Earth Angels

 That’s what nurses are—Earth Angels

I had a procedure done yesterday which had me at the hospital all day (it’s all good). From start to finish, with one tiny exception, the nurses were kind, extremely competent, and served as reminders of what I really wanted to do with my life, but was unable to make happen. That’s okay, really—I found other ways to love and serve others.

But nurses! Doing the hard work, being very knowledgable, and never forgetting the reasons they’re there. In my faith community, we are reminded to ‘love, serve, and remember’. That’s the nugget of nursing—and they get paid for it! And we, the patients, get to be the recipients of their calling.

Today, as I rest and recuperate, I will remember a couple of nurses in particular as I give thanks in my time of prayer and meditation. I will include friends who also followed that path, and the many people who show similar care and kindness, just because that’s who they are. My good friend took the day off work to be my driver, my encourager, my support person, and my latte-retriever. While she’d have made a stellar nurse, she simply acts on her instinct to be a helper in this world, and that’s a huge gift.

Today, as I just take it very easy, I will reflect on the gratitude I feel for these people, and others like them. May we all be people who love, serve, and remember. The world needs more of us.

Mighty Meditation

 I’ll confess right off the bat: I’m not a great meditator. I always intend to do more, but so far I haven’t succeeded in making it a habit. 

Today though, I attended two different-but-similar church services, each containing a few minutes of silent meditation. I liked those times of going within, just slowly watching my breath. They were times of peace.

Who doesn’t need moments of peace? I know I do! When I’ve taken the time to set my meditation timer and simply be in the moment, I find that the calmness lasts beyond the timer’s bell. That’s a winning argument to consciously make the time to meditate on my own.

I know from past practice that taking even a moment of purposefully quieting my mind pays immediate dividends to my sanity and peace of mind, so today’s invitations to simply breathe quietly into the moment served as a nudge to reestablish my daily implementation. I use the Insight Timer app, but there are many others which are helpful. 

I’m grateful for the reminders I received today to get back on track. That track carries peace and a centeredness, which is mightily important as I move into the time of year when there are a lot of harried, crazed shoppers on top of my own sometimes unreasonable expectations. 

May Peace prevail.

Om shanti om 🙏

Living in Community

 I got to sit in with a group of people today, all sharing their gratitude. What a treat to be with people openly sharing those things which give their lives meaning, from the seemingly insignificant to the grand.

It wasn’t a special event, or even one focused on Thanksgiving. It was a normal Saturday 12-Step meeting, filled with folks who have learned to stop fighting anything and everything, and simply relax into being their best, genuine selves. It’s an honor to be among such people—those who cheer each other on for victories large and small, and who encourage others who may need a dose of strength.

It was truly a wonder in my life to find myself in their midst. I have been able to find my bearings again and again, whenever I feel like I’ve strayed from who I am meant to be. I get lost sometimes, but they are always available for me to talk to, to get me back on track. I have been honored to find myself on the other side of that equation as well, reminding others of the strength they have access to.

It’s a daily thing, this learning to be my best, truest self. 

I am truly grateful for this community of many different sorts of people, all working together for a common goal, one day at a time.

Home-made Ice Cream

 And other delights!

I need to watch my weight. So far, all I’ve managed is to watch it go up…but I loves me some treats. How does a person find balance?

Finding the ‘middle way’ is a tenet of Buddhism. Can I possibly apply it to those yummy things which I find so appealing? Yes, I think so. Moderation, substitution, and education can work together, if I choose to use them. It always comes down to my choice. 

This is so in so many roads of life. Where have I gone overboard, and what were the consequences? Where have I held back, and how did those choices serve me or my growth? Little Red Riding Hood had to find her middle way at the Bear’s house: the porridge was too hot, then too cold, then just right; one bed was too hard, the next was too soft, then finally she found the one that was just right.

I tend to go overboard. If I know this about myself, what is my next right action? Why do I tend to ignore that in favor of doing what feels good in the moment? Ah me, what First-World problems I have!

So today I made ice-cream. Yum! And when I served myself some, I put a single scoop into a small bowl. It was yummy, and it was enough. Can I see this as a metaphor for finding that place of ‘just right’? I intend to find out, one decision at a time.

So today, I’m grateful to have the choices I have; what to eat and how much, how often to move and in what ways which won’t aggravate the other issues (hello, bursitis). These are things in which I can exercise some control. 

To home-made ice cream, and to self-control! I’ll let you know how that goes…

Thanksgiving

 Gratitude is riches and complaint is poverty.   Doris Day

I choose riches. I am surrounded by abundance. I delight in the opulence of nature, the plentifulness of all my needs being met, the lushness of life.

Today in the US, we celebrate a day set aside for giving thanks for the harvest of goodness in our lives. I am gratefully reminded that my desire is to do so every day. On sunny days, I’m grateful for the warmth. On cloudy days, I’m grateful for the invitation to go within. Every day, I am thankful for family and friends. I may live alone, but I need never be lonely. I am happy in my own company.

I enjoy a plenitude of needs being met: I have good food with which to nourish my body and yummy treats to simply enjoy; my home is safe and cozy; I have the kinds of creature comforts which allow me to simply be in the moment.

Today is a special day set aside for giving thanks. May we all remember every day to find our joy where we are, and to thank the Love which surrounds and enfolds us for every little—and big—thing.

The Disappearing Lake

 As I write this, I am bathed in the dappled sunlight reflected off of the lake just beyond the vacation house I’ve been in. It’s delightful, watching the changing patterns as the sunshine off the water dances on the ceiling. It invites relaxation and simply being in the moment.

This lake is one of many man-made bodies of water resulting from dams created decades ago, against the wishes of the original land-dwellers. Dam removal is underway, which will result in the draining of the lakes and restoration of the natural order. Docks have been removed, and landowners are coming to terms with their water-sports and lakeside living being transformed.

Sitting and looking at the wildlife who have made this lake their home is a reminder of change and adaptation. The wildlife will be fine. The ducks will find new feeding grounds, and the salmon will be free to return to their natural spawning practices. That which is lake today will be a beautiful meadow in time. 

It’s all a reminder to me of many truths: change is inevitable, and I can choose to embrace and welcome it or not; there are many experiences in life that I can’t change—all I can do is adapt to the newness; there is beauty in everything; ‘wait and see’ is a helpful way of anticipating those new ways of appreciating that which changes.

I’m happy to be here today, to see the loveliness of the lake while it still exists. 

In this moment, all is well.

Lazy Days

 That’s where I’ve been lately—lazing. Actually, ‘cocooning’ might be a better word for it. Sometimes, we all need a little down time, time to refresh, relax, rejuvenate, reconfigure, and any other alliterative verbs which come to mind.

I’m in healing mode right now, and I’m very glad to be able to take the time to do so. There haven’t been any tragedies or catastrophes, I’m relieved to say. It’s just been a time to water my inner garden and patiently wait for the tender sprouts to emerge.

Today, I am with a friend at her beloved lake house. A little later, we’ll drive to a beautiful small city to cheer on a mutual acquaintance as she begins a new journey of faith. How fortunate we are to be able to do so! The changing colors are still visible in the surrounding landscape, and the mist softens the views, matching them to the gentle peace within. Our drive will be unhurried, the only timetable being when to arrive. Leaving will happen whenever the moment feels right.

I’m grateful today for the slow pace which encourages deep peace and an appreciation for this very moment.