Heart Pocket Word for the Day is Rest!

The word from my heart pocket is Rest.

It's easy to rest. It should be. We surely work hard to make it happen.

We call it vacation. We call it sleep. We call it napping. We call it taking time off.

When we ignore rest, it forces itself upon us and we call it hospitalization and rehab.

Rest comes naturally after a long day of work. We allow it when we are exhausted. Americans, unlike other countries, average 2 sanctioned weeks of it. Much of the world gets 4-8 weeks of encouraged and paid rest per year.

The mind needs it. The body needs it. The heart needs rest from the burdens it bears.

We love rest. We pay for rest. When we choose not to overwork, we rest. When we choose to exercise, we release pressures and stress. When we smile, we relax 13 muscles in the face.

Some restful activities are: reading, gardening, cooking, playing card games, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, walking. We rest and give the mind a break when we hike or run on the treadmill. Swimming is a marvelous way to rest. We're surrounded by water and working our bodies. The rest comes after the physical activity. We have moved the focus to the body and many of us find this both a relief and pleasurable.

Sometimes we have to decrease the stimulants in our lives so we can rest:  coffee, television/computer, time at the office, traveling, worry. Rest happens when we choose to move out of our routine. We try something different and although it might stimulate one part of us, it gives another faction of our lives a break - a chance to rest. 

Resting the spirit rests every part of us. Meditation is a wonderful way to rest. If it's too hard to do on your own, gather a few friends who are interested in this way of resting. In a quiet place, give yourselves an hour and ease into it. Talk about what you want to release, how you want to feel after your meditation, what you want to bring into your life. Begin by taking 10 deep breaths and for a good 20 minutes, be silent together. Your mind will get used to this practice eventually and you will be able to do it on your own in time.

Certain music calms the nerves. The music of nature is always restful. The sound of waves lapping against the shore or the wind blowing gently through the trees brings peace. Dancing - Oh Dancing! Movement to music rests the soul! And laughter. We say "we're exhausted" after a long time of laughing. Laughing puts us in a beautiful place of rest.

You know what works for you. You've experienced real rest. Build rest into your day. It's as valuable as your work and play.

Rest. It's what's left over and it's one of the best gifts we give ourselves.   

   

Heart Pocket Word for the Day is Search!

The word from my heart pocket is Search!

This year is the one. This month I'm going to make it happen. Today. By noon. In this moment, Right now.

We search and search and can't seem to find what we want. It feels elusive and unattainable.

Still we search. We search like we fish. It only takes one nibble to pop us up to a zenith and the search continues. Searching and not finding isn't fun, unless for you the search is the thing. Watch an Easter egg hunt. Notice who loves the hunt and who needs to find an egg to be happy. There are some keys to the finding. Is the search overwhelming? Break it into phases, into smaller increments. Does the search seem impossible? Examine it in your mind. Write it out. Imagine and record your findings. Are you searching in the right places? Are you happy while you're searching? Why not? What is the source of your frustration, your disappointment, your irritation? The answer is a clue. If you are happy, you might be a natural seeker and that's a clue, too!

Relieve the tension and you release the pressure. Search and read the clues. Play with them. Let them lead you. And look, you are already finding!

Searching is necessary when we want to know. Searching can be like a treasure hunt. We forget that we are in charge of the search. It is our idea and we get to choose. Searching for a partner? A job? A new home? An animal friend? A place to volunteer? A decision? The outfit that makes you feel your best? Are you looking for something immaterial and wanting it to come into your life? Qualities like peacefulness, simplicity, or purpose?

When we search, we invite uncertainty to step forward ... to help find certainty. Tools to use with uncertainty are:  flexibility, a sense of humor, intermittent rest and spending energy, research (asking questions. reading, thinking, dreaming).

When we search, we discover. It is important to record your discoveries. You might think you will remember but we never remember it exactly. You might remember big events, but the facts were accompanied by thoughts and feelings. They are equally important to discovery. They qualify the search, offer clues, and make it whole.

We can search too long. Search can become a diversion or can be used as an avoidance tactic. Some people search their entire lives for one thing. Some searches don't require as much time or energy. Searching is active and it leads to answers. Take breaks from your search to see if it needs to take a new direction or if it is complete.

This year is the one. This month I'm going to make it happen. Today. By noon. In this moment. Right now.

The search has begun!   

Heart Pocket Word for the Day is Time!

The word from my heart pocket is Time!

Time flies.

It zooms in and around me while I work work work play play play jog jog jog jog laugh laugh laugh eat drink eat drink sleep.

Time stops.

There is only muffled noise inaudibly moving in and around me as I watch my boss mouth the words "let you go" as I stare at the rubble I once called home as I feel the soft shallow breathing of my newborn against my cheek in the middle of the night as my lover touches me with the tendering we both deserve.

Time heals.

Waiting becomes an active verb on the back side of perseverance, persistence and patience as I watch as I wish as I want as I hope as I pray as I forgive as I love. 

Time marches on.

An idea whose time has come. The time of your life. Time to waste. Time to keep silence. Time to laugh. Time to lose, time  to love, time to mourn. Time to plant. Time to remember. Time to speak, to stand, to weep, to wonder, too much too little too late. Not enough time.  

The time we have chosen in our lives is unknown to us. Our passions move us forward.

Take the time. That is its purpose. 

Heart Pocket Word for the Day is Emerging!

Art Poster - Creative Spirit Art Centre

The word from heart pocket is Emerge!

This picture, to some, might look as if the heart is disintegrating. To others, it will look as if it is taking shape. Both would be correct. The picture is emerging. We paint life pictures all day long. If we could watch the canvas of our lives, we would see the pictures fading in and out while one picture becomes apparent as the former one fades.

To emerge is to come out, come into view, to become. Parts of ourselves emerge faster than others. Emerging is natural and good. It doesn't always feel that way, especially when we resist. 

Sometimes we get in a hurry. We try to emerge with a great sense of urgency. This is called an emergency. Sometimes the emerging happens so gradually we don't notice it until it pops out at us. We try to attribute this to other circumstances but when we dig into our past, we see we've been emerging toward this occurrence for a long time.

Original emerging materializes and we feel awkward until we're more practiced. This experience is not unlike cutting a path through a dense jungle. We struggle to become skilled with new tools. We learn to intuit using different senses. Our minds have to catch up to the emergency and vice versa. 

If a quality or situation arises that is strangely familiar and we feel like we've "come home", our emerging has uncovered a gem. This is a knowing and as we emerge, we notice how happy we are, how easy the process is, how comfortable and pleasurable this emergence feels. We still have to do the work but it feels like play. Time "flies". Energy is efficient and plentiful.

"Coming into our own" is an emergence made up of lots of little emerging experiences. Each is valuable because it effects the other. None is most important. The unveiling is a process and the final product doesn't come until we decide we are finished.

Rise up. Become visible. Step into the light. Emerge! 

Heart Pocket Word for the Day is Resolution!

Annular Solar Eclipse at High Resolution
Credit & Copyright: Stefan Seip

 The word from my heart pocket is Resolution!

I couldn't resist this picture! And, of course, Mr. Seip has used today's word in its description. High resolution means producing images that are sharp and finely detailed. What an incredible aspiration!

When we resolve to do something, we make a decision, we feel determined, we are definite. To work with high resolution elevates the standard, causes us to reach beyond what we might imagine, confident the unknown will support us. To get to this level of faith isn't so mystical as it is practical. It is one foot in front of the other as we practice our resolve. We are steadfast, full of purpose with our objective dangling like a carrot in front of our noses. We follow in earnest. We are fixed but not closed or rigid. Our will is strong and we lead with our heart, listening to our gut as we go. It just feels like magic when it works.

Resolution is bold and requires courage in the oddest places. Never could we imagine what happens! When we persevere, we can do it with awareness. We see as we go, watching ourselves (and those around us) making progress, meeting the goals we set, coloring our dreams with hues that make them most appealing.

To have resolve is to have strong intention. There is great power in decision. It can happen quickly or it can take time for the energy to be exactly right. Usually, there is tension when that happens. This is a good thing. If the tension wasn't there, the resolve would disintegrate. We have all experienced this. 

Resolution is also about getting answers. Humans love to figure things out. If we see life as a giant jigsaw puzzle, we see that we twist and turn the pieces to fit. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes they slide right in and the picture becomes clearer. 

What helps to hold our resolution? We resolutely set out to lose weight. We put our hearts and souls into our passions. We sacrifice and resolve to follow the path to the end. How do we stay on track?

The tools are: Flexibility, baby steps, cleaning out one drawer at a time. Resting the mind, exercising the body. Resting the body, exercising the mind. Observing nature and looking for answers and rejuvenation there. Simple allowing. Respecting the power of patience. Trust.

We don't have to be resolved in every minute. Resolution requires energy. And winning isn't always the goal. And what does it mean "to win", anyway? 

We'll resolve that question on another day ...  

Heart Pocket Word for the Day is Plan!

 

Artwork available at FeaturePics.com

The word from my heart pocket is Plan.

Business plans. Vacation plans. Financial plans. Health plans. Retirement plans. Planning your wedding. Planning to have children. Planning your future.

We put a lot of faith in our plans. We put a lot of effort, energy, and enthusiasm into them. When we plan, we organize our thoughts, we imagine different scenarios and we come up with new ideas for our intentions.

Planning can be as simple as making a list. There's a lot of satisfaction in this because it rearranges the clutter, orders our mind and when we begin to cross items off the list, it feels great to have all of that space ... so we can make more plans.

This is creating. Planning is one of the most creative activities we do. When we free our minds - that is, the linear mind goes on vacation, floating down the river of dreams - we open our lives to endless possibilities. We wonder where an idea comes from. It's when we "go on vacation" in our minds, letting plans go wild, no censoring, no boundaries, that plans serve us the most.

One of the most creative people I know - a film maker - told me: "When I imagine a treatment, I don't censor. I don't let budget or rigid thinking get in the way. No boundaries whatsoever. I come up with a grandiose idea. I begin large." 

This is a great way to make plans. Dream first. Organize around the dream.

We live in a society that values linear. We put things in boxes. Even our televisions and movie screens and cameras squarely frame what we see. Imagine a camera that took pictures in shapes. Think about going to see a movie in the round. Right, that already exists. But you get the picture ...

Planning is good. It doesn't mean "in stone". It is a guide. It leads us. It is a catalyst, an agenda, a map. We love plans. Plans are fun. Plans are exploratory and full of discovery. Plans are meant to be changed. Plans lead you to dead ends. Or are they? Maybe they are paths yet to be forged.

Let plans simmer, absorbing the flavors of the spices added. Taste them, change them . Serve them up, don't save them for a rainy day. Try out plans. Give them a chance to breathe.

Plan something today. Don't censor. Don't let budget or rigid thinking get in the way. 

Begin large.

 

Thanks to the 7th grade of SDCCS and Miss Newton

The word from my heart pocket is Respect.

Respect yourself, others, property of all. This poster was created by music students and their teacher. On the surface it is a kind of mission statement for their class. Underneath it lies a long history of traditional values enforced by education and in the home. 

It's what's inside that counts.

I wasn't there when this poster was designed. I don't know Miss Newton or any of her students. I imagine everyone was involved in the creation of the poster and most likely, it was made at the beginning of the year. The words, their placement, the colors ... are a terrific blend of a right and left brain project. The word 'wacky' says that Miss Newton's class is fun!

Inside this poster is the heart of Respect. This teacher chooses to involve her students, not just in the music they make, but in each others' lives. The order in which respect is suggested on the poster is brilliant. Respect begins with self. When we honor ourselves through honesty, letting our lights shine, self-expression, good listening skills, awareness of our own behavior - we are more likely to respect those qualities in others and we gain respect from all. Respecting others comes naturally when we understand the meaning of the word through experience. Being respected through success and failure can be achieved if we are putting our best efforts forward. We don't always win the cash prize, but we always win respect. To respect the property of others is also a metaphor that works throughout our lives. Asking permission is polite, yes. It is also saying "I respect my own property so I will respect yours." 

With respect comes admiration, appreciation, courtesy and honor. When respect is demanded, it negates the core of the quality. Respect isn't a result of force. It comes with realization, example, and a slow, easy recognition of ourselves in others.

How do we come to self-respect? We honor our dreams. We are truthful with ourselves and others. We live in gratitude. From that platform, we stand tall. We are confident. Our self-respect shines a light that spreads like a giant smile. It seeps into the hearts of others and irritations melt away. Differences become interesting and a way of growing. Fear of uncertainty transforms into love of surprise, anticipation of more than we can imagine.

When planted, Respect always grows. It is reciprocal. Respect is hearty and ready at the helm. It looks good on everyone. 

Try on some respect today. One size fits all!

Heart Pocket Word for the Day is Rhythm!

 Artwork by Alberto Cruz

The word from my heart pocket is Rhythm!

Finding your rhythm is personal and to maximize the benefit, requires both awareness and letting go.

"Some take a lifetime.

Others can see from the very beginning where they want to be." 

excerpt from What Color Is Your Dream?  
 

There is no right or wrong rhythm. Sometimes we beat out the tempo of our individual lives and other times we get caught up in the heartbeat of the universe. There are signs of rhythm everywhere. The most obvious evidence is the music we choose. The songs that are meaningful to us reflect what's inside - in sync with our individual heartbeat. Every generation has "it's music". The rhythm mirrors the cadence of the group. It is strong and vibrant and meaningful. 

As individuals, we can dictate our daily rhythm by simply being mindful of our behavior. Indicators are our feelings, what we choose to do in our spare time, how we process challenges, whether we react or thoughtfully respond to unexpected happenings - when we examine the patterns in our lives, we find there is a kind of repetitive beat articulated. There will be parts that are accentuated and more pronounced. Our rhythm at work might be different than when we are home. Just noticing the difference can bring about wanted change or great satisfaction. 

It might seem unimportant to practice this kind of mindfulness. There is wisdom that comes from it. It's not necessary to do it every moment. If we tried, it would consume all of our time and we would lose the flow. Like any student learning a new musical instrument or an athlete who works to perfect a technique, there is awkwardness at first. But repetition, with awareness of the details and the nuances, turns into a kind of flow and soon, the rhythm becomes a song.

If you are where there is a lot of traffic, close your eyes and listen. You will hear a pattern in the flow of the vehicles. Listen to a ceiling fan or the wind through the trees. Hear the rhythm in the song of the cicadas in summer or the crickets as they vibrate their calls. The human voice is a perfect example of a rhythm instrument. When you run, hear your cadence, feel the beat. Rhythm is in every movement we make - singly and as a universe.

The rhythms of our days are wild and wonderful, filled with sorrow and disappointment, disjointed and dissonant, and they are as soft and regular as the heartbeat of a new born babe. Together, they create our lifesong. Be conscious of your rhythm. Write a melody that pleases you and sing it to the world!  

Heart Pocket Word for the Day is Responsible!

Artist Unknown - Click picture for website about carefitusa

The word from my heart pocket is Responsible.

It takes a village. It's great when the village gets together to help one of its own. Tasks get done quicker and the bond that teamwork creates is unparalleled. Acting responsibly toward our fellow man is a beautiful choice. Responsibility through volunteer work and donations to causes, response to disaster and crisis feels good, and when we are helpless to single-handedly tackle clean-up or mass medical attention after a big disaster, joining en masse truly matters. 

What about day-to-day? Do we not have these opportunities on the small scale? Are we not able to reach out responsibly in little ways? Little things that make big changes in one person's life? If you are a regular volunteer, you are doing this. If you are a willing caregiver, your attitude alone is a beautiful example of responsibility. If you see someone in need and don't hesitate to offer aid, your response is a gift beyond compare. Sometimes just the offer is aid enough. 

Being responsible with respect to others makes the world move more smoothly. Let's name some instances - neighbors, family, animal friends, disabled, less fortunate, our beautiful earth, children, elderly. I'm not talking about taking control of lives or removing the dignity of living from a person. Responsibility is 100% ABOUT dignity, whether it is for someone else or for oneself.

Where do we learn how to be responsible? From our parents, our original caregivers, yes. We give them credit for the good and the bad but at some point, it's time to be responsible for your life condition and take the credit - for the good and the bad - by yourself. 

Responsibility is about accountability. It is a mature trait, a sign of adulthood. The way to create responsibility - in children, in the elderly, in ourselves - is to let go of control and allow mistakes. This is not to be confused with allowing danger to take place. We humans learn well when we given the chance to fly. If we are answerable to our mistakes as well as our triumphs, we learn the glory of responsibility, and confidence is born. Confidence leads to trust. Trust makes the factory run smoothly. 

Sometimes being responsible means asking for help. Much of life requires help from the village. By asking, we show a fine example of responsibility and we give the gift of the opportunity to be responsible to others. There is no right or wrong. There is no resentment or blame or shame. 

When responsibility feels like a burden, examine it. Are you carrying too much? Do you need to be responsible and ask for help? When someone you know is struggling under the weight of responsibility, explore the idea of aid. How can you lighten the load but preserve the dignity of the person you want to help?

When you're minding the store, be responsible. When you're in charge of the classroom, be responsible. When you get the chance, be responsible.

Response - able. Responsible. It works every time.  

Heart Pocket Word for the Day is Complete!

The word from my heart pocket is Complete.

This is not simple. And yet, it is. What does it mean to be complete?

Complete. Total. Not Lacking.Unabridged. Whole.

Complete. Finished. Accomplished. Perfect. Realized.

Complete. Absolute. Utter. Consummate. Unconditional.

Complete. Fulfill. Perform. Finalize. Do.

That's a pretty complete list. It is definitive and whole. It sums it up. Takes care of it, lock, stock and barrel. It's organic and thorough. Unbroken, uncut. It's the whole enchilada and the whole nine yards. I'd say it's whole-hog, gone the distance. 

Complete is all-embracing and all-inclusive. It is fini, home free and through.

It's categorical, dyed-in-the-wool, out-and-out sure. Complete is unqualified and outright flawless.

To complete is to bring to maturity, to call it a day. To develop, to get through, go the limit, wrap it up.

Complete means there's no one way. Complete includes everyone and everything, so there's a lot of variety. Complete is serious ... or not, depending on how we see. 

If we're complete, why worry? Why complain? If we're complete, why not work with life rather than resist it? If we're complete, how about relaxing into life experience and enjoying it, giving it a little room.  

Life is complete. In every minute, of every day, in each of our lives. Complete. Born that way. Why not live that way? It's what we are.