Blog of Jonathan Teel

Finding peace might seem to be a tall order and maybe this blog is too ambitious. Granted, these are only some keys that might be helpful and for many of us it could be a lifelong journey to experience the peace we want.  So often though I think, however, that if we can understand ourselves and begin to love and honor who we are, peace is a natural outcome.  It is one that involves taking a unique look at our lives, relationships, and our environment.   Most of us have been on our own journey. Each of us is also different with unique filters for perception. We've been tested and challenged to attain our worthy goals for a peaceful, happy, and healthy life.  We may be in the midst of that now.  Like anyone, I've lived through ups and downs, but my intention has often been to experience more peace. The more I intended, the more it showed up, even though there have been plenty of distractions (I'm still working on it too by the way).  That said, here are some ...

Anxiety is a common experience for most of us. Some have it more strongly than others. Anxiety disorders or conditions have a wide variety of ways that they show up for people. Some have grown over time while others are triggered in stressful situations and then continue.  In my research of anxiety, it has been stated that anxiety often arises from a number of factors: a parent with an anxiety disorder (genetic), traumatic events, stressful situations, substance abuse, or health problems. These are not the only reasons, but the most common.  In my experience (and as defined by others), anxiety is a persistent fear or worry about every day circumstances. Anxiety is also focused largely on the future or something upcoming, whether real or imagined.  For anyone who has had anxiety or has an anxiety condition, we will know what it feels like to be anxious. How it impacts the body, mind, and emotions. How it leaves us feeling when we are in it, either from time to time or sust...

Gratitude is the art or act of being grateful. Being grateful for life, for self, for others, and for the things or experiences we have. Gratitude is a thought, a word, and an action. Gratitude is a "felt sensation." Gratitude appreciates the simple and more complex moments in life both past, present, and even future.  It is very difficult to be grateful for the events, circumstances, or  experiences that have given us pain, hurt, or suffering. It is challenging to let go of loved ones or to experience personal struggles with self or with others. Life happens and in some of the worst case scenarios, gratitude is hard to come by.  Can we however begin to practice gratitude for the things that we have and for the things or people we have lost? We can gradually and gently cultivate a practice of being grateful for these difficult experiences in our lives?  What are the benefits of practicing Gratitude? One can find many studies on the benefits of gratitude, but these ar...

Love is everything. Love comes and goes, flows and forms, upends and opens. Love is ever-present and presently everywhere. Love moves in and out, underpins coming together and falling apart, rising and meeting, or unraveling and disconnecting, but always coming together again.  Love is a benevolent force for Love without wavering. Love is a constant and never-ending experience, unconditional and free. Love may be at the heart of all of life here and there and intimate in its endless unfolding and uninterrupted infinity.  So why so much fear of expressing Love? Afraid to Love each other, to Love ourselves, or to Love the Earth or existence? Why so afraid to express an emotion or a feeling that is so ingrained in us, and yet so comfortable with those actions so far from Love?  Oh they say it is human nature to be unloving or survivalist, but I don't believe it. Even in the darkest, most mistaken places or hearts, could those individuals only be wanting love? Wanting to be s...

The following blog is a journal entry. It is unedited and raw. When I mention the Divine, I must share that what I am referring to is not the judgmental God of many religions, but instead what I consider the Source of All That Is and fully and completely loving and unconditional.   Surrender  The phrase “I am not enough” came through strong today to answer the question that was asked me about a belief I maybe holding onto. It came through a sacred tarot card from the RUMI deck. I pulled the Cloak of the Christ card and later read the Passion for Purpose that goes with it. This was the answer to my question about a belief that I am holding onto. That “I am not enough.” Earlier this week, in the field past the neighbors, I stood in the sun on the snow and closed my eyes. Something similar came through to be released related to the notion of not being enough. I asked for this energy from this life and past lives to be released. A lot seemed to be released in the Divine's p...

  After a winter storm, the white fluffy snow sticks lightly to the barren ground. In the sunlight, the snow sparkles of gold and stars. The fallen snow rests upon trees, inanimate objects in the yard, and two large machines, whose landscaping duties have been delayed. It rests upon parked cars and still roofs.  Against the light and blue sky, the landscape below is lit up in a winter wonderland of crisp cold and weekend silence.  New winter boots fit snug on my feet. A new winter coat and some borrowed gloves warm chest and hands while a winter hat holds tight to head and hair. Barish, my dog, prances playfully near me as he awaits our direction. Maybe a walk across the field.  The crunching of winter boots on frozen ground overrides everything. I walk uphill toward shimmering light through still trees. A crow caws from a tree somewhere. The distant sound of a snow blower momentarily pierces the previous silence and then stops.   The destination sits behin...

 I am a teacher this year for a group of 9th graders in Durham, North Carolina, at a public charter school. This is my second year there teaching the same group of students I taught in 8th grade. I have been fortunate to move up with them in grades as they grow and discover more of who they are and what they are passionate about.  It may seem strange to think that these young students could know as much about who they are or what they care about at only 13 to 15 years old but times have changed. Our youth are growing up fast, showing signs of maturity and awareness only befitting of a generation powered by information but also a sense of what's important in life. As teachers, we also have a responsibility to instill in them such awareness and appreciation for what's possible when they trust in themselves.   As the nation moves through another phase of the pandemic and these young people deal with being online and away from their friends in the classroom, we still hav...