Balanced

I’m not one of those “do as I say, not as I do” kind of people. For instance if I’m going to teach meditation, I better be keeping a regular practice myself. And I do, almost always, at least once a day (ok, not always so good when traveling). So when I taught a six week course in meditation, and I included using journaling as a form of meditation, I added it to my own practice. It was never something I used in the past, not enough time, not feeling creative, don’t see the benefits, yadda, yadda. Since then, I’ve become a believer. Do I journal everyday? Nope, sometimes not even every week. But when I do, I reap the rewards of a clearer mind, self-reflection and self-discovery. I believe journaling is a form of meditation because it keeps you in the moment. Sure you may be writing about past events, or even what your plans for the future are, but that connection to your thoughts, those observations are what keep you present. That’s why it’s important when journaling to allow those ...

I am blessed to live in one of the most beautiful areas on earth. Travelers from all over build up their savings to take that trip of a lifetime to Yosemite National Park, just a short drive for me. When I’m in particular need of healing, the woods is where I go. The sounds of the breeze blowing through the treetops, water tumbling over rocks, the sights and smells of all that surrounds me is soothing. And it is more than that, something that is unseen, unheard that reaches into my soul. When I’m out in the forest, I can just stop thinking, quieting my mind and bringing me peace. As naturalist John Burroughs so aptly said, “I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order.” The nurturing effect of nature spans both physical and emotional healing. Numerous studies reveal that within minutes of being outdoors, surrounded by nature, you experience less stress as measured by muscle tension, blood pressure and brain activity. Memory performance and attention span i...

It seems to me that, as a society, anxiety is at an all time high. This is certainly to be expected, what with all that's happening in the world right now. Symptoms of anxiety may manifest both physically and emotionally. Tempers are short, irritability is high, many people find it difficult to be motivated or to focus, sleep troubles are more common and we are more isolated from our family and friends.  Anxiety is just one emotion that commonly arises during your meditation, and don’t be surprised when any emotion surfaces. Even in the best of times, it’s understandable, when we are sitting in silence and totally focused on our inner world, that these different emotions come out, often times in some very creative ways, much like what happens in our dreams. You're not doing anything wrong, it's just your mind being human. It's what we as humans do, so be kind and patient with yourself, and be thankful for opportunity it gives you to deepen your practice. So what do you ...

In the South African tradition of Ubuntu, “I am, because we are.” We are human only through the humanity of others. That is to say, we exist because we are part of the larger community of humankind, and the actions of each of us affects the larger community as a whole. It came to global attention when Archbishop Desmond Tutu made Ubuntu a key component of his Truth and Reconciliation Commission following the end of apartheid in 1991, and it couldn’t be more relevant today. This to me, this is what community is all about. Community, human connection is what I call one of the four building block of happiness (along with mindfulness, movement and nutrition) and our sense of happiness is inextricably tied to our sense of belonging.  In the U.S., we put great emphasis on individuality, and in the building of our country, it served us well. We were independent, self reliant, strong and assertive and that’s what allowed us to break ties with the mother country. And in the ensuing years, t...

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.   ...