• #42 (no title)

Barbara Scoville, LCSW

~ Pioneers of Peace™

Barbara Scoville, LCSW

Category Archives: Wellness

Meditating in Paris

26 Friday Apr 2019

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Inspiration, Meditation, Metta, Mindfulness, Pioneers of Peace, Resilience, Wellness

≈ Comments Off on Meditating in Paris


It was Bastille Day in Paris. Having just arrived the day before in that beautiful city, jetlag was weighing heavy on my bones. In an attempt to adjust to the new time-zone we took a morning walk through the vibrant Bois de Vincennes where we came upon a grove of trees with colorful prayer flags draped in the branches.  A saffron robed monk was sitting on a log offering a dharma talk to a small crowd gathered around him. As luck would have it we were on the grounds of The Grand Pagoda, the Buddhist temple which houses within its walls the largest statue of Buddha in all of Europe.

My heart leapt with joy and even though only French was being spoken, I took my seat to practice mindfulness.

For those of you new to “mindfulness,” I like to think of it as a training to settle the mind; the fruits of which are increased presence, loving awareness and kindness, clarity of mind, and better emotional regulation.

It was a beautiful morning in the park. As I listened to the knowing chuckles of those seated around me I remembered similar scenes where I had been the giggler in response to a humorous comment one of my beloved teachers had made.

Minutes passed and in the midst of feeling truly blessed by my happy circumstances, I began to feel strain in my back. Mild discomfort grew into aching and next caving, and then as if my body was saying…

You’re not listening to me!

The pain increased to an intensity I no longer chose to bear. I shifted my seat to a very tall tree for support. 

Ahhh…so much better. 

Several more minutes passed and as with all good things, my overall well-being began to transform into restlessness. The French language was beautiful but impossible to understand. The monk’s voice began to fade into a blur.

Unpleasant, tired, unpleasant, hot, I whispered to myself attempting to remain present as my mind had begun the fight to detach from my body. 

Periodically, passerby’s would stop and watch what was going on not caring to lower their outside voices, and then to my mild horror I noticed giant ants climbing up my legs.

 Creeped out, irritation, judging, annoyance, resistance

With each distraction I attempted to remain the observer and dutifully returned my attention to the monk. 

As time moved forward though, the frequency and variety of distractions had their way with me and I became overwhelmed. It was exhausting as I fought to stay present.

What to do…what to do… 

Just as thoughts of leaving began to take hold in my mind, a formation of low flying fighter jets zoomed over the park and our little gathering. It being Bastille Day, the celebrations had begun. 

With annoyance so fresh in my mind, my first thought was…

 You have to be kidding me.

Thankfully it wasn’t long before I saw it as an opportunity to practice welcoming the moment. The monk continued talking but soon stopped and joyfully watched the planes along with everyone else.

Rescued by war planes…how ironic…judging, sarcasm…

Back on track I settled once again into my breath. Breathing with my little sangha, the trees, the swans in the near-bye pond, the flowers, everyone enjoying the beautiful morning, the pigeons, and then …

SPLAT!!!

A very healthy pigeon who was perched on one of the branches above

relieved itself.

It fell first on my hair,

and then down onto my shoulder,

and because of the sheer volume,

its’ journey ended on my lap.

In a mindful state,

I heard the sound,

saw the many colors

and the slimy wet nature of the pigeon’s waste.

I was startled and disgusted but accepted the moment with a smile and the pigeon as a teacher. It helped that I was in my workout clothes and  hadn’t yet showered. 

I would like to say I stayed until the sit was over, but I didn’t. I was done; it was time to go. Not mad and only a little disgusted, I had had enough. We finished our walk in the park and then went back to the hotel for a shower and a change of clothes.

On the outside I laughed about what a great story this experience was going to make while on the inside I labored to make peace with the futility of expectations.

The Grove of Trees

Namaste,

Barbara


Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Reddit

Like this:

Like Loading...

What Really Matters

20 Sunday Mar 2016

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Inspiration, Mindfulness, Resilience, Uncategorized, Wellness

≈ 5 Comments

IMG_1180

Dear Friends,

I hope wherever you are… you’re drinking in the beauty of this first day of Spring. Continue reading →

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Reddit

Like this:

Like Loading...

Quotes to Memorize

30 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Emotion School, Inspiration, Life Mastery Skills, Motivation, Quotes, Resilience, The Power to Do, Wellness

≈ Leave a comment

Miss Sophiella at the Utah Art's Festival

Miss Sophiella at the Utah Art’s Festival

We do our best work when we compete against ourselves — not others.

~Richard Lavoie

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Reddit

Like this:

Like Loading...

Get Me Off of This Merry-Go-Round; An Introduction to Mindfulness

25 Monday May 2015

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Emotion School, Life Mastery Skills, Mindfulness, Resilience, Wellness

≈ Leave a comment

Step Off the Merry-Go-Round

Barbara Scoville, LCSW

Unknown

How many times have you heard the idiom, “ Get me off of this merry-go-round!”?

It’s an expression that conjures up a familiar, commonly shared image of someone “mindlessly” attempting to run faster than their legs can carry them; often but not always, directed by someone other than the person who is doing the real running. Around and around we go, doing, doing, doing; believing we don’t have a choice and resenting the demands placed on our time that keep us from doing what we think we would “rather” be doing.

One mother complains, “I don’t even have time to go to the bathroom.”  A college student says, “It’s like being in prison; my time is not my own; if I’m not studying, I’m working, and if I’m not working, I’m studying.” A grandfather says, “I want to write my family history, but my kids count on me to babysit…

View original post 708 more words

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Reddit

Like this:

Like Loading...

Kick Ass Lentil Soup (excuse my French)

11 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Recipes, Wellness

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Clean eating, Healthy Comfort Food, Healthy Recipes, Kick Ass Lentil Soup, Super Foods

IMG_2826Sunday morning I woke up feeling like a dragon had taken up residence in my mouth. No I don’t mean bad breath; I mean my mouth was on fire. I had a headache and every nerve in my body was screaming.

As much as I hated to admit it, I knew I needed to go to an Instacare. I arrived shortly after 8:00 am, thinking if I could just get this over with I could get on with my day. After all, I was expecting somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 guests for dinner. The day before I made the most awesome (I hate that word, but it works) chicken stock  and was planning on serving homemade chicken noodle soup, fresh bread and salad.

The good doctor walked in, told me to say “Awww”, and then escorted me over to the mirror. Shining his light into my mouth he asked me to take a look. “Holy cow! What is wrong with me?” to which he replied, “You have hand, foot, and mouth disease.”

As visions of farm animal galloped through my head, he quickly followed his diagnosis with, “No, no, it’s not what your thinking.” This is an illness that mostly  children get. When kids contract it they have sores on their hands and feet, along with their mouth. Adults only get it in their mouth. It’s a virus. Sorry, there isn’t any treatment for it, but I can give you numbing medicine because it’s only going o get worse before it gets better.”

Stunned, I said, “How contagious am I?” “Pretty contagious; You shouldn’t be preparing food for anyone.” 😦 😦

So that’s a long explanation for why I have been home sick all week. My apologies to all of my clients I had to cancel, but trust me: You don’t want this.

For those of you who know me, sitting for anything but knitting, watching Blacklist, or meditating, is not my thing. Needless to say, this has been a hard week on many levels. So yesterday as I began to turn the corner, I put my disposable latex gloves on and made my favorite lentil soup. I took pictures along the way so that I could share the recipe with you. It used to be called “Lentil Soup” but yesterday in my somewhat sick state I renamed it, “Kick Ass Lentil Soup,” because well, I was feeling like kicking some ass after sitting on mine all week.  I think the name is going to stick. Forgive me.

This is my offering to those of you I could not be with this week. It is comfort food. As for the rest of you who are reading this, enjoy the offering.

Kick Ass Lentil Soup

Ingredients: 1 large onion diced, 2 garlic cloves minced, 2-4 T olive oil, 2 quarts good stock, 1 med sweet potato peeled and cubed, 1 large carrot grated, 3 cups fresh grape tomatoes, 1-2 cups fresh baby spinach, 1 T crushed basil, 1 tsp herbs de Provence, 1 tsp coriander, red pepper flakes to taste, salt to taste. Optional garnish, but well worth it…roasted peppers sliced thin, grated lemon zest, and hot sauce (I prefer Tapatio).

Heat 2-3 T olive oil in heavy soup pot and sauté onion and garlic until transparent.

IMG_2811

 

French Lentils

French Lentils

Add French lentils and broth. Bring to boil and simmer 1 hour.

Add lentils
My broth is really concentrated so I used 1 qt broth and 1 qt water
Bring to boil
Cover and simmer 1 hour

After simmering for 1 hour, add diced sweet potato and simmer another hour, watching water level.

Add sweet potato
Cover and simmer 1 hour

Meanwhile wash grape tomatoes. Turn oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil. Toss tomatoes in remaining olive oil, herbs de Provence, kosher salt and pepper and roast for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.


After the soup and potatoes have simmered for an hour; add tomatoes, grated carrot, spinach, basil, coriander, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 30 minutes.


Decision time.  If you like your soup chunky it’s done. Salt to taste and enjoy. Personally, this is where I get my immersion blender out and puree it. If you are a lover of the Salt Lake City restaurant, Mazza, you won’t want it any other way.

To make it extra special; after ladling the soup into bowls, garnish it with lemon zest, thin strips of roasted yellow, orange, or red peppers, and for extra spice, splash it with hot sauce.

Voila! Bon Appetit!

Voila! Bon Appetit!

Have a great week everyone and may you always find your cup half full 🙂

Love,

Barbara

P.S. For some reason I was not able to add links to my post today. The chicken stock I made was from Ina Garten and can be found both on Food Network’s website and The Barefoot Contessa’s website.

Mazza Cafe is located at 1515 1500 E Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 484-9259
Mazza Middle Eastern Cuisine
912 East 9th South
Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 521-4572

1240447_10200648736848566_795156431_n

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Reddit

Like this:

Like Loading...

What Does Home Mean to You?

25 Monday Aug 2014

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Emotion School, Quotes, Resilience, Wellness

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Home, Identity, Resilience

 

IMG_1252

“Home is a place we all must find, child. It’s not just a place where you eat or sleep. Home is knowing. Knowing your mind, knowing your heart, knowing your courage. If we know ourselves, we’re always home, anywhere.”

-Glinda, The Wiz

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Reddit

Like this:

Like Loading...

Begin where you are…a beautiful quote

15 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Emotion School, Life Mastery Skills, Mindfulness, Pioneers of Peace, Quotes, Resilience, The Power to Do, Wellness

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Brother David Steindl-Rast, Goals, Gratitude, Inspiration, Motivation

Image“The first thing to remember is to start where we are. How could we start where we are not? And yet, how often we try to start way ahead of ourselves. That leads nowhere. But wherever we are, help is there. Life provides all the help we need. If we trust and look for it, we shall find it.” ~Brother David Steindl-Rast

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Reddit

Like this:

Like Loading...

Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way: The Game (Round 25)

25 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Resilience, Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way: A Game, Wellness

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

authentic self, Game, Identity, Individuality, Michelangelo, Self awareness, Self discovery, Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way, Self-esteem

images“In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it.”Michelangelo

For most of us the answer to the question, “Who am I?” is work in progress. There are times when we are certain who we are, what we like, and what we want; and other times when it seems we have no idea at all.

It has been said that identity isn’t just about what you have done, but what you would like to experience.

Playing “Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way” is a fun game designed to help you discover who you really are. You will be given a series of choices and asked which option resonates most with you. Some will seem easy . . . black and white, while others will require careful contemplation.

Play the game each week and over time watch how your identity takes form; like Michelangelo chipping away at a block of marble, only to reveal what he already knew was inside.

Included in the game is a polling box in which you can cast your vote and see how your answer compares with others.

Game Rules:

1. Think about each option and decide which one you identify with the most.

2. You may feel like you can identify with both, but choose the one you lean towards.

3. Feel free to think about the options in any way you like: literally, symbolically, metaphorically, preferentially, etc.

4. Claim your identity by voting in the polling box at the bottom of the page, and just for the fun of it see what others are saying.

5. Check in each week to answer the latest question that will reveal your identity.

6. Keep a written record of your responses and watch a description of yourself unfold.

Option: Play this game with your friend or partner. See how well you know each other and build your relationship by sharing aspects of your personality.

Ready to play?

Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way

Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way

This week’s question (Round 25)

Are you more TV or Radio?

1240447_10200648736848566_795156431_n

 

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Reddit

Like this:

Like Loading...

Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way: The Game (Round 24)

15 Saturday Mar 2014

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Resilience, Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way: A Game, Wellness

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

authentic self, Barbara Scoville LCSW, Games, Identity, Michelangelo, Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way, self worth, Self-esteem

images“In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it.”Michelangelo

For most of us the answer to the question, “Who am I?” is work in progress. There are times when we are certain who we are, what we like, and what we want; and other times when it seems we have no idea at all.

It has been said that identity isn’t just about what you have done, but what you would like to experience.

Playing “Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way” is a fun game designed to help you discover who you really are. You will be given a series of choices and asked which option resonates most with you.  Some will seem easy . . . black and white, while others will require careful contemplation.

Play the game each week and over time watch how your identity takes form; like Michelangelo chipping away at a block of marble, only to reveal what he already knew was inside.

Included in the game is a polling box in which you can cast your vote and see how your answer compares with others.

Game Rules:

1. Think about each option and decide which one you identify with the most.

2. You may feel like you can identify with both, but choose the one you lean towards.

3. Feel free to think about the options in any way you like: literally, symbolically, metaphorically, preferentially, etc.

4. Claim your identity by voting in the polling box at the bottom of the page, and just for the fun of it see what others are saying.

5. Check in each week to answer the latest question that will reveal your identity.

6. Keep a written record of your responses and watch a description of yourself unfold.

Option: Play this game with your friend or partner. See how well you know each other and build your relationship by sharing aspects of your personality.

Ready to play?

Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way

Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way

This week’s question (Round 24)

Are you more local or global?

1240447_10200648736848566_795156431_n

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Reddit

Like this:

Like Loading...

Self Compassion

07 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Emotion School, Life Mastery Skills, Mindfulness, Pioneers of Peace, Resilience, Wellness

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Compassion, Kindness, Kristen Neff, Self Compassion, Self-esteem

I came across this talk today and am compelled to share it.

To all of my clients who follow this blog… this is homework 🙂 Please take the time to watch it. 

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Reddit

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts

Recent Posts

  • Ripples on the Ocean of Kindness
  • Food for Thought
  • Meditating in Paris
  • Walking the Labryinth
  • When an Empty Basket is a Good Thing

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • April 2019
  • May 2018
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012

Categories

  • Altruism
  • Caregiver's Storyboard
  • charitable sewing
  • Compassionate Knitting
  • Emotion School
  • Fear
  • homeless
  • homeless youth
  • Homelessness
  • humanitarian service
  • Imagination
  • Inspiration
  • Life Mastery Skills
  • making a difference
  • Meditation
  • Metta
  • Mindfulness
  • Motivation
  • Pioneers of Peace
  • Quotes
  • Recipes
  • Refugees
  • Resilience
  • Self Discovery the Michelangelo Way: A Game
  • The Optimism Corner
  • The Pioneers of Peace Thanks"Giving" Cup Campaign
  • The Power to Do
  • The Thanks"giving" Cup Campaign
  • Uncategorized
  • Utah Refugee Center
  • Valentine's Day
  • VOA Homeless Youth Resource Center
  • Wellness

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 191 other followers

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • Barbara Scoville, LCSW
    • Join 191 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Barbara Scoville, LCSW
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: