Beautiful Days...

Focus on the positive

#21daychallenge

Remember in March when I posted about the amazing meditation retreat I went to in Minneapolis.  Yes.  Read about it here if you missed it.  Sadly I didn't follow through.  Oh I've meditated sitting in my chair or walking around the library waiting for a class and that is all good. My goal though is to make meditation a daily practice; one where I literally getting down on the mat, bolster, pillow, floor, blanket, whatever and make it a ritual.

I'm not good with follow through sometimes.  The only ritual I maintained as my kids were growing up was reading to them at bedtime. That I did without fail.  I began other rituals like prayers, blessings, and poems at dinner time.  That didn't last.  We do have meals together-that is a good simple ritual we've maintained. So reading and meals are my two rituals. Makes complete sense as books and food are priorities for me.

I got up on Saturday and did it, just rolled up my favorite blanket, lit a peace candle, and plopped myself down facing the wall.  

I focused on all manner of positive words, thoughts, and phrases. My eyes closed I just let the thoughts flow freely. I thought about my family, peace, love, harmony, gratitude, forgiveness, my dog, the earth, ice cream, sushi.  It was far from perfect but it was a good start. The peaceful feeling stayed with me all day long. I loved it.  It's the honeymoon phase. The important and hard part is to keep it going.

Join me in my 21-day challenge if you'd like to make meditation or any good ritual as part of your daily routine.  What change would you like to make?

Namaste. 

Where is Spring?

{Source}

It's been cold, rainy, super windy here.  For awhile.  I need some sunshine and heat.  I want to get out and walk outside around a big pond while the birds are chirping.  I want to poke my fingers into dirt and plant a few seeds.

Every morning I wear my winter coat still to work.  Today I actually didn't need it when I walked out the door after school.  Halleluja. But then I had things I had to get done and I'm left just gazing outside.  I can hear a bird chirping loudly every few minutes.  His chatter seems to say "Where is Spring?"

Now that I'm done with my inside meetings and appointments I'm headed outside for a quick run around the block, some stretches in the cemetary park across the street, and maybe, just maybe I'll have some time to get some seeds started in my starter pots.  For now I leave you with this springtime poem.

Spring

By William Shakespeare

When daisies pied and violets blue

   And lady-smocks all silver-white

And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue

   Do paint the meadows with delight,

The cuckoo then, on every tree,

Mocks married men; for thus sings he,

                         Cuckoo;

Cuckoo, cuckoo: Oh word of fear,

Unpleasing to a married ear!

When shepherds pipe on oaten straws,

   And merry larks are plowmen’s clocks,

When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws,

   And maidens bleach their summer smocks,

The cuckoo then, on every tree,

Mocks married men; for thus sings he,

                         Cuckoo;

Cuckoo, cuckoo: Oh word of fear,

Unpleasing to a married ear!

It's Shakespeare...

Does he mean married men are mocked because it is Spring?  

I don't know. I like the rhythm of the poem though.  Enjoy!