Living, Loving, & Unlearning

If you’re looking for a book to assist you as you navigate the ups and downs in life while you peel away the layers of worldly expectations, this read may be for you.

Have you ever wondered about your life’s dreams and what happened to them? Have you ever had dreams for your life? This book is a wake-up call. A reminder that it is never too late to fulfill that desire burning deep down inside of you. The piece of your soul that is ready to shine and light up your life! Inside the pages of Living, Loving, & Unlearning, I’ve created an easy to follow guideline for you to do just that. As you discover the purity of your own soul, and purpose of your existence here on earth, you will begin to feel the freedom to live your life, your journey, and your truth.

To listen to my talk at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA, please click here. This will give you an inside look into Living, Loving, & Unlearning, how it came about, and how it may help you in your own healing. As an added treat, my brother, Norm Weintraub, also performs a very special song about our Dad and his impact on our lives.

To order your copy of Living, Loving, & Unlearning, please go to my website at cynthiabrennen.com.

Namaste and have a great day!

Peace Begins Within

“Peace starts within each one of us.  When we have inner peace we can be at peace with those around us.” ~Dalai Lama

A dear friend of mine sent me this quote from the Dalai Lama the other day.  We were talking about how holiday time can be stressful for many families as it brings up a multitude of emotions. There are numerous expectations set around the holidays; the “supposed to’s”  of who gathers where, who’s getting along with whom, and the comfort level of the family dynamics.

When we take the time to go inward, and tap into our own peaceful place, the world around us appears to settle quietly, like the early morning snow on a sturdy spruce.  True peace can only be felt when our hearts open to loving ourselves and those around us.  I learned this lesson of love from my Father early on in my life.  There were certainly many times he could have thrown his arms up in frustration with his eight kids, and walked away, but he never did.  Instead, he chose a peaceful stance, never judged, and waited.  He might not have agreed with our choices, but he chose to stand by with a quiet strength.  Of course there were trials and difficulties, just imagine growing up with five brothers and two sisters in the 60’s and 70’s, but my parents always backed each other up when it came to dealing with all of us.  And in the end….Love Stood.

Below is a photo of my parents that has been floating around my family this holiday season.  This is where it all began…. and then there were ten!

Wishing you all love and peace in your hearts today and always.  When we get caught up in the illusion of what it is we’re dealing with, remember, peace is only a heartbeat away….

A Father’s Love

” I loved Susan from the moment she was born, and I love her now and every minute in between. And what I dream of is a man who will discover her, and that she will discover a man who will love her, who is worthy of her, who is of this world, this time and has the grace, compassion, and fortitude to walk beside her as she makes her way through this beautiful thing called life.”  ~ Quote from the movie, Meet Joe Black

Last night, as I perused the channels, I came across what is possibly my favorite movie of all time, Meet Joe Black. It has a mixture of life’s checks and balances;  real love, false love, anger, deception, death and most touching to me, the love a father has for his daughter.  The quote above is William Parrish’s  (played by Anthony Hopkins) description of the depth of a father’s love.   For anyone who has had a father such as this, you are blessed.  You have experienced a  love that has nurtured you in a way to recognize real love when it enters your life.  Recognition and choice are two separate entities, however.  We can be given all the love and tools available to choose wisely but it is ultimately up to you to love yourself enough and remember what that real love felt like.  Real love is unconditional, it is full of forgiveness, it is acceptance and nonjudgment, no matter what.  Real love lives forever and always bounces back.  Even when angry, the blow softens and is replaced with the heart.  Real love is taking yourself out of the equation and wanting true happiness for the other.  Real love is real.

I had a father like William Parrish.  He may not have been as emotionally expressive, but his actions spoke louder than his words.  Always there, always available, always on time.  Always with his hand held out to save me from drowning, yet allowed me the freedom to learn my own lessons.  Always with a full heart and never asked for anything in return.  I felt the unconditional, strong love William had for Susan.   My Father’s love, a true blessing.

Whether you have had a father similar to William Parrish, or not, remember to love and respect yourself enough to choose one who is capable of giving you the love you deserve.  One who is worthy of you and the love you give.  Your heart doesn’t lie.  It will tell you if real love has entered your life.  Real love enhances your life and flows with effortless  energy.  Just as the sun provides to a blossoming flower.  False love zaps all energy and leaves you depleted as you second guess all your efforts.  Treat yourself like the precious flower that you are and you will attract those that treat you the same.

Our roots lay our foundation.  It is up to us to choose how our garden flourishes.  Plant seeds of love in your own heart and experience the beauty of life!

March 9, 1961

The day I came into this world.  My mother’s water broke early when she saw one of my brothers shoot off a pop gun with a pencil in it, as my other brother came around the corner and got hit in the face.  Accidents do happen but it was too much for a mom who was carrying a baby who was ready to emerge!  My brother, who was two years old, ends up in the hospital two doors down from my  mom.  She was giving birth while his injury was being nursed.  A couple of days later, my dad is driving my mom and I home and low and behold, my other brother who was seven at the time, is charging down Lewiston Road (busy traffic) in a rain storm with no coat, heading to his friend’s house!  The poor sitter, she never had a chance.  When a Weintraub has a will there is ALWAYS a way!  So, yes, my dad shuffled my brother into the car and home we went.  Finally, we were all safe in the comfort of our cozy home.  Or were we?

Growing up in a family with five older brothers and two younger sisters, you can guess there was never a dull moment.  For those of you who knew my family, I know you would attest to that, and I’m sure you have some stories of your own.  I sit here and laugh as I remember our “pet” hawk Zeus, rock bands in the “shack out back”,  Crazy Ray,  riding bareback in the back yard, calls in the middle of the night with the “clank” in the background, my mom unknowingly growing my brothers “plants” (he told her they were marigolds), and then a picture of my sweet four year old sister sitting in front of the “marigolds” with the peace sign.  All the cats, dogs, horses, goat, ducks….all the animals dropped off at our house because they knew the “mother in the country” would take them in.  The list goes on….

I love my family and I feel so very blessed to have been a part of every wild, crazy moment!  The memories continue as we all head to Seattle this summer for my brother’s wedding.  The two musicians, Norm and Tim, strum their guitars throughout the days and we sing along.  No matter what, in my family, we all have each others backs.   We’ve had our ups and downs but a major value we learned from our parents is that we always stick together…like glue.  It may get stretched sometimes but we always come back to home base.  Safe in the comfort of home.