oh what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive
It is when we deceive ourselves. NO of course not, we don’t set out with the intention of deceiving, but often it begins with a little “white” lie, and then, out of the blue one day, we find ourselves dealing with a situation that is totally so not what we were expecting or wanting. It is the little habits, the small acts that we do on a regular basis, we do them without even thinking, they become just “something we do”
Over the years, I’ve spent hours reading, taking in information that was of interest to me, I learned how to meditate the TM way (Transcendental Meditation) I learned about and tried Yoga, Pilates, joined and went to a gym to use their equipment, even tried a personal trainer a few times.. Nothing stuck. Yet every new piece of information I took in (what communicated itself to me) was stored, and when doing a mental exercise often these little tidbits would factor into my final decision to do or try something new.
One day in the dead of winter when I was driving one of the backroads to get to “my birds” I thought to myself, “What am I doing” I remember there was only one other set of tracks on the road, and already they were almost covered by the still falling snow. Heavily burdened branches were bowed with the wet sow that clung to them, some almost touching the roof of my cat. I had no choice but to to go very slowly, and be totally focused on my actions. When I got to the parking lot and the car was parked, I sat back and just relaxed in a wonderful glorious moment of awareness, I was happy, I was thrilled, I was content.
I sat in my car, totally still, watched the big snowflakes land and slide down my windows.. they were still warm from the heated interior. It was a moment of pure bliss. I was so aware of myself, the moment, my surroundings.. Then the calls filtered in to me, the birds knew I was arrived… There was a flurry of action around the almost empty feeders.
I have always enjoyed the winter, but not like I did during the past winter when every day I went out into the day and began spending time with the birds and other woodland animals who came to call when I was there.
Its not the same in the summer, the summer months produce a totally different vibe. My daily routine in the fall and winter .. was and is different. Spring and summer months I’m not able to capture the same “stillness” My “habits” I acquired over the late summer, fall and winter months, were not harmonious with the spring months, nor in this season called summer.
Once again, I’m reminded that the only thing in life that is constant, is change. These past 3, 4 weeks I’ve been deceiving myself, yes I do enjoy some of the “adventures” but if I’m honest with my “self”.. I’m not having the same kind of “satisfaction” with my visit to the woodlands, certainly not, journeying into them.. Today’s calendar..
Have a “Let’s do it” attitude. Even if a task is difficult keep in mind it is given by God and accomplish it.
Perfect Liberty 2021.14
Gonna have to work on this one, give it more thought. I think I’ll go with the flow. I went out earlier to find that it is a wet drizzle, with spurts of downpouring. Guess its time to dig out my rain boots, and make sure my rain jacket is handy. I’ll find a place to walk where there is a more open trail.
We all need to come to terms with our day to day realities. Yesterday, after being bombarded and accosted by I think every flying insect in the area, I turned tail, hurried out of the area I was heading into, and left. I wasn’t alone, two other couples came out and without any lingering got into their vehicles and left. The itching, stings and the discomfort from the multiple bites had me reaching for the allergy medication. No way would I survive the service at church with the numbing itching that was happening in my hands from the multiple stings. Never mind my head arms and anywhere else they got at me.
*** message to self… heavily overgrown areas of vegetation are to be avoided until further notice!! Write that down, make a notecard, stick a note on the mirror.. STAY OUT OF THE WOODS for awhile… Doesn’t have to be forever, but for now…just because you have been doing something regularly … doesn’t mean you have to continue to do so.. find other places to explore …
Sigh.. this is a lesson I need to apply in other areas of my life too. We all get into “habits” or “comfort zones” if you will, time to reevaluate.
Let’s begin today with a smile. Let’s start the day with a positive outlook, looking forward to what we can discover.
Perfect Liberty 2021.12
Today I am going to do an overdo “project” and that is clear out the food I’ve been storing for the foodbank and take it there. The foodbank moved several miles further down to another small town (outside of the city where I live) I have been delinquent in getting there.
This will give my body a chance to recover from all the bites and venom I’ve had to deal with over the last many weeks. How about you.. ? … hopefully you will have a grand week ahead. Let’s start with today, and making it a good productive day !! .. Let’s begin with a smile and a positive outlook.
“happy trails to you, until we meet again”
I think Roy Rogers sang that ? ( lol do you even know whoRoy Rogers was?)
to stand alone looking out into the vastness of your wonders
encourages me to be strong
to embrace the distance of tomorrow
and to live today, like the waters in this river
allowing the currents to gently take me
with each wave, gently and resolutely towards
whatever shoreline you guide me to.
I know I am never really alone, for always you find a way to let me know you are listening
It is true, sometimes the world takes on a different hue
But…. always, and this is true…. always, I see the wonder that is YOU
I know I am never alone, for YOU are always with me
whether I stand, sit or lie, you are by my side
you take me where I need to be
like the tree, I am rooted in YOU
I extend my arms into your infinity
with the knowledge that
I am a but a part of the whole
Along this same shoreline, where I had been standing musing, I had moments before been along this stretch of the island, and to my wonder and joy had an encounter with a blue heron. To awed to grab for the camera, I simply drunk in the moment, as he/she up and flew away.
PL Precept # 1 – Life is Art.
PL Precept # 2 – To live is to express one’s Self.
Every day is a new canvas, on which we can express ourselves in our own way, We are all different, each one of us is unique, yet we are all connected, we are all ONE
Three years ago, I would never had been up and out walking like I am now.. I would never have had occasion to meet the wonderful people I meet now as I wander the woodlands, rivers and parks…AND I would not have reconnected with Nature the way I do now, or known and seen the wildlife that I am now. NOW is a powerful moment in time.
Most of us have read or seen Alice In Wonderland, how she dropped down a hole, and found herself in this wonderful colourful and wacky world. Remember the rabbit, always on the move, always late for a very important date. Once retired I hoped not to have such moments any longer. No more deadlines, no more meetings, no more planning committees….. life has a way of presenting us with options, how we accept or deal with these little surprises goes a long way in how we get through our days and manage our day to day activities.
rabbit pictures – NumOttawa (Instagram)
The heat and humidity we have been having, has simply thrown any plans I had for “acitivities” into pending mode. I have no desire to really do much. Even the thought of getting out for my walk is a chore to deal with. I say this, yet yesterday, I went out several times to try to cut down a branch on a tree that I feel needs attention. My tool for cutting is an old rusted saw. Need I tell you how successful and how efficiently that task went. After several attempts I left it to look at (deal with) today. I did saw through over 3/4 of the limb. I want to tackle the one beside it too.
I asked myself as I lay in recovery mode on the bed, under a ceiling fan and another rotating one that I have that blows towards the bed (from the dresser) (yes of course, I have AC I wanted and needed more!!!) “Why do I do such things” of course my inner voice, wisely kept silent. I act when the “need” hits. I had looked out from the deck while standing there with Keeper (9 yr old whippet) who was watching me with curiosity, since I’m not usually out with her, just standing or sitting on the deck in the heat…. I wanted rid of the vines I saw choking the tree, so i took action, I grabbed the pruners, put on my gardening gloves and marched off the deck to cut and pull down the offending vine. Never mind that the tree is taller than my garage and I no longer hit the 5’3″ mark.
A bag of vegetation and branches later.. much of the one vine was down, but now I could see that I had dead branches that needed to be cut down. See that is the problem when we tackle one “project” another rears its head. I could hear male voices over the fence and was tempted to ask for help.. but. I knew they were working on my neighbours backyard project.. so listened to my now pacing dog (she wanted in, she was smart, she wanted back into the house) and went back inside.
Nope, no ladders were used in the project, I stood on tip toe, I reached, I pulled, I used a garden implement to hook and try to pull down branches & vines to where I could grasp them. No one said that as I got older, I would necessarily think smarter.
You’re happy, I’m happy. Have the mindset of “good for you, good for me” Express yourself in a way that makes others happy.
Perfect Liberty 2021.7
Oh.. and of course Nk, I was not dressed to be outside doing that. I had already prepared for bed and had been lying down when I went out with Keeper. Another reason, I would not involve or ask for help at that time of night!!! I am considerate if not always too bright. Sigh.. I love life.. I do.. I make my own “messes”… and yes, I do my own cleaning up.. (LOL well ok, sometimes..)
Be safe everyone, the heat is happening in many places.. be prudent, let the rabbits and squirrels do the running .. **even they stay out of the heat of the day..
soon
Life is to be lived.. sometimes we do it much like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, we need to chill more!
Don’t think “I can’t” from the start. Begin by taking the first step, then you’ll be able to see what comes next and a path will open.
Perfect Liberty 2021.6
Visualize or imagine yourself having or doing or being what you are working towards. feel, see, taste, touch, hear. Notice the reaction of those around you…. but.. make it all ok with you. No matter what other people may think or how they react. YOU matter!
Improve yourself to have a kinder heart. Do what you can to be caring and considerate to make others happy.
Perfect Liberty 2021.3
I started out with the intention of walking around the bog at a very slow pace. I wanted to concentrate on how quietly I could walk. As often happens, the bird calls, the textures of the various plants were distracting for me. I found myself taking pictures (what’s new!!). As I slowly made my way around the trail, I met a couple who were also out for a morning stroll. I think one of the greatest joys is meeting new people who share the love of the land.
In PL, we believe that PL #18 Each moment is a turning point.. how true, the pleasant visit, the exchange of ideas and information left me with lots of possibilities to put on my “to do” list. Places I have not been to in a long time, they reminded me of in telling me of their experiences. I feel a happy anticipation, a couple of the places they brought to my attention, I used to visit when my husband and I traveled the backroads.
We are heading into a new week – lets in following the teachings of PL, remember that .. PL # 15 All is a Mirror We should try to start each day with a smile .. PL Precept# 2 To live is to express One’s Self. If we are smiling and happy, people around us, will feel the positive energy…
Energy Springs from your smile. A smile makes you and others cheerful and energetic.
Perfect Liberty 2021.4
To all my American readers.. have a wonderful celebration today.. enjoy, make memories.. stay safe..
I want to also thank each and everyone of you who drop in and visit, share your comments, thoughts, visit with me along the trails, and in all areas in my life.. I love the energy you bring into my life.. you all contribute, by being YOU. Thank YOU.
An early morning hike into the woods to see if i could catch a glimpse of reported wildlife in the P23 sector. It was uneventful as far as meeting up with a four legged creature of any height and size. I stopped several times to just sit and listen. The next picture is a log I sit on, I can see down the steep incline to the water, and behind me you can see easily between the trees.
It was later than I wanted it to be, but I didn’t get as early a start as I would have liked. I was grappling with internet issues with access to accounts etc. Man made discoveries and inventions are so often just a plain “pain” .. thank goodness we don’t require a password or an account to access the wonderful world of Nature. I have found that a good layer of bug repellant works wonders.. I don’t care what I look like, I prepare carefully for my sojourn into the depths of the woods. I have a scarf that by now must be saturated with spray remnants from previous outings and has been coated with a fresh layer.. Same can be said of the long sleeve pullover that I find works well, not being to heavy or too light, sleeves when pulled down are over my hands. It too has been liberally sprayed with bug repellant from the tips of the sleeves well up the arms.
One item that is key to my “outfit” is my hat.. It has been sprayed all over the exterior and on the underside of the brim as well. Not one to ever like wearing a hat of any kind. since my woodland journeys are almost a daily happening, the hat since mosquito season began is de rigour! By the time I’m making my way back, the mosquitos are able to get closer to me.. note to self, next time, put the small repellant spray bottle back in your vest or cargo pocket. What one must remember to do is make sure you shower and get off all the deet and other sprays off your skin as soon as you can. In doing so, I’m happy to say, my allergies have been kept at bay and although not eliminated, considering I spent a lot of time outdoors these days.. I am not on 24 hour antihistamines ..
TAOIST Life is Art (Perfect Liberty precept #1)
contact info.- via blogs
--- there are two energies, Yin and Yang = ONE
---to have balance we must live each moment
of our lives.. with Makoto (sincerity)
The only constant in life is change. I am grounded in the reality of Living.
This is true, in all worlds. RL or virtual. I am me and only me.
