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!

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.

I almost did a big Oops

 

Oops

Dona Anderson

Hi, how are you today.

Here's what my Oops was about.

I almost forgot to post the top 3 from 2020

Summer of Music before the 2021 selections

start in a couple of weeks.

So a quick swap and here they are and for the first time we had a tie for 3rd place spot. (at least it was at the time of my writing this)

here goes ...

Link here to one in 3rd  and here's the other one

Happy to see both of these on the list. Love this one, check out #2

I knew this next one would be in first place.

The Winner  is! It really connected to 2020. 

All are wonderful.

PS. All the previous 4 years selections are available to view in the Archives for July & August.

You may find many favorites among them. 

Thank You for sharing with others.  

Together we're spreading Wellness around the World.

Links below.

2021 Summer of Music starts July 6.

and we have 9 weeks this year! 😄

there's always Music somewhere

I'm slowly learning to play the Cello. 

How am I doing?

It depends on the day and I'll need many more years. 

And, it doesn't help when I don't practice. 

After the songs You May 

Need a few minutes to relax, you can with this post.

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.

Van Morrison - Have I Told You Lately

Still in the Valentine's MOOD 💗

Dona Anderson

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Do You still have perhaps the flowers, cookies, chocolates, cake or a glass of wine leftover ...

I've always loved this song and since it's our anniversary soon I like to let Valentines linger on as an excuse to treat ourselves.

Actually - we seem to find something for a little treat most nights. 

It's funny when you get together you don't think about 10, 25, 40, 50 years later - will we still be alive, like each other, will we feel & look old.

Where will we be living, how many kids and grandchildren do we have.

 Are they happy & healthy.

Where did we work, what were our hobbies. 

Did we have lots of good friends.

What are our memories ...

Life is full of puzzles, often mixed in with good & other times.  

Keep loving the people you love and let them know.

We all need to see, feel and hear that we matter.

Take Care!

Links for sharing below.

Are you signed up to follow by email yet?

New posts every Tuesday.

Subscribe to Dona Anderson by Email

PS. A great Gift to give yourself and others is your beautiful Smile.

It's a special time that connects you to the present moment and is a Gift to both the Giver & Receiver. 😊

Bye for now.

Have Fun this week - 

You deserve to laugh and have lots of fun.

New posts each week and you can

view and share past ones in the Archives.

My gifts to you.

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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.

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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 ... 💚

Old Christmas Letter Found

what's in the letter?

what ... does it Say?

New posts every Tuesday connect us to Stories,

 Gratitude, Life, Happy Hearts and more.

Do you need any of this?

Dona Anderson

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Last Spring I found a few old Christmas Letters
in a binder when I was going through a cabinet.

They brought up so many memories for me in times less Busy. 

Simpler times, that we'll all have our own stories about.

As I read them over again I thought I'd share this one with you.

It's an old letter about even older Christmas memories and when reading it I immediately went back in time - it felt like watching an old Movie just missing the sleigh ride.

Here goes - wishing now it was shorter

it starts with

Good Tidings to You

Each year the holiday season is a special time that provides us with opportunities for creating memories, wonder, connection, reflection and if you let it, stillness.

Growing up on the Canadian prairies, the holidays offered moments to walk in the crisp new snow, bundle up with many layers of soft warm clothes, mittens and scarves, listen to the squeaky sounds of winter, and be able to see your breath so you knew it was right there with you.

I remember walking on a milder evening with a friend while beautiful snowflakes fell and talking for hours about nothing important but it felt the Best. 

I remember being able to walk over to relatives to drop off presents instead of mailing them and getting to see them thankfully placed under their tree, and then having a cup of warm cocoa and some homemade cookies.  I got to go along to the store to buy the big turkey, and help pick out the most beautiful Christmas tree to decorate. 

It was always the best when I got to place the angel on top, and then to feel the pause in the air when the tree lights were first turned on.  

And, there was nothing better than helping fill tins with freshly baked cookies and getting to eat the ones that were not quite perfect.

I remember anxiously waiting for family to return home for the holidays, and sitting at the long decorated dinner table for hours with our best china and silverware over second and third helpings, and then the finale - Mom's Christmas pudding for dessert!

Photo by S. Anderson

If it was possible, one of my wishes has always been to sit at Mom's Christmas table again but as an adult with all the same people instead of the young child I was.

I would like to be able to again listen to their stories so I could remember them, to see and hear what my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles other relatives and dearest family friends talked about then, how they all laughed and connected and most of all, to learn more about who they were.

As a child we often get little glimpses inside the people around us without the opportunity to really know them and their stories.  We think there will be lots of time later but unfortunately life and time always changes our world and those in it.  

Our daily lives are different from back then to now, but in so many ways the same.  

Even with all the changes and differences, I think the important things, the hope and the desserts of our life are the same, to love and to be loved, to laugh and smile, be happy and healthy and know that someone is there to notice, to see us and be part of our lives.

My wish list this season is to share and connect with others, to be part of their life and to let them be part of mine.

To make new memories and joy through our laughter and smiles, enjoy each bite of the food we eat together, and just sit and talk for awhile about nothing important but it will be the best.

And while the earth in this part of the world is preparing to rest now for the winter and we say bye to 2011 and welcome 2012, I will take some time to pause for awhile and celebrate with gratitude all that is in my present life, my hopes for the future, and I'll bring along other wonderful memories of the past to enjoy again!

And to you, a Happy New Year ...

now can I have some more pudding please!

Thank You for visiting today.

PS.

That was the last time I wrote a big Christmas letter  - later I just wrote little notes in the cards and sadly the cards and notes got less and less each year. 

Looking back now, I wonder if I should have continued a few years longer.(?)

Have You ever revisited some old letters you wrote - 
for me, it was a wonderful way to connect to who I
 was in that time of  my life.

Links for sharing below and comments welcomed.

Photo's added for this post.

Photo of Barn was taken by Sandra Anderson.

B&W copy is in Simply, One Breath At a Time

Feel part of a global community as

these posts are shared with others and 

travel the world.

cookies, I saw the word cookies somewhere - YUM.

what's your favorite kind of Cookie

What is Your Stress level telling You.

Please Take Care of YOU

What does that mean to you.

How do You take care of yourself ...

Stress even affects how we look and age. 

Another post for your
Wellness Toolbox.

Dona Anderson

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Let's start today with a 
few moments to Relax.  

Soften your shoulders,

your back ... your hands ... and face ...

Soften your breath to allow it to move 
through your whole body and mind
 letting go of Stress and moving
towards Relaxation.

A One Rose and message is waiting for you when

you feel ready.

   

A November Rose from 2 years ago.

Feel the Simplicity of this time  to rest and be with your breath a simple precious gift ...

Each Breath is our most precious Gift.

It's with us every day, every hour, every minute ...

 it becomes our friend, our teacher, our companion.

Please take care of You as your whole body breathes

 in Gratitude, Patience and Love.

Wellness Resources

Feel the Simplicity of this time  to rest

 and be with your breath

 a simple precious gift ...

One Rose Wellness cards is a set

of 105 messages all from the pages

of Simply, One Breath At a Time.

Thank You for your visit and
for sharing with others as we
spread Wellness around the
World. Links below.
   

Where in the World will we travel to this week?

Use the label One Rose Cards below

to find more similar posts.

PS. I hope you'll subscribe to get your

email link for these weekly posts. 

They'll help You easily make a
Wellness folder for the posts you
want to see or share again.

Quick access.

Subscribe to Dona Anderson by Email

Only one email a week, no cost no hassel.

No - I don't want to Say Goodbye to Summer

September 1.

Seems like overnight 

Summer came & went

but now it's time to look forward to the colors of Fall.

Dona Anderson

Summer is almost over and for me it always feels done once September begins. 

It's kind of the timetable for getting back to our regular life again but 2020 has not been normal for any of us.

We don't know what normal activities will return or what they will look like. 

Our lives have been changed and we will need to be patient and hope for the best.

I do hope you enjoyed the selections for this years Summer of Music.

It's always FUN for me to pick them.

Did You have a favorite?

if so, Please share with us 

in the comments below.

Photos and messages by Dona

I'm sharing these  photos to help remind us of Summer life, the rhythm, colors, fragrances - all its Gifts.

Your Time spent outside enjoying 

*all the beautiful flowers, fruit, vegetables

*walks in the woods, gardens, parks, at the beach

* or maybe this year it was just sitting outside reading or doing nothing

*watching & listening to the birds and the bees buzzing around

or perhaps just staying close to home 

*watching the sunrise or sunsets ...

Feeding the Body Mind & Soul with

the Beauty of Summer.

Summer is our time in nature enjoying Blue & Green spaces that help us all by reducing stress and creating feelings of wellness and happiness.

Thank You Summer

Links for sharing below,
together we're sending 
Wellness around the World.

Thanks for Helping!

   
Messages in photos were taken

from the pages of 

Simply, One Breath At a Time,

link here to all Resources

Summer of Music posts live on in the archives for
July & August 2020,

You can visit anytime.

Thank You for visiting today.

If you're a first time visitor Welcome & Thank You. 

New posts published every Tuesday, 
and over 600 in the archives for everyone to 
view and share at their leisure. 

My weekly Wellness gifts to You. 

Sign up to follow by email.
Just a couple of steps and you'll receive the
weekly email link to new posts.

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PS. One of my Summer favorite things to do is have my breakfast on the back deck around 8:30 as the sun comes over the trees.

I'm Hoping to get a few more weeks.  

Still - Keeping Life Simple.

What are some of the things you love to do in the summer?

More info more often on Facebook

Dona Anderson, Roots to Breath

@rootstobreathwellness

 

 · Health & Wellness Website

This is Your Fight Song (Rachel Platten Scottish Cover) - The Piano Guys

Summer of Music

continues with ...

The Piano Guys

Piano Cello 

+ Bagpipes, Drums & more

Dona Anderson
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Why do these videos end so soon? 

Go ahead play it again.

If you just joined us, you can find the previous posts for this years Summer of Music below or the archives for July & August.

And there's more -

This is the 4th year so you can check out the previous years 2017, 2018 and 2019 July and August as well.

Next week will be the last selection for this summer and regular posts return in September.

Not to worry though -
Music is never very far away. 

If you visit here often you'll know

I have many Favorites to share.

Thanks for visiting, take care and have a wonderful week.

Links for commenting
 and sharing below.

Who do you know that would love to 
see this video in their inbox.

PS. Our shares continue to spread lots of Wellness and Music around the World,

 this one may even get some smiles, dancing and singing!

Do you play an instrument or you're the singer?

Let us know in the comments.

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.