Celebration of Life.

 

Remembering lives well lived.

Dona Anderson

After living here long enough to become a senior I was very glad to join one and then 2 senior centers that are full of activities and people who are enjoying this time of their lives by getting out to be with others, share stories, laughs, do activities like music, choir, cards, crafts and lots more. 

It often feels like family outside of home.

The sad part is when you learn someone can't attend anymore or have passed away.

In the last few years we've had several friends not connected to the centers pass so we knew about their lives and became part of their activities but at the center you may just know them from the activity you both attend and some days a hi or how are you may be all the time you get for conversation. 

But even that can bring a big shared smile on your faces each time you meet again.

"A Friendly greeting or acknowledgment can create a feeling of welcoming and belonging and let someone know you care"  

This last year has had even more sadness ... some years are harder than others.

I've learned a lot about their lives since from the paper, and I'm amazed at the stories. Many moved across continent's, countries and one lady moved 20+ times.

Many were quite active in volunteering, hobbies and supporting others. 

One lady at 89 was still driving and loved reading, being on the computer and doing activities  to support her self care. 

I noticed they didn't complain much even when they certainly could have.

I noticed they were always happy to get out, see others, and join in however they could.

And, they all seemed to be happy with what they could do more than talk about what they couldn't. 

The stories all seemed to show a busy full adventurist life that led them to this community to retire and for some to find the work they loved the best. 

Each had a life very well lived,

and we'll miss them all.

 PS.  Quote above is from the meditation Words to be savored and treasured on page 75, in my book Moving Forward from the Heart.

Todays quiet place to rest.

Bye for today & take care.

You never know how a small injury will affect your life.  I hurt my finger back in July and was told it would take months to heal - coming up to month 4 soon.  

Missing my activities and friends.

 

Getting older might get us on TV

Thanks for your visit today.

We never know how long we'll live 

and it looks like this lady was doing it right.

100 year old lady

Dona Anderson

What a sweetheart. 

A great video I found to share with You.

Things she does

Exercise daily, think positive, good stories, laugh lots, music ....

I know it takes more than these things as well and often we forget about those everyday things that affect our feelings, emotions, thoughts and cause stress to build up. 

PS. We never know how others are feeling inside even when they have a smile on their face. 

Here's a link to a 3 part Wellness posts  from April 2019.

Thanks for sharing at the links below.

Today you can Bundle up, relax and let someone else drive.

A short music video for this last week of 2021.

"Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson & His Pops Concert Orchestra

How many words in the Song did You remember?

Love the old pictures and I felt like being in the middle of a Norman Rockwell magazine about even older times. 

We enjoyed a few winter sleigh rides many years ago (but really they were on wagons). It was fun to get out of the house for an activity on a winter night in a park with the kids and then enjoy a campfire.  

It's funny how old memories resurface at Christmas time.

That's it for 2021.

See you soon in 2022.

PS. Thank You for connecting with me through another year.

Happy New Year!!!!

Cheers 🍷 !!

Dona Anderson 

Mom & me, must be early 1960's.
Big tree & crazy curtains.

Thanks for sharing with others at the links below.

Keep being safe on your winter or summer travels wherever you may live.

If you have Nothing to do over the Holidays, Visit the archives anytime for over 650 posts to explore.

If you're in the mood for some peaceful time here's my 2021 Summer of Music posts all in one place.  Great post to keep close to enjoy nature and our beautiful World.

Here's a post from last year about older times past in

 one of my old Christmas letters. 

Bye for now, Happy New year. 😊

What are you really busy with?

How do we Get more done in less time

See if this makes any
sense in Your life?

Dona Anderson

Weekly posts help support our crazy life.

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How many of us have done this ...

Someone is on their way over and you rush around the house like a crazy person to clean it up.

You're intense, focused and no one gets in your way.

You only have a few minutes and ...

YOU DID IT!

The door bell rings and you're all Smiles. 

So what happens all the other days.

                    

Is this you?

                               It's me many times.

We let our self walk around with no real focus and one thing not finished finds us starting another.

A phone call or thought interrupts you and then you head off off in a different direction.

The sock in the living room may travel around the house and be left behind in yet another room.

Where did the morning go - you haven't even had your 2nd coffee or tea yet.

When I used to work

we had routines, daily and weekly chores, exercise times and to do lists to prepare for things but the holidays and long weekends set me up for not getting done in 3 days what I used to do in 2.

While computers make lots of things easier, they create more things to take your time and sometimes it's like watching TV, it's kind of being there, numb or unresponsive until it's time to eat or go to bed.

It takes us longer to get things done these days when you're on hold for hours or waiting for a call back. You need to do more paperwork for your statements, receipts and make online appointments.

More and more things that you have to do and less and less from the providers. 

You're being swamped with advertising, notifications and another hour goes by.

More things seem to build up and the list of things to do gets longer and longer.

Stress builds up, things get missed and on and on ...

What's going on
and do you need a bit of standing up and dusting off to get back into the World again and find out what makes your Heart Sing.

Where can you find HELP.

Let's make 2021 the year to say Enough and

get our life back - some of it at least.

How will you do it?

I know a lot of people are stressed and struggling with all the things that need to get done these days.

It's Something important to talk about and see what can help,

got any ideas - let us know in the comments.

PS - For the Vinyl Cafe lovers in the audience here's
a Christmas story you'll probably remember

No, it's not the one where Dave cooks the Turkey.

Bye for now, hope you're following by email
and you'll be back next week. 

In the meantime check out these ways to

Rest and Breathe EASY

Love it when the glacier sparkles.

Say the word calm as you breathe in ...

Can you feel calm as you breathe out ...

3 quick ways to Reduce Stress & Relax

put your feet up,
relax & enjoy these 
gifts of Summer  

Hello & thank you for visiting today. 

I hope you're getting ready to enjoy the Summer.

Dona Anderson

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Many of your Summer
plans for this year may have changed so I hope these 3 posts will give you time to be happy, relax and enjoy the things you can do.

all from 

Moving Forward from

 the Heart.

Here's 3 links to previous posts that will let you be part of the Joys & Gifts of Summer.
  

Summer Breezes

Garden in your Dreams

A little poem- 

also from Garden in your Dreams. 

Did it work- if not Repeat!

Don't miss next week when 
Summer of Music 2020 starts!

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Spread the word 
&

Thank You for sharing with others - 

together we continue to send

wellness around the World.

Links for sharing below.

2020 Summer of Music

starts next week. 

8 opportunities to be inspired

and wonder what you'd do without Music.

Soothe away Stress & Blossom

Explore Comforting resources for Life.  

Visit the

 Resources Page. 

Last day to get my guided relaxation CD  for free
with the purchase of one of my books.

P.S. If you're viewing this in the mobile version you can go to the Web version to get the Archives on the right side bar, and the labels and links for sharing below.

You want Me to do WHAT?

I don't want anymore Jobs! 

What happened to the old me,
the quiet shy one.


Dona Anderson

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Simply take one step then another and another.

Dona's photo message

Life sometimes gets a bit confusing and it's only later when we take the steps or fill in the pieces of the puzzle that it hopefully starts to make some sense.

I often say that I’m doing things I wouldn’t have ever imagined and two of them came to me as I was resting after yoga and were things at the time I really didn’t know anything about.

Reflexology and Reiki.

Reflexology came first.

I was just thinking about another purpose for my yoga room and the word Reflexology came to my mind.  I knew it had something to do with feet but nothing else. 

So I began checking it out - what was it, what do you need and where I could get training. 

Here comes the freaky part - when I looked up for where I could get a trainer for the type I was interested in ...  

She worked in my little town and was the trainer for Western Canada and parts of the US as well.  

Who could have imagined that? 

How do I turn back now?

I booked a session for myself to learn more and, 

before leaving I was signed up for my first training.  

And, I used to hate

anyone touching my feet.

Reiki came to me several years

later in a similar way.

I wasn't thinking about needing to learn another healing practice or use for my yoga room but I was curious when it just popped into my mind loud and clear. 

It just popped into my

mind loud and clear.

I didn't know anything about it so again I looked it up to learn more and find out about training. 

The universe was plotting
against me because ...

A week or so later I saw an advertisement in the paper for a free level one workshop at the Woman's Resource center we had.

It was full so put my name on the waiting list.

But the same lady was teaching a different workshop the day before that I was able to go to.  

I mentioned to her that I had called about the Reiki workshop but it was full.  

Later in the day she came to me and said there was a cancellation for the Reiki workshop, and did I want to take that spot. 

YES, OK Ok ...

That introduction led me wanting to learn more and finding a teacher near by for the rest of training.

I guess it is about putting what you want out there,
and seeing what comes back. 

Both of these practices have been helpful in my own self healing, and I enjoyed introducing them to friends and family. 

I’m sure there will be more reasons come up as to why I was introduced to and then agreed to learn and use these healing practices. 

But for now ...

I think the important part was the one for listening ... without that, none of this would have happened!

Have you had any similar things in your life?

Check the Resources page for how to get

a Free CD - offer expires June 30, 2020

Thanks for you visit today.

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Don't miss future weekly posts, 

only a couple steps gets you on the list.

Anyone play guitar or cello?

My Yoga room sometimes turns
into a part time music room.

The words I hear in my head now are

 Practice Practice more Practice.

Thanks for sharing at the links below.

Together we continue to spread Wellness

around the World every day. 

Thank You.

We never know what will get our attention

and get us to say YES.

I hope you'll say Yes and

be an email subscriber

for these weekly posts.

No cost - no hassle

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New posts every Tuesday.

I need to get this out of my Head!

I went to bed with a Song in my Head

and woke up with this instead.

Dona Anderson
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I guess it's normal.

We get a song, idea word or quote in our head and we can't get rid of it.

It repeats and repeats and repeats - how MANY times.

Love My Heart  leaf Tree

Last Friday when I was getting up I got the words, I'm off to bed with - in my head and it kept repeating with different endings.

So I started to write a few down to get it to go away but more came.

I hope you don't mind my sharing this with you today. 

I figured I'd better post it right away or else it will keep going round and round in my head and I'll keep looking at it.

I'm famous at spending hours changing things until it gets published.

Hopefully this will help.

Cabin fever must be getting to me.

It's silly but Silly is GOOD right Now,
and silly helps us lighten the load.

I guess I'm Off to Bed will be the title.

Here Goes

I'm off to Bed
with food in my belly and I've said good night to the telly

I'm off to Bed
to get my old favorite nightie on and cover up tightly

I'm off to Bed
with tired eyes that don't seem to see much anymore

I'm off to Bed
with sweet Lucy (dog) to cuddle cause she doesn't mind if I snore

I'm off to Bed
turning off the outer lights to let the inner ones softly glimmer 

I'm off to Bed
and hoping for once to make some sense of those crazy dreams 

I'm off to Bed
in badly need of sleep and hoping tomorrow I won't feel too crabby

I'm off to Bed
with a window open to hear the songbirds later performing

I'm off to Bed
and on the way I'll ask the stars for another Good good morning 

I'm off to Bed
One more time in hopes I will finally get these darn 4 words out of my head.

Lucy when she was a puppy.

Take care and something will be
coming next week.

Hope this is gone now.

Thank You for helping me spread

Wellness around the World.
Links below.

Visitors to the Blog also have
access to the Archives for past posts.
This is my 618th post.

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Being a subscriber also lets me know
you're enjoying what I send out each week.
Thank You.

Have a wonderful week ahead,

and  please stay safe.

Looking after Ourselves in a Changing World

Self Care,

One of our most important Jobs

Dona Anderson

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But often it's the last on our List.

Taking care of ourselves is one of the best things we can do for ourselves, our family, friends, neighbors our co workers and those we meet when we're out living our life.

We can't give to others what we don't have whether it's love, kindness, respect, peace, time, happiness, help, compassion, smiles or our being healthy ...

Hanging out with our Friends

I had a bad cold back in February that took me out for over 3 weeks.

While I was stuck at home I missed my friends at Tai Chi on Mondays,  Guitar on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and my Cello lesson on the Sundays.

I didn't only miss them but they wondered where I was as well.

The Hi's & how are you's, the little jokes, the smiles, thank you's and the goodbye's affect us all. 

We all want to see each other the next time.

A few weeks later the coronavirus started to arrive in this part of the world and life was changed. 

The World was changed. 

Thankfully quickly came the closures, distancing, isolating and staying at home.

While I'm safe at home I could be doing the spring cleaning and other projects that get put off but I don't. 

Right now, the cleaning and projects don't seem important.

It's hard not the think of all the people affected in so many ways from loss of lives to loss of jobs and pay, to all the work of the Health Care Workers, and the many many others involved to keep us safe, informed and supported.

A friend asked me a few weeks ago if I thought the isolation and limited contact with others would help us come together more after it's over. 

I don't know the answer but, I hope so.   

In the beginning we'll all be happy and excited to get out again but later, when a different normal settles upon our life - will we be more kind, communicative, friendly, welcoming.

Or will there be a holding back, a wondering of what's next, a feeling of carrying another Stress around on our shoulders ...

I can only feel right now that whether it's at work, chatting with the neighbors, being with family or out at activities that we all need those personal connections and we'll need even more help, kindness, understanding, gratitude, support and love as the whole World grieves.

We do need to be with and see others - know they care, we care, that we're welcomed, they're welcomed, we're missed and they're  missed.

We all need to see those smiles and acknowledgments that let us know we need each other.

Please let us get back together and no one is missing.

My hope is that we will come to a greater understanding that this World is home to all of us - and a lot of changes to support all life and this planet are greatly needed. 

Please stay safe and well to help the Helpers

Thank You to the Health Care Workers, 
and the many others around the World 
who are working very hard to
help keep all of us safe and supported.  
💚

Often from disasters there comes new discoveries, learning, ideas, leaders, changes in medicine, standards, response and recovery, new friendships and other things. 

 Let's hope many come from this. 



Let's all relax for a few moments and sing ... 
I can hear all your beautiful voices. 

New post every Tuesday.

Links below for sharing 

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Baby Can I Hold You Tonight - Pavarotti and Tracy Chapman Live

It's wonderful how some Music never gets Old.

Dona Anderson
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Heart & Love Month continues

I watched many PBS concerts years ago and loved how 

Mr  Pavarotti enjoyed singing with every style and variety of great singers.

I even bought the taped concerts to play on weekends with the volume turned up and had fun singing and dancing around the room to many of the songs.

Have a listen and see if you can get your groove
on for a few minutes and Valentine's Day is just a few days away.

Tracy Chapman's voice is so smooth - love it.

We got to attend a Pavarotti concert in Edmonton Alberta many years ago.

What an exciting time.

Another thing on our list of wonderful  experiences to remember.

All this month we're thinking about our Hearts with some Love mixed in so I hope you'll come back for next week - someone said Rumi is visiting this month.  Is it next week?

Links for sharing below.

Who is your all time favorite singer?

Here's a wonderful song from
last years Summer of Music

Bye for now, Take Care. 

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Tis The Season

Time again to say Merry Christmas

Dona Anderson

My best thoughts and wishes go out to You for however you celebrate this time of year.

I know I've said this many times but the years do... go by too fast.

This photo is from last Christmas but that's Ok.

I use my own photos as you can probably tell and sometimes they may be from the previous year.  

Anyway last year I had this red geranium still from the summer and a planter on the front porch empty so I thought I'd put the 2 together.

A stormy windy day then left small branches on the road side to pick up and the little sign Tis the Season finished the Welcoming decoration.

The flower did a great job and lasted to the middle of February.  

I know you're busy so 
have a wonderful Day!

Don't miss a beautiful song video next week.

And, Yes, I'll be watching for
Santa Claus tonight.

Got Time.

Lots More related posts in

the archives from past years

What are some of your decorations?

Christmas IS ...

                   Happy Time
               Sad Time 
               Peaceful time 
               Lonely Time 
               Fun Time 
               Stressful Time

All of these ... and more

I hesitated writing this post as we always want to think about Christmas as a wonderful joyous time of year.

But for many
it's not. 

It's that time of year we're expected to be Happy and be surrounded by our loved ones,  but that's not always how it is. 

I remember years ago at work I'd hear others complain about all the fake smiles, greetings and wishes at this time of year. 

I heard people asking others about all their plans for the time off and who was coming to visit or have a party or supper.

You hear people in cafes and out shopping telling others all about their visitors and going here and there, as if everyone does it.

The stores are full of things
to buy for your list of people.

Then there's the other side. 

Unfortunately the Christmas season can be very lonely, sad, isolating, depressing, stressful, and financially limiting for many.

Yes, I do celebrate ... and I've experienced several of the ones mentioned above.

It can be a sad time for those who have lost loved ones recently or even years ago, are sick, old, in hospital, don't have anyone or family near by to spend the time with. 

There are those who can't afford to buy gifts, have no transportation or access to travel.  

For many, it's that time to put on the brave face, sit in front of the TV, eat lots of cookies and just wish it would hurry up and be over.

You get the idea.

Without taking anything away from your Celebrations - is there a way to help others a bit if you know their story or situation.

I know this isn't an easy task - do you ask questions or listen, do you visit, invite or not ... do you say this or that ... do you ...

We're learning more and more about how loneliness is becoming a health concern, and especially at this time of year.

We're also learning that depression is on the rise, and felt not only by older folks but also it's affecting the younger ages. 

Just putting this out there for 

us to think about.

Thanks & Take Care.

One thing I keep reminding myself is that fake smiles
can turn into real ones, it's ok to accept invitations 

or be the one who goes out to visit, and gratitude

helps open our heart and it's very good for the brain. 

Dona Anderson

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and stay connected in the New Year.

Painting on little bench in photo was done
by one of our best friends years ago.  I love
to show off her art when I can and feel lucky
to have bought lots - miss her.

Visit my Facebook page

Positive Thoughts.

We Need Lots of Those!!!

Dona Anderson

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What am I up to now?

You may have seen the word games I shared with you before and I linked to them here for both Christmas and the Heart Chakra,

this one is titled Positive Thoughts.

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Dona Anderson 2014.

It's me made, certainly not perfect. 

It's just to be for fun or to find a word for you to relax with and breathe for a few minutes.

There's approx 50 words.

YES - One word IS missing its last letter - maybe more oops - only had so many squares.

Enjoy!

Links to Share below.

How this got started - 

I was at a wellness show years ago and bored as no customers were there only us vendors walking around. 

I didn't have a cell phone or other devices to play on, so I started playing with words and squares.  

I got this crazy idea and soon I had the lots of ideas that later needed to be worked on. 

It kept me busy at the Time!

Until next week,

Thanks for your visit.

What crazy things do you do for fun?