The Value of the Small Every Day Lessons-Theresa Caputo, Book Excerpt

By Josslyn Streett, Reiki Master/Teacher for Rain Shadow Reiki in Sequim, WA

As a healer, we can sometimes get caught up in the BIG and so-called IMPORTANT life lessons, I know I do.  Luckily Spirit also reminds me often as to the importance of the smaller, every day lessons.  I was reminded recently of the lessons of gratitude and forgiveness but also of daily joy, sacrafice and kindness. Every single day we have a choice to be kind or to act impatiently with people. Every single day we have the choice to bring joy into our daily routine or to look at it with contempt at the monotony of it.  These are smaller lessons that are also very important because they make up the whole of our day and affect our mood and attitude, but they can also have powerful ripple effects across many people’s lives that we may not be consciously aware of.

I am currently reading two books by Theresa Caputo, The Long Island Medium, “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” and “There’s More To LIfe Than This”.  I won these books in an auction basket at my son’s school and couldn’t believe I didn’t have them.  I love her show and I love reading books by mediums.  I have at least ten different books by mediums: Brian Hurst, James Van Praagh, Allison Dubois, John Edward, and more and I’ve loved them all.  I read and reread them for the inspirational messages about our loved ones communicating with us, even though, I too, do this work for my clients.  I still love reading the stories.  They always life my spirit and that is a good thing.  I recommend them if you are grieving, they helped me through some difficult periods of grief.

So, here is a small segment from Theresa’s book, “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” on little lessons, it spoke to me.  There are lots of good parts of this book, but this one said ‘SHARE ME,’ so I’m sharing.  Some times the ‘little lessons’ are in the forefront of your life and they can have just as much impact as the big lessons.

(Theresa’s books and more books by mediums are available in the Rain Shadow Reiki lending library for check out.)

Book Excerpt: You Can’t Make This Stuff Up

Are You My Lesson?

Though some lessons might smack you in the face, be on the lookout for less obvious ones.  I think most people assume that all lessons happen during major moments, like a heartbreaking death or beautiful soul mate reunion, because you feel their impact long after they happen.  Certainly, losing a parent or gaining a best friend changes your life in an instant.  But spirit also tells me that we learn lessons in small, everyday interactions too.  If you feel the urge to buy a stranger a cookie, say, or hold the door for a father lugging groceries, a diaper bag, and a car seat, everyone’s day and souls benefit from that kindness.

On a more frustrating and stupid note, you know that jerk who took your seat on the bus?  He could be a lesson in patience.  How about your money-mooching brother? Generosity.  Or your husband’s friends who got pizza sauce on your couch during Sunday Night Football?  Probably sacrifice.  so the next time you’re at Thanksgiving dinner, and your sister-in-law leaves you out of family photos, don’t try to control, over analyze, fight against it, or go cryin’ in the bathroom, “Why is this happening to me, of all people?”

 Look for the lesson instead.

Let the situation unfold, and find the reason.

It helps you deal, and here’s why: When the reason, and not the problem, becomes your focus, you don’t think about how sad, pissed-off, or doomed you are.  You can accept the outcome, then concentrate on how to move past it.  Your life is your responsibility– your soul chose it long ago.  If you want a positive and fulfilling journey, don’t let people hold you back.  And don’t forget, Spirit is ready to intervene when you ask.

When I accepted my gift, God told me in so many words that He wants our lives to be as rewarding and connected to each other as possible–but listen, this can’t happen if you don’t participate in your own happiness.  Even when there’s a tragedy, you can’t let life happen to you when it’s time to pick up the pieces.  God gave you a beautiful, complex world in which to become a better, stronger, and happier you.

And while painful situations can feel forced upon you, how you cope and work through them is a choice and, yep, usually a lesson.

So you know that saying “Everything happens for a reason”?  Spirit’s proven to me that it’s not just for motivational posters and crocheted pillows!  It’s actually part of your soul’s lessons and path.  during readings, your loved ones’ souls have told me that there’s an order to why things occur the way they do, like when one person survives a car accident but another passenger dies, or when a child sees her deceased sister’s spirit but other people can’t.  The literal answer to why these freaky examples happen is related to destiny and intuition.  But if I dig deeper with Spirit, it might turn out that an accident victim’s death inspired his family to work toward enacting tougher drunk driving laws, and the girl who saw Spirit comforted her grieving family with her stories.  Talk about how worthwhile reasons, not to mention great examples of how our souls learn and teach lessons to others!”

“You rarely know the big or small lessons you’re learning when you’re in the middle of them; you usually see them after the fact.  I say better late than never.  Some people spend their entire lives miserable and never realize those feelings were necessary in order for them to grow.  I know it was easy for me to lose sight of God’s purpose when I suffered from anxiety.  Even after I realized that in a roundabout way, my scary condition could bring others peace–how’s that for irony? — it took me five stubborn years to embrace my gift.  But once I accepted that it was part of a bigger plan, I let myself learn all I could.  This made me feel empowered, which helped me see that my past wasn’t a waste.

Instead of remembering this period as the twenty-five years that nearly ruined my life, I saw it as God’s long-term investment in redirecting my path.

I used to get upset wondering how much better off I’d be if anxiety didn’t ‘hold me back,’ but my take on that period of time has changed.  Listen, I might not have met Larry at work or had kids young if I’d had a career in Manhattan, or been surrounded by friends and family when I accepted my gift, if I’d felt safe and secure moving away from them.  Things worked out as they were supposed to as soon as I looked for healing and guidance, found it, and then ran with it.  I welcomed my path and stayed open to my lessons, and I’ve been blessed ever since.  In a lot of ways, anxiety’s been one hell of a teacher.

Life reminds me of one of those fancy knitting projects on Pinterest–your learned lessons and life events create intricate patterns, and the recurring stitch is your purpose.  Whether you volunteer, make people laugh, or start political movements, you’re meant to make a difference in some way.  I realize that it’s easy for me to say that Spirit wants us to live with intent, since they’re in my ear all day, talking about how much there is to know.  But hey, I’m not letting their words go unnoticed.  You’ve got me, and I’ve got a big mouth!  These lips have a purpose!

A lot like your lessons, your purpose doesn’t have to be prestigious or put you in the spotlight.  Who cares if you never become a celebrated novelist, brain surgeon, or the next Kardashian?  Your purpose could mean a lot on a smaller scale.  It might be about prioritizing family, improving your community, or caring for animals.  There are a lot of cats out there that need foster homes!”

When you learn lessons, you don’t suddenly get richer, become mayor, or turn into a Positive Polly.  You gain something much harder to earn and more valuable — wisdom.  Learning lessons isn’t about being perfect, it’s about recognizing that your time here unfolds the way it’s meant to, as you make choices that fulfill you.

 

rainshadowreiki@gmail.com or 360-460-7829 for private sessions or classes