http://ellemay.wordpress.com Turning Lemons into Lemonade Fri, 23 May 2008 20:26:17 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en So this morning I was getting ready for work and my thoughts turned to this decision I made a few years ago, and it turned out (in hindsight) to be a huge career mistake which has delayed my progress, postponed my goals and dreams, and generally has taken me down ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/put-it-in-the-things-i-have-learned-box-and-stop-beating-yourself-up/ "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you should begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/live-in-the-now-a-quote-a-story-and-a-ziggy-moment/ Mercy and truth have met together. Righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another. Man, in his weakness and shortsightedness believes he must make choices in this life. He trembles at the risks he takes. We do know fear. But no. Our choice is of no importance. There comes a time when our eyes ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/babettes-feast-mercy-and-truth-meet-together/ I grew up in a small town in Alaska....when we first moved to Wasilla, the only store was Teelands and they did have Velveeta, as well as jerky (two kinds) and lots of canned food, but not much else.  I didn't have access to gourmet cheese and food until much ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/velveeta-was-only-the-beginning/ My Easter meditation ~ Père Henri: Do I want to speak of the miracle of our Lord's divine transformation? Not really, no. I don't want to talk about his divinity. I'd rather talk about his humanity. I mean, you know, how he lived his ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/easter-messages/ Acceptance There's an Italian man who says "OK - Yes" to almost every situation in Under the Tuscan Sun. When the wall he is working on starts to rumble and crumble and begins to fall down, he runs outside with everyone and says, "OK - Yes." Now, those may ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2008/03/14/ok-yes/ What is the nature of the Heart? Rob Brezsny asks, "Are we being sentimentally unscientific when we refer to the heart as the seat of the soul? Or does that idea contain a truth that surpasses reductive ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/valentine-thoughts-on-the-heart/ What does forgiveness really mean? I've been thinking about this for several years and struggling with the implications of what forgiveness includes and what it doesn't include. After much reading and discussion, here's what I've come up with: What forgiveness means: Forgiveness means you don't act in retribution or vengeance to ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2007/12/30/forgiveness/   Christmas is a time of remembrance and gratitude for the most important things.... Abiding friendship ~ the kindness, fun, fidelity and understanding we share Beauty ~ and the capacity to see it in all that is around and in us Caring ~ for those we love and for those in need Compassion ~ and ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2007/12/01/christmas-is-a-time-of-remembrance-and-gratitude-for-the-most-important-things/ "We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." ~ Thornton Wilder I've just watched the 1989 production of Our Town and it reminded me of the many precious essentials in life. Coming up on Thanksgiving, it's a good time ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2007/11/07/giving-thanks/ A poem for healing, grace, generosity and strength of spirit for a friend in need.... Beannacht ("Blessing") by John O’Donohue On the day when the weight deadens on your shoulders and you stumble, may the clay dance to balance you. And when your eyes freeze behind the grey window and the ghost of loss gets in to you, may a flock of colours, indigo, ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2007/09/10/beannacht-blessing-by-john-o%e2%80%99donohue/ The Art of Mindful Living by Thich Nhat Hanh Breathing in, I see myself as a flower Breathing out, I feel fresh Breathing in, I feel myself as a mountain Breathing out, I feel solid Breathing in, I see myself as still water Breathing out, I feel myself reflecting clearly Breathing in, I feel space inside me ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2007/09/10/meditation-practice-from-the-art-of-mindful-living-by-thich-nhat-hanh/ My friend Gina is canning peaches and tomatoes, figs and all kinds of summer-lovely things, and as she was telling me about going to buy the last of the summer fruit, I was reminded of this poem that I loved when I was a kid. "Stop the grocery list ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2007/09/07/reflections-on-a-gift-of-watermelon-pickle-received-from-a-friend-called-felicity/ The River by Thich Nhat Hanh from Peace Is Every Step Once upon a time there was a beautiful river finding her way among the hills, forests, and meadows. She began by being a joyful stream of water, a spring always dancing and singing as she ran down from ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2007/08/19/the-river-by-thich-nhat-hanh-from-peace-is-every-step/ I'm thankful that "The United States of America is not the same thing as the administration of George W. Bush. The good news for the forces of good is that only 24 percent of the people approve of the job he's doing..... George Bush has to leave in January 2009 ... http://ellemay.wordpress.com/2007/07/03/thoughts-on-the-4th-of-july/