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Posts from the ‘Happiness’ Category

Jul 12

July Bloom

“As long as we are persistence in our pursuit of our deepest destiny, we will continue to grow. We cannot choose the day or time when we will fully bloom. It happens in its own time.” – Denis Waitley

Late winter followed by an early summer resulting in a July bloom.

Transitions, stages, seasons. Whatever one you find yourself in right now, know that there’s always blooming, even if late. And the late bloom is an even sweeter gift reminding us that we are never done and it is never over.

Pursue your bloom, your bliss, your joy wherever you are in life. Whether close to retirement or just starting, keep trying, getting up and doing new things. With wonder and deep trust and hope that you have more in you than you believe in this moment.

Listen to your heart and go where it calls. Bloom.

“Listen! Clam up your mouth and be silent like an oyster shell, for that tongue of yours is the enemy of the soul, my friend. When the lips are silent, the heart has a hundred tongues.” – Rumi

Jul 6

Eat Cake

“Take life on life’s terms – one day at a time. And have fun while you’re doing it.” – Joe Perry

When I get too far ahead into the future or lag behind tangled up in the past, I need not look far to be reminded to stop, breathe, laugh and have some fun right now!

Let go, be grateful and embrace today.

Eat cake.

Jul 1

2 Comments

SIT DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Innocence can be more powerful than experience.” – Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

“Remaining childish is a tremendous state of innocence.” – John Lydon

“Remaining childish is a tremendous state of innocence.” – John Lydon

I received the blessing of watching Liam today for the afternoon. He forced me to stop my chores, duties and obligations to fully enter what Sundays are made for – rest, repose and restoration. As he woke up from his nap, he beckoned my name to get him, no tears, just a gentle order. We had dinner and he then requested to watch Coco for the second time today, the 20th time this week and 100th time since the movie came out. His absolute favorite movie, obsession.

I negotiated a trip to the park before we started the movie so we could enjoy the burst of sun on a mostly rainy day. When we returned, we agreed on Finding Dory rather than another round of Coco.

As the movie began, I started my usual multitasking. After a minute, Liam yelled, “SIT DOWN!!” I stopped in my tracks and sat down with him to enjoy coloring and Dory’s short term memory challenges. We proceeded to enjoy the simple experience of single-tasking, un-busyness and full presence in the very moment. Brilliant.

Sometimes it merely takes the wisdom of an almost 2 year old to pull us back to what’s most important and to the gift of now. Stop and sit down. The most valuable activity that you can do is to stop and embrace the sweet gift of now.

SIT DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jun 20

Guard Your Joy

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” – Leo Buscaglia

People, circumstances, worry, assumptions, judgments and our very own mindset steals our joy. Be on guard and acutely aware that joy is a choice and often not the easy one. Misery not only loves company, it longs for a crowd. And the complaining spirals into quicksand that sucks us in.

There’s plenty of justification for carrying a heavy load. But at the end of our life, our regrets will lie in not seizing our blessings, knowing those closest to us better and becoming our best self. So fill your mind with good thoughts and your heart with unreasonable love. Be kind and gentle, laugh more, let go, foster gratitude, grasp enthusiasm and silliness, forgive and by all means, guard your joy. It is truly the only thing worth holding tightly to.

“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

Jun 18

2 Comments

weeeee :)

“There's something just magical about flight. Period.” – Graham Hawkes

“There’s something just magical about flight. Period.” – Graham Hawkes

“The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” – Bertrand Russell

No further than a playground swing and magic unfolds. The delight of flight. The sheer joy in simple play. Children have it figured out and what we can learn from these wise souls. No over complicating. No distractions. They enter each moment as an explorer, an adventurer, a believer of goodness and light in the world. It is only when we grow up that we dull our wits and surrender our joy.

We can transform our days by sharpening our wits. Take back your joy.

Weeeeeeeeee!!!!!

Jun 10

A Wonderful Life

“What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.” – Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

So much of life is made up of multitasking, noisy distractions and the busy pursuit of what’s next. The velvet rut of familiarity convinces us to stay put, going rapidly through the motions.

Speed suffocates gratitude and numbs our spirit.

Slow down and breath. Do something different, even the smallest thing, each day. Then again and again until each simple act transforms ordinary days into an extraordinary life. Let awe and possibility takes root again.

Make each day sacred and joyful by participating fully in the moment. Realize your wonderful life right now while you are in it.

“Be happy. It’s one way of being wise.” – Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

Jun 1

Strivings Cease, Prayer Ensues, Peace Enters

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” – Meister Eckhart

A simple glance, a quiet moment, a sliver of pause prompts a prayer. Of gratitude. Of depth. Of awareness. Sacred, holy and awe-filled moments surround us awaiting to be released into our very being. In play. In joy. In letting go of all that we carry that is not ours. A small, soothing voice of calm. Strivings cease, peace enters with ease. Amen.

“Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress.
And let our ordered live confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the hearts of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake,
wind, and fire.
O still, small Voice of calm.”
– John G. Whittier hymn, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

May 30

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Aaah and Awe

“Awe is the finest portion of mankind …In awe, one feels profoundly the immense.” – Goethe

“Aaah, summer – that long anticipated stretch of lazy, lingering days, free of responsibility and rife with possibility. It’s a time to hunt for insects, master handstands, practice swimming strokes, conquer trees, explore nooks and crannies, and make new friends.” – Darrell Hammond

Watching the kids jump off the bus today brought me back to those days in May filled with anticipation of school getting out for the summer. The excitement of hanging out with friends, swimming, biking and carefree days. Just pure ease that summer demands.

So often, we appreciate days and moments the most in the rear view mirror rather than when we are in the midst of them. As you move into these sweet days of summer, be present and aware while you are in them, tune out the noise. Pay attention to moments rather than fictional “some days.”

Take long walks, enjoy an ice cream cone, read a book or take a nap in one of those adirondack chairs or hammocks that are always empty. This day, this moment is the substance, depth and breadth of life.

Get on the bus.  The journey is the destination.

May 20

6 Comments

Lilacs and Bubbles

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton

Bubbles, lilacs and children invite wonder, hope and joy. Lingering and delighting in the simplicity of the moment. Light, fragrant and awe without question or doubt.

Bubbles burst, the sweet aroma of lilacs fades swiftly and children grow up. Yet, the invitation, the calling remains within. A soft voice whispering us back to our most pure selves. To an acute awareness of the brevity of life and the promise of daily joy beyond our worries, our circumstances, our past, our future.

Our capacity for joy is far larger than we allow into our realm. Float like a bubble released into air, breathe in the fragrance of summer, leap with great abandon.

Dream BIG. LIVE BIGGER!

Lilacs and bubbles.

“The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton

“The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton

May 15

2 Comments

Life While You Live It

“Do not waste time dreaming of great faraway opportunities; do the best you can where you are. Open your petals of power and beauty and fling out the fragrance of your life in the place that has been assigned to you.” – Orison Swett Marden

Chaos, busyness and circumstances eclipse gratitude, awe and joy. We put off living fully to the illusive someday. When you can dance and sing amidst difficulties, you have triumphed and achieved “a peace that passes all understanding.”

Don’t lose days, months, years waiting for perfect timing to start living. Today is the day to begin anew, to be present in each moment and see what’s right in front of you for the very first time. Hold your gaze a bit longer and witness the greatness in a mere petal of a flower, the solace in an embrace and the ease that grace offers.

In Act III of Thorton Wilder’s play Our Town, Emily views moments in her life after she is dead. “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?—every, every minute? Emily asks this question of the Stage Manager after she has revisited her twelfth birthday. The Stage Manager answers that humans indeed do not realize life, except for perhaps the “saints and poets, maybe.”

Realize your life fully each day while you live it – the sacred poetry.

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