A letter came for my son Sam, from the RACQ which I opened. I thought it was the roadside assistance account for about $50 and I thought it would be a nice surprise if we could pay it for him. But, it was his car insurance for $300!

So I sent an email to his dad to ask if he would go halvies with me, which he agreed. Then I sat at my desk and thought “mmmmmm, now I need $150!”

So, I said (not out loud ) “God, I really would like to pay this for Sam. I need $150. Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou”. (I released the prayer, I surrended my need to control the how, why and when …. I simply “let go & let God”). And, I trusted in the Divine.

I left the office and my computer and  walked into the tea room and at that moment one of our guests opened the front door and said “Trudi, do you sell your paintings? I would like to buy 2.”

I was thrilled!!! I sold the 2 paintings for $150 and paid the account for Sam.

These kinds of things have happened lots of times in my life and I don’t put a lot of value on it – simply because I never stress about it. Its just a part of “normal” life!  Miracles happen!!!!

“Ask and ye shall receive”.

Blessings to all.

When I was 16 years old the suicide of my brother altered my life forever. It was the catalyst for change… although any positive change didn’t occur until a year later. For the first year after he died, his death affected me and my behaviour in a negative, detrimental way. I tried to wash away the grief by drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana  with my best friend – who was also running from her own pain. I did everything I could to numb the saddness of his death, even resorting to burning my arms with cigarette butts and cutting my skin with knives. I guess I wanted outside proof of my inner pain & turmoil.

I remember the day I looked at a friend of mine who was happy (to me) and she wasn’t drunk or stoned! She was simply having fun being herself…. And it was at that point that I wondered if I could ever feel that way too. I wanted to feel joyful! I wanted to feel happy! I wanted to feel as though I belonged on planet earth – and didn’t just arrive by some stupid mistake.

I stopped smoking marijuana and limited my alcohol intake. And for many years, I tried to be happy & joyful….. I tried to find my purpose and tried to find meaning to my existance. I married at 24 & had 2 beautiful boys, eventually divorcing  and entering into single parenthood. I had begun the soul’s journey just after the birth of my second son, and nothing was going to stop it! Once awakened, it seemed to have a will of its own!

In my late 30’s,  Les and I began our new journey together. People think that finding your “soul mate” must be bliss all the time, but it doesn’t come without its challenges too!! But being on the same path and treating each other with love, courtesy & respect was certainly the way I wanted to live. During one of the workshops that I participated in, Les had all the participants think about the worst event that had ever happened to them in their lives and make it a joyful celebration about how it had altered our life!

Naturally, my mind went immediately to my brothers death… but how on earth was I to tell this in a joyful celebratory way???????? I stood in the middle of my group, each group having about 6 people in all, and I smiled and explained what happened to my brother and how it had affected me. My tears of saddness were indeed starting to change and at that very moment I had the  realization that my brothers death had actually taught me the precious value of life!  That life was an extraordinary gift – and that it can be a celebration of our existance if we so choose it to be. We don’t have to become anything extraordinary, we don’t have to become something special, we don’t need fame or fortune, we just need to be ourselves.

My brother taught me the value of life. He taught me that life was worth the living. That life was a gift. And what do we do with a precious gift? We look after it!

So, thankyou Les for bringing this gift into my awareness and thankyou Mick for teaching this gift to me.

In memory of my brother, Mick Leary. Bless you always.