Day 228 March 20, 2011

Avon River

The spring equinox, at last.  Here in Nova Scotia it is still cold, but beautiful.  The river's ice is a thing of the past.  Now just a bit of snow is left to melt and with a few more sunny days it too will be a thing of the past.  That is, unless we get another winter storm, which is entirely possible.  There is a saying here in Nova Scotia, if you are tired of the weather just wait 15 minutes.  This means that in 15 minutes the weather can be quite dramatically different!

What was your day like today?

Today was a day to try on wedding dresses for some, a day to pick up winter debris off the lawn for others, and also a day to pray for all those people in turmoil around the world.   I hope that today was a good day for you.

Day 227 March 19, 2011

Toronto airport

Do you ever have one of those days when you notice that just putting one foot in front of the other as you walk along is a challenge?

That is the kind of day when you can help yourself by saying,  thank goodness I have feet, otherwise I couldn't walk.

Day 226 March 18, 2011

Carolyn's hot chili peppers

Today feels like spring.  The sunshine is brighter.  The heat is coming back to the land.

I think of places on our earth where turmoil is present and know that I will think of them tonight at the sweat lodge ceremony.  I will think of our small planet earth.

namaste.

Day 225 March 17, 2011

Irish Peace tiles  porcelain and glazes

"May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand." an Irish blessing

Happy St. Patrick's Day to one and all

Day 224 March 16, 2011

Today I am eating lunch at a friend's house and her children will probably be home because it is their March break from school.  I love children's energy.  They are so in the present and so innocent and sincere.  They help me stay in the moment too.

Of course sometimes children's energy is a bit too much.  They can tire us adults out with their huge bursts of enthusiasm.  It can be exhausting working with children as I did for over twenty years, in swimming pools, on the beaches and in the classroom.  But there is still nothing like those teachable moments I remember when you see their faces transfixed, riveted to your every word, totally engaged in a lesson.  Children can be fearless about learning.  Those moments were blissful.

Children also help us remember that we still are children inside who can marvel at the wonders of this life, this planet and all the kingdoms of plants and animals that live here with us.

Day 223 March 15, 2011

Do you sometimes feel like you are just going in circles?  Repeating yourself, your expectations, your problems, your solutions to problems, and your mistakes over and over again?  Well there is that phrase the circle of life.


It's normal to feel that way sometimes.

Sometimes I felt like I was on a treadmill that went nowhere.  That is the kind of time when you just need to be still for a moment and draw on the wellspring of your inner self.  Let out your feelings.  If you keep them all pent up they have nowhere to go.  Owning your feelings, is owning your own very special life.  Own up to how you feel.  Own up to yourself, or to your best friend, or to someone like a counsellor.  Owning up to these feelings will lead you in a new direction.

Your feelings are like air.  They need to circulate.  They need to move.  Otherwise they can stagnate.  Open up those windows and let the fresh air inside.

Day 222 March 14, 2011

Day 222  Jessica and Sara  photo by Mike Z.

How was your day today?  Exciting? Rewarding? Relaxing? Backbreaking? Invigorating? Tiring?  Maybe some of all of the above?  Perhaps you won a medal today?  Or lost an argument?

Basically, I hope you all had a hug today.  We all need lots of hugs.  I can never have too many hugs.

Day 221 March 13, 2011

In yoga class last week David discussed how the asanas are learned by the body, not by the mind.  It is the body that remembers the poses.  All of this physical work of doing the yoga poses is really an avenue to approach touching the mind.

Ah, the mind, that busy, busy part of us.  Always on a quest for a new idea, a new purpose, or to relive an old memory, or project into the future.  The mind just turns and turns like a leaf in the wind.  That is why when you practice yoga asanas, or poses, the activity is designed to be done from the base of the neck, where the neck meets the torso, downwards.  That major portion of the body works during the asanas while the head and the neck remain passive.  This passivity of the head and neck keeps the mind calm even when the rest of the body is meeting the very physical demands of the poses.

The mind becomes calm from stepping out of the way of the rest of the body, as the body completes the yoga asanas.

Calm mind.  Now that is a great approach to life's demands, don't you think?

Day 220 March 12, 2011

I need to see images from other seasons, other than winter, just to remind myself that this day of strong rain, gray skies and cold wind will not last forever.  Winter is lovely and unbearably beautiful.  Severe, yes, but beautiful.

The turmoil of last night's and today's storm makes me realize that here in Nova Scotia we have much to be grateful for, indeed.  My thoughts go out to the people in Japan who are dealing with a huge weather event, a catastrophic weather event.  If you are in Japan today, remember that you are not alone.  Many hearts are sending you prayers.

Other people too have lived through catastrophic weather events.  Is there any country in the world that has not seen such events?  Probably not.  Part of being human is recognizing that sometimes in our lives we experience joy and sometimes in our lives we experience suffering.  Calmness lies somewhere in between those two states.  It is our job to embrace our life in all its complexities.

Peace to you and namaste.

Day 219 March 11, 2011

Apples are one of my favourite foods.  I love their sweet, tart, juicy taste and I love their red skins.  Their skins are as beautiful as a painting by a fine master.

Fruit is definitely my favourite food.  How about you, what is your favourite food?