Queenie's Legacy of Love

Hey, Friend! Today, I want to introduce you to Queenie.

She's the mother of my best friend, Alyssa, and one of our greatest teachers.

Queenie lives in Australia in a home for people with dementia.

At the beginning of the year, Alyssa spent a longer period at home near her.

There, my bestie juggled her work, her fitness and leisure activities, as well as family obligations – including daily visits to Queenie.

She's called Queenie for a reason; she's the queen of hearts all around her.

She radiates and she's grateful.

When her daughter visits her, she smiles and simply says thank you.

She never asks where Alyssa has been before or where she's going after.

She doesn't make a big deal out of what they'll do together today.

She's just grateful and graceful. She shows it, it's tangible.

This makes "showing up" on Alyssa's end easy.

When her daughter comes running all sweaty from a jog and stays just 15 minutes for a chat, Queenie is grateful.

If her child has a few hours to spare, so they can play and sing several songs on the ukulele, Queenie is grateful.

If there's enough time for a crossword puzzle that Alyssa solves and commentates like a TV presenter, Queenie is grateful.

She doesn't make demands and is just happy for whatever the moment brings her.

She smiles, she's joyful. Every encounter is precious.

This deeply touches Alyssa and makes it very easy for her to give her love, time, and energy – no matter how much she has to give at any given moment.

Alyssa shared this experience with me a few weeks ago via voice message on WhatsApp.

It deeply touched me ... and it stirred something within me.

I looked into my relationships – where am I like Queenie, where am I not?

With whom am I without expectations and simply grateful, no matter what they give me?

Regardless of where they were before and where they're going afterward.

With whom do I expect and become dissatisfied if they don't deliver what I want?

Passive-aggressive comments wrapped in pseudo-loving lessons of how to be better to me.

Am I unconditional in my love?

No, not really. Far from it.

Is unconditional love an ideal I strive for?

Yes, it is. Somehow I'm here for that.

I, Shailia ... keep getting lessons in that direction time and time again ... and I want to experience them, and move forward with fewer and fewer 'conditions'.

And you?

Are you interested in love without expectations ... full of presence in the moment ... and gratitude?

If so, take a listen to how Alyssa, I, and Lea talk about the grateful Queenie ...in the podcast episode titled "Gratitude in Spades".

I'm sure there's something valuable for you in it.

The cool thing is, we all see something different.

What we need to hear right now for a more connected, loving life.

Have a great weekend and ...

So much love 🌟❤️
Shailia

P.S. ...

Here is the link to the podcast episode:

https://www.shailiastephens.com/podcasts/time-for-you-nurturing-presence-love-and-well-being/episodes/2148509970