In my Essential Capacities learning program I mentioned in a previous post, I learned two questions to ask.
1: What is really going on here? This question asks us to pause and then move beyond fast pattern recognition (what our autonomic nervous system and past experience feeds us first) to take a wider view of the territory.
2: What are we going to do about it?
I plan to bring these new questions into working and interacting with others to provide a sense of direction and calm.
My overriding question today
is
will Sophie die today?
My beloved cat of 19+ years
has been slowly fading,
but turned a corner two days ago,
and I know the time for her to leave
is imminent.
I am torn
between wanting her to stay,
and wanting her to be at peace.
Let the fates be merciful
and take her from my arms
.peacefully.
She will go
with all my love and care
enclosing her precious little heart
in their arms. ♥
awww my heart aches and sympathizes with you dear Sparrow. 19 yrs is a very long life for a cat – I know how much you love her and took care of her. Loving kindness to you.
Yes,
dear Michele . . .
it seems like just yesterday
she jumped out of a kennel at the Humane Society,
clung to my shoulder,
and said, ‘GET ME OUT OF HERE!’
I hope I did her justice . . .
and thanks
for your kind and loving thoughts. ♥
I just graduated from a practical nursing program after two years of full time school. I am not interested in it and I find the actual performance of this occupation a never ending “double bind”. Something is always wrong, nothing’s ever good enough and the work is never done. At this moment, my biggest question is where am I going to live next year and what am I going to do for a job. I’m not worried about finding “a job” in the slightest, but I am worried about working with people who are hypercritical and constantly finding fault in everything others do. That has been my experience with being a PSW (unregulated care provider). I believe the work environment could be better as now I am no longer “at the bottom of the totem pole”, and I will have more authority in the workplace. However, I know that one can find bullies at any point in their career and I would like to avoid them or handle them better in the future.
Do you want to continue in the medical field or find something totally different? There are other possibilities in the medical field without patient contact you could consider.
Oh boy! Let’s see…in this moment, as I sit here with my coffee, looking at a small pile of meds, I’m wondering how many more miles I’ve got in this 62yr old body. As I inventory my aches and pains and minor issues, I wonder how long I can I keep doing the things that I love to do.
But I’m learning to come back to this moment. In this moment, I am about to go about my day and do what I can. Which is quite a bit. And, I’m getting a deep tissue massage later today! Hallelujah!
Thinking of you and hoping you find what is meaningful for you.
One of my brothers died ten years ago. We call the day of his death “Donnie Day”. Some of my siblings gather at the family lake cabin where he drowned, and it’s always a time of memories and laughter. (I don’t attend for reasons unrelated to his death.) We generally share an email on the day to celebrate his life with funny stories and pictures.
In a nearby park, we have a telephone of the wind based on a similar one in Japan that was set up after a horrible tsunami. It’s an old-fashioned telephone mounted on a board hanging on a tree. You pick it up and talk to your loved ones to tell them whatever you need to say. In looking up a link to ours (https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article248533230.html) I discovered there’s now a directory starting to track locations of others https://thetelephoneofthewind.com/location-directory/. When my younger sister and sister-in-law, Don’s widow, were visiting a few years ago, we went to the telephone to talk to Don, each of us spending time alone. It bright each of us some comfort and connection.
Thank you for sharing the link for the telephone of the wind – I love the idea of having one in a cemetery, as one in PA had. The nature/woods of course is beautiful but the practicality of one in a cemetery genius.
I hear you, YRAM. But honestly, I think you have been honoring him every day since his passing just by being the kind and compassionate person your posts tell me you are. I also have a dear friend, Barb, who lost her husband a year ago next Tuesday. She has asked to come over to my house and spend the afternoon. I have suggested we invite another dear friend, Joanna, who has been house bound for several weeks since she broke her hip and had surgery. Barb called last night and said she had spoken to Joanna and she wants to come over, too. Then Barb said, Carol would you mind baking a rhubarb pie and we can have pie and coffee. They both love rhubarb pie! Barb’s focus now is on helping Joanna get out of the house and share the afternoon with us. It’s simple but I would call it a loving ritual and I’m sure her husband would, too.
I love the way a simple invitation
has ballooned into
an event
where you are all caring for one another,
born out of the pain of grief,
but which will surely bring some joy and healing,
dear Carol Ann. ♥
I responded to Joseph’s post of yesterday,
dear Carol Ann,
but you must not have seen it.
My property is on high ground,
so I did not suffer,
although many homes and roads nearby
were flooded for a time.
I consider myself very fortunate.
Thank you for caring . . .
it means the world to me.
Others did not fare as well. ♥
2
L
Loc Tran
2 weeks ago
July was super hot in the Twin Cities. How hot will August be?
Lots! Both my girls are traveling – they just landed in Panama, have a layover for couple hrs, then onto Costa Rica. Wishing them safe travels, fun new memories together, and then safe travels back home.
What song am I going to practice next on my ocarina?
It’s not about playing an instrument; it’s a different way to practice patience through music. Happy weekend to everyone!
How can I create a successful group experience tomorrow? And Barb did provide me with a book suggestion as a guiding light–“The Art of Gathering”–which I’ll begin today.
Has dear Sparrow been spared of flooding, that has occurred in the northeast of late, due to excessive rainfall in the northeast portion of the country?
Peace, Love & Light
The answer to your question,
dear Joseph,
is yes.
(I hope you have another one at the ready).
I have good drainage,
so although streets and homes nearby were flooded,
I remained safe.
My property
is bordered by very tall Douglas firs,
Norway maples,
and tall Hemlocks,
so I was worried that with all the rain
some might become uprooted.
A dead one that we’d left standing for woodpeckers
fell onto the front of the neighbor’s lawn,
but we will chop it up
and remove it today.
Thank you for thinking of me . . .
when we have rain here
I always think of you there. ♥
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In my Essential Capacities learning program I mentioned in a previous post, I learned two questions to ask.
1: What is really going on here? This question asks us to pause and then move beyond fast pattern recognition (what our autonomic nervous system and past experience feeds us first) to take a wider view of the territory.
2: What are we going to do about it?
I plan to bring these new questions into working and interacting with others to provide a sense of direction and calm.
My overriding question today
is
will Sophie die today?
My beloved cat of 19+ years
has been slowly fading,
but turned a corner two days ago,
and I know the time for her to leave
is imminent.
I am torn
between wanting her to stay,
and wanting her to be at peace.
Let the fates be merciful
and take her from my arms
.peacefully.
She will go
with all my love and care
enclosing her precious little heart
in their arms. ♥
awww my heart aches and sympathizes with you dear Sparrow. 19 yrs is a very long life for a cat – I know how much you love her and took care of her. Loving kindness to you.
Yes,
dear Michele . . .
it seems like just yesterday
she jumped out of a kennel at the Humane Society,
clung to my shoulder,
and said, ‘GET ME OUT OF HERE!’
I hope I did her justice . . .
and thanks
for your kind and loving thoughts. ♥
May you and Sophie both experience some calm, dear Sparrow.
It’s so hard to say goodbye,
dear Joseph . . .
my little friend
and partner in crime
for so many years.
Thank you . . . ♥
Big hug to you, Sparrow.
Thank you,
dear SunnyPatti . . .
one for you as well.
((( ♥ )))
Oh, Sparrow, so sad for you and Sophie, even though I know you’ve given her so many years of love and care and will have warm memories.
Yes,
I will . . .
thank you,
dear Barb. ♥
Am I leaving the house today?
After a busy week, I may just hang out at home today.
Happy August All….🐰🐰🐰
🕊️🩷
🐇🐇🐇
I just graduated from a practical nursing program after two years of full time school. I am not interested in it and I find the actual performance of this occupation a never ending “double bind”. Something is always wrong, nothing’s ever good enough and the work is never done. At this moment, my biggest question is where am I going to live next year and what am I going to do for a job. I’m not worried about finding “a job” in the slightest, but I am worried about working with people who are hypercritical and constantly finding fault in everything others do. That has been my experience with being a PSW (unregulated care provider). I believe the work environment could be better as now I am no longer “at the bottom of the totem pole”, and I will have more authority in the workplace. However, I know that one can find bullies at any point in their career and I would like to avoid them or handle them better in the future.
Do you want to continue in the medical field or find something totally different? There are other possibilities in the medical field without patient contact you could consider.
I believe that when one lives in the moment, there is only one question: Who am I? That question has taught me to be open,willing, and teachable.
Yes,
“teachable”
is so important,
dear Carol Ann. ♥
Oh boy! Let’s see…in this moment, as I sit here with my coffee, looking at a small pile of meds, I’m wondering how many more miles I’ve got in this 62yr old body. As I inventory my aches and pains and minor issues, I wonder how long I can I keep doing the things that I love to do.
But I’m learning to come back to this moment. In this moment, I am about to go about my day and do what I can. Which is quite a bit. And, I’m getting a deep tissue massage later today! Hallelujah!
You’re still a youngster,
dear Charlie . . . 🙂
What ritual could I establish to honor my late husband’s first year in eternal life?
I think you will find just the right thing,
dear Yram . . .
trust your instincts. ♥
Thinking of you and hoping you find what is meaningful for you.
One of my brothers died ten years ago. We call the day of his death “Donnie Day”. Some of my siblings gather at the family lake cabin where he drowned, and it’s always a time of memories and laughter. (I don’t attend for reasons unrelated to his death.) We generally share an email on the day to celebrate his life with funny stories and pictures.
In a nearby park, we have a telephone of the wind based on a similar one in Japan that was set up after a horrible tsunami. It’s an old-fashioned telephone mounted on a board hanging on a tree. You pick it up and talk to your loved ones to tell them whatever you need to say. In looking up a link to ours (https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article248533230.html) I discovered there’s now a directory starting to track locations of others https://thetelephoneofthewind.com/location-directory/. When my younger sister and sister-in-law, Don’s widow, were visiting a few years ago, we went to the telephone to talk to Don, each of us spending time alone. It bright each of us some comfort and connection.
Thank you for sharing the link for the telephone of the wind – I love the idea of having one in a cemetery, as one in PA had. The nature/woods of course is beautiful but the practicality of one in a cemetery genius.
I hear you, YRAM. But honestly, I think you have been honoring him every day since his passing just by being the kind and compassionate person your posts tell me you are. I also have a dear friend, Barb, who lost her husband a year ago next Tuesday. She has asked to come over to my house and spend the afternoon. I have suggested we invite another dear friend, Joanna, who has been house bound for several weeks since she broke her hip and had surgery. Barb called last night and said she had spoken to Joanna and she wants to come over, too. Then Barb said, Carol would you mind baking a rhubarb pie and we can have pie and coffee. They both love rhubarb pie! Barb’s focus now is on helping Joanna get out of the house and share the afternoon with us. It’s simple but I would call it a loving ritual and I’m sure her husband would, too.
I love the way a simple invitation
has ballooned into
an event
where you are all caring for one another,
born out of the pain of grief,
but which will surely bring some joy and healing,
dear Carol Ann. ♥
Sparrow, Joseph is concerned about you and I am also hoping that the flood waters did not come near you. Please let us know.
I responded to Joseph’s post of yesterday,
dear Carol Ann,
but you must not have seen it.
My property is on high ground,
so I did not suffer,
although many homes and roads nearby
were flooded for a time.
I consider myself very fortunate.
Thank you for caring . . .
it means the world to me.
Others did not fare as well. ♥
July was super hot in the Twin Cities. How hot will August be?
LOC, My guess is very hot!
Lots! Both my girls are traveling – they just landed in Panama, have a layover for couple hrs, then onto Costa Rica. Wishing them safe travels, fun new memories together, and then safe travels back home.
https://nationaltoday.com/lughnasadh/
🐇🐇🐇
🐇🐇🐇
🐇
🐰🐰🐰 Michele.
Prayers for safe travels for your girls.
🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you 🙂
What song am I going to practice next on my ocarina?
It’s not about playing an instrument; it’s a different way to practice patience through music. Happy weekend to everyone!
My Ngoc, practicing a musical instrument takes a lot of patience.
How can I create a successful group experience tomorrow? And Barb did provide me with a book suggestion as a guiding light–“The Art of Gathering”–which I’ll begin today.
I hope it goes well!
Thank Barb! The book is great so far, truly useful.
What am I to do next?
So many but they all fall under, “ What happens next?” Trying to stay present.
Has dear Sparrow been spared of flooding, that has occurred in the northeast of late, due to excessive rainfall in the northeast portion of the country?
Peace, Love & Light
The answer to your question,
dear Joseph,
is yes.
(I hope you have another one at the ready).
I have good drainage,
so although streets and homes nearby were flooded,
I remained safe.
My property
is bordered by very tall Douglas firs,
Norway maples,
and tall Hemlocks,
so I was worried that with all the rain
some might become uprooted.
A dead one that we’d left standing for woodpeckers
fell onto the front of the neighbor’s lawn,
but we will chop it up
and remove it today.
Thank you for thinking of me . . .
when we have rain here
I always think of you there. ♥
I didn’t know about that flooding, thinking about you too Sparrow.
Thank you,
dear Drea . . .
there were problems in the area
but I am quite safe . . . ♥
What will this new month bring, August 2026…….
EJP, I’m thinking the same hoping that the weather will be cooler in the Twin Cities.