There seems to be no better time than right now to listen to the birds and enjoy the warmer winds that are finally coming our way. Spring has come and with it the buds on the trees, the lilac blooms, the bright yellow bellies of the Golden Finches and the stunning red of Cardinals. There is so much to see and hear…even the scant buzzing of the bee right outside my window. Everything in nature seems to be busy, re-energized and unable to sit still. How come I can just sit? How come I am feeling no rush when there is plenty to do? Continue reading “It is Transition Time, Shhh…Quiet” »
> BlogApr
08
Can You Taste?
A friend warned that writing something everyday in the same vein may lead to repetition. I soured my face as though I had just sucked on a lemon and agreed. Oh, no…what if I do that? What if I repeat myself—tie the same idea to different words? What if I am on a the gerbil wheel of good intentions and keep repeating: Be Mindful, Be Mindful, Be Mindful? Continue reading “Can You Taste?” »
Apr
07
Bread and Butter and Civility
There are many basics in life that we cannot live without—food, water, sleep. All critical to keep functioning. But not listed is another staple of importance. Civility. Continue reading “Bread and Butter and Civility” »
Apr
06
Contentment is Not a License for Complacency.
We have heard it many times…be happy with what you have. That statement is true when what we have includes some measure of comfort, security, and joy. Take any of those away and we can struggle to find the happiness that life affords. But curiously even when we have it, we can still be anxious it will not last or we may look for the next new offering to unfold. Continue reading “Contentment is Not a License for Complacency.” »
Apr
05
More than One Dimensional
This week controversy arose over The New York Times obituary of Yvonne Brill, a rocket scientist, whose write up started with “She made a mean beef stroganoff.” For all her accomplishments many feel this was downplaying her real work as a rocket scientist and pandering to the fact that she was a woman, a wife, a mother, and a darn good cook. Continue reading “More than One Dimensional” »
Apr
04
Grasp Do Not Grab…
I was told in teacher training to instruct students to reach or to pick up—not to grab. Grab left the residue of fiercely taking hold of something, adding a force that is unnecessary even if unintended. This thought has stayed with me, although, I am sure I am guilty of using grab sometimes…as in ‘grab your strap for big toe pose.’ But I greatly appreciate how yoga and my teachers of yoga have helped me be more aware of the words I choose. Continue reading “Grasp Do Not Grab…” »
Apr
03
I Listen and I Hear Ya
Two and a half years ago this world lost a very special soul—a brother, a son, a friend, a renegade. His name was Scott and to me he was a wise and generous person. To me he was patient but determined to teach me how to garden by listening to the earth, respecting nature, and reaping the gratitude of digging in the dirt. Continue reading “I Listen and I Hear Ya” »
Apr
02
Do not allow your fear to walk around disguised as anger
I recently ran into an old acquaintance. We knew one another from a past job. I recall him as being a friendly sort, funny and full of life. What I found on this chance meeting was an enraged soul. A man that had experienced tough, tough times—financially, personally, professionally. He was in trouble, but not as much with the circumstances that surrounded his life, but with the anger that enveloped his entire being. Continue reading “Do not allow your fear to walk around disguised as anger” »
Apr
01
Who’s Fooling?
I would hazard a guess that most any of us would not like to be played for the fool. Who amongst us enjoys the uncomfortable realization that someone got the better of us? More often than not, I lived a life that guarded against looking foolish or being caught with not knowing. Either it is the years that have pedaled by or wisdom finally garnered which allow me to release the need to not be fooled and, more importantly, able to be—at least a little—foolish. Continue reading “Who’s Fooling?” »
Mar
31
Run, Skip, Hop
As a kid I was always running around—through the woods, down to the neighbors, around the playground. Movement was not about exercise it was about pure pleasure. I did not think about needing to move, how to move, and of course I never considered the calories I might have burned. So why is it now that movement needs motivation, that exercise requires a means to measure, and mindfulness must pervade in all our motions? What if we took a turn with our actions and accentuated not the goal but the process? Continue reading “Run, Skip, Hop” »