Won't Be Dragged Down by Fear

For lots of reasons, my dreams of doing a prayer and a separate newsletter faded in the glare of reality. So this week, when I check in, it will be a combo. It wasn't easy getting to you today. The internet connection at Casa Carmen is as balky as a two year old. Now I'm at Starbucks, and a very nice man showed me how to get online. Then the next challenge.  Where the heck is my blog and what do you mean you've never heard of it. I went into blogspot.com and I popped right up, en Espanol.  A lovely challenge on a day I don't have too much else to do. Only three of the painting group of us here and the rest come around seven. The Casa Carmen crew is busy setting up a lovely fiesta atmosphere. It will be wonderful. I may not appear too often this week. I'll aim for a couple of times.

I want to say something about fear. The day before I left, three separate people told me to be careful on the long 1 1/2 hour stretch between the airport in Leon and San Miguel de Allende. It would have been better if my plane didn't come in at 11PM, but that was the only time that would work. If only one person had said something, I wouldn't have been concerned, but after the third one, I got a little spooked. I made a few phone calls and was assured the road is safe. If it hadn't been, I would have stayed at a Holiday Inn in Silao and moved on the next morning. This is my fifth trip to San Miguel and I have never ever had an unpleasant moment here. I didn't think there would be a problem and I followed my new best motto, "Don't get ahead of yourself." The second thing I've been practicing is staying in the present moment. The two are first cousins. If you do one, you are doing the other. The next time you're living in the shadow of fear, check to see if you're also living in the present moment.

Baruch ata adonai...Life is too short to be dragged down by fear. I promise to do my part. I won't be reckless, and at the same time, I will challenge myself to go ahead, even though the fears of others cause me to question my judgment. Be with me in this journey of self discovery and joy. I'm thinking in great gratitude of my friend Mary who introduced me to San Miguel when I was in my early twenties. She is all over this town and in my heart when I am here. Mary, you will be with me forever. Thank you also to the lovely generous nature of the Mexican people. Amen