Wholistic Prosperity or Lessons from Mama
While I rode the bus in Los Angeles, just barely staying one step ahead of homelessness, a neatly dressed, small, gray haired lady sat next to me and smiled. I was surprised when she spoke.
“You have an aura of wealth and abundance.”
In amazement, I said “Thank you.” Later, I reflected on her words. I concluded she saw embodied in me my mother’s self-confidence, her mother’s earthy independence, and my paternal grandmother’s sense of security and wonder. Even when I was broke, which was quite often, I felt a sense of prosperity, of “good fortune.”
All my life, since the day I was barely ten years old and wrote “I always was and always will be,” I have felt fortunate. My path in life has not been straight or strewn with roses, but I’ve maintained what I call wholistic prosperity.
Prosperity
One childhood Christmas, I received a beautiful bridal doll. Obviously, I must have ruined her beautiful, lacy white dress because the next Christmas, I received a Catholic nun doll. Mama received instructions from the nuns at my school and carefully sewed the intricate dress. It was definitely the bride doll I received the previous Christmas. So, I learned early that money is not the primary key to prosperity. The Encarta Dictionary defines prosperity as the “condition of enjoying great wealth, success, or good fortune.”
Another lesson of prosperity I learned from Mama was to indulge myself. Mama never shirked from buying herself the clothes or treats she wanted, all the while providing her four daughters everything we needed and mostly everything we wanted. Mama was creative, resourceful, protective, and strong. She taught us prosperity is the state of mind that appreciates our natural gifts and the blessings that come our way.
Wholistic
I began ending letters and e-mails with the words, Be Whole when I lived in the center of the universe, the Hopi nation in northern Arizona. In the deep desert silence, I found a sublime sense of contentment, a wholeness that strengthened and stabilized me through ever changing employment situations.
It is this sense of being whole, complete in myself, yet connected to the world that gives me that aura of wealth and abundance, observed by a stranger on a bus so many years ago.
My own knowing came to me as I girl that I am part of a universal consciousness that has no beginning or end. This knowledge continues to guide me and is the foundation of my wholistic prosperity that sees the universe and all that exists as sacred.
Skywalker Storyteller Works 
A family history of strong and wise women continues! Peace and wholeness!
Thank you.
What a wonderful and inspirational piece of writing. Thank you for sharing your world view.
Suzanne, thank you for commenting. More to come.
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Funny, I was just thinking about that comment I made when I saw the title, before reading this. Glad I could be a source of inspiration.
You are a source of inspiration to many people, Skywalker, and in many ways 🙂
It’s telling that a homeless stranger was able to perceive your aura while others were too busy scurrying and hurrying about to fully observe their surroundings, much less take the time to comment on it to another person. Your Mama taught you well and we are reaping the benefits of her shared wisdom and experience through your poetry, writings and spiritual insights.
Thanks, Jeff but I have to clarify – I was the one almost homeless. One of my husband’s Facebook friends and he pointed out that my bad writing gave the impression she was homeless, but I was the one struggling. I have since edited it. Thanks for your comments though, as always.
I love the picture of your Mama, Skywalker – such a vibrant and lovely woman. The concept of wholeness does describe your spirit – someone who sees and shares beauty, who is adventurous and playful, and who looks at deep issues that many others avoid. You also seem to interweave a sense of gratitude into all that you do – certainly prosperity is, as you say, making the best of the gifts that surround you. A beautiful and inspiring post.
Thanks Carol, I do value your kind words and for taking time to comment as I know you’re very busy these days.
“It is this sense of being whole, complete in myself, yet connected to the world…” There, you’ve said it – you’ve perfectly described what I call “wholefullness”
I like your term – is it o.k. if I use it, giving you credit of course?
Yes, I’ve received positive feedback about it – so much so I’ll be trademarking it (Living Your Wholefullness). No problem in using it and credit would be much appreciated.
Rigzen, I love this. “Prosperity is a state of mind”–what a world this would be if more people knew and practiced this.
One of the things that first drew me to Buddhism, and continues to sustain my practice, is the idea that we already have everything we need, and it’s just a matter of uncovering it, of clearing away the brush, of “polishing the mirror.” It took me a long time to understand that, and it requires daily practice to remember that, but life is so much better–life is actually life–when I do.
What a great mid-morning break this read made. Thanks.
Thanks, Ian. I have just begun this series of blogs, I’m on the quest of launching a “heart based business.” So, I’m happy I provided you some inspiration at work.