When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade
STAR Foundation Newsletter
Dear STAR Friends:
It’s a new year, new opportunities, adventures and beginnings. I’m frankly glad 1996 has passed. I would not want to repeat it even if I did learn a lot, grow a lot and feel blessed by the experience of last year. It was a year which completely turned my life upside down and shook it up on every level.
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”
I’ve always disliked that little slogan. In 1996 I learned to make lemonade out of lemons. Here’s my recipe:
1) Squeeze out the juice thoroughly from the lemons. It helps to soften the fruit first by rolling it between your hands. Carefully save the juice for the flavor and valuable vitamin C. (It helps first to “roll around” in your feelings to soften your heart. Then carefully look for the lessons in the bitterness.)
2) Throw away the rinds, best to put them in a compost so nature can recycle them. They are no longer of any positive use to you. (Let go of what is no longer useful, especially blame, guilt and resentment. This may also include toxic people or situations. Bless them and trust spirit to guide them. Keep only what serves your healing and growth.)
3) Add sweetening of your choice to the juice. (Acknowledge and express gratitude for all the sweet friends, your pets, the love and the beauty in your world, etc. Accept it and savor it. You get to choose the sweeteners which bring you peace and joy. Only you alone can add it to your lemonade. Do not let the turkeys get you down and ruin your lemonade with their s—t.)
4) Add fresh water, just the right amount to retain the lemony flavor but not the sourness. (Keep your faith, hold on to your dreams in the right balance—trusting Allah and tying up your camel.)
5) Store the lemonade in a cool place in a clean, proper container of your choice. (You can choose to live in a context of love instead of fear. Protect it with the power and light of your inner spirit.)
6. Partake as needed to freshen and revitalize yourself. Share with friends who appreciate lemonade, especially those who know how to make their own. (Teach the others, but keep in mind—some people prefer lemons to lemonade. It’s their choice.)
7. Repeat when life gives you more lemons.
I’ve had an abundant crop of lemons lately so I made extra lemonade. If you run out, I’ll be happy to share mine until life gives you more lemons.
Before I close, I want to acknowledge the hard work of Maureen Wolfe over the last four years. She has recently left STAR Foundation to help work on starting a new COR-type program. I wish her every success in initiating this much-needed program. Maureen is continuing on as part of our STAR workshop staff.
We now have one office for the STAR Foundation, with Diana Barrett as Administrative Director. You can reach her, or me, toll-free at 1-888-857-STAR.
Three more years left of this century and then it’s a new millennium. Where will you be when the paradigm shifts—physically, emotionally and spiritually? I know where I intend to be—hope you’ll be there too.
Have a wonderful year and keep in touch.
Love to each of you,
Barbara
