Describe your most ideal day from beginning to end.
My most ideal day begins with me being aroused up by the sound of birds singing outside my bedroom window. As I open my eyes, I can feel the warmth of the rays of sunshine that are streaming into my room. I close my eyes again and take a deep soothing breath. Time to do a body scan. I feel each part of my body from within. I beginning with my toes all the way up to the crown of my head. It’s kind of like a sound check. I feel my feet for example and my feet let me know that they are good to go. Once I finish that process I’ll get out of bed. I can smell coffee brewing. ‘How wonderful, someone has made coffee.’ No one is there and I have the place to myself. I have a a nice cup of coffee and sit in my favourite chair. I open my computer and read blog posts for a while. I like the daily prompt so, I participate and write about my experiences. Time for some breakfast, some fruit and cereal. After drinking another cup of coffee, I head outside for my morning walk. The temperature is cool but the sun is shining in a crisp blue sky. After my walk I return home to warm up with another cup of coffee and sit down at my desk to see what comes to mind. I open a few projects on my computer and pick one to work on. I blissfully write throughout the rest of the morning. I take a break to play with my kitties then grab a sandwich and a tall glass of water for lunch. I take a break from writing for a while and watch some television. Around mid afternoon I work out for an hour. Later, showered and alert I sit back down to write some more. After a while I take a break and meditate for an hour or so. I prepare supper and sit down to eat with my hubby. We finish the meal and he cleans up and does the dishes while I prepare dessert. We enjoy a nice piece of apple pie a la mode then retire to the living room for tea and to watch the news. We discuss our plans for the following day and then turn on our favourite show. Hubby goes to bed and I return to my desk to write some more. Later at the end of my day I prepare for bed and I turn on my favourite nighttime meditation. I fall into blissful sleep with positive thoughts of tomorrow and dreams of amazing adventures.
How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life?
Loosing my mom was the most significant and heartbreaking life event that greatly influenced my perspective on life. On the surface, my mother and I were not close. We often fought about stupid things and there was a lot of hurt feelings and distance between us. Deep down though she was my best friend and my biggest fan.
She displayed every piece of artwork that I created for her, proudly, on the walls of the family home. She was present for every art show. She always listened intensely to my poetry and short stories. She always encouraged me to do my best and achieve my goals and dreams, in private. Our love was deep and true.
Mom became really sick during the Covid pandemic. She didn’t have Covid but suffered from COPD and was on oxygen full time.
She had been through so much in her life having Rheumatic fever at 12 years old.
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that can develop when strep throat or scarlet fever isn’t properly treated. Strep throat and scarlet fever are caused by an infection with streptococcus (strep-toe-KOK-us) bacteria. Rheumatic fever most often affects children ages 5 to 15.
Unfortunately this lead mom to suffer a heart condition called Mitral stenosis (narrowing of the mitral valve).
Ultimately in her late fifties, she had to have heart surgery to replace her Mitral valve with a mechanical one.
The surgery was a success and she was able to recover quickly. However, she would have to take medication like warfarin for the rest of her life.
From time to time she would be rushed to the emergency department at the hospital to get shocked with the paddles to bring her back to life. I could never get a straight answer from my father as to why this continued to happen to her.
I never trusted my father with her care but that is another story.
In 2015 she was diagnosed with COPD. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease characterized by chronic inflammation, airway obstruction, and breathing difficulties.
Mom was a lifelong smoker and it caught up to her. She was given a new list of prescription medications to take for this condition along with the medication for her pre existing condition.
For her heart murmur the medications were:
Diuretics To reduce fluid buildup and swelling.
Beta blockers To slow heart rate and reduce blood pressure.
ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure and reduce strain on the heart.
Anticoagulants To prevent blood clots and stroke.
Anti-arrhythmics To regulate abnormal heart rhythms.
For the COPD her medications were:
Bronchodilators To open airways and improve breathing.
– Short-acting: albuterol, ipratropium
– Long-acting: salmeterol, tiotropium
Corticosteroids To reduce inflammation and swelling.
– Inhaled: fluticasone, budesonide
– Oral: prednisone
Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors To reduce inflammation and improve lung function.
– Roflumilast
Combination inhalers To combine bronchodilators and corticosteroids.
– Fluticasone-salmeterol, budesonide-formoterol
Regardless my mom lived the best life that she could.
During her last months of life, she swallowed her pride and asked me to come help take care of her.
On my days off from work, I went out to the homestead and helped her with tiny tasks like doing her hair and getting her wash basin ready for her to clean up. Mom was very proud and right up until three days before her death she washed herself. I would get her a fresh set of jammies out while she was doing that, I would clean the house so she could rest.
I would sit with her and talk about life and my goals and plans for the future. I told her about some of my hurts and she told me about hers. Eventually she would fall asleep and I would tip toe out of the room and head home for the night.
Three days before she passed away we had a long conversation during which she said that she was a miserable mother to me. This brought tears to my eyes and I had a mix of emotions including sadness for her thinking that, relief for the recognition and grief because I knew that she would never admit to that unless the end was near. I responded with a firm no. I then responded by telling her that I knew that I wasn’t the most loving or compassionate daughter that I wish I had been. The final thing she said to me that day and would be the final words I heard from my mom was “ You my girl, are a ray of sunshine. You bring light and joy to everyone and everything you do. I’m so glad that you’re becoming a Reiki healer, no one is better suited for the job. Keep on bringing the light and shine it in dark places to bring light to difficult situations and heal the wounds of others especially and including those who might not otherwise deserve it.”
I weeped silently to myself as I bid her farewell “See you in a couple days.” I said and I kissed her on her cheek and left for the day.
The following Saturday morning started with a phone call from my sister was frantically screaming “Dad can’t wake mom up!”
I responded by telling her “It’s okay, it’s time, prepare yourself and tell dad to leave her alone until I get there. I’m on my way.”
A twenty minute drive seemed like five minutes. I arrived at my parents house to find my mother in a coma. I knew the time was near and I tried to comfort my father to no avail. He had already called an ambulance to take mom to the hospital which she did not want as she wanted to pass away at home with family but I didn’t have any control over him. It was obvious he wasn’t going to honour he final wishes however, it wasn’t the time to argue.
I stayed by her side over the night into the next day. I held her hand and spoke softly about my love for her and how important and loved she was towards anyone who ever had the luxury of knowing her. She opened her eyes a couple of times when my emotions overwhelmed me as if to let me know she could hear me and to comfort me. Mom passed away at Brockville General Hospital at six o’clock in the early morning of September 13, 2021. I was devastated and broken. Nothing was the same and life as I knew it changed forever.
I was completely lost without her. I felt completely severed from my only true connection that I ever had. This forced me into a major awakening period in my life that continues to this day. I took my mother’s advice and I keep bringing the light to everyone and everything that needs it. I often think about my mom in good days and bad. I know that I wouldn’t change a thing about our relationship because it was the best relationship of my life.
Something on your “to-do list” that never gets done.
The forever looming task of sewing is my to do lists’ nemesis. I learned to sew at a very young age. Being third of five children, each wearing good hand me downs from the older siblings, it was almost a necessity to learn to sew.
I taught myself to mend and alter my clothes around the age of seven. Because we were all girls, in my family, save for one brother and we certainly didn’t share the same shape and size . It was a necessity to learn to sew in order to be comfortable and look reasonably decent, in used clothes. I did all of the sewing alterations by hand back then, using only a needle and thread. We didn’t own a sewing machine.
Without intending to be conceded, I have to admit that I became quite good at sewing. My hand me downs almost always looked tailor made and fairly new. I would use only the best parts of the fabric and kind of, redesign the styles, a bit. I Definitely had to re-size everything, especially hemming the pants and skirts.
I learned how to use a sewing machine in my first year of high school. It was in home economics class. I absolutely fell in love with sewing! Using a sewing machine was amazing and it was so much fun. Less finger pricks, yay!
As part of our final grade we had to design and create an outfit. Top and bottom. I chose to make a skirt and jacket. I picked a really cute orange and black news paper print pattern for my fabric. I designed an adorable , calf length skirt with a 6 inch slit in the back and an elastic waist band. The top was a little jacket with a nice angled collar and two buttons at the waist.
I thought I did an okay job on the outfit and I received a good grade but what surprised me most was my classmates reaction. I received many approvals from them and made some new friends. One of the girls was repeating the class and was a grade ahead of me, was particularly interested in my outfit, so much so that she offered to buy it!
I was flattered beyond words and yes, I definitely sold that outfit to her. I was convinced that I should be a seamstress, for my future career, yes indeed.
My plans changed but I never lost my love of sewing, however, in my current life path, the sewing and alterations always get put off and are often carried on, to the next days To Do List.
Creating A Thought Filter The Power of Pause By Tracy Schruder
Have you ever spoken words in the heat of the moment, only to regret them later? Or maybe you’ve struggled to express yourself respectfully, in stressful situations. The good news is that there’s a simple yet profound technique to help you create a filter between your thoughts and words, it’s the breath.
The breath is a gateway to Mindfulness. The breath is more than just a physical function; it’s a gateway to mindfulness, self-awareness, and emotional regulation.
When you harness the power of the breath, you can learn to pause between your thoughts and words. In turn, this allows you to; reflect on your emotions and intentions, allowing you time to choose your words more carefully and respond with tact.
If you want to communicate more effectively and with empathy, you could try a simple breathing technique called 4-7-8 breathing, also known as the relaxation breath. You start by inhaling through your nose for a count of 4 seconds, next,hold your breath for 7 seconds and finally exhale through your mouth for 8 seconds. This should help to calm your nervous system and in turn create space for reflection.
Another simple breathing technique is box breathing. This technique involves inhaling for a count of 4 seconds then holding your breath for 4 seconds, next exhale for 4 seconds and then finally holding your breath again for 4 seconds. This creates a ‘box’ shape with your breath, helping you stay focused and present.
Throughout your day, take brief pauses to breathe and reflect on your thoughts and emotions. This technique is called mindfulness pausing. During your time pausing, simply ask yourself, Is this thought,word or action aligned with my core values and best intentions? The answer will arise from your level of awareness and you will act accordingly.
Another great alternative technique to use is physical grounding or anchoring. With this technique you feel all the physical sensations in your body. You then use these sensations as anchors to bring you back to the present moment. For example, focus on the sensation of your feet on the ground or the feel the air on your skin. Ask yourself do I feel sturdy right now or is the temperature cool or warm? Get right into it.
Finally, this is my absolute favourite technique, journaling. Writing down your thoughts and reflecting on them, can help you process your emotions and gain more clarity about values and intentions. I like to make a gratitude list each day in my journal.
You may be wondering how to put all these techniques into a practice? It’s been proven that by Incorporating these techniques into your daily life, they can make a profound impact on your relationships, communication style, and overall well-being. To get started you should consider starting small with short pauses throughout your day, gradually increasing the duration as you become more comfortable with the practice. Make mindfulness and breathwork a regular part of your routine, ideally at the same time each day. Share your goals with a friend or family member and ask them to hold you accountable.
In conclusion, creating a filter between your thoughts and words takes practice, patience, and self-awareness. By harnessing the power of the breath and incorporating mindfulness techniques into your daily life, you can develop greater emotional intelligence, communicate more effectively, and live a more authentic life. Remember, the breath is a powerful tool, use it to open doors to new possibilities and to close doors to old patterns that no longer serve you.
I love cooking breakfast, especially Bacon and eggs. I love filling the house with the smell of bacon cooking. It’s the perfect way to rouse the family up from their night time slumber. It’s how we get our snap, crackle and pop around here, haha. As soon as that aroma makes its way down the hallway into the bedrooms, you can here the clan arising. After a few groans and farts, they make their ways out of bed and into the kitchen. While rubbing eyes and patting down bed heads, everyone gathers to set the table. With everyone seated and the egg orders in; fried over easy for Bobby, scrambled for Tim and it’s Bacon, extra crispy, for little miss Kim. Maybe it’s the food, that is so easy to cook or maybe it’s people, we share it all with.
What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?
I’m terrified of riding roller coasters. I wasn’t always afraid to ride roller coasters. As a child and right up until I was in my twenties I made it a goal to ride every single roller coaster at the fair, exhibition and theme park. I rode every roller coaster at Marine Land and Wonderland in Toronto and Niagara Falls, over and over again on several occasions throughout my trips there. I remember enjoying the feelings of excitement mixed with terror, plus I got a rush of confidence for being, sometimes, the only member of the group to go first. I had good memories of those times. Fast forward in life and I’m thirty- eight years old. My stepson wants to go to Wonderland for his birthday and I think it’s a stellar idea, so, we go. The day started with all the excitement and anticipation that goes along with a family trip. We arrived at the gate of Wonderland upon opening. Promptly, my stepson dragged us to the newest and scariest roller coaster in the park- The Behemoth- a ganglia of twisted metal with tiny seats that have only a waist bar, to keep you secure inside the seat. Well, let me say that I was all for it! I couldn’t wait to get on and ride. After a brief wait in line, we were locked in and moving forward. It was at this point that I realized that I wasn’t a spring chicken anymore and I started to shake. Life is short and why am I taking such risks?, thoughts ran through my head. The ride was terrifying, I’m pretty certain that I passed out for a bit. I white knuckled my way through to the end. My husband, my stepson and his friend were laughing and commenting on how much fun it was. They started getting lined up to go again. Not me… I was in, what I could only describe as, shock. I was stupefied and shaking like a leaf. I tried to talk but couldn’t. It was if my life had passed before my eyes and I took it seriously. A once loved form of entertainment had now become my greatest fear. I’m not sure what it would take me to ride a roller coaster again, I can’t fathom even considering it. However, I could possibly change my mind as my final days approach. The bucket list is still up for an edit.
I was fortunate enough to be taught how to use a computer in grade and high school. However, I did not own my first computer until I was twenty eight years old. It was a MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System). I had an extensive collection of games and personal writing pieces downloaded to floppy disks.
Picture of floppy disk from google
My computer was Dell Dimension. It had several different components including
Motherboard – the main circuit board of a computer, connecting all hardware components together.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)- The CPU, also known as the processor, executes instructions and performs calculations.
Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) – The GPU handles graphics rendering and computing tasks.
Random Access Memory (RAM)- RAM is a volatile memory technology that stores data temporarily while the CPU processes it.
Storage device- A storage device holds data, programs, and the operating system, even when the power is off.
Monitor- Dell Trinitron CRT, 17 inch.
It had a 17 inch monitor that produced a visual of white on black background writing space. The monitor and keyboard were separate pieces which I purchased separately. The main computer contained all of the high technology and was stored in a large metal box that I set on my desk beside the monitor and keyboard. There were two slots in the front of the box where you could put floppy disks in and save your work for backup. I eventually added speakers, headphones and a microphone to the system.
Picture from google because I don’t have any from my own.
Because I had been educated on how to use computers, I fell in love with this system. I used it for everything from composing literary works to budgeting my finances and bill payments.
From time to time the computer would crash and I would have to press control, alt and delete to reload my operating system. This was frustrating at times but I always saved my information to my floppy disks, so it was just a matter of putting in the time, until it was up and running again.
I used that computer until 2001 that’s when my warranty and support ran out. I was able to upgrade and transfer valuable information to my next computer and have continued to do so as technology advances.
Manifesting a Field of Forgiveness for the World By Tracy Schruder
As we navigate the complexities of our collective human experience, it’s becoming increasingly clear that forgiveness is a crucial step towards healing and growth. The weight of past mistakes and trauma can be overwhelming, making it challenging for individuals and societies to move forward. However, by manifesting a field of forgiveness, we can create a powerful energetic framework that supports the healing and liberation of humanity.
The Power of Forgiveness Forgiveness is not about forgetting or condoning past wrongs; it’s about releasing the emotional charge associated with those experiences. When we forgive, we create space for new energies to emerge, allowing us to approach life with greater clarity, compassion, and understanding. Forgiveness is a powerful tool for personal transformation, and when applied collectively, it can have a profound impact on the world.
Healing the Past To manifest a field of forgiveness, we must first acknowledge the past mistakes and trauma that have shaped our individual and collective experiences. This requires empathy and understanding, recognizing that every person has their own unique story and struggles. By acknowledging the pain and suffering that have occurred, we can begin to release the energetic residue that continues to affect us.
Steps to Manifest a Field of Forgiveness First we need to set a clear intention to manifest a field of forgiveness whilst recognizing its potential to heal and transform humanity. Acknowledgment We must , collectively , acknowledge the past mistakes and trauma that have shaped our collective experience, as a whole race of beings. We have to cultivate empathy and understanding for all individuals involved. Release We must release the emotional charge associated with past experiences. By doing this, we allow forgiveness to flow into the energetic framework of our collective consciousness. Visualization A simple visualization exercise, anyone can do is to visualize a brilliant, pulsing light infusing the world, that represents the field of forgiveness. Let go of resistance with the breath and Imagine this light penetrating every aspect of our reality. Know undoubtedly that it is healing and liberating humanity from the burdens of the past. Gratitude Express gratitude for the opportunity to manifest a field of forgiveness, recognizing its potential to create a brighter, more compassionate future for all. Thank you 🙏
The Next Step in Collective
Ascension-
As we manifest a field of forgiveness, we create a powerful foundation for collective ascension. By releasing the energetic residue of our past mistakes and traumas, we can more easily access the higher frequencies of the 5D earth. This, alternatively will enable us to embody greater compassion and empathy as a whole. As we forgive and release the past, we become more compassionate and empathetic towards ourselves and others. Next we will be able to access higher states of consciousness. By releasing the burdens of the past, we can then more easily move forward in accessing higher states of consciousness, enabling us to navigate the complexities of the 5D earth with greater ease and clarity. We ultimately, co-create a brighter future. As we ascend collectively, we can co-create a brighter, more compassionate future, one that reflects the highest aspects of our human potential. My conclusion is that by manifesting a field of forgiveness, we take a powerful step towards healing and liberating humanity. One small step for humanity is a giant leap for the entire species. By acknowledging the past, releasing emotional charge, and visualizing a brilliant, pulsing light, we can create a foundation for collective ascension. As we embark on this journey, let us remember that forgiveness is not a destination, but a process – one that requires ongoing commitment towards compassion, and understanding. Together, we can manifest a brighter, more compassionate future, one that reflects the highest aspects of our human potential. Light and Love Tracy 💖
Heart Shaped Clouds By Tracy Schruder Noticing the synchronicities behind manifestations.
I’m somewhat of a highly connected, manifesting, guru. Ever since I learned the processes of manifestation, I’ve been completely in sync with my world around me. One technique I use to verify that I’m doing it right is – I make a request to the universe to say my name. Depending on how powerful my connection is, determines how quickly it takes form. If I’m right in the headspace and in the proper place and time, the synchronizations begin immediately; I start to hear ‘Tracy’ on the radio, I hear ‘Tracy’ on the Television, I run into people named Tracy and I start seeing it written down everywhere in books and magazines . It’s shortly following this experience that I receive what I desire, every single time, without fail! It’s an amazing experience. I also like to look for synchronized signs and symbols in the natural world such as in the sky. My teachers always said I had my head in the clouds, hahaha. Anyway, I like to ask the Universe to send me signs in the sky, in the form of heart shaped clouds. It never fails to amaze me. The day that I took the picture below, I received a letter from a publisher, wanting to publish book – Journey To A New Self*.
I hope this little story of mine helps others with their own manifestation synchronization systems. Light and Love Tracy 💖
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