The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.
The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore
Dale Carnegie
Iceland,Siffr,snorkel spot.jpg Pinterest
Oi Bom dia, good day everyone!
April 26, 2014
Second chances
April 25, 2014
No matter how hard life can seem at times, face it head on. Live in the present, deal with today, every moment is a chance to approach the challenge in an artistic way. If you have already tried to deal with it one way, and that way didn’t satisfy your requirements, then re-evaluate the situation. If it involves someone else, or others, then you have to really understand your motivation for the change(s). The only person you can change is yourself. You can present options, and suggest when it comes to others, but you yourself cannot change them. They might try to change for you, but it will be short lived, if it is not something that they themselves really want to do..
Second chances, when you ask about how others feel about second chances, you get mixed responses. Some feel that there is no such thing as a second chance, you either work out a situation or you move on, the world is full of new beginnings. Others will say, if you are given a second chance it is because the first time, was the wrong time. Tao, belief is that there is always Yin/Yang in life. Two sides to a coin if you will. I have found that in life, we flow from one side to the other, that is our “Divine” gift. The Universe balances our lives with rain, sunshine, clouds and clear skies. When we make time to reflect/pray/meditate, we find the beauty in our lives, and appreciate them for what they are, “moments in time”…. Good Day Everyone… may your day be blessed with love and activities that make for happy memories. Oyashikiri
The skills and patience, the eye of the photographer, never cease to amaze and delight. Often the photographer is not listed, I hope that they eventually get to see just how much their “art” is appreciated and enjoyed.
* flickr
*** Zuly on Pinterest
Simplicity
April 24, 2014
There was a time before cars got bigger, faster, when the world moved at a more leisurely pace. A Sunday drive was something you looked forward to after a busy week. Of course, that is if you had a car, if you were determined, we could ride the bus, then transfer to a streetcar that would take us out to a beach just outside the city limits, where along with other families we could enjoy fresh air and sunshine by the water Today this beach is still there, but it is no longer outside the city limits, it is in the heart of the city and surrounded by homes,shops and restaurants. Life has changed, and with it, the natural wonders that were so available before are now, way way out and require travel by motor vehicle to get there, and even then, it is protected land, or parks that are managed and looked after. To find a really wilderness like retreat, you have to get out the maps and plan accordingly. And unfortunately many of us, like certain conveniences of home to be with us while we enjoy a quiet retreat.
We have friends with a wonderful good size camper that they take off in every year for camping retreats they’ve found over the years. They found a place by the water they can rent, park their camper, and then tour in their luxury truck that they purchased to visit the areas around the park. Both are excellent cooks and bring their skills with them, dining out with them has to be a feast of delights. They didn’t always camp, they took it up only a couple of years back, but once the decision was made, they applied themselves, researched and took action. Now when I hear my friend say, that soon they will take off on t heir first trip of this year I’m green with envy. I’ve talked about doing what they have done, since they first got the idea and acted on it. Years later, they have developed a roaming lifestyle that is very enticing. Thanks to social media we get to enjoy many of their journeys and discoveries, but we (hubby and I) meanwhile, still have it on our “bucket list”
Vintage campers are making a comeback, people are finding them and refurbishing them, fixing them up and putting them somewhere where they can have their home away from home at certain times of the year. In researching for this blog, I saw darling little caravans, little tin rolling cans as they are affectionately called. So caught in my search, I started a folder of small homes/campers on my Pinterest page. To acquire the simplicity that I would so like, requires work! Unlike in a virtual world, I can’t just click on a button and be transported to another time and different location. In the real world, I have to downsize and plan so that I can pick up and go. AND… unlike years gone by……. I have to travel further to find undeveloped spaces. Hmmmm simplicity I hear that to get to some lakes now, one has to be flown in, and guess what, at the other end is a camping resort, that may or may not allow pets. Just saying.
Buongiorno good morning everyone!
April 23, 2014
Mineral Flowers @ Danakii Desert in Ethiopia
This is a picture of acid lakes in the Dallol volcano * beautiful sight isn’t it. Zillions of tiny mineral deposits come together to form magnificent little rosettes that in turn, weave and join together to form natural basins for the acid waters to form. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, how often have we heard that!
It is interesting how different cultures, we go about finding a mate, or partner. In traveling to the East, I had occasion to speak with a number of different women who were in(what appeared) very happy relationships, and who were all from arranged marriages. I say arranged, not the way necessarily that the west has portrayed them but arranged never-the-less. Having spent the majority of my working life working as a Stress Management Specialist in Health Care, where over 65% of the issues I dealt with stemmed from unhappy relationships, and in many ways very unhealthy “coupling”. I was impressed with the natural harmony I saw and felt when talking to these woman. They found men with common interests and goals, learned what they could about whether or not their goals were similar and found out if their paths were on the same playing field. Then made a decision on whether or not to go forward in a relationship. This also applied to the men, looking for a wife. Two criteria, practical and long term. I’ve simplified this of course , more at another time.
In the culture I’ve lived in here in North America, and the social interactions that I’ve even participated in, is very different. We seem to be attracted first to the “looks” (outer wrappings ) of the object we “desire”. We can date someone for months and yes even years, and know deep down they are not satisfying our inner needs, yet …we hold on….. why…. out of fear of being alone. Not having someone to be part of a couple with, so when we go out with friends, or go places we are doing it with someone else. EVEN WHEN, the activities we are attending or doing (and this applies to both men and women) are not what we really want to be doing. Ah HAH!!!! ring any bells. If you are going to do something, do it because you want to, do it with sincerity in your heart. If you choose to do something, then do it with joy and enthusiasm, you are the only person who is in control of your choices.
I like to live quietly in harmony with Nature. To know what you find compatible with your way of life, you first have to know your SELF, and what you want!. By doing this, you will find a greater sense of inner beauty and calm. God/Nature/Universe is with us always! Oyashikiri
* Acid Lakes -Ethiopia -photographer Pascal Boegli> Pboog flickr
** Natural terrace pools Pamukkale,Turkey (turbotwister.ru)
**
Do you glance or do you read?
April 22, 2014
Good morning everyone.. earlier this week I received my PL Newsletter from Rev. Goto on New York. In it, he has shared with us an article by Rev Toshio Suzuki* His article began with a sentence that I read and re-read several times thinking that there was a typo. It took a couple of readings and then going on and reading the next two sentences before what he was saying sunk in. I am guilty myself at times of thinking I’m reading, but in fact my eyes are scanning and the brain is taking in what it is reading, but NOT necessarily assimilating the information the way it is intended.
His opening paragraph is as follows. Conviction and Faith, by Rev. Toshio Suzuki … If you want to see the truth of your faith, you should try to practice it very doubtfully,like “is it really true or not?” Then you will come to the conclusion. There is nothing more useless than neither doubting nor believing. To read more of what is said, please contact Rev. Goto in our New York church for a copy of this PL Newsletter. His e-mail is goppoy@icloud.com If you are in the NY area (718)-424-8815.
While researching for a previous blog I found several interpretations or versions if you will of a photograph of the Mad Hatter as played by Johnny Depp. This is the one that struck me the most, and I went back to find it to use it today. Since the picture had no explanation, as to how or why it was coloured the way it was, I can’t pass that information on to you. I could only view it and enjoy it from my perspective. Most pictures I saw were in shades of black and white. Like Rev. T.Suzuki’s words, this picture had arrested me in my search by making a statement that connected with something inside me. I wanted more. I really looked at it closely, the shading, the lace, the fingerless,frayed gloves, bandaged thumb, the assorted pieces of accessories, everything. All of the costume was very artfully pulled together to draw and capture the viewer’s attention. When we are visual, which I am, the picture shouted at me, and I responded. Words,are not as visual, they are a group of letters that come together to form a word. We must read the words not necessarily by themselves, but with the words that come before and after them to really understand the intent of the writer.
Sunshine Blessings to you on this 22nd day of April. Oyashikiri
remember, we can all look at the same picture , read the same words, and come away with our very own story-line.
* Rev.Toshio Suzuki former principal of PL Elementary School, Japan (40Years)
picture of flower, Geranio by cefferreira.flickr.jpg
picture Mad Hatter> Pinterest
Express your appreciation!
April 21, 2014
Be a Peacemaker who honour the diversity of all life.
Harmony does not require that we are all the same.
A single note played simultaneously through several different instruments does not take advantage of the beautiful music that emerges when different chords are played.
Appreciate and acknowledge the differences in others, as distinct as we may seem to be, we all share the spiritual link of being One with the Universe.
Today is the 21st. Thanksgiving , every month (in PL) one day is set aside for special service (7pm) Say thank you out loud, express your appreciation to those around you. the act of saying thank you will make someone else feel good and you will too =^_^= Good Morning Everyone!
Romans 12:18 “If it is possible,so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” Blessings … Oyashikiri
Pictures > Pinterest
Sunday morning sunshine
April 20, 2014
Open the door today, to another way
Don’t just look at the door and say
Someday
Make today that special day
Step through, then walk away
from yesterday
Today, when you pray
You will be shown “the WAY”
God, is with you today, and always!
Oyashikiri
prayer/poem by Q
pictures>Pinterest
Bom dia, happy Saturday everyone!
April 19, 2014
A lazy start to another wonderful day, closes my eyes, smiles and remembers yesterday. Would you look at this tree, how old must it be, how extraordinary its experiences in life must have been. It is hard to tell from a picture just how high that opening is, right away, I want to climb up to explore inside. In some ways it reminds me of a big bird with its mouth open, and other times when I look at it, I imagine its the entrance to a hobbit condo. Imagination is wonderful isn’t, so is intuition. Both are gifts we were born with, some of us use these gifts more than others.
It is still too cool in this part of the world, to lay in the shade basking under the warm healing sunshine, but in other parts of the country this could be one of your options today. Yes I am a bit of a day dreamer, but what is wrong with taking a bit of “laid back” time for yourself. Value your intuition, often we “know” a little voice tells us, we “need” to slow down, engage in some “me time”. Instead we look at our lists, or to the voices of friends who want to go here, there and everywhere, and you become “busy, busy busy”. We are not machines, and we all know that machines break down, require ongoing maintenance. Unlike the tree in the first picture, we might not show our scars and our age in the same way, but instinctively we do know when its time to rest, when we have pushed ourselves to a limit. The “Universe” looks out for us, Believe and have Faith, listen to your “intuition”, stop planning every minute of your day. Allow time in your day to P L A Y. Don’t wait for a better time, that time will never just materialize. Be good to your SELF today. PRAY=recharge, rain or shine, make this a day you’ll remember. PL Precept #18. Each moment is a Turning Point.
LIFE IS ART…… LIVE IN PERFECT LIBERTY (PL #1 and 21)
May your day be full of blessings you will enjoy and cherish forever ……. Oyashikiri
pictures> Pinterest
what new to you, can do for you
April 18, 2014
Many years ago now, I crossed such a bridge. I didn’t bravely just walk across, I went through a bout of “OMG I can’t do this, NO. no, no.. you can, but I won’t” Eventually of course, I did go across and it was an exhilarating experience. Having accomplished that bit of adventure, when I was asked to go salmon fishing an a fishing boat on the Pacific, my negativity was less emphatic, however, I did tell everyone that I do suffer from motion sickness, no problem I was told…. so on board we climbed and off we went. All went well for the first while, but when we got further from land, and the water got really choppy, you guessed it… I was hanging on for dear life, and as green as fresh young asparagus coming out of the ground. No matter how I tried to ride it out, it just wasn’t happening, we had to return to shore. I share this with you because not all our adventures end on a happy note. All we can do is give it our best. I tried.
This brings me to more recent events. After a very long winter of inactivity, I realized that my body, that once was active, and an almost daily visitor to the gym, had become a stay at home,, do nothing much physical blah. I am not exaggerating, I really let myself go, don’t ask, it seemed right at the time I made the decisions to cut back at the gym, and then stop altogether. When I looked in the mirror I saw from my shoulders up, hey when its cold outside and you don’t go out much, you walk around in very comfortable clothes. Then one day my friend said let’s go for a walk. Sure I thought, no problem. I’m a walker, last summer I would walk miles without batting an eyelash or breaking a sweat. Off we went on our walk. Surprise, we made it around a couple of blocks, and I was ready to call it quits. Shock and dismay was the order of the day! My mind did not want to accept what my body was saying. Me, dance all night, walk for miles, climb trails and hike, me!!!! could it really be. Hmmmm look in the mirror again, wow, I’ve aged….. my body is no longer in its mid 30’s early 40’s I no longer have extra energy to burn, I’ve been lazy, and my body has relaxed and gotten S L A C K…. “you reap what you sow”. Time to make changes.
That day was the start of a new “attitude” on my part. No. not new to me, but I had to revisit and bring it back into the “now”. It is like I used to listen to music all the time, and somewhere along the way, I stopped. Then a friend played a song by Macy Gray and something inside said, “hello”.. I found the 2nd hand CD “On How Life Is”, at a Sally Ann, it is new to me, and I’m once more listening to music. My body is having to relearn activity, rebuild my core strength so I can walk and not get tired. Fortunately I have a good friend who is a great walking coach and buddy, just knowing she is there for me when I need her, helps big time…. All this to say, I’m back to the gym, I’ve got myself a Personal Trainer, so from time to time, I might not get my blog done on time, but I will surface, be patient with me please while I find my new “RHYTHM”
It is not the same bridge, but its the same kind of challenge, I’m heading towards another adventure…. Cycles of life repeat themselves, only in different formats. Have a great day everyone! Smile!!! Oyashikiri
Pictures >Pinterest
#worldstoughestjob
April 17, 2014
what a surprise video – bravo to the creators
