tagged 
pressure, overwhelm, time managment, sabbath in Appreciation, Well-being
pressure, overwhelm, time managment, sabbath in Appreciation, Well-being Entries in Appreciation (6)
Sunday
24Aug
White Space
Sunday, August 24, 2008 at 09:41AM 
A few weeks ago I was talking with time management goddess, Lisa Hunter, about my ideal vision of daily life that included everything I wanted to accomplish without feeling overwhelmed and always behind. I imagined a day that ebbed and flowed, where everyone's needs (including my own) were met, with necessary periods of busy activity, but also, with what I called 'white space'.'White space' is the yin to the yang of activity; the pause between breaths, between music notes, between ocean waves... the space on the page that allows for the content to be visible and remarkable... the context and container that holds everything else and gives it meaning.
I love to be busy. I've learned that I am, by nature, a restless person. But when everything runs together without space to breathe, reflect, daydream, do 'nothing', I fall apart.
I think this is true of just about everyone. We just may have widely varying degrees of tolerance, but sooner or later, we hit that point of 'enough already!' It's true of our activity level, our living space in the form of clutter, our webpages (grin), our choice of food intake. Simple, clean, uncomplicated anything just seems to be easier to assimilate, more fulfilling to experience, more nourishing for mind, body and soul.
And I chose to write this today, a Sunday.. a day earmarked for rest and worship in Christian traditions. I am not a particularly religious person, but I have observed how, as a consumeristic culture, we've all but done away with the sanctity of a day devoted to reflection, rather than busy-ness. As if that would only benefit adherents to a religion.
A Sabbath day, is, of course, not exclusive to Christianity. Jews observe it on Saturday; Muslims, on Friday. This is not a post exploring the origins and meanings of each tradition's Sabbath. I'm bringing this up because I recently came across an interesting, fresh interpretation of the fourth commandment (third for Roman Catholics) to "remember the Sabbath and keep it holy."
This interpretation (and, please forgive me.. I'm almost positive it was in a book about Mary Magdelene, the title of which escapes me now.. will reference later) suggested that the injunction to rest on this day had to do with retreating from all of the activities and associations that are connected to and further perpetuate our identities with 'self'. We become very much identified with what we 'do', what we have.. our 'busy-ness', even with the people around us. As humans walking this earth, it's natural.. it's what we do. We are unique individuals who have and do stuff. But to take one day a week to step back and put all of that into a larger context.. put white space around our little stories, and open up to the bigger truth of Who We Really Are.. this is holy work. The work of becoming re-acquainted with Spirit, with God, with Self.
And if you're not of that frame of mind, at least it provides breathing room, fresh perspective, renewed appreciation and gratitude for our blessing to even be here walking this earth. A clean canvas.
White space.
Tuesday
24Jun
St. John's Wort & Midsummer
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 01:04PM 
While herbal medicine is an informal passion of mine, it is not my area of expertise. However, I just wanted to share my appreciation of one little "green ally" - to borrow Susun Weed's term - that is hypericum perforatum, or St. John's Wort. (Of course, if I'm going to borrow from Ms Weed in this case, then I should refer to this plant as St. Joan's Wort.)
Today, June 24th ( in many Christian religions being St. John's Day; and in more pagan traditions, Midsummer) is traditionally the first day on which St. John's Wort is harvested. What I love about this humble little plant are the interesting associations. For example, the affinity with the Sun... the brilliant shade of yellow in the blooms, the time of year in which it's ready to be picked and its contrary nature of causing photosensitvity, while at the same time being used to treat burns (better even than aloe in my experience) and damage from radiation therapy. St. John's Wort has also made its way into mainstream pharmacology through its use as an anti-depressant (which can be a poetic metaphor for bringing light into a dark state of mind).
Reflecting on the mythology of its namesake, the beheaded St John the Baptist, the color of the nectar contained with the tiny blooms is a deep, rich, blood-red. St. John's Wort oil, which is used in topical applications, is infused with the little blossoms, and therefore also bears this dramatic hue. Quite beautiful!
Saturday
21Jun
Yogafest!!
Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 07:23PM Couldn't have been a more gorgeous day for Yogafest 2008, in Downingtown, PA! It's starting to feel like a family reunion these days.. so many familiar faces in the holistic community.. some old friends, and many new exciting relationships and collaborations developing. Such an exciting time! And now, some photos:
The yoga demo...
Jenn Givler, Intuitive Business Coach of Creative Healing Arts, and lovely daughter, Maddie
Can YOU do this?
Musical accompaniment..
Yours Truly...
Wednesday
04Jun
Well-Being Wednesday - The Happiness Project
Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 07:42AM Good morning!
Welcome to the first post of my mostly-regular weekly feature: "Well-Being Wednesday"
For many folks in our society, Wednesday is the "hump-day" .... mid-day of the work week, and the beginning of the downward slide toward the weekend. While this says a lot about the nature of our attitude toward our time spent at a job, (a topic for another day), it seemed like an appropriate day to place a weekly uplifting post.
Today's topic is one that will probably pop up repeatedly in the future, as it relates to a 'project' I was invited to participate in. A friend had recently passed along a blog site to me, called "The Happiness Project", an extensive personal research project launched by Gretchen Rubin, in which she "test drives every principle, tip, theory, and scientific study (she ) can find" in regards to happiness. On her site, Gretchen recently challenged/invited/encouraged her readers to start their own projects, and what occurred to me is that just the seeking alone.. the turning of one's attention to what brings forth happiness within them... automatically creates a feeling of joy. At least it did in my case.
This same friend, learning of my intention to begin this process, recommended a book to me that she picked up in the library, Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out
In addition to that, I've been savoring Hal French's, Zen and the Art of Anything
So, I invite you now, to take a moment to pause what you're doing. Place both feet on the floor, your hands on your thighs. Close your eyes, and take a breath in, thinking, "Breathing in, I am present. Breathing out, I am alive."
And then, pop over to Gretchen's site. Check out her "One-Minute Movie" for a shift in perspective. Tell me what you think.
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Thursday
22May
Networking and Support
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 08:05PM Bringing up the KWF Wellness Day event yet again, I have been reflecting on the 'successfulness' of that day for me. Not only was it a beautiful day, yada, yada, yada, and, as I mentioned, I encountered some old and new faces, I was also approached by a woman -- Jeanie Ruland-Matteson, MA-MT, to be exact -- owner of Creative Healing Arts in West Chester. She was introducing herself to the practitioners gathered there, and inviting them/us to participate in these 'Business Discussion Roundtables' that she and her collegues had started just last month.
It just so happened that the next one, topic - networking, was two days later, and it happened to be in the precise neighborhood and at the right time for me to attend. (Not to mention that my horoscope for that day advised me to make a move on getting a project off the ground, like NOW!)
Upon entering the absolutely beautiful space, and meeting Jenn Givler, 'Intuitive Business Coach', I just had a sense that my business might actually be starting to line up with my intentions. Yes, the discussion was helpful, but more importantly was the meeting; the connection with people -women- who are successfully immersed in a unique field with unique challenges, and are actively seeking ways to share support and community.
This is what I've been needing, asking for. I keep picturing the Verizon network commercials, where these portrayed cell phone users are followed all over creation by hundreds of Verizon employees, making sure their service is reliable.
I'm so looking forward to what these new alliances will bring, and in turn, how this foundation will allow me to nurture my practice, and ultimately bring well-being to my clients.
Saturday
17May
KWF Wellness Day 2008!!
Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 09:24PM After a dreary day of rain, today began with one of those sparkling, sun-drenched mornings that made everything feel all washed and new. A perfect day for the Kimberton Whole Foods Wellness Day in Downingtown.
Thanks to everyone who came out and made it a success (as well as help chase down tents and various other items that tried to fly away with the occasional gust of wind)!
It was wonderful to see familiar faces, as well as meet some new folks and introduce them to the joys of shiatsu. One of my personal perks was discovering that my name is gaining some recognition within the holistic community... a definite ego-boost!
I hope to be sharing the wonderful work of some of the people I encountered there in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned for upcoming posts about healthy eating, healthy living, and even healthy dying (as in green funerals...) and more! (And check the calendar for offerings by these folks.. more will be added all the time...)
I was gratefully busy administering chair massage to a waiting line of recipients, so that did prohibit me from getting photos of the other vendors. And if you missed this year's event, do try to make it for the next.. a good time to be sure!
(My friend and photographer..)
Coming up next: Yogafest 2008 @ The Center Health*Yoga*Arts, June 21!
See you there!