July 7--Alive

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  --Thornton Wilder

     I choose two words that are key to me in this quote: "conscious" and "hearts." We are only alive when we are conscious, truly present to what's going on around, through and in us. Otherwise we are operating on some sort of robotic autopilot wherein noticing of our treasures is impossible.
     Playing around with "hearts"... research is showing that the heart has its own "brain," a special set of sensory neurons that communicate with the brain. What was once thought to be a one-way communication, brain to heart, turns out to be two-way. Our hearts are the center of feeling, and it is in those moments of deep feeling that we are conscious of our treasures. Certainly we can be smart head-wise, but true wisdom, true gratitude, true aliveness--these all come from the heart.
     Try this exercise: place a hand at your heart, close your eyes, breathe slowly and deeply, and think of someone or something you truly love. Breathe that love into your heart, and on exhale, let it flow from your heart throughout your body. Feel the energy flow. That's being alive! It's a simple practice you can do often to stay conscious of your treasures.
     Energized in the heart,
            Leta

P.S. Want to explore the wisdom of your heart? I highly recommend the science and techniques of HeartMath: https://experience.heartmath.com/. (No math involved!)

July 6--Get the Inside Right

Be at least as interested in what goes on inside you as what happens outside. If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place. --Eckhart Tolle

     I've spent much of my lifetime interested in what goes on inside me. It's been a fascinating exploration and excavation.
     I'm guessing that we all start out trying to get the outside right, i.e., trying to control people, places and situations. That fairly quickly proves to be a frustrating and impossible attempt, although that doesn't stop some of us from continuing to try. I was raised by the poster child for control freaks--my mother had a lifelong, unsuccessful obsession with control. 
     I was very fortunate that my addiction led me, decades ago, to a 12-Step program where I learned how to "get the inside right." I've also pursued considerable spiritual development opportunities over the years. Getting my inside right hasn't always been a pretty process, but I can verify that it has made the outside "fall into place." I'm comfortable in my own skin. My life, family, home and work are all wonderful. I rarely get vastly off-center in any way. The key thing is that I've learned that "inside" is the place of empowerment. I can change me, but no one else. I'm good with that. Giving up the control gig frees up a lot of energy to be used in much more enjoyable and successful ways. It also makes for much happier relationships.
     Feeling good inside and out,
             Leta

July 5--Sunflower

Please notice when you are happy--and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, "If this isn't nice, I don't know what is." --Kurt Vonnegut

     Today's photo in "Daily Peace" is a close-up of a sunflower, which reminds me how much I love my home in Kansas, the Sunflower State. A field of blooming sunflowers is one of the most magnificent sights you may ever see.
     The operative word in Vonnegut's quote is "notice." That's the whole point of July's theme of mindfulness. We tend to move too quickly through life on autopilot, anxious to check off another item on the to-do list.
     Yesterday being the 4th of July, we went on a drive after dark in search of fireworks. We were surrounded. I do love fireworks, and the in-the-moment nature of them. Each "ooooo" or "ahhhh" lasts only a couple of seconds. Color and light make me quite happy, so fireworks are a treat.
     I am happy most of the time, and it is quite nice. I'm grateful for my happiness. It's been a long inner journey to reach this place of happiness. I would make no changes in that. I'm thankful that I took it to heart long ago that happiness is an "inside job," not something we acquire from outside ourselves. That gave me the power to turn my life toward a much more pleasant trajectory.
     Please notice sometime today how nice a moment of happiness is.
     Smiling for no reason,
          Leta

July 4--Enjoy 'Em While They Last

Some things are more precious because they don't last long.  --Oscar Wilde

Sunrise
Sunset
Childhood
Smile
Flower
Travel
Fireworks (Happy 4th!)
Pet
Season
Laughter
Tears
Mealtime
Concert
Christmas lights
Birthday
Kiss
Hug
Coffee
Chocolate
Parents
 ...
A lifetime

Celebrating the completion of a successful art project, with thanks to my wonderful husband for the installation work.

Living life in color,
       Leta

July 3--Miracles

The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.
  --Storm Jameson

     The pressure! While I whole-heartedly agree with this statement, it feels like a lot of pressure to me to make each minute extra-special. But so much of life is fairly mundane--stuff that we do daily that is pretty ordinary. Oh, I get it! It's seeing each minute, each act, no matter how mundane, as unique and worthy of appreciation. I brush my teeth--I'm grateful I still have teeth to brush. I shower--I'm grateful for my body, clean water, and the ability to care for myself. I walk the dog in the stifling heat--I'm grateful for my dog and all the joy he brings to our lives, and for the ability to walk and cope with the heat.
     Then there are the really "mountain-top" moments--being hugged by my sons, playing golf with them, seeing my extended family, traveling to other countries, seeing a glorious sunrise. All these are, in that very moment, unrepeatable miracles.
     "Unrepeatable miracle" = contentment and appreciation in the present moment. I can practice that.
     Joy-full,
       Leta

July 2--Heart Overflowing

Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.
--Paulo Coelho

     My heart is overflowing with blessings right now. Despite all sorts of ugliness in the world, I am choosing to focus on all the good I am experiencing. Yesterday, my car's air conditioning system was repaired. The first repair estimate we had was around $2,000, which I refused to spend. The actual bill, at a different service establishment, was under $1,000. After suffering with the broken AC for over two miserably hot summers, this is a huge gift from my husband. 

     Also yesterday, my husband started the project of hanging the barn quilts I have been painting on our backyard shed. This would have been a very difficult exercise for me, but he has taken to the project with great enthusiasm, helped along with the purchase of a new drill, and the mathematical puzzle of it all. One of my friends responded to my facebook post with "Nothin' beats a man with a level." JOY!

     I have wonderful friends and family whom I dearly love. I've been able to stay in touch with them via Zoom. Our home is comfortable. We have been eating very well due to my husband's skill and enthusiasm at cooking. I have the opportunity to be creative and I am learning a lot. I'm back to swimming and playing golf. I have a doggie I dearly love, who brings great laughter and joy to our lives.

     Focusing on the treasures in my life is a lot more rewarding than reading the news.
          Leta

July 1--Right Now

Forever is composed of nows. --Emily Dickinson

     July's theme from the "Daily Peace" book is mindfulness.
     I receive a daily writing by Richard Rohr from the Center for Action and Contemplation. In today's message, he offers several questions to help us consider how present we are in the now...

How often do we take a deep breath and appreciate—really appreciate—the air we breathe? How often do we savor the food we taste and smell the flowers along our path? When was the last time we listened to our child, laughed with a friend, embraced our spouse? It is true that the best things in life are free, but we are often too distracted or too busy to see the simple treasures of life right in front of us.

     The pandemic and staying close to home have caused me to take a good look at how I spend my time, and what is truly worth my attention. I realize how much time I spent "numbing out" watching basketball and baseball. I'm not saying I'll never watch again, but I believe I can create more balance. I've had a lot of time for learning and creating, and I feel like my spiritual life has expanded dramatically as a result. Almost daily my husband and I enjoy pre-supper hanging in the backyard with our dog, Barney. We talk, we enjoy each other's company, we laugh at Barney's antics. It's comfortable. It's something we both look forward to. It's a "simple treasure."
     Enjoying writing, right now,
            Leta