Thinking Cap is on… also, taking care of me!

Morning Prayer with Nature

Breathing deeply, stepping back, and looking inward… all this is being done for two reasons. One, I need to get this blog going in the right direction. I still believe in the title “Restoring Your Inner Self” but it is the direction it will go in the future that is changing.

Stepping Back, Looking Forward

My time that has been spent on the A-List Blogging Bootcamp has been great. I check the forum almost daily and see many good points to ponder when approaching the creation or recreation of a blog. My title is OK, as I mentioned. Now I need to study in depth the specifics that I will include. What areas will I link out to? Who will I seek for guest posts? I need to pinpoint my niche when it comes to self restoration. There are many directions, both traditional and alternative. I have studied and do use both.  I hope to include the traditional and alternative so that my blog will have information that many will find informative and helpful. There is also an ebook in there somewhere.

Layout and Content

From CopyBlogger I have received many informative articles. Here is a link to a guest article written by Pamela Wilson. She covers 8 good points and I will just list the headings here. Some may seem obvious, but do follow the link to learn more in depth information about each one.

1. Embrace the line break
2. Break up your content with compelling subheads
3. Use bulleted list
4. Use deep captions
5. Add highly relevant links
6. Use strategic formatting
7. Harness the power of numbers
8. Check your dual readership path

Do Your Research, Know Your Subject

That relative link paragraph means both internal and external. It is most important that your content is worth reading. People search to find information they feel is of value to them. You cannot post just any old topic. Your external links must also go out to sources that you have researched and feel will add to the topic.

Care of Self

Breathing: Back to the breathing, stepping back and looking inward. These are also needed when you are trying to restore your inner self. Yep, that is where I am right now. Why do we always seem to wait until we are almost down and out before we take the action we should have been taking all along? The deep breathing I have down fairly well. I just need to bring it to the forefront more often. A few deep breaths periodically throughout the day can break up the stress that is gathering in your neck and shoulders.. speeding up your mind unnecessarily.

Exercise: I know that the regular gym is not for me. I am lucky in that I can be a member of Silver Sneakers. There are some advantages to getting older besides the senior coffee at various places! I was able to locate a wellness center that is close to me that not only has the Silver Sneaker Program, but also has a pool! To be able to move freely without resistance that the machines like the treadmill have, is what I need. I do use some of the upper body machines because I do not need to stand to use them.

One with Nature

Breakfast at the ocean, lunch along the river, stepping outside at night to view the stars… with a quiet mind so you can hear the sounds of the crickets, the waves, the birds… whatever may be present at that time. Yes, be quiet, watch and listen while taking nice slow and deep breaths.

Brilliant Sun on the River

Gotta Get Going!!

Life can leave us tattered at times, it is how we respond to this that matters

Summers always get me down. Florida is hot and HUMID. It is the latter that intensifies the heat. This summer we have been lucky compared to our northern neighbors, but that did not make it any easier for me when it came to dealing with our Florida summer.

The seagulls had no problem adjusting to the semi-destruction of their favorite resting spot. This is what I need to learn. What I have figured out is that it is my frame of mind that makes the difference. According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, the thoughts we have about pain have a strong effect on how we react to the physical sensation that we label as ‘pain.’ It is so easy to moan and groan “This pain is killing me!”   I am not saying the ‘pain’ is not real… it is. The dwelling on the pain just does not make it easier to deal with. The ‘removal’ of the dwelling that is the trick, or I should say skill that is the key.  I am trying to adapt, make this a regular part of my life. So far it has been a more ‘off and on’ action than a steady action in my life.

It is not easy!  I still find myself saying… “OMG, why won’t it leave me alone!”  My pain does not begin to touch the level of pain I know others have to deal with, but any dwelling on it can make it appear to be just unbearable, to me!  Mind over matter, or in this case, physical sensations. Finding acceptance and peace with changes of any kind, whether they are within you or surrounding you, is the goal. Constant fighting against something magnifies it, makes it seem worse than it really is.

In his Mindfulness Meditation for Pain you explore the use of your breath to overcome the locked in thoughts regarding your pain. Your breath surrounds the pain and releases it. OK… it is not a 100% cure, but it is a thought process that can break your frame of mind at that moment. You can do it at any time and any place. What is great is that breathing in a mindful manner, works in so many circumstances; taking a test, getting ready for that job interview, your first date with someone special.

I also have his book Full Catastrophe Living and I need to get back on it. Any practice, whether it is to lose weight, finding release from stress, starting an exercise routine, or stopping smoking, has to be forever in motion. Stopping it, even though it is for a short time, does not mean the good that was happening will automatically continue. The positive action will be lost quickly. Little breaks in practice, unfortunately, often lead to longer ones and often to the complete cessation of the practice… no matter what you tell yourself.

Quotes from the book:

Cultivating mindfulness means learning to tap and focus our own wasted energies. In doing so, we learn to calm down enough to enter and dwell in states of deep relaxation. This nourishes and restores body and mind….
This energy comes from inside us and is therefore always within our reach and potential control.

He states that his first impression of meditation was incorrect. He thought change just happened without planning.

But time has taught me that some kind of personal vision is also necessary…
This image or ideal will help carry you through the inevitable periods of low motivation and give continuity to your practice.

This is what I have neglected to do. I was practicing without a goal or vision of what I wanted to accomplish.  This has got to be changed. One goal coming up… in vivid color!

The act of breathing…

Our very bodies are joined with the planet in a continual rhythmic exchange as matter and energy flow back and forth between our bodies and what we call “the environment.”

The breath has a very important partner in its work, namely the heart. Think of it: This amazing muscle never tops pumping during our entire lifetime.

Breathing is an incredible powerful ally and teacher in the work of meditation, although people who have no training in meditation think nothing of it and find it uninteresting.

As long as we are alive, it is always with us. We can’t leave home without it…. Tuning in to it brings us right into the here and now.

I  have CDs for both Qigong and Tai Chi that are being neglected at this moment. What is it in me, that lets me stop or ignore those things that I know can help me. I have used these practices in the past and have benefited greatly. It was that ‘little’ break I took… that “I’ll do it tomorrow instead” that messed me up. What this comes down to is self-discipline. Guess what I am lacking!!  When I have things that I have to do for others, I get it done without fail, but when it comes to myself… I fall flat on my face. I know I am not alone in this.

OK, Barb, what will it be like this time? Can you stick to it? Are you able to really make these practices a real part of your life? You know the benefits you achieve from them, so what the ‘heck’ is the problem? Don’t stay ‘broken down’ like the dock in the photo. The county did get around to fixing it up, eventually. Now it is your turn to ‘get around’ to doing what you know you have to do.

Taking a Detour in Life

New Growth Amid the Old

Life does not stop when obstacles get thrown in our path. Somehow we have to find a way to keep on moving forward. As I look at the old growth of this mangrove above. I see two images. One is the tangled web of my life that has developed over time. Now I am trying to start a new journey and that is the green sprout… the new skills, the new dreams and growth that is happening in my life at this time. I find it absolutely amazing. The second image (I love anatomy) is that of the neurons in my brain… with that spark of new development.

Our brains do not stop in their growth at a certain age. They do slow down and under certain circumstances some growth is lost or damaged by trauma, illness and substance abuse. There are new studies out there, that say to keep a brain young… exercise it! Exercising the brain can help hold off the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. Brains that have been damaged because of stroke or trauma can relearn skills that were lost.

Well, I have not suffered trauma, stroke or any other such condition. I have just had obstacles tossed in my path. I am having to learn new skills and make decisions. Just where do I want to go with this blog. It has been wandering around in blogsville now for quite a while. Because my mind loves to be distracted, I am making a renewed effort to practice mindful meditation via Jon Kabat-Zinn as well as through the book written by “the Jolly Fellow” from Google, Chade-Meng Tan.

Now if you want to get a totally different take on meditation, then this is the book for you. ‘Meng’ is an engineer that started with Google in its early years. He was not too happy with the changes in his life and sought means to change it. He discovered Jon Kabat-Zinn, Daniel Goleman, among others, whom he invited to lecture at Google. His approach to meditation is not a ‘high in the clouds’ approach, but backed by science.

The Calming Motion of Waves….

I sleep with the sounds of waves to bring a sense of calmness. It also disguises the ringing that is present (tinnitus) I love to go to the beach to watch the waves. I decided long ago, I would have a problem if I did not have access to the ocean. I remember climbing to the tree top in Aruba so I could see the ocean in the distance. There is a gentle rhythm to the waves… most of the time.

These waves are gentle compared to those produced by a hurricane or any other strong storm… but then, those are the times I stay away from the beach!

Those of you who just happen to stop by… explore and leave a comment or two. Some of you know what is going on in my life. I am not daunted, but just finding my way. Life is good, it is definitely a challenge. It would be most boring if it were any other way. I want to share with you the website of a nature photographer who has had to overcome obstacles that would probably have made me stop in my tracks long ago. Her work is amazing. She is also an authority on moths. I never knew they were such beautiful creatures. Here are her sites. Woodsongphoto.com and within this one you will find Moth Magic. Thank you, Cindy… in more ways than one!

That was a learning experience….

Finding breakfast is not always a one dive shot. It often takes several dives to get the catch you want. I am like this osprey, stopping to think of new actions to reach my goal.

I learned after much effort that I am not able to put a PowerPoint on my blog. Getting a video is an option, but not for me at this time. So I decided to take advantage of my experience with a few fitting quotes from my book:  Readings from the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. I am amazed at the number of clicks I get whenever I post from this book of quotes.

From the wisdom of Aldous Huxley:

The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man’s foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher.

Robert Frost said:

Something we were withholding made us weak until we found out that it was ourselves we were withholding from our land of living and forthwith found salvation in surrender.

A longer quote by Chapin Wright:

Mother nature has let us flounder all night in the fog. We fight our way: she is telling us with her fog that life is not always a direct sighting; you don’t always know where you are or where you are going; you can only keep fighting with a smile until it breaks and the new light is seen, then you are on your way again.  It may be a new direction, but it is a life. Thanks for the fog.

I cannot leave out the words of Walt Whitman:

Now understand me well–it is provided in the essence of things that from any fruition of success, no matter what, shall come forth something to make a greater struggle necessary.

Finally, Henry David Thoreau:

…If one advanced confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours…if you have built castles in he air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.

Sunrise Over the Ocean: a learning process going on here!

View this document on Scribd

OK, I can get it in as a slide show, but not as a PowerPoint with the fading in and all that… Darn! Click on the arrows just under the image on the right side to see all the images.

Traveling through new territory…

A large branch reflected in the water

Life sure keeps moving on. It does not matter if you are ready for it to do so or not! Each day, lately has been more different from before. My life has been evolving, new challenges, new directions and evaluations of what is happening each day. Like the fallen tree in the photo above, which I took from my kayak… there is mystery, beauty, wilderness, and the sun coming through to open the view for all to see. All sorts of critters live here, but none were present at this time.

As in so many places around the country, the winter weather is up and down, in and out. For us it is ‘spring’ with temperatures in the 60s at night and 80s in the day time. I have to keep track as to weather the heat or the A/C in running.

This uncertainty is carrying over in my workplace. Our student load is on the small side right now and that does not sit well as numbers are so very important. We have some great students right now. Some are coming to the end of their studies with us and others are all levels in between. It is good to see the completers getting ready to move on.

That is what I am doing, getting ready to move on. I am trying to become more accustomed to fewer hours… and yet using the new off time to write, and explore my new direction. Changes rarely happen overnight in this situation. I have applied to two full-time writing sites, but am not sure whether I will find out anytime soon if they are interested. This on-line set up is different from the local job set-up… going in for the interview etc. I am learning quite a bit about this telecommuting world that exists.

The most important part of it, aside from actually doing the work, is your self-discipline!  It is just you, sitting in front of your computer, manning your equipment, phones if needed. You are expected to set specific hours and get the work done. Having the right attitude is needed, as you are expected to take this work seriously, the same as if you were in an actual office. I call it the ‘get it done now and get it right‘ attitude.

That is what we tell our students as the classroom we have is open-ended. Students come when able and do their classwork. A team of teachers is there ready to help questions and with the grading etc, but it is up to them to determine how many hours a week they will come, and how hard they will apply themselves.

Well, I will just continue on my journey, but not totally losing touch with the past. The past is what brought me to where I am today… and I feel quite good about where I am right now!

A new year is coming….

2012 is rolling in, just as the waves of the ocean keep on rolling into shore.

Just as the waves of the ocean continually come ashore, the years keep moving on. The old is replaced by a new. I wonder what this year will bring?  I know the wishes I have: Peace, Love, Prosperity for everyone. I also wish for an end to all war and hatred among people.

 

We are all the same, really!  We all need to eat, sleep, love. We all have dreams… here is where the problems begin. Some dream of grandeur and power and not just for success in their job or health for their family.

 

May your dreams and wishes come true. May you hold love in your heart, know the joy of family and friends, and may a sense of peace permeate your soul…

Still looking… but learning along the way

I am still on my journey. Moving forward through my life, leaving no stone unturned.  Searching high and searching low, just like the cardinal above. A cardinal is the last creature I expected to see in a mangrove stand, down near the muddy river bottom. It was low tide, so perhaps she was looking for a special treat! I know the male cardinal is brilliant red in color, but I have always loved the colors of the female.

I am a student again, while taking a course for re-certification at the college where I work. I am having to cross that big divide from teacher to student. Homework, reflections, projects… wow. My brain is having to branch out in new directions. I hear that is good for senior citizens!!! Hope all of you out there have found a new journey, or are continuing on your same journey.

The key to success, is to keep on going, keep moving forward. It does not have to be in leaps and bounds. Mini steps will get you there, perhaps at a slower pace, but think of how much you will see by going at that slower pace!

Quotes from the Hurricane Island School of Outward Bound book of Readings

The rain is moving toward the shore...

In 1998, I went on an Outward Bound. It was an experience like no other in my life. I have a book of  quotes collected by the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. Some are by well-know people and others by those who went  through the whole experience of Outward Bound.  There are many Outward Bound excursions that take place on water. I love to look out across the vast open area to the horizon and watch the rain coming inland.

The following quotes are from my little book.

“Do you know a cure for me?”
“Why yes,” he said, “I know a cure for everything. Salt water.”
“salt water?” I asked him.
“Yes,” he said, “In one form or another; sweat, tears or the salt sea.”   Isak Dinesen

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Outward Bound” signifies the moment when a ship leaves its moorings and commits itself to the open sea, with all of its unknowns, hazards, and adventures. It is a reoccurring demonstration of human nobility — out of desire to seek and determine our own destiny, no matter what the challenge.            Anonymous

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have learned the depths of strength and trust that are present in me and my fellow man. I shall try to remember that any of my neighbors or fellow workers could have belayed the climbing rope for me or given me his hand when I was slipping off a steep slope. I may forget, but I will try to remember.  Outward Bound Student

 

There had to be trust and a sense of sharing the load for each other. I know that there were several who helped me by accepting a part of my load as their own. This Florida gal had never really climbed a mountain before. I faced inclines I did not even know existed, except in books or movies!  Without the helping hand of others in so many ways… I would not have made it.  Thank you, guys and gals. Because of you, I have more trust in my fellow human beings. It is not as obvious in everyday life as it was on that mountain side with that heavy pack on my back.

What then is the essence of Outward Bound? I believe the answer lies in a phrase with which map makers of long ago filled in the blank spaces of unexplored regions. The scholarly wrote “terra incognita,’ and those with a fanciful mind “there be dragons,” but the real optimists among them used the  words “more beyond.”  Outward Bound gives us the opportunity to explore the unchartered regions of our body and our spirit; it is for all of us who are sure that there is more beyond.   Renate Wilson

What am I doing up at this hour?

I have thoughts, ideas and the need to put them together in some form. During this time that I have been writing for Helium, I have been introduced to many new subjects and ideas by way of the rating program. It has made me aware of how little I know when I thought I knew quite a bit! There are new worlds of thought out there to explore, ideas to learn, and ways for communicating them to master.

I have discovered: a typist I am not. I am amazed at the dyslexic stumbling of my fingers on the keyboard. My brain is spelling the words as they are to be, but my fingers seem to have a mind of their own. Thank heaven for ‘undo’ and backspace!

Helium has been an experiment on my part, a period of learning and discovery for me. I happily find that I am able to use my photos when I do my How-tos. Here is the link to my last on How to grow Bougainvillea. There are links on that page to some of my others.

Is this the direction I am supposed to be going? I am not sure. I will give it more time. Just wished it brought in more in the money department. The goal is to write those articles that people want to click on over and over. I have used some key-word search engines to see just how my interests would rate in the world of internet search engines. That is the key to bringing in $$.

In the meantime… I am there and I am here. Elliot and I go out to catch the dawn, watch the waves and pelicans flying on the level of the waves with their wings touching. Then there are the osprey out for a meal with their high from the sky dives.

When not catching the sun coming through the clouds at dawn, I love to catch the sun coming through the leaves. It is like a beam of life   shining through. The sun is life for all of nature. Nature is a source of life for me as it nourishes my soul, my inner being.

The leaves glow under the morning sun

The waves are still my favorite. They start in the distance and raise up and then the peak of the wave tumbles over the front and the foam, breaks into millions of frothy white bubbles that flow up on the beach. You can see the power of this wave.

Power of the Wave

Then there are the quiet days, when the waves come gently in on the beach. I am totally amazed at the varying colors of the ocean, the waves and the skies. Here the sun caught the tops of the waves and illuminated them like a green stained glass.

The Calming Motion of Waves....

Of course, the skies of dawn are my true interest. The dark and mysterious clouds off in the distance over the horizon. The rain is there, coming down on the open sea… making it way to land or maybe not. It may release it all before it reaches where I stand.

Stormy Sunrise

Well, my thoughts have played out. My mind is ready to hopefully glide smoothly into a deep restful sleep… so I will be ready to see another day,  experience another exploration in life. There may be some joy, I would hope, some pain, the need to use patience… with myself and with others. Most of all, I will seek Peace in the midst of it all. The joy and the pain with come together in Peace.  This I know will be a reality. It is called acceptance. Acceptance of what comes your way. Looking at the glass as half full and not half empty.

In signing off for the night. I will post an image of nature, that shows the full cycle of a blossom… a magnolia blossom. Beneath the glorious blossom recently touched by the rain, there is a new bud waiting its turn and down on the lower left, a spent blossom. It will produce the seeds so the whole cycle may start again.