A special thanks to Ted Henry, a spiritual journalist, and his wife Jody who travel around the world to interview individuals whose stories of devotion and spiritual seeking are inspiring and transformative. For more of Ted’s interviews, visit http://www.vimeo.com/videos/search:Ted%20Henry. Or write Ted at Souljourns9@AOL.com.

It reminded me that individual power can’t be taken from us. Our power is in the choices we make every moment. Life is the culmination of those choices. Looking back at our lives, it’s easy to see.  But, we tend to forget in the moment that our choices create the future.

We can’t change the severe weather. But we can send love and prayers to those who are victims of the storms. We can respect nature.

We can’t stop the war, But, since peace begins in each individual heart, we can choose to be kind toward everyone with whom we come in contact.

We can’t lower the cost of gas, but we can choose a neutral response every time we fill up the tank. Rather than feeling like we don’t have enough money, we can choose to feel abundant.

At any given moment we define ourselves and our relationship to others by the choices we make. We can choose to be loving or unloving; tolerant or intolerant; forgiving or unforgiving. And each response in each moment has a ripple effect that puts creative forces into motion.

When we choose love, we tend to create more love around us. When we choose kindness, kindness comes back to us. When we’re generous, abundance returns. Our choices create our future.

Imagine the life we could create if we deliberately chose only positive choices and reactions. Imagine what would happen if we set our egos aside and offered to become a channel for the positive attributes of Divine Intelligence -or whatever name you may use for that Creative Energy Force.  As these attributes of goodness flowed through us, they’d reflect in our lives.

Since our lives are the creative sum total of our thoughts, words and actions, we do have control by how we choose to respond. Every day is a clean slate on which we define ourselves. So, as you start each day, be consciously aware and vow to make wise choices.

Knowledge is knowing. But life is doing. And through doing, we learn. However, doing requires effort.

You can read about gardening and know exactly how to grow things. You may even be an expert. But, until you

turn the soil,

smell it’s richness,

plant the seed,

water it,

watch it grow,

harvest the fruit,

and taste its sweetness

only then do you truly experience gardening.  So it is with life.

The most rewarding part of the journey is determined by the amount of risk we’re willing to take. Risk-taking is like the fertilizer of gardening.  When we take reasonable risks, we stretch, climb and grow. Our lives become richer and more magnificent than we ever could have imagined.

What will you grow in your garden of life today?

Marianne Goldweber is a recognized lecturer and spiritual teacher who offers insightful presentations on personal and spiritual development, transition, as well as balance and holistic wellness. She operates A Village, a Personal and Spiritual Development Center, located in Cleveland, Ohio. http://mariannegoldweber.blogspot.com/