A fine WordPress.com site

Posts tagged ‘writing’

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.

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

5th

My sentiments. I have had this lingering cold/flu now for almost 6 weeks, maybe even more.. Who knows anymore, and who cares… I guess I do. However on the bright side… I have had a lot of REST if not always fitful. Come to think of it… In looking back, I don’t think I’ve had a real bout of “sickness” in recent years, So I guess I should consider this a positive. My body must have been or has been in need of R E S T … In my “awake” times, I have noticed that the cats are aware of my comings and goings.

For instance, I discovered that YouTube has these cat/dog videos.. Before leaving for my morning ritual of nature walks (a way of saying, I go into the woodland I favour to spend time with the birds) I started to put on the telly for them (since moving into an apartment)(reasoning that when I had the house they had 3 floors to run around in and explore)… I started out just putting on Asian music, soothing … calming… (I enjoyed it right) but one day I saw that there was a video for cats.. with birds and animals, nature sounds, running water, feeders…. well … instantly I had two very interested felines perched on the end of the massage table.. totally fascinated. So I now have two cats who when they see me getting ready to go out, wait for me to open the magic window. Amazing.. my cats have discovered technology.

Today’s message..

Your smile energized the people around you.

A smile has the ability to put others at ease and give them energy. Strive to be the first to offer a smile each day to those around you.

PL2020.5

Oyashikiri

Ps. for those of you who knew /know that I have been after the free Genus head being offered in SL (Second Life) Today was my lucky day, I succeeded in getting the female head at 5 a.m. my time… (2 a.m. SL time).. they had such a tremendous response, their vendor went down, I did get the male head the first day I knew about the offer and went in to try my luck. I will do a write up on the head later in/on my Virtual Blog. Meanwhile if you want to see the male, I have posted his picture on my Flickr page. (grid status .. there were over 30,000 people online at the time.) (offer was limited for only so many days)

Cheers, till soon.

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

“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!!!!

andei, andei

Com Quem Contar, a song from the PL Songbook -Portuguese/Brazil -photo is of Ottawa church.

You can learn from anyone

There is a limitation to your own knowledge and experience. Listen carefully and sincerely to others’ opinion.

PL2015.18

“The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.” (Anais Nin)

Bom Dia everyone… Make today YOUR day… S M I L E

Oyashikiri

A Door, doors are built to allow us access to a building and then to leave it. While we are inside, we are protected from the elements and the world outside.. The door is our method of returning to the outside world and the chaos and cacophony that is forever trying to invade and influence our “Quiet “‘

The door comes in a wide variety of colours even shapes and sizes, the dictionary says it is a “a hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle, or in the framework of a cupboard.” I have seen doors that are imposing and others that are just sturdy and practical. Think about it … where would we be with a door.?

PL thought 2017.18

Welcome the new while respecting the old

Every generation brings forth new and positive changes, but also relies on the wisdom of the past. Be able to appreciate both and take the best from each.

PL2017.18

Unless you live in a cave.. in everyone’s life there is a door. your thoughts?

If you would like to see more doors from all over the world, visit the No Facilities site, where Thursday there is weekly theme on doors.https://nofacilities.com/2025/09/18/from-fair-to-fair/ – bloggers from all over, participate, it is a wonderful experience and example of people from all walks of life sharing a shared interest.

segunda-feira

Roller skates.. .. the other day, when I went on FB to post to the PL Brazil site.. I saw what they call “reels’ and people roller skating. That took me down memory lane, I once flew into California to skate along a famous stretch of beach in California…. that was many many years ago.. at that time skating was all the rage, I got to skate where I would never have imagined, along a boardwalk, with sand /surf for a backdrop… I think from what I saw, it is back and very popular in some States…. L U C K Y !

All this to say, that was yesterday, a distant time in the scheme of things. it was a reality then .. all those years back when I thought anything was possible… I sit today and think of how much the world has changed, yet… no matter how many lives I’ve lived, places I’ve been, I am still ME. Imagine that. I look in the mirror, the face looking back at me is different, yes, the signs of having lived a full life are there.. but it is my eyes…they have changed.. they look somewhat the same.. but no.. if one really looks, there is an un readable depth.. that no matter how hard I try, I can’t penetrate.

I’ve started drawing/sketching again. I will wake up and have this need to grab a coloured marker and sketch. I don’t write, I draw…. I met a young man the other day, in way of introduction, he said, he wanted to meet and talk with me because I was an “artist”. That gave me pause, I draw/paint etc. does that make me an artist.. I didn’t feel a first meeting was a time for me to go into the philosophy of why I don’t like labels.. dear man was spared. I say PoTAYToh.. and you say PaTA..TTOE -( root vegetable commonly called a potato or spud)

Tell yourself “Things Happen

Even if something is inconvenient, once you accept it, you will be able to move on to the next step.

PL2021.8

Have a good day everyone.. remember anything is possible..

Oyashikiri

sequindo

I recall a trip we took years ago.. we drove to Montana, (my previous time to go there I had flown in, and never did I want to do that again).. So my husband the planner said, “let’s drive there” he planned out the route we would take from here in Ontario (Canada) and on a lovely September day, we took off with the two dogs for Montana. The only States I had visited before this was NY, Vermont, NH, Florida, and California. We drove down into NY State and from there he took us through as many of the middle states towards Montana.. What a diverse geography the landscapes were at times “mind blowing” especially as we got closer to Montana itself. I got to see Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wyoming, Idaho and then into Montana, It was many years ago now and my husband is no longer here to tell me if I’ve missed any of the States we drove through. He promised we’d go back, I had wanted to see Arizona and spend more time exploring, but we had limited time and our goal was my friend in Montana.

What brings the trip back is stories I have been listening to that take place in the “old west” life in the 1800’s and the fact that Brian always wanted to take me away during my birthday month. His birthday gift to me was to take me to places he wanted me to experience.(He had been a journalist and media personality, his work had taken him to all four corners of the globe. I used to love listening to his adventures.. ) Now of course I have to plan and decide my own “birthday month”.. After the years of having adventures planned out for me, I confess I was spoiled.. it is an adjustment.. I find myself, part of me anyway, wanting to pack the car and take off to explore… etc… however… another part of me says, “you’ve done that… and… blah blah blah)

In PL we say ” PL Precept # 1 Life is Art ” every day is a new beginning.. a new canvas.. At the moment I have a new living space to adapt to and make my own… a new “lifestyle” ….

The Excitement of life comes from expressing your individuality

In PL we say it is important to live each moment of your life expressing your true self with Makoto (sincerity) when we can do this we will experience the true joy of self expression.” Learn to live respecting one another and working for each other’s happiness.” a lesson we are reminded of daily when we recite the PL Prayer.

After mulling about what I want to do, and simply not getting anywhere, I opened my calendar to today’s reading…and et voila…

The picture for those who are unfamiliar with the Teepe or Tipi as it is traditionally know.. is a conical dwelling many Native American Plains tribes used as dwellings.

Whatever your day brings, enjoy .. smile.. be happy.

Oyashikiri

Why do teepees have 13 poles?

According to these teachings, the poles of the tipi represent the nations of people living upon Mother Earth and form the circle of life. Each one of the 13 poles also represents a trait to be honoured, starting with the three anchor poles that signify respect, obedience and humility. (wiki)

Tag Cloud