"The present is the only time that any of us have to be alive: to know anything, to percieve, to learn, to act, to change, to heal."
Jon Kabat-Zinn
Well, I probably didn't make the most of this by not getting out of my bed until almost 10am. But I did sit up in bed and enjoy the view of a white Ben Nevis, before reading a chapter of my book, which is educational, so that's ok.
I got some sad news from a friend, but know that looking forward is the best thing to do there, and the most help I can give is by doing that.
I had a busy day at work and had to giggle when I noticed a very solid looking Bhudda has appeared where the Christmas tree was. I'm not quite sure where this came from, but I hope he stays with us for a while.
Friday, 7 January 2011
Thursday, 6 January 2011
I got a good Portion of a Good Man.
"The best portion of good man's life: his little, nameless, un-remembered acts of kindness and of love."
William Wordsworth.
Spook had to phone this one in to my work as I was on a sleep-over last night - where I worked hard and didn't upset anyone to the best of my knowledge.
Spook and I gave it some thought and decided we must have done a lot of little acts of kindness that we don't remember as we are still happily together. He certainly picked my up from work, drove me home and fed me soup and fresh bread, before leaving me in peace and quiet to watch a re-run of the bear documentary which was fab and then to lie on the couch, read my book and doze, while he went back to work and picked Finn up from his days snowboarding.
We can't remember my little acts of kindness, but that doesn't matter.
William Wordsworth.
Spook had to phone this one in to my work as I was on a sleep-over last night - where I worked hard and didn't upset anyone to the best of my knowledge.
Spook and I gave it some thought and decided we must have done a lot of little acts of kindness that we don't remember as we are still happily together. He certainly picked my up from work, drove me home and fed me soup and fresh bread, before leaving me in peace and quiet to watch a re-run of the bear documentary which was fab and then to lie on the couch, read my book and doze, while he went back to work and picked Finn up from his days snowboarding.
We can't remember my little acts of kindness, but that doesn't matter.
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Intended to go for a run today, bake a cake, wash my hair, write lot's of nice emails.........................
"And what friend, is right intention?"
Oh dearie me - this one was definately written for me. Going about the place upsetting people whilst thinking I had the right intention (to make things right.) How many times do I say to the children "it's not a joke if the other person doesn't think it's funny?"
Likewise, if I say something to someone, with the intention of helping, but it only upsets them, then it doesn't matter my intention - if it upsets, it upsets. That's the thing I need to acknowledge.
But happily, I have not upset anyone today, though I haven't actually left the house yet. I had a lovely chat on the phone with my best friend, coffee with my sister, cleaned up the cat poo from under Finn's bed, swept and washed the floors to purge them of at least SOME of the dog hairs and managed to support the children to not cause another world war over whether to join the bottom of the world to the top of the world. The building of the world was suffering a little from lack of parental guidance.
I'm going to work soon, with the intention of working hard, and not upsetting anyone. Let's hope my intention becomes the reality by the time I get home after midday tomorrow.
Oh dearie me - this one was definately written for me. Going about the place upsetting people whilst thinking I had the right intention (to make things right.) How many times do I say to the children "it's not a joke if the other person doesn't think it's funny?"
Likewise, if I say something to someone, with the intention of helping, but it only upsets them, then it doesn't matter my intention - if it upsets, it upsets. That's the thing I need to acknowledge.
But happily, I have not upset anyone today, though I haven't actually left the house yet. I had a lovely chat on the phone with my best friend, coffee with my sister, cleaned up the cat poo from under Finn's bed, swept and washed the floors to purge them of at least SOME of the dog hairs and managed to support the children to not cause another world war over whether to join the bottom of the world to the top of the world. The building of the world was suffering a little from lack of parental guidance.
I'm going to work soon, with the intention of working hard, and not upsetting anyone. Let's hope my intention becomes the reality by the time I get home after midday tomorrow.
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
The Crystal has taken on the Colours of The World.
"A crystal takes on the colour of the cloth upon which it is placed, whether white, yellow, red or black. Likewise, if the company that you keep is good or bad, it will make a huge difference to the direction your life and practice take."
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Well, that is really one for the children, as I think I must have hung out with some good people as I am happy with my direction........my practice has improved of late too.
I worked a long day today, which I enjoyed, but was tired when I got home. Spook had made the tea and the children had been taking it easy all day so were wanting to do something together in the evening. Thankfully, they settled on the world globe puzzle we bought them for Christmas, so we all had a really productive and friendly, non-competitive attempt at putting it together. Meg was embroiled in Antartica and a lot of sea, while Finn got tangled up in the Arctic, Russia, Canada, Northern Scandinavia, and I got completely lost in Africa. Spook hung out in Southern America for a while, and we all met up at different places. It was very absorbing and educational as we discovered where the Kara Sea is, the Anderson Islands, and the Sea of Khotsk. Most unusual, was the total lack of fighting!
Then we took a break to watch the Bear Family and Me, filmed by a man from Mull, who is married to a friends cousin. Great stuff.
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Well, that is really one for the children, as I think I must have hung out with some good people as I am happy with my direction........my practice has improved of late too.
I worked a long day today, which I enjoyed, but was tired when I got home. Spook had made the tea and the children had been taking it easy all day so were wanting to do something together in the evening. Thankfully, they settled on the world globe puzzle we bought them for Christmas, so we all had a really productive and friendly, non-competitive attempt at putting it together. Meg was embroiled in Antartica and a lot of sea, while Finn got tangled up in the Arctic, Russia, Canada, Northern Scandinavia, and I got completely lost in Africa. Spook hung out in Southern America for a while, and we all met up at different places. It was very absorbing and educational as we discovered where the Kara Sea is, the Anderson Islands, and the Sea of Khotsk. Most unusual, was the total lack of fighting!
Then we took a break to watch the Bear Family and Me, filmed by a man from Mull, who is married to a friends cousin. Great stuff.
Monday, 3 January 2011
Nae Spark in wur Plugs.
"As the fletcher straightens the arrow, so the man of understanding makes straight the trembling unsteady mind, which is difficult to guard (and) difficult to restrain."
The Bhudda
Ah well, I worked hard to straighten my unsteady mind at Braehead today as my daughter and I attempted some sales shopping. But she became unwell, and after an early start of 8.15am and a 2.5hr journey to get there in decent time, she had to bail out after midday. We got back to the car to head for my sisters to recuperate, and it wouldn't start - not a peep. I was just phoning the AA, when the engine next to us fired up and I saw a family tucking their kids into the car. I couldn't believe our luck and we got jump started within 5 minutes. I do feel that my steady mind, which I had restrained from a hissy fit at the lack of spark in our plugs led to some good Karma.
My brother-in-law put the battery on charge, while my daughter's batteries were replenished by some pancakes and cousin contact. We drove up the road through some pretty heavy snow on Rannoch Moor and played a great game of eye spy, which had to be inventive, as we couldn't see very much.
It was a precious day, despite the lack of purchases, but we made a promise to try again in February, with a new battery and a new quote.
The Bhudda
Ah well, I worked hard to straighten my unsteady mind at Braehead today as my daughter and I attempted some sales shopping. But she became unwell, and after an early start of 8.15am and a 2.5hr journey to get there in decent time, she had to bail out after midday. We got back to the car to head for my sisters to recuperate, and it wouldn't start - not a peep. I was just phoning the AA, when the engine next to us fired up and I saw a family tucking their kids into the car. I couldn't believe our luck and we got jump started within 5 minutes. I do feel that my steady mind, which I had restrained from a hissy fit at the lack of spark in our plugs led to some good Karma.
My brother-in-law put the battery on charge, while my daughter's batteries were replenished by some pancakes and cousin contact. We drove up the road through some pretty heavy snow on Rannoch Moor and played a great game of eye spy, which had to be inventive, as we couldn't see very much.
It was a precious day, despite the lack of purchases, but we made a promise to try again in February, with a new battery and a new quote.
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder.
"We see things not as they are, but as we are."
Immanuel Kant.
And so when I woke up this morning at 9am, having gone to bed at 2am after much dancing and a tad too much whisky, and the quote was difficult to focus on, even after a cup of tea, I went back to bed until midday, and resurfaced when everything had become less fuzzy.
We had a really good time at the dance. It was the 20th anniversary since we came out with our relationship and had our first public kiss at this New Year dance. Still sweet!
I like to think that Spook will look at me with so much love that he will see the 26yr old girl there beside him, and not the 46yr old, ill-slept and over socialized, smudgy-eyed wifie.
Immanuel Kant.
And so when I woke up this morning at 9am, having gone to bed at 2am after much dancing and a tad too much whisky, and the quote was difficult to focus on, even after a cup of tea, I went back to bed until midday, and resurfaced when everything had become less fuzzy.
We had a really good time at the dance. It was the 20th anniversary since we came out with our relationship and had our first public kiss at this New Year dance. Still sweet!
I like to think that Spook will look at me with so much love that he will see the 26yr old girl there beside him, and not the 46yr old, ill-slept and over socialized, smudgy-eyed wifie.
Saturday, 1 January 2011
Flat Battery and Scorched Lungs.
"The truth does not scorch you nearly as fiercely as the suffering you bring upon yourself when you ignore the truth"
Bed at 3am this morning, and up at 8.30am to make coffee and pick up today's quote (that's 2 days in a row so not my turn to make coffee tomorrow, though that is not sounding very compassionate.)
'Don't stick your head in the sand' springs to mind with that advice. That may be why we were pushing the car to start it this morning, on our way to the uphill race at Nevis Range. Slightly scorched by not facing the fact that we need a new battery as well as the alternator we just bought, but less scorched than we would be financially if we didn't wait until pay day, as we do live on a hill and we got help at the race to jump start us on the way home. We have a lift to the dance tonight, so as pay day creeps closer, we should manage to get to where we need to, with a bit of jiggery pokkery.
I was also a little scorched around the lungs after the effort to get up the Downhill Cycle Track as fast as possible with so little training - a reminder, that if I manage to get a Ben Race entry this year, I will need to stop running on borrowed time.
I applied my calm mind to gazing at my husband to try and clear his furrowed brow while he brushed his teeth this morning. I'm not sure why it was furrowed - lack of sleep and a race ahead perhaps. This only served to deepen the lines, but entertained me no end and I had a fit of the giggles. I suppose if my new found approach to life keeps me happy, the rest of the family MAY benefit, if it doesn't drive them demented first.
Bed at 3am this morning, and up at 8.30am to make coffee and pick up today's quote (that's 2 days in a row so not my turn to make coffee tomorrow, though that is not sounding very compassionate.)
'Don't stick your head in the sand' springs to mind with that advice. That may be why we were pushing the car to start it this morning, on our way to the uphill race at Nevis Range. Slightly scorched by not facing the fact that we need a new battery as well as the alternator we just bought, but less scorched than we would be financially if we didn't wait until pay day, as we do live on a hill and we got help at the race to jump start us on the way home. We have a lift to the dance tonight, so as pay day creeps closer, we should manage to get to where we need to, with a bit of jiggery pokkery.
I was also a little scorched around the lungs after the effort to get up the Downhill Cycle Track as fast as possible with so little training - a reminder, that if I manage to get a Ben Race entry this year, I will need to stop running on borrowed time.
I applied my calm mind to gazing at my husband to try and clear his furrowed brow while he brushed his teeth this morning. I'm not sure why it was furrowed - lack of sleep and a race ahead perhaps. This only served to deepen the lines, but entertained me no end and I had a fit of the giggles. I suppose if my new found approach to life keeps me happy, the rest of the family MAY benefit, if it doesn't drive them demented first.
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