FOR TODAY September 3, 2009
Outside my window…the sun is about to rise.
I am thinking…of meditating soon.
I am thankful for…the calmness that I feel inside of me and how much I love my sons.
From the kitchen…the stillness of the night
I am wearing…my pink pajamas
I am creating…serenity in my home
I am going…to have a wonderful day with my family
I am reading…Dragonseye
I am hoping…for the time on Saturday to take the workshop.
I am hearing…the sound of the bus zooming by in the far distance.
Around the house…is the quiet and sleeping sounds of kids.
One of my favorite things…is his voice.
A few plans for the rest of the week: to finish back to school shopping, enjoy the last lazy days of summer and maybe go and see the fireworks this Saturday.
A photo for this week:

FOR TODAY August 26, 2009
Outside my window…is dark and chilly
I am thinking…of how asynchronous my evening started and how I missed meditating at the shrine
I am thankful for…my warm home.
From the kitchen…wafts the smell of my herbal tea
I am wearing…my work clothes which comprises of black socks, black pants, pink blouse and black cotton sweater. It was a good hair day today despite the asynchronity of the end of the day.
I am creating…a list of how to de-clutter
I am going…to change into something more comfortable like my pajamas
I am reading…2 books in tandem, Cosmos and Psyche by Richard Tarnas and Psychic Children by Sylvia Browne.
I am hoping…for a harmonious transition back into school
I am hearing…the click sounds of the range.
Around the house…is very quiet…serenely peaceful.
One of my favorite things…is apple pie with vanilla ice-cream.
A few plans for the rest of the week: take R up to the observatory for inspiration, meet a friend and her 3 month old baby girl for lunch with my son, must go to qi gong meditation before I rip someone’s head off — this missed meditation tonight is slowly getting to me and to prepare for back to school shopping!

There is the local community in my neighbourhood that I live in which includes the schools that my children attend. There is the work community which forms part of my paid employment. Then, there is the social community which helps individuals with abilities that do not have the average range of abilities of other individuals. I think all these communities form the city wide community which I live in. Taking it one step further, there is the community created by our governments, at the city/municipal, provincial and country level.

Taking it further, there is the world community which then speaks to rights of individuals which is facilitated by the United Nations (UN).

I’ve been struggling with what can I do for my community? I’ve been accused of displaying the victim syndrome when I complain about being stretched out to help the community. Yes, it’s abit of a twisted accusation. In any case, it gave me pause to ponder why do I do these things for my community? Is it to get recognition, to further fuel the poor me victim syndrome (which I truly think is very wrong on many many levels) or really simply, I just want to give back because I know I can help build a compassionate community with the qualities of loving kindness. Is that so wrong I ask?

Well I know it’s only because I just had a board meeting tonight at a local non profit organization that works with families with adults and children to offer respite to the families. It was extremely refreshing to meet V, a potential new board member. She exuded such positiveness and well she liked me so what’s not to like about her? Kidding aside, it made me feel good that we’ve got more new people to generate more ideas to help with fundraising.

Well that’s what community means to me. It’s taking one individual at a time to show them compassion and kindness no matter the circumstances or behaviour towards you. Not everyone will just be like you. What a one sided montonous community that would be! Variety is the spice of life.

If you had any doubts about volunteering your time to help a non profit organization, I would squish em for you. Some of my conservative, bean counter colleagues would never dream of serving on a board of directors. Why? Liablitiy so the cite to me. I say pffftttt to the potentiality of liability. Just think, if everyone thought like that, we would have no organizations to help build a compassionate community.

My children will abhor (well maybe not that strong of a dislike) the fact that I’ve decided to volunteer my time away from them. I think they will survive while mommy tries to save the world one individual at a time

I’ve since chatted with a friend who practices buddhism and I asked her did she ever feel this kind of warm energy in her buddhist temple. She replied she felt it at a particular temple in Singapore. I think it’s due to the crystals? I thought it was the sangha of the center and it’s members. Or maybe it was the tour?

It’s indescribable this feeling. I’ve not felt this warmth of a welcome ever. When I received blessings at the end, he placed this thing on my crown chakra and the amazing heat that I felt on top of me head almost blew me away. If this is what it means to become a buddhist, I’m converting. It made me feel so accepted.

Well, if you find yourself in a city where this tour is coming to, I highly recommend you go and see for yourself. You do not have to practice buddhism to feel this warm energy.

Heart Shrine Tour – Americas Tour 2009

FOR TODAY August 19, 2009
Outside my window… is the stillness of the air and the silence of the leaves.
I am thinking…about my herbal drink and that tomorrow is my Friday
I am thankful for…my health and my new found calmness
From the kitchen…is the sound of the fan whirring away to take away the smell of medicinal herbs
I am wearing…a peach tank top with my short, farmer, overalls in a ponytail.
I am creating…my blog finally. I think I can html. I’m a simply smart woman.
I am going…to bed at 10 pm tonight because my quadriceps hurt!
I am reading…The Adventures of Self Discovery by Stanislav Grof. A very interesting read indeed.
I am hoping…for some breeze outside to stir up the stillness of the night
I am hearing…my favourite song of the day by Matt Nathanson, Come on Get Higher. Makes me wish…
Around the house…is a scattering of the kids’ things that I have not bothered to pick up because there are more important things than housework.
One of my favorite things…is napping.
A few plans for the rest of the week: To go thrift shopping, to take a sunset shot from Mt Tolmie, YOGA and awesomeness BUBBLE TEA!
Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Sunrise at Hollyhock, Cortes Island

Why is it that economists measure success by an increase in GDP?  It’s not all that sustaining if you think about it.  If we were to have 3% growth every year that would mean consumers are buying more goods.  The goods eventually turn into either a recyclable or garbage.  The recyclable will be recycled and then eventually into garbage.  I don’t think this is very sustainable.

As usual, I’m a grass roots type of a person.  So here I sit at home trying to figure out which toys to donate.  My kids want for nothing.  I’m embarassed to write that.  I remember growing up and I covetted what little toys I did have.  It was special.  Clearly I have excesses in my life that seems to overtake my day to day living.  …. so this is my journey…