Num has just returned from a trip home to Thailand, he shared some amazing pictures which over time you will get to see some of my favourites .. but please indulge yourself, visit his Instagram to see some of the amazing shots he got while there. the next picture of his, was taken during one of his early morning strolls.
Thailand – good morning – by NumOttawa
Your smile is what’s needed. a smile invites happiness and cheer and is essential to energize others as well as yourself.
I’m an artist that likes to have my supplies around me, it inspires me, when I’m working on something I like to be able to simply reach out and grab whatever it is I’m looking for, or think I want. I’m focused on the project at hand, nothing else. During one of my outings the other day I heard a grumble and turned to see a dragon in distress. It had been put on a shelf with Halloween decorations and wasn’t happy being sandwiched between a bat and a rat that were one could easily see, not of his “vintage”
Seeing his distress and displeasure I walked over and took a closure look at him. His claws had been broken off and his tail was missing some of his scales, otherwise he grumbled he was fine and was having difficulty accepting his fate at having been cast aside.
Yes I agreed, I could understand his frustration at being replaced, and being cast aside, but I did explain, his previous owners had not not just tossed him out, they brought him to a place where he could possibly find another home. I pointed out his grumpy attitude certainly wouldn’t endear him to another possible owner.
Clever dragon gave me a shrewd look….” since YOU heard my complaining, and you’ve come over to see what I’m all about, don’t YOU think you should save me from this fate… after all… you know how and can?” Hmm good question, and it was true… of all the people who were around, I was the only one who was paying attention to him. It was the end of August, not too many people were searching out decorations for Halloween, besides he had likely been in someone’s garden, looks like he had been a water feature.
Yes, he came home with me. Now he is fixed up ready to be outside again where he can enjoy the visiting birds and wildlife that frequent the yard.
We all grow old, we all change with the passing seasons, and friends/family fall away, people go on with their lives, and we are left to cope with ours. Dragon felt rejection, I hope in tending to his wounds, listening to him, he will enjoy the next phase of his existence and return to his positive self… After all, as he pointed out.. dragons have feelings too.
Discover each person’s unique qualities. When we approach people with respect, we can understand them better and see their special qualities.
Perfect Liberty 2022.2
Enjoy the process and savour it. The feeling you have when you’ve seen something through to the end is awesome, but the true joy lies in the actual execution of the plan.
This is where I spend a few minutes each day weeding… pulling out the growth in that one area .. slowly the small birds, the nuthatch, chickadees .. are coming to see if some offerings have been put down, The Doves love cleaning up the “floor”… the blue jays are back watching for me to arrive… have even caught sight of black birds .. the wild turkeys are of course still around, they had several months of little to no traffic.. now the cars and humans are returning.
Let’s have a humble mind. Once you think, “that’s good enough,” you become blind to the opportunities to be more creative.
When we are constantly doing something… when the day seems to disappear and you are still doodling, there seems to be no end in sight to the “this and that” that are on your “to do ” list.
Are you overdoing things? Not only do you harm yourself when you overdo things, but you may be imposing on others as well.
Perfect Liberty 2022.29
When we are mindful, we appear to process information with our full bodies rather than simply the mind.
It is not fun to be stuck in one place. Instead of being captured by what’s in front of you, strive to broaden your horizons.
Perfect Liberty 2022.28
I picked up a magazine the other day to put in the bag i was putting together for the charity shop, I saw that I had a book mark on a page. ID your strengths… I must have been going to revisit the page. I had had good intentions.. date of the little magazine was 2021, January.
My eyes lingered on the one block on the page of strength, the issues was January so it is when everyone is looking at challenges we faced in the previous year and what lessons had we learned etc. It is an interesting list. I’ll share it with you.
Appreciation of beauty and excellence ……………. Kindness …………………. Leadership …………
Bravery ……… Love……….. creativity ……………… love of learning …….. curiosity ……… perseverance ………..
To cope with current problems, it helps to reflect on past successes .. and we are asked to look at what inner resources helped us to do this. Apparently psychologists call our “superpowers” signature strengths. is that a cape billowing behind you? Mine is tattered and torn in places, colours are faded,, but I won’t be trading it in soon…. I earned every wrinkle and stain… you?
Praying before taking action changes the outcome. Have clear wishes and do your best. Then something new will open up for you.
Perfect Liberty 2022.27
Enjoy the process and savor it. the feeling you have when you’ve seen something through to the end is awesome, but the true joy lies in the actual execution of the plan.
Sometimes prayers are answered in a way that you don’t expect. Life has been busy, so busy that until it took its toll on me and I simply had no choice but to stop and unwind… I had no idea how brain fogged I was getting. We get busy, and we get into a routine of “doing” .. it is not until a friend mentions to you that you are always on the go. A friend actually was telling me that her friends were always telling her she was always traveling, and she didn’t necessarily see it that way, she saw herself as a stay at home person.
hmmmm. a little “bell” went off in my head. I was one of her friends who IF I thought of it, would think she did travel a lot. So when another friend said to me, “you are always on the go” I actually heard him, it wasn’t just words coming at me from across a room.
So… when a friend send me a link to pictures taken while he and his wife were on a travel vacation, I innocently opened up the files and WOW… OMG… this picture caught my attention, it literally screamed at me… if I was to visualize my inner thoughts and what was or has been going on in my gray matter, this picture said it all. Why? I don’t know.. it just drew me in, it captured my attention.
From my head to my toes, this picture could be an abstract picture of my emotions – all consuming yet not tangible. My life is so full in some ways, so content, so rich, so vibrant, yet… there is a part of me that seems to be simmering waiting to erupt.
Nick and Mel traveled through some very majestic territory.. they were exploring Yellowstone National Park… Some of Nick’s pictures were just too much to take in, I think it was the impression of the vast geography that they were experiencing, it was something that would be so totally mind blowing first hand. Thank you Nick for sharing, you gave me something that opened doors to possibilities.. more for me to think about .. LOL as always your sharing brings happiness and a smile
Make Today a memorable day. Let’s try to put our whole heart into whatever we say or do. as our unique signature.
Perfect Liberty 2022.26
Why I am so pulled in by this photo.. I have many thoughts on that… one of the PL Precepts is
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.