What makes a good life?

     

Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? 

Lessons from the longest study...

Ask a hundred people the same question and and you may get many different answers but at the root of it you may find many similar they just used different words.

Have a listen ...

Dona Anderson

This is a great video about a study taken over many years that connected me to my life and ancestry list of 3rd and 4th cousins from generations of great grandparents and thinking about how they lived day to day and migrating across oceans, mountains and more.  How they found food, survived the cold stayed healthy and kept going to built there lives, family and relationships.

 I guess we're living though one of our generations tough times now. I wonder what they will refer this time to 20 years from now in the history books, and how did it shape the years after.

Are there some things You connected to?

Lots of comments on You tube.

Love his smile.

   

We all want to be happy and healthy yet often we go at it in different ways.

We want friends and family relationships but may not give it the time needed.

I hope this is helpful as we deal with all the stress of this time in our lives that will be for the future to observe.

Sharing his quote, 

"Good Relationships keep us Happy and Healthier Period"

He has some other videos on You Tube with more info.

Take Care.

Are there some things you connect to right away that could be changed?

I

PS.   I'll leave you today with the ending of the meditation Living in Wellness from page 133 in my book Moving Forward from the from the heart.© 2015

My wellness is determined by my awareness, my acceptance of change, my relationships, my internal and outward communication, and my knowing that love is all around me and it is there for me to both give and receive.

I celebrate my success. 

Take Care and have a great day and week ahead.

Links for sharing with others below.

Thanks for your visit and links for sharing below.

Lots more in the Archives to view and share.

We go around the world each week thanks to your shares.

Too many decisions

Have you felt like we have too many
 decisions to make these days.

Dona Anderson

Back in the Summer I took on the task of reducing some of the old Christmas Cards in the cabinet.

I was surprised that they went back over 20 years. The Box was full.

Each one was opened and read and 2 piles were made - one for keeping and the others were for leaving, though it was hard to make that second pile. 

It was nice to see some family names of ones no longer here and pictures given out for children that are now adults. I loved the art and drawings of the grandchildren along with the big letters when they were just learning to make the words.  

I also loved how beautiful many of the cards were and from the pile I only had 2 that were the same. 

Christmas cards have greatly reduced over the years due to the newer ways to communicate and each year we get fewer in our mailbox. But I still do love to get a few and think that we're remembered by others after many years apart.

  This is my Card box. 

  yes it's a special box I've kept that had tea in it from Oprah for  attending her live event in Seattle years ago.

 The Tea was Great and so was the event!

 So when I was doing this post I thought of the one I wrote  last  spring - 

Here's the link. post I wrote about boxes.  

What's in Your boxes?

PS. I had to share this photo from last year.

Timing really is important.

Our Westie Girl Kelsie has many beds and she loves this spare one for some reason so every once in a while if the door is open she'll go and snuggle with the pillow and at Christmas I put out these teddies for fun.

In the photo below that's her hiding with the Christmas Teddies.

It was so cute how she played innocent and looked the other way.  

Thankfully she stayed there long enough for me to get the camera.

                     Must Love Dogs in this house.!

That's it for today. 

New posts every Tuesday so please visit again and check out the Archives for over 700 past posts you to view, save & share - more decisions. 😊

Wellness  resources at the link above.

Have a great day and stay well and safe over the holidays. 

🎄

ebook available at this link 

Did You do this too.

 

Write out some of Mom's recipes
before You left Home?

Dona Anderson

I sure did, and it was over 50 years ago.

I started with a lined notebook and filled it with those ones from everyday things to special occasions and Sunday suppers. 

Later on of course the book was full of flour, butter and other things from being well used so about 25 years ago I decided I had to do it over again.

the title -   

It's about Time 

Moms' Best.

A collection of recipes then came from mothers on both sides, grandmothers, friends and of course ones I made up.

The title was prefect for several reasons. 

*The history of the old recipes

*The years of memories attached

*The task of finally starting over

*The change from at home moms to working

moms with less time

*We couldn't read a lot of the pages anymore

* Recipes needed updates for less fat & sugar

* Some not wanted anymore

* Kids leaving home and wanting those basic

instructions added in like temp & time 

*My sisters also wanted a copy

As I was taking too long to get it done with other things to do, my Husband took over  the typing task to get it finished. (such a good helper he is)

Wow, I never counted it before and was surprised that there were 120 pages with 388 recipes. 

Even though I changed many recipes before, others now need to be deleted or updated again. 

And now again much later we have more books of recipes from ones online and my husband loves to make soups and other things to share. 

It's a time now when stores are normally full of things we didn't know what they were or are, lots more spices, vegetables, boxes and cartons of ?? fill the shelves. 

I often wonder about who buys all the other stuff that we never do.

PS. This salad I made in the Spring from a mix of stuff in the fridge and it was fun to put together and made with Fruit, Vegetables and the lettuce growing in the window.

To my surprise it was quite good and a way to use up things in the fridge/freezer.

A little Balsamic vinegar, Olive oil, the strawberry juice and a few spices made the dressing. 

I forgot the lemon on this one and I wasn't sure of what spices to use so that's for next time.

It's fun to get those few day old goodies and create something different, tasty & healthy!

Now it's that time of year for markets to be selling those big bags of potatoes, onions apples and other things to store for the winter.

And lots of pies, jams, and goodies being made now to fill up the freezer and cold rooms. (Well maybe not here, freezer is full and I have to have room for my fruit cake.

And, it's that time of year when I'm  complaining 

we have to go back to store bought tomatoes.

Take care and have a wonderful day.

Thanks for sharing with others at the links below.

And, No, I won't be redoing the recipes again 

so that task is crossed off the list.

 

I like to visit the book sales to find recipe books that have a beautiful cover that then becomes my Kitchen Art.

Take Care and let's get together again next Tuesday

or whenever You have time.

 

Is it Autumn or Fall

Whatever You call it, it's coming soon.

Dona Anderson 

It's getting to be that time of year as the leaves started changing colors and we started to hear the geese gathering and flying over head a few weeks ago.

Fall used to be my favorite season but Spring took over after we moved to where we live now. 

Both are special and colorful.

I found this music version of Autumn Leaves for us to enjoy today and sing along if we can remember the words.

Yes, I had to ask google as I could only remember the first few words. 

The words feel sad but this interpretation feels fun and lively.

Great group of musicians. 

Autumn Leaves🍂with Breeze (violin,cello ,piano&jazz drum)

PS. After the heat of summer the cooler breeze's of Fall start to feel good and I'm waiting for more leaves to change color. 

It's starting to feel like fall though when I get out to walk in the shaded forest. It feels nice to see space starting to open up again and later will be the softness of the leaves as I walk. 

The leaves above I picked up last year and brought home.  I had enough for a couple of vases for the house  - I may do it again this year.

I hope you enjoyed the video too, the violin player is great!

That's it for today. 

Take Care and have a great day.

(Both pictures in this post are from last year.)

 

PSS. We never know how a day or week will change the world. 

We got to experience that this last week with the death of Queen Elizabeth. I got to see her years ago when I was little and she visited my city and we got to wave at her in the car. I'm sure their are millions of us with  a similar memory and I loved seeing the changing of the guard in London years ago. 

But Time changes everything. 

It reminds us to enjoy and celebrate  life, help others, be kind and help the planet - the only  home to all of us.

 

Did I see the word Tango?

Yes here it is, The Tango scene

from the movie Scent of a Woman

Dona Anderson

Summer of Music

Week 8 of 9.

today we off to the Movies!

What are some of the movie scenes You remember

Ones that stood out that you remembered years later for the acting, story, music or ...

Sorry - I don't do scary, violence or too sad movies so I won't be writing about them.

This one came to mind for something different from all the songs so far this year. 

Love to watch this scene and there're many great reviews.

I didn't remember all the line but loved it when she said she was afraid to make a mistake he said to "just tango on." 

That's probably what a lot of us have been doing these past few years.

Do your best and just tango on.

One more week to go for this years Summer of Music. 

I hope you've enjoyed the selections over these past 2 months. 

Thank You for all your shares each week that go off and connect to others around the World. 

If you missed any of the posts, you'll find them in the Archives.

There's now over 700 that you can view, save or share.

Susan Boyle - I Dreamed a Dream (Audio)

Today we have 
Susan Boyle.

and the beautiful song from Les Misérables 

I Dreamed a Dream.

Dona Anderson

Summer of Music

Week 5.

As children we had many dreams, some lasted a day or maybe till tomorrow. 

As little ones we often were asked what do we wanted to be when we grow up. 

When I was young the world didn't change much over the years but now things change so fast. Some good and some not.

Many dreams are attainable now with doors opening, new technology, for those being older, women working, support and opportunities for disabilities and much more. 

This song is healing and allows us all to Dream while knowing things can change and sometimes that offers another dream that's the one right for You. 

 

PS. what are/were your dreams? 

What are the ones you still have for the future.

Some people go back to college at an older age, some as they age finally have the time to start a new career, one they wanted to do, or finally have the time to go fishing or travel. 

Some want to garden, learn new skills like in the arts or theater, play an instrument, or maybe for you it's to volunteer, write songs or children's books. 

They can be everyday things - dreams let you do what you want to do or never even thought of that you enjoy & love where time flies by and doesn't feel like work.

Listening to Susan sing this song so beautifully and then go on with her career gave us all the opportunity to Dream again.

Thanks for your visit today and 

it's week 6 already next Tuesday.

Love it when you share with others at the links below so we continue to travel around the world. (my Dream)

Is Dad having a midlife crisis? -

Laughing with Mary

Is Dad having a midlife crisis? - 

As the kids after one parent passes it's a time we focus on the one left and try to help them with the changes and figuring out what they need to support themselves.

I'm sure a lot of parents now both support the family daily life, meals, shopping, laundry commutes etc. but years ago it was mainly only the wife/mother who was home every day to handle it all.

Thinking back, I don't have any memories of Dad helping with meals, dishes, shopping, laundry, or house work. If not he had a lot to catch up on when Mom got sick and later passing.

My 2 sisters and I lived far away with jobs and children, so I'm sure he had his moments and frustrations.

While I thought the question for the video was a great one, I also was reminded of when Dad started going to a seniors dance night and thinking negatively he never took Mom out.

While there he met a lady he knew from years before that was also widowed and later took her dancing and they went out to supper most nights.

Again, he never took Mom out to for supper.

While I understand his need for companionship I know Mom would have liked the attention of an occasional Date Night to have fun, or a break from cooking the meals every day.

How do we figure it all out?

New dating is important - but can't there be an old married couple time to go out and have Fun ?

A time to remember how and why you fell in love that has lasted through the years.

As time went on we really did appreciate that he had a friend to spend time with. talk to, watch TV with and look after each other.   

PS. I don't know how this happens but a cute video like this one sent me in a different direction. 

I guess that can happen more often then we think with our feelings and words coming from a deep place, a place that may not even be related to what's going on in front of us.

Going forward I think more planed date nights and having fun together while you can is important and helps everyone. 

We often spend a lot of time on work and the daily things and forget to plan those special times that make memories of times well spent.

We're never too old ... 

Take Care, & bye for now.

New posts on Tuesday and over 700 in the 

Archives to view, save & share at your leisure.

It's May already.  

The year is going by fast.

I guess putting our thoughts on paper helps to release and soften some of those inside questions and emotions.  

Sometimes, it just takes a few weeks.

Take Care.

Links for sharing below.                                                  

Dona Anderson

After hundreds of years we still haven't figured it out.

Don't give up yet, we have things to do.

Dona Anderson

The last couple of years has shown us we need a lot of change.

And, it comes to us in many different ways from  ...

      

      The weather

      to Violence

      Murder 

      War 

      Illness

      Lies

      hardship

      homeless

      accidents

      Fires

      clean water

      empty shelves

      hording

      and more.

I remember in the beginning of the pandemic we heard the words saying we want to go back to normal.

Then we heard voices that said our before life wasn't normal.

Will these last couple of years finally become that wake up call.

I heard this interview in the video below and had to share it.

I believe a lot of us know change is needed but where can it start.

Hopefully we can find things we can do and peacefully use our voice/votes to secure change on the bigger scale.

Change needs to come in many ways even in how we shop and spend money. 

How our purchases affect nature, wildlife, rivers, oceans and more. 

Change doesn't just come from politicians.  We vote them in.

Every little bit helps.

PS. As I was listening to the video I thought of how things we buy like appliances and other things don't last very long anymore. - what happened to quality. 

How much garbage we throw out in packaging, having to get the new model, and all the plastic waste. We see the sale sign and suddenly need something we didn't an hour ago.

Here's a few lines from the meditation Why should We in my book Moving Forward from the Heart on page 69.

"Why should we support the future of the World?

Because each one of us can make a difference. 

We can be more kind, understanding and compassionate to others. 

We can listen more, use better words, be more creative, intuitive and expand our role to being guardians, caretakers and caregivers over that of bystanders and consumers."

We can - You can - I can.

If you're wanting to know more visit

Kate Raworth on YouTube.

Take Care & have a great day.

Live Your Dreams

 

We all have Dreams 

Are yours about your family, job, travel plans, perfect partner or ...

Dona Anderson

Welcome and thanks for your visit.

 I have another True Treasures post for You today.

Are your dreams about family, job, health, money, travel plans, perfect partner ... the list can be quite long.

Our dreams change as we live life, age, find new things, make choices of what we like or don't. 

There is so much choice now in all areas from our job, where we live, the food we eat and more doesn't often make it easier. 

I remember when my older sister was finishing high school she really only had the choice of 3, being a secretary, nurse or teacher.  

A while back I opened my book Moving Forward from the Heart, and found the meditation Live our dreams #55 on page 128.

As I read it over I lingered on the ending as I seem to do on most of the relaxations in this book as it offered a place to go for help. 

I thought I'd share a few lines or excerpts of it with you  for another True Treasures post..

From the beginning

"What in this day to dream seems unattainable?

What paths in your life are hidden from view?

What friendly fears try to hold you back?"

From the ending

"Unpack your dreams, spread them out and take a look. Let them come to life and be real so you can plan them into existence, plan for them to be part of your day, your life.

Each time you stretch out a little, you bring back more and go to a new place of thinking and responding. Each time you see how things change slightly, it becomes not so scary anymore. And, when you see what you need to learn more about, you know more about, how to move forward." 

"Let these dreams be ones that come with wellness, ease,

happiness and a sense of renewal ...

Let these dreams be the ones of your future..."

Moving Forward from the Heart

© Dona Anderson 2015

More information on Wellness Resources

Links below for sharing with others as we travel the world

each week spreading wellness.

Just a few more words for you today ...

Gently let the gift of silence

find your peace within...

Bye for now.

 PS. I saw this post in the archives & thought I'd share it 

Loss & Rebuilding

 So much heartbreak.

Dona Anderson

Struggling new parents and then this. 

The Loss 

We had a fire that took the first home in our married life.

We were young, poor and bought an older home because the mortgage payments back then were less than paying rent to live in someone's basement.

We borrowed the money for the down payment from a relative, got some used furniture and set up house in March. 

On Good Friday the following year it was  gone.

In a post last month, I wrote about waking up Christmas morning and  our oil tank being empty and this happened 3 months later. 

We were out most of the day as family was in town for the Easter weekend and the oil furnace didn't shut off and started a fire.

We had our baby daughter and leaving home that day with just the diaper bag was all we had left. 

Suddenly our lives had a major change.

Sometimes life gives us a setback that offers a bigger struggle than before.

But the best gift was that we were ok.

Rebuilding

Thankfully we were able to spend some time at my parents before moving on and starting over again. 

In looking back I guess that's maybe the reason I had to go straight home everyday from work, or seeing that first glimpse of our home still there after a vacation was always a huge weight to let go of.

Often it takes years to find out & notice the little changes and things we do unconsciously after a crisis, illness or whatever it was.

but, How do you rebuild a neighborhood.

Luckily we had no loss of life and a home can change locations, or be rebuilt but how do you rebuild a neighborhood that is made up of many memories, families, friends, neighbors schools and more ...

Every time I see the fires, storms, or other disasters in the news I think about all the terrible loss, about being there, the survivors and what they will go through over the days & years ahead.

How do they start over ...

PS. I hope this wasn't a sad post today but I know a lot of us are stressed and feeling the stress of others.  

Let's help when we can by donating & supporting shops and other places that assist in providing free or low cost items that are needed especially in emergency situations. 

And don't forget the animals who lost their home too.

Last years winter pansies.
Love the face on the top one.

Please support the emergency responders who run towards helping and not away from ...

Thanks for you visit today. 

New posts every Tuesday.

You can share posts at the Links below.

Your shares Help us to spread Wellness around the World. Thank You.

Over 650 past posts in the Archives that you can view & share.

Bye for today.  

Let's get Back together again next Tuesday or any day in the Archives. 

Here's a post from last summer to help you relax and enjoy 9 beautiful places from around the world

Lucy & Kelsie on neighborhood watch.

We finally became part of a neighbourhood success story

 

What's yours like?

Your neighbourhood ...

Dona Anderson

We've been living in this neighbourhood for 20 years now.

The longest either of us have been in the same home. 

Our house was being build while we lived in a different location so long drives commuting, planes, phone calls and frustrating times were all part of that previous year. 

Then came the move and now we don't have jobs anymore, we're here all day, what do we do - will you quit the latest project and sit down and rest.

It's been memorable in many ways.

The neighbourhood may be the same as many others but in our before lives we were gone to work during the day or on shift work, and lived in a different climate so we didn't hang out or know many of the neighbours. 

We didn't know many of their names, their dogs, kids or much else.

Even our dog at the time didn't help because she didn't like to go walking. 

We did though have 2 of the best people close by that became dear friends.

Living here we get to notice more changes. A few leaving and new owners come, babies, little kids moving in and growing up, learning to ride their bikes and gather with friends. 

Lots of dogs out getting their daily walks and people too. 

Where do they all come from?

It's great to share smiles and good mornings as we pass, visit, share garden goodies, suppers and help when needed. 

It's our time now to witness what a neighbourhood is, can be and enjoy watching it grow up. 

Some day we will need to move on and let someone else take over our home but we will take with us lots of great memories of our many years here.

 

Memories are easy to take with You & share,

no packing required. 

Thanks for your visit and for sharing with others. Links below.

PS. I hope  you enjoyed this years Summer of Music - they're all in the Archives for July & August 2021.

It was a wonderful time to reconnect with this beautiful World of ours, and the video's are quite relaxing. 

I'm sure many will be watched several times or even help to make new vacation destinations. 

Thank You for sharing with others.  All our shares help us to keep spreading Wellness around the World.   

 Links below.

Previous years Summer of Music are in the Archives for July and August 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and now 2021.  

Here's a post from 2019 about gardens. It's kind of a broader look at the word  garden in a sense but the food part gets repeated every year.

Comments Welcomed.

Bye for now and Take Care 😀

New posts Weekly - Tuesdays our day.

A gift from a neighbour.

Which spelling do you use where you live - neighborhood or neighbourhood ?

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.

Are You feeling a bit Lost these Days?

one of my photo messages 

Listen to the words

of your Heart.

Many Gifts appear

from the Found

Thanks for your visit today!

Dona Anderson

Subscribe to Dona Anderson by Email

Going back in time for this Story. 

Before I started Yoga I led a life full of routines - daily, weekly monthly and yearly. 

I took the bus to work and home and even though the ride home stopped at a grocery store, I never got off to pick up something.

I had to get home - to see if everything was OK, the kids, the dogs, the house and then get supper and the next days lunch started. 

Life seemed rushed, no spontaneity.

While our housework day changed as many times as there are days in the week, if something disrupted doing the chores on that certain day - you still had to do them and most days had something so that meant double up duties.

Only having about 4 hours or so when you got home went by very fast before bedtime and the start to the next day.  The weekends as you know were always busy too.

I used to go for lots of walks but I never really saw anything, missed little changes and even some big ones. 

My husband helped me get better at that but taking time to notice wasn't something I knew much about, learned or was taught when I grew up. 

Help is coming ... 

In this post I want to share with you the poem Lost and Found which I wrote after I finished writing Simply, One Breath At a Time. 

The book helped me grow and understand more about life, it guided me to make changes, be comfortable and the poem let me put it all together.

Through the practice of Yoga and my Writing about Breath, Body, Awareness, Connection, Gratitude and more I continued to learn about my needs, to feel and notice those parts of my life and health that were left behind, left unnoticed.

Luckily those valuable gifts of learning and growth continue throughout our life and in our later years we have the time to listen and respond.

Then as my second book came along it was time to share the poem in Moving forward from the Heart. 

An introduction and the poem are on pages 11 & 12. 

Now it's time to share the poem with You.

Go slowly and see what presents itself to you today and then ...

Pick one to sit with and see what you find.

  Lost and Found

    

"Lost myself – 

found out what’s important and brings me joy

Lost track of time – 

found the now in the present moment 

Lost imagination – 

found treasures, gifts, paradise, nature 

                  

         Lost comfort – 

         found softness from letting go, and smiling

Lost paying attention –

found myself choosing to be aware

Lost appreciation – 

found feelings of fullness from gratitude

Lost awareness – 

found time to see, hear, feel and connect

Lost my breath – 

found a nourishing breath flowing within me

Lost a quiet mind –

found that I can slow down thoughts and rest 

Lost peace – 

found a safe place for me to open up my heart"

© 2015 Dona Anderson
Moving Forward from the Heart

 Another post

you may like at this link.

Lost ...

Myself -Time - Imagination - Comfort -

 Paying Attention - Appreciation - Awareness - 

Breath - Quiet Mind - Peace

Did you relate to something?

PS. I still love routines to keep me on track but now I can relax with them, appreciate them instead of feeling pressure and dictated to. 

Now they allow me to keep time and space for the good habits I want and need to follow my goals and wellness plans.

Have a wonderful Day.

Where in the World do we travel too?

See some below the picture.

New posts each Tuesday.

My free gifts of Wellness.

Also check out the Archives

over 600 posts.

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Thank You & Take Care.

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