Winter to Spring

"I'm going to try and pay attention to the spring. I'm going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees. I am going to close my eyes and listen."

Anne Lamont

Winter has much to offer if I pause long enough to see. To linger in appreciation at the hidden treasures now visible through the absence of distractions. As winter comes to say goodbye, spring knocks at the door to be welcomed. 

Today there was time to play, to plant and dig in the dirt. New growth is anticipated and a hunger for the freshness that a new season brings and a chance to see things differently.

Ritual...

 

In the last couple of months, I've made it a ritual to light a candle each time I take time to honor my creative muse. It feels like a pause before I begin to make something that I don't know what it will be, but that I'm willing to show up and let the process speak to me.

Notice...

This was on someone's railing ( pretty cool... I thought).

I had mentioned in an earlier post that I was going to start taking more pictures using my phone. One thing I noticed since I've been doing that, is it makes me take notice of the small details, the present moment's in my day. It helps me pause... and that's a "good thing!"

Preserve...

My actions are speaking loudly this week. I've been very forgetful, saying things that don't make sense, trying to drive with my sunshade still in the window, etc, etc, etc. I have not had space in my days for awhile now and that is partly my fault. I have trouble sometimes saying NO and not pausing long enough to think about my week before I speak. When one day runs into the next with no breathing room, I get a little off center, as my actions have clearly presented to me. As always, with awareness comes change and my hope is I will remember this lesson and allow my life to have ~ PAUSE and preserve some present moments ~ just for me!

Friday...

I've had a marathon of a week and it won't be over until about 9 tonight. But I have a small window of time in-between one thing until the other and I am SO tired, I'm taking a short nap and a few present moments to catch my breath. It feels so good to pause...

Sooth...

My schedule the last couple of weeks has been crazy!!! And trying to write on my blog... I am feeling brain dead. But with the passing of Maya Angelou, I will just take a moment to pause ~ and leave a quote from her to sooth my mind, body and spirit.

"People know themselves much better than you do. That's why it's important to stop expecting them to be something other than who they are."

Dr. Maya Angelou

Racing...

"If your always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one you're in?"

This is a good reminder when my days get so full and I'm not paying attention to the present moment, to slow down and ~ pause ~ breath ~ and be present, because when that moment is gone, it's gone for good. There can be so much wonder and beauty in that space, but when I'm racing to the next I miss it!

Pause...

"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy"

When I can pause long enough and look around, breath in the joy, there lays my answers ... in the pause!

Too Busy...

I'm still learning - when I get too busy - to take a transition time and pause... Because when I don't, I do things like burn my son's pizza I made him tonight. Not happy with myself but also a good reminder to take that time. So I went to the store and bought a pizza. All is well and I can be in this present moment, love myself and start over again.

Deep Speaking

"Speaking deeply has something to do with letting things pass through our heart as they are, the way ink is pressed through silk to imprint a lasting design that we can wear."

I'm trying to think or pause before I speak, but talking with someone or in a group I find it hard not to just spill words without giving them second thought . Then I go home with time to reflect and am left with regret about some of what I felt the need to say that may not have been necessary. It's about progress not perfection. When awareness is present I am able to pause and speak deeply.

A moment to PAUSE

STOP - I close my eyes, breath deeply and PAUSE........

My mind can spin with "to do's", "shoulds" (they say don't should all over yourself), and "have tos", which can sometimes cloud my view of all that is good and right in my world. When I pause and look around I see the love and joy life has to offer me. I don't have to reach far, travel great distances or make something up. I just pause and it's all there - always was! It was only my interpretation that had changed. I am grateful for the present moment that allows me another chance to see clearly all that surrounds me. To embrace it, and breath.