Movie night

Tonight we watched two movies and ate popcorn.
The Sessions with Helen Hunt and John Hawke.
And Chasing Mavericks.......a surfing movie.
They are both wonderful movies. Both based on true stories. It's funny how when we know something is a true story it seems to have more oomph. They grab the heart and tug.

One minute to live

So, I said 10 minutes on yesterday's blog. Change that to one minute.

What makes you want to speak? If you had one minute before they set your coffin into the ground what would you say?

I would say:

You do not have to be good. You do not have to try so hard. Life doesn't need to be hard. The only way to be a victim is to make yourself one.

There is beauty everywhere. There is magic everywhere.
Look for rhythm. Look for kindness. Look for love.
And be love. Be kind.

Inform the world of your place here. Show up. Show up. Show up.
Love whomever shows up in front of you. Walk each other home.
You don't need to be big and loud either. Though you might be.

Read only that which moves you.
Listen to only that which makes you hum or sing or dance, or cry or laugh.
Find out what they are.

Let go of stuff! In your home, in your head, in your body. Let the breath fall out of you.

Bring only that which serves.
Bring in only that which feeds you. This way you won't need to let go of so much.

Breathe. Move. Nourish. Rest.

Say, what?

What are you about?
If you were given, right now, 10 minutes to speak, before they placed your coffin in the ground, what would you say?

I did this exercise recently.......I wasn't about what I thought I was about. Do it quickly, no thinking, you only have 10 minutes. Write it down.

I will share tomorrow some of what I wrote.

Be well!

The Day

The day has been wonderful. Especially wonderful because I haven't taken anything personally. And I had lots of opportunity to take things personally. Don't we all?
So, just going about my day, doing the next thing to do, working, eating, walking, meditating, working, walking, eating, and not taking anything that anyone did or said be about me.
There are three stuffs in the world. My stuff, their stuff, the universes stuff. There isn't as much my stuff as I thought. Any opinion I have, any position I have, or knowingness I have, and holding that as the way things are, is going to make me more susceptible to taking things personally. The more stuff I let go of, the less stuff is mine, the less I take personally, and the better the day.

Warm and fuzzy

I had a lovely time with some children at a Marathon school. We did some play with awareness and even though time was short and they were rambunctious on a Friday afternoon, these children in grades 3 and 4, gave me these special words for the quiet they experienced inside themselves: soft; comfy; peaceful; warm; tired; and wonderful. Now how warm and fuzzy is that!

Below:
Winter Wonderland (I made it home before the snowstorm)
Feet in meditation
Fireworks this evening from my kitchen window in honour of Family day.

Soft and comfy

I drove from Thunder Bay to Marathon today. It was the most lovely drive. I only made one quick pit stop to a washroom in Schreiber so it was only 3 1/2 hours to drive. The shore of Lake Superior is beautiful in winter with chunks of ice, then flat snow, then open water. Amazing! There were transport trucks on the road and very few cars so I felt like I had the road to myself. There is something about being in the car alone that is so spacious and satisfying.

I did a bit of hmmmmm, I don't actually know what to call it, some kind of consciousness exercise with two groups of children at the school this afternoon. They were rambunctious and fun and loud and full of movement. Before they left many of them shared a word for the quietness they felt inside: soft, comfy, peaceful, big, good, quiet, etc. I was pleasantly surprised. Kids are so cute!

With That Moon Language

WITH THAT MOON LANGUAGE

by Hafiz

Admit something:

Everyone you see, you say to them,

"Love me,"

Of course you do not do this out loud:

Otherwise, 

Someone would call the cops.

Still though, think about this,

This great pull in us

To connect.

Why not become the one

Who lives with a full moon in each eye

That is always saying,

With that sweet moon 

Language,

What every other eye in this world

Is dying to 

Hear.

Red Bird and White flower

Red bird came all winter
firing up the landscape
as nothing as could.

Of course I love the sparrows,
those dun-colored darlings,
so hungry and so many.

I am a God-fearing feeder of birds.
I know He has many children,
not all of them bold in spirit.

Still, for whatever reason -
perhaps because the winter is so long
and the sky so black-blue,

or perhaps because the heart narrows
as often as it opens -
I am grateful

that red bird comes all winter
firing up the landscape
as nothing else can do.

Poem, Red Bird by Mary Oliver

My white Madagascar Jasmine feels like my red bird. It's flowers are robust, earthy leaves, and divine scent fill the room with life. I am grateful.

For the Love of Salad

This is my favourite salad book. For the love of Salad by Jeanelle Mitchell.

Here is a wonderful salad recipe for a potluck. It makes a big batch, lasts long in the fridge, and is a complete protein too.

Fiesta Rice Salad:

1 tsp grapeseed or safflower oil
1 cup long-grain white rice
2 cups boiling water

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tbsp grapeseed or safflower oil
sea salt and freshly ground pepper

19 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
12 oz can corn, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 sweet orange or red pepper, diced
4 green onions, finely sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley or cilantro

1. Heat oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Add rice and stir to coat. Add boiling water. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until water is absorbed and rice is tender. Transfer to a large bowl to cool.

2. For the dressing: combine jalapeno, garlic, chili powder, and lime juice in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil until well combined, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. If making ahead, cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

3. Add beans, corn, peas, orange pepper, green onions, parsley, and dressing to rice and toss to coat. If making ahead, cover and refrigerate. bring to room temperature before serving.

Enjoy!

Don't know what to eat?

This is the best and easiest information on what to eat that I have found so far.
Watch the documentary: Hungry for Change. You can get it free online but I watched it on Netflix.

I felt good and positive watching it. It's about loving yourself too :)

An alive book

I have been busy with my books.

Last weekend I taught a course with my friend from London, Ontario. During the time she was here she helped me cull my books. Four big boxes went to the Friends of the Library yesterday. Today, with the empty space on shelves, I have been organizing and rearranging some books. They are my friends. Now I have no more books on the floor. Too bad - I like the look of books on floors.

I have been reading the book Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese. He read at the library a few weeks ago. His joy, his presence and his relaxedness were amazing. I have been reading the book out loud to Don. It says on the back jacket cover that "Wagamese is capable of true grace on the page." It's very true! I have been moved to laughter and to tears in almost every chapter. I found the rhythm of the book easy, so easy to read. If I have a different rhythm from the author's voice it is difficult to read out loud. I follow the rhythm of this book and want to read it forever. It flows. It moves. It brings something powerful and magical and lovely to the moment.

Here is the boy's grandmother talking to him: "We need mystery. Creator in her wisdom knew this. Mystery fills us with awe and wonder. They are the foundations of humility, and humility, grandson, is the foundation of all learning. So we do not seek to unravel this. We honour it by letting it be that way forever."

Every book before it is opened and read holds a mystery. You have to read the book, word by word, paragraph by paragraph, to get the full flavour. It is a most exhilarating feeling to love the words, the emotions, and the mmmmm that pours forth from the aliveness of the unfoldment of the story yet again.