Giving Thanks – The Daily, May 23, 2020

I had a visitor and it was a nice start to the day

“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” 
― Thich Nhat Hanh

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” 
― Eckhart Tolle

It feels good to feel good. If every morning when you wake up you remember to be thankful for another opportunity to spend time in this beautiful world, then you will set an intention to have a wonderful day. It seems simple, but it works. At least be in a good mood – nothing is ever gained by walking around looking for all of the dark clouds in life.

New Moon – It’s that time of month when the moon has turned the corner once again and will begin to be visible as it progresses towards becoming full. This is always a good time to take action, to implement all of the plans that have been stewing in your mind.

This is a special moon phase from an astrological viewpoint as well. From the site Astromatrix.org – “This is quite a powerful new moon, with a conjunction between Venus Retrograde and Mercury in Gemini. However, this fusion of energy should feel pleasant. The Gemini Sun also trines Saturn Retrograde in Aquarius. Your plans will become more clear and you can really start to make progress with your goals.”

But in case you are feeling a little spacey, you can blame Neptune. More from Astromatrix – “Give yourself extra time to do everything. Meditation can help you stay grounded if any stress arises from the Mercury-Neptune square. The Neptunian fog can obscure your thoughts and cause you to not see things as they really are.”

It’s more fun to blame the planets than to look around and blame the people in your life for how you are feeling.

History Remembered – On this day back in 1934, police killed the famous outlaw duo Bonnie and Clyde. Although they killed 13 people, including 9 police officers, there was something romantic about their story that captured the attention of many in that era. It was a love story based in heartless robberies and was forever immortalized in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde, starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty.

Apparently Bonnie was a bit of a poet, and two weeks before her death, while incarcerated, she wrote this poem:

Some day they’ll go down together;
And they’ll bury them side by side,
To a few it’ll be grief—
To the law a relief—
But it’s death for Bonnie and Clyde.

Thought of the Day – Remember to breathe. Inhale consciously and deeply and appreciate how good it feels. The breath is always there, ready to connect you to the present moment and to remind you that right now everything is okay. Have a special day.

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” 
― Maya Angelou

101 Ways to Feel Better Today

The boardwalk in Barbados – I am grateful that I got to run there for four weeks!

I’m feeling inspired to change things up a bit here. Every day I look around and realize how fortunate I am, and I often think of all the little things I do to feel amazing all of the time. Some of them are obvious and some of them I discovered after a great deal of trial and error. I think a lot of them will work for others, so I am going to share them.

Let’s start with #1 on the list – Gratitude

This will take five minutes to do, and can even be done while you have your shower or are making the coffee. Fit it into your life and do it every day, and it will instantly make you feel better. It’s too easy not to try!

Continue reading “101 Ways to Feel Better Today”

Discovering Who I Am

Yoga means union. By getting out into nature, I remember who I am

I have dreams. I now realize that they’re not my dreams, but the desire of consciousness to create through me. If I stifle these creative impulses then I’m stopping the flow of life through my being.

When not allowed to flow, the creative energy will stagnate. Denying these creative impulses can make you physically ill.

How many people are walking around in the world doing things they don’t want to do?

How many people are brave enough to listen to those inner urgings and to follow them with complete abandon? Can doing something you love ever turn into a bad thing?

Continue reading “Discovering Who I Am”

Five Things to Do Today to Feel Better

A December sky over Toronto – you never know what you will see if you just look around!
  1. Be grateful about something. Look around and find anything to appreciate. Whether it is food in the fridge, a roof over your head, someone who cares about you, or even just the fact that you are breathing, be thankful for it. Being grateful puts you in a state of mind that allows room for happiness.
  2. Do something for someone else. Don’t expect anything in return. Hold the door open, let a car go in front of you, call someone who would love to hear your voice, or just smile. Doing for others takes us away from worrying about what we think life owes us.
  3. Go for a walk. Getting outside and enjoying fresh air is a productive use of time. It frees up your mind and makes you more focused when you get back to whatever it is you were doing. While you are walking, smile at someone and be thankful that you can walk.
  4. Declutter. Look around you and find something that needs to go. Give it away to someone who can use it, thus doing something for someone else at the same time. A decluttered space allows new energy to flow and can improve both your mood and your productivity.
  5. Eat something you enjoy without attaching any labels to it. Stop categorizing things as good or bad. Allow yourself the pure enjoyment of the moment and be thankful that you can appreciate the sensory experience of whatever it is you are having.

Be more present today and notice the energy that is flowing through and around you. In other words, be alive!