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I LOVE shoebills. I can’t have pets in my condo, but maybe no one would notice this mama and her baby…
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We bought these two ‘pouches’ yesterday to tie inside my new purple crocheted carrier I showed you yesterday. This idea worked extremely well in my old carrier, making it more like a purse than a tote, and not allowing everything to end up in the bottom of the bag, hiding from me while I stood rummaging around – a thing I hate.
I have them in the new carrier now, allowing me to wash the two older ones I had been using. The older ones are drying on my rack on my balcony now. When I need to wash the purple carrier, I can easily switch to the older – now clean – carrier with the soon-to-be-clean pouches with just a couple of minutes work! 👍
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We went to visit Harvey at the nursing home this morning. The staff had moved him to a room across the hall because they are renovating his room! It’s already nice, but they’ll clean and repaint. I don’t know what else.
He was almost completely unresponsive today. He had his eyes open, but wasn’t saying anything or responding to what we said or asked. He did squeeze our hands, so we just sat with each of us holding a hand the whole time. Just as we were leaving, he asked Brian for a grape drink. Brian went and got the nurses’ permission and left the bottle for him, explaining that the nurse would give it to him later today.
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Brian challenged me last night to start trying to meditate. I’ve tried before and was a dismal failure, not able to clear my mind enough to do anything. He suggested that I sit on my couch with my hands at my sides and my feet flat on the floor. Close my eyes, and just think about being grateful. He suggested I talk to myself, just saying something that made me grateful, then saying something else, for 5 minutes. The purpose is to train your brain to switch off the things that are bothering you and to allow positive thoughts to pervade your brain and body. I tried it last night. I set the timer for 5 minutes and began, feeling a bit silly. I’m full of gratitude, but I don’t usually talk to myself – out loud, at least. I surprised myself that I was still listing things when the alarm went off! I talked to Brian about it this morning at breakfast. He reiterated that the point wasn’t to see how many things I could list but to see if I FELT the positive feelings. I’m going to do this every night and see what the results are. If I can retrain my brain to improve my balance and steadiness on the treadmill, maybe I can do this, too!
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creativeartworksblog 
I love the picture of the birds. They are so cute, and it made me smile to look at them again and again.
Your purple carrier is very pretty, and the pouches you purchased are a great idea. I do not like to have to search for what I am looking for, either.
What a great idea to meditate and calm your body and mind while thinking about all the things for which you are grateful. I am sure one of the things for which you are extremely grateful is your son. We all have so much to be thankful for in our lives. I tell my coworkers that it is Thankful Thursday, and they always say thankful that tomorrow is Friday. Well, that is something, I suppose. (Donna)
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Thanks for wonderful comments, Donna. On the things for which I am grateful, my son tops the list. I hope your co-workers learn to live EACH day to the fullest.
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Ah, meditation! i guess I just assumed you had always meditated from the many things you’ve been drawn to like, like art, puzzle-making, watching the birds, etc. People often get confused about what Meditation is by thinking it has to follow a set “structure.” It’s okay to sit and list out things you’re grateful for, Linda. Brian isn’t wrong in that.
But the point of Meditation is to simply “observe our thoughts” so we can lengthen the space between our thoughts. This helps calm a racing mind. It also gets us out of worry and rumination because it helps us analyze the thoughts and then perhaps, begin to think more rationally. As an artist, I believe you meditate all the while you are drawing, painting, and creating! And that’s a wonderful thing! You’re getting out of your own way, most of the time anyway, I dare say. And there’s the point of it all. And to be aware. To ask ourselves “who is thinking this thought”?
I love the blue pouch. I love the shoebills too. What curious creatures!
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I have tried to meditate before and couldn’t clear my mind. I think you may be right that I AM meditating when I get in the zone doing my art or other things. Brian explained that I don’t need to clear my mind, just feel what I am grateful for – one thing – maybe having a mental picture of it – and just sit there quietly and feel. It makes me calm and I like feeling grateful consciously.
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That’s it, Linda. I learned from several different teachers (one lived in Asia for 10 years), and all said clearing the mind was a myth. They taught different styles of meditation and one even did it with eyes open with a fixed gaze on a photograph!
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Brian says he thinks of something that means a lot to him and a nice warm feeling pervades his body for a time.
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Beautiful! ❤️🙏💙
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🙂
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