Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Daily Living Daily Gratitude

I find daily practices, deliberately chosen according to my values, have been the most effective way for me to increase my baseline health and happiness. Although it's a challenge, daily practices also reveal what my baseline is on any given day. That, like everything, inevitably changes.

One of my preferred representations of Compassion that I turn to for support is beauty found in Nature, which does not discriminate nor hold back it's warmth and capacity to hold suffering, just because some human being isn't at their best.




Friday, November 11, 2016

On My Walk - The VIew

I often take a photograph with my iPhone from the same spot on my on my daily walk.

I thrive on consistency, but of course things are always changing.

Walking is one of life's simple but wonderful experiences especially if there's a lovely view. I have to say that I am passionate about walking if there's a steep hill and a view involved.

I enjoy watching the light, the sky, the shadows and the ground change, ever so slightly--or sometimes dramatically-- from morning to early evening and throughout the seasons.














































Friday, November 4, 2016

On My Walk - Persimmons

The value of moving well and eating well is not limited to people who are struggling. The better I feel the more I can embrace my existing health, cultivate my energy and nourish myself properly, when I'm already feeling good!

One of my personal choices to eat as LOCAL and as SEASONAL as possible. There's a persimmon tree in my neighborhood that's on someone's property. (I wonder if it was there before or after the house was built?) The owners have a little basket they fill with the ripe fruit. One day a couple of years back, the gentleman who lives there invited me to help myself and told me, "that's why it's there!"

He also shared that there used to be a pair of clippers in the basket that were to be used to pick the fruit if the basket was empty. But then, someone stole them.

I like to think that A LOT of people walk by enjoying the fresh air and breathtaking views on the Riviera in Santa Barbara.

A FEW people enjoy the fruit.

But ONLY ONE person stole the clippers.

Salad made with Fuyu Persimmon
Nature tells me where to place the knife