sustainable mindfulness on a winters day

To whom this message in a bottle may reach. It has been about a month since I posted on my blog...a busy month. I have at last stopped to catch my breath, and notice my breath. Outside my window the rain is falling steadily, washing the trees and palms here to a brilliant lime green and the aloes hold orange torches along the driveway, thrusting them through the rainfall towards the sky. The heater by my side warms and comforts me. Its heat radiates across my back and holds me close like a comforting arm. I am grateful. I give intentional attention to a tv aerial far away. I then intentionally give attention to a ticket for entrance to the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, on my desk. My mind wants to go there and the floods of memories demand attention. I delay focusing on them and I focus on my breathing. Disciplining my mind to do what I decide. Strengthening my ability to notice and engage what I decide to. I can choose to widen my awareness or focus it. My emotions do not dictate to me. This is freedom. This morning I mindfully ate my breakfast. I had toast with ginger marmelade and coffee. I consciously chewed each mouthfull and actually tasted it. Not anxious to move onto the next thing or to find an answer to this or that question. One thing at a time, mindfully aware of the present moment and fully engaged. This is how I do winter. It is fabulous. I appreciate being alive. Peace to you today. Sandy

the mindful artist

Over the last few weeks, I have had a painting in progress. Sometimes when I have 'down time' between clients, or if I am at my office during the weekend, I engage with the paint and the canvas. Every stroke is mine. I own them. I intuitively work on the canvas, not knowing what each mark will add to the composition. I 'listen' to my impulses to place the colours here or there. I allow my pallet knife to mix different and unexpected hues as it glides and scrapes across the vista. I celebrate each colour and enjoy the smell of the oil paints. My painting rag becomes as beautiful as a coat of many colours and my easel is itself a sculpture of beauty...an instalation in my room that brings me joy. Something happens on the inside of me while I am absorbed with my craft. A contentment comes over me. I relax and breathe. I am in the moment. I am not striving to complete a prescribed or contrived idea. I am allowing whatever emerges to emerge, without judgment. I am present to the marks on the canvas. I am acceptable, I am loved, I am content.

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

towards a mindful way of life

I am not planning what to post on my blog today. I am in the present moment and will allow whatever emerges, to emerge. Towards a mindful way of life. This is not a goal. It is a journey. Willingness of heart to dwell in the present moment. Open to awareness, rather than closed and concluded. Not stating how things are but experiencing how things are. Observing my unfolding and emerging thoughts and responses to now. I am becoming aware that my shoulder hurts. I move my laptop onto my lap. The clock is ticking. I am unphased by the passing of time because I dwell in the now. No longer wishing to be in a different time or space. Being fully present and alive, now. No longer thinking, "I will be happy when..." Compassionately being with myself and my surroundings. My heart is so thankful. My cup runneth over. I feast on the visual spread before me. I am content. If you are distressed or stressed, join me on this journey. Peace to your soul. Sandy

emotional sustainability

Hello to who-ever is out there reading this. This is another 'message in a bottle' cast from the shores of New Zealand, deep in the South Pacific. Here are some ideas that I have been thinking about for those of you that are feeling emotionally depleted. Life can be challenging and sometimes our circumstances make us feel stuck, depleted, tired. When we find ourselves in that state it can be very difficult to follow our dreams and to feel hope for the future. What we do in this circumstance has the power to escalate or de-escalate this state. I have been listening to some rather old Tony Robbins CDs. Here is a very simple suggestion that he makes to start with. Change your posture, your facial expression, your breathing, your movements. 1. Stand up tall right now and look upwards towards the ceiling. 2. Smile widely. 3. Breathe fully and deeply. 4. Do some sudden and emphatic movements with your body e. g. clapping. (maybe shout). Try this and you will find that it is almost impossible to feel low. Your facial muscles and body are sending you a new message. What was your level of hope before you did this exercise and what is it now. Wow. What an amazing simple exercise...and how immediately effective! I wouldn't have believed it. Those CDs looked so unappealing to me in terms of my preferred culture. I am humbled by some of the content. This is not merely pop-psychology. In my next blog I will talk about the mindful approach to living that leads to emotional sustainability. See you then! Let me know what happens if you do the above exercise several times during your day! Peace to your heart. Sandy

The wisdom of trees

Standing still Drawing from the depths Reaching expansively with wide arms Providing shelter Celebrating the sap of life Drinking deeply of ancient wisdom Obeying the call of seasons and the DNA message To become.