Whimsical Moments

I have a son who is getting married in a little over 2 weeks from now….the first of three. There are so many thoughts and emotions that one goes through as this day approaches. With both sets of parents being divorced, there have been awkward and even painful moments. Yet the other night, I was truly blessed with an amazing phone call from my son….one that was not expected at all.

Through our conversation he shared with me that I was not in my ‘true nature’ as he put it. He asked how I wanted to be seen and known…..and he was right. And so in that moment, I realized and had to accept that there are circumstances and people…..that they may not or will likely never change.

I can only change me and how I choose to ‘be’ and express in my life. He reminded me of all the qualities he respected and admired in me. Now this may seem like something trivial, but for me, this was a huge moment….being validated by my adult son in a way I haven’t been to this degree before.

My son reminded me that day that….

* I was the one that brought him into this world…
* I was there when he took his first steps…
* I am the one who will have the traditional “Mother-Son Dance” …and more…

“No one can take that away from you Mama,” by then I was in tears.

And so my son, who I am so proud of, shared his thoughts with me….. as a grown man, touched with wisdom….  He shared what he had to, so that things flow more smoothly….with kindness, sincerity and compassion. He validated and honoured not only his thoughts and feelings, but also mine and those of others. Welldone!!!

Could a mother truly ask for more…..my heart is full….and at peace…

Each day we have the opportunity to be open to each and every new moment as it presents itself to us. This day has been blessed with many special moments…and I think it’s because I was ‘in each moment’, that I truly reveled in and cherished many of them.

Some of these cherished moments were:

• being able to sleep in…
• enjoying Ebony sitting on my lap, listening to her purr…
• smelling the freshly turned earth in the garden after it was rotor-tilled
• watching the birds hop around the garden finding new treats in the overturned earth
• laughter…and more laughter…
• sitting outside enjoying the breeze, the sunshine and the tranquility…
• observing a little sparrow pick apart the tufts of a dandelion head and eat them…
• smelling and hearing a fresh pot of coffee brewing…
• the feel of water droplets on my skin during a warm shower…
  
• the gift of an amazing image to look at…which I share below….

Healing Lotus

I came across a quote yesterday and adjusted it…
to suit the place I’m in right now:
“For magic to happen in your life,
you must believe in magic and new possibilities.”

How very true!!! And yet…we so quickly forget about the magic and unlimited possibilities that await us in each and ever moment. In order to be open to these possibilities, blessings and miracles, it is important to be ‘in the flow’ of divine unfoldment in our lives….to watch for moments of synchronicity.

And now…back to writing report cards….a task that must be done.

With warm thoughts,
Yvonne

Sitting at the dining room table yesterday for hours working on year book pages and report cards, it was time to take a break. I said to mum, “Get your jacket on, we’re going for a walk around the block. It’s time to get some fresh air!!” So, off we went…smelling the dampness of the earth after the rain earlier in the day. The air was cooler than it had been with a brisk wind… refreshing… uplifting… energizing. We didn’t rush…just meandered from one house to the next looking at the gardens and landscaping. One house had no grass, just a beautifully arranges front yard with flowers, trees and bushes of many varieties. I couldn’t help but notice how different it ’felt’ standing there, than looking at just a lawn. We took in beautiful displays and splashes of colour…then walked past lilac bushes in full bloom…there delicate and fragrant scent unmistakeably present in the air. I took each step, slowly and deliberately…not feeling any rush to get back.

We came across a newer home with a stone front face…a distinct character of its own. Around the bend and down the next street with its own lawns, yards and landscaping. Breathing in…breathing out…again and again, deeply and deliberately. Again, the mixtures of plants, shrubs, and flowers with their own unique qualities and colours were observed and appreciated. And as we neared back home, I saw that mum was now holding onto her back….although the walk was short in duration, it was enough. A tree looking somewhat like a bush caught my eye….similar to a red maple, but not…the leaves quite different…I walked up closer to get a better look. Ahh…the amazing gifts to behold in nature.

And so we returned to the house and ventures first into the backyard. The evergreen tree planted almost 30 years ago, on the top of the hill, now towers nearly 5o feet tall. The rock garden one of my favourite places. We paused to look at the periwinkle needed to weave wreaths for my son’s wedding just weeks away. Mum says there is plenty, I say not. Let’s hope it lets out longer shoots I said,  so I can make the wreaths. We walked around and saw what plants I may be able to take to school for the Medicine Wheel Garden I am in charge of. My mind panics a little as I realize there is so little time left and much to do.

As we went back in I was thankful for the break…the short walk … that recharged my inner batteries. being out in nature, always does…

A definition – a delicate, fragile, expression
of love and consideration;

sensitive to emotions and feelings; gentle; to stretch.

Know that you need to give yourself a break.

Be sensitive to your needs.

Give yourself the affirmations you need.

Allow the nurturing needed at this time

so you will have the strength to go forward,

and do not dissipate your energy

so that there is nothing left to give.

Learn to love yourself, and be your own best friend.

It is a time to ‘go easy’ and

be gentle with yourself and others.

To reach out and stretch your kindness…

to include all of humanity.

To look at your own issues but not

in the sense of being critical or judgmental,

but gently to take charge of your own destiny.

There is great strength in gentleness.

Maybe its time to pay it forward,

but do it without a feeling of obligation

and watch the rippling effect in your life.

I saw  something similar on another blog site and have been inspired to write my own version. Sometimes using affirming statements seems like a big leap from where we are to where we are moving to through choice and intention. Stating “just for today” seems much more manageable and realistic…at least for me. It’s also in the baby steps we take, not just leaps and bounds.

Just for today…I deeply honour and bless my mother for her love, strength and support.
Just for today… I feel grateful to be the mother of three amazing children.
Just for today… I marvel at the beauty and joy of life’s journey.

Just for today… I open to the divinity within me
Just for today… I choose to appreciate the gift in every moment
Just for today… I appreciate the breeze that blows through the trees.

Just for today…I honour all the women and mothers that have been an inspiration.
Just for today… I will take momentary pauses to breathe deeply.
Just for today… I embrace my own goodness.

“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”

• What can you be grateful for today that you may not have appreciated yesterday?
• What unexpected relationship, event or circumstance has been transformed from being challenging into something better for you this week?
• What relationship, event or circumstance in your life, has caused you to learn something that made your day~life more  happy, joyful or peaceful?

Some days unfortunately don’t go as we might have hoped or expected. Today, was one of those days…at least the first half. I arrived at school and proceeded as I do every day to park the car, walk into the office, check my mailbox and then walk out to my portable. The bell rang and the students filed in….the start of another week. I have a student teacher so she was teaching all day long. Things just didn’t flow smoothly. Students came in again, without their work done. Morning recess was taken up by a quick meeting about having been an associate teacher. The morning continued with a somewhat chaotic and unsettling energy. Lunch…what lunch…??? I purchased a samosa on the way to the library for yet another meeting (of a committee I am overseeing)  and ate it before I got there. The meeting went right through to the end of lunch and part way into my planning time. Phew… I returned back to the portable only to have to walk all the way back into the school and back. The students were more chatty and unfocused than some days. Before  I knew it, the day was done and in a flurry I signed agendas and rushed the students out the door.

I know needed to give my student feedback before she left for the day. I felt tense as she waited politely. I had to deal with a student who had failed to do most of the worked that was due. And then, my phone rang with a phone call I needed to answer since it had to do with the committee I am overseeing. I tried to keep it as short and brief as I could, all along feeling bad that I was keeping my student teacher waiting. The feedback seemed strained initially as we discussed scheduling for the rest of the week and then reviewed the day. She assured me that all was well. We ended with some smiles and laughter walking into the school together. I proceeded to discuss with the VP  the challenge of students coming to school without their work done. We never did solve that one…she said she’d look into it. And so I returned to the portable reflecting on a seemingly odd day.

The energy shifted when I had a phone conversation with my daughter in London, UK. She was delighted at good news she had received today and how things were falling beautifully into place for her. The world is her oyster right now. I took care of some banking and then had a delightful phone conversation…which shifted me from the happenings of my days to things I love…spiritual topics.  Knowing I had another meeting at 7:00 in the library ( I was STILL at school), I munched on a salad and chicken while I continued the conversation. The meeting of the parent Council was with our trustee present. The issues were important to the parents present. I was pleased that I got about 2 minutes at the end to talk about the project I am overseeing and the need for community involvement. Time to go home…finally…yeah!!!!

No one home when I arrived….strange, since my aunt is always here….where could she be…??? I wondered. The only place she could possibly be is visiting her sister in the home. Mail, a package sitting on the counter for me. The return address familiar. I came downstairs and opened the package to see a small book with absolutely beautiful images and quotations found within. ‘calm’….was the title….how appropriate. I reveled in the images…shifting my energy and reading the message on the enclosed card. A beautiful gesture by a dear, dear friend…I smiled then sighed, as I appreciated the thoughtfulness.

I then went to one of my new web sites to add an article…I seemed to have forgotten how to do some things…already…a wee bit frustrating. I think I finally got it…yes I did. And then, as if it wasn’t late enough…I decided to write this post. Now it is nearing midnight…it was just one of those days….

The other day I was blessed to be at a friend’s farm. After spending hours indoors working on this and another website, I ventured outside to commune with nature. A wind had picked up so I walked to a more secluded place next to the garden. I remembered how alive it was last summer, full of a variety of tomatoes, swiss chard, carrots, onions, zucchini, oregano, and some berries. And now it lay dried and brown and barren. I lay down on the grass and looked up at the blue sky, nothing but blue sky….with wisps of clouds here and there. I listened to the sounds around me.… a choir of different birds singing their songs. I breathed deeply and was grateful for the moment. Before I knew it…. I had fallen into a sweet slumber. What a gift to live in the country. And so, I am very grateful to have such a special friend whom I can go visit and get my dose of connecting with nature…. away from the hustle and bustle of the city…with all it’s noise, pollution and congestion. And as I write this, I look forward to my next visit.

Welcome to my very special space…

It’s a place to record those times and moments that we experience ‘whimsical moments’… moments that touch us in a special way…or moments when we go…”aha..”.

This space will grow and evolve so come back when you like and see what is happening.

With blessings,

Yvonne