This is one of my most favorite times of year. Perhaps it’s because the weather is beginning to change and the cool down is a welcomed relief to the hot, humid days of a summer here on the Gulf Coast! Even as a child, I liked Halloween. Dressing up in a costume and getting more candy than you know what to do with! Wow! That’s cool! And having grown up going to Catholic school, October 31st not only meant trick-or-treat, but it meant that we had the day off from school for November 1st, All Saints’ Day!

The three days that encompass October 31 through November 2 have an interesting history, melding pagan rituals with Christian rites. The early Celtics celebrated the new year and the end of the summer season on November 1 and believed that October 31 was the evening when the spirits of the departed would visit in search of warmth and good cheer. Even though the Celtic people of Ireland, Scotland and parts of Great Britain later converted in large numbers to Christianity, they kept in their culture much of their old customs and celebrations.In modern times, the Christian calendar marks November 1 with the celebration of All Saints’ Day and November 2 as All Souls’ Day.

What I find interesting in all of this is how as a culture, in the U.S. at least, we have come to celebrate death as we leave Summer and enter into Autumn. Now, I personally believe in celebrating life! Obviously, Spring means new life and Summer means good life. Fall, with its coldness and shortened daylight prepares us for the cold, dark days of winter, or death. But what a joyous celebration to know that the earth is a cyclical place and that in order to again reach Spring and Summer we must simply pass through Autumn and Winter.

All of this talk reminds me of this little story that I’d like to share with you called the Parable of the Twins. As far as I know, its author is unknown.

Once upon a time, twin boys were conceived. Weeks passed and the twins developed. As their awareness grew, they laughed for joy: “Isn’t it great that we were conceived? Isn’t it great to be alive? “

Together the twins explored their worlds. When they found their mother’s cord that gave them life, they sang for joy! “How great our mother’s love is, that she shares her own life with us!”

As weeks stretched into months, the twins noticed how much each was changing.

“What does it mean?” one asked.

“It means our stay in this world is drawing to an end.” said the other.

“But I don’t want to go,” said one. “I want to stay here always.”

“We have no choice,” said the other.

“But maybe there is life after birth.”

“But how can there be?” responded one.

“We will shed our life cord and how can life be possible without it? Besides, we have seen evidence that others were here before us, and none of them has returned to tell us there is life after birth. No, this is the end. Maybe there is no mother after all.”

“But there has to be,” protested the other. “How else did we get here? How do we remain alive?”

“Have you ever seen our mother?” said one.

“Maybe she only lives in our minds. Maybe we made her up because the idea made us feel good.”

So the last days in the womb were filled with deep questioning and fear.

Finally, the moment of birth arrived. When the twins had passed from their world, they opened their eyes and cried for joy - for what they saw exceeded their fondest dreams.

That is birth … and that is death.

If you are interested in learning more about celebrating life, allow me to suggest Joel Osteen’s first book Living Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential.  Readers may also be interested in his newest release entitled Become a Better You.

Happy Halloween! Happy All Saints’ Day! Happy All Souls’ Day! Thanks for stopping by and please visit again!

-Dr. Graf       

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I couldn’t wait for today! Ever since I read Joel Osteen’s first book, Your Best Life Now, I couldn’t wait to devour his second one.

Today is the day! Joel’s second book, Become a Better You was released today. In it, Osteen reveals seven simple yet profound keys that once learned and put into action can cause anyone, YES ANYONE, to become all that they are meant to be.

This book is chock full of GREAT stuff! Whether it’s developing better relationship, forming better habits, remaining positive about yourself or finding passion in life, this book is bound from cover to cover with incredible personal development material.

Sorry today’s post is so short, but I’ve got to get back to Joel Osteen’s Become a Better You.

To your success!

-Dr. Graf

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Seems like everywhere you look, someone is talking about “The Secret.” Sort of makes you think maybe it’s not much of a secret any longer!

The REAL secret behind “The Secret” isn’t knowing the secret. The old adage about knowledge being power is only true when the knowledge is actually applied and put to use!

Are you applying the secret?Are you applying the Law of Attraction (LOA) in your life?

View Dr. Beckwith in this video and then read on to learn about my “Affirmations For Attraction” audio CD!
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Remembering that “Thoughts become things” should cause us to ponder the question of “What sort of thoughts am I having?” Why? Because the Law of Attraction tells us that like attracts like. Thus, positive thoughts must by definition attract more positive things into our life. Likewise, the inverse must also hold true.