A fine WordPress.com site

Posts tagged ‘life’

jeudi

With the lunar new year not far off… I let my thoughts drift to another place and time… in my youth, I dreamed of being able to wander the grounds of a monastery high in the mountains. I knew I would feel at home .. looking out into the distance… hearing the soft chanting of the monks… the sweet smell of incense and sandalwood wafting through the air. I never made it to China but my Mom and sister did… . no their interests were not mine… but they did get to explore and bring home memories of a land that was very different from the world we knew. My time abroad was spent in Japan.. smiles with a soft stirring in my heart as I recall the cherry blossoms… and the rice fields as i wandered and took in life in Japan. I loved it there, but I missed hearing English and French, oui, je suis Canadianne …

We can’t always do all the things we want to… but we can explore and take in the world around us, every day there is something new to discover. We need only look around, and reach out, be open to try something new, something different, try something you have never done before. It’s a thought, think about it.

Once upon a time .. we used an expression, “arm chair traveler” have you heard it? do you know it’s meaning? Now I am an “internet buff” I use different platforms to explore my interests. In person, travel to far distant places is no longer a possibility for me, I’m just not interested in airports, long lines, customs, politics.. I simply want to enjoy life and the pleasures available to me. I am thankful for the experiences I have had, and the many wonderful people I’ve met along the way…. now I make no apologies for making time for ME… my interests, my joy at being able to explore places via the creative efforts of others.. I am learning and appreciating the talent and skills of creative minds that impact my world in a positive way.

I discovered I like being happy. I like sharing that happiness… and if it isn’t what others want who are in my space.. I move on. simply said. life is to be enjoyed.

Always express yourself for the happiness of others as well as yourself.

The happiness of those around you can lead to your own happiness. Cultivate a heart to always wish for the happiness of others.

PL2015.12

Oyashikiri

virtual landscape in SL (Second Life) http://www.secondlife.com

ca suffit



enough is enough

All I hear these days are complaints on how cold it is, it is not that cold, there are colder places in the world. WE are human beings, we adjust, this is not new, winter comes every year if you live in a part of the world with 4 seasons. I’d be more apt to complain about the bombardment of my privacy, the constant dinging of the cell phone, the forever in your face advertisement when you try to check on what your friends are up to.

Gone are the phone calls that are for a “catch up” or “long time no see” “let’s connect” instead, it is some marketing firm, or something,someone, somewhere posted and it lands in your “feed”.. with some lure to get your to spend, on ???? it is endless.

ça suffit is a french exprssion... that when I was younger, I would hear my friend's parent utter it with a stern no nonsense tone of voice that brooked no ignoring. When the Mother or Father would say those two words, we stopped the fooling around or whatever we were up to (pre teens) and stop.. it was cool down time.

In those days no matter the weather we were outside, my Dad had made us a small rink in the front side yard under the tall poplar trees where we would put on our skates and skate, or slide down using a piece of cardboard on the snow that was piled high along the side... Was it cold, probably you could see your breath in the air, but we didn't care, we climbed the now bare trees with our snowsuits, mittens and whatever our parents bundled us in... During the day, we played outside... we gathered at the big rink at the park down the street, watched the boys playing hockey, or if we had our skates with us... we climbed over the boards and did our best to learn to do fancy figures like the skaters we heard or saw on the television if you knew someone who had one that is.

Life is not complicated, it is the human brain that makes it so.

ahhhh. sigh. .. ok, got that out... how are you today, are you having a good day? I'm late, yes for a very important date... the crows and critters are waiting. Here is today's thought of the day....

When you are not having fun, could it be because you are being lazy?
Sometimes you feel blue or can't seem to find the joy in doing anything. At times like this, just get up and move your body or work your mind to the fullest extent.

PL 2019.10

And, no, I didn’t change the font on my own, the computer is doing its own editing… and you know what, I’m going to let it. WE can still read it. Am I a fan of auto correct, and AI taking over my PC.. NO.. but I’m not going to haggle with it now. I want to get out and away from it.

Have a good day everyone… soon a new year (lunar) will begin.

Oyashikiri

confession. I succumbed and purchased mushroom powder… I’ll let you know how I like it. 5 mushrooms organically grown and processed in a healthy way… made in Canada.. look up the benefits of mushrooms.

jeudi

Wow… when was the last time you heard someone say that to you!

Are you a person who shares your thoughts when they are positive.. or do you blurt out resentments and unhappy responses easily but find saying, “thank you” or smiling in response to something , something you don’t do often. I was privy to a conversation the other day, not because I was listening in, but because people were chatting around where I was seated, and I was just part of the “moment”… I’d say that almost 3/4 of the conversation by all parties was that of complaints and observations on all that is negative in the world. Parties knew each other socially and it was a total dump on life. I wanted to ask, “has nothing happened recently that made you happy” but… in a” funny ” way, I think they enjoyed being able to gripe and express all the negatives that they perceived around them.

Life is what we make it. ahhh.,.. yes… there I go again… I like being happy… I go out of my way to do and find things to do and people to share time with me that I enjoy. Life is too short to squander time on things /people that upset or leave me feeling “unsettled”.

PL Precept # 5 One’s self is lost by being emotional

PL Precept # 4 Being annoyed limits your expressions.

I like my days to flow, like a babbling brook that meanders slowly and playful over the rocks and pebbles in its path as it journeys along to its destination.

I’m off to have breakfast with the mystery of crows that await my arrival, and then to the Blue Jay Cafe to see if the little rabbit is still waiting for treats. I also got some yummy suet for the nuthatch to enjoy, I’ll butter the bark with it… she shares with the Downy and Hairy that get in line for the treat when it is applied.

Cheers everyone!

Oyashikiri

Hello?

Have you ever found you arrive somewhere and suddenly you know you are somewhere, but realize you don’t know or understand anything that is around you. It happens even when you are on home ground. You wake up and find that ..ok yes… you understand the language, but… the world around you, the voices you hear, even though they are speaking a language you know.. the meaning, the context, the way they see life is unfamiliar to you. Sometimes I feel transported by a Telephone Booth (Dr. Who) or I was highjacked by the Star Ship and I’m on a different galaxy. If I blink will it go away? Maybe Spock will walk around the corner. (fictional character from the Star Trek franchise. If I shake a strangers hand, will I get pregnant?

For awhile I thought, “it is because you are over 50 … you’re having a mid life crises.” But.. time moves on and no.. there is definitely a mis-connect. If on the computer, I would turn it off and do a reboot, or hit restart… But this is 2026… it’s real and I don’t think one can just reboot one’s life. I hear a meow and I look over and the cat is looking at me… I can see it in her eyes… you have to go now.. I’m waiting for you to open the window (she means the television, she wants to see the activity outside, YouTube has cat videos!) When I leave in the morning, my routine is to get ready .. I pull out my coffee (cold from the fridge, YES cold! I even fill it with ice cubes too !!) put it by the door and turn on the telly for them before I leave. They don’t even notice my leaving.

Today, I’m late.. getting organized, spent the night bleeding either awake or dreaming. I DO NOT usually dream… Maybe today I should seek out some ” Vulcan stoicism”. When I see the doctor today, I’ll ask him if he thinks my ears are somewhat pointed. OK everyone, have a good day.. Here is today’s PL message. (PL Perfect Liberty) philosophy from Japan.

Live with firm determination, thinking that “this will turn out for the best”

Everything in this world progresses and develops. Always be positive, knowing that everything will turn out for the best.

PL2010.15

Wednesday

Hors d’oeuvres – Onion Bhaji with Tamarind sauce

It is not often I allow myself the luxury of picking these delicious delights up, but after last night I felt I deserved something special. If anyone knows what the country of origin is for these tasty morsels I would appreciate it if you could let me know. I came across them about a year or so ago, there was a package on sale at a local specialty food shop … I thought why not… I was feeling adventurous.. I was not prepared for just how much I would enjoy them. I suspect they are laden with calories.. so I don’t allow myself the luxury, especially when prices have gone up so much. I eat them cold right out of the packaging. (they are found in the fresh food deli section .)

What happened last night. Grief,, sorrow, delayed reaction to the loss of my precious Canaille.

Canaille was a Porti (Portuguese Water Dog) who stole my heart the moment I met her. She and I bonded like nothing I had ever experienced before. We went everywhere together, she was my constant companion, My husband graciously allowed her to sleep with us, he knew there was no parting us.

When he was diagnosed with terminal cancer with only a very limited time to live, I rushed home to get documents they needed at the hospital and get personal items he needed. When I got home, she was having a stroke… I rushed her to the vet… and… well… you know the rest… it was a devasting day for me, but I needed to move forward. I never had time to properly grieve for her… Then recently a friend sent me pictures he found on an old disk I had given him… the above picture was what he sent me… Its been 8 years but the blinding grief, hit me so suddenly it was like it happened yesterday. We can’t go back, life moves on… but …. the hurt, the sorrow, the stabbing reality of the loss …. has shaken me to the core.

Life is fleeting, please… don’t squander time with loved ones… cherish the moments you get to hold them, share time with them… when its gone, there is nothing left but the memory.


Today’s message..

Offer your services instead of expecting from others.

Take the initiative to do what you can to help others. Understand their needs and act swiftly.

PL2020.14



Oyashikiri

Sunday

Hi everyone. I see I missed yesterday. What an upside down day it was. You have all been aware that I have had this nasty flu virus for the last month plus.. Some days barely able to even try to be social, never mind thinking of getting up and going out. The last week so much improvement, I even (as shown above) went into SL (Second Life) to do some photography using the two dogs I found for posing with. The internet world of Second life ( Second Life is a persistent, 3D virtual world where users, represented by customizable avatars, can socialize, create content, explore diverse virtual environments, and even conduct real-world economic activities, functioning as a vast online platform for entertainment, education, and community beyond a typical game. Launched by Linden Lab in 2003, it allows people to build virtual lives, own property, attend events like concerts, and interact through text or voice chat, offering extensive freedom for self-expression and digital ownership. ) is a wonderful “adult sitter” when we are confined at home dealing with a stubborn virus.

When you re not having fun, could it be because you rare being lazy?

Sometimes you feel blue or can’t seem to find the joy in doing anything. At times like this, just get up and move your body, or work your mind to the fullest extent.

PL2019.10

I went to church today, it was “Day of Appreciation” unfortunately I had to leave early, my body/mind said enough enough, I was getting overtired, it wasn’t even 10:30 a.m. yet. I excused myself and silently slipped away… came home and climbed back in to bed. I felt it was important to say “thank you” to the Universe, because…. even though I’m not 100% yet, I feel so much better.

How are you all doing? How is the year spinning for you so far? Do your best to stay healthy, stay home if you start feeling a cold/flu coming on, stay away from friends/family if they are sick.

Sending positive and healing energy to you …

Oyashikiri

Friday

a memory – a long time ago, my husband (at that rime) was the morning man for a radio station in Montreal. The owner bought a station in Nova Scotia and wanted to ensure good ratings, so he talked my husband into doing a stint in NS. I was a city girl, having lived always in big cities, the most recent one was Montreal. I was not amused. But pack up and fly to Cape Breton .. we did. Talk about culture shock… I’m talking years ago, when life was simpler.

While exploring ..one cold winter day, we parked and started on foot across a big open expanse of land, we could hear the surf pounding (the Atlantic Ocean was never far away from where we lived) We used snowshoes so that we could make better time across the snow. As we came to a wooded area, and made our way around it, there sitting as pretty as you please was this small wooden cabin (like the one above)… only it was winter and there was smoke coming from the chimney.

A elderly man came out (Mr. MacDonald).. he graciously invited us in for tea.. to warm up… I was totally charmed, he lived alone out there, he had to walk out and into the little wooded area we passed to his private little loo… in the one room home, he had a wood stove, that heated the home, and doubled as the stove. I must ask Dean if he had electricity, I don’t think he did.. but there could have been a single line to the cabin, for a lighting.. I recall he had some kind of root cellar for keeping things cool.

I came across this picture earlier and it got me thinking… this was a moment that I lived years ago (another life time) but it stayed with me, his genuine hospitality, to two “weird” strangers tromping across his land. BTW the ocean was just over the hill, when we got to the small hill and walked to the top, below us was the ocean pounding in on a deserted beach strewn with big pieces of driftwood. It was doable (getting down) we were young, we left snowshoes in the snow and were able to scramble down the steep incline to the water’s edge. (couldn’t do that today)

When I give thanks for the life I’ve led and all the adventures I’ve had, going to distant shores and meeting with people with/from different backgrounds.. I feel very blessed.

I know this is one reason I keep writing/blogging, I’ve met through this venue so many different writers/expressionist, story tellers, that I so enjoy. Reading your thoughts, seeing the world through your eyes…. the readers who touch base, who relate to something I’ve posted.. L I F E I S G O O D….. and it is because of you.

On Thursday, there is a Thursday Door feature, I know I’m a day late, but I’m going to post to that feature https://nofacilities.com/2025/11/20/yale-peabody-museum/ so anyone interested please visit Dan’s No Facilities site… for more doors.

Today being the 21st. there is a Thanksgiving service (Day of Appreciation) at the church, service is at 10 a.m. If you are unable to attend in person, please, take a few moments around that time to close your eyes and spend a few minutes with us in prayer.

Your feelings of Appreciation become real when you express them.

Express your feelings of appreciation by actually saying “thank You” out loud or by doing something to show how you feel Not only will the person you are thing feel good, but you will too, leading to better things in the future.

PL2014.21

Life is what we make it folks.. I am fortunate to be able to say I am grateful for the friends in my life, and for knowing love .. and the blessing and rewards it brings to living on this earth.

Oyashikiri

Sunday

It was Q’s rez day yesterday (birthday)… I got the notice and realized that I had totally forgotten. I made time to go in to SL (Second Life) (virtual platform) to spend some time with her. Wow she first appeared in my life in 2007.. She was an adventure into a virtual world, there were a lot of lessons to learn. I had to learn to walk, sit, build, communicate with others. Basically exist in/on a virtual platform… I did it … over the years I have progressed and managed to move around and adjust to the many changes one faces in a virtual environment. Photography of course is one of my greatest loves and challenges. I have over 6000 photos on flickr documenting the many changes over the years. I am definitely someone who has learned to live conducting and using my creativity as an avatar to navigate part of my life. The big buzz these days is Ai … which has filtered into “today” world in/on all platforms.

Listening to my lessons, studies, I am getting to know just how much Ai is out there. My visits to the woodlands are more frequent with the changing of the weather, There is something very humbling about being a human standing alone in the middle of acres of land … where a young moose can wander past, or the a call of a patrolling wolf warning you of his/her presence…. joins the chatter of the critters coming to greet you … looking for the treats you’ve brought for them to enjoy. I am finding a balance… outdoors with nature, and indoors with a computerized world…. both take the need to be “present” as an important factor in balancing one’s waking hours.

You will notice that while Q was out, she saw a lot of Christmas decorations in shops she visited.. So yes, Xmas has arrived in her “personal” space. I noted looking out my window last night, that there was a fully decorated tree, with lovely lights on the balcony across the courtyard. Might be time I changed my fall bouquet (on my patio) to something more Xmasy…I won’t want to be out there trying to do something when the weather changes and we are in a full blown “winter” season.

Today’s calendar

Avoid being careless or overconfident

Even though you may have put your best effort into doing something you still may have made some mistakes, that is why it is important to always work with a prayerful mind.

PL2019.16

Oyashikiri

Q isn’t one who smiles much (like me) but she is happy and content in her world…. (like me) =^_^= contentment is a beautiful state of BEING.

Thursday

We’ve all been there, we diligently work on a project, only to have someone come along, and ask us to revise portions of what has been done…. Star’s expression…. you what? you would like me to redo all of the first page. Is one that many today, with the ease of modern computers, can redo easily, at one time, when we worked with typewriters… this was not the case. If you missed knowing that era… look it up!

PL Precept # 16 All things progress and develop

PL Precept # 18 Each moment is a turning point.

When you walk into a room … then forget what you came in for?

It is easy to get discouraged … PL Precept # 7 Everything exists in Relativity

Pl Precept #15 All is a Mirror

Oyashikiri

Thursday

“I’ll do it later. No, I’ll do it now”

To make progress do anything while it is still fresh.

PL2921.25

These words of wisdom have a message for me… I am a do it now person, I have always been like that, this morning has found me dragging out my medical books and researching and refreshing my “tired’ gray cells on my actions of the past few days.

I woke to the searing discomfort of the neuropathy symptoms all clamoring to express and shout their discontent at having to share my limbs with each other. Nerves screamed, and went into an unwelcome screaming fit. I could barely manage to balance as I made my way to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. I will not bore you with medical terms, the long and short of it was my muscles cramped and toes jerked up in protest… I have learned to quiet the mind and try to still the mounting urgency to rectify the physical reaction that happens when the the tendons and other fellow body parts go into their trauma mode.

I had a small amount of success with calming the body by using a cream infused with magnesium. I had done it faithfully for weeks, and I was having night after night with no symptoms… I got lazy, or forgetful, and took to reclaiming activities/tasks that needed to be done. but I did it all at once, I threw out my support pillow (for under the legs) and then didn’t follow through and get to the store to replace it. That meant I had to use a substitute knee pillow that was not the same angle/depth and composition of what my legs were used to.. I went out the next day and got the correct pillow, but meanwhile, the legs started to grumble…

AND that didn’t trigger or jog my gray cells to remind me to use the magnesium cream after my shower. I allowed myself to be distracted and and and.. I didn’t do it when the thought came to mind, I put it off and of course, it got lost.. I didn’t do it at all.

This morning my body told me in no uncertain terms… “it was not happy” and I had to deal with the fall out.

No its not just the magnesium, there are of course other factors.. but all could have been better planned and executed. … “do it now” when you can, if something comes to mind, and it is something that has shown to be helpful, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING…or not doing… and act accordingly.

Our bodies are our life long companions… we should not take them for granted.

Have a good day everyone…

Oyashikiri

just because – I bought an exercise stretch band ( the idea was a good one) , help with exercising the arms/shoulders… a good stretch… did I use it.. no it hangs on the back of the door. because I searched it out, found it, brought it home.. if I don’t use it… it is not helping me… right? Right !!!!

Just because – I studied and researched .. gathered info. sought solutions.. if I don’t apply them .. I am not being proactive to my well being… right? right!!!!

Tag Cloud