No Limit Women!

I think it's absolutely wonderful that so many people are no longer buying into a life of limitation.  Great thinkers for hundreds of years have encouraged us conceive, believe and achieve. That we are the generals of our own lives, and many of us are finally getting it.  It doesn't have to be anything grand like inventing a computer, or a motor that doesn't use fossil fuels.  No, it's the little freedoms that we are claiming as our own that are making differences in our health, well being and attitude to life.

Yesterday the World inspired me with what it had to show me.  I was sitting relaxing under a beautiful old oak tree in a wildlife preserve area and off in the distance I saw a group of riders coming my way.  Their horses were moving towards me at quite a determined clip and they had my total attention.

I used to ride back in the day, and it was the most exhilarating  feeling to have the wind flying through my hair as the hooves pounded beneath me.  The creak of the saddle leather, the smell of those sweaty shoulders in front of me, those delicate ears constantly swinging back to check on me then flipping forward to watch the terrain flying up to meet us, the mighty burst of power when I recklessly asked for more speed....aahh....that was living!  I was a teenager back then and absolutely fearless on a horse as most teenagers are.

 
As these riders swung out from the oak grove and into the parking lot beside me I saw they were all women.  The first couple dismounted and allowed their horses to drink in the watering tank and the others lined up in couples behind them, patiently waiting their turn.  As they swung off their sweaty steeds it became apparent that most of these ladies weren't teenagers.  In fact, several of these bold riders probably were grandparents to teenagers.  They looked very stiff, quite sore, and yet I didn't not hear any complaints.  Their faces were beaming with pride and they petted and loved on their gentle partners,  pulled the saddles off and fed them treats.

These women had no such limiting belief that they were too old, too heavy  or too infirm  to ride.  No way!  These gals were out for a good time.  What an inspiration they were. 

"Was it as good for you as it was for me?"

Heading home for a hot shower.

The Law of Least Effort

It's been quite the year of not-so-much-fun events for me this year. 

I've had plenty of opportunities to grow as each new challenge dropped unexpectedly into my lap from seemingly a great height, bringing with it a new set of situations I have to find a way of dealing with.  I know that I'm not the only one and I truly feel for those whose situations seem to be an unrelenting grind of exaggerated proportions.

It seems to me, though, that when I can take time to quieten myself down after each broadside the World does offer a teaching, or simply just an alternative way of looking at the situation.  Yesterday, after the latest upheaval, I was sitting quietly re-reading that classic book of Dr Deepak Chopra's "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success" looking for some inspiration.  As I was reading the Law of Least Effort I noticed some movement in the bushes outside my window.  Some little rodent was in the bush.  I'd seen glimpses of it before but as soon as it felt my eyes on it it instantly disappeared.  It occurred to me that I would borrow  Deepak's law and see if I could get a picture of the little rodent, after all I don't believe in coincidences; that creature was in the bush in front of me for a reason.  I quietly and easily, without any exaggerated effort, got out of my chair, collected my camera, sat back down and looked through my Lens.   The little fella was still there and it made it quite clear that it was watching me as I was watching it, and it was not in any mood to leave until it was good and ready!

So what was different about my energy that invited the animal to share the space this time and not on other occasions?  The only difference that comes to mind is that this time I was going to take a picture of it.  On other days it was oh my gosh! Look at that! Where's my camera?... oh, never mind - it's gone already.


This was the teaching the World had for me this time.  As the famous Yoda said, there is no try.  There is only do or not do, and when I release all the drama and angst from any situation the way becomes clear, although not always easy.  The Law of Least Effort in action.

I'm not quite sure what animal this is so I'm linking this to the Nature Notes at Rambling Woods as I'm sure Michelle or someone else will identify it for me.

“It is Never too Little ….

even when the task seems absolutely daunting”.

That is the message the World presented to me though my Lens today.
The beautiful patch of desert that is now my home is quite close to a town, and unfortunately illegal dumping of trash seems to be the name of the game.  Vast acres of once pristine desert has been liberally dredged with trash.  Very disheartening, I thought.


The World, however, had a different take on it.  This morning as I was walking earlier than usual I came across my neighbors diligently bagging up trash.  When I commented on it they told me that every day when walking they gathered up stray trash and placed debris in piles along the trail, then on trash pick-up morning they hauled their piles out to a pick up point.
Now there are three of us gathering trash each day.

the beginning of another trash cache

One of the trails requiring attention.

I am linking this to http://ramblingwoods.com as my Nature Notes  for the week.

It's a Wide World Out There

My blogging has been by the wayside for a while now. Its just a fledgling little blog and my life got a little complicated, so it just didn't seem to matter.

Or did it?

The World had an interesting message for me this week: my life isn't just all about me!  Yes, I laugh when I hear this phrase, however, we are all connected in ways that really are unfathomable from our simple 3-D perspective.  The truth is I cannot ever know just how my actions are going to affect others, no matter where they are, so it really does pay to be mindful.

My little blog with it's 15 followers is reaching people of the far side of the world who I didn't even know used computers, and the message the World had for me was meaningful to them, too.

This one is for you, Jen, and thank you so much for visiting here.

Moving, Moving, Moving

It's been quite a year for me and I'm not yet half way through it.  Oh, my!

Once again I'm settling into a new home. There has been plenty of opportunity for me to go down "Freak Out Lane" as this is my forth home since January.  Plans are made, then they disintegrate before my eyes; what seems solid proves to be an illusion, so walking the path of faith and gratitude seems to be what I'm required to do, at least for the moment.

As always, the World is communicating with me through my Lens - when I take time to notice, of course!  It's been very interesting as I haven't had a regular internet connection, and so without the distraction that goes with internet surfing, I'm finding myself being grounded and in the present moment.  Paying attention to the moment and being grateful to friends, family and circumstances in my life.

Sundown in the desert.

Mesquite flowers

Chilling in the park

Chilling in the stream

Right now, the only 'now' I have, the World shows me all is well in my world.

                                          

National Public Gardens Day 2011

I'm constantly finding what I choose to dwell on is being manifested for me very quickly these days, sometimes to my dismay and other times to my delight.  When I connect the dots from my thought to its manifestation it becomes apparent cleaning up my thoughts is good idea.

This is exactly why the World Lens is all about finding what's right in the world and highlighting it.

Today I stumbled across a little known event happening tomorrow.  It is the 3rd Annual National Public Gardens Day.  This day was organized by the American Public Gardens Association and Rain Bird to promote the importance of public gardens in the community. They would like to promote and educate the public on environmental stewardship, seasonal considerations, geographic considerations and, of course, plant and water conservation.

This year the NPGD has teamed up with Better Homes and Gardens who are offering a free admission coupon to a participating garden in your area. You can click the link above to download your coupon.

Any attempt to promote awareness and care of this beautiful planet is enthusiastically encouraged by me so no prizes for guessing where I'll be tomorrow morning with my camera......

I'm linking this to the Nature Notes blog

The Tenacity of a Mesquite - Nature Notes 20110420

Mesquite on Sunrise Street, Palm Springs

Sometimes circumstances throw curve balls at us.  Who hasn't had one of those?  Some may even consider we are currently all facing a global curve ball. 

For me every day brings something different, not always bad, often it's good, but it all requires assimilating.  It seems as though I am being tested on a whole lot of levels: am I going to trust that I am safe and that everything will work out for my best and highest good, and the highest good of those around me, or will I succumb to that overwhelming fear many are facing.  It's not easy trying to anticipate what's happening next and how I'm going to deal with it - whatever 'it' is.  As I was pondering the quirks of fate and the unknowingness of it all the vision of an ancient Mesquite tree I'd seen recently popped into my mind.

Look at this old girl!  She's been broken, she's been twisted, she's been hacked with a chainsaw, and she's even been down, but still she prevails.  The tortured limbs are still able to send up fresh green shoots. This old mesquite has been through more than I'll ever know but she's not succumbing to her 'story'.  Once again the World brought me back into balance through my Lens.  I trust I will never have to go through what this old tree has been through.  No, I'll just keep sending up new shoots and not look back.

Nature Notes for this week.