Coloring Outside the Lines–Photography and Digital Art
Contemplating the snow!
I have had many wonderful moments with this dog. She is a lover and a cuddler. I can’t imagine a truer companion. Long may she live!
Oh for the love of dog!Peace and Happy New Year!
Joan
SNOWED IN IN NC!
We had plenty of food, so no complaints there. Our power went out Christmas afternoon, and we were not able to cook our Christmas dinner. We did have a camping heater and a propane lamp. Hot dogs were cooked on the grill and served with a green salad. That was topped off with pumpkin pie!
The electric came on in the night, and we had lovely hot showers in the morning! I have to say you really appreciate things like running water and heat when you don’t have it!
Acceptance is one of the toughest things I struggle with. Being a control person, I tend to want things thus and so–rarely does life go this way, however! Being snowed in, without a way to get out on the roadways, leaves one with accepting that you cannot go out. Obviously, the only thing to do was adjust my attitude and enjoy it!
Below is a passage that mirrors the Serenity Prayer that is used in recovery. I have it posted inside a bathroom cabinet with other inspirational sayings and quotes.
Happy New Year! May we all have a bountiful year in our lives and in our hearts!
Peace,
Joan
Is the answer to all of my problems today.
When I am disturbed, it is because I find
some person, place, thing, or situation–
some fact of my life unacceptable to me,
and I can find no serenity until I accept that
person, place, thing, or situation as being
exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.
Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God’s world
by mistake: unless I accept life completely on life’s terms
I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate on what needs
to be changed in me and in my attitudes.
CAU
As always, at this time of year, I am reminded to count my blessings, as so many in this world have nothing to count. It is hard to imagine, from my vantage point what having nothing would be like. I only know that I do not really want to find out.
This brings me to discuss using the power of prayer to give oneself over to a greater power than your mortal self. As religion and prayer are very personal choices, I will use the term “higher power”, which can be interpreted as God, Buddha, Mohamed, the Great Spirit, and other words that signify “God”for each reader.
I came across a very good article from the book Beginner’s Grace: Bringing Prayer to Life, by Kate Braestrup. Braestrup says that “prayer is deliberate, intensive thought, offered silently or spoken aloud. It’s a tool that allows us to be more conscious, like meditation. . . .Prayer is likely to be our default mode for managing the fear and pain that sometimes come with human experience and for engaging the sacred dimensions of that experience.”
I like the author Marianne Williamson, who has written several books for women, including A Return to Loving , and a Women’s Guide to Worth. From Real Simple magazine, May 2010, Williamson has an article called: 10 Ways to Stay Spiritually Connected. The 10 steps included: Recognizing your Creator, Set time aside each day to spend in spiritual reflection and contemplation, and Bless the world–all very important activities that we need to find time to practice.
It seems to be very difficult for me to stay focused and in the now. I tend to rush ahead getting things done, or problem solving. It is hard to get me to stay still (right Mom!). However, when I do center myself it is a wonderful feeling.
With the Christmas/Holiday season approaching, I find myself running out to get presents, and then more presents. I don’t usually stop until I get whatever I have “scheduled” for myself done. The good news is I am almost done! Then I will have time to enjoy celebrations with loved ones. The thing that I look forward to the most.
Have a joyous time this season! Share your love, and spread joy!
Here is a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.–” Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
Peace!
Joan
FOR TURKEY–ETC, ETC!
In keeping with the season, it is time to look introspectively and count our many blessings. In a state of less than perfect economy (I’m trying to be gentle!), we still have so very much in comparison to many in the world.
Let’s take time during our Thanksgiving celebrations to say aloud something(s) that we are grateful for. I personally am thankful for my home, loving family, wonderful friends, food (I know–again!), a fantastic dog, and my health.
I will be with my husbands family in Pensacola, Florida this year. We are traveling tomorrow; it is about an 8 hour drive. I am bringing hot and cold packs for my back and neck, and pillows!
Please keep the season in your heart, and share it with others!
Peace to all,
Joan
My Other Broom is a Car!
I have a sack full of candy for the trick or treaters. I always feel a little guilty as a dental hygienist handing them potential cavities! But, the occasion is for some scary fun, and I can’t deny the kids that.
It is too bad that the full moon didn’t wait for Halloween. Its windy, and that moon would be just the finishing touch!
Here is a poem from the unpublished book Naturescapes. If I were in North Carolina, this would be what I would see.
Have a safe and scary Halloween!
BOO!
Joan
Late October
And its raining
Leaves!
Brilliant reds, golds
And Yellows
Carpet the forest floor
With winter nigh
Squirrels dash madly
Securing nuts and acorns
Storing their pirated booty
In secret woodland
Treasure troves
Magnolia and the Fall Leaves
What an awe-inspiring time of the year! I know that I am very blessed to be able to retreat to the mountains of western North Carolina and feast my eyes on the foliage.
We had a nice trip; but, busier than we anticipated being. We did remember to relax a little bit. I so miss sleeping later. I have been dragging this week, trying to get back to “normal”.
Here is a poem that I wrote for an unpublished book called Naturescapes. Enjoy and have a lovely week! Spend some time with a wonderful person–that would be you!
Ciao!
Joan
Its mid-October
And the mountain’s trees
Transition their
Leafy jungles
Of jeweled emerald,
Citrine and peridot
Turning timidly, at first
Then becoming
Brilliant baubles
Ablaze with color
Boldly, Mother Nature
Shows off her
Patchwork quilt
Of autumn finery
Dogwood’s garments
Will go garnet
Sumac ripens ruby red
Oaks are tiped topaz
And Maples flash
Their royal red robes
Later this week, I am coming up to enjoy the coolness, drink in the beauty, and relax, perchance to write. I am imagining my favorite perch on the front porch–can’t wait!
As we enter this invigorating season, let us use the gorgeous landscape to renew our creative souls. I think that it is impossible to ignore this time of heaven on earth. We need to do whatever it is we do to celebrate, be it baking, painting, writing, or giving thanks.
May fall jump start your engine’s, dahlings!
Peace,
Joan
There it is! I knew I left it some place!
Menopause does come with some cognitive problems. Some of these are related to having less estrogen; some of them are from not getting enough sleep, or lack of restful sleep.
What’s a woman to do? Well, there is hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. This may be risky and should only be decided after talking to your physician. Some supplements may help that contain plant estrogen. Another supplement is the herb Black Cohosh, which may help night sweats. Additionally, Valerian Root may help as a sleep aid, and your doctor may be able to prescribe prescription medications for you.
I have gone to bed with an ice pack under my neck. This does cool me down so I can go to sleep. I used to have a Chillo, but it wore out–it’s about the same as a reusable ice pack.
Regular exercise may help to lessen menopausal symptoms. Just don’t exercise two hours before bed, as you will energize your body, and get hot!
Also, watch out for spicy foods as they may keep you awake at night–think HOT! Alcohol is another issue, as you will wake up in the night after sleeping for a while. And guess what? You will be hot! Soy foods and other sources of food that contain plant estrogens, like flax, should help your symptoms.
Remember, you are still hot, only now it comes in flashes!
Think cool!
Joan
It is amazing to me how quickly technology can squash you. I am rewriting this blog post due to the beastie below. He quite literally ate my text!
Here I was waxing profusely about writing an article about procrastination that was keeping me from working (i.e. procrastinating ) on my query letter. Suddenly, BAM! that little sucker took the text with him when I tried to move him!
I guess there is some justice in that happening. But, seriously, there are 3 types of procrastination, a) doing nothing, b) doing something less important (like errands, domestic engineering–that’s cleaning!, and c) doing something more important (like the query letter).
Obviously, I am Queen of “b”, with a small amount of “a” thrown in there. I have real trouble with “c”. Generally that has to do with not having much confidence in getting said work published or accepted, as it is poetry. All you poets know that aside from poetry chapbooks and contests, how difficult it is to publish a poetry book–it’s “just not main steam enough”, blah, blah, blah.
In short, I am discouraged from sticking my poetic neck out again, if not plain scared to do it. But, fear not, I will make progress, even is it seems like a snail is working on this book at times.
So take that beastie! May the pen be mightier than the sword! Don’t you dare eat my blog this time!
Rotten procrastination beastie!–>
Don’t let him get you! Ciao! Joan
Here is a poem for Melissa and Brian that I wrote for them.
I felt a flash of destiny
The heavens aligning for us
And with time a sense
Of our one-ness developed
You are a good fit for me
As yin to my yang
You begin where I end
Together we are complete
As I wed you today, know that
Truly, madly, deeply in love
I join my partner in life
Joan
Presence, this is surely where I long to be; in reality, I am rarely there. But, I am getting better at it. To get there, you must be “selfish” enough to give to yourself a small block of time where you are doing nothing but being present.
Ekhart Tolle, from the book The Power of Now, writes “Presence is needed to become aware of the beauty, the majesty, the sacredness of nature. . . You have to put down for a moment your personal baggage of problems. . .your total presence is required.”
From an article from USA Weekend, writer Laura Hoxworth discusses authors Susan L. Smalley and Diana Winston, who co-wrote Fully Present. Hoxworth says that the authors advocate “paying attention with openness and curiosity to the present moment.” This article states that “Mindfulness is based on heightened sensory awareness, and studies suggest it can help reduce stress, increase attention span, boost creativity and strengthen the immune system.”
This topic always resonates with me, as I have always been such a busy person. I think perhaps I tend to do this to show my worth to myself and others. More recently, I have learned that to truly love yourself, you must give yourself the gift of “stillness”. Sit down and contemplate the beauty around you, read something uplifting, or just share love while caressing your pet (one of my favorites and it definitely is good for both of you!).
I like this experiment from Ekhart Tolle: “Close your eyes and say to yourself, I wonder what my next thought is going to be. Then become very alert and wait for the next thought.” Tolle says that it will be quite a while before a thought arrives. “As long as you are in a state of intense presence, you are free of thought. You are still, yet highly alert.” I have tried this and it is so interesting when a thought finally gets through.
So give yourself a break this week. Sit down here and there for a little stillness. You’ll be glad you did!
Please enjoy a poem from my book Water Running Downhill!; and may peace be with you!
Joan
Exercise in Morphology
Hush
Be very still
With eyes closed
And imagine you are
As a blank, white canvas
A page not yet written upon
Concentrate
On this image
Within your mind
Then use this background
To paint who you truly are
Using previous life as a guideline
Envision
The beautiful being
That you have within you
Sculpt and recreate yourself
With your dreams as the bones
Then flesh out the rest by sheer will
Live who you want to be!
This week I have decided to honor a fellow author and poet, Sue Patton Thoele. Sue has written several inspirational books. I have mentioned Sue’s book Growing Hope in a previous blog.
Lately, I have been reading Autumn of the Spring Chicken, which is poetry, and very similar to my writing style. I am about to start the book The Courage to be Yourself, and am awaiting delivery of her newest book, The Mindful Woman.
Please feel free to visit Sue’s website at http//www.suepattonthoele.com.
Here is a poem from Autumn of the Spring Chicken:
Each day is
A newborn child
Living and dying
In the scant hours
Between dawn and dusk
It is our sacred responsibility
To nurture each day,
Unique and precious child
Of our waking hours,
Into the twilight
Of its perfect maturity
Joan
Joan Ellen Gage 