I Wanted It To Be Love

11/16/2025

CAN YOU RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH? Are you easily fooled by the Lie? According to a 19th-century legend, the Truth and the Lie met one day. The Lie says to the Truth: "It's a marvelous day today.”
The Truth looks up to the skies and sighs, for the day was really beautiful. They spend a lot of time together, ultimately arriving beside a well. The Lie tells the Truth, “The water is very nice, let's take a bath together.”
The Truth, once again suspicious, tests the water and discovers that it indeed is very nice. They undress and start bathing. Suddenly, the Lie comes out of the water, puts on the clothes of the Truth, and runs away. The furious Truth comes out of the well and runs everywhere to find the Lie and to get her clothes back. The World, seeing the Truth naked, there urns its gaze away, with contempt and rage.
The poor Truth returns to the well and disappears forever, hiding therein, its shame. Since then, the Lie travels around the world, dressed as the Truth, satisfying the needs of society, because, the World, in any case, harbors no wish at all to meet the naked Truth.”
The world-famous painting- "The Truth coming out of the well" Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1896.

11/08/2025

ARE YOU FEELING DISAPPOINTED? BOTHERED BY THE TYRANNY OF EXPECTION? If you are ruminating over the outcome that was not what you had attached yourself to. Attachment puts you at risk for disappointment spoiling your happy hopeful mood. Do not allow the Tyranny of Expectation to undermine your happiness. Rather, ask yourself, “What is here for me now?” Then, ask, “What do I know to be True right now in this moment?” Reaffirm what blessings you enjoy now in this moment.
Do not allow yourself to worry about what may happen in the future. Do not attach yourself to expectations. Be present minded. Asking yourself “What is here for me now,” keeps you grounded and oriented in the present moment. After all, in the present moment, we are alive.
Everything changes and nothing stays the same. Avoiding attachment and not allowing yourself to become attached to expectation that could jeopardize and spoil your present moment is the best choice for moving forward in your life. ~ Jeanne Schneider Vargas

11/06/2025

THE NECESSITIES IN LIFE. Like many others, I manage chronic health conditions on a daily basis. I’m thankful I have a clear mind to be able to verbalize in writing how I manage and to have the opportunity to able to encourage others through my writing. I have to tell you I will find my understanding of the practical application of mindfulness and meditation helps me with my moment to moment coping. My experience on this journey gives me understanding of how I can heal myself. I am grateful to all of you who support me with encouraging words. While I cannot fix my spinal affliction or the heart condition, I can fix my broken thoughts: I can allow, accept, let go and let be. Being able to forgive and let go - oh my! - forgiveness is a saving grace. 
I think when anyone reads about my experience they may try to do the same things I do, and they in return will find respite and relief.
Being willing to allow, forgive, let go and let be, is key to having a good life.
~ Jeanne Schneider Vargas

10/31/2025

PAY TO PLAY
It’ s the old game some refer to as “Pay to Play.” I have seen this game played between divorcing parents - and, sadly, extended to grandparents who only wish to enjoy their grandchildren.

How should a parent or grandparent move forward when they shunned or maligned?

In my experience, this kind of shunning often stems from misunderstanding - from not knowing how to face fear, anger, and hatred with clarity and compassion.

When faced with hurtful or hateful comments, pause.
Take a breath. Rather than reacting, respond with love.

After all, we can never fully know what another person is thinking or what pain from their past they are carrying. Often, what someone says they are angry about is not the real cause of their suffering.

When we set the intention to break the cycle of fear, anger, and hatred, we can meet those attitudes with love, understanding, empathy, and compassion.

Forgiveness is key - but it must rest on a foundation of safety. Divorcing parents (and families in general) can begin to build that foundation by:

• Demonstrating integrity in interactions
• Holding our moral compass in check
• Facing, without fear, the emotions of anger and hatred
• Practicing acceptance
• Practicing gratitude
• And choosing to love and practicing forgiveness
̃ Jeanne Schneider Vargas, MA
Moments of Reflection
Mindfulness in EveryDay Living LLC

Image source unknown.

10/25/2025

ALIVE. I am wondrously, gloriously alive. What a gift it is to wake up in the morning. Alert and awake to the wonders of the world, though I might not be full of enthusiasm when I am in pain, I carry an attitude of enthusiasm, and I set my intention to give myself fully to whatever I choose to do.

It is Autumn, with leaves turning colors, I feel the vibrant energy. Each morning I set my intention to bring my zeal and vitality to the day. I give thanks for the beginning of another new day and thanks for the gift of my life.

I show my gratitude by being fully alive. Enthused and ready to take my place in this wonderful world, I affirm: I am grateful for my life and I am so happy to be alive. ~ Jeanne Schneider Vargas

10/14/2025

INCLUSION
I honor the divinity and humanity of all people - I practice inclusion. I look at it this way: each person walking this earth is a member of the human family - we are united in divinity, and we are diverse in humanity. I honor the spirit of God that binds all people and I acknowledge the uniqueness of our humanous. Each of us has an array of talents and gifts that makes us different from each other.

I practice acceptance by living with open hearted curiosity, and I am continuously seeking ways to learn and understand others.

I set my intention each day to hold a positive vision and I believe if others around the world would do the same, our defenses will soften, what divides us will be lessened, and our discord will dissolve.

I aim to keep my heart soft and open so that my heart is a place of inclusion. I see others as part of God‘s plan just as God has a plan for me. I welcome everyone to be their authentic self around me, accepted exactly as they are. ~ Jeanne Schneider Vargas

10/11/2025

LETTING GO

There is no excuse for the hideousness of life. Yet it is our responsibility—for the sake of our mental health and well-being—to let go of the painful things that have happened to us in the past. Be thankful that whatever bad things occurred are behind you now.

Be present in this moment. Have hope for the future, with the clear understanding that the future is never promised. All we truly have is today—this moment, right now.

When you go to sleep tonight and wake up tomorrow morning, be thankful. Just as the moon fades from our awareness at the dawn of a new day, allow past hurts and painful memories to fade from yours. Don’t push them away—but don’t cling to them either. Let them pass.

The dawn of each new day is a clean slate—an opportunity to begin again.
Do your best. Be your best.
Breathe.
Be.
And be grateful.

— Jeanne Ann Vargas
Writer and Mindfulness Teacher
mindfulnessineverydayliving.com

10/11/2025

10/11/2025

Defend Truth in a Post-Truth World
“Pope Leo drew from political philosopher Hannah Arendt, recalling her warning that the perfect subject of totalitarian regimes is not a fanatic but one “for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, and the distinction between true and false no longer exist.” In this light, he urged journalists to serve as a “bulwark of civility” against manipulation, reminding them that their “patient and rigorous work” stands as a barrier against lies designed to divide society.

The Pope’s closing words were a challenge and a mission statement: “The world needs free, rigorous, and objective information.”

For Catholics, his appeal is more than a professional guideline; it is a Gospel mandate. To defend truth, to refuse deception, and to uphold the dignity of every human story is to participate in Christ’s own witness before the world.”