Your Daily Routine: Shake It Up Baby!

Aug 28th, 2011

I have walked my dogs on the levee of the Kaw River most every day for years (and years).  This section of the levee is outside of town in the country, quiet, and quite lovely as you can see in the photo.  Trees flank the levee on one side and corn fields stretch to the horizon on the other.   Dragonflies, swallows, blue heron, night hawks, eagles, migrating birds, vultures, deer, toads, frogs, snakes, and other wildlife make it extra interesting.  Toby chases and hunts while I decompress, relax, and commune with all that is. 

Recently, I found myself turning around to head back before my usual sign marker.  Granted it was during our “bake an egg on the pavement” heat wave, but still it was a sign that I’d gotten bored with the route and needed to shake it up.  How could I get bored with that beautiful stretch of nature?  It happens.

I know of many places to walk, but this one is convenient and efficient, and my busy life welcomes efficiency.  And so does Toby because he doesn’t have to be leashed and he’s sure of a walk, no matter what. 

But enough of a good thing.  Today we went to the off leash park near Lake Clinton.  It’s some distance across town, but I’m going to build it into my mix as a special treat.  Now that I’m thinking outside the box, I’ve got a short list of other ideal walking locations.  Feels good.

Before walking today I followed Qigong master Chunyi Lin’s recommendation to bring awareness to my movement with this statement:  “On my walk, all my channels are going to become clearer, I will open my heart to nature, and by the time I’m finished, my energy will be much stronger.”  I wrote this on an index card and will keep it in my car to reference until I no longer need the reminder.

What habitual routines are you growing tired of?  Same sack lunch?  Same evening prayer?  Same meditation routine?  What daily routine could you shake up a bit to make it more plump, like fluffing a feather pillow?  Please comment at the link below.

Blue Zones: Live Longer, Better

Aug 26th, 2011

I attended the Working Well Conference in Wichita, KS this week and was blown away by Dan Buettner’s presentation on Blue Zones.  Wikipedia defines blue zones as ”a region of the world where people commonly live active lives past the age of 100 years. Scientists and demographers have classified these longevity hot-spots by having common healthy traits and life practices that result in higher-than-normal longevity.”

Here’s how BlueZones.com describes what they’re up to:

Live Longer

The average American could live an extra 12 years and be 40% happier by optimizing their lifestyle and environment.

Backed by Research

Working with National Geographic, the National Institutes on Aging and AARP, we found parts of the world where people live the longest, happiest lives. Our three-step process helps you learn their secrets, measure your own happiness or longevity and get the tools to help you change your lifestyle and environment to live the longest, best life you can.

You can find out more about these longevity secrets in Dan Buettner’s book The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest. 

Wonderful things come to us when we’re grateful

Aug 15th, 2011

When I’m really grateful as I am tonight, I mentally go over all the things I’m grateful for.   Tonight on this cool summer evening, I’m grateful for Toby.  He’s fun to walk.

If you want to be more grateful, here are a handful of examples to prime the gratitude pump. 

Things you can be grateful for …

• the other driver saw you and didn’t smash into you!
• you were invited to the party and they had such excellent food and conversation
• you have a loving pet sleeping in your lap
• the 100+ degree heat wave is in the past…and you’re now feeling a cool breeze as you walk the dog
• the bat circling over your head didn’t swoop down and get tangled in your hair (I didn’t say gratitude always had to be based in logic)
• you didn’t wake up with a bat crawling on your chest (happened to a colleague of mine last week)
• you got a refund when you didn’t expect (or ask) for it
• you love fruits and veggies (many don’t)
• your aging parents are still around
• your kids are kind
• you have a ceiling fan
• your cool bedroom
• a good night’s sleep
• your new shoes
• you are able to think things through
• you’re practical (artistic, adventurous, smart, thoughtful, creative, musical….)
• you know how to experience peace and joy
• you were chosen
• personal and religious freedom
• movies and good books (and popcorn)
• your friends and family
• the rain, snow, sun, clouds, wind and stillness

You can see that opportunities for gratitude are infinite. 

The Special Sparrow

Aug 6th, 2011

I’m certain that birds are all over my spiritual totem.  I love birds and watch them everywhere I go.  I can often tell what kind of bird it is by the way it sits on a wire, the way it flies, or how it looks in the distance.  I’m no birder, but I care and that’s why I know things about them.

That said, it’s surprising to me that I’ve lived this long without noticing that hot birds keep their beaks open.  How could I miss that!  It helps them cool off – kind of like panting.  Again, no expert, but that’s the conventional wisdom I’ve tapped into  since Kansas is in an record breaking heat wave and wildlife and other creatures across the country are struggling to cool off.   Cattle in the feed lots, poultry and swine in the industrial farms….but that’s a story for another post….and an opportunity for prayers. 

Even though it’s hot hot hot, I sit on my deck sweating and tuning into the wildlife in my small section of land – a few hundred square feet.  I’m thrilled that the special sparrow shows up now and then to let me know that he/she is still around and OK.  

Nature is perfect and imperfect all in the same moment.  Again, I’ve never seen this….a bird with a gnarled foot – shriveled and only useful to keep the bird from falling to the right when landing.  Useless when gripping the bowl I provide for water on the deck railing.  He just drank and got his fill, handicap and all.  A fantastically lovely site for me to witness.  In fact, observing this scene I acknowledge that we’re all wounded – not always visible and apparent to the naked eye.  The blessed wounds that provide us with opportunities to rise and shine, adapt, and inspire.

I am inspired.  That sparrow probably wasn’t chosen in mating, probably lives marginally, but that sparrow still sings and plays and prospers to the delight of ….. me.