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Posts from the ‘Golden Retriever’ Category

Jan 24

What’s Real and True

“To know yourself as the Being underneath the thinker, the stillness underneath the mental noise, the love and joy underneath the pain, is freedom, salvation, enlightenment.” – Eckhart Tolle

While the world measures “success” by distance, speed and status, our life is truly lived and measured by depth, connection and substance found in simple moments. Foster joy, depth and meaning each day. What’s real and true is right in front of you, right now.

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” – Thomas Merton

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” – Thomas Merton

Jan 9

2 Comments

Melt Away

“Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.” – Saint Teresa of Avila

“Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.” – Saint Teresa of Avila

“In the pain, the agony, and the heroic endeavors of life, we pass through a refiner’s fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong.” – James E. Faust

When we melt into rest and quiet the noise of thoughts derived from the outside, we are reminded of what we already know. What and who’s most important rises to the top again and the remainder is put aside out of the way where it belongs.

Find rest, solace and melt into yourself so all that is of your heart and soul takes front and center stage in each day of your story.

Dec 29

6 Comments

The Walk

“We’re all just walking each other home.” – Rumi

On our daily journey, it’s good to know deep in our heart and bones that we are not alone. And we have the opportunity, the obligation, to remind each other that we are all on this walk together. Being present, quietly listening, holding a hand, a phone call or text can turn a day around.

While we each have our own purpose, blessings and burdens, our journey is meant to be shared. And in the sharing, our loads are lightened and blessings multiplied.

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” – Audrey Hepburn

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” – Audrey Hepburn

Dec 27

9 Comments

Off Leash

“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.” – Havelock Ellis

To explore unhindered
To release the longing spirit
To wander into wonder
To discover adventure where you’ve walked before
To find what has always been in reach

Off leash of what binds and holds you back

Free from self-imposed limitations
Free from expectations
Free from the past and future
Free from maps, plans and time
Free to embrace and be embraced

Go off leash today and take it all in.

“The ground we walk on, the plants and creatures, the clouds above constantly dissolving into new formations - each gift of nature possessing its own radiant energy, bound together by cosmic harmony.” – Ruth Bernhard

“The ground we walk on, the plants and creatures, the clouds above constantly dissolving into new formations – each gift of nature possessing its own radiant energy, bound together by cosmic harmony.” – Ruth Bernhard

Dec 18

2 Comments

Stuck in the Mud

“There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud.” – Carl Sandburg

We often get stuck in the mud of moments of turmoil and the dailyness of living, losing the 360 degree view. Whether longing for the past, worried about the future or thinking what’s happening now will last forever.

Surface over depth.

Being present in the moment gives us acute awareness of and appreciation for all that is, the entire three dimensional picture of blessings and challenges, vivid color and hues of gray, faith and doubt, light and dark.

Abundance over scarcity.

When stuck in the mud, keep moving, digging your way out so your world can come back into full height, width and depth of all that is in the now and the promise of all that is to come, little by little, step by step.

Delight over delusion.

“I made all my generals out of mud.” – Napoleon Bonaparte

“I made all my generals out of mud.” – Napoleon Bonaparte

Nov 24

6 Comments

Chief Fun Officer

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” – John Milton

When the day’s demands weigh heavy, simple moments pull me back to the anchor of gratitude. And a sudden awareness of all that is most important fills the space. When I stray off course to the past or the future, my CFOs (Chief Fun Officers) Lily and Molly straighten me out and show me how to let it go and lighten up.

May you be anchored in gratitude and celebrate Thanksgiving each day. And by all means, take the advice of your CFOs. Better yet, become one.

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth

Nov 6

4 Comments

Where Every Day is Friday

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” – Marcus Aurelius

“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest. “– William Blake

“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest. “– William Blake

We often hear or say thank goodness it’s Friday. I try not to but must admit that some weeks I do. When we live Friday to Friday, vacation to vacation, we miss the joy that is to be harvested each day. Do something new, quietly reflect with deep gratitude, connect with others and by all means, play.

When we live right smack in the moment seeking goodness and light, every day is Friday.

Nov 2

2 Comments

Bliss

“Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss. Nothing is as rich. Nothing is more real.” – Deepak Chopra

Our life must be more than lists, tasks and the race to what’s next.  As we complicate our life with busyness in hot pursuit of who knows what, it is always the simple moments and encounters that bring us back to our best self, to meaning and joy, to our bliss.

Get off the rollercoaster and get grounded in what is calling to you. We all have it. That quiet voice, the gut feeling, the longing where our spirit and soul resides waiting to be released, to play and dance.

We need not know the end of the story. Write a sentence at a time and the story unfolds through the risk of movement leading us to our true north. Start with one word, a new thought, a simple act, a shift in perspective.

With practice and presence, the mundane transforms to marvelous, laughter to gratitude, simplicity to depth. We become masters of life through practice, ups and downs, wins and losses, work and most important, play.

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.” – Joseph Campbell

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.” – Joseph Campbell

 

Oct 19

Class Clown

“If by chance some day you’re not feeling well and you should remember some silly thing I’ve said or done and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose as your clown has been fulfilled.” – Red Skelton

“Only in spontaneity can we be who we truly are.” – John McLaughlin

“Only in spontaneity can we be who we truly are.” – John McLaughlin

Remember the kid in class who always made you laugh? The one who didn’t care if she got caught, she was just being herself, looking for a good laugh. The friend who pushed you to have some light-hearted fun and get into some trouble.

The “real world” needs more class clowns. We’ve become way too serious, too self-absorbed in our self-created problems of stress, busyness and “the race.” Lighten up, be silly and laugh more. Life is way way way too short to not enjoy the daily journey and bring others with you.

My golden retriever Lily is our lead clown, never missing an opportunity to make each day more fun for Molly and me. Molly sneaks in a few antics of her own too. She’s a good student of Professor Lily. I’m working on getting my grade point average up.

So go out today and pursue some silliness. It’s frivolous and irresponsible for sure. And we need it. Open the windows wide and stick your head out, skip down the hall, throw a ball and maybe even be so bold to chuckle.

Class Clowns unite.

“Reason, I sacrifice you to the evening breeze.” – Aime Cesaire

“Reason, I sacrifice you to the evening breeze.” – Aime Cesaire

Oct 1

Gestures

“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.” – Havelock Ellis

“Life has no blessing like a prudent friend.” – Euripides

“Life has no blessing like a prudent friend.” – Euripides

Simple gestures often communicate more clearly than a thousand words. A glance, a smile, a hug speak volumes.

Our four-legged furry family members have mastered the art of gestures since it’s their only way to communicate. And perhaps that’s why they bring deep joy to our lives. They show us how to live lightly through their silliness, their ability to forget our shortcomings and love us unconditionally, their capacity for udder delight and their awareness of the present moment and all that it has to offer.

So when I need a good reminder of how to be a good friend, to be grateful for all of my blessings, to be more humane, I most often consult with Molly and Lily.

“Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.” – Khalil Gibran

“Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.” – Khalil Gibran

Be kind, gentle, forgiving, mindful of others and walk lightly through today. Your positive gestures will lift others in ways that you may never know but is so desperately needed. Cast light, warm the world.

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