Most of the time, I am happy -- that is, if I allow myself to be happy. At other times, when I am not happy, it is because I am in the throws of an emotional response -- however -- and this is the fascinating thing that I realized a few months ago (and posted about here) -- emotional responses mostly run their natural course in a matter of minutes; anything longer is likely the result of a choice we make (consciously or subconsciously) to hang on to the emotion, whatever emotion it may be. Having realized this, I now do my best to allow emotional responses to pass through me, and then, once they have run their course, I choose to return to my natural state of happiness. 

Just a random thought, but I do not see evolution and creation as mutually exclusive. To my heart and mind, they work hand in hand. In other words, I believe life is seeded by co-creative-beings in stages, and in between those stages, co-creative-beings tend the garden while natural growth (evolution) occurs. (By the way, I consider human beings to be co-creative-beings too!)

When the going gets tough, when should we throw in the towel? Does belief in a benevolent universe mean that good things are supposed to flow effortlessly to us, or are we to anticipate that some goals require the expenditure of good old fashioned blood, sweat and tears?

When I was a young man, in the face of some form of setback, scrape, or apparent defeat my mother used to often say to me, "It's meant to be". Of course, she was trying to offer me solace, however, I took it as if I she was telling me I should give up and fail, when what I really wanted to hear in those moments was, "If you fall off your horse, get back up and try again," or "You can do it, I believe in you," or, "The reward isn't in the end result, it's in the doing." Not that I didn't sometimes get that too, and not that my mother didn't mean well, but damn if that expression didn't aggravate me - though at the time, I had no idea why.

That said, when we are dealing with our desires and our goals, how far is too far? Is there such a thing as too far? Is there such a thing as meant to be? Or should we simply persist at anything and everything so long as there is an ember of passion burning in our hearts? 

For the record, I believe that we live in a benevolent universe, however, I believe that the signs and synchronicities we experience don't always reflect that benevolence. I believe that sometimes we are challenged for reasons beyond our understanding, and that in the face of such challenges, the only true measure of reliability is our passion. In other words, what we feel inside will always trump what we see outside. Therefore, "meant to be" is whatever we choose it to be.

Then "what of fate" you may ask. Is there such a thing? And if so, won't some of our struggles be in vain. Well, to that I say, "Absolutely. And who cares?" If fate exists or even if it doesn't, we have no control over it , so why bother worrying. Our passions are our compass and until they die or change, my rule is, "It's never over 'til we say it's over!"

Undoubtedly, I am more unaware than I am aware! This universe is vast, and relatively speaking, I am but a small grain of sand. But I am loved. And I am essential to the whole. And everything is in divine perfect order. Thus, if there's something I need to be aware of, I'm absolutely certain it will make itself known to me when the time is right.

I haven't always felt this way, but I have come to understand that happiness is a choice that can be made at any time, independent of anything that is happening in our lives -- good, bad, internal, external -- happiness is not conditional. 

I have also come to understand that happiness is good for us -- that there are benefits to choosing happiness all the time, and that those benefits greatly outweigh the effects of not making the choice to be happy.

How about you?

Do you believe it is possible to choose to be happy at any time or do you believe that happiness arises solely as a result of good circumstances unfolding in your life? Or perhaps you believe that you can choose to be happy under certain conditions but not under others.

Whatever your take on this, I would love to hear it.

[March 30, 2009]: Oh, silly me -- this was a Q&R Question back on September 27, 2007. Didn't think to check until now, LOL.

I trust in the transcendent, transformative and transmutational power of Love. Is there anything else? (Yes -- I know I am a bit of a broken record, LOL -- I guess it is on my mind right now!)

For many years, I have been a witness to the sad and disturbiing imbalance between technological progress and spiritual understanding. As such, it was often a challenge not to look upon humankind as far from kind, as it was not to look upon civilization as far from civilized. That said, living in this world has taught me time and time again about the transformational, transmutational and transcendent power of love. Thus, with all my being I know that in spite of appearances, there is much to be hopeful and thankful for. In fact, although I can't see the day to day changes, I can sense that the gap between technological progress and spiritual understanding is narrowing day by day! In fact, in recent years it seems to me that this narrowing is accelerating! How exciting! Perhaps I might live to see the day after all when humankind embraces its kindness, and when civilization can truly claim to be civilized!

By listening to it. And by doing my best to follow its loving advice. e.g. to be forgiving, accepting, compassionate, patient and kind.

The Fire the Grid website will be updated with new information about FTG2 on March 28, 2009. This news was made official today in a letter written by Samoiya Shelley Yates that was distributed by the FTG2 team. Here follows a copy of the letter:

"The messenger continued onward, driven solely by a deeper understanding that upon the scroll in his hand were words more precious to mankind than his own very life..."  - Bradfield

Dearest Friends of Fire the Grid,
 
Since the beginning of time we have had messengers that brought messages from Divine Source to the ears of humanity. I was instructed to be that messenger for the Fire the Grid event on July 17, 2007. I followed the instructions to the letter and we as a group of humans were successful in firing our earth grid. It re-energized the field around our planet and catapulted humanity in a different direction. Together, we have accomplished a tremendous feat in our unity.

Since that momentous day, I have been quite silent, and I am now ready to share with you what I have been doing this past year and a half. Always know that I am but the messenger, and often times, much as in times of old, carrying a message takes a tole on the human body and on our own energy field.

I have been walking the long journey back to me. I have been healing and becoming strong so that I may pick up this directive where I left off.  During the last 18 months I have struggled with the mind, body, spirit connection. That has proven to be well worth the effort. I am in peak physical health I have lost 90 pounds and have gained much needed confidence. I have shed layers of doubt and disbelief. I am strong in this new place of physical health and spiritual connection. My life is full and wonderful. I have wonderful friends and a supportive family. I am happy. I am most blessed.

I now bring a new message. I come to you humble and ready to proceed. I have many instructions left to share with the world, instructions to raise and maintain your personal vibratory frequency field, instructions to assist us with this great time of transition, a way to ease the way.

There will follow a series of messages for the people of earth. They come from a collective energy source whose only desire is to see us all as abundantly blessed as I. They have given me the instructions and on March 28, we will post the next series of instructions on the Fire the Grid website.

Annie and Bradfield have supported my return with unwavering faith. They have stood tall through my most difficult journey and I love and thank them both publically here because without them there would be no Fire the Grid in any capacity. So thank you both from the bottom of my soul. I love you. I would also like to mention that both Annie and Bradfield suffered from not being able to reach out to all of you in my time of absence, as from day one, Bradfield was steadfast that the Fire the Grid website was only to contain my words and the instructions which I have directly received from my Light friends. And thus, in their silence, they were honoring this same integrity, as difficult as it was. Both of them want you all to know that they treasure greatly your wonderful support of their music as well as the relationships they have built with so many of you.

I am ready, but asking those I have hurt or let down is a most humbling place to find myself. Yet that is exactly what I am doing. I am asking for your support, support of the messages of love, support of sharing the physical instructions to assist us with the lifting of our individual fields. This in essence will lift the field of the entire planet.

Why do this you ask?
The answer is to help ease this transition into a new time.
 
In humbly asking for your support of Fire the Grid and its spin off projects, I promise with my best and purest intention to walk always in the light and present truth the best way I can regardless of what form that may take. I am a fervid servant to Fire the Grid and all other endeavours that have been placed in my knowing.

I remember now who I am and why I have come this time. I am willing and open to be led. I surrender to the guidance and the role I play in its delivery.

I cannot say what the future will look like, nor can I become mired in the details of "how" I or any one of us will make something happen. I choose simply to show up and make myself available. I know that I will be led.
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you my dear friends for all your past support. Whatever paths we choose to walk I will honour them. I love you all dearly and I am sorry I disappeared from your lives. It was necessary for me to retreat so I could become who I am today.
 
So once again, I say if my message resonates with your knowing of truth (as with the directions of the original Fire the Grid) please join us on March 28 at the updated Fire the Grid site where I will share the details about the next major energy date and what is coming next. http://www.firethegrid.com
 
We will be also sharing with you many of the thousands upon thousands of testimonials we received from July 17, 2007 onwards. These are precious words to me indeed as they are your words, your own accounts and experiences describing how you lived the Fire the Grid meditation.

We have a lot to do to make up for lost time, but with Divine Source so benevolently directing, all is in Divine right order.

Big hugs,
Samoiya Shelley Yates

To the incredible 20-something autistic savant, Daniel Tammet, numbers have unique texture, color, size, and shape, and perfect sequences of numbers like Pi actually affect him emotionally. Among many other amazing feats and abilities, Daniel has calculated Pi in his head with 100% accuracy to 20,000 digits, and can similarly perform multi-digit multiplication and division beyond the capacity of most calculators. In honor of Pi day, I have posted this wonderful 48 minute documentary on the amazing arithmetic and linguistic genius, Daniel Tammet. Enjoy!