Reflections

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  1. Robin Ann
    Robin Ann
    5 days ago

    I did this today actually, went to a beach I haven’t been to and walked for 2 miles. It was very chilly but I dressed warm and it was nice and sunny.
    For me it depends on the season but generally I enjoy a nice scenic hike, bike rides on a bike path, sailing. summer out door concerts and Celtic events, travel, spending time with friends and family. I enjoy making unique crafts that are offered by local library. Practicing yoga and group exercises. Coming to this site.

  2. sparrow51014
    sparrow
    5 days ago

    Let’s see . . .

    coming here,
    moving my body,
    reading things that inspire me,
    gardening,
    constructive cleaning,
    making order out of chaos
    (the cats like this one too),
    writing,
    drawing and painting,
    doing projects for the house,
    cooking when I don’t have to hurry,
    ironing,
    taking time to play with the felions,
    doing handwork,
    listening to music,
    meditating,
    day dreaming,

    and of course,
    sleeping,
    especially with all of us together.

  3. S
    Suzanne S
    5 days ago

    Connection with others
    Naps
    Skin care
    Reading
    Meditation
    Exercise
    Nature
    Travel
    Dogs
    Laughing
    Gratitude practice
    Feeling the sun on my skin
    Yoga

    1. Mary
      Mary Mantei
      5 days ago

      Laughing is instant restoration, Suzanne. Thanks for the reminder.

  4. J
    Julia
    5 days ago

    Napping is number one on my list. Enjoying the beauty around me. Being quiet and still. Meditating.

  5. Mary
    Mary
    5 days ago

    Restorative practices:
    Extra sleep
    Being outdoors
    Skin care
    Watching the sky
    Drinking a hot beverage
    Playing with my cats
    Petting and listening to my cats purr
    Asking for and getting a hug
    Listening to all kinds of music
    Staying in night clothes, slippers and a robe,
    Working on a portrait
    Playing with crayons
    Showering
    Being on this site
    Vacuuming and sweeping the floor
    So many things ,including things that I put off doing.
    Just sitting quietly, without the pressure of needing to do something
    Walking fast and feeling the breeze
    Connecting with friends
    Focusing on gratefulness
    Definately focusing on gratefulness
    Did I say extra sleep?😸😇

    1. Barb C
      Barb C
      5 days ago

      Sleep is a food group!

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        5 days ago

        🙂

  6. c
    Carol Ann
    5 days ago

    appreciating the realization that I am feeling gratefully, easily, connected to someone in that moment of being with them.
    I cannot always get to that connection, but oh, I can always BE GRATEFUL for it when it is being experienced.🙏

    1. Mary
      Mary
      5 days ago

      Exactly!

  7. Barb C
    Barb C
    5 days ago

    Long hot bath with a good book and a cup of coffee.
    Going for a walk, preferably in the woods near our home.
    Cooking and baking, if it’s on a weekend and I can take as much time as I like to do something elaborate or make several things.
    Going for a bike ride.
    Taking my Kindle and going to a coffee shop to read, enjoy a flavored latte and a baked goodie, and feel the hum of people around me.
    Poking around antique and thrift stores with no particular goal in mind, just looking at everything (and having the occasional zing of seeing one of my childhood toys, which reminds me that I too am now considered “vintage”).
    Going to my best friend’s home to sit, talk, maybe knit, enjoy a beverage and a snack.

    1. c
      Carol Ann
      5 days ago

      “exactly”, Barb C. 😊

  8. D
    Drea
    5 days ago

    I echo what others have written: exercise, meditation, writing, talking to friends, daily reflective practices. Drawing is also restorative for me, as is baking.

  9. A
    Antonia Gourdie
    5 days ago

    I start my day with an affirmation, reflection and list a few things I’m grateful for. Walking with my dogs, connects me with nature allowing my mind, my body, and my soul to breathe and helps me calm the chatter in my head. Yoga continues my focus on healing and staying present. I also love standing in the sunshine, watching the birds at my bird feeder. Feeling the warm weight of my dog as she lays on me while I sit on the sofa; so healing and restorative.

    1. Barb C
      Barb C
      5 days ago

      I have a soft, warm kitty on my lap as I type this. He can be kind of a brat, but stroking his so-soft fur is definitely calming, and when I scritch under his little chin and he leans into it with his eyes closed, clearly in bliss, it makes me smile.

      1. Mary
        Mary
        5 days ago

        So sweet!
        Being a brat is part of the cuteness!
        😾😸😸

        I have a big orange brat.
        I call him the baby 🐈

  10. Carol Ann Conner
    Carol
    5 days ago

    I go-to the breath and pray to be an instrument of grace. I share a Morning Med from 2022.

    Morning Meds, Weekend Oct 1-2 2022 Breath of Life

    Good Morning, Enjoyed reading this, especially the imagery. Don’t know if Mr. Hedren wrote it. It might be the words of John Shelby Spong that he just shared. I did do a bit of editing…Added a few “What ifs” to clarify what seemed to be questions to me and I divided it into stanzas. It reminds me that my finite mind tends to personify God. We all tend to want a hero, a savior, when we are all called to be an instrument of Grace. We must never forget the power of our free will.

    WHAT IF?

    What if God is not without, but within? Is neither him nor her, not father or mother. Is not there, but here.

    What if God is the breath which animates us? And our purpose in this – What to call it, “experience?”

    What if it is to overcome fear in favor of love? To simply learn how to get along?

    If so, it’s certainly turned out to be a tough curriculum. Some days it’s a step forward. Others, two steps back. Or three. There is no “Are we there yet?”

    And when the sun sets on our part in this “experience,” What if the point is simply to leave the world in a little better shape than we found it?
    Plant a little more love than we harvest? Give a little more than we take. Spread a little more of God out and about the neighborhood.
    What if God is love.
    Ron Hedren at Fans of John Shelby Spong/posted 9/28/2022 on FACEBOOK

  11. Patti
    sunnypatti
    5 days ago

    Meditation. Yoga. Reading. Journaling. Taking a walk outside. Sitting in the sunlight. Doing some chores. Working out.

  12. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    6 days ago

    Getting out in nature and moving my body, always brings me back to a better place. Of course yoga/stretching and meditation have a very positive effect. And there’s nothing like connecting with someone.

    1. Mary
      Mary
      5 days ago

      Yes, connecting is the best.

    2. Carol Ann Conner
      Carol
      5 days ago

      “And there’s nothing like connecting with someone.” Yes the power of relationship.

  13. Yram
    Yram
    6 days ago

    Coming on this site routinely.
    Being with my small groups.
    Reaching out to others.
    Tutoring.
    A hot shower.
    Mindlessly using a buying app. I rack up a bill of all the items that appeal and don’t need. Then I delete them all.

    1. Michele
      Michele
      5 days ago

      i LOVE a nice hot shower too. I honestly do not understand those who partake in cold plunges/ice bathing/jumping in frozen lakes/cold ocean – screw that, lol.

      1. Joseph
        Joseph McCann
        5 days ago

        I completely agree Michele – screw that

        1. c
          Carol Ann
          5 days ago

          😂

  14. Mary
    Mary Mantei
    6 days ago

    Being in our home, quietly. Solo time. As many of you have said, napping. Last summer we put a barrel sauna in our backyard. I knew I would appreciate it, yet I had no idea just how restorative it would be for mind and body. Fresh air, being immersed in natural beauty. Writing, stream of consciousness writing on topics I am not clear on. My writing this and reading yours makes me want to plan a retreat for myself. Thank you.❤️

    1. Barb C
      Barb C
      5 days ago

      I hadn’t heard of barrel saunas before. Just looked them up and now I’m wishing we had a bigger yard.

      1. Michele
        Michele
        4 days ago

        I did the same – I’m more of a hot tub person was thinking along those lines – the stock tank ones

      2. Mary
        Mary Mantei
        5 days ago

        They come in many sizes, Barb. We had to rework garden space to make it happen. No regrets!

    2. Charlie T
      Charlie T
      6 days ago

      Mary, I was just daydreaming about a barrel sauna yesterday! I think I need to make this happen. 😁

      1. Mary
        Mary Mantei
        5 days ago

        You won’t regret it, Charlie T.❤️

      2. c
        Carol Ann
        5 days ago

        👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏

  15. L
    Loc Tran
    6 days ago

    A restorative practice I have is my 11 zen principles. Sean Coughlin is the 6th grade best bro/zen partner I’ve talked about before. “Translin” is the title of my set just like how Phil Jackson names his “The Jackson11” from his “11 Rings, the Soul of Success” book. “Translin” combines my last name with Sean’s.
    1 of my 11 zen principles happens to be “Take pride in presentation.” “Translin” is a visable system. I go with 1 that requires the least amount of explaining.
    Sean and I have different roots with similar branches. Obedience, discipline, and a strong work ethic are our childhood trademarks. “Iron sharpens iron” is the Translin slogan.

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