What is Your Sunshine Today?

Being in throes of Spring, here in the Pacific Northwest, we are having a series of extraordinary sunny days that embed themselves in everyone here who knows the value of sunshine because of the severe lack during the winter. We have numerous cases of SAD and depression related to seratonin depletion. In my case, as well as my mother's, my entire personality and physical nature undergoes an enormous shift once the sun finds us once again, and the effects on my mood are profound.

But, during these last long, dreary months of grey and rain and perpetually wanting to hibernate, my mother's mantra of “I cannot live here anymore because there is no sun” took a surprising turn, as she is discovering that interal, creative energy within her that is filled with abundance, and yes, sunshine.

So, our mantra every day, with or without the physical sun to shine on us, we ask ourselves: “What is my sunshine today?”

This metaphorical sun is your source of inspiration to create, the higher vibration of peace, and the comfort of knowing that you aren't affected (as much) by your physical environment because you find what you need inside yourself instead. It is a shift in thinking that steers you away from the ego, the fear, the desperation or depression that we so easily can succumb to. It is a source of internal light and energy, an ephemeral happiness that pervades every cell of your being, and calls to you to spread its rays out toward others.

It can be as simple as a song that lifts you up & makes you want to dance, a picture from a child that makes you get that goofy grin, or the nuzzle of a dearly loved pet reminding you that you aren't alone.

All this said, I am asking you all to consider and share:

Re: What is your Sunshine today?

Yes, that's what I have in mind - create an inner sun shining. And make it _our_ sun shining for others, too. This may be the inner sunlight dissolving the clouds covering our globe with all its people.

Re: What is your Sunshine today?

I love your expression about creating your sunshine.  Recently I attended my youngest sons wedding in a small country village in France, named Avilley.  (2 ll's together are silent).  They are one month ahead of Ottawa, so blossoms were out, birds were chirping and we had the most sunny time ever, unti the day of the wedding, Sat.  Some little rain clouds came in the morning.  Wedding time was 3pm.  So I went outside and I called to the rain clouds, just to say thank you for visiting, but I would like you just to rain enough to bless this union, then fly away and let the Sunrays also bless this event.

They heard me and we had the most picture perfect wedding, including a quick outdoor reception in her dads 1 & 1/2 hectare backyard, plus the church down the village road, and then the evening dinner at a nearby Chateau.  I had to pinch myself to believe I was really miles across the ocean having such a great time.  Thank you Nunda (Sun).

PS  Sherrie, I have a request.  I have been reading the books from the website:
www.Ringingcedars.com.  In book 8.1, it talks about a group of people in Denver who started creating their private domains around Denver.  Have you heard of them or can you get some feedback for me from people local to there?

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Sherrie,
There are many things that bring sunshine into my life.  Today, it was a lonely, quacking duck in the harbor.  He's there every morning… his routine is the same.  He flies into the harbor and runs on water as he's landing.  He settles in and begins to quack.  He quacks and quacks and quacks.  He seems happy and content.  His quacking is relaxed… almost as if he's just speaking to himself.  Soon, other ducks come and join him.  It's sweet they way it happens.  It's almost as if he's officially declaring the start of the new day, and the others wait to hear that the day has begun.  I enjoyed this sunshine in the form of a lone, quacking duck.  His persistence and his joyful attitude were the perfect way for me to start my day.
Hugs!
-Susan

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My attitude, if it rains then I think good I can catch up on the household chores and do some baking, if the sun shines I spend time outdoors and turn a blind eye to the dust. Gratitude too, we need both sunshine and rain, so I learn to be truly grateful for what the universe sends. Rain forms around pollution particles, so if we are getting too much the answer is cut down on our emissions. Susan, my ducks are my sunshine too, they truly know how to be joyful, enjoy life and live in the moment, smiles. We have a choice we can bemoan life or make the very best of it.

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My Sunshine is my granddaughter

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REAL AND EVER PRESENT SUNSHINE IS WITHIN YOU-IS YOUR HIGHER SELF-gframesch

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I have to say that reading all of your sunshine has made me teary, and it's an unexpected sunshine for me today. Thanks for everyone who's posted!

Suwali, I haven't heard about the Denver groups, but then Oregon is better than a thousand miles from there, so I may not be the one to ask.  ;o) Good luck with your search.

Barbara - I love that photo!  Children are the most amazing sunshine just by the nature of who they are. My daughter is definitely mine every day.

Sherrie

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wow my sunshine has to be bon jovi. For those who dont know them their  a band. There music sometimes keeps me alive. i can find songs from them that matches my mood and others that tell me its alright. At times i feel so depressed but then i hear them and i feel better. to some it might be a silly thing to be my sunshine but they are. You probably dont understand how important they are to me. they have changed my life so much. they can completly change my mood and i love them sooo much. I am soo grateful for there music.I dont know what would be left of me if they werent around. Like i said before they help me survive and other bon jovi fans would agree and if you are one you will understand the magic of their songs.
(p.s if you are a bon jovi fan i would love to meet you i love to meet new bon jovi fans ;) )

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It has been a grey, cloudy day here in the upper Midwest. These are the tones I let myself feel the center of my energy: Holding my own hands like we do in dhikr. Smelling the lilacs that wafted in the window. Feeling my heart beat. Hearing my breath. Remembering my friends at Quaker Mtg., the Viharim, the monastery. Giving food to others. Teaching. Grokking. Living.
iljung

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my sunshine today is music. even when ive had the most stressful day imaginable, i can aways find solace in the melodies of others. whether its the temptations, beyonce, or phil collins, my mind finds some of the peace im always searching for when i hear a happy tune. music is something that catches at edges of my soul. it just sticks there, hanging on, its something that brightens my day, a happy memory of that particular tune.  

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My sunshine comes from within; from doing my spiritual work.

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I find it my grandchildren, mostly.  Other times its comes from my nature walks under a huge umbrella, providing it's the soft drizzle kind of rain, and it's not too cold out.  The smell of the apple blossom trees down the road fill my senses with sweet memories, and when coming home there's nothing like a hot chocolate drink with some ginger cookies…yummy.
What a lovely post!

Thanks for sharing this…hugs

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I think my sunshine was the realization that no matter if your family/relatives get under your skin and you don't always get along…THEY are the ones who will always accept you and be there for you…friends won't!

Families are forever…friends most likely not~

at least for the most part, this is how it seems to be…

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The sun is shining right now, ? for how long, it's been a very rainy week here in southern Florida. But when the gray days start turning my mood gray, I remember that I had lots of sunshine living in Vegas, but not the wonderful trees & flowers & grass & butterflies & songbirds that I enjoy now. Plus the rain means I won't get sunburned on the beach. Last year I enjoyed going to the beach & watching the waves, feeling the wind & rain pummeling me during Tropical Storm Fay. I loved it, I wasn't looking for sunshine then because I was revelling in the power of Mother Nature. So, I don't look for sunshine everyday, I search for peace & love. But this question did remind me of an old email which circulated regarding a elderly man on his last goodbye telling his daughter he “wished her enough” - 
“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough “Hello's” to get you through the final “Good-bye..”

I also find my spirits uplifted by music & yes, I have also been a Bon Jovi fan since the early 80's with their first album.
Have a great day all, whether it is sunny or stormy where you live.

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I know I have already answered this question, but I just have to share what my sunshine is for now.  I have been ineteracting with a pair of swans since late Feb. early March.  The pen (the female) nested, and the cob (the male) continued to visit me daily.  I always spoke to him softly, and he got to know me by sight and by my voice.  Before I knew it, he was eating out of the palm of my hand… literally.  I was eagerly waiting for the pen to return with the cygnets.  I saw them Thursday morning for the first time.  They have seven cygnets.  Six in the water, and one on the pen's back.  I will write a longer blog about them on my page.  I just wanted to share my joyous sunshine.
Hugs!
-Susan

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How wonderful, Susan! I shall have to check out your blog,

Hugs,

Nicole

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May I say it - in the Sunshine state, where we've come close to drought, my sunshine today is the beautiful rainy weather, making the greens cleaner, the flowers brighter..and the cars with their fresh wash!
And btw, the frogs are loving it too, as are mosquitoes [ which is NOT my sunshine, but into every rain, a little mosquito must …..]

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It's fun to find inner sunshine in the darkest of places.

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I find sunshine in the smile of a child no matter their color..when they laugh the world brightens, for it comes from their soul..In the eyes of our Elders for they truly know and from the hug of a friend, online or in person..also from the 4 leggeds and the winged ones in my world..

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My sunshine is my imagination and my family. It seems like no matter what kind of day I'm having my imagination put into writing lifts my spirits and when I tell my stories to others it lifts their spirits too. Also, my family (which includes my pets) are always there to light up the room even when I'm mad at them. I love them so much that I'm just forever grateful that they are there.