Tag: Daily Meditation

The Plant Stand

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I watched my actions, and they all seemed normal until I caught the stick on fire. Sitting on my zafu meditation cushion, I grabbed the lighter and lit a stick of Palo Santo and thought, “What would a man think seeing me light a stick on fire inside the house, with music for plants playing in the background?” Just another reason why the doorway is still empty! 😂

I mentioned here about having house plants, so now I’m really into plant stands. Just like everything else, I’m particular about them, so the one that gets my attention has to speak to my heart. World Market has become my favorite store. It’s inspiring to walk through, and it’s close by which makes for a refreshing, afternoon break from the laptop.

The first plant stand was for this smallish fiddle leaf fig. This guy was my test subject, purchased at a local nursery for less than $20. I left him sitting in his plastic pot for almost a month, just to make sure he was happy before any further investment. Since placing him in the plant stand, he’s doubled in size, so he’s happy.

Sunshine pillow and plant stand ~ World Market.

This may be the first stand for this plant, but he was sitting in a woven basket before this stand. I did some research on plant stands to see what was available in stores before driving around. I hadn’t purchased a plant stand for an indoor plant in years, and I’ve learned it’s best to see something in person if possible before buying. Nowadays, the picture seems to outdo the actual product.

I saw a stand on the WM website, which showed it available in store, so off I went. When I got there, they were closing the doors, but let me in with a warning, “We close in 10 minutes.” Quickly, I walked over to the plant stand area, but didn’t see it, so I walked through the store thinking it might be part of a display, and it was. It had a large, artificial version of my plant sitting in it, which was a good sign.

I wanted more time to ponder the stand, but felt pressured by the store closing and couldn’t decide. It was pretty, but it looked better in the photo than on the store floor. As far as I could tell it was the only one in the store, so I was taking a chance leaving it. There was a less expensive woven basket sitting nearby that would work, so I took it up to the cash register to pay. The cashier told me if it didn’t work, to bring it back.

Stepping outside, I heard the click of the double doors locking behind me. Holding the receipt, I already knew I’d be bringing it back, because I’d listened to my head instead of my heart. A few days later, I returned to the store, but this time came home with the plant stand.

Cover photo by Spacejoy on Unsplash

Acknowledge the Good

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A couple of years ago I posted about a gratitude jar. The jar I’d begun using became needed elsewhere, so I took all those little slips of paper, and placed them in an empty Voluspa jar. Last December, I sat down in the middle of my bed with the jar, and read each one.

I remembered cutting paper into strips, writing something I was grateful for, and placing it in the jar. The jar wasn’t very full, because walking by it isn’t enough. I have to pause long enough to write something down. It’s funny, but I was the most grateful for sunlight. The unfolding of each piece of paper and reading what it said, felt like a ritual. I refolded each one and placed them in a baggie for the jar to be used as a vase.

One of my most loved books by Julia Cameron is The Sound of Paper. I don’t know which I love more, the book itself, or it’s title, because I’m enamored by the sound and feel of paper. I want to experience that year-end ritual again, so I started a new jar, in hopes that by this December it will be packed full. The key is to sit it where it doesn’t fall into the background of the everyday, so it’s by my bedroom window waiting, every time I enter.

Empty Voluspa jar.

Here’s some examples of how often I see this jar.

  • First thing in the morning, while opening the drapes.
  • When I walk back in to make my bed.
  • Sitting on the floor, during meditation.
  • When I pet the cat who’s lounging in the morning sun.
  • To plug in my phone for charging.
  • While getting dressed, or anytime I retrieve something from the closet.
  • Anytime I’m in my room gazing out the window, the jar is there.
  • Running the vacuum through the room.
  • Closing the drapes at nightfall.

Some days I’m overwhelmed by goodness, while other days, I need a magnifying glass to see it. No matter if it’s a lot, or just one thing, there’s always something to write on a sliver of paper and place it in the jar.

Pause… breathe… and acknowledge the good.

Download the App

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I completed a ’30 Days to Better Sleep’ mediation, and it worked really well. I didn’t hear the end of several of the meditations, because I fell asleep. 😂

I enjoyed the voice and positive attitude of the man who narrated the meditation, so I looked him up. He was easy to find on social media. He was hosting a week-long meditation on mindfulness, and I thought about signing up, but there was a catch. The only way to participate was to download the app. I enjoy listening to him on Simple Habits, so didn’t see a need to download the app.

I’ve been thinking about apps, and have come to the conclusion, they are good if they help save time, otherwise, they eat up time. Case in point, I downloaded a banking app. Being home most of the time, it’s become routine to check everything via my laptop, including banking. I’ve been helping down at the pizza place when needed, so my paychecks have a tendency to pile up. I don’t want the owner of the pizza place to think his money isn’t appreciated, so once a week I drive to the bank.

No more. Barb downloaded a banking app and does mobile banking. My phone automatically takes a picture of the check, and it’s deposited into my account. Life just got sweeter, and for that, I will happily download the app.

A Quiet Life

Side note: If you’re reading this, it’s been in the draft folder since October. We’re down to four! 🙂

Everyday is Orchestrated

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‘Take what you have and use it’. That was my first thing in the morning thought. My daughter went to college via Zoom, I went for my walk and that’s where I saw it.

I wasn’t using my meditation app as intended.

Photo by JD Mason on Unsplash

It’s easy to envision mediation as the photo above.

It can be that way, but I enjoy walking and mediating. I’ve been using the free version of the Simple Habits app this year, but mainly for relaxation and sleep. I told myself if I upgraded to a subscription, I could download a mediation to listen to anywhere, anytime, and even while walking.

I rarely take my phone with me on a walk, but today I popped in one earbud, and left the other one out. Barb being Barb wants the best of both worlds. To be able to hear nature while listening to the mediation.

It was surprising how many of them began with, “Find a comfortable position, whether it’s sitting, or lying down.” I was halfway through my walk before finding what I need.

It wasn’t surprising that it was a prayer meditation by Westley West entitled, “Uplifting Morning Prayers”.

It was like being on a movie set where everything was perfectly orchestrated. As I turned the corner onto a straightaway, the clouds began to thin and the sun came streaming through. Stepping onto the street leading up a hill, I felt a light breeze and there was a spring in my step that made the hill less effort.

Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash

By the time I reached my street, I was refreshed, energized and grateful for a new day. That short morning walk helped me realize, my higher power has everyday orchestrated, if I’ll take what I have and use it.

Yesterday and Today

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Yesterday had some fabulous moments, like my daughter getting her septum pierced, which I will eventually write about in more detail. I felt a little off most of the day, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Once we returned home, I sat on my bed, and read.

I picked up my Kindle to read a Daily Meditation that I had not read in a while. It’s by Melody Beattie, entitled, “Journey to the Heart.” Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul. My bookmark revealed it had been several weeks since I had read it. So much for ‘Daily!’

It is a captivating read, and very soothing to the soul. Once I caught up, and saw the page was on the actual day, (yesterday) it spoke volumes to me. She was talking about timing.

makeithappenblog

I am learning with writing, you cannot, “Make it happen.” I write for the pure love of it, in hopes of encouraging others along their path. It’s not something I have to think about, it’s a part of me. Yesterday, Melody’s words made me ponder the ‘timing.’

“Watch the surfer as he works his way out to sea. See him watching the waves, waiting for the right movement, the right timing, the right swell. Sometimes the wave comes quickly. Sometimes he has to tread water patiently for a long time, waiting and watching before he can ride the wave.”

She goes onto say, “Ultimately action will not get the job done any soon. It will simply waste your energy and send you back to sea, waiting for the right wave. Focus on your goal, muster all your forces, and head out to sea. Then wait patiently for the right time, for the right energy, for the right wave.”

So we consistently lay our hand to it, and wait on God’s timing. The right wave will come.