“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(The crew at the hospital did have a birthday party for me, and even though I knew what they were up to, it was still a delightful surprise, what with their obvious good will and cheers, the cards, and the food — more than we could eat, at least Jane and I. Mary, the head nurse, made the chocolate cake with chocolate icing. I showed them my fancy patterned undershirt as a joke, and received the appropriate ooh’s and ah’s. Even some strangers in the hall outside 330 saw it and laughed. I also blew out all of the candles on the cake — perhaps 25 of them — in one breath, which I don’t think staff expected I could do.

Before we continue, I would like to remind the reader that in the middle of these or any of the other problems we have been discussing, there may be a period of depression, or the feeling that one’s own problem has no solution after all.

Remind yourself that for all you might have read, or heard, or deduced earlier, it is certainly not inevitable that all unfortunate situations take the darkest of tones, and that indeed the opposite is true; for if such were the case, the world and all of life would have literally been destroyed through disasters and calamities.

Concentrate upon the present moment — but more, concentrate upon the most pleasant aspects of the present moment. If that moment has distracting, unfavorable aspects, then resolutely bring into your mind whatever images delight or please you at the moment. These may be very simple. Remember the smell of lilacs, for example, or try to hear the crisp crunch of snow, or try to visualize an ocean or lake. All of these procedures will serve to quiet your mind and body, and build up your own reserves.

(4:02. We heard the medicine cart in the hall. A young nurse brought in Jane’s Darvoset and aspirin. All was quiet and peaceful in the hospital now. Resume at 4:13.)