Ruth posted a lovely oil her mother painted of her when she was a young girl. This moved me to post one my mother painted of me when I was 8 or 9. This had been stashed away in a storage room in my mother’s apartment building, then I took it and many other paintings of hers that I loved when I moved into my Park Slope apartment in the early ’90s.
When we moved to Florida I packed up paintings and objets d’art, family treasures and mementos, from my great-grandmother’s clock circa 1888 to a ceramic bowl and little jet plane my son made in school. I took what art I could remove from frames to box up or put in my zippered portfolio. This painting was longer than any of my boxes could accommodate, and it was damaged, by exposure to sunlight I suppose, with paint cracking and flaking off. So I pried off the lath frame, cut it out of the stretcher bars, and put it in the portfolio. I’m so glad I posted it on my mother’s website so I could copy and paste it here, as it was before it was badly damaged.
My life is very challenging now, and if you’re in my life now, you know that. But the art that graces our home reminds me that I was loved and cherished, and my love for my gifted parents will always remain in my heart.
The voice of Scottish self-help and guided meditation master Andrew Johnson is hypnotic and oh so easy to listen to. Even if his words had nothing to do with relaxation and calm, his voice would help anyone relax who took the time to listen. The Insight Timer app has a broad selection of his guided meditations. YouTube also features several, including this one:
When my day doesn’t permit a luxurious sit of 20 minutes or more, or when I’m so stressed I just need a reliable route out of the tension, I listen to one of Andrew’s lush guided meditations. Many are very brief, others 30 minutes or more. As I’m going through some stressful times these days including a long distance move and all that it involves, Andrew’s guided meditations have saved my serenity. When I’m feeling exhausted, meditation of any type consistently refreshes me as well as or better than a nap in a fraction of the time.
Visit Andrew Johnson’s website if you’d like to learn more about him or browse through MP3s available there for purchase and download.
The Apple and Google app stores also offer Andrew Johnson apps, both free “junior” versions and longer ones for a modest fee to put his voice at your fingertips.
I’ve never used my blog to simply pitch anyone or anything, but I’ve shared interesting things I’ve found along my journey these days. So take it from me, a woman of Scottish ancestry, this voice really delivers relaxation. But I also love the bagpipes as most Scots do, and some people cannot stand them, freaked out as if being tortured by fingernails on a chalk board. So, to each his or her own. But I am enjoying Andrew’s efforts so much since I stumbled on his guided meditations that I thought you might want to check him out yourself.
It’s been about 22 weeks since US Inauguration Day 2016, the life event that has propelled me into a weekly blog. This week has brought terrible heartache from the London fire, the hateful shooting of a Congressman and others ironically bringing both US political parties together as nothing has in a quite a while, more hostile deaths of US servicepersons in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and most recently the deadly collision of a US destroyer class ship with a huge Philippine cargo ship 56 miles off the coast of Japan, with the fate of 7 sailors currently unknown. Add to these tragedies the serious American legal issues mounting up daily and the subsequent angry tweets and contortions of logic and truth.
I’ve curated some really good diversions for you this week, and I hope you’ll find something you can use here! There is such beauty, peace and positive energy all around us despite the negativity and fear being sown far and wide as distraction and worse. Don’t let the dark distract you from the light which is always there.
Hyyge House founder Alex Beauchamp has elevated eclectic, homey and welcoming style to a major thing, and her blog is filled with wonderful photos showing her exquisite, artistically appointed cottage in Topanga Canyon, near Malibu in Southern California. Every item in her home, indoors and out is well chosen and sweetly positive. I would happily live in any of the cottages and bungalows she has furnished in the hygge style. Her blog and Instagram could uplift your regular web itinerary.
When you think of water balloon fights, perhaps you recall your mom or other scolding authority figure telling you not to do that, you could put an eye out. Or maybe you remember happily vicious wars, a flurry of waterlogged missiles pounding your opponents as you tried to dodge theirs and failed, both ending up soaked and exhausted when the last balloon was launched and wetly spent. Yes, water balloons can be very dangerous and probably should only be used with goggles, and all the rubber remains ought to be be gathered up so they don’t end up in the gullet of a bird or other creature. That said, here is a video of the craziest water balloon caper ever. Needless to say, don’t try this yourself. It could have ended very badly!
Photo courtesy of Lion’s Roar magazine
What with all the daunting problems our planet faces right now and in the future of our kids and grandkids, our personal challenges and stresses, and the political climate in the US, UK and elsewhere that begets anger, fear and cynicism, a vulnerable person could burn out. If you’re a helping professional, one who bears witness to the trauma and suffering of others, and you don’t exercise adequate self care, your risk of burnout is great. Fortunately, burnout is preventable. Lions Roar magazine addresses this important issue here.
And here is your musical medicine for today, apowerfulspiritual anthem for my time, and maybe for yours.My friend Ann Koplow recently ended her blog with a wonderful video. I listened in rapt delight. Then, as often happens when I visit YouTube I listened to another, and loved this one. You may need to watch it more than once to identify all the players. Hint: Clapton was clean shaven, or a least I think that was he! Listening on your Bluetooth speaker is highly recommended.
The Sixteens above commemorate The Pixel Project’s “16 For 16” Campaign: “A campaign in honour of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence while raising funds for the cause to end Violence Against Women.” Definitely worth it.
Ready for some diversion? Here’s what I’ve got for you this week. You’re worth it!
Putting ourselves first is often wisest, especially when wishing to help others. As we hear from a flight attendant on every airline flight, we must put the oxygen mask over our own nose and mouth before assisting our children or others around us. So when we neglect our own needs in the service of others, we will not be able to do it for long. We must refill our own cup if we wish to share generously with others. Here’s a good piece by Marc and Angel: An Open Letter to Those who Always Put Themselves Last. You’re worth it!
Adachi Museum of Art in Yasugi, Shimane prefecture, Japan 日本語: 足立美術館。所在地は島根県安来市
One thing we must do for ourselves is cope as well as we can with stress. Avoiding stress is impossible, but drowning in it is usually avoidable. What can we do to minimize stress so it is less toxic and destructive to our lives and those who care about us and those who may need our help? We’re all worth it.
Breathe deeply and mindfully to reduce anxiety; it works!
Eat nutritiously and regularly; starvation is no virtue.
Sleep at least 6 hours every night, but no more than 8 is best.
Exercise at least 3 days a week and walk on the other days.
Practice your spiritual or religious beliefs sincerely and often.
Meditate, do yoga, pray or seek peace and beauty, as in the zen garden above.
Live your values, which means understanding what they are.
Give and receive love, affection and kindness freely.
Seek help for your own problems: therapy, medical treatment or expert advice.
Consider adopting a pet if your circumstances permit; they enrich our lives.
Don’t sweat the small stuff (most is), pick your battles and put down the bat.
Moses Sumney is a recent musical discovery of mine, thanks to a video in a GQ article about Brad Pitt. The article is good, and Moses Sumney is definely “Worth It.”
A whirlwind week to be sure. Hearings, press conferences, tweets, accusations, retractions, awkward posturings, leader of the free world clowning in the cab of a semi like a ten-year-old kid, lies and obfuscations, more tortured logic, dead Russians, Russian guy thrown out a window and surviving, Russian guy poisoned (twice) and living to tell the tale, spy vs. spy, intel insanity, naïveté and contortive backstabbing. Whew!
So to the diversions. First, is there a vacant lot that bugs you? Is your neighbor’s yard an eyesore? You need to learn how to be a guerilla gardener. It looks like a lot of fun and good for the planet besides. Like these nasturtiums. They could brighten that sorry corner.
Sort of stressed about now? Maybe you need to meditate. You already do? Fantastic. Then hit that cushion and get your om on. My meditation practice has transformed my life in a good way. How else are we going to find our center in the midst of the circus? And remember, they ARE our monkeys. If you don’t have a sitting practice yet, Lion’s Roar has a meditation how-to to get you started.
I enjoy cooking, and I collect cookbooks and I pin recipes I find online on Pinterest all the time. Now Mother Jones tells me I’m doing it all wrong. Curious? Check this out.
And now for your musical reward for reading this blog today. Rock music! Neil Mendoza built a contraption that actually uses rocks to make music. You won’t believe it! Ok, maybe you will. “Here Comes the Sun!” Enjoy!
Sonnische 