"Extract the Blessing"

I’m hunkered down in my meditation room tonight….the wind gave me a chill today that I’m still trying to shake. So, my feet are resting near the quiet heater, the candles are burning, and my frankincense and myrrh incense works diligently to carry my worries into the heavens.

As I sit in the quiet, I realize that I’m expending too much energy wanting for the people that I love. Wanting peace, happiness, wellness, success….for them. Too much wanting for others drains my strength. Once again I find myself searching for balance. Perhaps its like a tightrope walker on a high wire, who finds perfect balance….and with each step, must regain that balance before moving forward. It’s a natural part of his process, just as it is a natural part of our journey.

The page I read in Guidebook for the Saints and Angels helps me find balance, and peace, and to remember that all is well. “Some of the valuable qualities that you’re acquiring include strength, patience, forgiveness, and perseverance……..Once you extract the blessing within the pattern, it won’t need to repeat itself anymore.” I guess with each lesson learned, we stand a bit more steady on that high wire.

All is well, and now my feet are warm. I think I’ll have a cup of hot tea and a good night’s sleep.

"What are Teeny Tiny Pieces?"

I was giving a new friend my e-mail address last night, and she asked, “Teeny tiny pieces…what is that, what are you doing?” Well, teeny tiny pieces is a phrase I picked up from my friend, Ana…the one I just visited in Spain. Anything that’s small, or divided into sections, or that there are multiples of, Ana would call teeny tiny pieces. For example, Ana would say that a pizza is cut into teeny tiny pieces.

Well, I eventually started saying “teeny tiny pieces“, too…when I say it, I also use it when I'm talking about parts of a whole, as in all the good things that make up life. Individually, the pieces are good and worthy, but together, they make the picture complete. Teeny Tiny Pieces of Life…

By the way, did you know that there are only a handfull of paintings in St. Peters Basilica in Rome? The walls are covered with thumb-nail sized squares of marble...placed by hand into the most fantastic mosaics imaginable. Teeny tiny pieces of marble, used to create a masterpiece.

So, from Rome, back to Spain, where Ana and I were always on the lookout for photo ops of teeny tiny things, which made the trip even more fun. Thought I’d share a few of our finds with you. Hope you enjoy!


                       Ana's rooftop.  The tiny socks belong to the baby who lives in the flat above her.

Guess whomever these beautiful whites belong to won't mind my sharing them with you...

Pottery Ana and I found when we visited the White Villages of Ronda and Aracena. I left this half of the collection, as tiny a surprise for Ana to find after we were gone.

Beautiful Shoes...for the Feria de Seville!

Feria Earrings,

Ana's teeny tiny box collection

Ana's beautiful pantry!

Seville storefront

Feria flowers,

and colorful accessories for the fair.

Arabic tile in Seville.

Sweeties galore!

Streets of hand-laid stones.  I wish I'd taken a picture of the street we saw that was under construction, one stone at a time.

Teeny Tiny doorways everywhere!

More sweeties....I did NOT eat all of this!

Ana, what's this fruit called, I can't remember??  It was delicious!!

Ummmm, I think it's caqui....is this a persimmon??

Beautiful babies, sliding their tiny feet in perfect rhythm with the float procession.

Beautiful Feria Dresses....this is where we bought tickets to the Flamenco show.  It was amazing!!

A protest gathering in the Plaza del Sol in Madrid.  The streets throughout Spain resonate with an incredibly passionate energy!

Bread...obv!  This is where we went to buy our bread.  Fresh and real....NO CORN! :)

Teeny tiny fish eye....up close!

A collection of pretty fishes at the market!

Still more sweeties Can you see the Boston Cream Pie looking thing on the top left shelf?! Crazy!

A collection of rabbits and birdies!  Getting hungry?

Sardines at the market...

Beautiful, clean, white!

While I may look very much like a thief caught in the act, I'm really just getting money out of my pocket to pay for the bracelets in my hand....a multitude of teeny tiny things in this stand!

Lovely fresh carrots, oranges, and bananas

Needless to say, I came home craving fresh vegetables.  The food in Spain was tremendously fresh and delicious....full of flavor and nutrition.

Courage to Change

I woke up with the blues this morning….my knee was aching, my neck was stiff, and my head was cluttered. My family was planning a New Years’ Day party in Virginia, and I wouldn’t be there. Frank and I did our morning reading, which left him wide awake and ready to go for a jog. I stayed put….slept in, telling myself that some extra rest would help my achy knee. The more I rested, the more restless, irritable, and discontent I became. So…I knew it was time to dig out my old reader, which I hadn’t seen in months.

The message, January 1, was a good one….worthy of sharing with you. “We all have dark times in our lives, but the journey to better times is often what makes us happier, stronger people….No matter what is going on around me, today I know that I am moving forward…..I will trust the process of recovery. I’ll let time take time.” (from Courage to Change)

I got up and had breakfast. I walked and Frank jogged at a nearby park, then we had a healthy lunch. A local art store, Jerrys Artarama, advertised 20% off of everything in the store, so we finished our holiday shopping, as paints were the only thing I asked for Christmas. We wound up with a beautiful palette of colors. We counted our blessings on the way home, and agreed that it’d be fine to eat the homemade soup in the fridge for the weekend….just paint, and eat soup…and write.

When we got home I took our dog, Annie, for the run in the woods I’d promised her earlier in the day. No pain in my neck or my knee, and my head was just as clear as the cool winter air. Soup for supper, the dishes are done (well, mostly), and now time to paint. Beautiful music, colors, and since I like having my painting area in the garage, the evening air will be invigorating!

A laundry list of my day, maybe. But for me, validation that I can change. I can pull my cluttered self out of the bed, and do something worthwhile. I can feed my mind and move my body. I can stimulate my senses, and read and create literature that supports my growth. I made a choice to improve my day. After all, the foundation of recovery for most of what ails us, is the willingness to change.