Finally Time to Say It

Thursday March 15, 2018 Mindfulness Here we are on March 16th and I have yet to declare my word for the new year. Actually, I declared it to myself, but now I must declare it in print for the commitment factor.  My word for the year is Mindfulness. Webster defines Mindfulness as " a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. So why mindfulness?  Well, I believe that I need this for two reasons. First I have ADHD issues that seem to be surfacing with a vengeance again. My mind is going faster than I can keep up with and some bad habits are surfacing. For example, I always want to know the answers to questions on the spot, and I've started interrupting people because my mouth wants to spout what's in my head, and sitting still is growing harder.  So I'm really trying to get this under control. So why do I think mindfulness will help? I...

February 22, 2018 Wow! It is the end of February and I have not even graded myself on last year's word--BALANCE. Hmmm maybe that says something about my success or failure with this. However, I am not going to be too hard on myself for lots of reasons. So to refresh myself on my goals, I was hoping for the following: Balance for physical health because it is one of the greatest issues for seniors. So I will try to do balance exercises on land and during my aquacize time. Balance of nourishment....remembering to eat to live, not live to eat. Balance of family and friends and me. Balance of my time...I have so many interests but I need to schedule myself a bit better to be able to do the many things I enjoy. Interesting indeed. Well, I believe I worked pretty hard on actual physical balance through my swimming and my strength and balance class. Life sometimes interferes with this but I am proud of myself for always returning. I also have been very conscious of balance ...

2/15/18 Spirit Animal Collage class proved to be very enlightening. The synergy in the room as people decided on their animals, changed minds, and then started gathering their information and materials was electrifying. I thought I would share some of the drafts of those in my class and mine of course. This is my creation. I'm pretty happy with it. I still have lots to learn about colors and shapes and composition. but am so enjoying the process. All of it is so much fun and there are so many more types of art to explore. There is this multi-media collaging, watercolors, acryllics, graphite pencils, colored pencils.....life is good...busy but good.

October 21,2017 Once again I am taking art class with teacher Laura Lein-Svencner. This one is called Spirit Animal Collage. Kathy C, Kennette, Bonnie, and Sandy are all taking the class, so we are 5 of 12 students. So the first assignment was listening or thinking about which animal is our spirit animal. I really struggled with this, because lots of animals speak to me. There is the peregrine falcon who landed on a monument in the historic Granary Burying Ground on the freedom trail in Boston. It landed right next to Kathy Creely and me and just stared at me. I started taking its picture, circled around it, and it never moved. Just allowed me to photograph it. When I turned around there were about 15-20 people standing behind the fence just watching the scene. This falcon was probably the foreshadowing of my love for my balcony birds and my Florida birds. Then there is the otter spotted when Barb and I were doing the Michigan-Canada tour. This otter was playing in the water and ...

October 22, 2017 Church this morning. It felt good to get back to a place of meditation, prayer, hymns, and my talks with God.  I lit candles for my family and friends, Christina, and a thank you candle to God for his generosity, blessings, and love for me.  It is a peaceful, joyous way to begin the day. My conversations with God nourish me in ways that many would never understand. Though my life is filled with wonderful family and friends, activities I love, entertainment I enjoy, I still spend a fairly large amount of time alone--and that's okay. It's the life I have chosen, but this decision is why my conversations with God are so important. I have to believe that someone is listening.      I have to believe that whatever happens to me,                    there is someone watching over my loved ones and cherished friends.          I have to believe that Christina wil...

Sunday, October 1, 2017 A very sad day for Americans, because once again we have bloodshed on our hands--and I do mean us and our very own hands, because we can't figure out a way to stop our politicians, our lobbyists, the NRA, from holding innocent human beings hostage to their greed, need for power, their lack of common sense. Don't get me wrong, there are so many issues for which I hold myself responsible as well, because I can't seem to muster up the the guts to give up things that would do good for myself, for others. I can't seem to muster up the leadership to drive a campaign of sorts against some of these things. Being frustrated and sad just doesn't work anymore for me, but I am unsure what to get involved in or if I have the energy to get involved in something. However, if everyone is saying that, then where will be in five...ten....heck, just a year from now.  So sad and disappointed in myself. Disappointed in our supposed leadership that cares onl...