The hazy, lazy days of summer took hold of me and I did not resist. But, I’m back. I hope to add some of the special events I attended along with my birthday cruise experiences soon. I’m rejuvenated and ready to post some of the exciting things I did while absent from my blog. My last entry was a Nurture Yourself post. Click on the words if you missed it. I thought I’d begin my posts again with Nurture Yourself even if it’s a repost from last September. It’s a way of getting myself back into the writing mood.
Thank you to those bloggers who continued to pop over to see what I was up to. Isadora 🙏🏻 S – Starting today E – Everything is going to be all right P – Pausing to listen T – To nature all around E – Even when I’m feeling down M – My heart will be open B – Because life is incredible E – Each and everyday R – Regardless of what’s handed my way.
Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty. John Ruskin
♥ GIOVANNI MARRADI – Just for you ♥
Namaste I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honor the place in you which is of Love, and of Truth, of Light and of Peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me. We are One.
Friends …. It is time for me to take a brief respite.
I wanted to leave you with a nurturing post. I wrote this one in 2015.
I think the meaning is still significant.
I will be out on the high seas gathering energy from the wind and salty air:
Listening to the Music of the waves. I leave you with a
Nirinjan Kaur – “I Am”
Her voice is melodic. The words powerfully enlightening.
Namaste 🙏🏻
Isadora Sitting alone listening to the silence … I ponder that … today is a day like any other day.
Each day, we rise and hope to fill our lives with new and exciting discoveries.
Each of us has a different vision for what those discoveries are going to be.
In the end, despite what our own individual discoveries turn out to be, we all have to go into them in pretty much the same way. We have to rise and gather up our energy to go into whatever it is we are going to do. Some of us have an exact plan on how to do that; some of us don’t. Those that do not have an exact plan face the greatest difficulty because they have no direction.
How do we find our exact plan??? I can’t say.
Is it something we develop while we’re being raised by our parents?
Are the teachers or religious leaders of our churches part of the influence for our decisions?
Is it instinctual to know what we want to search for in our adventure to discovery?
Is it important to have a need for discovery or is it something told to us that we must do?
These are important and very difficult questions to ask ourselves. These are questions that some of us can’t answer and struggle daily to unravel. This is the puzzle of our existence.
Namaste I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honor the place in you which is of Love, and of Truth, of Light and of Peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me. We are One.
The moon filtered through the starless clouded sky.
She could see tiny white lights shining on the patio. By midnight, they’d be drunk.
It was the perfect night to go.
Silk stockings stretched over her shapely legs and thighs. A black leather skirt accented her curvaceous hips. The spiky heels, she’d picked up at a yard sale, completed her outfit. She felt as fiery as a hot chili pepper.
When we reflect on our lives we can’t help but include in our thoughts the one person who’s had the most influence on us:
‘Our Mother.’
She forms the person we’ll be from the beginning of conception. We’re who we are because of her. Despite the way we may feel about her, she is the major player in the formation of our lives.
There are lessons a mother teaches us but it’s always up to us to put them into effect.
It’s always up to us to be in charge of our decisions.
Sometimes, we ruminate and get stuck on what we weren’t given.
This shouldn’t matter.
For in the end, if we fail or if we succeed, we should never forget that the final choices are always up to us.
The poem below reflects a Mother’s words eloquently … enjoy the Secret Garden as you read.
Namaste
I honor the place in you
in which the entire universe dwells.
I honor the place in you
which is of Love, and of Truth,
of Light and of Peace.
When you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me.
We are One.
Secret Garden – Reflection
~~~~~
Reflections of a Mother…
I gave you life, but cannot live it for you.
I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.
I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you.
I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.
I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe.
I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you.
I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside.
I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.
I can advise you about friends, but cannot choose them for you.
I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure.
I can tell you the facts of life, but I can’t build your reputation.
I can tell you about drink, but I can’t say “no” for you.
I can warn you about drugs, but I can’t prevent you from using them.
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can’t achieve them for you.
I can teach you about kindness, but I can’t force you to be gracious.
I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral.
I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.
I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life.
I can love you with unconditional love all of my life ….. and Iwill. ~~~ Author Unknown ~~~
Friendships make our lives meaningful because man is a social animal and cannot survive alone. There are numerous occasions when we’ve shared joy, sorrow, happiness, and many other feelings with our friends. They’ve offered support during our ups and downs. They form a chain within our personal society.
What Is Friendship?
“One who multiplies joys, divides grief, and whose honesty is invaluable.”
“One who understands our silence.”
“A volume of sympathy bound in cloth.”
“A watch which beats true for all time and never runs down.”
“A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.”
The countless friendships in our lives help nurture us. They bring us a greater degree of exhilaration. Our friendships bring meaning to us by providing love, support and the encouragement we need to make it through difficult times. We can enjoy and celebrate these wonderful moments in life when there are special friendships making our lives complete.
Friendships are what pull us through the hard times, and make the good times meaningful. Take time to Nurture the connections that uplift you.
Are your friendships nurturing you???
Namaste
I honor the place in you
in which the entire universe dwells.
I honor the place in you
which is of Love, and of Truth,
of Light and of Peace.
When you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me.
We are One.
Your brain functions better when you do things outdoors.
Is there anything more invigorating than a walk in the park or a visually pleasing outdoor area?
Gardening, walking on the beach and exercising outdoors, all contribute to positive thinking and clarity.
Exercise in the open air with the warmth of the sun, the sound of birds singing in the trees and a light breeze blowing through your hair can raise your levels of happiness. It revives the soul. Looking at natures scenery while noticing its beauty all have an effect on our emotions and bring us peace of mind.
Negative ions which have been found in particles near waterfalls, river rapids and in breaking waves at the beach can act as a natural anti-depressants, according to a study conducted at Columbia University.
Today, take a little time to nurture yourself with some time outdoors. Find clarity with all the beauty before you. Unpleasant thoughts will fade away and you’ll feel energized enough to face anything before you.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Peace of Mind
One day Buddha was walking from town to town with his disciples. After a short walk they happened upon a lake.
Buddha told one of his disciples, “I am thirsty. Get me some water from that lake.”
The disciple walked up to the lake and noticed that some people were washing clothes in the water. He also saw a bullock cart crossing through the lake. As a result, the water became very muddy, turbid.
The disciple returned and told Buddha “The water in there is very muddy. I don’t think it is fit to drink.”
An hour passed.
Again, Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink.
The disciple obediently went back to the lake. This time, he found that the lake had clear water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above looked fit to drink. He collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.
Buddha looked at the water; then, he looked up at the disciple and said, “Do you see what you did to make the water clear?”
“You let the lake be and the mud settled down on its own. You were able to get clear water.”
“Your mind is also like that. When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don’t have to put in any effort to calm it down. It will happen effortlessly.”
Buddha says having ‘peace of mind’ is an effortless process. When there is peace inside you, that peace permeates to the outside. It spreads around you and to your the environment.
Namaste
I honor the place in you
in which the entire universe dwells.
I honor the place in you
which is of Love, and of Truth,
of Light and of Peace.
When you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me.
We are One.
This is an encore of a previous entry for Friday Fictioneers. Our Purple Goddess has granted permisson to repeat our story since the photo prompt is having another go-round. Enjoy ….
The parade was on Sunday.
Nana was excited. She’d be driving Pop Pop’s antique car.
He’d purchased it at an auction. It took him 8 years to restore her.
Sadly, he never got to show her off.
“Will you be able to see, Nana?”, I asked.
“I’ll be dazzling wearing my wide brimmed yellow hat”, she beamed.
“But, the ophthalmologist said to limit your driving.”
“Lily, I wouldn’t miss showcasing your Pop Pop’s car for anything.”
She slept soundly, with a dazzling smile, that night.
I drove the car wearing her wide brimmed yellow hat.
There I was sitting at the bar staring at my drink when a large, trouble-making biker steps up next to me, grabs my drink and gulps it down in one swig.
“Well, what are you gonna do about it?” he says, menacingly, as I burst into tears.
“Come on, man,” the biker says, “I didn’t think you’d CRY. I can’t stand to see a man crying.”
“This is the worst day of my life,” I say.
“I’m a complete failure. I was late to a meeting and my boss fired me. When I went to the parking lot, I found my car had been stolen and I don’t have any insurance. I left my wallet in the cab I took home. I found my wife with another man… and then my dog bit me.
“So I came to this bar to work up the courage to put an end to it all.
I buy a drink, I drop a capsule in and sit here watching the poison dissolve; and then you show up and drink the whole damn thing!”
But, hell, enough about me. How are you doing?”
Sister Mary Annunciata handed out the list of things we had to bring to school by the end of the week. It was September 15, 1953. It was the first week of 1st grade. Although I had attended kindergarten at the same school, I was scared. The thought of filling a list of things to bring to school was intimidating. I wanted to make sure I got it right.
After school my mother sent me out with my older sister to get the supplies on the list:
a) a notebook
b) 2 – #2 pencils
c) a pencil sharpener
d) a pencil box
e) an eraser
f) a ruler
I was excited as I picked out each item. The pencil box was made of smooth pale wood with a flat surface that slid the box open when you pushed on the notch. Everything fit inside of it perfectly. The next day I was ready with all of my items. The students who brought all of the items to class received a gold star next to their name. I was proud. I smiled all the way back to my seat. You see, we got to put the gold star next to our own names.
During the first week we received our catechism book, prayer book, rosary beads and a laminated bookmark with an image of a saint on the front and a prayer on the back. We were supposed to mark where we were in our catechism book with it. We were to recite the pray to the saint on the back of the bookmark whenever we found ourselves in a moment of weakness or loss of faith. I often did as I always found myself in a state of fear of not meeting up to getting that gold star again.
Sister Mary Annunciata was angelic in her features. She was petite and had a pretty smile. A stiff white material surrounded her face showcasing her pink skin and white teeth. The black habit covered her all the way down to her ankles. Tiny black leather tips from her shoes stuck out. Long rosary beads hung from her waist and jingled as she walked. All of this meant nothing, since her harsh tone could let you know, instantly, if you were not in her favor.
The second week of school we were going to learn how to write the letters of the alphabet. Eventually, we would be learning to how write our names. I was thrilled. I wanted to learn how to write so much.
First there were rules we needed to know:
1) No pointing our pencil at anyone
2) We could not sharpen our pencils unless we raised our hand and asked
3) No erasing what we had written
4) No writing on our desks
Finally, after waiting and waiting, we were going to write. I took out my #2 yellow pencil and held it in my hand. It fit perfectly. Now, I was going to be a writer. My journey was about to begin.
No other instrument has had as much influence on my life as that pencil did. There was something powerful in that first encounter. When I read the short inspirational parable below I felt all of the same feelings I felt when I first held that # 2 yellow pencil.
I hope you can remember your feelings when you first became enamored with the art of writing.
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.
“There are 5 things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.”
1) “You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.”
2) “You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.”
3) “You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.”
4) “The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.”
5) “On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.”
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now replacing the place of the pencil with yourself. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.
1) You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
2) You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.
3) You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
4) The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.
5) On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.
Allow this parable of the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.
Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.
Namaste
I honor the place in you
in which the entire universe dwells.
I honor the place in you
which is of Love, and of Truth,
of Light and of Peace.
When you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me.
We are One.
I’ve been having some computer issues but it looks like I’ve had a bit of writers block too. Rereading this post brought back my first writing memories. Although I’ve posted this one before, I thought it might help someone else who may be having a difficult time getting back in the saddle of writing.
****For those who haven’t seen it …. ENJOY !!! ****For those who have seen it …. ENJOY !!! ****Google Images
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