My Heartsongs

If life is indeed about learning lessons and a lesson tends to be repeated until learned, what is the universe inviting me to “get” right now? Might be fun to journal about what life lessons I have really absorbed. What would be the top three for your list?

I share some tales from our recent trip to Tuscany, a taste of the magnificence of Florence and Pisa.

Thank you for letting me share some vignettes from my ancestral homeland—my good fortune to still be able to revel in travel adventures. I hope you might have some of your own soon. There is a unique freedom in dropping the list of daily have to’s, spending minimal screen time, and walking walking walking about in new cultural environs.

Seems like we are programmed for MOTION first and then rest after the movement has provided its calming effect. Friluftsliv  is a Norwegian word that translates roughly as “open air life.” A way of life, an entire philosophy that celebrates the commitment to being outdoors, no matter one’s age or physical condition. Connection, calm & clarity comprise the three legs on the stool of positive benefits. Or how about relax, refresh & re-energize.

Of all the CoVid data out there, perhaps the most concerning relates to long Covid. Although we still lack a precise case definition or blood marker, more than 24 million US adults currently suffer from shortness of breath, muscle pains, mood changes, persistent loss of taste/smell, cognitive difficulties and symptoms that are exacerbated even with minimal physical or mental effort. More than 80% are having trouble carrying out daily activities, and the vast majority of those so affected were either not vaccinated, or had a severe case of the disease.

Some musings about the deer hunt on my land in Chacon. Always an amazing experience!

Mindfulness emphasizes observing what is unfolding, which is clearly useful. Bodily sensations, emotional currents, mental cascades, spiritual flights are ever-present. How to harmonize the immersive flow of those dimensions is the realm of Integrative presence, which involves a supersensitivity to the present moment.

Doubt keeps our beginner’s mind shoes sparkling as we journey forward down the trail. To be content to live in mystery is a good thing, a skillful practice, if not easy or simple. Living with uncertainty is a close cousin, and offers its own unique form of freedom—complete with dead ends and disappointments and moments of awe and wonder.

Gratitude transforms whatever I may have into more than enough. Long-term consistent behavior alters the baseline function of the brain. Appreciation is powerful because it is a conscious choice that, over time, alters my perception and raises my default levels of happiness and freedom. There is always, always something for which to be grateful. 

Every major religion emphasizes kindness as an important attribute in its principles of living. I offer three caveats concerning kindness, and my seven point prescription for everyday kindness, applicable toward self and others.