America's Reckoning

 This blog post is so spot on.  https://thanissaradharma.com/2021/01/10/americas-reckoning-its-task-ahead/

Just a Photo

Don't have a lot of time today, like most days, to sit down and write. So I thought I would just share a photo I took yesterday at a good friend's home. Enjoy 🙏

 

Poem or Guided Meditation

Last year, I co-founded a mindfulness meditation group where I live.  I often struggle with finding a guided meditation that seems to fit that particular day and often write up something myself.  Today, this is what I used, which came to me yesterday while walking in my back yard.  My intent was for it to be a guided meditation, not a poem.  Which do you think?

Be Free

Morning clouds drift across the sky in a lazy meandering motion, do you notice?

The morning dove sings it's questioning song. Who, who, who are you?  Who is the real you?

The awakening breeze whispers good morning through the tall pines.  Do you respond in kind?

We sit here in silence, but do we see clouds? do we hear the morning dove, or the whispering pines?  are we here? Or are we somewhere else?

Do we only hear the stories our mind creates, telling us things that are not true?  Do we question the stories that say we are not good enough, smart enough or deserving? 

Do we listen to the wisdom of nature? Do we listen to the songs all around us, telling us what a beautiful creature we are? 

Do we feel trapped, like a fly in the spiders web?  Do we see the web as something we have created ourselves?  Do we see the true nature of things?  That we can be the cloud in the sky or the breeze through the trees?  We can fly and sing like the morning dove.  We can be free.  Free from worry, self-doubt and regret, when we realize we are enough, beautiful, and complete, just as we are.

3 Years Ago

Well, the last post here was 3 years ago.  I've been sharing my thoughts on Facebook since and forgot about this blog.  Last week I decided Facebook was not a good place to be, so I have virtually walked away except for my Sangha's Facebook page and the Marketplace and a very few select people.

So, what now?  Well, what I miss the most is sharing my thoughts with others, so I'm back here.  If you're still there, then good.  More to come. 

Sounds very helpful

“I Have 15 ideas To Change Your Life. Do you Have 5 Minutes?” @DariusForoux https://medium.com/art-of-practicality/i-have-15-ideas-to-change-your-life-do-you-have-5-minutes-f84c3f99b3c5

How to Meditate

Wondering how to meditate?  Here is a simple way I found from Zen Mister.  I've tried many ways with mixed success, but this looks like one even I can handle.  😉

http://www.zenmister.com/how-to-meditate/#

Quality of Medical Providers

I don't want this blog to be negative, but I must comment on the medical providers in our area.   We have a health care system that has a near monopoly by driving out private practice doctors.  Despite the official scores from our government, the service leaves much to be desired.

Recent issue:  We have a online system that allows us to leave our doctor a message.  The promises a response time within 2 days.  Lately I have not received any responses after a seasoned but new nurse started working with my doctor.   I also have called three times in recent weeks to have the nurse call me back which has not happened.  This week after 2 messages and a phone call to the office unanswered, I went to their walk-in clinic to see a doctor.  I  was pleasantly surprised to have my short term needs met.  While there, they accessed my doctor's schedule and made an appointment for a week from now. This time frame is not optimal, but the best I can get because I can't get anyone to talk to me at the doctor's office.  When I go to that appointment, I plan on making my frustration very well known and let them know that if they ignore a request again, I will be seeking a new provider in a different healthcare system.

As we used to say in the old days, <flame off>