Vacation Wonder

     I returned this week from a vacation in Pennsylvania and Ohio, visiting family and "my old stomping grounds." I'd like to share a few photos of the joy and wonder.

This is the view into State College (where Penn State University is) from the top of the mountain. If I had a dollar for every time I've driven or ridden over that mountain, I'd be LONG retired :)

This is in Alan Seeger Natural Area, a park, picnic and hiking area in central PA. It is hands-down my favorite spot on the planet. I walked around my favorite trail. The freshness of the air is tough to describe. I feel especially connected to the wonder and love of the planet there.

In Philadelphia (visiting my nephew's family), we went to a couple of awesome Italian markets. This is an 11-pound jar of Nutella. Fortunately, there was no room left in my suitcase. 

Darth Vader and two storm troopers were at the Phillies game to promote the upcoming Star Wars Night at the ballpark. Luckily he did not use the Force on me (at least I don't think so!). 

Ever the little kid (2nd childhood?), I got my great-niece Kerry to snap a shot of me with the fun and furry green mascot of the Phillies, the Phanatic. Icing on the cake to a great trip, so much fun!

SMILE!!!!  *  LIFE IS GOOD!!!!

This is Heaven NOW

     I had the awesome joy and honor to spend this weekend just past at Walk in Peace Ranch in the Flint Hills of Kansas, northeast of Wichita. (http://www.walkinpeaceranch.com/)
     My own personal slice of heaven was the hilltop... a labyrinth, Starhenge, Spirit Stones and more. At sunset Friday and Saturday nights, I climbed the hill to watch the sun go down and the moon rise (bonus: a "super" moon), and to see the first visible stars. Conveniently placed atop the hill were several large polished stone slabs on which I could stretch out. The sky is SO big there, that, when lying down, it was only in my furthest peripheral vision that I could see land.
      This peaceful time that I spent on the hilltop embedded in my heart that heaven is within me, and I am within it, and it's all One, a powerful, comfortable, joyful knowing. I can hardly wait to get back there and be on that hilltop again.
      Practicing heaven now,
                Leta

Another thought on the mustard seed

     Up until Thursday afternoon this past week, I was having the week from hell, with the "icing on the cake" being my car stranding me (see previous post re: car repairs) and needing not just one, but two tows. My sweet husband asked me Thursday morning how I was doing, and I just burst into tears and he scurried away, "sorry I asked!" I felt like I was hanging by a thread, a very frayed thread.
     I went swimming, which is always therapeutic for me. During the back and forth, I was reminded of the Bible verse, "If you have the faith of a mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible." I figured that was about where I was with my faith--a very small mustard seed. So I took the "mustard seed" idea a bit further.
     A friend had turned me onto the Astronomy Picture of the Day (http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html) which I find both beautiful and awe-inspiring. One day recently there was a photo that looked like a lot of stars, but many of those tiny pinpoints of light were WHOLE GALAXIES. So I decided that my tiny, wavering bit of faith was like that tiny pinpoint of light, but knowing that there was a WHOLE GALAXY behind it. That felt very calming and empowering.
     And, praise the Universe, by Thursday afternoon, the week from hell had turned into the week from heaven. Mostly, because my car is still in the shop with no verdict on its ills. "This, too, shall pass."
     Hanging in there,
             Leta

Living Life Fully

     WOW, what a week this has been. It's been a week wherein I could have gotten plenty down about situations in my own life. However, one new friend living in Arkansas had severe storm damage. And two friends had significant and sudden deaths in their families. All that certainly yanks minor daily annoyances into perspective.
     This is leaving me feeling ever more adamant about letting people know how much they mean to us. Say "I love you" with reckless abandon (on a cosmic scale, we do all love each other because we are all one). Express feelings of appreciation. Look people in the eye. Smile. Be friendly. Expect the best of folks. Have some fun with folks you care about. Laugh. Life is way too short.
     I love you, my readers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
         Leta

Rest and Recovery

     I had an adventure this weekend to visit a friend who had had double knee-replacement surgery last week. Quite a bold surgical move, but the increasing pain made it the best option, and it was finally done. He also had some complications afterward, which resulted in his body recovering from more than "just" the knee replacements.
     My friend is up and walking nicely with a walker. He has long incisions with staples holding them closed to heal. He wants to be all well, recovered and back to his normal life NOW. He can get frustrated that the recovery is taking "so long."
     We had a couple of discussions about how humans generally grossly underestimate the amount of energy it takes to heal our bodies, be it a minor thing like a new tattoo or major surgery. We think that the more we force the issue (rehab, meds, whatever), the sooner we'll heal and be back to our routine. If you've ever had surgery or a muscle or ligament injury, you know that the body heals in its own long time. No amount of rushing, pushing or wishing makes it go faster.
     Our bodies are amazingly intelligent and thankfully, they do what needs to be done without our conscious guidance. What about adopting the attitude of supporting that intelligence with abundant rest, patience, peacefulness and appreciation rather than an exasperated "too slow!"?
      Blessings,
           Leta

Communication Problem

     This quote is from The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks (an outstanding book):
"Behind every communication problem is a sweaty ten-minute conversation you don't want to have. However, the moment you work up the courage to have it, you collect an instant reward in relief as well as open up a flow of communication that will allow you to resolve the situation."

     Holy cow. I was reviewing the book today to help prepare for a workshop I'll be doing soon, and I hit upon this quote. I had an example of this very thing this past weekend. Alas, I had been dragging around the fear of the "sweaty ten-minute conversation" for WAY longer than I'd care to admit. And yes, there was an "instant reward in relief" and the issue was resolved. Whew!
     Things such as this that we hang onto out of fear really do inhibit good from fully flowing to and through us. My mentor, Dr. Chris Michaels, is adamant about saying what needs to be said, within the same day (in the above example, I failed that miserably). But like all of life, this is a practice, and I am improving!
     Maybe you have something that needs to be said, today?!?!??
             Leta

Ungrow Up

     My friend Jeffrey Dunn used the title phrase in a recent email, talking about how he gave up his saxophone many years ago to "grow up," and now he's getting back into it, and he's going to ungrow up.
     I was talking with son Eliot the other day, having an unusual (for me) lament about assorted worries and feeling like an old fart. Our discussion of that ended with "this, too, shall pass." He referred me to this OK GO video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w&feature=kp. This group's creativity and goofiness are great reminders that life is FUN!!
     Oh, dear, I do take life too seriously. And there's absolutely no good reason for it. I have a full, rich, healthy, love-filled life. I think I shall remember to have some FUN today. And tomorrow. And each day after that. Do give some consideration to how you may lighten up your life :)
     With smiles,
           Leta