Pool Time

Pleasure in the summer for me...is pool time.  
When I was growing up we had a community pool.
We could only go there with an adult.
They usually didn't want to stay very long.
For me, it was never long enough.

Now I am very lucky to have a pool in my backyard.
Some years we use it a lot.
Some years we barely do.
Crazy.
This year I am in the pool almost daily.
By myself.
No one else.
Sometimes Sadie is laying in the shade but often it is too hot for her to stay.
It is fun by myself. 
But I also miss the pool chats and games with my daughters and their friends. 

Yesterday I did a walking meditation in the pool.
Seriously.  
I turned on my iPhone to the Happier app and counted 100 steps.
It was amazing. 
I think it was a random act of fitness!
Sometimes I count my strokes as I swim, kiddie corner across the pool.  
Sometimes I sit on a noodle and paddle around.  
Sometimes I float on my back, looking at the clouds.
Sometimes I float, holding my breath and look at the bottom of the pool......

It is a constantly changing prism of light.  

It is beautiful.  

It is awesome. 

It is relaxing.  

It is better than meditating.    

It is such a simple thing.  Floating....I feel like my hotness, crankiness, problems and stress just float away.  I have been in the pool the last 4 days in a row and many before that but not in a row.   I stay in there a long time.  I get out when I want to get out. 

I am very thankful I have a pool.

Summer pleasure is pool time for me.

Did I mention how thankful I am to have a pool?

What is bringing you pleasure this summer?

Maybe next week I will write about ice cream.....

Meditation again!

I have written more than one blog post about meditation.
There are many benefits of meditation.
It is a practice that I keep coming back to try again and again.
I even have had a boot camp for meditation this year.

On Friday I participated in an online event for peace, led by Deepak Chopra.
It was over 100,000 people from all around the world.
We were all mediating at the same time, for peace in our world.
It included humor, music and yes...following the breath.

On Monday I started a new 21 day meditation experience with Oprah and Deepak Chopra called Expanding Your Happiness.  Here is a link to check it out -Expanding Your Happiness -free 21 day meditation experience.

When I have written about mediation in the past, it has generated many page views.  In fact, my all time high for a post is 66,058 for meditation which I wrote in April of 2013 and it still has people viewing it many times daily. There is an obvious interest in what meditation is and can do for us.

I have decided that there is no wrong way to meditate.  I am not thrilled with the word meditation.  It seems like something I need to have on my to-do list and mark it off.  For me, I think it is kind of a buzz word.

What I know for sure about meditation....(thank you for this phrase, Oprah):

• it can be relaxing
• thoughts are still in my head
• there are lots of ways to do it
• no right or wrong way to get it "done"
• some people call it prayer
• silence is good
• people don't always respect your "meditating" time
• it isn't necessarily religious or even spiritual
• patio pondering works
• ruminating does not work
• lost in thought counts
• not sure what is the difference from mindfulness
• some people do it over two hours a day (may be really napping?)
• never sat on a meditation pillow
• it is never quiet when I try to do it
• exercise counts for me

When I was off on my "pretend" retirement I was trying to come up with a morning practice that included meditation, drinking lemon juice, being outside for 15 minutes with feet touching grass, writing morning pages, exercise, smoothie, and other "good" things.  But it was taking me all day to do, if I even got it all done and for sure nothing else was being accomplished.  So I went back to work.  No more "pretend" retirement for me.  Just living life and meditating in my own way.

Yesterday I was in the pool.  No one else was with me.  As I floated and looked at the clouds, I thought, maybe this is a great way to meditate. 

And as I sat on my patio drying off and pondering life, I thought, maybe this is a great way to meditate. 

And later when I was reading a book, nothing on my brain but the book, I thought, maybe this is a great way to meditate. 

And when I was eating frozen yogurt with my daughters, laughing and being silly, I thought, maybe this is a great way to meditate.

And even later when I was texting a friend in crisis, I thought, maybe this is a great way to meditate. 

For awhile I was labeling meditation as stillness.  That wasn't working for me either.  I understand all the benefits; physical, mental and spiritual, that come from meditation.  I just can't seem to get it.  I keep trying.  It certainly isn't going to backfire to keep looking for ways to be still and empty my chattering mind.

But......floating in a pool, reading a book and sharing texts can be a practice for your  best life.  Those moments can be filled with appreciation and being thankful. So maybe meditation is really just contemplation, pondering, reflecting, being lost in the moment.

Wait....that's it!

Being in the moment.

It doesn't have to include a deep breath or silence.
It includes whatever you need to do or not to do, to be here now, in this moment.

I will participate in the next 21 days with Oprah and Deepak Chopra in the Expanding Your Happiness meditation experience.  I might even use stars to keep track.  And in that moment I will be happy with my meditation accomplishments.

And after that, who knows.
Maybe some patio pondering, music or yes.....even stillness.



   

Blog

What is a blog?

blog |bläg|nouna personal website or web page on which an individual records opinions, links toother sites, etc. on a regular basis.verb (blogs, blogging, blogged) [ no obj. ]add new material to or regularly update a blog: it's about a week since I last blogged.• [ with obj. ] write about (an event, situation, topic, etc.) in a blog: he blogged theDemocratic and Republican national conventions as an independent.DERIVATIVESblogger nounORIGIN 1990s: shortening of weblog.
Today I am finished with my month of "pretend" retirement.  I return to work at the library.  Maybe next week I will write about what I learned while off.  Today is also Lexy's birthday.  We celebrated all day yesterday.  It was fun. We played a game called Titanic.  Games played with Josh are always amusing.  I have a hippie attitude and it really bugs him. Lexy is amazing and changing the world.  I celebrate her!  I am feeling much better today than that day for sure!Today I am drinking lemon juice.  Wow!  What a way to wake up in the morning.  Today it is hot and muggy already.  I don't like to be hot.    Today I don't have much to write about.  I have no opinions.  I have no links to other sites.  I have only missed one week, (when Kelly was in an accident) but this week there is not much. Today is all we have.Today is now.Have a great day.  Thanks for reading my blog. 

Lessons from Peter Pan

Our family attended a local presentation of the play, Peter Pan.  It was performed by YES Company.  YES Company is a group of students who come together each summer, to learn, grow, entertain and have fun.  It is a life changing program.  I was delighted and amazed by the dedication and talent that I witnessed.  The students didn't just learn their lines, hit the right notes and master dance steps.  The program includes guest speakers who taught them fencing, the historical perspective of the story of Peter Pan, smart choices regarding exercise, proper nutrition and the proper care and wearing of  theatrical costumes.  And that is just the beginning.  Imagination was used, teamwork with shared duties, strength of character and compassion for others.  The courage for the flying stunts is certainly not taken for granted. I could write this entire blog on the positive aspects of YES Company.  I have such love and admiration for the people who keep YES Company going.  Thank you.

The story of Peter Pan has been a family favorite, especially for my daughter Kelly, who has the nickname of Tinkerkell and lived in a fairy room for many years.  We have been known to say, "I do believe in fairies, I do."  And not in a sarcastic voice either....The play started with an orchestra playing haunting music and right away charm, danger, and humor pulled us into the story of Peter Pan. We were thrilled to visit Neverland again.

In real life there are definitely days I want to sing, "I Won't Grow Up" over and over, at the top of my lungs.  Some days it might be fun to dance to Ugh-A-Wug and pretend to be Tiger Lily instead of my standard work out, though Coach Eric has enough WUG to make any "play out" fun. Maybe the next time you are being interviewed and feeling short on confidence you could burst into the song, "I've Gotta Crow."  The lesson from Captain Hook and the crocodile was especially important to me.  The sound tick-tock...tick-tock... immediately translated to live now...live now.

The responsibilities of adulthood are many.  Peter Pan shows us that there is a happy medium between the innocence of childhood and the inevitable transition to adulthood.  We could all use a little Peter Pan or Tinkerbell attitude in our daily lives. Just don't get too carried away. On those days when we are wishing for Neverland, think about what you can change to make your life better.  And then do it.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Live now.

Live now.

Hacking into Happiness

Being happy 
is not an unauthorized mystery 
that we have to figure out, discover or buy.  

Happiness is a choice.

Treat these ideas as a way of gaining more access to your happy world.

1.  Gratitude is counting your blessings.  Science says if it is written down and shared with others it will make a bigger impact on your level of happiness.  (And we wouldn't doubt science, would we?)

2.  Close ties with spouse, partner, family and friends are one of the most important ways to hack into happiness.  You are the average of your five closest friends. Choose wisely.  

3.  Movement (aka exercise) will get you feeling better almost immediately.  Do it now and do it often.  (Really...stand up, do a few jumping jacks or wiggle......are you smiling?)

4.  Meditate to gain clarity, increase awareness and it will make you happier.  You have no idea how good you're going to feel unless you do it.  I call it stillness and there is no right or wrong way to do it.  

5.  Ask yourself-How can I be happier?  Be aware, think practical strategies.  It will lead to a better life.  You are the only one who can come up with the "right" answers.

6.  Make a choice to be better.  Commit to a conscious decision to grow.  Make a difference, help someone, mentor a child, invent something.  Go outside your comfort zone and take responsibility to make your life what you dream about.

Happiness hacks can help figure out what you need to do.

Try one, some or even all. 

It starts with the you, your attitude and the choice.

you. happier. 

Journey

I am on a journey.  I am not necessarily going anywhere by plane, boat or car.  I don't need a map, gas or gps.  I just need to accept this journey.  I need to slow down.  I need stillness.  I need to do the bare minimums.  

I am on a journey from doing to being.  

Want to come along for the ride?
Start your own journey.
Accept that your bowl is empty.
Instead of what can I do, ask who can I be?

Sometimes we have more than we want but less than we need.  
Where do you start?
Nowhere.
Just be.

Tweak not twerk.

Life is a whirlwind.

We try to  live a "normal" life.

But what is a normal life?

I am off from the library for a month trying on a "pretend" retirement.   I am always busy and there is so much going on.  I felt like if I didn't work at the library then I would have a "normal" retirement and life.  I have been off for a week and my life is crazier and more busy than usual. 

When life is in a flux and there is continuous change, 

it sometimes makes me forget to be thankful. 

Even when I am getting an estimate to get my car fixed from an accident, 

I am thankful that no one was seriously injured.

Even when we are stuck in traffic for a long time, 

I am thankful we are all together, have air conditioning and snacks.

Even when I am spending the day taking care of bills and other paperwork, 

I am thankful I have enough money to pay those bills.  

Even when I am not able to sleep because my brain won't shut off, 

I am thankful that I have people in my life to worry about and love.

Even when I am feeling unsteady looking at houses to buy, 

I am thankful I have a lovely home to live in.

Even when the news is bad, 

I am thankful I try to look beyond and find the good.

I thought my "pretend" retirement would lead to a "normal" life.  I imagined days of waking up when I wanted, having time for meditation and pool time. Work outs were done in the cool of the day and with joy. I had a day dream of no chores and all my work being caught up. Actually reading all my library books with no fine. You know, the perfect life.

There are not enough hours in the day to do all we want to do, no matter if we are retired or not.  

Choosing how we spend our minutes, leads to days, weeks, months and yes, how we live our lives. 

I am thinking my "normal" life and retirement is really my real life.

Maybe it is time to tweak (not twerk) life a little bit:  

• Add in the pool time as non negotiable.

• Workouts are more fun when cool, but I can be hot for 30 minutes.

• Some days I can wake up when I want.

• Meditation is stillness and silence, not something on a to-do list.  

• Chores, if kept up, can be managed.

• Taking care of business, I was able to retire, keep on doing that.

• Read, pay the fines to support the library when I don't finish on time.

Does any of this help me figure out how to live during this month of "pretend" retirement?

No, but what I am realizing is that I get to choose how I feel about my life and I am thankful for all my life has in it.  I relish those "perfect" days of doing bare minimums and resting, just as I rise to the occasion when I need to be on task and move along.  

I have been an all or nothing perfectionist all my life.  I want to live in the gray area.  Not all, not nothing.  Just right.  A little rest, a little work, a little play, a little of whatever I need to live my best life. 

Maybe I am already living my best life 

and I just needed to notice that

and tweak as needed. 

I hope you are living your best life.

If so, be thankful.

If not, tweak it.