How to decide Between music and medicine

Decisions 

Robert Gupta: Between music and medicine

I shared this video back in 2014 and had forgotten about it until it was discovered in the Archives. A big Thank You to that person.

I watched it and thought it would be good to share again as a lot has happened since 2014.

Many decisions are hard to make and his surely were but he was lucky to find a way to work in both. 

The mix of 2 things you love was a WIN for him, us and the music and medicine World.

I'm glad the video let us hear his story and how music is healing in many ways.

The last several years have been difficult for those pursuing their dreams in education, employment etc. 

PS. One of our best friends of over 40 years and a nurse developed Parkinson's and had really bad dyskinesia's for years. (uncontrollable twitches, jerks, twisting). 

After we moved here and I became a Yoga teacher a new activity for me became  writing relaxations to share in my classes. 

My friend couldn't do a Yoga class but I was so pleased to visit and share a few movements and my writing with her that helped her relax, breathe, calm her body and release stress. 

Sitting in her chair the dyskinesia's slowly decreased and she started to relax and gently fell asleep. 

After years of her nursing and helping others, I was grateful that I could help give her some time to rest comfortably.

And, (Ok) yes her husband was on the couch napping as well.

I love that these posts also gives me a way to

share my photo's. Love the lilies.

Links for sharing with others below.

Check out the Archives for over 700 past posts.

You may find another post that wants to be shared again.

In sharing the video I hope viewers find something they can do, or be inspired to do something they never thought of even if it's for their retirement activities. 

Lets go where we're Appreciated & Celebrated.

73 Ways to Support You going Forward

It's Birthday Time
5th Birthday 

Celebration Time 💚

Dona Anderson

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Wow, five years ago tomorrow I was picking up the boxes of Moving Forward from the Heart and had to open one quickly to see it for real.

And, then I got to go through the pages on the drive home. (Nope, I wasn't driving)

It seems that it has always been with me - at least longer than 5 years since and the time I worked on it.

Sometimes you have to write the 1st book to get to the second so I guess that's what I did. 

It's fun to have previous buyers of Simply, One Breath At a t time stop to tell me how they enjoy my work and one lady last fall came by to tell me she had bought Simply,10 years ago and still uses it all the time.

Moving Forward from the Heart is also helping others and lots of comments from shoppers and readers why are listed below and on the Wellwishers page.

- help a new empty nester

- help me heal my heart

- learn more about myself
- for relaxation
- figure out this time of my life
- lovely words and charming prose
- want all your stuff
- it leaves time and space to dream
- emphasis on breath

Link to the Wellwishers page 

Here's one you'll see ...

"In just a few words, it's a lovely book. It's obvious that a lot of care and thought went into your presentation. The are many books out there on meditation but I would say "Moving Forward..." is one of the best, so readable, so accessible, so uplifting".

Our World and lives are full of stuff, being busy, emotions, fake and troubling news, storms, tragedies and more.

Stress seems to be a normal part of our conversations.

It's getting harder and harder to make ends meet, enjoy life and have some time to get to know who we are or even have a moment to be still and think about it.

These 73 meditations help us to relax, breathe, visit nature and figure some of that out along the way.

The first meditation is titled, So Much More to See.

The last is, You Became the Beauty. 

Between the two are 71 other titles ...

Some of the others you'll meet are,

  Message in Dona's photo is on page 52

A Place for Messages

Words from a Friend

Practicing Calm

Breathe Happy

Garden in your Dreams

Possibilities Gently Drift in

Special places

Begin again

Visions for the Future

Letting Life be Easy

Tree House

Earth Angel

Rise and Shine

One Hug

Live your Dreams

Lullaby of Peace

    

Open yourself up to wonder and dream ...

A post I did July 14, 2015 a few months before I got my hands on a real copy started with ...

It's always a bit scary to let your work out for everyone to see.  I've been working on this baby for over 4 years and it's time to let it go so I can find out what is next for me.

The following is in the book and talks about

What Moving Forward from the Heart means to me!

When I wrote Simply, One Breath At a Time I had the title right away, and then with  this book I only had a few ideas for the title until Moving Forward from the Heart came to me at the end, long after all the writing was done. 

It was in one of those still, quiet times and it made perfect sense.

Since completing this book, I can see now that I was unknowingly writing from my Heart and Soul, and my Heart wanted to know more about compassion, hope, the ability to change, and forgiveness.

My Heart wanted to know more about how to heal, open, love and most of all how to move on and forward.

I’m always sharing things on my Blog as I learn from life and time, and now I am also learning from all the meditations in this book.

They nudge me to let go of what I need to and remind me to live my life now, celebrate all that I am, have and can be.  They remind me to celebrate others and our beautiful earth.  

They give me strength and courage, and ask me to think, to see, explore and to share.

Does this sound like a book for You'd like ...

Message in this photo is on page 119.

Welcome with gratitude this

 special time to be with yourself 

and all that you are ...

More information on the
 Resources Page 

Thanks for sharing at the links below. 

PS. Love this message on the front cover -
Sweetness lies inside the spaces where
you free your body, mind and spirit to
fully celebrate life!

Pictures for post only.


Thanks for your visit and have a great day.

 Find out more from this book

at the label below - Moving Forward.

Ashokan Farewell from the film "The Civil War" by Jay Ungar

Beautiful Music 

by this Youth Orchestra


Dona Anderson

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I was introduced to this piece late last year after I started learning to play the Cello.

It's very soothing and the Youth Orchestra is inspirational and makes me wonder what they'll be doing in their future.

I hope it's Music. 

There're more variations on You Tube

for you to pick your favorite.

Take Care & have a wonderful week.

Hope you'll visit again next week.

I have a lot of practicing to do in my future.

PS. Thank you for your help in Sharing Everyday Wellness with others.
Links below.

Once You Share they go from my Gifts to Our Gifts!

Fall is definitely Here.

I Hope You hear what I hear...

Music is never very far Away!

Your Favorites from last year.

Dona Anderson

You know I love to share great Music,
Right!

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Hello Hello!

I have a Music combo for you today.

It's not long before my 2020 Summer of Music selections will be coming to you so I thought I'd let you know what the 3 most viewed from 2019 were.

All are wonderful and share thoughts of LOVE & Healing. 

Congrats you got my top 3 too!

And it was really hard - loved them all.

If you missed it last year or not we can love these all over again.

wow - Love the colors of these leaves!

#1
Perfect Symphony - Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli

#2

Healing Time on Earth - John Denver

#3
Angel - Sarah McLachlan & Pink

Thank You for enjoying the selections
I've shared these last 3 years. 

This years 2020 Summer of Music starts July 7.

Get the weekly link sent to your inbox.

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All the previous years selections are in the archives.
July & August 2017, 2018, 2019.
As a visitor you get to search the archives over & over again!

Thanks for your visit & have a wonderful day!

WELLNESS made EASY

Keep going towards Your Dream

Dona Anderson

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Direct to You from Me, the Author.

Gifts for a Lifetime!

It's that time of year to start the wish lists.

Breathe Easy 

    
No ending to these resources. 

Lots of Help to Relax & be your best self.

Opportunities for new thinking and adventures

Feel Joy, Freedom, Presence

Easy ways to make You part of your day

Want more info - 
Visit the Resources Page
Visit the Wellwishers Page
Visit the Answers Page

I'm here to HELP.

Direct from Author Sales

Also eBook is available anytime for Simply, One Breath At a Time - check the Resources page & get the eBook no Shipping - or Waiting!

New posts coming each week.

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I wish I had these resources earlier in my Life.

Connect to more posts using the labels below
Simply, Moving Forward, One Rose Cards

Stay connected with more

on Facebook

A One Rose message for you.

The breath gives us choice and

 strength, courage and confidence,

 calmness and  healing ...

Info on Resources page 

Read a bit of what others had to say.

SUMMER breezes

Warm Summer Breezes ...

Have a seat for a few minutes.

Dona Anderson

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I was looking for a Meditation the other day and came across this one that mentioned the warm breezes of summer. 

So I decided to share it with you and let it Welcome all of us to this years summer starting in a few days.

This is from CLOSE your eyes. It's #20 in my book, Moving Forward from the Heart - page 60

Before we start imagine sitting on this bench and enjoying a few breaths to get yourself relaxed ... when you're ready, let this meditation relax you even more...

"When the soft warm summer breezes begin to blow, soften your eyes so you can see more clearly, and let yourself relax, renew and reflect.

Enjoy a big yawn or a stretch to open your body and mind ...

Now gently ...
                                        Breathe in Strength

to send out gentleness

                               Breathe in Balance

to help you move forward

                               Breathe in Patience

to achieve greatness

                               Breathe in Joy

to take on your journey

                               Breathe in Silence

to hear your heart sing,

                                      Let your breath

                  Carry your heart songs out into the breeze

  to be shared with the world .."

© Dona Anderson 2015

Before you go - rest and enjoy a few more minutes to let your breath take you to a place of gentleness to help you to move forward, achieve greatness, take on your journey and make your heart sing.

 and then Let your breath

                  Carry your heart songs out into the breeze

  to be shared with the world ..

i HOPE your day is full of warm summer breezes or if it's another season where you live, please enjoy what it offers you today as well. 

And, you can add it to your Wellness toolbox to save for when it is summer or to enjoy any time!

Take Care.

Want to know more - Follow the links to the Resources Page

Wellwishers Page

Don't miss the Summer of Music
 starting July 2. You can get past years
in the archives for July & August 2017 & 2018.

Thank You for sharing with others at the Links below.
Together we can share Wellness around the World
It's already working and just a moment to share keeps it going.

See this post from a few weeks ago about where our sharing takes us.

Click on the label Moving Forward below for more from this book.

Love the Tulips

The beautiful Colors and

fragrances of Spring,

and in this post we get time to 
Breathe & Relax 

Dona Anderson

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I'm sharing with you two parts of the last guided relaxation titled, Permission to Rest in my book, Simply, One Breath At a Time, page 127.

The beginning. Go slowly and I like to repeat this several times.

Say to yourself... I give myself permission to rest...to become quiet, to simply be here.

After you pause to enjoy the photo, check out the ending.

Amazing Photo from last year

I can almost smell their wonderful Fragrance

continue slowly

Now, the ending.

If I take a breath and let it slowly, I feel the difference...when I feel the difference, I get a glimpse of what is possible...

When I get a glimpse of what is possible, I open up more...

When I open up and get in touch with the rhythm of myself, I participate more fully in the movement to breathe freely, with intention...

When I breathe more freely and with intention, I begin to live with presence and awareness...

This presence and awareness graciously nourishes and fills my body, my mind and my spirit ...

How do you want this moment to be...

exactly as it is...

© Dona Anderson 2008

Did you smell the Tulips?

Get info quickly at this link

 to the Resources Page 

Please visit again & sign up to follow by email.
New posts out on Tuesdays.

Dona's Photo for post only

What is Relaxation? This photo helps, so... Peaceful.

Don't be like ME - I wasted years 

Get started before it's too late! 

Dona Anderson
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Finding Relaxation ...            

                                         What is relaxation?

Yoga introduced me to Guided Relaxation and Meditation.

At the end of each class we were asked lay down and be still, to breathe and relax our body.  

At first I fell asleep, when I was able to stay awake I was usually restless, replayed conversations, or was reminded of all the things I had to do.  

     Is this relaxation? 
I think I need more practice.

I guess that's why they call this the hardest Yoga pose to do. 

Real relaxation does require practice, patience and it has an intention.

But you don't have to do Yoga or lay down.

It can just be a walk, sitting in the garden, a few minutes in the morning or before bed, a lunch time break, sitting on the bus or waiting for the tea to steep. 

Any time that suits YOU.

There are many styles of Guided Relaxation and it might be like a story that asks you to follow along and notice what's happening as you slowly relax different areas of the body and deepen your breath. 

You may hear words like release, soften let go calm slow feel open allow and breathe.

They may seem like a foreign language.

Or, it may be about focusing on an object, a scent or a visualization. 

Whatever it is, it takes you on an adventure and invites you to follow along, to focus on the breath, an area of your body, a place, a thought, nature or perhaps it's as simple as a smile. 

While you follow along and breathe, you slowly start to let go of all those other thoughts and begin to clear and open the mind. You start to move into the present moment.

What you discover can be a very precious gift. 

I found a time to soften and breathe,

a time to feel comfortable with who you are,  

a time to remove obstacles, release tension 

 and I found a place to notice the difference, to feel it, to be with it.   

The practice opened me up to a place where I had tried to reach before but had never quite made it.

The awareness and benefits you gain can also help you use the breath in your everyday life as a tool to support your wellness.

Whether it is for a quick busy day refresher, when you feel out of balance or in times of stress, you can focus on your breath and watch as it gently relaxes and guides you back to the present moment.

Relaxes and guides

you back to the 

present moment

Even a minute can help separate you from a stress, a worry or a busy time and place. 

You’ll be able to experience the feeling of your breath bringing you back to balance and to peaceful thoughts.  

You may even find an open space in your schedule and in your mind.

Let the breath take you where you need to go!

Do a Search for benefits of Relaxation

You may even want to start a Wellness group at work or with your friends.

Here's some resources to help to get you started.

Check out other posts using the labels below.

Links to share or comment below.

More posts below or in the archives.

Follow me on Facebook

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PROMOTION - 10 YEARS

Not my Birthday yet but something I'm very connected with.

Simply, One Breath At a Time

A Collection of Guided Relaxations

to Refresh your Body and Soul

10 years old already.

Special Offer coming up.  Details below.

Dona Anderson
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I love this book ...

Last month at a Wellness and Spirit Fair the organizer came to meet me and let me know she had a copy given to her and said she uses it a lot in her work. 

Another vendor came to tell me she had gotten a copy years ago. Since then she's moved several times and recently joined a yoga class where she's living now and the teacher was using Simply, One Breath At a Time. She told me she got a big smile and enjoyed telling the teacher that she had one also.

Small world ... 

Here's another story you might like.

In addition to my sharing Simply, with others in Yoga, I used it to make the One Rose Wellness cards, my CD Permission to Rest, most of my photo messages and many excerpts that are in previous posts on this Blog.

Click on the labels at the bottom of this page for Simply, One Rose Cards and Photo Message.

Happy Birthday Simply! 10 years ago you were at the printers getting all set up, your beautiful cover and waiting for me to return from vacation. 

Is it Time to Get your Copy? Plus ...

For the month of November 2018,

when you purchase a (paper) copy of Simply, One Breath At a Time, I'll add in the CD, Permission to Rest for Free. 

Total Relaxation for the whole Body, Mind and Soul.


See all the wonderful comments from others on the Wellwishers page.

Head over to the Resources page here for more information about Simply, the CD and also direct from author purchase information. 

Just to start you off Simply, has 65 guided scripts for Relaxation & Meditation.

Use for Stress reduction, before Bed, Breathing techniques, Mindfulness, soothing Emotions, reducing unwanted Thoughts, increasing Awareness, Imagery, Gratitude and more.

Now is a Wonderful time not only to get Gifts for Self to Support your own Wellness but you may also know someone else who needs to Relax, let go of Stress and Breathe. 

Hope to see you in my inbox.

Check out this post that has been travelling the World

Thanks for your visit and have a wonderful week ahead.  New post out next Tuesday.

    

Having Fear of Failure?

I can't do it.

Meditation and Relaxation is hard ...

Not any more - I'm Making it Easy.

All you need to do is take a few minutes to breathe, read or listen.

Dona Anderson

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I'm not talking about some of the extreme styles that take years of practice. 

I want you to be able start NOW today.

Please stay and check out the information coming up - this may be exactly what you need to learn about today.

Google benefits of Meditation, Guided Meditation & Relaxation and wow there is so much to check out.  One site I found had 141 benefits.

Here's just a few 

Relaxation & Meditation made Easy 

Increases happiness, awareness, memory

Improves focus, attention, decision making, relationships

Reduces stress, blood pressure, worry, anxiety

Ya But - Resistance
It's a waste of time, difficult, I get restless, agitated

I can't - Too many thoughts - we'll always have thoughts coming so just let them go and bring your focus back to your next breath.

It's hard - I want EASY
any of these sound familiar ...

To help you I wrote lots of different scripts that do all the work - you just follow along. 

They will take you on an adventure or help you discover your body and breath. 

They might invite you to rest, go to a far off place like your toes, ask you to smile or maybe give yourself a hug.  

You can do this  and I've given you links to scripts and messages later in this post.

You'll Learn to let go of all the chatter by just taking a breath and starting to read.  You can start with one sentence, paragraph or a page.

The more you practice this type of relaxation and the quieting of the body and mind it gets easier and quicker to experience those benefits and make them part of your life.

Where - Find your place of comfort whether it's sitting on the floor with cushions, a chair/recliner or enjoying those last few minutes before you go to sleep in bed at night 💗 Relaxing Bedtime Stories.

Change where you practice. I have my yoga room that's quiet and comfortable with lots of bolsters and blankets and I also like to sit outside in the garden in the summer or by the fireplace in the winter. It's also fun to go to the beach, sit on a log and just breathe.

It's funny how You can even become still and quiet in busy noisy places. You can use the time on your bus rides, while waiting for an appointment or taking a few breaths to relax in the grocery store lineup. 

How - At first you may not want to read all of a script - that's OK, you can skip words, lines, change them to bring in your own special affirmations, breath exercises or whatever you want your practice to be about.

You can read it to yourself or to someone else.  

And if someone reads to you it's OK to nod off if you need to for a few minutes - happens a lot. Later you will find you stay more alert and present.  

Everyday is different and some days it does take longer to relax and that's OK.  I usually find that on those days the Relaxation/Meditation is needed even more.

It's fun to share and read to others so they to can feel joy, presence, awareness and gratitude.

I love to hear others taking those full breaths as they get relaxed and one of my favorite memories of this is when I'd read to one of my best friends who had Parkinson's. 

She had tremors very bad and within a few minutes she would get so relaxed, become still, quiet and go to sleep in her chair.  (Yes her husband on the couch would be sleeping as well)  Usually when I stopped talking they wake up but sometimes not.

How do I get started -  here goes

This started it all - Simply, One Breath At a Time

These 2 posts share  Beauty All Around Me and  Wave of Comfort 

One Rose Wellness Cards - are special short messages from Simply

Try these 2 out from the post titled Special Discoveries and Wellness Messenger at it Again 

I still had more to say -  from my second book, Moving Forward from the Heart

Here's the first meditation from this book, So Much more to See  and  I love the little poem My Breath  in this post.

Enjoy making new Beginnings

Check out this earlier post about how I started.

Tell me what you think, and Thank You for Sharing at the links below.

My Dream is to spread Wellness out to others around the World and your sharing helps make that possible.  This post has continued to be shared and travel the World.

Want more examples - go the labels below Simply, One Rose Cards, Moving Forward.

Also check out the label Photo Message for more messages and there's lots more in the blog archives.

More info on the Shop Page 

Let me know how it goes.

I share weekly posts here to support your wellness practice.

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"Say to yourself,

perhaps this will be another perfect day ..."

Here's Help to Say Goodbye to STRESS

Reduce Stress

and

You don't even have to wear Yoga pants

But you can if you want.

Dona Anderson

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Would you like to experience more Presence and Awareness in your day?

Dona Anderson, Message from Simply,
One Breath at a Time

Years ago when I first experienced Guided Relaxation and Meditation at the end of my yoga classes I was puzzled, but in a good way.

I know you're going to say I'm too Busy but  trust me, you can start with just a couple of minutes.

We all have to breathe anyway.

Better NOW then later.  See this earlier post of how Stress Affects our Health.

I never knew how badly I needed this practice either.

In the beginning I said what lots of you will say ~ 

Who has time for this?

I remember my first teacher just read from a book and most of the time I didn't understand what she was saying but I was comfortable, relaxing and sometimes fell asleep. Since this was a lunchtime class at work, I enjoyed it and wanted more. ( It reminded me a bedtime story or our kindergarten nap time.)

Other teachers took me further into guided relaxation that invited me to become more aware of the breath and I learned about focusing on areas of the body to relax.

As my practice grew it offered me choices, things to do, experience and become aware of.

And, I heard words like balance, connection, imagine, experience, offer, explore, presence, flow, feel, move, invite.

In the beginning this seemed like Crazy talk.

Then Life started to change for me.

Here's How

9 ways we Benefit from Guided Relaxation & Meditation that will continue to help you nourish your body, mind and soul ... 

Awareness - The Beginning.  When I learned to pause I started to Notice things - the good & the bad in all areas of my body, life and world.  

Attitude - first impressions aren't always the right ones.  Some things just need time and for us to do the work. We all have things that come easy to us that we're good at but I think our real Gifts come from the other things that can be a lot of Work. That's where we get the most satisfaction for our success.

Communication - Life changing. Learning that we do have lots of body parts and then the Exchange between the Body, Breath & Mind.

Compassion - Kindness is Free. When we connect to & observe our own Body and all that comes with it we can have more compassion for ourselves and others.

Connection - Putting it all Together. Your body, mind & soul - it's like a puzzle with lots of bits and pieces all fitting in as one.

Experience - Improvement. Grows with the 3 p's, Practice Participation Patience and paying attention. 

Mindfulness - You start paying attention, focusing on one thing at a time. You have awareness of what you're feeling, doing, your actions & thoughts.  You get Comfortable spending time and noticing one thing at a time. 

Presence - Be here Now.  Listening, Noticing and Being in the minutes & moments in your real life leaving thoughts and worries behind.  

and I'll finish this list with 

Gratitude - Feelings of being Grateful.  Feelings affect our whole life, health and our interactions. Let's have ones of appreciation, thanks, trust, caring and peace growing in our Hearts, homes and our World. 

Are you ready to Start Living Better Today? 

Lots more Relaxation info on the Shop Page.

You can do this

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Visit this earlier post for more Gifts from Yoga