A Quiet Place

In a world that sometimes makes no sense, and even seems to have gone mad, it’s so important to find that quiet place. A place of calmness, safety, and beauty. A place to restore our sanity.

This quiet place can exist in the mind. Close your eyes and take a mini break from work, and a hectic life. Just breathe, and maybe envision a peaceful scene where stress doesn’t live.

An actual tiny oasis can be created outdoors with a few potted plants and a small fountain. Water is always very soothing to the soul. Or maybe just sit outside and watch the show nature can provide.

The important thing is “Balance,” and finding a way back to it. Constant stress is a killer no matter what kind of stress it is. The body needs love and care to more than just survive. It needs to thrive.

In taking care of ourselves we can do a much better job taking care of our loved ones, and even showing kindness and care to those we don’t know. When we feel peace everyone around us feels it too.

“Each Life needs its own quiet place.” ~ Melody Beattie

Connect

“Only this actual moment is life.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Let nature help you to connect and relax into the beauty of who you really are. There are so many times that stress enters our life and the holidays are one of those times. When you feel anxiety coming on think about taking a step back from this crazy world, and breathe. Sometimes we don’t see what’s there. Open your eyes and connect to all that surrounds you. There will always be good days and bad days, but this is life; embrace it. 

Don’t let stress rob you; stay present. Remember, each moment of life is so precious and should be used wisely. Dance, sing, laugh, go with the flow, and enjoy yourself. Nothing is, or has to be perfect.

Open your arms and feel connected to your life; it’s a beautiful thing.

Dancing in the Light

Come out, come out, wherever you are and let’s dance in the light. Summer or winter nature has a way of rousing our spirits and chasing away the gloom far from our lives.

Stay out of the dark places of your mind and let nature heal. In the trees, flowers and bushes, oh the breathtaking beauty is everywhere lifting us higher and higher.

Get up, get out, and just breathe.

“We are stars wrapped in skin. The light you are seeking has always been within.” ~ Rumi

Be the Peace in Your World

With so much aggression and turmoil in this world, try and practice peace everyday in your world.  If you can’t smooth that frown away and replace it with a smile, at least try and keep your anger down the best you can. Hard to do when you are not having a good day and feeling upset, but so important.

We can’t control what happens in the world, but we can control how it affects us, and not be adding more hostility loose in this world. Also, if we get depressed or angry we have allowed that turmoil and the aggression going on to enter what should be our peaceful kingdom. Pema Chodron says we should ask ourselves, “Am I going to practice peace, or am I going to war?”  If we don’t practice that peace we will be going to war with someone, maybe even ourselves.

Try always to stay present. Look for the beauty and goodness in nature, in things, and the people all around. We don’t have to agree on everything, but we should be accepting of our differences. Diversity is a good thing, and should not be something to fear. We add our aggression into the overflowing angry world by not being peaceful in ours. We all control what we put out. 

Richard Carlson wrote a book called, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … and It’s All Small Stuff. I have found this to be so true. In the past, most of the things I got angry about were just silly stuff that if given a few hours or a day I would have figured it out instead of acting out.

Remember, each peaceful thought that all of us can have will bring balance to our currently unbalanced world.  

Open Up

The beauty of nature can cure even the grumpiness of days. Get outside, breathe in the sweet air, and if you’re lucky, the sun will plant a great big kiss on your face. Feel the trees embracing you as they do a swing dance in the breeze. What about those silly flowers? Well, they’re busy laughing and telling the bees all the latest gossip and perhaps a few of the secrets you keep.

Come on, open yourself up to nature and go play… at least for a day.

Sunsets

Find your sunset and let it enchant your very soul.

Sunsets are nature’s long kiss goodnight with the promise that life is so much more than anyone of us.

Enjoy the gift that nature gives.

Thank You

Those really horrible times caused by hateful people in your life, be thankful for it all because the people and the pain you went through taught you the best lessons: Forgiveness, and that you are worth and deserve so much more.

The beautiful days and kind people all around you, be grateful for it all because without those days, and special people, life would be dull without the sparkle.

When tragedy and sadness invade, hold on tight with the knowledge that you will get through it all. Don’t let the joy of living rush out the door. You will learn that you are stronger than you ever imagined, and you will know for sure what is really important in your life.

Every day is filled with learning lessons about yourself and life. Some of it is hard and hurts to the core. Embrace it all and say, Thank You, for the rich journey you are traveling on.

I would like to say thank you to all my wonderful friends here at WordPress. Thank you for all your support. I am grateful and appreciate each and every one of you!

 

Surprising Beauty

Among the wildflowers there are always a few surprising beauties that find their way in the tangled maze to stand tall and proud. In the beginning, they might feel small and shy, but give them love and they will shine.

Surprise yourself and find your inner beauty. It’s there you know, intertwined with the wildflowers.

We Can

We can be the change that needs to be.

We can be the beauty we long to see.

We can be the love that’s waiting to be freed.

But nothing will ever change unless we wake up, raise our voices, and demand the time is now!

Don’t go home and close the door behind you thinking you’re closing the world away because you’re not. Nothing gets better on its own. We are all connected, and when one part is sick we are all sick.

We can all do our part to make the world we live in a better place. Change can happen by how we vote, treat each other, and how we choose to live our lives. The important thing is to be connected and never give up the fight for change that needs to be.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world:  Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

 

Furry Beings

 

When you look into your dog’s or cat’s eyes—actually any animal, there is just something there that can’t be explained, except to say it’s special. It’s as if they are little angels that are here to ground us and maybe even guide us somehow. So why is it that we sometimes take them for granted and even ignore them?

Being too busy and even stressed out makes us not notice all the little things surrounding us. Animals can get underfoot and we trip over them in our hurry to do whatever, and this makes us mad. They need our care and we don’t always want to be bothered, but are we missing the real picture of their purpose?

I think it’s about “Love.” Animals show us unconditional love, and where else can you find that except in human babies and young children. But no matter how old an animal gets it’s always there that unconditional love and acceptance, and you sure can’t always say that about humans. I’ve seen animals give love even when they’ve been starved for food, love, shelter, and about to die.

All the cats and dogs I’ve known in my life have taught me something and given me so much. I learned to slow down and take notice of the beauty all around me. I learned how to read body language and listen to what the eyes are telling me. I realized laughter was necessary, and to play every day. But most of all, I learned about a special kind of love just for animals.

Let’s not get so caught up with stressful days that we forget about the divine animal beings that we share this planet and even our homes with. Delight in who and what they are, and let yourself be guided by the love they want to share.