Saturday, August 14, 2010
The Reading for the Day, August 14, 2010
Beyond Counting Blessings
Being Truly Thankful
In a deep state of gratitude we recognize the purity of the experience of being, in and of itself.
Often when we practice being thankful, we go through the process of counting our blessings, acknowledging the wonderful people, things and places that make up our reality. While it is fine to be grateful for the good fortune we have accumulated, true thankfulness stems from a powerful comprehension of the gift of simply being alive, and when we feel it, we feel it regardless of our circumstances. In this deep state of gratitude, we recognize the purity of the experience of being, in and of itself, and our thankfulness is part and parcel of our awareness that we are one with this great mystery that is life.
It is difficult for most of us to access this level of consciousness as we are very caught up in the ups and downs of our individual experiences in the world. The thing to remember about the world, though, is that it ebbs and flows, expands and contracts, gives and takes, and is by its very nature somewhat unreliable. If we only feel gratitude when it serves our desires, this is not true thankfulness. No one is exempt from the twists and turns of fate, which may, at any time, take the possessions, situations, and people we love away from us. Ironically, it is sometimes this kind of loss that awakens us to a thankfulness that goes deeper than just being grateful when things go our way. Illness and near-miss accidents can also serve as wake-up calls to the deeper realization that we are truly lucky to be alive.
We do not have to wait to be shaken to experience this state of being truly thankful for our lives. Tuning in to our breath and making an effort to be fully present for a set period of time each day can do wonders for our ability to connect with true gratitude. We can also awaken ourselves with the intention to be more aware of the unconditional generosity of the life force that flows through us regardless of our circumstances.
Reading from the DAILY OM, August 13, 2010
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Being Truly Thankful
In a deep state of gratitude we recognize the purity of the experience of being, in and of itself.
Often when we practice being thankful, we go through the process of counting our blessings, acknowledging the wonderful people, things and places that make up our reality. While it is fine to be grateful for the good fortune we have accumulated, true thankfulness stems from a powerful comprehension of the gift of simply being alive, and when we feel it, we feel it regardless of our circumstances. In this deep state of gratitude, we recognize the purity of the experience of being, in and of itself, and our thankfulness is part and parcel of our awareness that we are one with this great mystery that is life.
It is difficult for most of us to access this level of consciousness as we are very caught up in the ups and downs of our individual experiences in the world. The thing to remember about the world, though, is that it ebbs and flows, expands and contracts, gives and takes, and is by its very nature somewhat unreliable. If we only feel gratitude when it serves our desires, this is not true thankfulness. No one is exempt from the twists and turns of fate, which may, at any time, take the possessions, situations, and people we love away from us. Ironically, it is sometimes this kind of loss that awakens us to a thankfulness that goes deeper than just being grateful when things go our way. Illness and near-miss accidents can also serve as wake-up calls to the deeper realization that we are truly lucky to be alive.
We do not have to wait to be shaken to experience this state of being truly thankful for our lives. Tuning in to our breath and making an effort to be fully present for a set period of time each day can do wonders for our ability to connect with true gratitude. We can also awaken ourselves with the intention to be more aware of the unconditional generosity of the life force that flows through us regardless of our circumstances.
Reading from the DAILY OM, August 13, 2010
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Friday, August 13, 2010
The Reading for the Day, August 13, 2010
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The Reading for Today, August 12, 2010
Making your way in the world today takes everything
you got.
Taking a break from all of your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
where everybody knows your name.
And they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see
our troubles are all the same.
You wanna be where everybody knows your name.
You wanna go where people know
that people are all the same.
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.
Cheers Theme Lyrics, "Everybody Knows Your Name" by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo
you got.
Taking a break from all of your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
where everybody knows your name.
And they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see
our troubles are all the same.
You wanna be where everybody knows your name.
You wanna go where people know
that people are all the same.
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.
Cheers Theme Lyrics, "Everybody Knows Your Name" by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo
Cheers! I feel as if "everyone knows my name".
I must really be on a lyrics kick! But, certainly, you remember the great theme song from Cheers? Well, that's how I am starting to feel after less than two weeks in my lovely Sonoma.
At the farmers market on Tuesday evening, as I was salivating over the spectacular array of fruits and vegetables, I heard a "Hi Kelli". Knowing that the hello could not possibly be for me, I continued to salivate and did not even look up. When yet another HELLO request followed I happily acknowledged the owner of Yoga Community. I don't know if she really recognized me or she recognized my tie dyed T-shirt.....remember, I overslept the morning of my departure to California and when the cabbie arrived to pick me up for the airport, my suitcase was unpacked. So, only 2 T-shirts made it out here and the tie dye (without equivocation, my favorite) is worn every other day. My yoga instructor, Mark, asked me today, as I was rolling up my mats, blanket, block and bolster (my MB3), "What are you doing out here?" He, of course, has seen the tie dye T-shirt every single class, and beyond question, is wondering about my mental and emotional status. At any rate, I gave him the Readers Digest condensed version of my sabbatical and he said, "Hey, I really like your T-shirt!" He said nothing about my sabbatical.
OK ...more about my name calling- today, the owner of my bookstore, Book Ends, greeted me with a 'Hi Kelli" as did Rick at Radio Shack and Mark and fellow practitioners at yoga.
I went to a dinner party last evening and met four wonderful and wise women from far and wide. New friends. So, the next time I hear my named called in Sonoma, I can guarantee you, I will look up and say hello!
Cheers!!!
At the farmers market on Tuesday evening, as I was salivating over the spectacular array of fruits and vegetables, I heard a "Hi Kelli". Knowing that the hello could not possibly be for me, I continued to salivate and did not even look up. When yet another HELLO request followed I happily acknowledged the owner of Yoga Community. I don't know if she really recognized me or she recognized my tie dyed T-shirt.....remember, I overslept the morning of my departure to California and when the cabbie arrived to pick me up for the airport, my suitcase was unpacked. So, only 2 T-shirts made it out here and the tie dye (without equivocation, my favorite) is worn every other day. My yoga instructor, Mark, asked me today, as I was rolling up my mats, blanket, block and bolster (my MB3), "What are you doing out here?" He, of course, has seen the tie dye T-shirt every single class, and beyond question, is wondering about my mental and emotional status. At any rate, I gave him the Readers Digest condensed version of my sabbatical and he said, "Hey, I really like your T-shirt!" He said nothing about my sabbatical.
OK ...more about my name calling- today, the owner of my bookstore, Book Ends, greeted me with a 'Hi Kelli" as did Rick at Radio Shack and Mark and fellow practitioners at yoga.
I went to a dinner party last evening and met four wonderful and wise women from far and wide. New friends. So, the next time I hear my named called in Sonoma, I can guarantee you, I will look up and say hello!
Cheers!!!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The Reading for Today, August 11, 2010
"I'm gonna soak up the sun
Gonna tell everyone to lighten up(I'm gonna tell'em that)
I've got no one to blame
Every time I feel lame
I'm lookin' up. I'm gonna soak up the sun"
exerpt from the lyrics "Soak Up the Sun" by Sheryl Crow
Gonna tell everyone to lighten up(I'm gonna tell'em that)
I've got no one to blame
Every time I feel lame
I'm lookin' up. I'm gonna soak up the sun"
exerpt from the lyrics "Soak Up the Sun" by Sheryl Crow
My Day In Beautiful and Funky Calistoga, August 11, 2010
I knew it was going to be a special day! On my way to Calistoga,I was jammin' In my beat up Chevy Cobalt to Sheryl Crow's "Soak Up the Sun" blaring on my radio. I felt like a young thing, again, hair blowing, windows down and taking those razor edge curves on Calistoga Rd. like a real pro!
The spa was such a treat and was enjoyable and renewing beyond words. So, my advice? If you can't make it to Calistoga, just get in your car and sing along with Ms. Crow at the top of your lungs.
P.S. Don't forget to roll down the windows.
The spa was such a treat and was enjoyable and renewing beyond words. So, my advice? If you can't make it to Calistoga, just get in your car and sing along with Ms. Crow at the top of your lungs.
P.S. Don't forget to roll down the windows.
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