Health: We give out what we own

If our lives are filled with chaos, pain, drugs and alcohol this is what we share with our kids, parents, siblings, and friends. We lash out.
We drive people away when inside what we want is to be loved.
This example came home to me while I worked in isolated communities in the Northwest Territories. Elder Elsie Nanooch told me, ‘what we give out we get back.’
If we live in fear of not having enough, of anger, of not belonging, of not being loved, of being beaten, of not having food, of dying, of being hurt. We can only share fear.
If we fear something happening we bring it to us so we learn we can manage that fear.
Each of us is much more than our fears!
We have strong minds, hearts and spirits. The Creator is really in charge and works with us through our will. If we focus on fear, we imply we want it so it comes. If we let go of fear, trusting the Creator will bring us what we need, our lives improve.
To move past fear we can focus on our gifts. Each of us has gifts given to us by our genetics, our life, and those given us at birth by the Creator.
Some of us have natural talents of art, writing, carpentry, carving, creating business, fishing, hunting, trapping, cooking, speaking, caring for others, gardening, etc.
All of us have resilience and survival abilities. Look at what we have already met and surpassed in the process of destructive attempts to assimilate us, to make us into brown white men.
Doing an honest self-inventory will help us find our strengths and weaknesses. That’s when we see our talents, our abilities, and things that we can improve.
Once we find our skills and attitudes we learn to value self and begin the process of creating self-respect, self-love, and self-esteem. Then we have something positive to give to others.
My late sister, Anita, who passed in 2008 from brain cancer, set a wonderful example of sharing love. She gave love in abundance to everyone she met. She fed people the best she had in her cupboards and fridge. She hugged her children, her husband, her siblings, parents, and friends.
Sometimes she even hugged strangers! If she saw pain in their eyes she dropped everything she had intended to do and gave them the gift of her time. She listened, she shared; she was there for those who needed her.
If they needed money she shared, if they needed food, she gave, if they needed clothes she took them to her closet; if they needed some common sense, she gave that too. If they needed discipline and guidance they got it.
My sister gave even when as she departed this world. She phoned those she could not see and told them repeatedly that she loved them. She held the hands of her children, smiled at them with the light in her eyes showing the delight she experienced from visits of family and friends.
She taught me the meaning of selflessness. She showered her family with all the love she got from the Creator. She got back what she gave out.
We see this when children are surrounded by love; they hug, kiss, put their heads on your shoulder, put out their arms to be lifted, and wrap their arms around your knees. When a slap is given, they learn to be afraid, to hold back, to hide from being hurt. Anyone can tell which children are loved by how they act. We see that with our animal friends too. Dogs who are loved are all wag and shake. Those who are beaten are mean, slinky, running away with the tail between their legs.
The same is true of adults, youth, and Elders. When respect is given and received hearts open and love shines through and so do the teachings that we need.
If we want to experience love and know we are capable of giving and receiving, we have only to make a friend of a dog and we will have unconditional love. Try it. It helps if you can speak ‘bark’ but kindness and gentle touch will show you your talent in loving others.
In my life I eventually learned the gift of anger -- a boundary had been crossed. Until I learned that lesson I carried anger and resentment. Now when I feel the spark that can ignite a blaze of rage, I look for the boundary. I do what I need to do to protect my self and respect the other person by denying them the opportunity to cross that boundary.
Remember you cannot share what you do not own. Own your lessons and you’ll make all of us richer for your presence.