Happy July to All,
What we notice enlarges. What we focus on expands. Where attention goes, energy flows. Our mind is such a powerful tool!
I keep relearning this truth in so many ways. Lately, with the increased responsibility for the care of my aging parents, I have established the intention to focus on moments of ease in the seams of my day…and inhabit them as fully as possible. In any given moment, for each of us, there are a multitude of possible reasons to feel stressed out! But since my life experience validates my opening statements, that what we focus on expands, the choice of where we place our attention is largely ours.
Especially at this time of year, when it is pretty easy to spend a few minutes with a tree or a flower, there are lots of chances to breathe easy, even if just for a few minutes at a time. So, cultivating ways to experience more ease is high on my Summer to-do list.
I am exploring how to literally move my body with more ease, how to purposely rest my mind in soft places of ease intermittently throughout the day and I am vowing to notice whenever I am making something more difficult than it actually has to be.
There is a reading I used to share with yoga students many years ago from a book entitled “A Deep Breath of Life” by Alan Cohen. I had long forgotten the book with its inspiration for each day of the year, but it comes to mind now. Maybe this excerpt from his July 19th entry will strike a chord with you? I needed the reminder.
‘Whenever you feel a sense of strain, ask yourself this question;
“How would I be doing this differently
if I were willing to let it be easy?”
Speaking of chords striking, feel free to join us for some fun with music this coming Sunday the 12th at the church we attend, Westminster Unitarian Church in East Greenwich. We have been having a blast singing and making music in community with the wide range of folks who come. Most of whom we know from the yoga world. There is a lovely mixture of therapeutic rhythms, soulful melodies and mantras, people offering lots of smiles and hugs and a pretty good potluck dinner at the end of the evening. Breaking bread with other kind-hearted people is such good medicine. Maybe we will see you there?
Sending each of you loving wishes
for peace, health & happiness,
now and always.
Namaste, Rev Shelley