Tag Archives: meditation

Saturday Afternoon Reading”When The Music Stopped” by Author Bob Cafaro

When The Music Stopped by Bob Cafaro

This is March! MS Awareness Month! I hear the wind whirling after the snowy day we had yesterday. I am home, I am staying in, I am reading, and I am giving a shout out to Bob Cafaro this afternoon.

Bob is a gentleman, who became a good friend through facebook. Got to love FB! Bob is a cellist in the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra. His book, “When The Music Stopped“! Bob conveys the strength and inspiration for creating our own miracles, and it could be with regard to illness, finance, or a relationship. In his book, Bob chronicles how he’s delivered his best personal medical performance, his Battle and Victory against MS.

Bob has given a Tedx Talk, and his second will be available soon. I am grateful Bob chose to become my friend, and a member of the facebook group, Living Mindfully with MS, CHronic Conditions, and Caregiving. He is always contributing, sharing information, and adding value to our community.

Whether your choice in medical care has been more conventional treatment, or a holistic approach, or a combination, I highly recommend reading Bob Cafaro’s book, which is available through his website, www.bobcafaro.com .

Enjoy the weekend folks!

Spring! Second Day! 2016!

Spring!

Second Day!

2016!

Forsythias, their vibrant yellow.

Sunshine!

Bursting buds and open blooms

on Sturdy Stems.

Anew!

The seasons changing,

Winter’s grasping, holding on,

spring bursting forth,

intertwined, holding on to one another.

Snowcapped!

The dusting, of an early morning’s

snowfall.

Soft, yellow and white, refreshing beauty.

P20160321_094101-1

Something I hold on to for the day ahead,

with my good friend.

She joins me.  We head to an appointment!

A procedure!

Waiting in the office,

I drift in meditation, moments of prayer.

She appears, we smile, looking at each other,

a time of rebirth, new beginnings, medications working.

My vision of colors shifts from yellow and white,

to  milder, warmer days arriving , and early spring,

colors of  yellows and greens.

I think of the approaching bounty of daffodils

for us to see,

beyond this second day of spring in 2016.

 

Taking a moment for mindfulness

DSC03217_NiagraFallsMindfulness can be practiced anytime and throughout the day.  So as a mindfulness practice exercise, you might like to take a moment to try this.  Focus all your attention on your breathing, for just one minute.  It’s just for one minute, but one minute can sometimes seem like an eternity.  Leave your eyes open and breathe normally.  When your attention wanders (and it will) be ready to catch your mind from the wandering.  Return your attention to your breath.

Just practice.  This is not a contest.  Not a personal challenge.  This is something to be experienced.  To begin the experience to complete a single minute of alert, clear attention.  This can take some people many years of practice.

Using this exercise is a great way to restore your mind to the present moment and to restore your mind to clarity and peace, and can be practiced many times throughout the day.  Over time, you may want to gradually extend the duration of this exercise, lengthening period of time of focusing your attention on your breathing to experience alert, clear attention and exercise the foundation of a correct mindfulness meditation technique.

Some use a mindfulness bell to focus attention on, instead of breathe. A mindfulness bell or recording can also help you to focus your attention in the present moment and achieve a state of mental stillness.  For use with android and iphone devices I found some mindfulness bells on Google Play.

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 10

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 10

“What Do You Do?”

Let’s say I’m taking the day off, and I have nothing scheduled, no responsibilities, and no one else to take care of. What do I do?

Garden Photos_Summer2007 076I would begin my day, stretching and say:

Good morning world 🙂 Thoughts fluttering about, thinking about the day, nothing scheduled, no responsibilities, everyone I care for is being looked after, and well cared for today. What do I do?

I would do some yoga, then meditate.

I would have my drink of hot water with freshly squeezed lemon, maybe a little maple syrup if I wanted it sweetened.

On a nice  cool day, I would walk barefoot into my garden. Relax on my patio with our dog, Sadie, by my side, sitting in the shade of the grape vines growing over the pergola and under the more than 80 year pine trees enjoying the coolness they bring.

Filling the birdbaths, and basins with water. Watching the birds, squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks.

Keeping a glass of water for me, to drink, by my side.

I would relax and read the paper or a magazine. Having my camera nearby, I would go for it to catch some photos of the beautiful day, the flowers, shrubs, and the animals I see in the garden today.

Returning inside, I would whip up a smoothey.

Or, maybe, cooked steel rolled oats with almonds, raisins, and a bit of honey.  A cup of tea or freshly brewed coffee.

I would gather the greens and crunchies, for preparing a lunch salad.

Making some calls, or going on-line, I would visit with family and friends.

An afternoon out, to see an early movie.

A late afternoon, stretched out, getting a massage.

A dinner of fish, baked potatoe, and vegetable, asparagus sounds wonderful to me. And a nice cup of herbal tea.

An evening of knitting, crochet, or quilting would be a delight for me.

Reflecting on the day with appreciation, heading off to sleep.

Sweet Dreams.

So let’s say you’re taking the day off, and you have nothing scheduled, no responsibilities, and no one else to take care of. What do you do?