![]() This is an unusual time. I have had moments that I felt as if we are in a Sci Fi movie. Scenes on the news of people dressed in a wardrobe of total protection are not just frightening to children, but to all of us. Words like, isolation, social distancing, quarantine, and rationing, spill through every news report and conversations all begin with, “What store has milk, bread or eggs?” “Where can we find toilet paper?” I don’t like it. Seeing my loved ones through a computer is not the same as kissing their cheeks. Virtual game night is fun, but it is not the same as sharing the same bowl of chips. (Will we ever be able to share chips again?) I miss coffee and lunches with friends. I miss dinner and movie dates with my husband. I miss manicures and massages. I miss trips, concerts, and sporting events that have been cancelled. I miss running to the store just to pick up a tomato for my BLT without feeling like my life could be in danger. All of this feels like distant memories of a past life that becomes increasingly blurred as the days goes by. I feel pressure when I hear people are using this time to clean out every closet, write a book, and get in shape by working out and eating right. I am sure the new Corona Diet Plan will be out any day. That just makes me want to eat pop tarts - which I did before I went to bed last night. I feel fear for those in areas with he most cases of this Corona Virus, the elderly, and the recently unemployed. I fear the financial ramifications for the world. I feel admiration for those in the front lines of leadership trying to make the right decisions; for those serving us with formidable strength in the healthcare world; and for the entire chain of workers it takes to produce, transport, and stock the shelves of supermarkets. When it isn’t cold and snowing, (yes, it is still winter where I live), I go for walks. I cross to the other side of the street if I see someone walking towards me. I count the cars in driveways and wonder if they are having a gathering of more than 10 or if they have gathered as a family to shelter at home -together. Yesterday, I walked. It wasn’t to add steps to my fitness counter or burn as many calories as I could. I walked slow and with the intention of enjoying every step. The sun hit my face with a warmth that made 40 degrees feel like summer. I took deep breaths of clean, fresh air. It felt amazing to be out of my house where the air is continually circulated through the furnace. I looked up to the bluest sky I have ever seen that was speckled with cotton white clouds. In the silence of not hearing traffic, or the noise of daily life, I heard birds. Birds singing glorious songs with their choir of friends. I saw carefree bunnies scampering through yards. You are probably thinking this sounds a bit gushy and the next thing I will say is that blue birds appeared to tie ribbons in my hair like I was Cinderella in a Disney movie. I won’t go that far, but... It felt slow. It felt quiet. It felt peaceful. It felt fresh and new. It felt different. What if this is the message of this virus? The message to slow down. To listen. To see things again- the things we take for granted and the things we miss in our hurried life. What if the speed of which our life and world had gotten to was spinning so fast that we were heading for an implosion? What if this is it? What if we needed a shake down? A wake-up call to be grateful for what is important. As the days go by, I realize how grateful I am for simplicity. How grateful I am for food, water, and the shelter of my home. How grateful I am for the security of love from my family and friends. How grateful I am for dinner and movie dates with my husband at home with our sweet dogs snuggled next to us. I realize what I really miss. I miss smiles and hugs. I miss cheek kisses. I miss the touch of my loved ones and voices that are not muffled by technology. I miss the freedom to move in whatever direction I desire. The events, travel, and manicures seem of little importance. The uncertainty of not knowing how or when this will end is nerve racking and I don’t have the answers. I do know that the most important lessons are taught in the most difficult of times. I do know that the sky is bluer, the birds are singing louder, and the world has slowed to a pace that we need to remember when this time of hunkering down ends. What if it is time to listen to the quiet? What if it is time for you to take a walk? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie's Life Lesson: “The most important lessons are taught in the most difficult of times.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you think about our world situation is trying to teach us. Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2020 Pennie Hunt This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt. Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.
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![]() I snuck away with my Grandson, Dylan, for an afternoon of feeding the ducks in the park, picnicking and a little shopping. After the ducks were fed and our tummies were full we moved on to shopping. My shopping cart spilled over with the arms and legs of a three- year-old. As I maneuvered through the aisle, I asked him, “What should we buy for you today? Maybe a shirt, a book, a……” My list was interrupted when he said, “I have everything I want.” My cart came to a stop as I looked at his sweet face. I couldn't hide my smile at his remarkable comment. “You have everything you want?” He may have been three, but he knew from the expression on my face that he must have given the million dollar answer. He flashed his killer smile and said, “Yeah, I do! I have EVERYTHING I want! ” I proceeded to tell him how lucky he was that he was so happy and had everything he wants. He smiled bigger, sat up taller and was very proud that yes, he must be lucky! I have to say it stunned me. What little person (or big person for that matter) can say they have everything they want? I was still pondering this as we paid for his new football. My idea – not his. Later, we stopped by my house to feed my dog, Yogee. Yogee was much more interested in dancing around the floor with Dylan than eating. After about the third time I told Yogee to go eat her food Dylan looked at me and said, "Maybe she just isn't hungry." Again, I stopped to breathe in what he just said. I sat down and watched as Yogee’s tiny feet continued the happy dance as she circled around him. As every inch of her body wriggled and smiled, I realized – she, too, in this moment of time had everything she wanted. We took Yogee to the back yard and this time it was Dylan’s turn to do the happy dance. He ran to my garden box. He circled it, hands clapping and sang, "Oh, this garden is BEAUTIFUL!!!" That was it! Three strikes to my heart! Lessons learned! At 3 years old, he could see the beauty in a garden and understood that "he" wasn't hungry for anything. -- He had everything he wants! This tiny boy had just demonstrated to me the simplicity of life. That as long as we are loved we do have everything we want. That sometimes we don’t hunger for anything - we just need to dance. And if we look we can find beauty in our own back yard. I learned that right now, in this moment, I do have everything I want! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: "When we are surrounded by love we don’t hunger for anything -- we have everything we want." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to be grateful for what you have. Do you need more, or do YOU have everything you want? Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2020 Pennie Hunt This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt. Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information. ![]() Take out a notebook. Use a layout that is comfortable for you. You can make headers across the top of the page. You can use key words down the side. Use a Word Document or a spreadsheet on your computer. It doesn't matter what style you choose. What I want you to do is create a reference guide to get you through the hard times of life. Write down: Things that bring you joy. Things or people that bring you strength. What brings you happiness. What makes you feel loved. Places where you feel safe; the people you feel safe with. How you feel warm and protected. What makes you feel ALIVE! Write down as many categories as you want to and as many things, places, people, or actions you can think of for each category. End with these last two which may be the most important: - What makes you feel of service- what can YOU do to help - who can YOU help. - What you are grateful for. My lists are long, but a sampling of mine would be: My dogs, Gracie and Zenee, bring me joy. Meditation brings me strength. My grandchildren bring me happiness. I feel loved by my husband, kids, grandchildren, friends, and family. I feel safe at home in front of the fire drinking coffee and reading. I feel protected when my husband holds my hand. I feel ALIVE when I paint, speak, and write. I can help others by - volunteering at Hospice, watching grand kids, or having coffee with someone who feels alone. I am grateful for my warm comfortable bed, and the sunrise in the morning. Now when sadness, grief, illness, loss, depression, loneliness, despair, or whatever feeling or experience visits your life pull out this list. Zero in on what you need. Do you need to feel safe after you have a physical injury? Do you need to feel happy when the emptiness of being alone for a holiday strikes? Do you need strength to get through a difficult time in your job? Whatever comes up in your life, you now have a catalog of ideas that you KNOW works for you. You are prepared. You are armed with answers and actions to get you through. You have your own "Personal Troubleshooting Guide" for YOUR life. Now, take out that notebook! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Create a notebook filled with ideas and options to get you through difficult times. Be prepared!” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to create a handbook of ideas to help you to help yourself during stressful times. Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2020 Pennie Hunt This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt. Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information. ![]() I began meditating over a decade ago during a very stressful time in my life. I was certain my mind and body would explode from the pressure, as I tried to handle many highly emotional life situations. Desperation set in as I struggled to gain some essence of control in my world of chaos. My first attempt at gaining relief from this tension was when I sat down, closed my eyes and with the sound of rain falling in my headphones said to myself over and over and over again, "Clear my mind... clear my mind... clear my mind." I didn't know what meditation was, nor did I realize that was what I was doing. I just knew I needed peace in my mind, heart and soul I lasted about five minutes, before I jumped up believing I had failed as my mind hadn't cleared at all. Determined, I continued this routine daily and soon I became more and more successful. Some days I could actually sit for the 5 minutes and my mind would clear. The minutes turned to ten, then fifteen and at times I would sit for hours. Meditation saved my life. I learned how to separate myself from the world outside of my body and control my emotions, thoughts and feelings. I could handle the stress of all that was happening in a clean, clear and calm way. After years of learning about the many various types of meditation, I have settled in to what works for me. I believe you do not have to follow a certain meditation dogma or philosophy to receive an emotional and physical benefit. The basic premise is to quiet your thoughts and allow calm, contentment and peace to fill the space of your mind and body. Now, whether I want to relax and release tension or concentrate on one thought, I turn to daily meditation as my life saving method. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pennie's Life Lesson: "Quiet your mind and allow calm, contentment and peace to fill you." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to find your own place of quiet, place of solitude, place of peace. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2020 Pennie Hunt This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt. Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information. |
AuthorThere is a certain magic about where I live both physically and spiritually – on the crossroads of Spirit and Brave. Archives
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