Looking for clarity? Looking for insight?

Let us fill our hearts this morning with all the love and compassion that comes from knowing that we all make a difference in this world and that everything we do, say and think has an effect on the universe. A beautiful poem I read.

Little Solutions (Author Anonymous)

"A little less impatient with those we deem too slow;

A little less arrogant because of all we know;

A little less conceited since our worth is slight;

A little less intolerant even when we are right;

A little more forgiving and swifter to be kind;

A little more desirous of the word praise to find;

A little more eager to help others to rejoice;

A little more careful to speak with gentle voice;

A little more effort to see another's view;

A little more willingness to extend to helping hand;

A little more committment to our people and our land;

A little more eagerness to listen and understand;

A little more resole to do what must be done;

And a greater understanding that truly we are one."

Breathe

 Breathe, just breathe. 

Be aware of your breath. 

Breathe in and Breathe out.    

Notice your breath as it flows gently in and out of your body without effort. 

When there are stressors, or worries, return your focus to your breath.

Breathe in and breath out. 

Breathe in love, breathe out love

Breathe in gratitude, breathe out gratitude.

That’s what it means to just breathe; to concentrate solely on the experience of nourishing our bodies with air and in doing so foster a deep sense of internal safety.

“The breath of life. 

Each time you breathe in, you take oxygen to your lungs, your bloodstream, and your cells. Have you ever noticed, we are changed with each breath. 

“Feelings come and go like clouds in the sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

This reminds us that no matter how chaotic  things may seem, we’re okay. We’ll get through it. We are still here, still strong.

Breathing exercises are now such an important part of my daily routine. I couldn’t think of starting a day and ending my day without doing my breathing exercises. Breathing techniques has become my biggest tool and best friend. Breathing has become a foundation for living with conscious presence and awareness.

Every breath is a chance to begin again.

Playfulness

 “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” ~George Bernard Shaw

How do you make life more playful?

Playfulness becomes difficult when we get bogged in worries. Worrying nurses the joy out of everything. I know, because I’ve been there many times before.

We don’t stop playing because we no longer enjoy it. We stop playing because we think we should be doing other things, and that creates fear, anxiety, and, eventually, numbness towards life. There will always be something that needs to be done.

It’s natural to connect, explore, and discover. Every day brings discoveries, wonder, and excitement. Every day is new.

I’ve never stopped being “playful”. When I stop noticing the playfulness of the world around me, I know I’m in a bad mood or too stressed, and I often make myself stop and re-engage in the world in a playful way, even if just to watch a funny movie.

When we lose ourselves in play, whether creating a make-believe world, throwing a ball between friends, or watching silly YouTube videos, we allow ourselves to get out of the linear, problem-solution, adult mindset.

We can learn a huge lesson from little persons. I certainly have.

Luckily, my career path ended up being immersed in the whirlwind of teaching children.

I decided to rediscover my silly, consequence-free side, to unlock my optimism.

I observed children make every task bright, fun, and interesting . . . and chaotic. Their infectious excitement and belief in good things pervaded my every working day. Their unconscious behavior and easy emotions filled my every weekday thought.

I owe those little smiley faces a heck of a lot! Being surrounded by children has helped me realize, “You don’t need to be childish to be childlike.” You can find happiness in everyday routine.

Re-discover your sunshine…Live, love, and laugh like you never lost the magic.

1. Give your happiness a boost by delighting in your own unique sense of humor.

2. Trust good things will happen, and put your hand up for every opportunity that comes your way.

3. Follow your gut instead of overthinking. 

4. Encourage feelings of excitement to bubble up more often by giving them glorious, physical free rein.

5. Give yourself the gorgeous gift of looking forward to birthdays by focusing on sharing, receiving, and celebrating all you’ve contributed in the past twelve months.

6. Take a break from meaningful activities to relax by being deliciously frivolous.

7. Sing out loud when a tune pops into your head to bring on feelings of pure joy.

8. Have upbeat conversations with yourself out loud to silence your inner critic.

In the land of play, we make connections we wouldn’t normally make. We see things in new ways. Play can boost our creativity, heighten our mood, make us laugh, and can engage us in the world in ways that regular “adult” life often doesn’t.