How many years do we have to do housework?

 Do You like to Dust?

I didn't get that gene but still must do it.

Dona Anderson

In our family, it's my sister. She loves to clean.

Hi, Thanks for visiting today and if you're new to this blog. I publish posts weekly, on Tuesdays. 

I've seen the list below several times and this time I thought I'd share it.

As we're moving through Fall with Winter approaching ... what will we do.

Back when I was little there was always the spring and fall house cleaning of the cupboards, drawers, closets, windows etc. etc.

That was on top of the weekly cleaning. 

I don't know if this is still a thing now or not - maybe not so frequent or planned.

With that out of the way it was then time to think about Christmas and hoped to find something to do over the long cold winter, which wasn't much. 

I love this list of things to do - very doable. 

 

Thank You Rose Milligan,

A wonderful selection of things to do that connect you to nature, friends, art, music, books and more.

PS. Even if You do some of these already it's the connection and knowing that it's an activity that fills you with many wonderful feelings and emotions.

Those feelings that fill your heart with Joy.

A time when hours pass by like minutes.

yes Old Age is approaching ...

It's already here for me.

Maybe time to hire someone to do the dusting soon.

Thanks for your visit today. 

Over 700 posts in the Archives that you can view save & share.  

Have a great day and week ahead. 

Thanks for sharing at the links below. Together we're spreading wellness around the world.

Take Care!

The great song, -- One Moment In Time - Dana Winner (live)

One Moment in Time

Dona Anderson

Summer of Music

Week 6

Ok,  yes I was up cheering her on ...

Glad I didn't break anything.

Have a listen!

I'm lucky I have my office/computer room to myself upstairs that 

allows me to get my crazy dance on every once in a while.

I think I was boxing or something like that, anyway glad no one 

could see other than my support team who were asleep.

 

Were You up cheering too?  

Dogs with jobs - 
Lucy & Kelsie my support team everyday.

lots more in the Archives for you to view, save & share.

Links below.

PS. This is my 6th Summer of Music.

All past posts are in the Archives for July & August.

Last year we travelled around the world and I made it easy for you to see them by linking to this  one post  for the 9 summer posts.

Thanks for your visit. 

Take Care.

Was this a Rule in your House Too?

Hi, thanks for your visit today. 

Dona Anderson 

Is Bed making a daily Challenge in your life?

this video went viral

It starts with our needing to make the bed

when we get up.

One task completed.

 

Check out the comments for this video.

Growing up we made our bed every morning before breakfast and our walk to school.  No it wasn't the 2 miles up hill in a snow storm kind of walk but we did live on the Prairies and the winter was very cold and windy.

There was no not doing it - one task completed.

We had to come home for lunch (only bused kids could stay at school) and after lunch we had to do the dishes before we left to go back to school. Lunch was the big meal of the day so plates, pots, whatever it was, another task completed. 

We only had human dishwashers and dryers then.

Then later helping with supper and more dishes, another task completed.

Not fair, I was the youngest and later I was the only one left to help Mom.

We never thought about the dishes, ironing, shopping, house work etc. as tasks completed it was just all part of the normal household activities before we could get back to school, start our homework, go play or whatever it was that day/time of year. 

It's funny now looking back how different it was for our kids and us off working and packing the daily lunch or leaving one behind for who's at home. 

It's different now with school meals, commuting and what it is where you live but I think the idea of having age related jobs and helping with making the tasks completed sets a good example for us even from a young age.  

Have a great day and week ahead.

PS. Yes I still do make the bed everyday.

But sometimes one of our dogs goes for a nap and messes it up.  

Not naming names - Kelsie.

Your sharing helps us connect to others

around the World,

Thank You.

Take Care. 

New posts every Tuesday and

links below for sharing.

Qi Gong for Beginners

 Wonderful practice for 

Health & Wellness

Dona Anderson 

Welcome and hope you'll like what I have for You today.

I started going to a Tai Chi class at a Senior Centre several years ago and when it was closed due to covid last spring we moved to an outdoors park.

We had some really chilly days, windy days, rainy, sunny and hot days - we got it all over the spring, summer and fall.

Then feeling winter coming on we eventually moved to an indoor space we could use that had space for social distancing with masks when we were allowed to gather.

During this time I also started doing Qigong on You tube. I had done a workshop years ago and knew it was similar to Tai Chi.

I have really enjoyed finding routines from several instructors and the variety sure works my mind. (My new learning)

In Qi Gong I'm learning more about how these movements support my Health and  stimulate the acupressure points, move the chi and lots more. 

Don't let those easy looking movements fool you. Some days it really takes a lot of concentration to decide what is left or right and combine foot and hand movements at the same time. 

Don't worry, it will all come together and I think as long as I'm moving, I'm doing something good for me. 

The video below is by one of the first instructors I began with.

Hope you like it and want to learn more ... 

I also feel better when I can open the window to breathe in the fresh air and hear the birds sing.

More good and healthy feelings.

A lot of the exercises can be done standing or sitting. Do what works for You to start. It's also good to have a chair near by for support if needed.

There are many easy ways to take care of ourselves to improve our Health.  

We just have to start slowly, 

and only do what we can do. 

Stop & Rest when you need to and 

talk to your health care provider as needed.

It's always good to watch a new routine first and see if it's one that works for you or you want to find another video. (easier/less time??)

Remember this is about You not anyone else. 

There are many beginner and on going videos you can check out to find what feels right to you.

There are different time lengths from a few minutes to half hour or so.  

Somedays I might do 1 or 2 short ones and another day a longer one or whatever I have time for.

PS. In our Tai chi outdoor class there was a lady 89, who drove on her own and  came every week with a folding chair to use when she needed to rest for a bit.  

She was sure an inspiration to us "younger ones." 

Take Care - have a good week. 

This video & post is for information purposes only in our quest for Well-being. 

I wish I could share the beautiful
fragrance this lily had.

Thanks for sharing with others -

links below.

Don't miss this - Tedx Talk Erin Gruwell

 Becoming a Catalyst for Change

Freedom Writers

Dona Anderson

I'm very glad you're here to watch this video.

It is amazing. 

The power of one.

Shared with us in 18.34 minutes.

What an interesting Story

Life Changing.

I am very thankful I got to watch an earlier video of her start to see what became a very inspiring story that I wanted to share with You.

Life Changing for 150 kids and many others.

Think of a big trip, meeting someone very special who helped others, a book and a movie.  

Think about possible drop outs that went on to be graduates and will change their life and future.

I hope each of you have had one or more  people in your life that helped inspire you on your journey. 

Someone you remember that Helped you figure things out, showed you a different  way, or showed you that they cared and believed in You.

It could be a teacher, friend, relative, parent or even a book ...

PS. It's funny how sometimes it takes me longer 

to find one of my photo messages that fits with the post than it does to write the rest of it. 

This one took a long time ....  

I hope you enjoyed this story and can imagine how it changed many lives.  

A lot to take in.

Thanks for your visit today.

New posts every Tuesday.

Links for sharing below.

Bye for now.

Everyday Places to find JOY even during Covid

Joy
Feelings of Happiness,

Delight, Pleasure.

 Welcome and Thanks for your visit today.

Dona Anderson                              

                                                                                          

Some of life's joy comes just in a smile, watching the sun rise, or looking up to the stars ...

It happens when seeing your family, your pets ...

It happens watching others grow and succeed or watching your Team Win.

It happens in the garden as the spring flowers and the trees  grow & bloom. 

It happens with that slice of the first ripe tomato. 

Other things may need to be planned like a vacation, a special dinner out, an unexpected visit or sending a special note to a loved one.

It may be something to look forward to in the future like date night the next weekend whether you're young & dating or an older married couple. Or it may be a visit with one of your friends.

Everything isn't always spontaneous - lots need to be planned ahead and looked forward to so our brain has little bits of joy or a quick smile appears because we have something in the future to think about.

Remember those special outings when we had to go shopping for a new dress & shoes - and then the day, doing our hair, maybe our nails. getting dressed up with all the makeup ... We might have been feeling that good nervousness or good stress at the same time as Joy.

What's on your calendar that you're looking forward to?

Don't feel bad if there's nothing much...

That's OK

Because now you get to decide what you'd like to do and plan to do it.

My calendar has been pretty blank this last year too but I did manage to be able to get to a Tai Chi class most Mondays and do some Music lessons when we could meet. 

A good attitude is also very helpful, getting in some exercise and enjoying the  time to laugh more or work on a special project that you love. 

And, as we had to stay home more instead of going to activities I wrote snow in my calendar one day or some online links to check out, or the few days I exercised (I had to remind myself I did it) or the one time we went out for lunch that month.

Other things may not have been on the calendar but we did have a wonderful Christmas Dinner for 2, a cheese fondue for New Years and other wonderful meals. (probably too many)

We got to enjoy sitting on the front porch for an hour or so on many sunny winter afternoons. Loved the morning sun rises and the birds singing and coming to the feeders everyday. 

Loved watching the spring flowers rise up to bloom and the trees fill out again. 

And now the garden is filling up and our eyes imagine all the wonderful things to come. 

JOY - Happiness Pleasure Delight

PS. from the photo above,

"Everything is amazing when I

receive the gift of another day to 

see the love and kindness in your

Sweet, Sweet Smile ..."

Message in photo is from my book

Moving Forward from the heart.

Information on the Resources page

Take Care!

Hey - like spices? check out this post from the archives.

This years Summer of Music starts on July 6,

I love it and hope you will too.

                                                                       

Links for sharing with others below.

Visit the Archives for over 650 pasts posts for you to view, save and share.

Here's one for you to start with.

Eric Clapton - Over the Rainbow (with lyrics)

A great song
by the great Eric Clapton

and others.

Dona Anderson

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We're quickly going through this year and it's almost the middle of May.

I hope you're having a wonderful Spring or other season depending on where you live on this beautiful Earth.

Love this Song.

We often keep these kind of songs in the childhood memory box.

But I think they're the ones that offer us many gifts.

Gifts of opening up, letting go, feeling more free and thinking about the rainbows, stars, birds and all there is to appreciate that often we get too busy to notice.

Let's sing along as we are at any age and open the adult memory box and fill it with all kinds of goodies.  

Do you need to repeat it a few times ...

PS. Are there any other old songs you'd like to

remember and sing again.

Love to see all these musicians together 

performing this song for us. 

New posts every Tuesday and over 600

in the archives that you can view and share

at your leisure.

I started this blog back in 2010 and it later became my dream to help spread Wellness around the World. 

If you'd like to Help you can share using the links below for 

Facebook, Pinterest, Email, Twitter. 

Where in the World will we travel to this week.

Thank You.

Email subscribers please see the new page added above for Subscribers.  It contains  information regarding Changes coming in July.

 

I hope you'll come back to see what's coming up in the weeks ahead.

Where do those lost things really go ??

 They're so hard to find,

and finally you have to give up or did You?

Dona Anderson

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It's not the little things like putting something in the wrong cupboard or putting the salt & pepper in the fridge on your way by. (Have You done that too?)

These were all different and important.

My husbands wallet.  

You immediately panic and your jaw drops.

My ID, credit cards ...

Where is it?

We searched the house.

He went back to the stores, parking lots ... no where.

Then after 3 days of worry I found it.  A black leather wallet upright against the back of the black leather chair. 

Just had to be at the right angle to see it. 

One of the kitchen sink stoppers.  

Not a panic but wondering & scratching your head. 

Waiting for it to turn up. 

Looking at each other thinking where is it.

Looking all around the kitchen, in the laundry room, under the sink garbage, basement, everywhere.

About 6 months later it was found.  Somehow it got into the pail for the compost bin and when emptying the bin for new dirt for the garden it appeared.

The cover for the hand vacuum. 

Can't use it now, nothing to hold the stuff picked up.

Ok, just where would that go - it was even placed back into its holder not noticing it was missing that key part.

We ended up buying a new one and months later the part was found under the basement stairs hiding in the dark among the boxes of who knows what. 

No idea how it got or was left there.

It's interesting how these things happen and how the loss affects you in different ways from panic to head scratching to being annoyed and thinking Who Did It. 

That's my story for this week.  

I hope all is well and continue to Take Care.

New post next Tuesday and thanks for sharing with others.

Links below.

PS. One day Years ago at work I looked down at my hand and my engagement ring was missing the diamond. 

Instant Panic, Fear then the Tears.

I was searching everywhere I had been, every part of my desk, crawling around on the floor and asking all my co workers to keep their eyes open. 

Nothing ... I guessed the nightly cleaners would vacuum it up.

Later in the day I opened one of my drawers and there was something on top of the binders.  It turned out to be my diamond but was upside down so no sparkles just looked like some dirt or something. Relief! 

Thankfully, it went back into my ring and 

it's still there all these years later. 

Kelsie says Hi

We all have these stories, what are Yours.

Share in the comments.

How to Talk to Someone With Dementia

Dementia

We all dread the thought of us getting it.

How do we prepare to help others or ourselves.

Dona Anderson

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We also dread the thought of our spouse, a parent, friend or anyone getting it.

It's a worry in the back of our mind for years as we age.

I've heard that it can start to begin many years earlier.

This video is about communicating with Dementia and that is very important because it's hard to do as the family, visitors and caretakers.

In the video Diane Waugh gives us lots of things to do to help be part of their life now.

Very Interesting. 

And as always there are many techniques and different ways to do things so this is just one for information on that path. 

 

Most of us may know someone with or who had some degree of Dementia.

For me when I was young it was my grandmother, and as a senior I know 3 that are in care centers.

We also have a neighbor that continues to live at home and sometimes needs help getting home from his walk. 

I also find it harder now with so much to remember.

How to work the remote, get on the computer, the pass words for everything, then how do the new appliances work, the camera and on and on.

We don't get the written/printed service we used to for many things so all the frustrations tend to add up.

Then there's the frequent changes that may be better for some but frustrating to others and not work for them.

There was never so much to remember. 

In this video I liked how she found out how to communicate. 

I hope to learn more and adopt a few of her ways as it makes things a lot easier.

Take Care.

PS.  there're lots of resources available to help us.  

I think it's important to know the right questions to ask and the answers let us know we may be in the right place.

This has been a rough year.  It used to be that we knew someone with/had cancer, then came Alzheimer's and now it's covid. 

Please take care.

It doesn't have to be Perfect

what looks good

what's art 

beauty 

and ... 

Dona Anderson
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Those seconds in time
capture so much.

Story Time.

The last several years I've taken lots of pictures and although I didn't know much about what I was doing, most seem to turn out pretty good for a point & shoot person. 

I still don't know what
I'm doing and that's OK.

As time went on I tried adding words from my books to some of them and seeing it all come together is Fun and very rewarding for me - My Art.

So now when taking pictures I think more about the colors, positioning or whatever it is.

If I added words where would they go, would it look good here or there ...

Decisions we learn as we go along.

What's wonderful for me is when people at the various shows I go to ask if I'm a professional photographer. 

One time a lady took about an hour or more and went through all my photo's and commented on them, also saying her Mom was a Professional Photographer and what I was doing was really good,

She told me not to take  lessons(??)

Another thing that's wonderful for me is the noticing of life nature, gardens, water & the sky.



The awareness of the moment fills me
with contentment and gratitude.


Each one seems to become a gift from the season or location which mostly now are from our yard, garden neighborhood and province. 

I don't need or even want them to be perfect, just to be natural and beautiful as they are on their own that day. 

I've loved travelling and living in various places and enjoyed each for their differences and gifts in the landscape, birds, flowers, crops, people, opportunities and of course the Food.

It's all taught me to appreciate and enjoy wherever Home is at the time and to notice all that it offers. 

Home is, 

where the Heart is

& beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

The photo's have also become another way

to send Gifts to You.

Thanks for your visit today and

for Sharing with others around
the World at the Links below.

If you'd like to see some other photo's
go to the label below, Photo Message.

Don't miss new posts.
Click on the link below to receive an email
each Tuesday that takes you to the new post.

Only a couple of steps and 
you're ready for next week.

Subscribe to Dona Anderson by Email

What's your Art about?

Take care and Have a great week.

PS. In the past I'd sometimes send my Grandchildren a photo message when I sent a card to them.

I forgot one time - and that seemed more important to my granddaughter than the Birthday cheque.  You just never know ... 💚

What are the Things You need Most?

another year almost gone 

but it will never be forgotten.

Dona Anderson

Last week I said I'd pass on a few reminders for some of life's pleasures and for that we're going to the guided Relaxation titled  I Give Thanks  in my  book  Simply, One Breath At a Time

Dona's photo message

I shared some of this previously in a post dated May 10, 2016 that still continues to travel the world.

These last couple of years have been especially difficult and 2020 was full of much heartbreak and loss.

I hope these simple everyday reminders will help us to keep moving forward.

We sometimes forget the simple things in life, our surroundings, our necessities, earths beauty, the human touch ... they are always there but can go unnoticed. 

I invite you to join me in expressing gratitude for some of life's pleasure's ... at the end rest with a gentle breath and think about which ones hold a special meaning for you today and others you can add.

For the wonders of earth  ...                    I give thanks 

For each drink of water ...                       I give thanks

For the warmth of the sun ...                    I give thanks

For the beauty of nature ...                       I give thanks

For each gift of a breath ...                      I give thanks

For the kindness in a smile ...                  I give thanks

For the chance to laugh ...                       I give thanks

For the grace to dance ...                         I give thanks

For the notes in music ...                          I give thanks

For the love in my life ...                          I give thanks

For this present moment ...                      I give thanks

For all this and much more ...                  I give thanks

Excerpt from
Simply, One Breath

At a Time © 2008

This list isn't asking for much.

It's just noticing some of the everyday things we all need.

And, each of us will have others to add like family, friends, pets & more?

And at times in our lives we do need to say
Thanks for many of these.

Perhaps that's the reason people around
the World keep connecting to it.

click here for the original post from 2016
currently has over 24,000 views.

Simply, One Breath At a Time
Meditation - I Give thanks page 115

Click on the label Simply below

for other previous posts. 

Visit the Resources Page for

              Information on Wellness products

Thanks for your visit. 
New posts every Tuesday.

Your shares to Friends & Family around the the World lets them
know you're thinking about them Too!

Links below.

it's time now to wish You 

a Happy New Year!

PS. I hope this is exactly what you needed today.

Let's start the new year with a  😀

Stay connected with the weekly email

link to notify you of each new post.

Happiness lies with me,

My Heart is happy...

Take Care  💚

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.

Subscribe to Dona Anderson by Email

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 ...

What's your Female Story about

The Female Journey.

A look at the Ladies today.

Dona Anderson

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Marianne Williamson wrote in her book The Age of Miracles ...

"Denying care to oneself doesn't translate into care for others. A women taking care of herself - both in body and in spirit - is part of her participation in a wild and wonderful female adventure.  That adventure is emotional, intellectual, spiritual and sexual."

Each one of you will have your own memories and story about being a daughter, perhaps a sister, a teenager, friend, cousin, aunt, girlfriend, fiancee, wife, mother, grandmother.

And you may have also been part of these - Health Care, Education, Science, Art, Music, Retail, Service, Construction, Farming, Restaurants, Fashion, Finance, Computers, Essential Services, Government, Acting, Inventor and the many others.

Living life means you learn, grow and become.

You learn about your inside self - what makes you tick, be happy, comfortable and excited,

You learn how to interact with others, what to say, how to dress, be yourself.

You learn about your body and all it's changes as you grow and age.

You'll learn about your feelings, emotions and thoughts - what they are and how to manage them. 

You learn about the many different hats you'll wear while exploring your passions and even the things you're good at or not.

And as time goes on you'll also learn about what you like & don't like, how you love and what to believe in.  

This is your unique adventure.

A huge part of this one is that your feelings, emotions, thoughts and beliefs also change over time.

That gives you thoughts and memories of Then and Now. 

This is the journey of life.

The adventure and journey in each of us is unique, remarkable and built on how and where we find places to breathe, learn, share & help others.  

Looking back on my adventure and journey I'm happy that life was full and now is a quiet time to reflect and breathe more deeply.

There's much to share and opportunities to create my life doing things I want to do.

This is another between time - time before whatever it is that comes later ...

and I'm going to Enjoy it.

Please enjoy Your Now time too.

💚

Visit the Resources page for
ways to Relax, be inspired
reduce Stress & Breathe.

Subscribe to Dona Anderson by Email

new posts every Tuesday,

My Gifts to You.

PS. this seemed liked a perfect place

 to share this quote with you.

“The real gift in life is in giving to others. 

We have the power and the  means to make a positive difference in someone else's life every single day. 

Whether you offer a smile to a passer-by, or pay for a stranger's coffee or donate your time to help others, giving makes us feel so good!”

– Louise Hay

Thank you Louise Hay.

Our sharing helps spread gifts of Wellness 

to others around the world everyday.

Take Care

Links for sharing below.