Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Spring is ... Blooming!

I’ve been enjoying our beautiful spring and my thoughts keep going back to the meditation I did for the spring issue of the magazine Island Gals. (See my post, Invite Spring In, dated April 19, 2013). 

 My mind keeps repeating the words in the meditation as I notice our changes happening, and the other morning when I woke up with the sun filling our bedroom with early morning light, I did smile.

Our backyard presently has 3 fruit trees in bloom along with other normal spring bushes and cherry tree showing off their flowers.  The garden has started and the tulips are just finishing.  The birds are singing every day and busy making nests, and we have several hummingbirds visiting.  The perennials are growing and filling in the flower beds, the grass is really growing, and it is so nice to go for a walk and see what is blooming in the neighborhood yards.

Last spring a storm broke a few sections of our fence along with the lilac tree and later we found one small baby tree growing that now proudly shows off its few flowers. The spring rains are warmer, we’ve gotten to eat outside several times, and if it’s sunny we often relax and read outside on the front porch in the afternoons. 

I am connecting to the present moment as I fill some of my time with learning how to play my guitar,  and I’m doing a lot of breathing while I do yoga and read the new meditations I’ve been working on. 

Each day opens up opportunities to receive the gift of noticing and connection.  I’m also enjoying those days when feelings and thoughts of simplicity, ease, calm and softness visit and I am going to leave some space and invite them to stick around for awhile longer. 

We are already enjoying the visual pleasures of spring and as we look at the fruit trees and gardens we are so grateful for the many pleasures and rewards that are still to come!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

You Tube Video, Dove Beauty Sketches

Rerun

Roots to Breath, Dona Anderson

Here's a newer post with this video for you

 Dove Beauty Sketches


Sharing a video from Dove Real Beauty Sketches
I hope you watch it! 

http://youtu.be/XpaOjMXyJGk

Friday, April 19, 2013

Invite Spring In!

Invite Spring In!
By Dona Anderson
 
Published in Island Gals, 2013 Volume 3 Issue 1
 
Spring is my new favorite time of year to observe and celebrate each new beginning. 

I love spring on Vancouver Island as it offers us such a long and gradual season of change that fills me with feelings of freshness and rejuvenation, and even invites us to put a little spring into our steps.  We get lots of time to connect to open spaces and to look forward to the pleasures and rewards of a new year.
 
I thought the best way for me to share this with you is through a short meditation that welcomes a few of my treasures of spring and I hope you’ll like them as well.  It begins by simply connecting you with your breath by noticing your next few inhales followed by your exhales … get comfortable, soften your eyes, and take a few minutes to ease into noticing each part of the breath.

Become aware that the inhalation is to receive, the exhalation is to release and let go … slowly soften throughout your body and gently begin to lengthen each part of the breath slightly as you breathe … can you also start to notice where you feel the breath expanding and then releasing within your body …

As you become more relaxed and comfortable bring to focus your next few inhales only and invite into each one the freshness and rejuvenation of spring.
 
 Let your warm spring breaths also bring in feelings of peace, kindness, and compassion
 
Slowly move your focus now to your exhales … notice and celebrate where you start to let go of the breath, where you let go of any stress or tension you may be holding, and where you come back to feelings of open spaces being left behind.
 
Let the focus on your breath go now and give yourself permission to just rest and become even more comfortable … can you feel your body both receiving and releasing … can you feel your body and mind both softly letting go … can you feel spaces starting to open up to invite spring in …
 
This spring, smile as you wake up to the sun rises filling your home with soft morning light.
 
As new flowers begin to bloom absorb all their beauty, colors, and soothing fragrances.
 
Listen to the birds joyful songs of celebration as they return to begin again.
 
Embrace the blossoms of the trees as their gifts to you and the world.
 
Feel the freshness of soft drops of warm rain on your face.
 
Notice your smiles are gifts that connect you with the present moment.
 
Breathe in and let gratitude fill your whole body with inner peace.
 
And this spring, maybe you can release a few layers of old thoughts and habits and create space to invite in simplicity, ease, calm, and softness.
 
Now close your eyes and simply rest for a few more minutes.
 
                                            Namaste.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Red Tuque Spring Catalogue

Spring has arrived and the new spring catalogue for 2013 is out and full of great books by Canadian authors.

www.redtuquebooks.ca

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Reason Season Lifetime

Something to think about

Dona Anderson

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Reason Season Lifetime

This is a great poem I want to share it with you.  Author unknown

People always come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.


When someone is in your life for a REASON,
It is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
Or to provide you with guidance and support,
To aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
This person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die. Sometimes they just walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.


When people come into your life for a SEASON,
It is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.

They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.
And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall,
The season eventually ends.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
Those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person anyway;
And put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
Thank you for being part of my life,
Whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.


Author - Unknown

Friday, April 5, 2013

A quote from Wayne Dyer

Wayne Dyer wrote -
"Most people are searching for happiness outside of themselves. 
That's a fundamental mistake.
Happiness is something that you are, and it comes from the way that you think."