A Peaceful Place

 

Picture of Elbow River taken off of Highway 66 - J Hirst

For some folks, Autumn, and specifically September is a time of turmoil before things settle down.  For me, September and indeed all of the autumn, is a time of excitement and change.  I love the changes of September almost as much as I love the changes that happen in the spring.

I like to go walking through the woods in the park as the leaves start to tumble down.  I like to crunch them because the sound is like that of crunching up paper to throw away.  We crunch up paper when we are not happy with what we have written, and we throw the page away and start anew.  To me, autumn is the crunching up the paper to start something new.

I have started several jobs in the Fall during my career. The timing has been perfect for me and has always been a positive action.  The energy of autumn with harvesting grain, fruit, vegetables, and even animals (hunting season) lends itself to humans so that things get done. This makes it easier to change from one employer to another.

When I find that life is getting too hectic, I look for a peaceful place to go to so that I can sit and be calm and let pent up energy go.  When that energy is released, my body also releases stress.  I am able to breathe with the flow of the wind through the trees or with the motion of the water.  Sometimes, I can look skyward and see flocks of birds and I will release the energy with the soaring of the birds.   

Each of us has a different idea of what a peaceful place looks like.  The trick is to find the place that speaks to you.

Many blessings,

Judy

April 1 And Change

 

The poster says:

If we don’t change, we don’t grow.  If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living. —-Gail Sheehy

April 1 is a commonly called April Fool’s Day.  You can read more about that on this blog post - https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2025/04/april-1-for-love-and-fools.html.

April is the change month.  Everything changes. We move from winter into full tilt spring.  Yes, spring comes earlier in some places.  Where I am, April is when the birds nest, the crocuses are out, and the trees bud.  You can feel the change in the air in people, too.  People are outside more and seem more open and friendly.  

When we talk about change, it means the physical changes of course.  However, it also includes the mental and spiritual changes that happen to folks when they feel the surge of life when they are out in Nature.  Nature has a way of bringing us into balance - getting out of our head and into our heart.  We feel and absorb and grow.

Many blessings,

Judy

Walking And Present Moment

 

As you walk, cultivate a sense of ease. There’s no hurry to get anywhere, no destination to reach. You’re just walking. This is a good instruction: just walk. As you walk, as you let go of the desire to get somewhere, you begin to sense the joy in simply walking, in being in the present moment. You begin to comprehend the preciousness of each step. It’s an extraordinarily precious experience to walk on this earth. - Peter Doobinin, "Awakening, Step by Step"

Sometimes, I simply need to get outside and walk.  My preference is to walk in the park (unless the mosquitoes are really bothersome) and feel the grass and the trees lift the stress from me.  My mind slows down.  I pay attention to the birds, the flowers, and the sound of the water.  Nature clears us. Nature heals us.  Use this tool and be in the present moment.

Blessings,

Judy

April 1 2024 - Walk In Nature

April Fool's day – a day for playing jokes.  This blog is not about joking.  It is about waking up and realizing that we need Nature in our lives.  It is about remembering that we come from Nature – from the Earth.  Our blood flows red with iron richness and lots of mineral and gases that are part of the Earth's structure.

We need to be out in Nature to restore our calm and to remind ourselves that we must care for the plants, animals, birds, etc. because they are our cousins.  They carry the same ingredients in their bodies. 

It is sad that we want to destroy the parks and rivers and lakes to "develop" them.  And, yes, in some places, wild lands are being reclaimed so that new life can flourish in those spots.

Today, decide to be out in Nature for one hour a week.  Then slowly increase the time.  

Many blessings,

Judy

What Do You Do With Your Days?

 

“Every day that we wake up is a good day. Every breath that we take is filled with hope for a better day. Every word that we speak is a chance to change what is bad into something good.”
Walter Mosley

“Every day is different, and some days are better than others, but no matter how challenging the day, I get up and live it.”
Muhammad Ali

 Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions. --Albert Einstein

We have our days generally planned out for the week.  We want to make our days matter and we want to make sure that certain tasks get done.  Since we love the mountains, we go as often as we can because the mountains inspire us, heal us, and show us animals and trees and birds in new ways.

Each of us gets to choose how we spend our time.  How are you choosing to spend your day?

Blessings,

Judy