Reflections on "Simple Abundance"
June ~ Days 15-22
JUNE 15 Secret Anniversaries of the Heart
"The holiest of all holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart, -the secret anniversaires of the heart.." (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
We all take time to reflect on the joys of birthdays, weddings, holidays.....but do we spend time contemplating the many things in our lives that brought us joy? Do we really need someone else to put out a card and announce the wonderfulness of something before we take time to remember the moment?
Scattered thru-out your life are thousands of moments that brought you joy and uplifted you. Maybe moments that were crucial in learning and growing -not always pleasant, but what it takes to really grow. Taking the moments to reflect on what the breeze felt like when you were on the beach, stirring your hair and spraying your face with a light mist....is to relive those moments and feel the pleasure of them again. Unfortunately, most of us know all too well what it is like to relive moments of pain or anger....but we stop short of using this same function for our pleasure!
Celebrate the good times as holidays...how? -by remembering them, reliving them, and allowing them to stay in your heart. Don't let them slip away from you, as your mind fills up on negative things happening in the world. That is why we have memories, so that we can still be touched by the things we have learned and loved.
JUNE 16 ~ The Fragrant Home
When you remember a place you've been before, the more detail you recall, the more distinct the memory. Sometimes we call the memories forth and search for the details, asking ourselves, "how was it?....let's see, it was....". Other times, the memory comes to us and surprises us with recognition. Here is a funny one on me: when I was a child, I came home from school one day and said, "MMMMM, Mommy! It smells like Grandma's house in here!" She pondered what I could be thinking of, and it finally came to her that she had just applied some Ben Gay! The funny thing is, that the Ben Gay was a pleasing happy smell to me, because without knowing what it was, I associated the smell with someone I loved!
Air your home frequently, to keep the stale odors from building up, you may even want to use an air purifier to neutralize smells and keep everything pleasant - it is a fact that those who stay in the home all day, become accustomed to odors that others quickly pick up on when entering. We don't want that!
In today's market we find all kinds of wonderful smelling things to bring a special feeling to our homes. When I work in the kitchen I love to burn either a vanilla, cinnamon or coffee smelling candle. They make me feel 'homey' and more like working. If your allergies don't disallow it, try adding some flavored smells to your home. They will be a future memory for all that live there. Some day, years from now, your grown child (or even a friend that visited often) may smell cinnamon, and suddenly think of 'home'.
JUNE 17 ~ Affordable Splendor
Today's reading deals with using what you can find to make a difference in your home, something especially needful for those on tight budgets. Can I point something out here? If you have loads of stuff around your house that you are "saving because it may be useful one day" -then you already missed it. When you look at something, think NOW "-what could this be used as?" If you don't do that, you are probably doing what is called "hoarding" and will never end up using it anyway....because the other end of hoarding it for someday, is never being able to figure out that it _is_ someday. That said, I will share some of my better finds with you:
An old lace curtain panel that fits none of my windows and was only one piece - looks smashing folded and hanging over a long wall shelf that holds my porcelain doll collection.
An old ornate wall shelf that was so heavy, and no place really to hang....BUT, it was the exact color of my dark wood water bed - I sat it upside down on the top of my headboard. The ornate part is not hanging down like if it was on the wall, but is forming a 'backdrop' for the tiny books I put on it, using it like a tiny bookshelf.
I was looking at a card I received while sick, and thought how exquisite the front was, - I fully intend to take this little gem to the store and find a frame for it!
You may not be able to afford making a quilt for the back of the living room couch, or have the time. But yarn is pretty cheap and you can crochet a colorful afgan quickly to add some comfort and color to your living room.
Also remember that it matters not how much money you DO have, the most expensive houses will still be eyesores if no one is caring for them. The beauty of a home is manifested in the love and care you put into it.
Don't spend your time thinking of what you don't have, look for any opportunity that arrives and ask yourself "what can I do with this?"
JUNE 18 ~ CHOOSING TO BLOSSOM
I know it is something that gives us the jeebies to think of ...that 'change' word. We like the comfort of knowing what each day is like, even if we don't like the way it is going! At the same time....we all like to think of ourselves as people who are growing....uh....looks like we may be sending ourselves mixed messages.
Maybe it's time to ask ourselves the question, "what does it mean be people who are 'growing'"? I think we can pretty well deduce that something that is growing must be changing. If you watch a flower growing and take a picture of it each day, what you will see....as it grows, that changes keep occurring. Remember those science films from school, where they had video of the flower opening and showed it in fast motion? Remember how it was like watching a ballet, to see it move and take form before our eyes? What if that flower had resisted and decided it was going to pull its head down and refuse to go up? I'm afraid it would have still grown and changed, just in an unpleasant way. I think if we face the fact that we are growing and changing already, the other step will fall into order, which is to look into the dawning day and find our direction. Growth will continue, with or without our willing participation. If we refuse it, it will continue without our input - we don't want that! It is our lives, and we should be the one calling the shots, instead of waiting for them to just fall on us haphazardly. The only way for that to happen, is to acknowledge growth and reach for goals and meaning in our lives. No, you don't have to start making plans to build another Golden Gate Bridge, this is not about over commitment and creating more stress. What it is about, is simply being aware of your life and realize that it has meaning, and making sure that the meaning it has is the one you MEANT for it to have!
"The Talmud tells us "Each blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, 'Grow, grow.'" So do we! We live, we grow, we change - it is the finest opportunity life offers us.
JUNE 19 ~ IN THE GARDEN
"The kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth"
The saying in quotes above has always been one of my favorites, and I thought it was a good time to share it!
Oh, I can't begin to tell you how I loved my garden, and the many hours I spent planting, watering and gazing with rapture when the buds came forth! Alas, I am somewhat crippled by now, and it is mostly a thing of my past. If you can still garden, you may find much satisfaction and joy from beautifying your home in this manner. But, I want to say this.....if you find yourself in my position and your gardening days are mostly over, you can still receive pleasure from this gift of nature with a little 'know how'. I could not plant my flower beds again, and probably never will again......BUT.....I did manage to plant a few small planters on my patio that I can see from my kitchen window. They are all pretty close together, and so I don't have to drag the hose, but can get them all in one swoop. If you are still feeling sad because you don't even have a yard, and are very low on extra cash, consider getting yourself one small green leaf plant for indoors. Take pride in keeping it and read the instructions on what kind of lighting and water is best for it. Think about how the plants recycle our air and purify it and how it is doing that inside your own home, in return for the care you give it.
No matter what your health or cash flow situation, you will be able to find a way to bring nature's gift into your home.
JUNE 20 ~ Secret Gardens
"Within your heart, keep one still, secret spot where dreams may go." (Louise Driscoll)
In today's reading, Sarah shares a dream she had in which she walked thru a garden gate and found herself in a dark, dismal wasteland of dead and overgrown plants. But from there she could see an archway leading to another beautiful garden, bathed in sunlight. She knew that the beautiful garden represented her AWARENESS of abundance in her life, and the wasteland was the manifestation of her thoughts of 'lack'. Both exist simultaneously in our lives, and it is our choice alone, which of these two gardens we will 'tend'. One thing is sure, while tending the one, you will not be seeing the other, so choose well.
If you will tend the 'garden of lack' you will find your feet stuck in the mud as the weeds encircle you and strangle all joy. You will choke on the bitterness those plants expell into the air you draw inside you. And your eyes will only see the dark clouds in the sky, that blot out any chance of blooming.
If you will tend the 'garden of abundance' you will find your feet on the path of gratitude, the seeds your spirit plants with joy will return beauty to you. You will breathe in the fragrance of a life spent in recognition, instead of denial. And your eyes will see the silver linings on the clouds, and your heart will know the sun is coming up.
JUNE 21 ~ "Bloom where you're planted." (Mary Engelbreit)
There are some people that seem to have had direction since the day they were born, never missing a beat as they headed straight for their goals. Everyone knows their names and recognizes their life of achievement.....uh....that sure don't describe me, though.....how about you?
If you are finding yourself like me, around 49, and so many things I never accomplished for many different reasons, there's good news! Many people take the attitude that, at this age, lives already 'set' and now's the time to just let it play out. But....if life was over, I wouldn't still be here. The fact that I am here, proves that it is not over, there are still many opportunities for me to learn and achieve many things in my lifetime. Some are held back while raising children, others are held back by financial restrictions, for me, I was held back by devastating health problems. Whatever the reason, and the different paths that brought us to this place, the point is that all the paths did dump out in the same place - the place of opportunity today. I'm here, my life is as it is, and these are my circumstances.
I waited for a child for 8 years, and when I finally had my son he was everything I dreamed of. When he was 9 years of age, I went thru a series of health problems that left me too weak to hold a conversation or even watch tv....until he was 15. I missed the years from 9-15...the last thing I remember doing with him was taking him to a teddy bear show at the mall, and the next thing I am finally able to interact with is a 15 year old son. I have to confess that I am writing with tears in my eyes, for all the time I missed. But, let me tell you a little story that happened right here about a week ago. Here is my writings from that night, when I had to decide "Frustration or Opportunity"?:
(June 15) For the second _late_ nite in a row, Matt came home and needed more clothes for tomorrow! hmmmm....I asked him yesterday if he would be needing more clothes since member-guest at the golf range he's working at went on from Thurs-Sat, and he said no. (granted he has been working 15 hours a day for this special thing at work, which would tend to make someone slow on passing info to me) So, I had to start ironing again late tonight. Only when I looked at this blue special fabric shirt it had 2 spots on it. I tried to spot wash them, but it left horrible watermarks. So, around 10:30 I had to do a load of wash, and went ahead and got the clothes for tomorrow washed also. Washed that flowery shirt, and ironed 2 pants that I washed last night. While waiting for the wash to finish, I was fuming a bit that he did this and now I was going to have to iron that blue shirt DRY, because it was not to go in the dryer, and there wasn't time for it to drip dry so I could iron it by 5:30 am.....then I began to think of how sick I was for 6 years. From the time he was 9 till 15 I was too sick to hold a conversation, let alone be a mother figure. How I longed to have this child for 8 years, and then cruely lost those years from him. How many times I've looked back and wished I had the chance back to be there for him and to be the one he could count on and come thru for him - and wondering what my not being there for him has done to the person he is/would have been. Suddenly I had a lite bulb moment, and thought "this is my chance! I can do this! I can be the one who comes thru for him in a pinch! Not only did I iron till dry, the blue funny material shirt, but also the expensive white dress shirt - and they both came out perfectly, like the old days when people used to 'sprinkle down' their wash, roll them up, and wait for the moisture to permeate the fibers before they ironed them. Bottom line is "no, I certainly don't encourage him to be irresponsible, BUT, if you are going to have to do the same work anyway, how you approach it.... heee, heeee - it's all in perspective!
"It's never too late to be who you might have been."
Bloom where you are ladies, this is not dress rehearsal, don't wait for a better moment to get started.
JUNE 22 ~ Gourmet Victory Garden
"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a home-grown tomato."
I have to admit....I laughed out loud when I read the quote above! I can still remember the little garden I planted one year and how I felt when I dug the potatoes and brought them into the kitchen, washing them, pricking their skins and buttering them, then setting them into the oven like precious pottery I was kilning to perfection. As I set them in front of my husband and son I announced "these are my own potatoes from my garden!" Their eyes popped out and they looked at the potatoes as if expecting them to stand up and introduce themselves! I felt like mother earth spilling my bounty over the table!
Well, if you are able to get a little food gardening in, you will soon learn what I mean, I'm sure many of you are experts at this already. If you don't have the time/health/yard....maybe a little parsley herb plant will be enjoyable to clip from and use in your own kitchen!
Use your home and expand your pleasures there, it is full of possibilities for expression, just waiting for you to take the lead. Balls in your court.
Read June days 23-30
*In order to understand the full context of these reflections, you will enjoy your own copy of the Sarah Ban Breathnach book:
"Simple Abundance ~ A Daybook of Comfort and joy"
Sarah's Website ~ ENJOY!: www.simpleabundance.com
Uploaded June 8, 2001
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-COPYRIGHT 2001
This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page
JUNE 15 Secret Anniversaries of the Heart
"The holiest of all holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart, -the secret anniversaires of the heart.." (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
We all take time to reflect on the joys of birthdays, weddings, holidays.....but do we spend time contemplating the many things in our lives that brought us joy? Do we really need someone else to put out a card and announce the wonderfulness of something before we take time to remember the moment?
Scattered thru-out your life are thousands of moments that brought you joy and uplifted you. Maybe moments that were crucial in learning and growing -not always pleasant, but what it takes to really grow. Taking the moments to reflect on what the breeze felt like when you were on the beach, stirring your hair and spraying your face with a light mist....is to relive those moments and feel the pleasure of them again. Unfortunately, most of us know all too well what it is like to relive moments of pain or anger....but we stop short of using this same function for our pleasure!
Celebrate the good times as holidays...how? -by remembering them, reliving them, and allowing them to stay in your heart. Don't let them slip away from you, as your mind fills up on negative things happening in the world. That is why we have memories, so that we can still be touched by the things we have learned and loved.
JUNE 16 ~ The Fragrant Home
When you remember a place you've been before, the more detail you recall, the more distinct the memory. Sometimes we call the memories forth and search for the details, asking ourselves, "how was it?....let's see, it was....". Other times, the memory comes to us and surprises us with recognition. Here is a funny one on me: when I was a child, I came home from school one day and said, "MMMMM, Mommy! It smells like Grandma's house in here!" She pondered what I could be thinking of, and it finally came to her that she had just applied some Ben Gay! The funny thing is, that the Ben Gay was a pleasing happy smell to me, because without knowing what it was, I associated the smell with someone I loved!
Air your home frequently, to keep the stale odors from building up, you may even want to use an air purifier to neutralize smells and keep everything pleasant - it is a fact that those who stay in the home all day, become accustomed to odors that others quickly pick up on when entering. We don't want that!
In today's market we find all kinds of wonderful smelling things to bring a special feeling to our homes. When I work in the kitchen I love to burn either a vanilla, cinnamon or coffee smelling candle. They make me feel 'homey' and more like working. If your allergies don't disallow it, try adding some flavored smells to your home. They will be a future memory for all that live there. Some day, years from now, your grown child (or even a friend that visited often) may smell cinnamon, and suddenly think of 'home'.
JUNE 17 ~ Affordable Splendor
Today's reading deals with using what you can find to make a difference in your home, something especially needful for those on tight budgets. Can I point something out here? If you have loads of stuff around your house that you are "saving because it may be useful one day" -then you already missed it. When you look at something, think NOW "-what could this be used as?" If you don't do that, you are probably doing what is called "hoarding" and will never end up using it anyway....because the other end of hoarding it for someday, is never being able to figure out that it _is_ someday. That said, I will share some of my better finds with you:
An old lace curtain panel that fits none of my windows and was only one piece - looks smashing folded and hanging over a long wall shelf that holds my porcelain doll collection.
An old ornate wall shelf that was so heavy, and no place really to hang....BUT, it was the exact color of my dark wood water bed - I sat it upside down on the top of my headboard. The ornate part is not hanging down like if it was on the wall, but is forming a 'backdrop' for the tiny books I put on it, using it like a tiny bookshelf.
I was looking at a card I received while sick, and thought how exquisite the front was, - I fully intend to take this little gem to the store and find a frame for it!
You may not be able to afford making a quilt for the back of the living room couch, or have the time. But yarn is pretty cheap and you can crochet a colorful afgan quickly to add some comfort and color to your living room.
Also remember that it matters not how much money you DO have, the most expensive houses will still be eyesores if no one is caring for them. The beauty of a home is manifested in the love and care you put into it.
Don't spend your time thinking of what you don't have, look for any opportunity that arrives and ask yourself "what can I do with this?"
JUNE 18 ~ CHOOSING TO BLOSSOM
I know it is something that gives us the jeebies to think of ...that 'change' word. We like the comfort of knowing what each day is like, even if we don't like the way it is going! At the same time....we all like to think of ourselves as people who are growing....uh....looks like we may be sending ourselves mixed messages.
Maybe it's time to ask ourselves the question, "what does it mean be people who are 'growing'"? I think we can pretty well deduce that something that is growing must be changing. If you watch a flower growing and take a picture of it each day, what you will see....as it grows, that changes keep occurring. Remember those science films from school, where they had video of the flower opening and showed it in fast motion? Remember how it was like watching a ballet, to see it move and take form before our eyes? What if that flower had resisted and decided it was going to pull its head down and refuse to go up? I'm afraid it would have still grown and changed, just in an unpleasant way. I think if we face the fact that we are growing and changing already, the other step will fall into order, which is to look into the dawning day and find our direction. Growth will continue, with or without our willing participation. If we refuse it, it will continue without our input - we don't want that! It is our lives, and we should be the one calling the shots, instead of waiting for them to just fall on us haphazardly. The only way for that to happen, is to acknowledge growth and reach for goals and meaning in our lives. No, you don't have to start making plans to build another Golden Gate Bridge, this is not about over commitment and creating more stress. What it is about, is simply being aware of your life and realize that it has meaning, and making sure that the meaning it has is the one you MEANT for it to have!
"The Talmud tells us "Each blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, 'Grow, grow.'" So do we! We live, we grow, we change - it is the finest opportunity life offers us.
JUNE 19 ~ IN THE GARDEN
"The kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth"
The saying in quotes above has always been one of my favorites, and I thought it was a good time to share it!
Oh, I can't begin to tell you how I loved my garden, and the many hours I spent planting, watering and gazing with rapture when the buds came forth! Alas, I am somewhat crippled by now, and it is mostly a thing of my past. If you can still garden, you may find much satisfaction and joy from beautifying your home in this manner. But, I want to say this.....if you find yourself in my position and your gardening days are mostly over, you can still receive pleasure from this gift of nature with a little 'know how'. I could not plant my flower beds again, and probably never will again......BUT.....I did manage to plant a few small planters on my patio that I can see from my kitchen window. They are all pretty close together, and so I don't have to drag the hose, but can get them all in one swoop. If you are still feeling sad because you don't even have a yard, and are very low on extra cash, consider getting yourself one small green leaf plant for indoors. Take pride in keeping it and read the instructions on what kind of lighting and water is best for it. Think about how the plants recycle our air and purify it and how it is doing that inside your own home, in return for the care you give it.
No matter what your health or cash flow situation, you will be able to find a way to bring nature's gift into your home.
JUNE 20 ~ Secret Gardens
"Within your heart, keep one still, secret spot where dreams may go." (Louise Driscoll)
In today's reading, Sarah shares a dream she had in which she walked thru a garden gate and found herself in a dark, dismal wasteland of dead and overgrown plants. But from there she could see an archway leading to another beautiful garden, bathed in sunlight. She knew that the beautiful garden represented her AWARENESS of abundance in her life, and the wasteland was the manifestation of her thoughts of 'lack'. Both exist simultaneously in our lives, and it is our choice alone, which of these two gardens we will 'tend'. One thing is sure, while tending the one, you will not be seeing the other, so choose well.
If you will tend the 'garden of lack' you will find your feet stuck in the mud as the weeds encircle you and strangle all joy. You will choke on the bitterness those plants expell into the air you draw inside you. And your eyes will only see the dark clouds in the sky, that blot out any chance of blooming.
If you will tend the 'garden of abundance' you will find your feet on the path of gratitude, the seeds your spirit plants with joy will return beauty to you. You will breathe in the fragrance of a life spent in recognition, instead of denial. And your eyes will see the silver linings on the clouds, and your heart will know the sun is coming up.
JUNE 21 ~ "Bloom where you're planted." (Mary Engelbreit)
There are some people that seem to have had direction since the day they were born, never missing a beat as they headed straight for their goals. Everyone knows their names and recognizes their life of achievement.....uh....that sure don't describe me, though.....how about you?
If you are finding yourself like me, around 49, and so many things I never accomplished for many different reasons, there's good news! Many people take the attitude that, at this age, lives already 'set' and now's the time to just let it play out. But....if life was over, I wouldn't still be here. The fact that I am here, proves that it is not over, there are still many opportunities for me to learn and achieve many things in my lifetime. Some are held back while raising children, others are held back by financial restrictions, for me, I was held back by devastating health problems. Whatever the reason, and the different paths that brought us to this place, the point is that all the paths did dump out in the same place - the place of opportunity today. I'm here, my life is as it is, and these are my circumstances.
I waited for a child for 8 years, and when I finally had my son he was everything I dreamed of. When he was 9 years of age, I went thru a series of health problems that left me too weak to hold a conversation or even watch tv....until he was 15. I missed the years from 9-15...the last thing I remember doing with him was taking him to a teddy bear show at the mall, and the next thing I am finally able to interact with is a 15 year old son. I have to confess that I am writing with tears in my eyes, for all the time I missed. But, let me tell you a little story that happened right here about a week ago. Here is my writings from that night, when I had to decide "Frustration or Opportunity"?:
(June 15) For the second _late_ nite in a row, Matt came home and needed more clothes for tomorrow! hmmmm....I asked him yesterday if he would be needing more clothes since member-guest at the golf range he's working at went on from Thurs-Sat, and he said no. (granted he has been working 15 hours a day for this special thing at work, which would tend to make someone slow on passing info to me) So, I had to start ironing again late tonight. Only when I looked at this blue special fabric shirt it had 2 spots on it. I tried to spot wash them, but it left horrible watermarks. So, around 10:30 I had to do a load of wash, and went ahead and got the clothes for tomorrow washed also. Washed that flowery shirt, and ironed 2 pants that I washed last night. While waiting for the wash to finish, I was fuming a bit that he did this and now I was going to have to iron that blue shirt DRY, because it was not to go in the dryer, and there wasn't time for it to drip dry so I could iron it by 5:30 am.....then I began to think of how sick I was for 6 years. From the time he was 9 till 15 I was too sick to hold a conversation, let alone be a mother figure. How I longed to have this child for 8 years, and then cruely lost those years from him. How many times I've looked back and wished I had the chance back to be there for him and to be the one he could count on and come thru for him - and wondering what my not being there for him has done to the person he is/would have been. Suddenly I had a lite bulb moment, and thought "this is my chance! I can do this! I can be the one who comes thru for him in a pinch! Not only did I iron till dry, the blue funny material shirt, but also the expensive white dress shirt - and they both came out perfectly, like the old days when people used to 'sprinkle down' their wash, roll them up, and wait for the moisture to permeate the fibers before they ironed them. Bottom line is "no, I certainly don't encourage him to be irresponsible, BUT, if you are going to have to do the same work anyway, how you approach it.... heee, heeee - it's all in perspective!
"It's never too late to be who you might have been."
Bloom where you are ladies, this is not dress rehearsal, don't wait for a better moment to get started.
JUNE 22 ~ Gourmet Victory Garden
"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a home-grown tomato."
I have to admit....I laughed out loud when I read the quote above! I can still remember the little garden I planted one year and how I felt when I dug the potatoes and brought them into the kitchen, washing them, pricking their skins and buttering them, then setting them into the oven like precious pottery I was kilning to perfection. As I set them in front of my husband and son I announced "these are my own potatoes from my garden!" Their eyes popped out and they looked at the potatoes as if expecting them to stand up and introduce themselves! I felt like mother earth spilling my bounty over the table!
Well, if you are able to get a little food gardening in, you will soon learn what I mean, I'm sure many of you are experts at this already. If you don't have the time/health/yard....maybe a little parsley herb plant will be enjoyable to clip from and use in your own kitchen!
Use your home and expand your pleasures there, it is full of possibilities for expression, just waiting for you to take the lead. Balls in your court.
Read June days 23-30
*In order to understand the full context of these reflections, you will enjoy your own copy of the Sarah Ban Breathnach book:
"Simple Abundance ~ A Daybook of Comfort and joy"
Sarah's Website ~ ENJOY!: www.simpleabundance.com
Uploaded June 8, 2001
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-COPYRIGHT 2001
This page hosted by
Get your own Free Home Page
JUNE 15 Secret Anniversaries of the Heart
"The holiest of all holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart, -the secret anniversaires of the heart.." (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
We all take time to reflect on the joys of birthdays, weddings, holidays.....but do we spend time contemplating the many things in our lives that brought us joy? Do we really need someone else to put out a card and announce the wonderfulness of something before we take time to remember the moment?
Scattered thru-out your life are thousands of moments that brought you joy and uplifted you. Maybe moments that were crucial in learning and growing -not always pleasant, but what it takes to really grow. Taking the moments to reflect on what the breeze felt like when you were on the beach, stirring your hair and spraying your face with a light mist....is to relive those moments and feel the pleasure of them again. Unfortunately, most of us know all too well what it is like to relive moments of pain or anger....but we stop short of using this same function for our pleasure!
Celebrate the good times as holidays...how? -by remembering them, reliving them, and allowing them to stay in your heart. Don't let them slip away from you, as your mind fills up on negative things happening in the world. That is why we have memories, so that we can still be touched by the things we have learned and loved.
JUNE 16 ~ The Fragrant Home
When you remember a place you've been before, the more detail you recall, the more distinct the memory. Sometimes we call the memories forth and search for the details, asking ourselves, "how was it?....let's see, it was....". Other times, the memory comes to us and surprises us with recognition. Here is a funny one on me: when I was a child, I came home from school one day and said, "MMMMM, Mommy! It smells like Grandma's house in here!" She pondered what I could be thinking of, and it finally came to her that she had just applied some Ben Gay! The funny thing is, that the Ben Gay was a pleasing happy smell to me, because without knowing what it was, I associated the smell with someone I loved!
Air your home frequently, to keep the stale odors from building up, you may even want to use an air purifier to neutralize smells and keep everything pleasant - it is a fact that those who stay in the home all day, become accustomed to odors that others quickly pick up on when entering. We don't want that!
In today's market we find all kinds of wonderful smelling things to bring a special feeling to our homes. When I work in the kitchen I love to burn either a vanilla, cinnamon or coffee smelling candle. They make me feel 'homey' and more like working. If your allergies don't disallow it, try adding some flavored smells to your home. They will be a future memory for all that live there. Some day, years from now, your grown child (or even a friend that visited often) may smell cinnamon, and suddenly think of 'home'.
JUNE 17 ~ Affordable Splendor
Today's reading deals with using what you can find to make a difference in your home, something especially needful for those on tight budgets. Can I point something out here? If you have loads of stuff around your house that you are "saving because it may be useful one day" -then you already missed it. When you look at something, think NOW "-what could this be used as?" If you don't do that, you are probably doing what is called "hoarding" and will never end up using it anyway....because the other end of hoarding it for someday, is never being able to figure out that it _is_ someday. That said, I will share some of my better finds with you:
An old lace curtain panel that fits none of my windows and was only one piece - looks smashing folded and hanging over a long wall shelf that holds my porcelain doll collection.
An old ornate wall shelf that was so heavy, and no place really to hang....BUT, it was the exact color of my dark wood water bed - I sat it upside down on the top of my headboard. The ornate part is not hanging down like if it was on the wall, but is forming a 'backdrop' for the tiny books I put on it, using it like a tiny bookshelf.
I was looking at a card I received while sick, and thought how exquisite the front was, - I fully intend to take this little gem to the store and find a frame for it!
You may not be able to afford making a quilt for the back of the living room couch, or have the time. But yarn is pretty cheap and you can crochet a colorful afgan quickly to add some comfort and color to your living room.
Also remember that it matters not how much money you DO have, the most expensive houses will still be eyesores if no one is caring for them. The beauty of a home is manifested in the love and care you put into it. Don't spend your time thinking of what you don't have, look for any opportunity that arrives and ask yourself "what can I do with this?"
JUNE 18 ~ CHOOSING TO BLOSSOM
I know it is something that gives us the jeebies to think of ...that 'change' word. We like the comfort of knowing what each day is like, even if we don't like the way it is going! At the same time....we all like to think of ourselves as people who are growing....uh....looks like we may be sending ourselves mixed messages.
Maybe it's time to ask ourselves the question, "what does it mean be people who are 'growing'"? I think we can pretty well deduce that something that is growing must be changing. If you watch a flower growing and take a picture of it each day, what you will see....as it grows, that changes keep occurring. Remember those science films from school, where they had video of the flower opening and showed it in fast motion? Remember how it was like watching a ballet, to see it move and take form before our eyes? What if that flower had resisted and decided it was going to pull its head down and refuse to go up? I'm afraid it would have still grown and changed, just in an unpleasant way. I think if we face the fact that we are growing and changing already, the other step will fall into order, which is to look into the dawning day and find our direction. Growth will continue, with or without our willing participation. If we refuse it, it will continue without our input - we don't want that! It is our lives, and we should be the one calling the shots, instead of waiting for them to just fall on us haphazardly. The only way for that to happen, is to acknowledge growth and reach for goals and meaning in our lives. No, you don't have to start making plans to build another Golden Gate Bridge, this is not about over commitment and creating more stress. What it is about, is simply being aware of your life and realize that it has meaning, and making sure that the meaning it has is the one you MEANT for it to have!
"The Talmud tells us "Each blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, 'Grow, grow.'" So do we! We live, we grow, we change - it is the finest opportunity life offers us.
JUNE 19 ~ IN THE GARDEN
"The kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth"
The saying in quotes above has always been one of my favorites, and I thought it was a good time to share it!
Oh, I can't begin to tell you how I loved my garden, and the many hours I spent planting, watering and gazing with rapture when the buds came forth! Alas, I am somewhat crippled by now, and it is mostly a thing of my past. If you can still garden, you may find much satisfaction and joy from beautifying your home in this manner. But, I want to say this.....if you find yourself in my position and your gardening days are mostly over, you can still receive pleasure from this gift of nature with a little 'know how'. I could not plant my flower beds again, and probably never will again......BUT.....I did manage to plant a few small planters on my patio that I can see from my kitchen window. They are all pretty close together, and so I don't have to drag the hose, but can get them all in one swoop. If you are still feeling sad because you don't even have a yard, and are very low on extra cash, consider getting yourself one small green leaf plant for indoors. Take pride in keeping it and read the instructions on what kind of lighting and water is best for it. Think about how the plants recycle our air and purify it and how it is doing that inside your own home, in return for the care you give it.
No matter what your health or cash flow situation, you will be able to find a way to bring nature's gift into your home.
JUNE 20 ~ Secret Gardens
"Within your heart, keep one still, secret spot where dreams may go." (Louise Driscoll)
In today's reading, Sarah shares a dream she had in which she walked thru a garden gate and found herself in a dark, dismal wasteland of dead and overgrown plants. But from there she could see an archway leading to another beautiful garden, bathed in sunlight. She knew that the beautiful garden represented her AWARENESS of abundance in her life, and the wasteland was the manifestation of her thoughts of 'lack'. Both exist simultaneously in our lives, and it is our choice alone, which of these two gardens we will 'tend'. One thing is sure, while tending the one, you will not be seeing the other, so choose well.
If you will tend the 'garden of lack' you will find your feet stuck in the mud as the weeds encircle you and strangle all joy. You will choke on the bitterness those plants expell into the air you draw inside you. And your eyes will only see the dark clouds in the sky, that blot out any chance of blooming.
If you will tend the 'garden of abundance' you will find your feet on the path of gratitude, the seeds your spirit plants with joy will return beauty to you. You will breathe in the fragrance of a life spent in recognition, instead of denial. And your eyes will see the silver linings on the clouds, and your heart will know the sun is coming up.
JUNE 21 ~ "Bloom where you're planted." (Mary Engelbreit)
There are some people that seem to have had direction since the day they were born, never missing a beat as they headed straight for their goals. Everyone knows their names and recognizes their life of achievement.....uh....that sure don't describe me, though.....how about you?
If you are finding yourself like me, around 49, and so many things I never accomplished for many different reasons, there's good news! Many people take the attitude that, at this age, lives already 'set' and now's the time to just let it play out. But....if life was over, I wouldn't still be here. The fact that I am here, proves that it is not over, there are still many opportunities for me to learn and achieve many things in my lifetime. Some are held back while raising children, others are held back by financial restrictions, for me, I was held back by devastating health problems. Whatever the reason, and the different paths that brought us to this place, the point is that all the paths did dump out in the same place - the place of opportunity today. I'm here, my life is as it is, and these are my circumstances.
I waited for a child for 8 years, and when I finally had my son he was everything I dreamed of. When he was 9 years of age, I went thru a series of health problems that left me too weak to hold a conversation or even watch tv....until he was 15. I missed the years from 9-15...the last thing I remember doing with him was taking him to a teddy bear show at the mall, and the next thing I am finally able to interact with is a 15 year old son. I have to confess that I am writing with tears in my eyes, for all the time I missed. But, let me tell you a little story that happened right here about a week ago. Here is my writings from that night, when I had to decide "Frustration or Opportunity"?:
(June 15) For the second _late_ nite in a row, Matt came home and needed more clothes for tomorrow! hmmmm....I asked him yesterday if he would be needing more clothes since member-guest at the golf range he's working at went on from Thurs-Sat, and he said no. (granted he has been working 15 hours a day for this special thing at work, which would tend to make someone slow on passing info to me) So, I had to start ironing again late tonight. Only when I looked at this blue special fabric shirt it had 2 spots on it. I tried to spot wash them, but it left horrible watermarks. So, around 10:30 I had to do a load of wash, and went ahead and got the clothes for tomorrow washed also. Washed that flowery shirt, and ironed 2 pants that I washed last night. While waiting for the wash to finish, I was fuming a bit that he did this and now I was going to have to iron that blue shirt DRY, because it was not to go in the dryer, and there wasn't time for it to drip dry so I could iron it by 5:30 am.....then I began to think of how sick I was for 6 years. From the time he was 9 till 15 I was too sick to hold a conversation, let alone be a mother figure. How I longed to have this child for 8 years, and then cruely lost those years from him. How many times I've looked back and wished I had the chance back to be there for him and to be the one he could count on and come thru for him - and wondering what my not being there for him has done to the person he is/would have been. Suddenly I had a lite bulb moment, and thought "this is my chance! I can do this! I can be the one who comes thru for him in a pinch! Not only did I iron till dry, the blue funny material shirt, but also the expensive white dress shirt - and they both came out perfectly, like the old days when people used to 'sprinkle down' their wash, roll them up, and wait for the moisture to permeate the fibers before they ironed them. Bottom line is "no, I certainly don't encourage him to be irresponsible, BUT, if you are going to have to do the same work anyway, how you approach it.... heee, heeee - it's all in perspective!
"It's never too late to be who you might have been."
Bloom where you are ladies, this is not dress rehearsal, don't wait for a better moment to get started.
JUNE 22 ~ Gourmet Victory Garden
"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a home-grown tomato."
I have to admit....I laughed out loud when I read the quote above! I can still remember the little garden I planted one year and how I felt when I dug the potatoes and brought them into the kitchen, washing them, pricking their skins and buttering them, then setting them into the oven like precious pottery I was kilning to perfection. As I set them in front of my husband and son I announced "these are my own potatoes from my garden!" Their eyes popped out and they looked at the potatoes as if expecting them to stand up and introduce themselves! I felt like mother earth spilling my bounty over the table!
Well, if you are able to get a little food gardening in, you will soon learn what I mean, I'm sure many of you are experts at this already. If you don't have the time/health/yard....maybe a little parsley herb plant will be enjoyable to clip from and use in your own kitchen!
Use your home and expand your pleasures there, it is full of possibilities for expression, just waiting for you to take the lead. Balls in your court.
Read June days 23-30
*In order to understand the full context of these reflections, you will enjoy your own copy of the Sarah Ban Breathnach book:
"Simple Abundance ~ A Daybook of Comfort and joy"
Sarah's Website ~ ENJOY!: www.simpleabundance.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-COPYRIGHT 2001
This page hosted by
Get your own Free Home Page
