11 Friday May 2018
Posted in Inspiration, Mindfulness, Pioneers of Peace, Resilience
Grace Cathedral
Walking the Labyrinth
Roses on the path,
Clean shiny stone,
Color splashed across the floor.
All this and more
Make up the journey
Of the labyrinth.
17 Wednesday Jun 2015
Posted in Life Mastery Skills, Mindfulness, Resilience
You can’t see it, but there is a hummingbird in this tree. I promise.
A friend of mine had two hummingbirds fly into her house the other day. She said they had to wear themselves out before she could scoop them up and set them free. There’s a message in that isn’t there. Imagine how much more energy we could have, how much more creative we could be, how much more love we could offer…
Sending love from the beautiful Southwest 🙂
Barbara
29 Friday May 2015
Posted in Emotion School, Mindfulness, Resilience
I declared today a “vacation day” and drove to one of my sacred spaces in the mountains. A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to see a bald eagle perched atop a tree. It was a beautiful sight to behold; especially when it lifted off and flew away with fluffy white legs blowing in the wind.
Today I longed to see the majestic bird again. I kept my eyes up, searching the treetops as I drove. It wasn’t meant to be.
How many other birds and wildlife did I miss searching for what I thought to be the prize?
How often in life do we search for what we believe to be the answer, when there are miracles right before our eyes…eyes that do not see because they are looking for something different.
Therein lies the gift of mindfulness; to be present for what life is offering up. Tara Brach asks us to clear a path in the forest of our mind. What might we find if we sit and wait for what appears?
Look what I found when I came home.
Sending love,
Barbara
17 Friday Jan 2014
Tags
Buddha, Charity, Compassion, empathy, Happiness, Kindness, Mindfulness, Peace, Pioneers of Peace, Resilience, The Power of Words
Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace. ~Buddha
02 Thursday Jan 2014
Posted in Emotion School, Life Mastery Skills, Mindfulness, Resilience, Wellness
Tags
Adventure, Authenticity, Balance, Compassion, Courage, Creativity, Happiness, health, Inspiration, Joseph Campbell, Mindfulness, New Year, New Year's Eve, New Year's Resolutions, Simplicity
“You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.” ~ Joseph Campbell
Pink Milk Nights and Looking Forward
As I sit writing this post, I’m drinking a cup of herbal tea heavily laden with orange blossom honey. Looking out my bedroom window, I see the Oquirrh Mountains which are blanketed with lavender snow and touched by peach colored clouds. Heaven. Tonight promises to be a “Pink Milk Night.”
When my children were young we made a special treat when the evening sky was pink. Grenadine syrup and milk; aka “Pink Milk.” Happy memories of days gone by fill my mind as I ponder the year to come.
I don’t know what this year will bring and I have learned to be careful about exerting too much will over the future. This year I look to principles rather than outcomes
Rather than lose 20 pounds… I choose health.
Rather than going to Europe… I choose mind-expanding adventure.
Rather than cleaning and de-cluttering my home… I choose simplicity.
Rather than saving and making more money… I choose abundance.
Rather than gaining 1000 readers… I choose authenticity.
Rather than folding 1000 cranes… I choose creativity.
Rather than being confident… I choose courage.
Rather than being efficient with my time… I choose to be mindful.
Rather than striving for perfection… I choose balance.
Rather than numbering the ways I will serve… I choose compassion.
Rather than reading countless books…I choose inspiration.
Rather than trying to fix what is wrong… I choose happiness.
Tonight may you begin the journey of finding the life that is waiting for you in 2014. Happiest of New Year‘s to you my dear friends.
Love,
Barbara
22 Tuesday Oct 2013
Posted in Mindfulness, Quotes
Tags
The view from my window this afternoon
“I realized that slowing down, while beneficial to your well-being and performance, also speeds up your most valuable insights — for yourself and your work.”
~Paresh Shah http://www.thechangeblog.com/chasing-richness/
17 Monday Jun 2013
Posted in Mindfulness, Pioneers of Peace, Resilience
How different would our world be if we allowed ourselves to take a look inside the hearts of people, instead of just the surface, or worse, our reactions to them?
15 Wednesday May 2013
Posted in Mindfulness, Quotes
Tags
The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.― Jon Kabat-Zinn
10 Wednesday Apr 2013
Posted in Mindfulness, Quotes
Tags
“Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.”
Don’t forget to vote yes or no on the Pioneers of Peace: Red Cup post.
Thanks 🙂
31 Sunday Mar 2013
Posted in Mindfulness
Mindful Cat
Long ago there lived a young monk who adopted a kitten.
He was so fond of the kitten he took it wherever he went.
One day he brought the kitten to sitting mediation.
The kitten frolicked around the temple visiting the other monks who were practicing mindfulness.
At the end of the day he was told if he wanted to continue bringing the kitten to sitting meditation, he would have to tie it to the table so it would not disturb the other monks.
And so the young monk did.
For the remainder of the cat’s life, it attended sitting meditation tied to the table.
When the cat died, the young monk who was no longer young, adopted another kitten.
As before he brought the kitten to sitting meditation, and tied it to the table.
This went on and on until the young monk who was no longer young, died.
After his death another monk adopted a kitten.
He brought it to sitting mediation, and tied it to the table.
Many generations have passed.
Much has been said about the virtues of having a cat present for sitting mediation.
adapted from a collection of stories told about the monk and a cat
Until next time…Shine on 🙂
Barbara
