Attitude

On January 20th, during the inauguration of our 44th president Barack Obama, my grandmother - Judy Barta, passed away. For the five days leading up to this experience, we consciously chose to be one hundred percent present with whatever needed to happen. We were available for each other but most importantly, for grandma, clearing a path for her to transition whenever she chose. We spent several hours testing and clearing her chakras to ensure they were open in order for her spirit to exit as easily as possible. We adorned her with essential oils of lavender and other herbs to assist in calming her anxiety. We performed Reiki and hands on healing, bathing her aura and energy body in love and light. For five days, I observed my grandmother shift from being fearful and confused to embodying peace. During her final moments, my mom and I intuitively tuned into to grandma's departing energy, recognizing she was about to transit. Without saying anything to each other, I went over to the window and opened it so that her Soul could easily exit. My mom began rattling angel bells next to Grandma's ears saying that they were calling her home and it was o.k. to go now. Then, impromptly and in unison, my mom and I began coaching grandma into the light. In perfect rythm with grandma's slowing down breath rate, we began saying out loud, "You can do this. You are doing it. You are doing it. You are almost there. You're doing it. You're doing it......" Then, with her last breath, "You did it. You're there!" And with that, while I was holding her hand, grandma went to the light. Mom and I began to cry and we were flooded with emotions of relief, sadness, gratitude and peace.

At 88 years old, my "gran gran" had finally been released from the prison and confusion of Alzheimer's. She was an inspiration to all who met her and she will be remembered for her go-getting attitude, her drive for life, and her incredible energy. She was a poet, a writer, an artist, an athlete, a teacher, an entrepreneur, and inventor.

The last word grandma spoke was "Attitude". In fact, she looped on it, saying it well over 15 times, just to make sure we would hear it clearly. I made note of it in my journal and we all commented on how perfect it was to be her last word of advice for us. Grandma always used to say, "there is no such thing as TRY. You either do it or you don't." She was always preaching about the importance of a positive attitude and was a true pioneer giving motivational speeches to others about the effects of a positive attitude on the body and our overall health. Well, if that message wasn't clear enough, this was.... Upon leaving the nursing home for the last and final time, mom and I went to exit out the side door where the car was parked. Just as I was about to open the door, I turned to my left and noticed the only picture in the hallway staring me in the face. It read, "Attitude... the little thing that makes a big difference".

I invite you this month to choose a quality of ATTITUDE. Choose to bring that quality of attitude to every event, every experience, every person you interact with this month. Choose to respond with that attitude. Choose to show up with that attitude. Choose to be the model of that attitude this month. Regardless of what is happening in your life, choose to bring a certain type of attitude to it. Question to ponder: What quality of my attitude will I choose to embody this month? (Some examples might be: an Attitude of Peace, an Attitude of Love, an Attitude of Acceptance, an Attitude of Gratitude?)