Reflections

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  1. Ose
    Ose
    2 weeks ago

    Also decluttering the place where i live.

  2. Robin Ann
    Robin Ann
    2 weeks ago

    I am back!! We finally have Wifi. I was just thinking tonight as I was picking up some more things from the storage unit, I want to simplify my life by getting rid of more clutter. My commute to work is more simplified also – 12 mins!! Thank you for all of the warm wishes for my new home too!

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      2 weeks ago

      A hop, skip and a jump of a commute………good for you Robin Ann.

  3. sparrow51014
    sparrow
    2 weeks ago

    I live quite simply,
    but have to pay attention to my head,
    as it can get really cluttered up
    with fears and pressures to be doing more . . .
    this spider’s web of perceived obligations
    is often self-defeating
    and I end up
    not getting anything done at all.
    There’s always an excuse not to do what needs to be done . . .
    sabotage at its best.

    Getting my house in order
    would not only allow me to enjoy my simple life more,
    but would open up a lot of space
    for me to be more present . . .
    for these past few weeks,
    nearly all other activity in my home
    has been swept aside
    or put on hold
    to get our seeds organized,
    set up,
    and started.
    There was a sense of urgency to it
    because as the weather gets warmer
    I want them to be ready to go into the garden . . .
    the pressure was on.
    Laundry and dishes have been washed during spare moments,
    and the rest has been managed haphazardly,
    or not at all.
    But all the while,
    my mind was heavily occupied,
    and scattered with feelings of shame for the rest of the house,
    thoughts of getting things clean,
    dusted,
    and put to rights.

    Now that the seeds are planted,
    space has opened up,
    allowing me to get busy
    and lose the shame.
    Already
    I feel an expansiveness in my head and chest,
    and a wide open space
    where I can let the thoughts go,
    and do what must be done . . .
    with clear intent
    and single minded presence
    to the task ahead . . .
    I might even enjoy it. ♥

    1. Barb C
      Barb C
      2 weeks ago

      When it’s a time for sowing, it’s a time for sowing. Other things have to wait and that’s as it should be.

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        2 weeks ago

        You are so right,
        dear Barb . . .
        thank you for validating what I already knew
        but had allowed myself to forget. ♥

    2. D
      Drea
      2 weeks ago

      Congratulations on getting all those seeds planted, it will be wonderful to see them grow.

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        2 weeks ago

        It’s always a wonder,
        dear Drea,
        to watch them grow . . .
        very satisfying. ♥

    3. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      2 weeks ago

      We opened our ditch, the El Viejo, on the 2nd. I have been working to begin irrigating since. I had several things to do, take down an electric fence, drag the hay fields with a harrow to break up the steer turds and spread it out as evenly as possible, clean my head ditch. My plan was to scatter my irrigation tarps out and begin water this afternoon. My little Ford tractor I had hooked up to the 16′ trailer had a flat tire. It took two trips to the tire shop. When I got home from town the first time the tire was flat. Back again. By the time I got back the second time, put the now fixed tire back on and loaded and scattered my tarps it was too late to send water my way and follow it down and throw out weeds. I tried to stay present and not let my mind get “heavily occupied”. Too early to get seedlings started but not to get water on the hay fields. Tomorrow dear Sparrow❤️😊.

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        2 weeks ago

        . . . and I thought I was busy,
        dear Joseph! 🙂

  4. D
    Deann
    2 weeks ago

    I need to replace more “ What ifs” with “ What now’s” staying present

    1. L
      Loc Tran
      2 weeks ago

      Deann, what ifs eventually run full-circle.

  5. Yram
    Yram
    2 weeks ago

    At present my life is very complicated. Dealing with my husband’s physical situation and now I was diagnosed with pneumonia.
    The best way I can deal with simplicity is to remain grounded in truth and being real to my self.

    1. D
      Drea
      2 weeks ago

      Wishing you a smooth recovery, Yram.

    2. Michele
      Michele
      2 weeks ago

      I’m so sorry to hear this … feel better and wishing you a speedy recovery Yram.

    3. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      2 weeks ago

      ❤️

    4. Robin Ann
      Robin Ann
      2 weeks ago

      Feel better soon Yram. Lots and lots of rest!

    5. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      2 weeks ago

      I am so sorry,
      dear Yram,
      to hear that you have contracted pneumonia,
      especially with everything else that is going on . . .
      do take it seriously
      and follow your doctor’s orders.
      You already know
      that you cannot help your husband
      if you are not taking care of yourself . . .
      I hold you in my heart
      and send you healing energy
      with love . . .
      sparrow

    6. Patti
      sunnypatti
      2 weeks ago

      I pray you heal quickly.

    7. Antoinette88615
      Antoinette
      2 weeks ago

      Dear YRAM, I’m sorry. I hope you heal quickly. Have you tried drinking apple cider vinegar, hot water and honey? My grandmother who lived to be 103 swore by honey and vinegar.. 💓

  6. E
    Eileen
    2 weeks ago

    Learn to do one thing at a time. I get side tracked very easily. I think meditation would help.
    Stop trying to find solutions for issues that aren’t mine to control. Help to identify when I’m doing that.

    1. Antoinette88615
      Antoinette
      2 weeks ago

      EILEEN, I don’t know where you’re located but here is a link that is provided all of the different Meditation locations around the world. There are over 350 hunters that teach you how to let go and you can do it on Zoom it’s totally amazing. I’ve been doing it for four years. I recommend it wholeheartedly..
      https://onlinemeditationevents.com/locations/

  7. L
    Lauryn
    2 weeks ago

    I struggle a lot with executive dysfunction in many areas of my life. I find that creating routines and daily work plans (more recently with the help of chat gpt) has really helped me stay more present and focused, simply because it eliminates the panic of having to think about what to do next.

  8. Mary
    Mary
    2 weeks ago

    I still need to declutter. Less stuff would be very calming for me.

  9. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    2 weeks ago

    I live a pretty simple life. I guess my main distraction, these days, is social media. Scrolling for entertainment. I need to be more disciplined in this area. I would like to get back to reading more and scrolling less. 😁

    1. Charlie T
      Charlie T
      2 weeks ago

      After reading all of your responses, I would add, that two goals that I try to keep in the front of mind, not always very successfully, are to be as present as possible and to see things as clearly as possible. That is, catching myself when my inner dialog is living in the past or future and when I find myself hoping/wishing things were different, instead of exactly as they are.
      Whether my life is simple or complicated isn’t so important to me. I prefer simple, but I am not in total control of my external circumstances. It’s the stuff between my ears, that’s my responsibility.

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        2 weeks ago

        Yes,
        dear Charlie . . .
        we cannot change or control others,
        but can change or control
        ourselves . . . ♥

      2. D
        Deann
        2 weeks ago

        So true

    2. L
      Lauryn
      2 weeks ago

      Me too.

    3. Mary
      Mary
      2 weeks ago

      Social media is not good for me. I was scrolling a few nights ago and afterwards noticed that I was comparing myself to others and not surprisingly (since I was comparing my inside to the outsides of others) I was coming up short. 🧐

  10. D
    Drea
    2 weeks ago

    I need to keep decluttering this house. It’s a long-term project that fell by the wayside recently. More clutter crept in, and to have a low-clutter house would be dreamy.

    1. Mary
      Mary
      2 weeks ago

      Yes! Amazing how it seems to creep back in.

    2. Carol Ann Conner
      Carol
      2 weeks ago

      Drea, I can relate!

  11. Patti
    sunnypatti
    2 weeks ago

    My outside life is pretty simple, but there is a lot of mind-stuff going on that I am continuously working on simplifying. “When will this happen?” “Why did I feel singled out?” “How come they do ___ when I ___?” There’s all kinds of examples. Sometimes my mind is so peaceful and accepting, and other times, well, it’s just not. But this, and Antionette’s reply, brought me to Yoga Sutra 1.2 “Yogas citta vritti nirodhah” – there are many commentaries, and one translation says, “Yoga is restraining the mind–stuff (Citta) from taking various forms (Vrittis). —Swami Vivekananda.
    Another commentary on it says, “The extraordinary experience gained by controlling the modifications of the mind is itself called Yoga.” This is what ultimately brought me to yoga, even if I would tell others that it was to become a better surfer (which it was, at the time), and why I love it so much and want to share it with all.

    Wishing a peaceful, simple day to each of you 🙂

    1. L
      Lauryn
      2 weeks ago

      Thank you for the insight here. 💜

      1. Patti
        sunnypatti
        2 weeks ago

        I learn so much from the Sutras!

    2. Carol Ann Conner
      Carol
      2 weeks ago

      Patti, thanks for sharing the insight into Yoga sutras

      1. Patti
        sunnypatti
        2 weeks ago

        Happy to share 🙂

    3. D
      Drea
      2 weeks ago

      Your comment brought the phrase “citta chatter” to mind. It sounds like you’re on a well-supported path with yoga. A peaceful, simple day to you too Sunnypatti!

      1. Patti
        sunnypatti
        2 weeks ago

        OMG, citta chatter is perfect, as citta is pronounced chitta!! I would put a little laughing face here if I was on my phone! I remember people using “chitter chatter” a lot when I was a kid… funny how the definition is perfect in the practice of yoga… all of the examples are definitely “mind-stuff”
        from thefreedictionary.com
        chitter-chatter
        1. verb To talk idly or incessantly.
        Now that she can talk, my little girl will just chitter-chatter away all day long.
        My date is still chitter-chattering away, but I stopped listening a while ago.
        Uncle Ned is already chitter-chattering about politics, so I’d steer clear of him if I were you.
        2. noun Idle or incessant talk.
        Now that my daughter can talk, I get to listen to her chitter-chatter all day long.
        You can always count on some inane chitter-chatter in the conference room before a meeting starts.
        Sounds like chitter-chatter to me. I really don’t think they’re talking about candidates for the promotion.

        1. sparrow51014
          sparrow
          2 weeks ago

          I know all about this,
          dear Sunnypatti . . . 🙂

  12. Ngoc Nguyen
    Ngoc Nguyen
    2 weeks ago

    In my future occupation. Simply focusing on studying and gaining experience through volunteering helps reduce my anxiety about the opportunity to get a job after I graduate.

    1. L
      Loc Tran
      2 weeks ago

      My Ngoc, work experience goes a long ways. The real world and classroom are different animals.

    2. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      2 weeks ago

      You are getting good practice,
      dear Ngoc,
      which will stand you in good stead
      when you graduate . . . ♥

      1. D
        Drea
        2 weeks ago

        I agree, keep doing the good work, Ngoc.

  13. Avril
    Avril
    2 weeks ago

    I have to chew on this a little bit. I am in a phase of life where there is a lot of doing. But, it’s not something I can whittle down. I am a mom and I am caring for aging parents. I think it’s merely my karma to be busy these days. But, I take a lot of pauses and I am deeply committed to being present in all that I do. My practices help me to not make it a bid deal–maybe I have already simplified what needed to be done.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      2 weeks ago

      ”My practices help me to not make it a bid deal–maybe I have already simplified what needed to be done.”

      Maybe you have,
      dear Avril,
      intuitively. ♥

      1. Avril
        Avril
        2 weeks ago

        Thank you Sparrow.

  14. Joseph
    Joseph McCann
    2 weeks ago

    Nothing is simple, everything is simple. That paradox can get the monkey who lives in the addicted corner of my mind way active, jumping from branch to branch. I now invite the little SOB into my lap instead of trying to shoot him from the branches. Find out just what my capacities are instead of what are the circumstances or complications causing the ruckus in my mind. Much simpler, I have discovered, than reaching for alcohol to anesthetize that monkey. If I remain present in the moment my perspective shifts.

    The -Word for the Day- “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” Gary Synder

    May today be filled with simplifications. Namaste.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      2 weeks ago

      I love today’s Word,
      dear Joseph . . .
      Nature is home for me as well,
      and I am so grateful
      to live on a little piece of it.
      Thank you for posting it here. ♥

    2. Mary
      Mary
      2 weeks ago

      The sentence that Drea and Lauren brought up stood out to me too.
      This interrupts the cycle of chasing one’s tail.
      Smart thinking Joseph.

    3. L
      Lauryn
      2 weeks ago

      “Find out just what my capacities are instead of what are the circumstances or complications causing the ruckus in my mind.” – thank you for this wisdom, Joseph.

    4. D
      Drea
      2 weeks ago

      What a great mind shift: “Find out just what my capacities are instead of what are the circumstances or complications causing the ruckus in my mind.” Chasing those circumstances is a forest of branches for the monkey, isn’t it? You’ve inspired me to ask myself throughout the day: “What is my capacity right now? What’s important now?”

  15. Michele
    Michele
    2 weeks ago

    I have become much better at focusing on being more present. I can’t think of one specific area of my life regarding simplification aspect … Looking forward to reading others responses.

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