Listen

Listen.
What do you hear?
Right now I hear a bus passing outside and a child turning the page of a large book.
I listen some more and I can hear a newspaper being folded and as I close my eyes to eliminate distractions I become aware of my breathing. I cant hear it but I feel it.

How often each day do we actually feel our breathing, maybe with a sigh, or a yawn.
Breathing is one incredibly powerful way to control our stress levels and consequently impact our health. And the best thing is - its free!

Listening and becoming aware of our breathing is the first step to body consciousness. So often we are unaware of our bodies. I know this has been so for me for most of my life. I am a head centered person, thoughts running me here and there and keeping me occupied for hours on end. What can I read on the internet, what can I watch on TV, find me a good book, write me a journal, who can I call...OMG it wears me out! And there's more.

Probably over 20 years ago I made my first attempt to meditate. It was a disaster! Yet I knew there was something there for me. I came back to it after a decade had passed. Slowly, slowly I began to release myself to it's benefits.
The benefits to me are the release of fear. When I sit and simply be, allowing what is, being with my body and beyond that the ether/energy/life. Imagining the universe is breathing me, I allow the knowing, that the spacious place within me is the same place I came from and the place I am going to, beyond this life. Its not a scary place of oblivion with which my ego/mind fights. It is a peace that goes beyond understanding.
Meet me there.
Listen.
Do you feel your breathing as you close your eyes.
This is the gateway.
Come on inside.
Listen.

New Dawn

I am grateful today to see the dawn, to witness the world come alive as it turns toward the sun once more. Without much thought we rely on this event to set the rhythm of our days. How much more do we take for granted our breath. Each time we breath out we trust that there will be another lungful of oxygenated air to fill that space. We dont know when will be the last but guaranteed we will wish for one more hour of light. As this song suggests, now, today, this very day, the moment in which you now live, this, is the best part of your life.

MAY I SUGGEST
Copyright © Susan Werner
Listen here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdPh4MpxwJo
There is a world
That's been addressed to you
Addressed to you, intended only for your eyes
A secret world, Like a treasure chest to you
Of private scenes and brilliant dreams that mesmerize
A lover's trusting smile, A tiny baby's hands
The million stars that fill the turning sky at night
Oh I suggest
Oh I suggest to you
Oh I suggest this is the best part of your life

There is a hope
That's been expressed in you
The hope of seven generations, maybe more
And this is the faith
That they invest in you
It's that you'll do one better than was done before
Inside you know
Inside you understand
Inside you know what's yours to finally set right
And I suggest
And I suggest to you
And I suggest this is the best part of your life

This is a song
Comes from the west to you
Comes from the west, comes from the slowly setting sun
With a request
With a request of you
To see how very short the endless days will run
And when they're gone
And when the dark descends
Oh we'd give anything for one more hour of light

And I suggest this is the best part of your life

Natural Healing

Live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find eternity in each moment. - Henry David Thoreau

I took a hike this morning for the first time in a while. I offer no excuses but wonder why when I enjoy hiking in the hills so much that I don't go more often. It was a perfect October morning, a little chilly, I needed a sweatshirt at least part of the way. I used to hike three or four times a week so walking on the gravelly earth with the scent of sage all around me brought back happy feelings of deep pleasure.

I had recently listened to a CD on developing your intuition and one of the things recommended is to be in nature and drink deep of its healing energy. We are so bombarded by energy from people all day, particularly in cities. Even buildings and places have energy that affects us in both negative and positive ways. The earth is naturally regenerating and can sooth our jangled nerves and stresses. I think we all know that, but we forget it, caught up in the fast pace of life.

My experience this morning showed me how it takes effort to really relax if you have not done so on a regular basis. I found as I walked I would get caught up in my thoughts and miss the moment. Then a scrub jay would screech and I would be brought back to my environment. I thanked the birds for reminding me to be in the present moment.

Children don't need to be reminded. I think their ability to be present is why time seems to go so slowly for them. At least that's my memory of it. A half hour car drive to the seaside seems like an eternity. "Are we there yet, are we there yet?" Now I drive a half hour and blink, I'm there! I likened my hiking experience to our life experience, if we are not present, we miss the gifts of the moment; time flies by and next thing you know, blink, its over. Is it possible to slow down and smell the roses? It's certainly worth trying. Meditation helps, awareness helps, a desire to be here now helps. Do you have any suggestions? I'd love to hear them.

Life is a great and wondrous mystery, and the only thing we know that we have for sure is what is right here right now. Don't miss it.- Leo Buscaglia

What's the rush?

Truth lies within ourselves. It takes no rise from outward things, whatever you may believe.

There is an inmost center in us all where, truth abides in fullness and to know, rather consists in opening out a way whence

the imprisoned splendour

may escape, than in effecting entry for light supposed to be without!

Not my words to begin this blog but the words of the English poet Robert Browning written in the late 1800s. No less striking today or true, I believe they are descriptive to the goal of every human being. Each of us seeks to be true to ourselves - to live authentically and fully so that we might know we have lived well.


There are times we dont feel we are doing this, maybe we feel we are so far from the visions we have for your life, dissapointments thwart us, obstacles obstruct our path, we dont make the progress we expect, there is a vague unease, something to be done, a stone to be upturned, something has to change in the outside world. I know I feel that way often. I want to achieve something great, I want to be somewhere other than I am. I imagine life is out there around the next bend if I could only get there!


This feeling is unpleasant. I dont like to feel this way. It seems to taint everything with a vague dissatisfaction. If I can turn toward it and address it; take a moment to center, this can make all the difference.


I realize I can only be where I am now. I look to what is right in front of me to do and I seem to re-enter my body, my day, the moment and a realization dawns. I may not be where I want to get to but right now I can see how far I have come and most of all how much I have to be grateful for. That shift is like a door opening to a new experience, a new perspective. Giving my full attention to my present task is sufficient. If I can do it well, whether its washing dishes, filing documents, or making phone calls, it is it's own reward.

My mother used to say, "One step and then another and soon the longest journey is done." It's the only way we can get to where we are going, whats the rush anyway? Walking has always been a great way to enjoy the scenery!