I am going to do the sage ritual! And also, when I think of the person I love most in this life, it lights me up! I am amazed that I never thought of keeping that love present in my mind at all times and projecting it out...I have always thought that it was protective of that person to never think of her in the presence of negativity but I think I was wrong about that. It is unlimited and unconditional, isn't it?

It is very difficult to find like-minded people where I live, I seem to live in a pocket of people who are convinced they cannot have joy in their lives. When they see that I do, and that I am cultivating just that, they really dig in. Seems like they entrench themselves even further in the whole culture of meds and poverty-consciousness and "times are tough" thinking. It bonds them together, this downward pressure, I don't know how else to describe it. I had a lady call me obsessive compulsive in front of some people the other day, for the second time. Because I follow a plan for the goals I have set and I really try to exercise alot of self-discipline about my plan, path, whatever it is I'm drawn towards which is, I guess, just to live my moments in joy and to share joy with others. Even when times get tough, I don't want to live in that doom and gloom cloud!

well, thank you both for the great insight.