A Mindful Life

“I have to let go of the need to know so much. What we can know is so small — the holiness around is so large. Now I trust in simplicity, simplicity and love.” –Hindu Sage [via Graceful Presence]

Developing consistency in practice has been hard… maybe because I’ve tried to intellectualize my practice instead of just doing it. Maybe because I expected to make big strides without first making small steps. In order to sit mindfully for 30 minutes, you first have to sit mindfully for one minute, then five, then ten. –Zen [...]

How smart do we need to be in order to be peaceful and joyful in our life? How much do we need to know in order to enjoy the present? How much “tuned in” do we need to be to feel like we belong, that we know our place in the universe? How many square [...]

Another week wanes. June is sneaking through the back door. Nearly one-half of this year has slipped through the net. We can’t catch time. We can only immerse ourselves in it, and flow along. There’s no news about Sophie. I called yesterday and today and was told the report hadn’t come in yet. Drat. Now [...]

This is an inspired idea: The Complimenting Commenter: I am going around the blogosphere leaving Complimentary Comments. For Kindness sake. Join me. It’s time to share the love, people. Make an effort to visit a blog — new or familiar — and leave a word of kindness there. I myself have been become lax about [...]

“Blow Fire” / 7″ x 9″ mixed media collage on canvasboard, May 2005 This piece, consisting of acrylic paint, paper, glitter and embossing metal, arose from an attempt to embrace change in my life. In the past year, I got engaged, moved from Texas to California, started a new career, got married, attended the death [...]

I’ve had a piece of artboard that I painted a year ago. Then I moved and avoided doing anything more with it. It’s been sitting in my workspace as a reminder to return to it. The truth is, I’m not that keen on how the colors came out. This evening I went out and proceeded [...]

A few days ago I visited The Other Side, where Shirl was encouraging folks to visit another blog, because the author had announced a fun little project. Meg, of Mandarin Design Daily, is recovering from some physical issues. And she’s boooooooored. She invited folks to send her a postcard, and being a penpal at heart, [...]

Bill Bryson, in his book I’m a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After Twenty Years Away, wrote a compelling address to a graduating class. All of the speech was notable, but two parts grabbed my shirt collar and shook me. Take a moment from time to time to remember that you are [...]

Sophie did fine during the surgery. They removed two masses, the larger one being 2 centimeters by 4 centimeters (about .75 by 1.5 inches). That’s quite a lump for a cat weighing in at 8.5 pounds. They let me see it; it was fatty and looked a bit like a chicken gizzard. Now I just [...]