Five Year Anniversary

This past day has been the fifth anniversary of my new job as mother, parent, mama, protector, provider, soother, playmate, entertainer, orator, listener, magician, inventor, storyteller, manager, chef, day designer, teacher, heavy, discipline-r, researcher and student.

Five years of joy learning and practicing to be a better person. Learning how to create an environment and life of love, creativity, kindness and joy!

What a journey, what a joy, what a blessing I have have been given.

21 Days

Week three has come and gone. I have waned. My meditation comes and goes. My focus has somehow sharpened a bit. I have not had the time to stay in touch with the group, the postings, the experiences of others. To be part of the community. I didn't commit to that but I have really wanted to take the opportunity to join in this daily meditation. All has been fine, although I wish I could have read more of the book and listened to the audio. I haven't. As Sharon Salzberg says herself, there is always another moment, anytime to take another breath, start again. I will continue to follow these 28 days. Starting with a new breath tomorrow.  And after that, I can start again, another 28 days, and another, and anoth...

Day 14 Valentine

My meditation practice has not been consistent. It has ebbed and flowed, less time, more time, according to my work and parenting schedule. Parenting has been a big focus this past week. In the throes of transitioning my child (and myself) through a new challenge. Despite anything I said, somehow my husband made some very good parenting choices and gently placed our son back on the horse that threw him off. He seems fine now; he confronted that fear and is ready to move on to the next challenge.

What an incredible breath of relief I can take.

My days ahead are full with promise and focus.
and I am eager to have a long sit tomorrow.

7th Day

The 7th Day of February. The 7th day of my participation in the 28 day meditation program as set out by Sharon Salzberg in her book Real Happiness. I've been a bit marginal in my participation. I ordered the book, but have not yet received it so I m not following her direct words. I did download and read the first, rather introductory (and brilliant!) chapter of Real Happiness. I have even been reading the postings of others' in  this 28 day practice. Plus yes, I too have been actively participating, by meditating too, every day. So far so good, a little bit at a time. Although I can speak about these experiences in detail, each individually but I have not been consistent about my time of mediation (not exactly recommended) nor the length of time. (I am doing the best I can on that) All in all it has been wonderful to follow through, have an extra motivation to do this daily, to keep doing. My best day and longest duration was when I had a day off work on 2/2, today my most difficult day to let go of my thoughts, detach from them and stay in concentration of my breath, was shortened and troubled. My whole day followed likewise. I later noticed the full moon this evening. Ah ha. I praised her beauty and cursed at her gravitational effects of my emotions and perceptions.

This first week has been suggested to focus on Concentration (Breathing and the Art of Starting Over) that I am practicing. The following week on Mindfulness and the Body.

I am grateful for the small bit I can participate in, reading others experiences/blogs, being part of this meditation community lead by a great and thoughtful author/teacher like Sharon Salzberg. And I am grateful for the opportunity to notice, concentrate, focus and to begin again and again, back to my breath.

Too soon

I walked through the garden district, on 28th Street.
First I was hit with the sweet smell of lilacs in bloom. Then bundles of pussy willows. Oh how I love their soft touch. Wow all those bulb flowers, daffodils and the other fragrant bulbs. I see the plants pushing up from the soil in the parks and gardens of home too.

But it is too soon, these are all the signs of spring. Today is still January and though I am enjoying the warm winter I know it is odd, even somewhat eerie. I am grateful for the cold of winter when it comes. It makes me love the warmth of spring even more.


 

 

Little yellow cup

Little yellow frill

Little yellow star

and that's a daffodil!

Shhhh...

 I have to say, I am very happy to report, I have been in such good spirits these past weeks/month and it is continuing. I don't want to say it too loud or cause it to change. Granted, my mood, as always goes up and down but I have been feeling very Hopeful and that is keeping the spirits high ....

New Year, New Perpectives

2012
Not hard to spell that string of numbers out.
The holidays glided by with joy and relative ease this year. Some difficult moments, but we got through them and are learning new ways to to ease forward. Trying to keep the comfort & joy in the everyday. That is a difficult task. I'm learning I have to seek help and acceptance with each of the small and large challenges. Immediately.

I was relieved when parties and celebrations were over after January First or Second. Glad to get back to the regular routine. But the holidays officially ended today, Monday, January 9th, the morning my son woke up and said "who took our tree". I am glad we had it up as long as we did. Thank you tree for giving us your life, sharing yourself in our house for a month, lighting our days and brightening our hearts. We even added new ornaments to our tree on this morning.  But still it was time. The city sanitation still collects them and makes useful mulch out of the trees up until January 14th.

I have not yet posted my 2011 gratitude's or my 2012 affirmation prayers. Coming Soon.