0 When Life whispers "extend some grace".

In life, there is always a lesson to be learnt from every experience. What you do with, how you implement it and use it, is all up to you. Today I had to pause as I experienced a verbal whiplash by someone I held in high regard. I didn't allow myself to get defensive. Instead I listened. I didn't defend myself. I chose to listen. Why? Because, coming from this source, the behavior, the condescending, the combative defensiveness is not the norm. In fact in the decades of acquainted friendship I have never experienced this atomic verbal explosion. Instead of getting defensive or angry, I grew concerned and decided to not let any of the negatives adhere. I sat quietly on the other end of the line and I listened. There wasn't much I could contribute. I didn't get to same much, there was no room for it, other than the occasional monosyllabic empathic phrase. It was swift, powerful in its delivery. It was more a monologue than a dialogue. At the end of the heated diatribe. I gently hang-up the phone and sat in stunned silence. Taking deep breaths mentally sorted through all that I'd heard. I didn't question myself or examined what I said, there was no need. In the quiet of my self-care reflective check in I realized I'd have to extend some grace into the space of all that I heard, the things that were unsaid but clearly had a voice as it screeched in discordance. The pain, though unnamed echoed in every word and ping-pong in the atmosphere to be claimed. The deafening hysteria. I can do nothing to help. I can fix nothing. I can offer no solace or sucker. No I didn't get mad. I couldn't.  What I can do, and I am doing, is holding a space of grace for which humanness can flow through. 

D.S.B.S.Rhapsodyphoenix

5 In The Waiting Room

'I am late!". I grumbled aloud in my mind. 2:45 pm I paused in front the Clinic's door and put on my mask. Walking up to the medical receptionist I whisper shout with a slight grimace in my tone, "good afternoon, I am sorry. I am late for my 2:30 appointment with the doctor."   

"Oh, that's ok, the doctor is running a little behind with his appointments today. There are two people before you, so have a seat and I will call you."

"Thank you. I will sitting in the chair by the elevator." 

Sitting down on the chair by the elevator where there is less traffic because of the signage "PLEASE USE ELEVATOR ON THE OTHER SIDE" I opened my tote and removed my tablet, pulled up the Overdrive App and selected "ONE PERFECT MOMENT" by A.C. Arthur. As I read, I see a little body dancing around the giant potted plant with a equally large palm tree surrounded by artificial succulent plants and decorative flat stones in varying sizes, stationed in the middle of the waiting room. I paused from my reading and looked up. It was a little girl, twirling her way around and around. As she noted no one paying attention to her she began to satisfy her curiosity by digging up the artificial succulents and the flat stones and rearrange them. No one told her to stop so she proceeded to rearrange the plants to her liking. I looked around to see to whom she might belong but to no avail as no one acknowledge her. This irritated me. As the little girl began testing the boundaries of what she get away with by destroying the arrangement that was not meant to move. At one point she yanked one of the succulents out. "Who does this child belong to, she is destroying the display. It is not meant to be a toy." I said. No one moved, no one claimed her. No one attempted to move or discipline her. 

"Rhapsody, Rhapsody,"

"Yes, right here, I am coming." I saw the medical personnel look at the little girl with a slight irritation on her face. 

"This way, room one."  

"Thank you, may I have the stool in room 2 please. Its very comfortable. 

"Sure, no problem."

"Here you go, Rhapsody."

"Oh thank you so much. Just a word of warning regarding the centre piece outside. You will have to have someone glue back the arrangements, unfortunately the little girl yanked out a few of the succulents."

"I know, I saw, the parents didn't discipline her, the sad thing is when she is older and fail to listen to them they will act surprised." She said rolling her eyes.

At the end of my appointment as i was leaving room one, I saw the little girl and her parents walking into room two. ironically, it was the woman and man who sat not to far from where I sat  in the waiting room. There is no doubt they heard when I asked where is the parent of this child.  They were so tuned out, so disconnected in parenting their child. I just looked at them and shook my head thinking, 'they'll let her tear up the doctor's office and play on the computer that he accesses patience files, while they sit muted like crash test dummies.' 

Word to parents, would be parents & guardians: Children, blessings that they are, takes work, the 24/7 kind of work, they require engagement and guidance . If you are not up to the tasks, please don't have them!!

5 Move, Get out of your way!!

The characteristics survival dictate you develop to endure and triumph over diversity maybe the same characteristics you may be required to shed to grow, expand and accelerate the development of self. 

There will come a time when your situation has changed where those qualities, habits, and responses as great as they are, must be put away as they are no longer serving you. 

What once was an asset if you are not careful can become a liability. 

You are not in survival mode; thus, those attributes are not required as they do not fit the circumstances. To cleave too tightly to that which does not apply is to create barriers that will undermine your authority and your progress. 

It is not disloyalty to self; it is ensuring the adherence to the integrity of one’s true self by removing all hindrances that may stagnate and prevent one’s true manifestation of excellence. 

D.S.B.S. Rhapsody Phoenix. 
May.12.2022 
2:50 PM | 14:50 PM 

0 Breathe....be in gratitude

Breathe.

Be still.

Sit in gratitude.

Step outside of the noise.

Allow grace to carry you through.

It will be alright.

You are not alone.

D.S.B.S.Rhapsodyphoenix.

5 No comment is at times the best comment.

I received my grocery order today and had to pause in silence. The delivery person (a woman) was friendly but her last comment soured the whole experience and left a really bad taste on my demeanor. As she handed off the last bag to me one of my item almost fell. She caught it quickly and gave it to me with a comment I could have well done without. The item she managed to catch was the package of ground beef. As she handed it over she said with a smile on her face, "Oh, I buy this same one for my dog!" I opened my eyes at her and stared. She look at me with a smile. I did not smile back, I simply watched her silently.  I took a deep breath and thought, 'hmmm mmmm, nope, not today, don't say, a word, not one word.' It is my day off and I refused to let anything or anyone disturb my peace.  I closed my door softly entered my kitchen and unpacked my groceries.

To all delivery persons, when delivering products to clients, simply do so with a friendly hi, hello, how you doing, have a great day. If you have nothing complimentary to say. Please For the Love of Jehovah, say nothing. Thank you.