Balanced

I came across this poem recently that really spoke to what is important to me at this time in my life. It became the inspiration of a recent meditation and I want to share that poem with you now. An Invitation to Brave Space By Micky ScottBey Jones Together we will create brave space Because there is no such thing as a “safe space” We exist in the real world We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds. In this space We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world, We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere, We call each other to more truth and love We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow. We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know. We will not be perfect. This space will not be perfect. It will not always be what we wish it to be But It will be our brave space together, and We will work on it side by side. In a world in need of justice and equality and fairness, the world needs you to be courageous. We are facing challenges that requ...

Often times, the topic for Thursday Night Mindfulness Meditation Group reflects where I’m at in my life. Last Thursday, the topic was boredom. Does anyone besides me find boredom creeping in more than usual these days?  When I prepare for my meditation group, I usually start by looking for an online meditation script that I can use as a jumping off point, then I sort of tailor it to fit my group and my style.  Well, that just wasn’t happening this time. Boredom, it seems, is not a common topic for meditation. It should be. Meditation, in and of itself, can lead to feelings of boredom. So, I did what I always do when I start from scratch, I sat with it. Jon Kabat-Zinn says “When you pay attention to boredom, it gets unbelievably interesting.” Interestingly, as I sat, meditating on boredom, I found that to be absolutely true. So settle in, get comfortable, and enjoy a little boredom. The Meditation Start by connecting with your breath. Notice where you first feel your breath, ma...

As a graphic designer, my work load has definitely been impacted by the coronavirus. Associations I do work for are having to cancel meetings, and that means all the associated design work is cancelled. Businesses have less income to use for marketing. The flip side of that is, I have time to tend to what I love. So, my blog, which I have ignored for two years, is seeing a re-birth.   So, I was going through some of my old posts and came across this little gem . In it, I address the idea of reducing your dependence on animal products and processed foods. I’m a vegan, so I would love to see you eliminate animal products, but understand that people need to take small steps. I go on to say that there is one food that I strongly suggest you eliminate and that is sugar. UGH! At the time I had been sugar free for 7 months.   That was back in 2017. Somewhere in between then and now, I fell of the wagon and ain’t nothing pretty down that road. Sugar really is highly addictive.   ...

In mindfulness meditation groups, I often talk about self-care. Self-care, while it may sound selfish, is one of the most selfless things you can do. As you take care of yourself, you are able to care for others, and for mother earth. When we talk about self-care, or self-love or self-compassion, we’re talking about those things you need to feed your body, mind and soul. We’re talking about being kind to yourself, just as you are kind to others. We often times make excuses why we don’t practice self-care. Time for instance, is often used as an excuse. We don’t seem to have enough of it. Stoicsm is an ancient Greek school of philosophy about self-control and inner peace, and included followers such as Marcus Aurelius and Seneca. One of the lessons from the stoics is to wake up early. Take these moments before the rest of the world awakens to have quiet time to be by yourself. In modern terms, that means don’t look at your emails, or the news. Take some time to journal or meditate or jus...

I n a recent Thursday Night Mindfulness Meditation Group that meets via Zoom, the subject of peaceful activism came up - how do we stay peaceful while working to bring about societal change? My meditation for that evening was on dealing with anger, so it was a natural segue. Anger is common these days, and while it's a natural emotion and okay to be angry, what's not okay is letting anger control you. When you spiral in to a rage, hurting yourself or those around you, you are letting your emotions be in charge. That's where mindfulness meditation helps. The practice of observing our thoughts before reacting allows us to respond in a healthy way. History is filled with peace activists from the well-known like Gandhi, Malala Yousafzai (the youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient at age 17) and the Dalai Lama, to the lesser-known like Jane Addams, Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 1931, the first national chairman of the Women's Peace Party  in 1915 and president/founding member...

I secretly hold a desire to open a food truck and I’ve even picked a name – “Bowl Me Over”. Every item on the menu would be a variation on Buddha Bowls, those satisfying meals that are like a giant bowl of yummy goodness. Okay, the secret’s out, so if anyone steals my idea, be sure to at least name a menu item after me. Buddha bowls are quick & easy to prepare and come in as many variations as your imagination will allow. And they’re super healthy for you! We have them at least once a week for dinner and use the leftovers at least once a week for lunch. Traditionally, it’s a vegan dish, but feel free to add a small amount of meat if you wish. Here’s the basic recipe: Start with a base of a grain: Brown Rice, Quinoa, Amaranth, Barley, Buckwheat Groats, Bulgur, Farro, Millet Add roasted potatoes: Sweet, Russet, Red, White, Purple, etc. Add roasted veggies: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussells Sprouts, Carrots, Mushrooms, Onions, Asparagus, Tomatoes, Roasted Green or Red Cabb...

Show of hands, how many of you want to see peace in the world? Raise them high. We all do, right?  Now, how many of you think that world peace is possible? No? I completely believe world peace is possible, it’s what drives me to do the work I do. In our lifetime? Perhaps not, but totally do-able. There’s an old Greek proverb that goes something like this: “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit under.” Do the work knowing that future generations may see peace. It’s my belief, indeed my knowing, that sustainable peace begins with each of us. When we are at peace with ourselves, we have the capacity to bring peace out to the world. In many parts of our world, and in many parts of our country today, it is next to impossible to find that peace. Survival becomes the focus – how to keep my family safe, how to provide for my family. So, for those of us who lead a life of privilege, it’s even more important to find our own personal p...