RELECTIONS ON AUTUMN
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AN ARTIST REFLECTS
Not having fun with blogger or WordPress ~ tired of Google and GoogleChrome too ~ Ready to quit with WordPress and all of it ~ tried to transfer my current blog to here and all kinds of gyrations needed ~ Not fun!
An Artist Reflects
Memorial Day ~
A quiet day to honor our military and our ancestors
Down on the boulevard traffic is very heavy especially with bridge over the canal going up and down frequently ~ It is the 400th Anniversary for Gloucester this year with heavy advertising happening to promote the events.
I am happy to share this town but it can be frustrating at times with Gloucester being a very small island and with tourists coming in especially on weekends and holidays there are problems ~ parking being the major one and getting around on the island another. Drivers rather frequently, are aggressive and almost running pedestrians over and taking up parking that the natives would use. Historically, the area was not well known except for its fishing trade. Now that fishing is no longer as viable ~ tourism is the main attraction ~ Can we handle it? It certainly is a big question and not getting resolved immediately.
Society and its activities have changed. There is more focus on ‘entertainment and spending ~ excitement ~ Pastoral thoughts and quieter activity seem to be in the minority. Loud radios blaring and music concerts with loud amps pumped up to full blast ~ (Want to pay my house taxes for a year?) I wonder ~ is there no concern for the natives of the island?
No the major focus of the world ~ egos and greed ~ a changed world.
An Artist Reflects
Below is a photo and and a haiku ~ when haiku is combined with a photo it can be called a haiga.
Reflecting or meditating is a daily morning routine for me ~ It helps me to focus and center for the day ~ then, of course, there is the moving meditations that are all about pausing and taking a few deep breaths to again focus the mind, body and spirit ~
There are many ways for reflection and the three main ones beside meditation for me are photography, writing haiku and doing some Asian brush painting ~ Each provide me a moment or moments in time to center and focus.
Christmas Reflecting
Much like this photo ~ with Covid and strains of Covid around life is a bit unclear. Where can I go and and still feel safe? Or do I just stay home again until the ‘scare’ is over. ~ ???? ~. Can’t ‘reflect’ too much as over thinking doesn’t serve much of a purpose. Will do my best.
Wishing you and yours a Merry Xmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
An Artist Reflects on Mind, Body, and Spirit
for the mind, body and spirit.
Creating with your hands can add to your quality of living especially if you are alone or isolated and trying to cope with various issues of life. For example, hand work is good for anxiety, stress, depression, self-esteem, insomnia, relaxation, praying (you can say a mantra with each stitch or brush stroke). Perhaps, hand work may even delay or prevent dementia according to some research.. Also good for being with others such as a knitting group, especially if you have social anxiety. Creating provides a mutual task and relaxation at the same time.
Emotions ~
We live during a difficult time with Covid and the various strains of viruses now emerging. How does one cope with the emotions? What emotions does this time raise up for you?
We all get anxious at one time or another. Now might be that time. Anxiety impacts the mind first with negative thoughts and emotions are exacerbate ~ then the body tenses and the spirit begins to wane. While doing some hand work like knitting, the mind, your thoughts, can be controlled more and slowed down and give you a sense of relaxation. Herb Benson, of the Mind/Body Medical Institute who wrote the book The Relaxation Response, also did research exploring the benefits of knitting. Benson’s research indicated that 90% of the hand workers were able to reduce insomnia problems, and were able to eliminate medication in a program that included knitting.
There are other activities that involve creating, such as crocheting, painting, photography, woodworking, writing and many others. ~ What might you choose to improve you life today ~ this very moment? Time to reflect on what would be good for you?
Back Reflecting Again ~
It has been awhile ~ Doesn’t mean I haven’t been reflecting ~ for sure.
Right now I am reflecting on how to work WordPress ~ It is a learning curve and I have forgotten ~ What and how and more. So I will explore and experiment.
This view from our home allows one to be a bit reflective each day ~ wouldn’t you think? I am most grateful for the location of our home ~ it is , indeed, a gift.The skies are always changing, incredibly awesome and inspiring.
Each day is a gift for all of us but especially as one ages. We all are aging. We start aging from birth. So live each moment like it was the last, perhaps, might be one attitude to take each day.
Photography is my chosen medium and so I don’t use a lot of words ~ The photo says so much more for me. ~ Do hope you enjoy the photography ~ and joy me in ‘Living in the Moment.’
An Artist Reflects
Thus ~ I am trying to accept what is and basically, my mantra is the Serenity Prayer ~ Acceptance, Courage and Wisdom ~ all very important words that when lived can bring one serenity. It is a life long process and never ending.Life is the gift and yin and yang of living each moment.
Wondering how you are doing after a year in ‘long down?’
Namaste, Carol
More Reflections ~
Since my last post ~ long ago it seems ~ I have lost my Yorkie, Zoe of 14 years and adopted a rescue doggie ~ Angel ~ Very different personalities but both very loving dogs. Having Angel come into my life has been a very positive and loving experience. I am grateful that we are sharing these strange times together.
Strange ~ indeed ~ It seems that everything has changed so rapidly here in the land of technology and elsewhere ~ Time can be consumed trying to figure it all out each move that is made in cyberspace or whatever they call it now. The same can be said for the country of the United State of America.
Suffice it to say ~ it is best to try to keep things simple in order to live in this land of chaos. ~ It never ceases to amaze; the influence from the ‘top’ directly or indirectly has on our democracy. It is also a bit scary, at times, how easily people with follow a deranged and unethical person. From a psychological perspective this generally happens when people are vulnerable to ‘belonging’ ~ they have no sense of self and much like an adolescent they just follow the ‘bully’.
I am trusting in the human condition right now and hoping that they will will vote for the healthier individual to lead our country ~ not the present leader who has taken us down a very dark and dirty place.
Where will this country stand in November ?
It is all very exhausting ~ even ‘reflecting’ about it.
an artist reflects
On ‘Lock Down’
Another exciting day at the McKenna resident ~ meditation and Yoga in the Spa Salon ~ writing and posting for blog in the Business Center ~ Lunch on the dock with Ahi Tuna later for dinner and lots of beer and imported wine before taking our jaunt by the Magnolia Shore ~ Now ~ onward and upward for a relaxing night by the harbor ~
Well, haven’t had my lung capacity checked lately but am not smoking more ~ in fact ~ have been trying to smoke less ~ I am down to 5-6 cigarettes a day ~ may kill me but I won’t die because of overindulged anything ~ LOL ~ oh, I did try to get an iced de-caf and a donut at Dunkin after our stroll ~ but Magnolia and Gloucester one were both closed ~ what is wrong with the picture????
My brain is getting tired of the excessive and scintillating conversations I have been having ~ Zoe is quite the conversationalist ~ Eat, drink, out ~ in ~ walk ~ and more treats now still vous plait ~ did I say, now??? ~ She does prefer beer (imported) and does not like wine domestic or otherwise.
Glad my son wrote that he has fond memories of Godzilla at the North Shore Theatre on Saturday afternoons ~ such education ~ what kid has that?
Ok ~ I am in for the night ~ ‘far from the Maddening Crowds.’ ~ No, I have not been drinking or smoking any ‘funny stuff.’ ~ Perhaps, bored out of my gourd?????
an artist reflects 