Ray of Sunshine: Rest and Renew

Make time for rest, reflection, and renewal. Take care of your mind, body, and spirit.

Blessings for your day and week. Spread sunshine. Be the light.

Sunday Sunshine: Rest. Renew. Recharge.

March is here -- that glorious month that heralds the beginning of spring. It’s easy now to begin filling your calendar with commitments, celebrations and activities. It’s easy to feel as if you’re running yourself ragged.

There is a gift, however, that you can give yourself, wrapped in a pretty spring bow. Give yourself time to refill your spiritual well and recharge your battery. You are more productive when you engage in self-care.

Spring is a season of renewal. Take a cue from nature.

Each day, make room in your busyness to take care of you. Read a chapter in a book. Take a walk. Listen to some good music. Write in a journal. Spend time outdoors. Close your eyes and meditate. Take a cat nap.

Today, this week: Rest. Renew. Recharge.

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Rest, Relax, Renew

This is a busy time of year. It’s easy fill your calendar with holiday commitments, celebrations and to-do lists. It’s easy to feel as if you’re running yourself ragged.

There is a gift, however, that you can give yourself during this holiday of gift-giving. Give yourself time to refill your spiritual well and recharge your battery.

Each day, make room in your busyness to take care of you. Read a chapter in a book. Take a walk. Listen to some good music. Close your eyes and take a cat nap.

Today, this week: Rest. Relax. Renew.

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Time to Grow

Just as the grass is beginning to grow, the trees are budding, and the early spring flowers are starting to lift their heads out of the soil, we, too, have opportunities to rise and shine during this glorious season of growth and renewal.

Today is a new day. Today marks a new week. Look for opportunities for your creative energies and ideas to form. Look for ways for you to grow as a person.

Today, this week: Be Spring! Bloom! Grow!

New Season

When I awoke today, a new season greeted me. Today is the vernal equinox, the first day of spring.  Spring is my favorite season.  I love the return of the robins, the increased daylight, the warm breezes, the gentle rain, the blooming flowers, the budding trees, and the overall cast of light spring green (my favorite color) that covers the landscape.  Inside tasks fall lower on my priority list because all I want to do is be outside to celebrate this wonderful time of year. Spring is symbolically a season of renewal.  The harsh reality of winter is cast aside for the hope that spring represents.  With the beginning of this new season, I have decided to give myself a break from the daily postings on this blog.  When I started writing Time to Be nearly 1 1/2 years ago, I had hoped to blog daily for a year (done) and then I hoped to compose 500 blog posts (done). I'll still keep writing, but not daily. I hope you'll check in now and again to follow along on my writing journey. I realize that I need to revel in all that spring has to offer right now and draw inspiration from this favorite season of mine for future blog posts.  Meanwhile, I'll simply enjoy some Time to Be.

Nothing Really Ends

Lately, parents of several of my friends and peers have been experiencing health changes or have passed away.  When you arrive in your 50s, such changes seem to represent a rite of passage for which most of us are ill-prepared.  In such difficult or perplexing times since my beloved mom passed away last year, I've found that I increasingly turn to the words of her favorite author, Gladys Taber, to find answers and solace.  So I did upon learning that my very good friend's father had passed away recently.  In Stillmeadow Calendar, I found these words to hopefully console her:  "I reflect that nothing really ends, but grows into something new."  I believe this is true in life and in our love for others, including perhaps especially those we have loved so much who have passed away.  If nothing really ends, but grows into something new, then my love and gratitude for my parents never ends, nor the memories I had with them or the realization that I am who I am because of them.  If I re-direct my thoughts and perspectives, the sorrow stings less and almost takes on a sweetness.  Nothing really great, really beautiful, really special ever ends.  We carry it always in our hearts.