Spring Fever

The eye stuff is over.  Even the eye doctor says I can now do yoga - of course, I started yesterday, not waiting for his pronouncement.....The daffodils Ray planted last year (actually two falls ago) are now 5-6 inches tall in front of the Yogatorium, but no blossoms yet.  Isn't this a delightful time of the year!  When everything seems to suddenly begin anew!  What a great time to make changes in the way I live.  I am so truly happy with the way my life is going now, it will be hard to come up with a major change - maybe a few small ones will arise.  But, for today - I'm just glad to be who I am where I am.  The sun has come out and the Earth is warming.  I've peeled off my panti-hose and wool socks and am down to one layer (plus underwear).  The Cottage is warm about two hours earlier today after the cool-down for sleeping.  Tomorrow I probably won't even turn the oven on for warmup.  I know.  Winter is nowhere near over - but one of the most delightful aspects of living in this part of the world is the fact that the weather changes so frequently.  Right now we are switching from highs in the 50s to the 70s often.  Who can complain when there are frequent hours when one can hammock nicely?

The Past

Well, I can see a bit better now - first glasses I bought were too strong for computing.  Now perhaps I can avoid typos a bit better.  I love these purple frames on my new computer glasses!  At the price of drugstore ones, I can afford new ones often!  I have been spending lots of time cleaning out files.  It's absolutely amazing how freeing it is to throw away stuff!  What once seemed valuable seems totally valueless today.  This started with looking for stuff for taxes and just grew to cleaning out ALL my files.  Even throwing out early drafts of my book - I'm on number 5 or 6 now and there seems no end to drafts!  So, I threw away the first three.  I pray this non-attachment feeling lasts.  I don't know why it is so hard to dispense with stuff when I know clearly how freeing it is.  Conflicting emotions.   It would be nice if I could stay focused on NOW.  Why is it so hard to let go of the past?  I don't truly want to let go of the future, but I would like to fork over my past to the past and have it stay there!

Eyes

I'm attempting to do this with one eye covered with a patch and the other woth a new clear lens but no astigmatism correction.  So, just know I'm thinking about you and will get back to you this afternoon when presumably I'll be able to see a bit more clearly even with my old glasses or the new kooky colored oners I bought from the drugstore a couple days ago/  I will be at the church for 5 class.  DEebby is doing the chair one again for me.  Hang with me.

Finding Joy

Monday again and Diana will pick me up at 10:45 to go in to the Outpatient Surgery Center to have my second eye cataracted lens removed and a clear one put in place.  The first one (left) last Monday worked very well.  It was as if someone had pulled up the shade and everything became clear.  So, once the right one is fixed, I'll be finished with this process - except for continuing drops three times a day in each eye for who knows how long - 2 or 3 weeks I think.  Then I can get glasses prescribed to correct the astignatism and I'll be like new.  .....January is always my month for getting doctor appointments out of the way.  February I do taxes. The rest of the year is up for grabs - whatever grabs me at the moment is usually what I make happen.  Speaking of that - Yesterday was the first of five 2-hour sessions at the Yogatorium with seven delightful people who will be doing soul-searching to design and begin living their own strategic life plans and thus be happier.  Every time I've led one of these workshops before, the results have been truly amazing so I expect the same again.  As before, I, too, will be soul-searching - my favorite pastime these years.  What wondrous ideas become unearthed!  It seems there is always more joy available each time I look.  Thanks be to God!

Rain

I am so happy to see the rain.  Not only because we need it to bring the Pond level back up - but also it gives me permission to stay inside, curl up with a good book, and just be.  How blessed I am to be able to do just that.  A mug of delicious tea (gift of Millie) a big bowl of oatmeal, a chair in front of the window overlooking the Pond.  What more could anyone want? 

Cataract surgery yesterday

Cataract surgery yesterday - operating with one eye this morning.  Get patch removed in a bit - no pain, just inconvenience.  Missed writing because of some writing on book, lots of just being, teaching, reading romance novels, etc. - taking care of Jaquie.  Still haven't figured out how to get photos up here - maybe by next week.  Hang with me.

Letting Go of the Past

What a weekend!  Ended with a delightful gathering of sisters last evening.  In the beginning, a reading from Ahni (Mountain Mystery School) followed by burning of all my journals (some pages from 1972!) and two long guided meditation sessions yesterday.  Too cold to burn outside, so here's the Cabin fire that consumed a bunch of paper - no, couldn't recycle - needed to send to the fire and watch the past disappear.  Living in the Now seems to be easier already.  I'll keep the photo of the fire on my laptop screen to remind me.  Well, I managed to get the photo on my screen but can't copy it here.  The Blogspot system has changed and I can't figure out how - maybe later.  I need a grandson!!!  But, not going to Atlanta till February.  Maybe when my head is clearer, I'll try again.  Perhaps I can get it onto fb later.  I did manage to get my profile photo updated to a recent one.  No more living in the past! 

Soul Attention

Good morning!  Saturday is here!  This morning's reading has to do with success.  I love what Judith Lasater has to say: It is not the possession of accomplishments that is the problem: rather the problem is the belief they are the answer to an aching soul.  She also suggests making a list of my successes over the last six months - which I will do and I hope many are answers to my aching soul rather than achievements of a worldly successful nature.  As I develop my elder status, I am finding more time for listening to my soul aches and responding with total attention and love.  It's the attention that is so very difficult for me - I am so well trained to DO something.  All the time my soul is asking simply for my attention.  That's what meditation is for.  It's time now  - before breakfast, before yoga, BEFORE, not after.

Happy New Year! Satya and Ahimsa

Yesterday was a day full of writing!  Yep, I found writing in the Yogatorium works very well!  So, I'm still making progress.  This morning's reading from Living Your Yoga is truly a beautiful way to begin 2013.  Judith Lasater has written about  truth.  Two yoga words - satya (truth) and ahimsa (non-harming) are important.  She suggests that you ask before speaking or taking an action: "Is it necessary? Is it true? Is it nonharming?  These questions reminded me of the Rotary questions I spoke in response to the leader at each weekly meeting when I lived in Clemson :  Of the things I think, say, or do:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
I suggest we ponder these words today.  If these are too much, just think
Is it necessary, true, nonharming?
I can hear a great silence over the Earth - how little I say or do that is truly necessary.
Your Comments are always welcome - even if not necessary!