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Summer Rhythms

7/31/2011

I find that I have relaxed my routines this summer and found more time to just have fun. I made a conscious choice to "be" more than "do." To sleep more.   To play cards with friends on a more regular basis … because it makes me happy and we laugh a lot.   To spend time staring up at the clouds and daydream more.   To take a nap in the middle of the day … just because. Eating fresh fruits and veggies rather than cooking. What a relaxed and joyous month July has been ...

I have to admit there is a little guilt associated with this.   There were many things I wanted to do this month … and I am now out of month. Where did the time go?   I know I can get back on track because I have my normal routines in place and can just go back to them if I choose.   But what if I don't choose to? In all my daydreaming I have a renewed sense of how I want to feel and that my routines need to be tweaked.   It's always good to re-think and change routines based on who you are right now.

In the spirit of simplification I have dropped some obligations. That has created a sense of freedom and motivated me to find some more things I need to release.   We all know that before we bring something new in we need to get rid of something else.   This also goes for your time commitments … but you can even let go of obligations without committing to something new.   Imagine that!

But for the rest of the summer:   what memories do you want to create? Be sure to slow down and notice … don't let the simple moments of joy pass you by.   You still have plenty of time to plan some fun this summer …

Look to the Skies

7/30/2011

Have you noticed that the skies aren't as blue as they used to be? You know what I mean … that brilliant hue of blue that defied categorization. Now the sky is a dullish non-descript blue … either due to pollution or chem trails.

And the night skies are now obstructed by the artificial lights of urban development. You have to drive to some remote location just to see the stars clearly. I remember that my two best star-gazing memories are during the NY blackout in 1965 and my month of outward bound off the coast of Maine in the mid-seventies. Both times there were no artificial lights to distract my view of the stars … and it was a mind-blowing experience.

There are precious few places where we can go to see the stars like we used to. According to Jeff Kanipe, author of “Cosmic Connections: How Astronomical Events Impact Life on Earth”:

“Most people have never even seen the Milky Way,” he said. “And when they do, they are just stunned. Seeing a sky full of stars in high summer is a tremendous joy. It’s something you never forget. And once you see it, it's something you'll forever want to share with others.”

These are some of his suggestions for great star-gazing views:

Cherry Springs State Park, Pa.− The 48-acre park, one of just eight International Dark Sky Parks, treats pure darkness the way jewelers treat gems − like it’s something precious. Cherry Springs is situated amidst the 262,000-acre Susquehannock State Forest and features some of the darkest skies on the East Coast.

Sky Meadows State Park, Va. − The aptly named Sky Meadows is just an hour’s drive from the nation’s capital and presents a black canvas upon which celestial objects can dazzle.

Big Pine Key, Fla. − Night skies here will look alien to most North American terrestrials. It’s the only place in the continental U.S. where stargazers can spy the Southern Cross and other features familiar to equatorial dwellers.

Eagle Harbor, Mich. − This Keweenaw Peninsula is just a little lick of land that juts out into Lake Superior towards Canada. The only lights to distract you from mesmerizing auroras and star splashes are on passing freighters.

Canyon of the Eagles Lodge and Nature Park, Texas − Home to the Eagle Eye Observatory about an hour north of Austin, the canyon’s a great place for pros and amateurs alike.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah − Stargazing here during a monthly new moon is as close as you’ll get in the continental U.S. to viewing the stars the way the cavemen did.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Calif. − The park is 600,000 acres of splendid desolation just two hours east of San Diego. The weather here − moderate temperatures and low humidity − combines with the lack of light to give the skies a truly starring role in evening entertainment.

I would love you travel to some of these places he suggested … have any of you ever been to any of these?

Do You Try to Run Between Raindrops?

7/29/2011

Are you constantly in such a state of hurry that you attempt to do the impossible? Life seems to be speeding up ... so we need to make a conscious effort to slow down.

When we rush we become careless ... we make mistakes ... we forget ... we feel frazzled ... we get impatient with perceived obstacles that block us ... we blame others.

We spend a lot of time in the "hurry up and wait" mode. Have you ever passed all the cars in front of you, zig-zagging like a crazy person ... only to be stopped at the same stoplight where everyone else catches up? I know I have ... and even when I realized how futile it was ... I have been known to do it all again as soon as the light turns green if I am in a hurry.

Sometimes it seems that the universe conspires to slow us down if we ignore the gentler nudges. It would seem smarter to take a break or a nap because when we don't, we may find that the universe then hits us with the equivalent of a two by four ... like having your car break down or making you come down with the flu so you are forced to rest.

My advice? Give up the false idea that we have any control anyway. Think of simple pleasures that make you laugh and relax ... daydream ... smile at someone ... spend some time in gratitude ... talk to someone while you wait in line ... meditate.

Then maybe you can take some time to walk in the rain ... slowly ... smelling its fragrance ... splashing around in puddles like a child ... savoring each drop as it hits your skin ...

Friends Are Like Butt Cheeks

7/28/2011

Life is very boring without a wide variety of friends. You have to know who will be able to be there for you when you need a friend ... some are better in certain capacities than others, but it doesn't mean they don't love you as much as they are able.

And now for some random thoughts on friends ...

One of my all-time favorite quotes on friends<attributed to many people ... I have no clue who originated it>:

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

Friends are like butt cheeks.
Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.

"Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say."

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive. Anais Nin

A true friend is someone who is there for you when they would rather be someplace else. Len Wein

Friends are like the buttons on an elevator: they will either take you up or they will take you down.

........ A Friend ........

(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffer support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains thing you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

Do you have any quotes you particularly like about friends?   Please share ...

Weekly DSO Tips

7/27/2011

27. Spend some time sorting pictures and scrapbooking

28. Sort through you makeup and toiletries … throw out old items

29.   Put up a tent in your back yard and “camp out” for the night … make s’mores with the kids

30. Pay it forward day: do something nice for someone

31. Plan time for a hobby you want to do in August

1.   What do you want to accomplish this month?

2.    Take something off your to do list

Welcome to Holland

7/26/2011

This article was written by Emily Perl Kingsley in 1987 regarding her child with a disability, but it is applicable to many facets of our lives. Things don't always happen as we planned them ... but just because we might not be able to follow the path we thought we wanted, it doesn't mean that alternative paths can't be just as wonderful in their own ways. For me it is a reminder to accept what happens and look for the hidden and unexpected gifts it brings.

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability -- to try to help people who have not shared the unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this ...

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip -- to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. Michelangelo's "David." The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The flight attendant comes and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!" you say. "What do you mean, Holland? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy." But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place. So you must go out and buy new guidebooks. You must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met. It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around, and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills, Holland has tulips, and Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." And the pain of that will never, ever, ever go away, because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss. But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland.

Get the Most Out of Vacation Time

7/25/2011

There's only another month left before school starts … have you planned your vacation yet? The word "vacation" means different things to different people, so communicate your needs and desires with fellow travelers BEFORE you leave . I have found that the key to maximum enjoyment is in managing your expectations and compromising if you are traveling with others. Consider the type of vacation you want:

Quiet solitude or bustling city life?
Mountains or beach?
Rest or activity?
Planned or spontaneous?
Staying at home and turning off all media, phones and outside contact?
A simple break from your routine?
Alone or with family and friends?
Visiting family or a foreign country?

Also consider personalities and preferences:

How much guilt-free down time do you and others need between activities?
Are you being realistic regarding time and costs for activities? <don't over-schedule>
What are your fellow traveler's expectations?
Have you planned for group activities that can lead to bonding?

A little pre-planning goes a long way in building happy and lasting memories. I bring essential oils with me to spray joy and peace in the new environment … works like a charm. I make sure we spend lots of time being silly and laughing and playing.

What things do you consider before taking a vacation?

5 Ways to Drink More Water

7/24/2011

Water is the elixir of life. There's nothing better than drinking from a natural stream high up in the mountains on a hot summer day.

If you pinch your skin and it doesn’t immediately spring back, you are probably dehydrated. If your pee looks dark yellow … you ARE dehydrated. The eight glass rule is just a guideline and doesn’t work for everyone because it is also affected by weight and level of exercise, so figure out your individual needs.   In the summer, we get dehydrated even faster than normal, so here are a few ways to help remember to drink more water:

W water bottle:   plan ahead and take a water bottle with you everywhere and substitute water for soda, coffee or tea.

A    accessibility:   have a pitcher in the fridge so you can pour yourself a cold glass when you’re thirsty … cold water burns more calories

T   timer:   set a timer at the top of the hour to remind yourself to drink water

E enhance it:   add lemon or cucumber or mint or frozen berries in ice to make it interesting

R   reminder:   keep a visual reminder out so you will drink water when you see it

What tips can you share that help you drink more water?

Why Do I Still Resist So Much?

7/23/2011

I say I want peace and balance in my life, yet sometimes I still resist. Peace for me means congruency for my mind, body and spirit … yet sometimes old habits, beliefs and behaviors rear their ugly heads.

I have to continue to remind myself of what the situation actually is … not my interpretation or my story of what it is. It starts with getting clarity and being aware of how I feel emotionally and physically. It is NOT about my reaction to what is or an unrealistic fantasy about what should be. It is realizing what I really want and that my timing may or may not be honored by spirit at this time. It is about wanting something yet accepting what happens … letting go of my attachment to the outcome. It is trusting that the Universe has my back and everything happens for a reason. It is accepting that my limited human view and ego might not know what is best for me. It is about letting go of the thoughts that are creating this stress for me.

I like to ask myself questions and gauge my responses. Questions like:

How will I feel if I continue resisting?
What will it cost me?
How would it feel if I let go and let what is meant to be just happen?
What’s the worst case scenario?
How can I shift my thoughts?
What new beliefs do I need to have?
What can I learn from this situation?
What can I appreciate about this right now?

Then I tune in to my body and listen. And I know that above all: I HAVE A CHOICE. To act or react. To let go or keep resisting. To be in denial. To do nothing. To take action and change.

The most important question then becomes: What am I willing to do right now?

Advice From A Cardiac Specialist About Water Consumption

7/22/2011

I received this in an e-mail:

Drinking water at certain time maximizes it's effectiveness on the body:

2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal organs

1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion

1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure

1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

Anyone out there know of other advice regarding water?