Maybe it just is. It’s not good or bad, it just is.
joy
My “Space” Experiment
We are all so busy with life: our work, family, and hobbies. My job is very noisy. I’m a teacher in an elementary/middle school and the hallways are filled with children yelling and laughing from very early morning until late afternoon. My students and I have lively discussions and then there are meetings after school. My fellow teacher (and friend!) and I are also sponsoring the school talent show – another boisterous endeavor.
When I get home, my husband and I discuss our day, my kids practice violin and tell us about their day. It’s all good, but…it’s challenging – to say the least – to get some quiet time. And I LOVE, love, love quiet time.
In addition to walking my dog after work and walking in middle of the day, I have started mini-meditations. In mini-meditation, I focus on my breathing. This might last 60 seconds or three minutes. I also meditate for 8 minutes in the morning right after waking.
Eckhart Tolle suggests the mini-meditations throughout the day in order to incorporate it as part of your “real” life and not as a compartmentalized portion of one’s life.
It makes sense.
I’ve noticed that since I’ve started this practice of incorporating space into my day, I am experiencing spontanenous moments of peace within chaos. Where I used to feel anxious or stressed, I feel calm and centered.
Holocaust Remembrance Day: April 24, 2017
The Holocaust, by witness accounts (and primary source documents) was the most horrific act on humans by humans during the bloodiest, deadliest, most costly war in all of history.
As we observe this day, I invite you to make a difference: Show kindness all day. Substitute a kind gesture for all the moments you would normally express impatience or intolerance. Just try it for several hours or, better yet, the entire day.
Don’t honk your horn.
Don’t complain.
Don’t raise your voice.
Instead…
Help someone load their car with their groceries.
Hold the door open for others.
Pay for the coffee of the person behind you in the drive thru.
Smile at every person you encounter.
Speak up for the weak and oppressed.
Negative thoughts are pollution. Detoxing will benefit the people around you. Practicing love could become permanent!
Aaaaah!
The Light in Your Eyes
Our guide informs us about American history and politics, sprinkling jokes and anecdotes as the bus rolls from one museum to another.
He’s always smiling with a light in his eyes.
On Day One, he asked me how to pronounce my name. Ever since then, he has called me by name (voice booming with cheer) when he addresses me.
He loves his job, you might surmise.
He loves his life.
Undoubtedly, you’ve met someone like him. Always smiling, never complaining. Joyful.
It’s an attitude that pervades his life and affects every person he meets. The common cold… the flu and attitudes are all contagious.
What are you spreading?
Harmony
A co-worker of mine constantly tells me she needs to make a change in her life. She tells me she needs to exercise and lose weight because she has children and she needs to be a good role model. I just listen. She’s been saying this all year. I know she will take action when she’s ready.
By “ready,” I mean, “fed up.” Isn’t that really how you get motivated? You take action and make changes when you’re “fed up” with how you’ve been living.
She made a good point, though. Her life is not just hers. She affects her children enormously. Her health and well-being necessarily influence them. If she’s at her best, she can give more.
Research shows that your physical health is optimum when you are satisfied in all of the following areas:
Identifying our “weak” area can lead to the most effective goal setting.
If You Build It, They Will Come
Our daughter played in a symphonic concert tonight. She’s almost 14 and is very active in several orchestras at the moment. The symphonic group she played in tonight celebrated their 50th anniversary this year. This group is a district group, including all the kids in the city who audition and make it. The kids then come to three different rehearsals of 2 hours each. They perform in the local Ikeda Theater for parents and friends. Admission is free.
Wayne Roederer started this program 50 years ago. He has conducted and started many programs and just retired two years ago. He conducted one of the groups and spoke to the parents, his voice breaking with emotion. “It was a joyous experience for me,” he said, “to work with your children. It was well worth missing Judge Judy for several days.” We all laughed.
The kids played with pride. They moved to the music.
Afterwards, we spoke with him. We congratulated him and told him how we appreciate his work. He said that he has worked with children who grew up to be adults who started orchestra programs of their own and now those kids have grown and are starting programs…
What might appear to be his legacy at first glance: the kids he worked with directly…is much more than that. This man has literally influenced thousands of people.
One man. An idea. And many helpful hands, parent volunteers and eager students. That’s all it took.
You are one person. You have an idea. Start building it…people will help you.
The Simplicity Experiment
Confession: Once in awhile, I fantasize about selling EVERYTHING I own and taking just the essentials in a backpack and trekking across country.
Reality: I’m a mom of two teenage girls and a 6 year old dog. I’m also a wife and a teacher. I have too many responsibilities. But I’ve always been a fan of simplicity and this year, as I approach 50, I’m more determined than ever to pare down every part of my life to the bare esssentials. Why? Because – and I’m speaking for just myself here – I believe living a minimalistic life is a path to true happiness.
Biggest Challenge: I have a family. I can’t – and won’t – get rid of their things.
Method: I’m a fan of slow. Slow and sure. Every weekend, I fill a bag or two of things to donate. I’m careful with grocery shopping. I freeze excess and rarely throw anything away. I’ve been purchasing books on Kindle and in thrift stores. My bookshelves contain only the books I am passionate about.
Whenever I download “stuff,” I feel so light and free!
Resolution Rescue
Mind swirls with visions of glory
fancying overtakes conscience
nerves fraught in shadows of story
until stress and fear are constant
self import – grotesque and hoary
morning, noon and midnight conference
self-distraction becomes gory
only true purpose bears solace
More Happiness
Did you know it’s been scientifically proven that celebrating small celebrations and experiencing fun times frequently vs. celebrating big achievements and taking big vacations less frequently will lead to more happiness?
How can you celebrate and insert small moments of joy frequently in your life?
Kismet 