The earth laughs in flowers. I’ve seen it attributed to either Emerson or ee cummings.
A friend sent me a card with these words on it. Now the card is front and center to my computer screen where I see it daily.
I wish I knew why it seems like negatives grab consciousness quicker and stay longer than happiness, which seems so fleeting. I try to reverse the emphasis by being conscious (and keeping lists) of unexpected happy moments. They feel especially like serendipitous gifts, if I’m having a low moment.
This is a reminder to me that joy is found in places and moments that we might not recognize if we don’t consciously let it register. It reminds me to be childlike — to notice the interesting bug or the flowers in someone’s garden or the wildflowers that are profuse along certain roadways. These are moments of happiness mitigating the adult issues that we all face in some form or other. Nature is a gift, freely given.
It just tickles my fancy to think of the earth, laughing, in flowers. A kind of celestial hiccup. And there’s another one. And another one. Just like happiness.
I tell a friend that we need to string together moments of healing and happiness as if the moments were pearls. No one focuses on the knots in a strand of pearls, just the pearls.
I made a bracelet with small sized alphabet beads and crystals using this quote so that it would be before my consciousness as I go about my day.
I can always use more conscious happiness.
Karin
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3) Do ongoing research to understand the cultural/economic/political, etc. context in which adoption from these countries takes place.
–Work to understand the role of orphanages within these specific cultures. Do orphanages function as boarding schools for the poor, as temporary social safety nets for children whose families intend to continue to raise them, as repositories for abandoned children, as homes for true orphans, or ????? Do not assume that orphanages are the same kinds of institutions in every culture.
–Build a broad understanding of the reasons why children are likely to be relinquished for adoption in these countries by beginning to understand the country’s’ culture, politics, economics, etc. especially as they relate to poverty, unwed pregnancy, the roles of women, class & family structure, customs related to childbearing & raising etc., etc. etc.
–Understand what part adoption–domestic and international–plays for orphanages. What percentage of children are available for adoption? What percentage is placed domestically? What percentage of children are sent abroad? What is the incentive for sending children abroad? How does the fact that
children are being sent abroad affect domestic adoption within the sending country?
–Examine whether the true need for international placement of children has changed over time.
–Find out all you can about how real orphanages function for children–not just orphanages that place children internationally, but other orphanages. What percentage of orphanages in these countries place children internationally? What is their reputation as compared to other orphanages?
–Monitor news related to these concerns
–Share what you learn with others
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Adoption Corruption 18) Pool your resources and use your unique talents 18) Pool your resources and use your unique talents --Support organizations like Ethica with your donations and your time and talents. --Attempt to interest already existing organizations in working on aspects of adoption corruption. (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, women's groups, human rights groups, those against globalization, etc.......
Adoption Corruption 8) For AP's--Join online groups... 8) For AP's--Join online groups like Adoption_Agency_Research and learn and participate. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Adoption_Agency_Research/ (The Adoption Agency Research Group was formed to help prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) in their research and selection of an international adoption agency. If you have already completed an adoption, please share your experience with us! This group......
2) Research the adoption related laws and regulations of a few sending countries
–No one knows everything about every country, so try to understand a couple of countries well.
–If you know the rules, you will be able to recognize when they are being followed or broken
–Start with the country from which you adopted and pick one (or two) other countries, at least one of which is rumored to have “problems”
–Understand the “ethical issues” and problems related to adoption in those countries
–Research the history of adoption and its ethical issues (scandals, problems, etc) in the countries that you have chosen
–Specifically monitor news alerts related to “your countries.”
–Discuss with others and share what you learn.
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Adoption Corruption 16) Speak to PAP's formally and informally about finding ethical agencies 16) Speak to PAP's formally and informally about finding ethical agencies --David K's: is a good place to start --Encourage PAP's to join Adoption_Agency_Research --Don't let PAP's wander into danger with their rose-colored glasses on. Do your best to show them a more balanced, more mature view of adoption.......
Adoption Corruption 8) For AP's--Join online groups... 8) For AP's--Join online groups like Adoption_Agency_Research and learn and participate. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Adoption_Agency_Research/ (The Adoption Agency Research Group was formed to help prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) in their research and selection of an international adoption agency. If you have already completed an adoption, please share your experience with us! This group......
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Deliberately build into each week something that feels generally replenishing–it might be going to a museum once a week or having coffee with a friend. Do not go from one day to the next on automatic pilot, but intentionally recuperate. Paula Rinehart Day 55 Divorce Care
Well, personally, I like this advice. It feels right to me. And not just for divorce-type situations, but for life itself. You can’t pour yourself out to others, if there is nothing left to pour out. First, you have to fill yourself (and re-fill yourself) so there is replenishing.
It reminds me of the Little Teapot song that we sang as kids, along with accompanying hand motions:
I’m a little teapot, short and stout
Here is my handle; here is my spout.
When I get all steamed up, hear me shout:
tip me over and pour me out!
To me, it goes right along with the quotes about making a space in your life to encourage yourself.
Life makes so many demands on us that before you know it, we can be so scheduled or over-sceduled or double booked (or multi-tasking) that it puts to shame the assistants on The Devil Wears Prada (Widescreen Edition). Who is our assistant? Often it is ourselves.
Leave enough space for serendipitous moments.
The cream of enjoyment in this life is always impromptu. The chance walk; the unexpected visit, the unpremeditated journey; the unsought conversation or acquaintance. Fanny Fern, 19th-century
Even though we need people around us to encourage us, you need to find a place in your life where you can encourage yourself. Doug Gilcrease, team chaplain for Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If you want a miracle in your life, you have to participate. Be the place where a miracle may occur. Shift your thinking; believe in a bigger way. As Walt Whitman wrote, “From this hour, I ordain myself loosed of limits and imaginary lines…†What limitations have you placed on yourself? What lines have you drawn that can now be erased? Mary Manin Morrissey
The point is that nobody, not even God, can help you if you don’t help yourselves just a little. Open the window and and the door so if good fortune shows up, it can get in. Carole
If you need encouragement, it is good to think of finding, i.e. making, a place in your life where you can find ways to encourage yourself. It’s a truism to make the space. Clear out the clutter that is mostly old thinking.
What is it that you need in life? Can you find a way open to it? Insofar as possible, surround yourself with people and ideas that are encouraging.
If you need more quiet time, make an effort to find it. A friend of mine found herself driving around in the car as her only quiet space. She thought that was ridiculous, but it worked. Sometimes I find myself awake in the middle of the night, because I haven’t had quiet moments in the day. Either way God sees I get it.
Find the abundant moments in your own day and live them.
I think it was Kay Kayser who made popular the phrase:
Accentuate the positive. Don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.
Karin
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What to Do About Adoption Corruption (as an Individual)
See the overview.
1) Become educated about what’s going on in IA in general
–Subscribe to news alerts. Share them.
–As you read them, look to learn about the problems in individual countries, but also about the “big picture”—the patterns that repeat over and over again from country to country.
–Form your own hypotheses, think through where you think the problems lie and what the solutions might be, discuss your ideas with others, network, decide where you can help, and then apply your own unique talents to being a part of the solution.
–Track trends and events with respect to corruption and illegality’s impact on adoption. History often repeats itself.
–Discuss with others. Right now discussions about adoption ethics are almost taboo. When conversations about adoption ethics become more common-place, improvements in adoption practice & ethics are sure to follow.
Losses in adoption We were happy to adopt these kids at ages 6 & 7. It never occurred to us that for them it was a funeral. For them it dashed every hope they ever had of returning to their bio family. Of course they didn't tell us that then but they......
Adoption Corruption 19) Work for Legislative and Executive Remedies 19) Work for Legislative and Executive Remedies --Pool your resources with organizations like Ethica to do things like write and lobby for badly needed legislation and executive remedies for problems that allow child trafficking and bad adoption practice to flourish. --Analyse, discuss,and comment on proposed legislation. End of this series......
What to do about adoption corruption Over the next few days I will be posting a compilation of the expanded list of what to do about adoption corruption. I don't want to seem to make it too easy, but for those who don't know where to start, start with your particular passion. And think out from/about......
Adoption Corruption 12) Educate yourself on the International Documents... 12) Educate yourself on the International Documents that are applicable to International Adoption: --"The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)" --"The Convention on the Rights of the Child Optional Protocol (Sale of Children)" --"Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption" --Human Rights documents, including the "Protocol to Prevent, Suppress,......
. Who is our assistant? Often it is ourselves. 
