Evolving Friendships

Reading Ruth Ayres Celebration post this morning, I am reminded of the thoughts that creep into my mind, the wonder, the curiosity, and sometimes doubt. Our busy lives with the demands of work don't always provide the time for nurturing relationships. What time is left is spent with immediate family.

When my children grew up and left home, time was spent caring for sick parents, visiting nursing homes to see a parent or a grandparent, and teaching students. My days were busy. After loved ones had passed, life at times was sad and lonely. My children live 3,000 miles away, and with the different time zones, communication and staying connected presented a challenge.

Over the years, I've adapted and changed my expectations, or perhaps grown spiritually and realized that I am enough, and I have a best friend in my husband. But still, I do crave comaraderie, like-minded exchange of humor and laughs, and an outing with a friend. This summer, I journaled while reading Seeds of Freedom by Heather Marie Wilson.

One of the exercises in the book was to select "core values" from a list, and then write 10 of the values in a journal.
I had an aha moment when I chose "connection". The more I thought about connection and my feelings about friendship, an awareness unfolded, almost a validation of my feelings. I thought, "This is why I desire friendship." I need connection in my life. What a relief to put a value to the mix of feelings I had about friendship and my disappointments if others were too busy or hadn't reached out to me.

I had felt like I was the one who made the effort, and sometimes there was a feeling of rejection or not being enough when others did not reciprocate. We're all busy with our own families and work, but I still wanted connection. Branching out, reconnecting with friends with like interests helped to ease my feelings of lack and brought joy into my life.

I am still working on exploring my passions and what brings me joy, as I work in my "Life Garden" by nurturing the seeds of what I value. This year I am nurturing my seeds of "creativity, connection, and Love". Trying to be a friend, giving it over, and watching what unfolds. Trusting in God and the universe to provide. Believing I am where I need to be and that I am Loved. Giving thanks for the people that connect with me and nurture me with their friendship.

Thank you, Ruth for your insight and celebration!

Love Signs from Beyond

Looking at photos this morning and choosing the butterfly to add some prose on mindfulness, my OLW for 2017. Getting ready for work, I chose a sweater with butterflies. After choosing earrings, I decided to add a butterfly pendant on a neckchain, a butterfly pendant that was my Mom's.

Then it washes over me, with a big smile, and watery eye, the realization . . .

March 2nd, my Mom's birthday!

I had wondered why the lyrics and melody of Whitney Houston's song, "I will always love you" entered my thoughts earlier while I was working on the butterfly poetry, and then it made sense. My Mom's presence enveloping and blessing me with Love on her birthday! Angels among us.

The butterfly picture was taken when I visited my children, Sarah, Josh and Emily last summer in Calif.

I share this celebration with Ruth Ayre's celebration of writing and all the other writers who share their life's blessings.

Inspiration

I was so inspired as I read Ruth's entry. I'm thankful for Ruth's inspiration. She nudges me to celebrate my children's writing and life's blessings.

I am reminded of my sweetheart's box of chocolates, and his caring Valentine's card. The love we share with each other, our boundless, unconditional Love for our grown children, and our family and friends, who we hold dear to our heart.

I was inspired by Carol's entry of "Love" and Random Acts of Kindness, I was prompted to send an email to my students to ask for their participation in spreading kindness, and to post their acts on a shared Google Doc.

Today, I begin my vacation with yoga at our local studio. Our Yogi reminded us of being "mindful", my OLW. To be fully in the moment, on purpose, with no judgment. What a great way to begin my vacation, to be reminiscent of the present moment, on purpose, without judgment! A great habit to manifest. A work in motion.

Celebrating with this great community of writers is an inspiration to be cognizant of the many blessings and beauty of the world around me. I'm setting my own goals this week for random acts of kindness, and to be aware of all life's blessings in my every day!

Namaste!

Today, I celebrate Tamela Glenn, one of heaven's angels. Tamela began her heavenly journey, on February 19th, 2014. She was a talented writer of children's plays as well as a director, and a blogger. She was a healer, offering cranialsacral therapy. She was a friend, mentor, and a woman of exceptional spirit and wisdom. Miss you, Tamela, but I know you are with me in spirit. God's blessings!

Celebrating Life in February

February the month of LOVE, snow, and glistening sunrises.

I'm writing this on a Sunday morning. I missed my Saturday morning ritual. I did fit in the treadmill before reading student notebooks, and household chores.

On Friday night when I arrived home, my husband announced we were having company for Super Bowl. I felt the need to be more thorough with my share of the weekend cleaning. (Really it was more about getting rid of some of the clutter that had accumulated. How does that happen?)

I'm not a football fan, I don't know if it is the noise, or the huddle and then the pile-up, but it isn't a sport that I enjoy watching. Basketball, volleyball, or soccer are more action packed and enjoyable to watch, in my opinion.

But Super Bowl is different. Perhaps it's the snacks! Every time one of my students talked about Super Bowl on Friday, my thoughts went to yummy eats, creative commercials, and the half-time entertainment.

Perhaps it is the anticipation and excitement on a winter's night. I'm looking forward to good food, laughter, and cheer with family tonight!

This week, I celebrate my students who were busy writing heart notes to a fellow classmate, who was just diagnosed with a medical condition. They were busily writing their caring, encouraging messages on cut-out hearts to share with their friend, evidence of their empathy and caring. I was "mindful" of the LOVE present in the classroom on Friday.

Thanks to Ruth Ayres blog, and her writing, truly an inspiration to celebrate life's moments of blessings, and to be "mindful" of life's gifts.

Celebrating Life this week with Ruth Ayre's here.

As I awoke one morning, thinking about creativity, this photo I had taken years prior came to mind. I began composing a poem in my head in an attempt to express my interpretation of the beauty in the clouds revealed by the sun's rays streaming through on this sailing trip to a festival nearby.

Tucking the poem aside that morning, I began my daily preparations. As I went on with my day, the poem and the photo would creep back into my thoughts. I realized that it was a calling to honor my creative expression.

When I have viewed and appreciated others' photography on blogs, I wondered, "How do they place writing on their photos?" or "How do they place a © on the photo to protect the ownership?" So I started searching, on my keyboard for symbols, and on YouTube for instruction. Why didn't I think of YouTube sooner? Well, I found my answer, a video on "adding text to a picture in Google Docs".

This question had been nagging me from the previous week, after trying to show my students how to add a caption to a picture on their informational writing piece. We had used Word documents, years prior with success, but this year, students were using Google Docs for writing. Try, try, try again, I couldn't find the "add text box" on the Google Doc menu.

Now, after viewing the tutorial video, I learned to add a "drawing" from the menu, and then add the text box. I also made another discovery this week on "how to" add a voice comment on students' writing. Kaizena!

When consulting with our school's technology director, I was advised that it was an "add-on" to Google Docs. After giving my students the sign-on and uploading directions for their Docs to Kaizena, I commented on each of their documents that evening. The excitement in the room the following day was evident, as students listened to the comments, and were eager to try a suggestion or answer questions about their writing. They reread, wrote to clarify meaning, and elaborated as they wrote.

Reason to celebrate: Igniting students' passion for learning and creating.

The smile on their faces when they realized they had the ability to apply their new learning to their own writing was heartwarming. Appealing to students' creative expression by helping them realize they can blend art with writing, or writing with art to feed their personal expression of self is a celebration.

My celebration this week? Honoring my personal creative expression, and encouraging wonder and curiosity in my students.
(It's almost like the oxygen mask instruction on the airplane.)

Celebrating Life

Celebrating life with Ruth Ayres, you can find her blog here.

This week I decided to embrace the winter days, continuing with "mindful" pursuit, I was fortunate to attend the live performance of the Dancing with the Stars cast.

It was spectacular and a reminder of how music and dance speaks to my soul. I'm not coordinated when it comes to choreography, so I appreciate the artistic expression of the dancers and the fluidity of their movement.

My heart dances as I watch them move with grace, in sync with each other, like a moment in time, paused to capture the mood and the meaning.

This week I am mindful of creative expression and the gifts we all have to offer.

My creative expression this week will be to make a hearty, healthy meal to provide nourishment on these cold winter days.

As I peruse my "Kripalu" cookbook, I am intrigued by the recipe for "cooking beans from scratch". I have never heard of "Kombu" before. Apparently, it adds flavor and minerals to beans, AND "makes them more digestible". I don't know if that is good, but I'm willing to try.
(he he)

I have chosen a "cannellini bean and kale soup" recipe. Of course, I'm tempted to pair homemade biscuits with the soup. That is where "willpower" and moderation will be needed!

Winter in Maine at the lake

Celebrating Life 2017

This year, I'm residing in the present moment, or at least trying on a daily basis. I've thought about One Little Word for 2017, but I couldn't settle on a word. (I always want to choose two or three!) In past years, I have chosen:

Joy and Blossom

This year I wanted something unique, of course, but something practical as well. As I work on my Yin this year and trying to be in the present moment, the word that keeps coming to me is:

Mindful

This OLW speaks to me.

Trying to be appreciative of my present moment, breathing in, breathing out, appreciative of even the little nuances of each encounter with everyday life. A gentle awareness of the people present in my daily encounters, an awareness free of judgement so I can "just be".

Mindful of the gifts each person, each living being has to offer to my experience. A chance to be aware and be curious of why people are present on my path, my life's journey.

What shall I learn from them?

What am I here to offer to their experience?

"Mindful"

.

Reflections on Optimism

Inviting a spirit of gratitude to create optimism in our lives.

Visiting the nursing home yesterday, I was reminded of the need for optimism. One of the best ways to create optimism is to give thanks. An Attitude of Gratitude for the simplest of life's blessings. The sunrise, the pink tufts of clouds, the aroma of that first cup of coffee, the wiggle of my dog's body when she greets me, the crisp feel of the air upon my skin when I embark on my day's journey reminds me I'm alive, the crunch of the ice beneath my feet reminds me to slow down, to appreciate and be "in the moment", smiles upon others' faces as they welcome another person into their world, all blessings.



“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

TLW - Three Little Words for 2014

You may have read previous posts about OLW One Little Word Challenge @Ali Edwards blog

This year, I've decided on three words:
Optimism,
Joy, and
Vitality.


I welcome these words into my life in 2014!


What is your word for 2014?

2014 - A New Year

After watching Soul Sunday, and Marianne Williamson's presentation, I am reminded of the need for LOVE in our world. "There are two emotions, Love and Fear". How often do our minds get carried away with thoughts based on fear and doubt. Yet, we are reminded that God's will is for us to experience Love, and that if we truly have faith and trust in him, that everything will work out. An everyday practice, but let us remember and trust.

Insight and Reflections

As I read Mark Nepo's, A Book of Awakening I reflect on his passage, "Born with one obligation - to be completely who you are. Yet we spend time comparing ourselves to others. Yet a flower in its excellence does not yearn to be a fish. Yet we humans find ourselves falling into the dream of another life."

"Voice of emobodiment calling us to live our life like sheet music played."

How many times do we yearn to be something we are not? As I reflect on my "One Little Word" for 2012, Blossom, I'm focusing on blossoming and appreciating my true self. Appreciate your self. Be true to your self.

Today, I will honor and nurture my gifts. I am unique. So are you. What a blessing.

Rhododendron in June

2011 Year End Drawing Near!

Reflections on 2011. A year of change, insight, growth. What's to come in the New Year 2012?

One Little Word for 2012?

"Blossom" That's it!

What's Yours?

Summer in Maine

Summer's Beauty

Such a splendid time of year. Why do we appreciate the warmer weather and beautiful flowers so? Must be the long winter months, waiting and longing for warm breezes, flowering bushes, soothing sounds of waves lapping on the shore, the cry of the loons, rustling of leaves as the wind rushes by, and all the many wonders of summer.
Counting my blessings.

Useless Worry

As I was beginning my day, caught up in useless worry, my friend (another wise sage) reminded me of some timeless words from the wise sage, Gandhi.

"There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever.” - M.K. Gandhi

I must admit I had to step up to truly practicing "giving it over". Daily reminders to be mindful and believe.

Free Hugs in Italy

Check out this idea on YouTube. An experiment with citizens in Italy to give free hugs, at first, is met with some trepidation. But after some engage in the show of affection from a stranger, others begin to share the joy, or delight in the warm regards from another human being.

Winter Song

Winter Song Audrey Assad with Chris Tomlin

One Little Word 2011

I just revisited the One Little Word 2011 website. I am really excited at the melange of powerful words that are listed on the site from people participating in the 2011 challenge! How powerful a word may be if we manifest its meaning in our daily lives. What great ideas we can garner from others. Visit the site, sign up, and "Be the Change you want to see in the world"! Gandhi

Your world! Make it happen!

One Little Word 2011

Just visited One Little Word 2011
What a grand idea to choose a word to write entries about. I visited one of my previous journal entries for 2010, at that time, I was writing about blessings in nature, and around me. Looking for the blessings in everyday life.

Today, I am looking for joy and "delight". That's my word for 2011 - Delight

Where will I find Delight in my everyday surroundings. When I find it, it will bring joy. Reminds me of a book by Natalie Babbitt, Searching for Delicious. The character in the story searches through the kingdom for the meaning of "delicious".

I'm searching through the kingdom for the meaning of Delight.

Yesterday, I went snowshoeing and delighted in the sounds of the Pine Siskins as they perched upside down on the branch of a balsam fir tree and twitted from branch to branch.

Today, I delighted in the sunshine, new ideas about teaching math, being waited on as I enjoyed a leisurely lunch of penne with julienne carrots and grilled chicken. For dessert, a warm, moist brownie topped with whipped cream and vanilla bean ice cream satisfied my chocolate cravings.

Healthy Lifestyle Importance

Video shows importance of healthy lifestyle for cardiovascular health.

Intentions

Today is January 4th. I've been thinking about my intentions, and my daughter told me the best time to make intentions is on the New Moon, today. I've put it off. My final draft. How we want it to be something grande so it will actually manifest. That's not real. So I'm starting simply with my originals.

1. Try new recipes, one per week, to broaden my menu.

2. Eat more fish, more meaning... once a week.

3. Practice yoga regularly.

4. Use my camera and create a mural of pictures in my hallway.

5. Find new places to travel in the winter.

6. Find people interested in like hobbies or interests.

7. Monthly date with fun.

8. Listen to more music.

9. Indoor gardening to bring spring into my winter surroundings.

10. Meditate daily, increase awareness of blessings.