This morning, before the heat, an amble in the garden …
Hydrangea; unfolding in soft shades of pink, white and green.
A small reminder that joy doesn’t arrive loudly.
It’s there, in the ordinary, what is already here.
Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.
— Mary Oliver
Have become caught up in recent weeks following the Buddhist Venerable Monks on their walkforpeace.usa journey and find myself deeply moved by it. Watching their calm, deliberate steps and listening to what they have to say, feels like an invitation back into what’s important.
The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace.
Thich Nhat Hanh
This is a link to a particular post on Instagram that stood out to me for its beauty.
Image credit: Andrew Kim on Pixabay
The mind is broken by a lack of love.
Alain de Botton, The School of Life London
You always have to realize that you’re constantly in the state of becoming, you know?
Bob Dylan
Image credit: Ralphs Fotos on Pixabay
How am I today?
Asking myself; what’s going on in my body? Is there tension or pain or something else?
What’s going on in my mind? Are my thoughts facts, or old repetitious stories?
And my mood? Is there sadness, anxiety, irritation or anger present?
Can I respond to this awareness with compassion and kindness?
Inspired by the Melbourne Meditation Centre’s Three-Point Check (Body, Mind & Mood)
When did we become so small and so apologetic? Why do we apologize for our humanity? Love what you love, and make no apologies. This is your identity. The most horrendous suspensions of freedom are self-imposed. We imprison ourselves daily, hourly.
We have one life, one shot at all the glorious things of life, and we walk about constricted, apologetic, afraid. We have so little time; we have so little space upon which to spread our love and our talents and our kindness. Run toward life fulsomely and freely.
It runs from us so quickly, like a frightened dog or youth or daylight. Chase it and care for it.
Tennessee Williams
Image credit: Frank Zienert on Pexels
Find your beauty, my heart, from the world’s movement, like the boat that has the grace of the wind and the water.
— Rabindranath Tagore, from Stray Birds
Image credit: Korhan Erdol on Pexels
If today feels heavy, carry it lightly. If it feels empty, fill it with small comforts. A warm drink. An uplifting song. Soft clothes. A deep breath. You don’t have to fix today. You just have to move through it.
Curating Quietude 