I am living life in a beautiful state of........(fill in your word).
Today it was I am living life in a beautiful state of resting.
I am living life in a beautiful state of........(fill in your word). Today it was I am living life in a beautiful state of resting.
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How you start your day all depends on your own situation. There was a point in my life when I had a huge very noisy alarm clock with two bells, sitting on top of an empty bisvuit tin to wake me. I had a full time job, was studying and bringing up two children on my won. Only you can know what is best for you in your circumstances and with your temperament. You might start by imagining your ideal start to the day, and seeing if you can perhaps build in an element of that - work from your best case scenario and see how close to that you can manage! I have gradualy tweaked my start to the day to set myself up to be positive, productive and happy and strong. It quite often works. Takes practice. :-) I'm setting up July to be a super-healthy month. Join me? ..(flourish is my word for the year) Joie de vivre has to be cultivated, and la doce vita has to be created! By me. Occasionally at lucky times these just happen, but mostly they require my attention and effort. I do flourish if I can have a little of them each day. The garden is flourishing, friendships are flourishing, and some precious relationships which sometimes flourish in times of adversity.. Can you think of an English equivalent of those two expressions - joie de vivre and la doce vita - other than direct translations? Forgive me if posts are a bit erratic this month. Late or even missing. There's a lot going on! Happy June everyone, ..the subject of Denmark, I thought you might find this film interesting. It's a 45 minute long film made by journnalist and advocate for Scottish independence Lesley Riddoch and gives a good insight into the Danish way of life (the population is similar in size to that of Scotland). I found it fascinating. My head was full of Stephen Hough playing Rachmaninov when we came out of City Halls to this magical sight. There are times when life is a bit of an emotional roller-coaster aren't there! It's not simple, and it certainly isn't boring. May we all celebrate the good and wisely negotiate the bad. Be well, be safe and be happy. Back in a week or so. Next week I will deal with the warmongers, disarm the gangs, sort out the badly behaving politicians and solve the climate crisis. This week I have crises of my own, and will concentrate on supporting the people I know who are having a hard time one way and another. It's the best I can do right now and I will give it all I've got. Today was dry and sunny and I was so grateful! Watching the sun rise this morning.
..blue skies, new lambs, Easter eggs, hot cross buns, blossom, bees and a birthday cake for my sister. I hope you have aslo had a lovely day. The unnspoilt parts of Scotland are so beautiful, and the roads so quiet at this time of year, I prefer holidaying out of season. It's a good time of year to detox and start moving again (if like me you have barely moved all winter!) After an early hour of yoga each day I realised I had forgotten how very pleasant it is to stretch and twist and really concentrate on moving. Walks in stunning countryside...I'd even stopped going for walks at home. Really let things slip without noticing. How easy it is to forget to do the simple things which cost nothing but make such a difference to our wellbeing. Moving, drinking water, eating just enough, meditating and resting properly, relaxing with good people, being outdoors. No cost, no special equipment, no membership fees or contracts. Simple. Silver on the water on a late afternon paddle. Breathtakingly beautiful and bteathtakingly cold!
I love the line in the film Dr Zhivago when the embittered Pasha, now Strelnikov, asks Zhivago what he is going to do with his wife and child at his dacha and Zhivago answers JUST LLIVE Narcissus February Gold tends to flower in March here!
..as I am sure we all are with the state of the world. It's hard, isn't it. This morning I remembered this- Grant me the serenity to accept the thngs I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Some serenity and courage and wisdom might be good. If I could find a little of each in my days it might be helpful. I do have a moment of serenity at breakfast and at dinner when I light a candle on the table. That little pause is peaceful. Watching the colour suffuse the tulips is calming and beautiful, and beauty susutains me as I have often said. And then of course there is the off-switch on the news... Why is that such a big issue? How do you cope? Have you read Dr Hannah Ritchie's recent book Not The End Of The World? I'd love to know what you think of it. A dara scientist, she seems to have taken up the baton of the late and great Hans Rosling. (I first posted this more than 10 years ago.) As with Hans Rosling there are lots of YouTube interviews, TED Talks and videos of Dr Ritchie and her message that far from being the last generation of humans on the planet we could be the first generation to create a sustainable world. Two facsimile editions bought at Sissinghurst many years ago. Re-reading these will help me fall in love with gatdening again I am sure.
Great Western Road is a fascinating street. Hoos and Niki Jones are particularly beautiful. Curated and expensive - lovely for a specia gift. I resisted the exquisitely embroidered linen cushion and spent £7 in the market-like Tiger on Easter eggs and tiny cactus shaped candles. The cafe with the generously embellished almond croissants is the Cottonrake Bakery should you find yourself in the vicinity. We did splurge on a lovely dinner at The Annchor Line. Oh, the High Life! I so enjoyed it. ..with Eliot. April is not the cruellest month. February is.
As many of you will know, I've always had a bit of a problem with February. (Low moods/dreary weather/mud season/ spring-will-never-cone kind of thing). But since I Istarted to look at it differently (see here and under Simply Write ) it has become a very interesting month for me. Perhaps I learn more about myself in Februaries than in any other month. I began calling it my Writing Month and I had such fun with that. Last year I had Romantic February and so enjoyed the suggestions from you for music and films and books - it was a lovely time. This year I am creating Colourful February and have ideas for Generous Febtuary, Extravagant February, Fun in February, Foodie February - should I live so long! Philosophy February. Philosophy Phebruary? Now I am getting silly.. How is February for you? And what would it look like if it was your very best month? Yesterday is history Tomorrow is a mystery Today is a gift That's why it's called the present. I am enjoying Gretchen Rubin's book Life In Five Senses. There is a quiz (see here) to identify which of your senses you may be neglecting. Mine unsurprisingly is touch. I don't have pets and the babies and little children in the family have all grown up! So I think through February I will focus on the sense of touch. A nice little meditation which yu can do almost amytine and anywhre is to just take a pause and take note - try it now - of what you can see, what you can hear (as I write I can hear yet another gale buffeting the house), what you can smell and taste and touch.... It brings you into the here and now and reminds you you are alive! Let's make February really colourful. There is some truth in the saying what you focus on is what you get. My decision to change my word, despite my reservatios, was a good one. See this post. February posts in 2023 were mostly about romance. This one lists romantic things and your suggestions were a wonderful addition. (To access the archive on your phone click on comments and scroll down,) When someone gives you a panettone on New Year's Day all your good intentions about returning to healthy eating get shunted back a few days.. I am aware that it sounds a bit mad, but I absolutely LOVE ny barefoot walks on the sparkly frost. It's a woderful way to start the day. I got the fire going nicely, set the table for breakfast and put the kettle on before I went out into the magic of the morning. Music, food and conversation, architecture and friendly Glaswegians! A few photgraphs while I sort out my thoughts.. My head is still so full of Egar's Symphony no 1 in A flat - a great surging, meandering abstract thing, I can hardly think.
Two concerts in one day. So excited. Plan to see the inside of this magnificent building too..Back soon!
..and unable to sleep with images of terror and fear and suffering in my mind. I've been up since three. I rekindled the fire and lit some candles. Each one a forlorn prayer for peace in the wold. I tidied the kitchen, washed a few dishes then spent a bit of time out on the porch with my new Star Walk app (3 degrees C). I made a cup of tea and savoured the peace of my own little corner of the world, and like most of you I expect, counted my blessings.
..at five thirty this morning were astonishingly beautiful above the forested skyline. I wrapped up and went out into the garden to take in the wonder of it all. What tiny specks we are in the firmament! The deep silence and the utter mystery of it all enraptured me and I went back to bed and slept soundly. A lot is made of 'the work/life balance', but I suspect more should be made of 'the real life/virtual life balance'. I have said it often that for me there is nothing like the real thing. What do you think, and have you looked at the stars lately? A cold bu clear day, and a beautiful blie sky. I stood for a moment in the garden with my face turned to the sun, savoured it's warmth, and remembered the line from the poem the kiss o the sun for pardon, and I pardoned myself for not getting everything right, for not keeping up, for not being able to help more. It was a precious peaceful minute or so.. |
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July 2024
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