Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary..
Margaret Cousins
Reblogged from: http://lakesidelane.wordpress.com. With thanks Dianne 🙂
My goal yesterday morning was to crochet a small flower embellishment for a wee tunic I had knitted.
I have to confess to putting this seemingly small task off for a number of months now.
But the garment needs to be completed and with the weather looking cloudy and windy I gathered the resources I needed.
My skills with a crochet hook are pretty minimal but the pattern told me “easy”, “simple to make”, “basic” and so I told myself I could do this.
Hmmm 2 hours later my fingers and thumbs were in a muddle, the number of “undoings” was mounting, as was my frustration level.
Right I thought I’ve given this a good go, I’ll go and do something completely different and come back to the crochet later.
The garden work eased my frustration and allowed my brain circuits to focus on weeds but to keep processing what I’d learnt in the morning.
Once back to my crochet project my good old brain suggested I try something new with the crochet hook and suddenly I could see progress and something appearing in my hands that resembled the picture in the pattern. I perservered, reread the instructions, tweaked my approach and voila I had done it!
It really does pay to change pace, environment or activity when things don’t go well or the ideas dry up. All the while trusting that our clever brains are still working on the problem. Then return to the task with freshness and (hopefully) success.
I have worked either as a volunteer or in a paid capacity for over 30 years in the field of empowerment. I have always felt a buzz from watching people step forward and increase their self esteem, or their self confidence or to make positive changes in their lives.
I’ve had a real buzz today from learning that someone I know has taken such a step in her life today. To many it might have seemed very small and insignificant but for her it was a biggie. I am so pleased to learn that the step into the unknown was a happy and fun occasion with the chance it can be repeated next week.
“Feel the fear and do it anyway” wrote Susan Jeffers and so often when fear is defeated new opportunities and growth occur that touch not only the person who was courageous but others too. That happened today. Great stuff.
Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.
Doug Firebaugh
I had hoped to post over the weekend but events caught up with me and I spent very little time at the computer.
Here is a story that I found years ago and which struck me deeply and I thought I would share it with you today. As individuals we could be the voice that makes the difference…..
“Tell me, what does a snowflake weigh?” said the Crested Jay to the Pigeon.
“Next to nothing,” was the reply. “In that case I have a wondrous story to tell you,” said the Crested Jay.
“I was sitting on the branch of a fir tree one day, quite close to the trunk, when it began to snow. It didn’t fall violently, like in a wild storm, no, but rather as a dream, soundlessly and weightlessly. Since I had nothing better to do, I counted the snowflakes which came to rest on the twigs and needles of my branch. There were exactly 3,741,952 of them. When the three million seven hundred and forty one thousand, nine hundred and fifty third flake fell- as you say, a mere nothing- the branch broke.” And so saying, she flew off.
The Pigeon, a specialist in such matters since way back when Noah built his ark, reflected briefly and then said to herself, “Perhaps it would take only a single extra person’s voice for there to be peace on Earth.”
Taken from: New Fables -Thus spake the Marabou, by Kurt Kauter
I was reading a blog post the other day and the woman described herself as “time-sick”. What did she mean by this? Well the feeling she experienced in her being was the same aching we might feel when we are “home-sick”. That yearning ache to be back in our own familiar house, environment, culture, society, homeland.
Time-sick was more about leaving a period of time behind or reflecting on past times and missing the familiar things and people. I liked the term time-sick as it seemed to capture some of the feelings I had been experiencing in the past few days.
I have been reflecting on better times. Times when employment was less frustrating, more productive and more financially rewarding. I have been reflecting on busier times when my role was more defined and when my plans were being fulfilled. And I have felt the tug of yearning so similar to homesickness.
Change is the a certainty we live with and we are called to adapt to it at an increased pace right now. Or at least that is how it feels.
It is important to acknowledge the feelings that arise but also important to heed the wisdom of Heraclitus when he said
“No man ever steps in the same river twice; for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”
It is about finding new ways forward, building on the past. Seeking new solutions to new challenges.
Clipart
Here is a list of books that have mattered to me or influenced me in the past few years. Many of these authors have websites and blogs to explore.
The Mindful Woman – Sue Patton Thoele
Buddha’s Brain: The Practical neuroscience of happiness, love and wisdom – Rick Hanson and Rick Mendius
A return to Love – reflections on the principles of a Course in Miracles – Marianne Williamson
A walk on the beach – Joan Anderson
A year by the sea – Joan Anderson
An unfinished marriage – Joan Anderson
A cup of sunlight – Juliet Batten
Growing into wisdom: change and transformation at midlife – Juliet Batten
Listening below the noise: a meditation on the practice of silence – Anne D LeClaire
The church of 80% sincerity – David Roche
The Happiness project –Gretchen Rubin
Focusing: how to gain direct access to your body’s knowledge – Eugene Gendlin
The intention experiment – use your thoughts to change the world –Lynne McTaggart
Everything I’ve ever done that worked – Lesley Garner
Love the life you live – Anne Hartley
The sword of heaven – a 5 continent odyssey to save the world – Mikkel Aaland
Transforming depression – the Heartmath solution – Doc Childre and Deborah Rozman
The artist’s way – Julia Cameron
God is no laughing matter – observations and objections on the spiritual path – Julia Cameron
Letters to a young artist – building a life in art – Julia Cameron
The vein of gold – a journey to your creative heart – Julia Cameron
Walking in this world – practical strategies for creativity – Julia Cameron
Your body speaks your mind – Debbie Shapiro
A complaint free world: the 21 day challenge that will change your life –Will Bowen
Wherever you go, there you are –Jon Kabat-Zinn
Full catastrophe living – Jon Kabat-Zinn
Common Ground – the true story of 2 friends and 2 very different gardens – Janice Marriott and Virginia Pawsey
Common Table – an uncommon tale of friendship and food – Janice Marriott and Virginia Pawsey
Changing patterns: discovering the fabric of creativity – Daena Giardella and Wren Ross
Plan B – Ann Lamott
Grace (Eventually) –Ann Lamott
Operating Instructions- Ann Lamott
Traveling Mercies- Ann Lamott
This piece of earth – Harvey McQueen
Shift happens – Robert Holden
Simple Abundance -Sarah Ban Breathnach
Here is an idea to try if you would like to increase flexibility in your thinking and in your actions. Consider how you can become more flexible by asking yourself the following:
“ Instead of…………………………………………
I could………………………………………………
Choices offer change!
What can happen when we change our “shoulds” to “coulds”??
Immediately we feel lighter, a burden is lifted. Choice becomes an option, creativity is invited and our lives feel more our own.
Listen out for “should” and try “could” instead. What changes for you? I would be interested in knowing:-)
Rivers are often used as metaphors for life or perhaps how we need to live life. Simply put -to go with the flow, avoid stagnation, ride out the white water, enjoy the journey.
I’ve been reflecting on what has been on my mind these past few days and find that there are a good many people who are important to me who find themselves in rough and uncharted waters right now. I hope I can offer them support through my words and attention as life moves them on in the care of health professionals and the possibility of different ways of living in the future.
Others are feeling in side streams, away from the flow that they would like in their lives. I wonder if time and encouragement will assist them?
Another is feeling the effects of deep currents from the past and is struggling to clear those. Perhaps forgiveness can help in these situations?
Then one or two are in whirlpools where the water and force spinning and sucking at them have left them feeling drained, bewildered and grief stricken. Love and a listening, attentive ear are often the best we can offer.
I have also been flowing through steady, calm and pleasant water when we celebrated two birthdays and a belated third one last week. I need times of refreshment like this to remind me that there are easy parts of the journey.
And later today I hit the high adventure section of the river when I care for my boisterous, agile, funny, delightful two year old grandson. There will be no stagnant pools or much in the way of gentle flow but there will be excitement, laughter, energy and new channels to explore together:-)
ordinarygoodness 