Celebration of Life.

 

Remembering lives well lived.

Dona Anderson

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

It often feels like family outside of home.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Each had a life very well lived,

and we'll miss them all.

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

Todays quiet place to rest.

Bye for today & take care.

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

Missing my activities and friends.

 

Celtic Thunder - Amazing Grace

     

Celtic Thunder.

Dona Anderson

Summer of Music 2022

Week 2

Here's a very popular song sung by many.

I've always liked the Celtic Thunder group, their voices are all different but meld together so beautifully. 

I hope you enjoy this arrangement, 

of a very popular song.

PS. In one of my posts from last year I wrote about all our time growing up we were told we were Irish and then an ancestry test result said I was 75% Scottish. 

Well that was sure a surprise that took awhile to sink in.

It really doesn't matter but it would sure have had our parents looking for answers. 

I wonder what many conversations would have been like if more of us had DNA Ancestry information years ago. 

I don't know if the disagreements would have been more or less (?)

Anyway enjoy this great song with a long history. 

It was written by John Newton in the 1770's. 

 Have a great week ahead and Thank You for your visit.

Links for sharing below.

Take Care.

Comox Harbour 2021. 

As I was working on this post I learned that George Donaldson had passed back in 2014. A terrible loss for his family and all those who loved him and were involved in this music group and others. 

I always loved it when he appeared on stage for a song. 

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.

What are the words You remember?

 

and, they change over time. 

I saw this quote a while back and it seemed an important one to share.

Dona Anderson

I don't remember what I thought about at the time but since then it has taken on different words and memories when thinking back over the past years and things I and others have said.

The most important words we'll ever utter are those words we say to ourselves, about ourselves, when we're by ourselves. ~A.L. Walker~

The child version - trying to fit in, being the little sister/brother or the older one. Feelings about how our looks change over the years - will my teeth ever grow in, or how we look in that first pair of glasses.

The teenage version - I don't know anyone, I look weird, I don't like the new grades at school, finding new favorite songs and bands. Hoping the Boys or Girls like me. Hoping my clothes don't look out of place. Trying to put on makeup. Another pimple, Need a different hair style, when will I get taller.

I'm an adult now - Time for getting a job, perhaps going college or other education. What do I want to do? Who's going to hire Me? Can I do that?

Married and family life - Am I or are We doing this right. What do we really want our lives to be about. So much pressure & stress. I'm starting to have wrinkles. My hair is getting grey. We need more savings. I'm tired of all the housework, making meals, paying the bills and all the other things. Need to buy that winning lottery ticket.

Getting older - when can we retire. How do we pay the bills. My health is changing I can't do what I used to. I'm tired.

Senior - I need more help. Another visit to the doctor. What's wrong with me. I don't like that anymore. I don't remember. I need to exercise, but. How does that work. My clothes don't fit anymore, they're only 20 years old. I'm sad things are always changing. I hurt. My friends are leaving... It's too hard to get out. I'm lonely, The kids are busy.

Where will I end up?

PS. I always love seeing this plant start to bloom again. It just does it on its own in the same place and time every year. 

No help or needing to look at the calendar. 

Nature just knows what to do and in many cases, so do we.

I hope we can learn to relax and find more peace and comfort in our lives. 

Remember those good stories, fun times and laugh at the mistakes that taught you how to do it better the next time. 

Take Care. 

Links for sharing below.

The thoughts put into words can easily change, become different. 

I found this old post from 2014 and thought it would add into this post - like that the extra scoop to inspire us. .... here's the link.

I never know what I'll find in the Archives, but love it

 when someone else finds one that inspires me to share it again.

Over 700 now available to view, save & share.

New posts on Tuesdays.

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.

Santa's home safe

 The new year has arrived.

Dona Anderson

Welcome to 2022.

It's been crazy weather here and lots of other places so I hope this weeks post finds you safe and well.

The Christmas decorations are down and boxed up again which as much as I love them is always a joy to get it all put away and hopefully a little less each year.

These pictures are of what I have left of my winter bear collection plus a few others and they will stay on the beds upstairs for a few more weeks.  

My office/computer is up here so I like to bring my friends of many years out to join me.  

A few years ago a young family was visiting and the older daughter asked it she could check out the house - she was about 9. Of course and later she appeared and told me I had too may stuffy's  

To my amazement and defense I replied, I used to have More.

Her voice sounded like the the Mother hoping to let go of old stuff.  I also wanted to say You haven't seen my Christmas ones yet. 

It seemed that in past times of my life when I wasn't well or stressed out, seeing the teddies helped bring some comfort and the blankets fit in nicely with them. 

Glad I have spare rooms to decorate.

What are some of your collections? 

PS. I'm working on new posts for this year but somehow the time flies by so fast my few ahead are soon next in line.

Stay safe and warm. 

Looking forward to the days getting longer with the sun. 

Take Care. 

Stuck in the house & too cold and slippery to go out the mind starts to wander.

SO

I got the dish on the left as a gift. It's actually a candle and smells lovely so for FUN I copied it and made the one on the right with yogurt, orange slice, strawberry & a couple of bay leaves.. 

Candle still safe in kitchen window.

 I had the yogurt the next morning for breakfast

 minus the bay leaves.

Before You go check out the link below.

Here's a post from a couple years ago with beautiful guitar music that I love and hope You will too.  

3 things You can do to help Heal your Body, Mind & Soul.

 Play  Laughter  Joy

Dona Anderson

Thanks for your visit today. 

New posts every Tuesday.

I saved this quote to share with You & todays the day.

Your body cannot heal without play.

Your mind cannot heal without laughter.

Your soul cannot heal without joy.

~Catherine Rippenger Fenwick~

Healing with Humor, educator, therapist, author, speaker.  

           

How many times when you are unwell do you play some kind of game, do a puzzle, card game, craft or other things that you love to do that takes your mind off things and supports your soul.

How many times when you were unwell, sick, had a bad cold, flu, headache, new stitches or whatever it was did you try not to laugh but couldn't help it. You may even put on a comedy show to watch to help you feel better.

How may times did you find Joy in a song, a home cooked meal, a card, flowers, a visit from loved ones or cuddles from your pet.

I imagine it was many times.

A moment to play lets us move onto something that's fun, we can do, control. It fills our face, mind and heart with a smile.

 

A moment for laughter lets us relax, let our stress & worries soften a bit as it disappears out of our bodies and into the world.

A moment of joy lets us remember all the people and things in our lives that we love, hold dear and want to get back to.

Play ... Laughter ... Joy

PS. Often when I've been at a craft faire someone stops by just to have a chat.  

I've heard many good stories but mostly ones of sadness, grief, sickness and stress. 

Many times it was quite emotional but I could see how the releasing of the story helped them heal a bit that day - their face and shoulders softened a bit to help them breathe.

Sometimes they even came back the next day to chat again.💗

Our Lucy, loves to snuggle.

Take Care have a great day and week.

New post next Tuesday.  

Bye for now. 

Links for sharing below.

Have You had one of these Conversations?

About a Dream,

not a night time Dream

the other kind of dream.

Dona Anderson

I'm sure we've all had a similar kind

of conversation.

A moment to exchange what someone else needed to share that was about a worry to them.

About you.

We never know what someone else is thinking, feeling or is a worry to them about others and this one was about us.

  

This one was from our Daughter about us, her parents.

A few years back my daughter told me that years ago when our dream was to move here to Vancouver Island she worried about what if something happened to us and we couldn't fulfill our dream.

I told her that was Ok.

I let her know for us at the time what wasn't Ok was if we didn't have a dream, if we didn't have a plan that we were working toward and figuring out would have been worse.

As we had to move several times for Work we wanted to pick that place We wanted to settle down and call Home for when the time came if all went well.. 

We felt if we were just sitting there with no dream, goal, plan 

- that would have been sad.

PS. we did make it here 19 years ago  and my original want to do list to do list was scrapped except for my last entry to learn more Yoga. 

I'm very thankful for all the learning and growth that was never imagined or would be done if we didn't live and love it here. 

Bye for today and new post comes again next Tuesday.

Links for sharing below help us continue to travel the World spreading Wellness

Over 600 posts in the Archives for you to view, save and share at your leisure.

Hope to have you return and check out next Tuesdays  post.

Take Care.

My daily support team. 

Check out this earlier post and see what it brings up for You.

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.

The labels at the bottom of the page will connect you to other posts. 

Links for sharing below.

 

Here's where our Visitors this past week were from - United States, Germany, Canada, France, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, India, Japan, Luxenberg, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Belgium,  United Kingdom, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, Slovakia, & others.

Thank You & Take Care.

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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

Subscribe to Dona Anderson by Email

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.