Tag: spiritedstrider

Appreciating Photography

There are so many great photographers and photos out there on the internet and I totally appreciate that. I would love to be a better photographer myself and to spend more time doing it. Even if I’m not a professional or even an amateur professsional, I’ve always loved to take pictures. I love my digital camera but haven’t had much time to really play with it. I also really love my old faithful, manual Pentax that I first learned on way back when.

Today’s photography certainly has expanded our world in infinite ways. The internet has certainly given a forum to photographers everywhere to showcase their work, while providing an art form for us to appreciate.  And photo editing sites make “playing” with a photograph fun, too! So today I’m appreciating  photography, the photographers and the internet sites where I can spend time admiring beautiful works of art.

Photo courtesy of http://www.phphoto.org

I am particularly grateful for people who freely share their work, too, and would like to take this space to formally thank the owner at http://www.pdphoto.org for so selflessly making thousands of photos free for people to use in the public domain.  While I use a lot of my own photography in my blogging, on my website and in my email newsletter,  I have also used this site over the years when I don’t have a photo handy. So thanks to this website and its creator! I really appreciate you!

In honor of my appreciation for the site, I’ll just showcase a photo from there so you can all appreciate it, too.

NaBloPoMo, Snails, & Appreciating Illness

Today I’m beginning my November month of blogging everyday as part of the NaBloPoMo’s challenge. I’ve done this before. Last year, I wrote on 2 blogs everyday during the month of November.  But this year I’ve decided that it was not in my self-interest to over-commit myself, so I chose this blog. After all, this blog is the “youngest” of my blogs and doesn’t get a lot of love from me often. Yet the topic is so important: appreciation is one of the most loving things you can do for yourself and others. So in a way, this is an act of self-love on my part: I’m not over-extending myself with a 2 blog commitment like last year and I’m giving this blog some extra tender care, which means more TLC for me. (Yes, what goes around, comes around.)

To start my 30 day “blogging for blogging’s sake” challenge, I decided to appreciate illness. I imagine many may be shaking their heads about that as an appreciation topic today. Why would anyone want to appreciate illness? As someone who understands the law of attraction and as a deliberate creator, I know the opportunity that “contrast” brings for better things. “Being sick” is a contrast I don’t intend for myself, but I recently experienced it and I’m grateful. Let me explain.

Photo courtesy of http://www.pdphoto.org/

I had a cold for about 10 days and stayed home for only one day in that first week (but ended up working all day), only to find myself out a couple of days the next week (plus a visit to the doctor) because I had a re-lapse. It was nothing serious, but it certainly did drain my energy. Having no energy and sleeping most of the days really was a wake-up call that I needed to slow down and get more rest!

So I was reminded of a snail, who by human standards doesn’t appear to move very quickly, often pausing for long periods of time before inching onward to a new leaf. Being sick is a reminder to be like a snail in that respect: slow down, take my time, pause, rest, then slowly move on again. My sickness and probably what created it (lack of self-care, over-working, little sleep, etc.) really emphasized how much I want to be well. It also served as a reminder to take better care of myself: by loving myself enough to say “no” to the increased demands in my professional life, by taking time for “me” everyday, by getting enough rest and making room for plenty of fun in my days as well.

So even though I hated being sick, I can sit back and appreciate the illness as it made me more aware to be present with myself each day: to take time for self-care and love.  In doing so, I can detach myself from the illness: see it as a catalyst for personal growth and change and appreciate it for creating wonderful wellness and healing that leads to more good things down the road.

Life is full of contrast and if you can recognize  the beauty of the contrast you’re in by finding an appreciation for it, it will open up wonderful, new opportunities and experiences later on. So while I probably won’t slow down as much as a snail, I can pause and be present in a spirit of appreciation and love, which creates excitement for what’s to come. I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Until tomorrow,

Barbara

Appreciating Bambi

I’m in Iowa City/Coralville for the Labor Day weekend and already I’ve had a close encounter with “Bambi.” Of course, it’s not the Disney “Bambi” movie, but with a deer that was grazing in my daughter’s yard in town. Deer around here are fairly plentiful. As I pulled into the driveway, Bambi was actually a lot closer and we had a “stare down” for about a minute or so, before I could get my phone camera out to take a photo. I even was able to drive the car up a bit, roll down my window, and stick my phone out the window without Bambi moving an inch! Then, right before I took the photo, Bambi got a bit shy and moved a bit further away (which is the image I’m posting).

I love how we can share spaces with animals in the “wild” and get along! I’m appreciating their beauty, even though I know there are many who find them a nuisance. I just find deer to be very beautiful creatures and this one is obviously very accustomed to being around people. So today I am appreciating the beauty of deer!

Appreciating Garbage Workers

The other day on my way to work, I got behind a garbage truck on a hill. It reminded me how much I personally wouldn’t like that job: heavy lifting, smelly cans and bags of garbage, and little recognition for a job well done. In thinking about how hard that job seemed to me, I realized how much I appreciate the people who do this for a living. I watched in awe as they jumped off and on that truck, hurling garbage bin after bin onto the truck, all quickly and efficiently as they took away our “stuff” that we don’t want, leaving us with empty bins that we continue to fill again and again.  And I smiled when the driver of the truck was able to move the heavy rig over, waving me on, so I could pass them to get onto my day job. I was reminded of the many times I’ve had that happen here, and how much I appreciate the kindness in that.

I’m so happy that there are people who do this work! Imagine our lives without them! What a mess we would have! So today, I’m appreciating garbage workers! I really appreciate their reliability several times a week in showing up for their jobs, in how they efficiently handle a job that I personally would never want to do, and how they help to haul away junk we no longer want and recycle materials that can be made into other stuff (that we probably eventually will no longer want!), so we put it in the garbage bin to be taken away again! Thank you, garbage workers!  Life is so much easier with you in it!

Appreciating Lucy, Languages, Cultures and Laughter

Today would have been Lucille Ball’s 100th birthday. I think Lucy was one of the funniest people ever and I love the “I Love Lucy” shows. Today Google is showing a very cute show on the main page for those that haven’t seen it yet! You really should try searching something and click on the old tv set and its channels to take a look! Isn’t that such a creative thing?

For my appreciation of Lucy and the tons of laughter and joy she brought to my life, I’m posting the piece about counterfeit money in Paris. It’s hilarious and reminds me of how much I appreciate my work in international education, the learning of foreign languages and cultures and how much I will always love Lucy and laughter!  EnJOY!

My Personal Energy Mandala

I just had my personal energy mandala done by Keith at Quantum Fractal Mandala Energy , as a gift from Jeannette Maw at Good Vibe University for winning a treasure hunt there.  Well, let me say that my energy mandala is quite a treasure in itself! It’s beautiful! What a wonderful work of art and it’s exciting to feel and see the energy! I’m so appreciative! Thank you!

Appreciating Amidst The Devastation in Japan

While it seems the entire world is focused on the recent earthquakes and tsunami in Japan and its destruction, this is the perfect time to ask ourselves what might there be to appreciate about this situation. My dear friend, Jeannette Maw, over at Good Vibe Blog, asked her readers to list the positive from this situation so we can all help Japan.  I made a somewhat long post there on her blog, but then I thought, “Why not come here on this blog all about appreciation and make it here, too?” After all, the more we can shift our focus to find appreciation and love, the better off Japan and the entire world will be. Feel free to add your own.

So here is what I said:

I am so glad for this post, Jeannette, and the opportunity to look at it from a place of appreciation through all of this contrast.

I have much love for Japan and its people. My experience there as a Fulbrighter almost 2 years ago was one of the memorable experiences of my life, for which I truly appreciate. The kindness of the people, their culture and the beauty of the nation cannot be overstated and the experience all left a lasting imprint of love into my heart.

I began sending them an energy of love right away. I’ve wrapped them in a blanket of love, safety and healing for those that are hurting.

I have found much to appreciate in this situation of such deep contrast. Through my day job, I have many connections to other countries, universities and people around the world, including Japan. I also have a colleague from Japan who works with me, so I was very happy to learn that her family is ok. She feels relieved, which makes her happy and I love seeing and feeling happy for her happiness, too.

I appreciated and felt a relief in hearing from one of our Japanese partners that they are all safe and staying in their offices in Tokyo. He even made a joke in his email, which was so refreshing and I thought how much I appreciate him for his humor, and for his ability to express it in this time.

And here’s to all those people who have jobs in Tokyo, which gives them a place to stay right now!

I am so happy to here that our exchange student over there is ok and has written us back, too. I am happy that most of our students here from Japan have reported that their family and friends are ok, too and I’m intending that they will all communicate with everyone soon.

I’m reminded that those who have “died” have just transitioned. That is comforting.

I love how I can go on Facebook and hear from all of our Japanese alumni living there and know that they are safe and still here. Facebook and the Google technology that allows people to search for missing loved ones is a relief for not only me, but for many searching for their family and friends. Isn’t technology wonderful, and especially in times like these?

Speaking of technology, the biggest appreciation I’ve been feeling lately is for the Japanese engineering and technology in their construction of buildings in Tokyo. Without that high tech ability, many buildings would have fallen and many more people would not now have a place to “live,” and the devastation would have been much worse.

I am appreciative that the Japanese are so organized in their training and orientation to their citizens that people do know what to do in times of earthquakes and disasters like these. I appreciate their advanced warning system they have on their TVs. They are an example to the rest of the world of how we can build our buildings for the general well-being of everyone.

I know that the Japanese custom of neighborhood groups that look out for each other, plus the general culture of group culture will be a very uniting, comforting and re-building force in the months ahead.

I see the images and remember my fond times there: a time I truly appreciate and will always love.

((((((((((((((((((((((((BIG HUG OF LOVE TO JAPAN)))))))))))))))))))))

Warmly,
Barbara


I’m Tickled It’s Tuesday!

Well happy 2011 everyone! Now that February is almost over, here I am finally getting back to this blog. And it’s Tuesday and I’m tickled! Why, you ask? Honestly, I have no particular reason, other than it makes me smile and laugh out loud to say it! 🙂

Since today I was tickled it was Tuesday, that means that tomorrow is “Woo Hoo Wednesday!” What I’m really doing is telling a “new story” about the days of the week by the silly choices of words that make me feel good. It’s so much better than thinking of Tuesday as the day after Monday (or) Wednesday as “hump” day. It really makes the week go by much smoother with a lot more joy!

So I appreciate those mid-week days where I can come up with fun, silly names that make me laugh, while being reminded that I’m grateful to be here for another “Tickled Tuesday!”

So I challenge you to find new words and ways of thinking about “routine” days, and especially if you’re not smiling or laughing a lot these days. Go ahead–be silly! Have fun! Embrace the playfulness of it all. You’ll notice a difference in how you feel, I guarantee it. And don’t be surprised when you attract more things, events and people to tickle your Tuesdays, too!

It’s Snowing Over My Tulips!

I just added this cute little “extra” to this blog, which means that it will be snowing here until January 4, 2011! How cool is that? I love it. While normally one doesn’t see tulips in full bloom with snow falling on them, I’m liking the temporary look. And while I’m liking it, it reminded me of how much I really do love snow.

So today I’m appreciating snow! While we don’t have any yet here in New York City, I can go to this blog of mine and get some anytime, day or night!

Appreciation

Today is my final day of blogging everyday for the month of November and I’ve done it on two blogs! I did it as part of the National Blogging Month (NaBloPoMo). When I first started out with this personal challenge for myself, it came after months of inactivity blogging.  While my main blog, Journey of A Spirited Strider, has been quite active since I started it in 2007, I hadn’t written on it or anywhere since mid-July of this year. My mother died this summer and I just didn’t have the motivation to write.  But after an inspiration from Nancy Barry-Jansson, and after seeing the NaBloPoMo challenge (which I had attempted to do some years ago), it gave me the incentive to get back here to write.

Since I am a huge fan of appreciation everyday anyway, I figured it wouldn’t be that difficult to find topics. And  it wasn’t. When we appreciate, we attract more in which to appreciate!  In other words, a daily practice of appreciation creates opportunities to look at our everyday world in a new light.  We automatically see the positive, rather than the negative in a situation, we set the tone for “having a great day” everyday and we are generally happier. It’s a great habit to get into.

So while I won’t be posting everyday from now on, I suspect I’ll be coming back here a bit more often as I’m reminded of how powerful it is to write down one’s appreciations.