emotional sustainability by maintaining a grateful heart

Hello there. These are some of the things that I am grateful for today. Shoes. Lentil stew with chicken and asparagus for lunch. The blessing of some really amazing friends. Daily work with clients. Friends far away in the Northern hemisphere. Freedom. New Zealand, beaches, cities, towns and sea and islands. The large comforting moon. The sun that sustains us. A room and a bed to sleep in. My children. Other people's children. Autumn. Love and acceptance. A computer that works. Our street. The house where I live. Somewhere to invite people into and make them feel welcome. Books. Shelter. Health. Warmth. The beautiful earth, our garden home. Sent with love Sandy

mindful moments

Hello there. I am really glad you found this message in a bottle Cast again from the shores of New Zealand, in the far reaches of the South Pacific. I did a mindfulness exercise with someone yesterday. We ate a grape each. Only one grape. It was an exquisite experience. We used our 5 senses to experience the colour, the texture, the taste, the smell...even the sound of the grape as our teeth chewed through it. It blows me away that every moment can be so full of rich and wonderful experience...and usually we are totally unaware that we are missing out on it because our minds are far away from our actions and existence in the present moment. Each 'now moment' has the potential for us to go deeper and deeper into the experience. Being present to the person, the activity, the task that is in front of us. Giving intentional attention to specific aspects of the now moment. This may take you out of your head (that is so used to constant worry) and back into your body, grounding you in the present moment, rather that having your emotional state dictated by thoughts of the future or the past. If you suffer from anxiety or depression, this way of life may help you. Love and peace Sandy