You know when you are and aren’t present. One of the challenges in living fully in the moment is that so often we’re busy running through our day. Or perhaps that’s just me? We may be tired and with the thought of slowing down for just a moment to be present, we fall asleep. I do not think it’s just me. We’re just dog tired. So what do we need to improve our presence? First, bring awareness to what you’re thinking about in this moment. Notice if your thoughts are in the past or future. The key to presence is “being” in this moment. The one happening right now. Catch yourself by doing a … [Read more...]
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
One of the things I love about grandchildren is that we get to revisit childhood rhymes. These stories take on new meanings as an adult with so many truths embedded within. I certainly didn't encounter the deeper meanings until a few years ago. My favorite to reference is: Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream. Replace "boat" as a metaphor for "life" and you get to row your life. Gently, not harshly. Be good to yourself. When life goes right it's like heading down the stream. Life is so much easier when we live it connected to … [Read more...]
The Magnificence of the Moment
Spending time on our island in Georgian Bay, I am reminded to enjoy the magnificence of life in this moment. When was the last time you watched the sunset? How about the rain as it drops onto a leaf and forms rivulets of water as it falls off the leaf and onto the earth. How about the smell of freshly cut grass? A few summers ago I was with my granddaughter, Caleigh, and she reminded me to be present and see each moment. We saw a huge centipede crawling across our deck and she squatted down to carefully look at it. She asked, “Gemma (my nickname), what is it?” “It’s a centipede, … [Read more...]
Sad or Happy, It’s Your Choice. What’s Your Truth?
I saw an interesting post by my friend Gloria who is one of the happiest people I know. She travels the world infusing happiness from her heart and giving freely. She posted a summary from an interview with John Stewart, a Canadian expat living in Kamalaya, Thailand, who owns a holistic wellness resort. Gloria had the opportunity to ask him about happiness and this is what he said: “Happiness is accepting life. And it is really a choice. Because life is going to happen anyway. So it’s your choice to be happy or be sad. There are so many reasons to choose to be sad. But there are just as many … [Read more...]