the money tree - part 2

So did you look at the Money Tree video from last week? Did you guess what would happen?

I was totally surprised. 

For me this experiment is an interesting take on our state of mindfulness...especially around what we are tell ourselves we want more of. 

Given all the information and stimulation out there, I don't expect myself to notice everything. Impossible. I would however have thought that something different - and something I want more of (like art, like money hanging from a tree) - would grab my attention. And maybe it would, I don't know.

But this video has made me wonder:  what have I walked past this week, totally unaware?

         A magnificent work opportunity?
                          Feeling a sense of belonging in my community?
                    Creative inspiration? 
                                                      Love?

Am I spending more time on the wishing and wanting (potentially augmenting my sense of lack) and not enough on the appreciating and celebrating what already is (potentially augmenting a feeling of trust and wellness)?

Are you?

appreciated, warts and all

I've just returned from Tucson where my brother Mike and niece Jessica and I laughed and cried our way through the process of saying good bye to my brother Peter. In some ways it also felt like I was saying 'hello'.

Through the actions and stories of his friends and colleagues I got to know the Peter that they loved, appreciated and respected.

What stands out for me is how everyone was so accepting of who he was - warts and all. They talked of his generosity:  be that the use of his spare room, picking up the tab, connecting folks to their particular talent and then to the appropriate people that could make use of that talent. He was certainly one that could - and did - dish out advice: "this is what you need to do" but seldom accepted any. And Peter certainly had a way with words...so much so that it was hard for anyone else to get a word in edgewise. Yet many admitted his stories, so colourfully embellished, were entertaining enough to not even want to try.

Though I wished that he had taken better care of himself, I accept that Peter lived his life his way. His choices were his own...as were the consequences. What's comforting is sensing that he was less isolated or lonely as I'd always worried.

Thanks to all of you who called Peter your friend and shared with me how you experienced him.

Enjoy the new view Pete! Hope you'll join us with your harps (mouth harps that is) at my next jam.

appreciative living

Have you noticed that there seems to be an increasing trend towards gratitude these days? How wonderful is that?!

I'm noticing blogs like 1000 Awesome Things and Leah's Daily Thank You Notes.  Locally a group of folks created Awesome Ottawa where once a month they pool $100 each to award someone with a $1000 grant to do something they consider Awesome!

I think the world needs more of these kind of interventions...and given their increased following... so does the world. 

About a year ago a friend gave me a book called The Joy of Appreciative Living. In it Jackie Kelm describes a study she did with about 30 participants over 28 days. The exercises were simple and pretty painless:

• every morning write down three things you appreciate; take a moment to feel your gratitude for each of them.
• ask yourself 'What is one thing I could do today, no matter how small, to increase my joy?'
• once a week spend 15 minutes visioning your ideal joy-filled life

I've decided to take this on as part of my self care regime. I'll start here for today:

• I appreciate:  IBprofin, the telephone, and hot tea

• One thing I could do to increase my joy today: spend some time in my hammock listening to the creek, drinking in the sun

Would you like to join me? It would be great to hear what brings you joy...or simply to learn if engaging in these exercises has affected your day to day experience of life.

From the sick couch,

Linda