Hello God…It's M
Over the years I have been known to pray to God. It is usually late at night. It is usually in the toilet when I am by myself, or in bed. It is very rarely in a Church. It has usually been a tough sort of a day where I have thrown my arms up in the air and thought "I have had enough!" But after reading a fantastic and fascinating book entitled "eat, pray, love - One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia" by Elizabeth Gilbert, which I was stunned to have received for my birthday by a very special friend (and yes you are) I have realised that the words that come out of my mouth, what I think they mean in my head, and what they could be interpreted as are completely different things.
And before I get into the specifics I want to clarify what I mean by God. The following is an excerpt taken from "eat, pray, love" and is entirely the authors words. How she managed to take them from my head and put them on paper I still don't know but they capture what I feel about God perfectly.
And before you think this book is all about God, it isn't. It's got a lot to do with sex and gelato too :)
So now I realise that there is no way I can colour up my prayers, no beautiful strings of words that I can use that changes the core message I am giving. And they are as follows:
Dear God. If you can just make me a millionaire when I wake up in the morning, I promise I will finally get around to doing that budget and promise not to screw up all my money as I have done in the 38 years that have already passed in my life.
Dear God. If you can just make me skinny when I wake up in the morning, I promise that I will maintain this new temple of loveliness by eating healthily, exercising properly, partaking of essential nutrients, and ensuring I get enough sleep and sanity to carry this through.
Dear God. If you can just see your way clear to making me the most knowledgable being on Earth so that any job I may want, or any question I may be asked, I will know the correct answer in order to get what I want.
Yep, pretty shallow aren't they.
But now I have realised that my shrug of my shoulders in the morning when yet again I woke up to find nothing had changed was just a cop out because I was receiving the answers loud and clear each day. The answers went a little like this.
Dear M, If you construct a budget, live within your means, and continue looking for ways to improve your life, and the life of your family, POW, you will wake up one morning with riches beyond your wildest dreams.
Dear M, If you eat healthily, exercise properly, partake of essential nutrients, and ensure you get enough sleep and sanity to carry this through, POW, you will wake up one morning in a body that is healthy and loveliness in all its glory.
Dear M, In order to attain knowledge to gain "what you want" you first need to know what it is you want.
Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. LOL..
It means I had the answers inside me all along. I have the ability to have my prayers answered, or my goals reached. Because really all my prayers are, are a spoken version of my goals said in a different context. I was asking someone else to achieve my goals for me. I was asking someone else to take all the responsibility away from me. I was trying to take the easy way out. Ask someone to do something - blame them when it doesn't happen.
I know I have taken huge steps to address my prayers/goals. I have started to understand that I need to take the reigns of my life in my own hands and see how far I can go.
And I plan to go far :D
P.S. If you want to know all about the sex and gelato part of the book, I highly recommend you check the book out at the library. Mmmmm gelato….
*******************************************
And in other news:
Jay Kay has attacked her 'letter' she was given and it is brilliant. With all the Running she is doing she definitely has the RRRR's to show for it.
Big hugs to Rae who has miscarried her first baby at 10 weeks. I am a bit late with the news but send out my sincerest condolences for her loss :(
I had a great weekend in Adelaide. It rained a lot so didn't get out for my beach walks but did walk for a few hours around their new IKEA store, and a few more hours around the Royal Adelaide Show. Spent great time just lazing about with the folks and my family and reading (hence the post above). It was great and I can't wait to go back again in November.
Thank you to all you lovely people who sent me cards and good wishes for my birthday. I am still feeling special :)
And a big well done to everyone who is maintaining, losing, fighting to minimise the gains. You guys are sensational and you provide me with new motivations each and every day, in very different ways. And I can see that with Spring now upon us the levels of motivation are starting to climb again. Whooo Hoooo. Now if it will only stop raining in Sydney long enough for me to get outside LOL.
And before I get into the specifics I want to clarify what I mean by God. The following is an excerpt taken from "eat, pray, love" and is entirely the authors words. How she managed to take them from my head and put them on paper I still don't know but they capture what I feel about God perfectly.
"Now, this was a first for me. And since this is the first time I have introduced that loaded word - GOD - into my book, and since this is a word which will appear many times again throughout these pages, it seems only fair that I pause here for a moment to explain exactly what I mean when I say that word, just so people can decide right away how offended they need to get.
Saving for later the argument about whether God exists at all (no - here's a better idea: let's skip that argument completely), let me first explain why I use the word God, when I could just as easily use the words Jehovah, Allah, Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu or Zeus. Alternatively, I could call God "That," which is how the ancient Sanskrit scriptures say it, and which I think comes close to the all-inclusive and unspeakable entity I have sometimes experienced. But that "That" feels impersonal to me - a thing, not a being - and I myself cannot pray to a That. I need a proper name, in order to fully sense a personal attendance. For this reason, when I pray, I do not address my prayers to The Universe, The Great Void, The Force, The Supreme Self, The Whole, The Creator, The Light, The Higher Power, or even the most poetic manifestation of God's name, taken, I believe, from the Gnostic gospels: "The Shadow of the Turning."
I have nothing against these terms. I feel they are all equal because they are all equally adequate and inadequate descriptions of the indescribable. But we each do need a functional name for this indescribability, and "God" is the name that feels the most warm to me, so that's what I use. I should also confess that I generally refer to God as "Him", which doesn't bother me because, to my mind, it's just a convenient personalising pronoun, not a precise anatomical description or a cause for revolution.
Of course, I don't mind if people call God "Her", and I understand the urge to do so. Again - to me, these are both equal terms, equally adequate and inadequate. Though I do think the capitalisation of either pronoun is a nice touch, a small politeness in the presence of the devine."(eat, love, pray - Elizabeth Gilbert, p13)
And before you think this book is all about God, it isn't. It's got a lot to do with sex and gelato too :)
So now I realise that there is no way I can colour up my prayers, no beautiful strings of words that I can use that changes the core message I am giving. And they are as follows:
Dear God. If you can just make me a millionaire when I wake up in the morning, I promise I will finally get around to doing that budget and promise not to screw up all my money as I have done in the 38 years that have already passed in my life.
Dear God. If you can just make me skinny when I wake up in the morning, I promise that I will maintain this new temple of loveliness by eating healthily, exercising properly, partaking of essential nutrients, and ensuring I get enough sleep and sanity to carry this through.
Dear God. If you can just see your way clear to making me the most knowledgable being on Earth so that any job I may want, or any question I may be asked, I will know the correct answer in order to get what I want.
Yep, pretty shallow aren't they.
But now I have realised that my shrug of my shoulders in the morning when yet again I woke up to find nothing had changed was just a cop out because I was receiving the answers loud and clear each day. The answers went a little like this.
Dear M, If you construct a budget, live within your means, and continue looking for ways to improve your life, and the life of your family, POW, you will wake up one morning with riches beyond your wildest dreams.
Dear M, If you eat healthily, exercise properly, partake of essential nutrients, and ensure you get enough sleep and sanity to carry this through, POW, you will wake up one morning in a body that is healthy and loveliness in all its glory.
Dear M, In order to attain knowledge to gain "what you want" you first need to know what it is you want.
Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. LOL..
It means I had the answers inside me all along. I have the ability to have my prayers answered, or my goals reached. Because really all my prayers are, are a spoken version of my goals said in a different context. I was asking someone else to achieve my goals for me. I was asking someone else to take all the responsibility away from me. I was trying to take the easy way out. Ask someone to do something - blame them when it doesn't happen.
I know I have taken huge steps to address my prayers/goals. I have started to understand that I need to take the reigns of my life in my own hands and see how far I can go.
And I plan to go far :D
P.S. If you want to know all about the sex and gelato part of the book, I highly recommend you check the book out at the library. Mmmmm gelato….
*******************************************
And in other news:
Jay Kay has attacked her 'letter' she was given and it is brilliant. With all the Running she is doing she definitely has the RRRR's to show for it.
Big hugs to Rae who has miscarried her first baby at 10 weeks. I am a bit late with the news but send out my sincerest condolences for her loss :(
I had a great weekend in Adelaide. It rained a lot so didn't get out for my beach walks but did walk for a few hours around their new IKEA store, and a few more hours around the Royal Adelaide Show. Spent great time just lazing about with the folks and my family and reading (hence the post above). It was great and I can't wait to go back again in November.
Thank you to all you lovely people who sent me cards and good wishes for my birthday. I am still feeling special :)
And a big well done to everyone who is maintaining, losing, fighting to minimise the gains. You guys are sensational and you provide me with new motivations each and every day, in very different ways. And I can see that with Spring now upon us the levels of motivation are starting to climb again. Whooo Hoooo. Now if it will only stop raining in Sydney long enough for me to get outside LOL.
Without wanting to get all deep and heavy, I think too that the reason we don't get given these things is that our efforts to obtain them (and the lessons we learn along the way) are more important than the goal itself.
If we woke up one morning all thin and at goal then we'd never learn to eat right or exercise, we'd also not have also those emotional battles that make us stronger and teach us to deal with the crap that got us fat in the first place.
I guess that's why your blog is called My Journey and not My Arrival - it's the journey that matter :)
A couple of hours at Ikea is always good. Did you have the meatballs? I love the meatballs :)
Posted by
Kathryn |
September 12, 2006 10:38 am
Did u ever read "Hello God, it's me, Margaret" by Judy Blume as a kid? Totally unrelated but it would've made a good title for your post.
Yes - we all have the answers but it wouldn't be any fun if our journey's were too easy.
Sounds like an excellent weekend with your folks. Thanks for the book recommendation.
Posted by
Cinders |
September 12, 2006 12:01 pm
Whoot! I am so glad you liked it and got so much out of it too!! It really makes you think and put your own life in presepctive. How boring would life be if everything just fell into our laps anyway.
Thanks for the awesome and inspiring post today M and I hope you had a FABULOUS weekend.
PS. I loved the "straight talking Texan yogi" Richard ;-)
x
Posted by
Anonymous |
September 12, 2006 12:27 pm
Yep, deep.
Posted by
Sue |
September 12, 2006 1:33 pm
Hang on, you're not meant to be thinking so many deep things so soon after your birthday - aren't you supposed to be recovering from a massive hangover or something? Or maybe your musings were inspired by too much alcohol consumption? I hope so.
Either way, I really enjoyed your post. I'm not even going to go into the whole religious thing (Tom's mum is a lecturer in theology at a renowned Catholic university) but I find your take on it refreshing. I, too, believe that prayers are other ways of expressing goals. It's great that you've figured out what you really want. Now go get it, girl!
And a belated happy birthday too! I hope you had a rad one.
Posted by
Kellee |
September 12, 2006 3:30 pm
Happy belated birthday.
As always a thought-provoking post. Have a lovely trip away.
The other thing 'God' (or 'that') gives us is love, from others and to give others. what a gift, eh?
thanks for sharing, M
HUGS
Posted by
LBTEPA |
September 12, 2006 7:53 pm
oh HOW COOL! you can actually say "are you there god, it's me margaret" without sounding like a twit.
i nearly cried reading this, M dear. i am at work so it's really not on. hehe. but seriously... i loved the line about having the answers in you all along. beauuuutiful stuff :) xx
Posted by
Anonymous |
September 12, 2006 8:50 pm
Dear M, As always I feel that you are entering my head and telling me the things I need to know.
Thanks for a thought provoking post.
Jods.
Posted by
Anonymous |
September 13, 2006 12:44 pm
I love it - I need to read this book!!!
Glad you had a great time away:)
Posted by
Leighanne |
September 13, 2006 1:41 pm
First, happy birthday! I remember reading about your birthday a year ago and it's hard to believe how time has flown. We have all come so far.
Including you - that was such a thought provoking post. Take care of yourself M, you are an incredible woman who deserves the best.
Posted by
C |
September 13, 2006 5:12 pm
nothing like a little prayer to make you realise so much, its all there for the taking. strange what happens sometimes when we just take a few moments to reflect :)
good to hear you in such a nice place at the moment, take care lady xo
Posted by
Cat |
September 13, 2006 6:25 pm
Yes, "if it is to be, it is up to me".
Glad you had some time out with your family. xx
Posted by
Suzy |
September 14, 2006 3:13 am
Great blogging.
I would be honored if you would check out my site. I am a musician and all my music is free on my site. Anyway, just wanted to share.
-Sean
___________________________
www.SeanDietrich.com
"All my music is free."
Posted by
Sean Dietrich |
September 14, 2006 10:39 am
Great post M - we do have to work for what we want and not just have it land into our laps nice and easily. You have got the ability to have your goals reached!!
Posted by
Anne |
September 14, 2006 12:50 pm
This book is amazing. I read it very slowly, savouring the deliciousness of the writing. I laughed, I cried, I thought about so many things while reading it. I'm so glad that you got as much out of it as I did.
We truly do control our own destinies.
Hope you have a great weekend gorgeous!
xx
Posted by
philippa_moore |
September 15, 2006 1:08 pm
I was thinking the same as Linda ragarding the "hello god, its me Margaret" title :)
sounds like a great book you have been reading & it is also imlar to my beliefs on God.
Also an extremely belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! sounds like it was fabulous :)
Posted by
Kt |
September 16, 2006 11:55 am
Brilliant, Brilliant post.
I could have written it myself (though not so eloquently:) )
Posted by
The Candid Bandit |
September 20, 2006 10:31 pm
Hey there- great post... I totally agree- as they say God helps those who help themselves.... to a point LOL!
Happy belated birthday!
Ash
www.ashwee.vox.com
come visit some time!!
Posted by
Unknown |
September 21, 2006 6:13 pm
oh - i love this post! I am not sure what it is about it that I love, but I just love it! I think, like you, it is that she summises exactly my thoughts and then, your prayers sound so very much like mine.
Oops - mental note to self - stop selfish prayers that involve asking to do no work in order to be rich and thin and use that time effectively to get rich and thin!
thanks
and hugs
Posted by
Anonymous |
September 21, 2006 7:12 pm
Hi, better late than never. Loved your blog message. Probably just what I needed to read tonight. Take care
Julie
Posted by
Julie's Journey |
September 24, 2006 8:04 pm
I was wondering about that book and how "religious" it was. Thanks for your review!
Posted by
Diet Porn |
October 02, 2006 4:33 pm
Hey M. I've been thinking of you a bit lately and hope you're doing ok. Look forward to hearing how you're doing some time soon. x
Posted by
Els |
October 05, 2006 12:35 pm
Hello M, it's Lee-Anne. Hope all is well in your world. Miss you. Email on it's way. Take care and look after you. Hope KUTA is well on track.
Posted by
Lee-Anne |
October 05, 2006 6:58 pm
WOW. I have just started blogging and reading blogs.
This entry was really interesting. Love your creativity.
Posted by
Authentic Woman |
October 06, 2006 6:32 am
Hey matey,
Hope everything is okay, come back soon okay.
I'm back ;)
Posted by
Lucinda |
October 06, 2006 11:20 pm
Just checking in to see how you are:)
Posted by
Leighanne |
October 07, 2006 10:29 am
Please talk to us! I miss you
Posted by
Jadey |
October 08, 2006 8:00 pm
Hope everything is okay - such a long absence is not like you. Please come back and update.
Posted by
Anonymous |
October 09, 2006 3:09 pm
Speaking of God, sex and gelato: i heard someone once ask the question about why did God put so many enjoyable nerve endings in certain places of our anatomy? The answer being so that at least sometimes we would call out her name.
Hope you are just being a busy Virgo girl lately, and all is going ok for you and your lovely family. Probably you are looking after everything and being there for everyone. God's love and strength will no doubt be radiating from you. all the best, from Barbara
Posted by
Anonymous |
October 09, 2006 5:47 pm