What do you love about where you live?

     My husband and I have been talking lately about the things we love about living in Wichita. With all the political unrest in our state, it's a nice change of focus.
     Just off the top of my head, I love that it's easy to get around (if you don't think so, go drive around say, Houston, for a few days). We have great art and theater, lots of variety. Downtown along the river has transformed into a thing of beauty. We have a lot of great locally-owned restaurants. Folks smile a lot here. Botanica is amazing, as is our Sedgwick County Zoo. It's comfortable to live here.
     This is a fun exercise. Wherever you live, it surely has lots going for it, if only you'll notice. If not, maybe it's time to move, but remember, if you do that, you're taking you with you.
      Enjoying where I live,
              Leta

How does it feel?

It's Monday. "Monday" most likely inspires some sort of feeling within your body. Check that out... is it a joyous "Wow, another new week of fun!" or "Shit! It's Monday already!"??? I expect that with just reading those two options, you can see that the first one feels better than the second. This is an example of an extremely important concept...
From Buddha: "We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like the shadow that never leaves."
I encourage you to pay attention to your thoughts and how they make you feel. If you don't like the feeling, change the thought. You can do that.
I'm choosing joy this Monday. I'm ready to go!
       Leta

Lovin' life, be still...

I'm back. I haven't written in a while, because...
I took a more-than-full-time, temporary job doing taxes, in Clearwater. So not only is there the work, but there's also the half-hour-one-way drive to that fair town.
I'm really enjoying it. I'm learning a lot! And I'm getting to meet lots of great folks who live and work in the area. It's a neat small town. I also teach yoga there, and I love my students!

My quote for this writing is from Lao Tzu: "Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river." My job has put me into a beginner's role again, because though I'm a numbers-nerd, there is virtually an infinite amount to learn about our federal and Kansas tax systems. I'm also challenged by the long hours, as I am still teaching my four weekly yoga classes, too.

Some things I'm practicing to sustain this effort (other than counting down the days to April 15!) are staying in the present day, and what is right in front of me, rather than how I'll make it working yet another Saturday. I'm not trying to do too much in my off-time. I'm getting plenty of rest (my husband will vouch for this!). I'm doing something creative for myself--teaching myself to crochet again. It's great to do that on my lunch break, to give my brain a break from numbers.

Overall I feel strong in my ability to learn and do the job (mountain) and stay centered comfortably as each day flows (river). And every day I am finding more in my life to appreciate. I am happy and grateful!
          Celebrating LOVE every day,
                  Leta

Profound Words

     I'm including in this post two quotes from President Obama's 2016 State of the Union Address. While so many folks think the world is going to hell, these two statements show me how far we've come just in my lifetime on the slow journey toward world peace. I was born in 1955, and my early years were spent very much in a climate of war, and "bomb the hell out of them."
     This is different. President Obama quotes Pope Francis:

His Holiness, Pope Francis, told this body from the very spot I’m standing on tonight that “to imitate the hatred and violence of tyrants and murderers is the best way to take their place.” 

     And in his optimistic closing, the President said:

That’s the America I know. That’s the country we love. Clear- eyed, big-hearted, undaunted by challenge, optimistic that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. That’s what makes me so hopeful about our future.

     For us to have a President that uses the phrases "unarmed truth" and "unconditional love"... holy cow!! Ultimately I believe that's the direction in which we all want to move, whether or not we use those particular words. I agree with President Obama, we have extraordinary reason to be so hopeful and excited about our future!
     Lovingly,
          Leta

In Heaven

     I am extraordinarily blessed at this moment to be at retreat at Timber Creek Retreat House in Drexel, Missouri. Practicing yoga, relaxing, meditating, nourishing, communing, enjoying!
     This is our reading from our initial meditation upon arrival on Friday night (author unknown at the moment):

I welcome the new year that lies before me.
I regard each day as a perfect lifetime unto itself and I vow to enjoy it to the fullest.
I easily embrace change, for it is the nature of the Infinite to eclipse Itself as and through my existence.
I stand on the boundary of the life I have known and boldly step into the newness of my becoming.
I take deliberate action in the direction of my dream, knowing Spirit meets me right where I am, revealing more of my innate wisdom and power and propelling me forward in my unfolding.
With expectancy and delight, I advance toward the vision of my perfect life fulfilled, opening to myriad opportunities to experience vibrant health, deep love, unlimited wealth, and creative self-expression.
I release my word to the Law of Love, knowing as I speak it, it is already manifest.
My life begins anew this day. And so it is.

     Knowing for you all the blessings of Life in 2016!
              Leta

Daily

     I appreciate these words from the Rev. Margaret Stortz:

"I think it is a holy commission for us to begin to awaken to our true natures. It is also probably the way that we will begin to see real peace on Earth. Certainly it is worth all our best efforts to bring love into the world as a daily occurrence." 

     What might you do today to bring extra loving-kindness into your life, remembering that a kindness shown is also a kindness received? It's easy to start with a bright smile. Kindness isn't serious, it's playful!
      In fun-filled kindness,
          Leta

Changing my perspective on the new year...

     I must confess that I've lost interest in goal-setting. Too many "didn't make it" instances, I guess. At this point in life, setting a goal feels like pushing a river upstream, and all I really want to do is go with the flow.
     The following is a quote from Christian Sorensen:

Prayer too often ends up being directed at something outside of the self with a request for a change in conditions. Imagine the difference if your prayer was a communion with the Infinite. You would no longer be petitioning for anything to shift. Your only desire would be to know God better. When practiced in this manner, you are no longer looking for an answer that fulfills a limiting question that fits nicely into one of your preconceived rooms of thought. When you are in tune with the Infinite, you experience the unfoldment of an expanding consciousness that blows the walls out from your box. There are answers to prayer that your requests can’t even begin to articulate, Divine Connections ready to deliver the goods beyond expectations and a love that brings a peace and security only the soul could know.

     My only desire in 2016 is "to know God better." No forcing, no demanding, let Life take me where It will. It's done a damn good job so far, and I'm excited to see what the new year holds.
     Joyous 2016 to all!
                 Leta