Mindful Morning

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay 

I open and close my eyes as I stir in bed listening to a gentle tone of dings that progress loudly as seconds pass. It’s a tone I chose because it was a change from that original sharp shriek-like tone—if it could even be called a tone, that startles me from sleep.

A yawn ensues as I sit up, my feet on the cold floor, and take a few steps to the other side of the room. I press DISMISS on my phone, glad to have thought of placing it atop my bureau as it encourages me to get up from bed and stay up. 

After a few gentle stretches, I fold my legs and sit on a folded towel—hoping they can keep from falling asleep.

I settle into the towel placing my hands on my lap. My earphones are in and I begin to pay attention to my breathing as the meditation guide suggest.

How Reading Develops Empathy

 “So Matilda’s strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone.” 

-Roald Dahl

Image by Pexels from Pixabay 

As a young girl I was constantly reading whatever I could. I learned to read English when I was nine. My mom would go to night school and bring back her Side-by-Side Workbooks, I'd open them and devour each word I learned. I was excited every time she came back with a new workbook, and would right away sprawl out on the floor to explore it. I was not a great reader, in fact I was slow and by 9^th grade I was reading at a 5^th grade level. However, I loved stories, and still do.

Doing Laundry can Bring a Meditative State

Image by Alison Krejci from Pixabay 

You step into the laundromat and the smell of detergent tickles your nose. The heat generated from the machines warms your skin. You gently throw dirty clothes into the good washing machines. The one that cost a dollar more because that washes your clothes twice, and with a boy who doesn’t mind sitting or rolling around in the dirt, its the best choice. You have no quarters so you walk over to the change machine and insert your ten dollars. The quarters fall, each dropping with a clink into the metal bowl. You deposit your quarters one by one and watch as the money amount drops until it displays “press start.” You like that you can see your clothes spinning, submerged in bubbly water.

The Energy in Our Hands- Stillness

Image by skeeze from Pixabay 

Do you feel the energy in your hands? If you sit still with your hands on your lap and pay attention to them, you can feel the sensation of your blood flowing through your arm, your palms, your fingers. 

It's a reminder that you are alive. That you have these hands and arms to hold your loved ones, to transmit your love and energy. To receive their love and energy.

A Summer Nature Walk

In Los Angeles it hardly rains, so mostly everything is dry with very little plants. Especially in the summer time. Going for a nature walk is not bad though, I enjoy always the peacefulness of a nature walk and how connected it makes me feel to the earth.

Imagine walking on a dirt path, you look to your right and your left and see the tree tops on one side and large rocks on the other. Walk along the sides of the large rock, the mountain wall and you will see a small lizard scurrying between the patches of green, or stop if it feels your presence. You might have to look closely as it camouflages itself to the dirt and rocks. It's quiet if it's early morning and no people close by. You will hear bird chirping here and there. Or see a coyote or two coming down the little mountain.