Everything Matters

Photo from The Master Shift: http://www.facebook.com/TheMasterShift

Seeing how everyday is a new day, it only seems right that everything in that new day, MATTERS...a lot!

Gratitude for Gifts

Have you ever been there when someone you love and care about had a seizure? It's a rather frightening experience. It can make you feel helpless. Today was one that I was there. Not only was I there, but I was the one in charge of making sure that my friend stayed safe while he was going through it.

It makes you count your blessings... Blessings for everything; your working brain, legs, eyes, ears, heart, etc... It makes you grateful for what you have and look at what is really important in your life.

Today, I'm grateful to be alive and able to type this post. I'm grateful for all the people whom I love and who love me. I'm grateful that I have arms to paddle a canoe. I'm grateful for you, who is reading this.

Blessings and gratitude for this new day!
Shannon

It felt naked

We went up the mountain today to help some friends look through what was once  their newly built house. Driving up brought tears to my eyes. There was an eerie feeling of great sadness in the air. It felt naked and vulnerable. You could see through the grove of trees where the fire stripped them of their protective needles.

You can see the road where once you couldn't

There was a strong odor of wet, burned wood; as if we were walking through a wet fireplace. There was a deer walking gingerly down below the drive. She looked like she was mourning.

Where did my food go?

As I was searching through the rubble, it looked and felt like a bomb went off.  I couldn't help but hear the sound of the twisting, hot metal as the walls crashed down in the flames. My heart so goes out to anyone in the world who has to deal with this type of devastation; whether from fire, war, flood, tsunami, anything...             Love, Love, Love, Shannon

Once was a house

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

After spending three whole days trying to fix something that my son and I deleted off his computer, I've finally resurfaced among the living. I have found myself so engulfed with ways I can "fix" this mistake, that it had consumed me and my attention. As I write this, my dog gives out a big sigh as if to say, "I know". (or Right?)

So today I went to a movie with my husband. We saw Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.  Not having seen the previews, I didn't know anything about it. (except the brief explanation he gave me when he invited me to go along)

I was amazed at the quiet, sacred presence of the packed room for the entire movie. And even upon exiting, there was no idle chatter. It was as if it made everyone contemplate their own existence.

Without knowing the intention of the writer or filmmaker, I think the film was a brilliant success. It took me back to the past while bringing me deeply grounded in the present. Everyday is a beautiful day!

Blessings Every New Day! Shannon

Wherever You Go, There You Are

Have you ever read the book “Wherever You Go, There You Are”, by Jon Kabat-Zinn?  I know everyone has their own path when it comes to finding books to read, or quotes to post.  So I'm not going to say, "You have to read this book". I will say, this book had so many profound statements in it, and I was ready to hear them. 

He talked about meditation and many different ways of doing it; some ways I've been using for years, and others I haven't even thought of. He talked about mindfulness and non-judging. He talked about dwelling in stillness...

He had so many powerful quotes interspersed throughout, as well as things to "Try".  I just want to post them all over my house... and I just might! 

"Insist on yourself; never imitate. ...
Do that which is assigned to you,
and you cannot hope too much or dare too much."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

I started drumming this summer with a group of lady friends. We get together, learn, smile, laugh, drum, and are mindful of our bodies and minds for an hour once a week. We went out on one woman's pontoon boat to "drum on the lake". It was great fun!  Above is a picture of being there during sun set. Ahhhh, stillness...


Enjoy and honor each day as a new day, blessings until next time,


Shannon

New Year’s Day 2012 (Repost)

What a beautiful day! Everyday is a beautiful day! If I can get out of bed and walk to the bathroom, it’s a beautiful day!

This seems so simple. But if you’ve ever been in the place where you can’t do this easily, you then become grateful every time you can.  I’ve been there, am grateful I’m not still there.

Honor every day as a new day, blessings until next time,

Shannon

What Dreams May Come

Have you ever seen the movie, “What Dreams May Come”? If not, I highly recommend it. I saw it for the second time last night and received deeper insights than the first time.

I think this applies on so many levels. Even if you need to let go of something, never give up on yourself. I’ve had plenty of things in my life of which I’ve had to let go. This doesn’t mean I gave up, it just means I didn’t give up on me.

The second of many, and last one for this post is, “Sometimes when you lose, you win”. In the movie they talked about losing the old baggage, old roles of authority — Who’s the teacher? Who’s the father? These roles get in the way of who we are to each other.

I just want to be real to those who are reading this…

Honor every day as a new day... blessings until next time,

Shannon

Third Time's a Charm

OK, so this is the third time I've started creating a blog. I had to test out other blog-making sites to see which one felt right to me.  This one feels good. Who says it has to be perfect the first time? Not me!

I do say it has to feel right, though. After-all, how many times do we have a "gut feeling" that doesn't feel right, and we ignore it? Only to find out later, we would have been better off if we had listened to it...

So here's to the start of something beautiful... It's a new day and the Third Time's a Charm. :-)

Honor every day as a new day,


Shannon