Go placidly amid the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence. From Desiderata, A Survival Guide for Life, a poem by Max Ehrmann We’re making our final descent into the darkest part of winter. The season of twinkling lights, hibernation, stillness. silence, festivities and renewal. Because there is aContinue reading “Meditate:Medicate”
Category Archives: Meditation
Slowing Down
“For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.” – Lily Tomlin, actress As “The Season” creeps up on us, I decided to revisit old newsletters from this time of year. I love the Lily quote I used in 2022. It seems even more mindfully relevant this November. And I don’t know about you but just thinking ofContinue reading “Slowing Down”
Listening With Stillness
You should not have your idea when you listen to someone . . . Then you will understand what they say. Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Buddhist monk, author Zen Mind Beginners Mind When I read this quote, I immediately smiled and took a deep breath. I’ve been practicing for many years and still working on theContinue reading “Listening With Stillness”
Stillness and Silence
It is as important to cultivate your silence power as it is your word power. William James, psychologist, philosopher, writer Autumn is both the start of some things and the ends of others: holidays and harvest for some, the brilliant color of leaves and transition to less light for others. Each new year for manyContinue reading “Stillness and Silence”
Colors
A genuinely happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery of a detour. Tara Brach, spiritual teacher, psychologist, author When we look for joy, it’s hard to find. Joy is made up of all the … colors that exist. Joy is when we’re willing to surrender to all our experiences and all our emotions.Continue reading “Colors”
August Riffing
In the jazz world musicians use the word riffing to describe a kind of improvising. The technique is also used by poets, dancers, painters, authors, composers, comedians, politicians, actors, and even trial lawyers, in any context when improvising or riffing serves a desired result. I am sure you can think of situations you’ve been inContinue reading “August Riffing”
Peace Is An Inside Job
If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace. Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Buddhist monk, activist, artist, writer Honoring independence day is an unexpectedly different challenge this year; not so peaceful on the outside. IContinue reading “Peace Is An Inside Job”
It’s a beautiful day in my neighborhood.
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. A beautiful day for a neighbor. Could you be mine? Would you be mine? Fred Rogers, TV Host Mr. Rogers Neighborhood Remember Mr. Rogers? I was a big fan often watching his program with my baby son. I think what Fred was teaching children was mindfulness. He wasContinue reading “It’s a beautiful day in my neighborhood.”
Everyday Mindfulness
Freedom is man’s capacity to take a hand in his own development. It is our ability to mold ourselves. Rollo May, psychologist, author As I get deeper into MBSR training, my understanding is that this idea of “molding ourselves” is perhaps at the heart of the mindful awareness required to live intentional thoughtful lives. LearningContinue reading “Everyday Mindfulness”
Determination
. . . (I) passionately believe that paying attention- Mindfulness- shows itself as goodness and kindness, as concern for others, as concern for the whole world. – Sylvia Boorstein, author, Buddhist teacher at Spirit Rock Anything is possible. You just have to believe. – Tao Porchon-Lynch, Yogini Master What if I told you there isContinue reading “Determination”