that we shouldn’t be asking for help. However, in letting their belief and support impact you, you are acknowledging the part of yourself that knows you are worthy of trust and esteem. By allowing them to believe in you, your own belief in yourself and your abilities will start to emerge again. Borrow their vision, and you can make it your own.

If your special someone is not there to spur you on, you also can lift yourself up with the gift of a positive image. When you feel uncertain, you can create a vision of the future you desire that will serve as a beacon of light. To do so, simply imagine a future that is exactly as you’d like it to be. Imagine in detail how you feel, what you are doing, and how others are responding to you. Make your vision as real as possible, and allow your doubts to recede so you can focus solely on the goal you seek. The more intently you focus on the image of what you want, your belief in yourself will step to the forefront, making it easier for the universe to open up a path and guide you.

For more information visit dailyom.com



EARNING OUR BLESSINGS

I heard a funny story last week about a guy who was running late for one of the most important meetings of his life, and he can’t find a parking space. He throws up his hands and says, “God, if you give me a spot, half of what I make from this deal I’ll give to charity.”

Before the words escape of his mouth, someone pulls out of a space that’s right in front of him! He looks back up to the heavens and says, “Oh, nevermind. I just found one!”

It’s an important lesson for us always, but especially during this month of miracles.

When we have what we want or need, we think “I’ve got this!” and that we don’t need the Creator in our lives.

When we are lacking or in pain, we suddenly need help and pray more than usual.

In the Kabbalah Centre, we see this a lot. People will come and go, only to come back again. They come to this spiritual path because they are seeking something and when they find what they were looking for, they stop coming to classes, volunteering, or participating in events. When they are in need again, they come back for more.

It’s human nature for us all to do this. We might not go so far as to leave our spiritual path altogether, but when we experience lack or pain in our lives, we tend to spend a lot more time mediating, praying, or using the spiritual tools that Kabbalah offers.

If it takes experiencing great lack for us to devote time to our relationship with the Creator, what do you think the Universe is going to keep right on giving us?

The secret is that it’s in the moments we feel fulfilled and are standing in a space of abundance that we need to push ourselves further to connect even more with the Light.

Usually if we get a job promotion we want to go out to celebrate, or if we come into a great deal of money we immediately start planning a vacation. Celebrating our victories and taking pride in our accomplishments is important, but we can never forget where those blessings come from.

The best thing to do when the Light gives us a gift is to keep going. Because whatever we have been given is only a taste of all that is available. If we’re in a moment where the Light is giving to us, we should take full advantage of it by pushing ourselves to expand our capacity by giving more, doing more and being more, so that we can receive all that the Light wants to give.

As my father, the Rav, often says, “If we don’t earn our blessings, they will never truly be ours.” 

72 Name of the Week

Daled Nun Yud
ENOUGH IS NEVER ENOUGH

I will not settle for less in any area of my life. I want everything that is possible.

I let go of everything that prevents me from having it all, including eternal happiness and peace on earth.

All things wonderful are possible and I will make them a part of my daily existence

Consulting Heart and Mind

Making Choices From a Place of Balance
by Madisyn Taylor It is important to make decisions from a place of balance in your life by taking a breath and checking in with heart and mind.

Each of the myriad decisions we make every day has the potential to have a deep impact on our lives. Some choices touch us to our very cores, awakening poignant feelings within us. Others seem at first to be simple but prove to be confusingly complex. We make the best decisions when we approach the decision-making process from a balanced emotional and intellectual foundation. When we have achieved equilibrium in our hearts and in our minds, we can clearly see both sides of an issue or alternative. Likewise, we can accept compromise as a natural fact of life. Instead of relying solely on our feelings or our rationality, we utilize both in equal measure, empowering ourselves to come to a life-affirming and balanced conclusion.

Balance within and balance without go hand in hand. When you are called upon to choose between two or more options, whether they are attractive or distasteful, you should understand all you can about the choice ahead of you before moving forward. If you do not come to the decision from a place of balance, you risk making choices that are irrational and overly emotional or are wholly logical and don’t take your feelings into account. In bringing your thoughts and emotions together during the decision-making process, you ensure that you are taking everything possible into account before moving forward. Nothing is left up to chance, and you have ample opportunity to determine which options are in accordance with your values.

Though some major decisions may oblige you to act and react quickly, most will allow you an abundance of time in which to mull over your choices. If you doubt your ability to approach your options in a balanced fashion, take an extended time-out before responding to the decision. This will give you the interlude you need to make certain that your thoughts and feelings are in equilibrium. As you practice achieving balance, you will ultimately reach a state of mind in which you can easily make decisions that honor every aspect of the self.

For more information visit dailyom.com

Echoes of Happiness

Belly Laughs
by Madisyn Taylor
It is easy to laugh when we feel good, but it is when the world appears dim that we most need laughter in our lives.

As children, we laugh hundreds of times each day, delighted by the newness of living. When we reach adulthood, however, we tend to not allow ourselves to let go in a good belly laugh. Inviting laughter back into our lives is simply a matter of making the conscious decision to laugh. Though most of us are incited to laugh only when exposed to humor or the unexpected, each of us is capable of laughing at will. A laugh that comes from the belly carries with it the same positive effects whether prompted by a funny joke or consciously willed into existence. When our laughter comes from the core of our being, it permeates every cell in our physical selves, beginning in the center and radiating outward, until we are not merely belly laughing but rather body laughing.

Laughter has been a part of the human mode of expression since before evolution granted us the art of speech. Through it, we connected with allies while demonstrating our connection with people we didn’t know. In the present, laughter allows us to enjoy positive shared experiences with strangers and loved ones alike. Yet solitary laughter carries with it its own slew of benefits. An energetic and enthusiastic bout of whole-body laughter exercises the muscles, the lungs, and the mind in equal measure, leaving us feeling relaxed and content. When we laugh heartily at life’s ridiculousness instead of responding irritably, our focus shifts. Anger, stress, guilt, and sadness no longer wield any influence over us, and we are empowered to make light of what we originally feared. Laughter also opens our hearts, letting love and light in, changing our perspective, and enabling us to fix our attention on what is positive in our lives.

It is easy to laugh when we feel good, but it is when the world appears dim that we most need laughter in our lives. Our laughter then resonates through our hearts, filling the empty spaces with pure, unadulterated joy. We regain our footing in the moment and remember that no sorrow is powerful enough to rob us of our inborn happiness. When we understand that uninhibited laughter is the food of the soul, nourishing us from within, we know instinctively that life is worthwhile.

For more information visit dailyom.com

Unseen Addictions

When we think of addictions, we usually think of them in the physical sense, like smoking or gambling for instance; but the addictions that give us the greatest challenge exist well below the surface and are not as easy to see.

All of us have below the surface addictions that include: Approval, Recognition, Attention, Enabling Others, Control, Chaos, Anger, and Judgment.

Which of these do you relate to most?

Your free will lets you decide if you want to be an addict to the Light or the addict to the Ego.

Being aware of our addictions below the surface will make it easier to resist them the next time there is an opportunity to forgo the quick fix in favor of earning the eternal joy that comes from being a Creator in your life.

Sexy Love (S)

My sexy love... (so sexy...)

[Verse 1]
She makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up
Just one touch
And I errupt like a volcano and cover her with my love
Babygirl you make me say (Oh oh oh)
And I just can't think (of anything else I'd rather do)
Than to hear you sing (sing my name the way you do)
When we do our thing (when we do the things we do)
Babygirl you make me say (Oh oh oh)
[Chorus]
Sexy love girl the things you do
(Oh baby baby) Keep me sprung, keep running back to you
Oh I love making love to you
Babygirl you know you're my (sexy love...)

[Verse 2]
I'm so addicted to her she's the sweetest drug
Just enough
Still too much say that I'm simp and I'm sprung all of the above
I can't help she makes me say (Oh oh oh)
And I just can't think (of anything else I'd rather do)
Than to hear you sing (sing my name the way you do)
When we do our thing (when we do the things we do)
Oh, babygirl you make me say (Oh oh oh)
[Chorus]
Sexy love girl the things you do
(Oh baby baby) Keep me sprung, keep running back to you
Oh I love making love to you
Say babygirl you know you're my (sexy love...)

[Verse 3]
Oh baby what we do it makes the sun come up
Keep on lovin' 'til it goes back down
And I don't know what I'd do if I would lose your touch
That's why I'm always keepin' you around... my sexy love
[Chorus:]
Sexy love girl the things you do (things you do baby)
(Oh baby baby) Keep me sprung, keep running back to you (keep me runnin' back to you)
Oh I love (I love) making love to you
Say babygirl you know you're my (sexy love...)

[Chorus:]
Sexy love girl the things you do (sexy love)
Keep me sprung, keep running back to you (runnin' back to you)
Oh I love making love to you
Say babygirl you know you're my (sexy love...)

She makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up
Just one touch...

Becoming a Better Person

Growing Day by Day

by Madisyn Taylor

We understand that we want to be better but have no clear definition of what better means and that is part of the process.

At some point in our lives, many of us find ourselves overcome with the desire to become better people. While we are all uniquely capable of navigating this world, we may nonetheless feel driven to grow, expand, and change. This innate need for personal expansion can lead us down many paths as we develop within the context of our individual lives. Yet the initial steps that can put us on the road to evolution are not always clear. We understand that we want to be better but have no clear definition of “better.” To ease this often frustrating uncertainty, we can take small steps, keeping our own concept of growth in mind rather than allowing others to direct the course of our journey. And we should accept that change won’t happen overnight—we may not recognize the transformations taking place within us at first. 

Becoming a better person in your own eyes is a whole-life project, and thus you should focus your step-by-step efforts on multiple areas of your existence. Since you likely know innately which qualities you consider good, growing as an individual is simply a matter of making an effort to do good whenever possible. Respect should be a key element of your efforts. When you acknowledge that all people are deserving of compassion, consideration, and dignity, you are naturally more apt to treat them in the manner you yourself wish to be treated. You will intuitively become a more active listener, universally helpful, and truthful. Going the extra mile in all you do can also facilitate evolution. Approaching your everyday duties with an upbeat attitude and positive expectations can help you make the world a brighter, more cheerful place. Finally, coming to terms with your values and then abiding by them will enable you to introduce a new degree of integrity and dignity into your life. 

As you endeavor to develop yourself further, you can take pride not only in your successes, but also in the fact that you are cultivating consciousness within yourself through your choices, actions, and behaviors. While you may never feel you have reached the pinnacles of awareness you hope to achieve, you can make the most of this creative process of transformation. Becoming a better person is your choice and is a natural progression in your journey of self-awareness.

For more information visit dailyom.com

Doing the Best You Can

Progressing with Patience
by Madisyn Taylor 

Try not to expect perfection when starting out on a spiritual path or attaining inner peace.

It isn’t always easy to meet the expectations we hold ourselves to. We may find ourselves in a situation such as just finishing a relaxing yoga class or meditation retreat, a serene session of deep breathing, or listening to some calming, soul-stirring music, yet we have difficulty retaining our sense of peace. A long line at the store, slow-moving traffic, or another stressful situation can unnerve you and leave you wondering why the tranquility and spiritual equilibrium you cultivate is so quick to dissipate in the face of certain stressors. You may feel guilty and angry at yourself or even feel like a hypocrite for not being able to maintain control after practicing being centered. However, being patient with yourself will help you more in your soul’s journey than frustration at your perceived lack of progress. Doing the best you can in your quest for spiritual growth is vastly more important than striving for perfection. 

Just because you are devoted to following a spiritual path, attaining inner peace, or living a specific ideology doesn’t mean you should expect to achieve perfection. When you approach your personal evolution mindfully, you can experience intense emotions such as anger without feeling that you have somehow failed. Simply by being aware of what you are experiencing and recognizing that your feelings are temporary, you have begun taking the necessary steps to regaining your internal balance. Accepting that difficult situations will arise from time to time and treating your reaction to them as if they are passing events rather than a part of who you are can help you move past them. Practicing this form of acceptance and paying attention to your reactions in order to learn from them will make it easier for you to return to your center more quickly in the future. 

Since your experiences won’t be similar to others’ and your behavior will be shaped by those experiences, you may never stop reacting strongly to the challenging situations you encounter. Even if you are able to do nothing more than acknowledge what you are feeling and that there is little you can do to affect your current circumstances, in time you’ll alter your reaction to such circumstances. You can learn gradually to let negative thoughts come into your mind, recognize them, and then let them go. You may never reach a place of perfect peace, but you’ll find serenity in having done your best.

For more information visit dailyom.com

There Goes My Baby (S)

There goes my baby
(oo girl look at you)
You don't know how good it feels to call you my girl
There goes my baby
Loving everything you do
Oo girl look at you

Bet you ain't know that I be checking you out
When you be putting your heels on
I swear your body's so perfect baby
How you work it baby yea
I love the way that you be poking it out
Girl give me something to feel on
So please believe we gone be twerking it out
By the end of the night baby

I've been waiting all day to wrap my hands
Around your waist and kiss your face
Wouldn't trade this feeling for nothing
Not even for a minute
And I'll sit here long as it takes
To get you all alone
But as soon as you come walking my way
You gon hear me say

There goes my baby
(oo girl look at you)
You don't know how good it feels to call you my girl
There goes my baby
Loving everything you do
Oo girl look at you

I get the chills whenever I see your face
And you in the place girl
Feel like I'm in a movie baby
I'm like oowee baby oh
Like waterfalls your hair falls down to your waist
Can I get a taste girl
No need to keep this baby
I ain't ashamed of calling your name girl

I've been waiting all day to wrap my hands
Around your waist and kiss your face
Wouldn't trade this feeling for nothing
Not even for a minute
And I'll sit here long as it takes
To get you all alone
But as soon as you come walking my way
You gon hear me say

There goes my baby
(oo girl look at you)
You don't know how good it feels to call you my girl
There goes my baby
Loving everything you do
Oo girl look at you

And girl I feel like it's our first time
Everytime we get together
Baby loving you feels better than
Everything, anything
Put on my heart you don't need a ring
And I promise our time away won't change my love

There goes my baby
(oo girl look at you)
You don't know how good it feels to call you my girl
There goes my baby
Loving everything you do
Oo girl look at you

There goes my baby
(oo girl look at you)
You don't know how good it feels to call you my girl
There goes my baby
Loving everything you do
Oo girl look at you

One In Seven Billion (S)

Jet setter
Go getter
Nothing better
Call me Mr. been there done that
Top model chick to your every day hood rat
Less than all but more than a few
But I've never met one like you

Been all over the world
Done a little bit of everything
Little bit of everywhere
With a little bit of everyone
All the girls I've been with
Things I've seen it takes much to impress
But sure nough your glow it makes your soul stand out from all the rest

I can be in love
But I just don't know
Baby one thing is for certain
Whatever you do it's working
Other girls don't matter
In your presence can't do what you do
There's a million girls around but I don't see no one but you

Girl you're so one in a million
You are
Baby you're the best I ever had
Best I ever had
And I'm certain that
There ain't nothing better
No there ain't nothing better than this

You're not a regular girl
You don't give a damn about the loot
Talking about I can't do it for you
But you can do it for yourself
Even though that ain't so
Baby cause my dough don't know how to end
But that independent thing I'm with it
All we do is win baby

I could be in love
But I just don't know
Baby one thing is for certain
Whatever you do it's working
Other girls don't matter
In your presence can't do what you do
There's a million girls around but I don't see no one but you

Baby you're so one in a million
You are
Baby you're the best I ever had
Best I ever had
And I'm certain that
There ain't nothing better
No there ain't nothing better than this
Girl you're so one in a million
You are
Baby you're the best I ever had
Best I ever had
And I'm certain that
There ain't nothing better
No there ain't nothing better than this

Diamond girl
Only one in the world
Just one of a kind
She mine

Ooh all that I can think about is what this thing could be
A future baby
Baby you're one of a kind
That means that you're the only one for me
Only one for me
Baby (girl) you're so one in a million
You are
Baby you're the best I ever had
Best I ever had
And I'm certain that
There ain't nothing better
No there ain't nothing better than this
Girl you're so one in a million
You are
Baby you're the best I ever had
Best I ever had
And I'm certain that
There ain't nothing better
No there ain't nothing better than this

Sagittarius-Freedom Through Growth

This week, we enter the month of Sagittarius, the month of Light and expansion. Sagittarius is one of the two signs ruled by the planet Jupiter, which is the largest planet in the solar system (about twice as large, in fact, as all of the other planets combined). Not surprisingly, therefore, this planet brings the energy of progress, vision, and of enlarging one’s scope of influence.   Because Sagittarius is a sign of learning and growth, people born under the sign are often thinkers, writers, and scholars. For example, Mark Twain and George Elliot are both beloved Sagittarians. With an appreciation for people and animals as well as a simple directness in their approach to situations, Sagittarians tend to carry a certain lightness in the way they navigate through life. Unafraid to push the limits or to go where others do not dare, Sagittarians love and thrive on freedom and adventure.  This month, each one of us will able to bring this expansive energy into our lives to forge a new direction for ourselves.  In comparison with this past month which may have been a bit heavy and challenging, Sagittarius will be like a pleasant breath of sweet air. If we are open to it, each day in the next four weeks can be a breeding ground for change. The cosmos will support us in approaching the areas in our lives that we usually leave untouched. We will have the ability to say to ourselves: “I’ve had enough of this worry, this addiction, this limitation... I want to transform!” We will be supported this month to become “free agents,” less enslaved by the fears and doubts that usually keep us bound. So how do we get there? First of all, we need to understand that the only thing that blocks our expansion is our own negativity—that tunnel vision created by our individual Desire to Receive for the Self Alone. Until we are awakened to the fact that there exists in the universe a continuous battle of consciousness, a battle about being able to restrict one’s Ego, we will never be able to break out of this tunnel. No matter how much we try to read, learn, or study, if we don’t venture into the unknown, in spite of our fears, we’re never going to reach our next level of spirituality.  So each day this month, let’s focus on turning our energy away from the “me.” When we want to give in to the pressures and challenges of the day, we can find a way to do something for someone else. Let’s remember, too, that if we want to share happiness on the outside, we first need to be happy on the inside. Have you ever heard of laughing therapy? Many people sit in a room and laugh with each other. That’s really all there is to it. It seems so simple, but it’s amazing how it can completely change the energy in a room. Now I’m not saying we need to this everyday, but what I am saying is that there are many little things we can do throughout the day to expand our energy so we can share with others.  This month, we also need to remember to bear in mind that spiritual work is not always so easy. There must always be some type of a struggle. This doesn’t mean that we all should go home and hit ourselves in the foot with a hammer. What it does mean, though, is that when problems confront us—uncomfortable situations, a lot of work, an angry boss or spouse—we need to remember that we all—each and every person on this planet—have a spark of the Creator within. We’re all part of those little candles that flicker and burn and go out. How brightly our own candle will shine depends on how much effort we put into lighting the candles of others and how much we decide to battle our own negativity. For when we really engage in this battle of consciousness, nothing and no one can put out our flame

Can't Take My Eyes Off You (S)

You're just too good to be true 
Can't take my eyes off of you 
You'd be like heaven to touch 
I wanna hold you so much 
At long last love has arrived 
And I thank God I'm alive 
You're just too good to be true 
Can't take my eyes off of you 

Pardon the way that I stare 
There's nothing else to compare 
The sight of you leaves me weak 
There are no words left to speak 
So if you feel like I feel 
Please let me know that it's real 
You're just too good to be true 
Can't take my eyes off of you 

I love you baby and if it's quite all right 
I need you baby to warm the lonely nights 
I love you baby, trust in me when I say 
Oh pretty baby, don't bring me down I pray 

Oh pretty baby, now that I've found you stay 
And let me love you baby, let me love you 

You're just too good to be true 
Can't take my eyes off of you 
You'd be like heaven to touch 
I wanna hold you so much 
At long last love has arrived 
And I thank God I'm alive 
You're just too good to be true 
Can't take my eyes off of you