WE ARE ALL ENROLLED STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE UNIVERSE

Welcome to 7th grade. How’s it going for you so far?
 
We are all students in this journey we call Life. The entire universe is our university.  There is no accident in the similarity of words there.  I believe our time here on Earth as humans is our 7th grade level in the University of the Universe.  We have passed every grade before this and have many yet to come.   We are all here at this grade level to learn, to teach and to love.

Do you remember your 7th grade year in junior high school?

Some of us had great experiences and were rock stars, athletic jocks, popular, or studious and brilliant.  Some of us suffered through and were the unpopular ones, those that struggled, failed, flunked, skipped classes or dropped out. 
 
This 7th grade level of our learning through the University of the Universe is no different.  We have the shining stars of music, sports, popularity and intelligence.  We have the strugglers who are victims and never seem to get ahead or catch a break.

And guess what?  I believe we are all in the space we are supposed to be in to learn what we are meant to learn and to teach what we are meant to teach.
  
We have a variety of class topics in this version of 7th grade.  If you are a star in this life you shine and share your voice and experiences with others and are likely teaching the class.  If you’re struggling, the course you are enrolled in teaches humility, patience and empathy for others.

The amazing news is, there are semesters in this 7th grade.

If you move past struggling and pass the test you can graduate into the next semester's course of being a star.  Conversely, if you are a star and become arrogant, ungrateful or just need to learn more lessons, the University of the Universe has the power to enroll you into a semester of struggle where you will learn humility, patience and empathy … the hard way.
  
Our task as students of life is to understand and believe that no matter what semester we are in, what class we are taking or what curriculum we are guided by, we are here for the lessons our soul requires.

Our report cards will grade us on our ability to learn the lessons to our highest capacity.  Our assignment is to teach others what we have learned along the way.  And our most important homework is to be grateful for the experiences, the teachers and the lessons – the joyous ones and the painful ones – and seek and share joy and love in the process.

Most of us would like to be granted a do-over for our 7th grade year of junior high school.  If it was fabulous we would love to relive the glory.  If it was painful, we would like to go back and do it right the second time.

Well, you’re here now and your entire life is the 7th grade at the University Of The Universe.  Enjoy it, live it and dance in it to your happiest level!
 
Welcome to 7th grade!  How’s it going for you so far?                                                         
                                                ~~~~~~~

Pennie's Life Lesson: “In the school of life, be grateful for the experiences, the teachers and the lessons – the joyous ones and the painful ones – and seek and share joy and love in the process.” 

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                                             Copyright © 2013 Pennie Hunt 

                      This newsletter is written and produced by Pennie Hunt. 
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MARTIN

The poster simply says, “No More Hurting People -- Peace.”


On both sides of the word Peace hand-colored hearts lead us to believe that peace can be accomplished through love. The serious dark eyes and the crooked missing tooth smile of the artist holding the poster belong to 8-year-old Martin Richard.

Martin Richard will forever be the name in the headlines as the boy who lost his life in the Boston Marathon Bombing.  Martin was more than a headline.  Martin had a message.

Some of us take decades to understand our place in life and secure a purpose for why we are here.  But, Martin accomplished this in 8 short years. He was here to create the poster; to share the message.  If he hadn’t been the boy who lost his life we wouldn’t have seen it.  It would have hung on his parent’s refrigerator and been packed away in a box of memories to be pulled out when he was grown and had kids of his own.

But Martin’s purpose was bigger.  His message was more important. His mission was more immediate.  It needed to be seen now, in this time when headlines are daily records of violence and anger. It needed to be seen by the world.   It needed to be felt in a deep riveting way that strikes to the core of our hearts—as only the tragic death of a child can.

We may not have known Martin -- and yet we did.  He is everyone’s son, nephew, brother, cousin or grandson.  He is every wide-eyed child in our lives and in our world.

Today our life lesson is brought to you by Martin Richard.  His message was one of direction.  One of love.  One of hope.  His message simply said, “No More Hurting People – Peace.”

Can we remember this message?  Can we remember the hearts he colored with care?  Can we return, through love, to a place of Peace one person at a time, one kind expression of hope at a time?

Let’s say Thank you to Martin Richard for teaching us that sometimes the loving message we need to hear comes from a child’s simple art project. And sometimes it takes painful eye-opening tragedy for us to see it.                                

                                          ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie's Life Lesson:
      “No More Hurting People – Peace.”~ Martin Richard


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                                 Copyright © 2013 Pennie Hunt
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CupCake It!

We don’t take time to celebrate.  I know what you are thinking –
"What? We celebrate all the time!"
Yes, we break out the ice cream and cupcakes to celebrate birthdays and holidays, but we need to “cupcake” the little things in life.

Every second of every day we are surrounded by things to celebrate.  Some are obvious. A promotion at work or the birth of a baby are the green fields for the dance of celebration, but let’s dig deeper.

I don’t think there has been a morning of my life that the sun didn’t rise bringing with it a glorious splash of love and light.  That is cupcake worthy!

The first smell of spring, the flower squeezing between two rocks to find the sun, or the smile on the face of an elderly woman as she watches a toddler walk – cupcakeable!

The smell of coffee in the morning, the kiss on the cheek from someone you love, the note from a friend that says they are thinking of you, the tail wagging greeting from your dog and sliding into bed on clean sheet day –- yep, cupcake with sprinkles!

Watch for these moments and even sweeter, try to turn frustrating moments into a cupcake moment.  It may be a red light that stops you when you are  late for an appointment, but what can you celebrate as you take a breath?  It may be that the pause that forces you to calm down to take the breath is worth a celebration in itself. 

A spring storm may require you to add snow shoveling to your already busy day, but those white snowflakes are crystals of beauty and the moisture will guarantee the green burst of spring in your yard.

Do you see how you can turn frustrations into celebrations?

Now, I’m not suggesting you start baking cupcakes on a daily basis.  None of us have time for that and our waistline wouldn’t thank us for it.  But imagine a cupcake celebration in your head when these wonderful life moments occur.

Who doesn’t like a party?  You can create one just by paying attention to these delightful moments.  The mental confetti will spill, the balloons will bounce, the champagne lasses will clink with a “cheers it” as you begin to cupcake the small things in life.

Begin now!  Start taking time to celebrate freely.  What will you cupcake today?
                                                 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie's Life Lesson: Take time to celebrate the small 
                                            moments in life – cupcake them!

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THE WISDOM OF TREES  

We all have memories that include a tree.  You may think of a childhood tree swing, climbing a tree, picking apples, or sitting under your favorite shade tree.

Have you ever thought of the life wisdom we can gain from trees?  

Trees push their roots deep into the ground, curving and curling to create a foundation of strength. Many times intertwining with the trees next to them to form a force of commitment as if standing like a family with arms banned together for strength.

Bending with the wind, the tree demonstrates contentment and adaptability during sunshine and storms.  With the breaking of branches they teach stamina and survival, and after every environmental pruning they return stronger and rejuvenated with life.

Trees hold a sense of community and serving others.  Opening their space to birds, squirrels, bees and even children to build homes in their branches, the tree proudly holds firm and strong to bear the weight of sharing a place of safety with others.

At times when disease or parasites attack, the tree’s bark may buckle and boil to form a knot or malformation in the trunk.  The tree doesn’t hide or disguise this disfigurement.  Instead the visible scar is acknowledgment that it has suffered yet endured the wounds of time. 

Trees adapt to the changing seasons, turning colors and shedding leaves for the winter to create space for the new birth of spring.

Bearing fruits and nuts it nurtures and feeds others and when a tree falls its final gift is of kindling to warm the chill of those in front of a fire or as the framework of a home. 

From trees we learn:

     *  To band with our families and build our roots and foundations strong.

      *  To bend with adaptability to change.

      *  To hold community and helping others as our service.

      *  To acknowledge our scars and suffering as badges of life and learning.

     *  To share our gifts. 

     *   To enjoy and accept the birthing, the shedding and the circle of life.

Yes, wisdom of life can be heard in the rustling branches of a tree. The next time you are under a shade tree or look up to see a bird happily singing as it perches on a branch, think of the lessons we learn from trees.
                                                              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
                           “When you are looking for the wisdom of life, look to a tree.”

                                                        All Rights Reserved
                                               Copyright © 2013 Pennie Hunt
                                                Feel free to forward this post.
                         Please keep the entire message intact, including contact,
                                            logo, and copyright information.
                                                                      Thank you