Life imposes so many limits on us, just by virtue of being human in this time and place. I try hard not to introduce more constraints into our lives than already exist. In practice, this means that I do my best to respond with Yes. And if it’s not with a literal Yes, I aim to respond with Yes energy.
In spite of these efforts, I frequently find Nos creeping into my daily interactions. … Continue reading
So often, my responses to situations seem to be on auto-pilot. I don’t really think about my response, I simply respond.
Part of my interest in mindfulness is an attraction to being fully present in each moment, and being able to decide within that moment what would be an appropriate way to respond. This is not to discount the wisdom that often comes from a gut response, it’s simply taking a moment to check in and be sure that whatever my particular reflexive response happens to be is how I truly want to respond in this given instance.… Continue reading
My boys and I have watched several different types of insects move through their life cycles. In past years, we’ve watched ants make amazing tunnels. We’ve observed as tiny caterpillars grew large, secreted a chrysalis, and emerged as butterflies (see HERE). We’ve seen ladybugs transform from larvae, to pupa, and then into the adult ladybugs we all recognize.
This week, we watched over a hundred praying mantis nymphs emerge from a single egg. … Continue reading
All of us need to drink a lot of water every day. The human body works best when it gets at least 1 ounce of water for every two pounds of body weight. That’s a lot of water, and most people I know don’t drink nearly that amount.
If you have trouble drinking that much plain water, you might try flavored water. … Continue reading
If we seek joy, we will certainly find it. We all have joy that lives in our hearts and lives, sometimes we simply need to make an effort to invite it into the open.
“Keep knocking, and the joy inside will eventually open a window and look out to see who’s there.”
Rumi (translated by Coleman Barks), The Essential Rumi
Where are you finding joy today?… Continue reading
Miss Rumphius is a sweet, gentle, heartwarming tale of a life well lived. The inspiring message at this story’s core is a wise perspective on what it means to live a meaningful life.
Narrated by Miss Rumphius’ young niece, this book begins by introducing us to the “little and old” Lupine Lady who lives by the sea, but reminds us that she was not always little and old. … Continue reading
Lightning, thunder, hail, and torrential rain: a beautiful afternoon to sit snuggled together inside our warm, dry house as we watch the storm pass by.
The lightning is beautiful as it arches and flashes through the sky. It’s also close enough that it’s making our house shake.
As we watched it from inside (this is not the weather for being outside), I reminded my boys how to calculate our distance from a lightning strike. … Continue reading
How wonderful that we can choose how our days will unfold. We can choose our attitude. We can choose our interpretation of events. We can choose how we view the world in which we live. And in this way, we can choose our daily lives.
Let us choose to live fully, and to enjoy the full measure of each day. … Continue reading
May we all take a moment to celebrate and thank the mothers and mother figures in our lives. Their love and support provides a foundation, springboard, and a protection that infuses and underlies our entire existence. Happy Mother’s Day!
“Love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark… [T]o have been loved so deeply…will give us some protection forever.”… Continue reading
“What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
With Spring’s arrival, all sorts of people are out working in their yards. It’s wonderful that this time of year gets people outdoors and beautifies our cities and towns. However, for many people, their vision of a beautiful yard sends them running for chemical herbicides and pesticides to rid their landscapes of dandelions and other “pests”.… Continue reading