Monday 30 December 2013

Plan B

The most successful people 
are those who are good at Plan B. 
– James Yorke

Friday 27 December 2013

Baggage

Just stop adding unnecessary baggage 
to who you already are. 
 – Eckhart Tolle

Wednesday 25 December 2013

Presents

Your children need your presence
rather than your presents!
- Michael Gold

Merry Christmas!

Monday 23 December 2013

Success

The optimal formula for success: 
Work hard, rest, work hard, rest…
the optimal formula for disaster: 
Work hard, work hard, work hard. 
 – John Bingham

Friday 20 December 2013

December 20, 2013 Chautauqua

 
From the Editor's Computer

   I would like to say Thank You to the wonderful people who have shovelled our sidewalks, helped me get vehicles unstuck, and generally bailed me out.  I really appreciate all you do.  

~ ~ ~

   Here we are on the eve of the Winter Solstice.  The time of year where the day is shortest and the night is longest.  And, in our climate, there is usually lots of cold wind and snow on the ground.

   Ancient societies knew of the importance of the sun to their survival, especially in the northern hemisphere’s harsh winters, so the naturally decreasing sunlight would have been a grave concern to them.  Did we anger the gods?  Is the end of the world coming?  Are we all doomed?

   Of course, in these modern times, we know that it is the rotation and tilt of the earth that causes the solstice, but are we really any more advanced than the ancient societies during this time of year?

   We worry and fret, wear ourselves out, hustle and bustle, cram more and more into our days as we prepare for Christmas.

   At a time when we should be following nature’s example and slowing down, pausing, reflecting, resting and sleeping more than waking, we do the complete opposite.

   The ancient societies - especially the Celts in Ireland and Scotland - built elaborate observatories so that they could await the arrival of the first beam of sunlight the first day after the solstice. 

   Why?  Because they were filled with hope.  They knew that no matter how cold, bleak, and dark the longest night was, the dawn would come and the days would get longer and brighter again.

   No matter how dark your days and night may be, no matter how long they may last, there is always hope for a new sunrise heralding a new beginning, and better times ahead.

   This year, take a moment to pause and reflect this solstice and when dawn arrives in the morning, embrace the hope it brings to you - whatever challenges you may be experiencing.
 
   Merry Christmas to you and yours! 

Beth  
 
Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tKd5pERpJKwmH86Hykl1osDkrMM8ZPKR/view?usp=sharing

To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.

Wednesday 18 December 2013

Turmoil

So much of the turmoil in our lives 
is the product of imagined ideas
 about how some other person thinks or feels. 
- Author Unknown

Monday 16 December 2013

Answers

When we feel okay within ourselves, 
we are less impatient for answers.   
– Laura Berman Fortgang

Friday 13 December 2013

Place

The snow falls, 
each flake in its appropriate place.
 – Zen saying

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Fail


When you fail, 
nothing bad happens to you…
the world forgets and the world forgives.  
 - Author Unknown

Monday 9 December 2013

Thinking

Very little is needed to make a happy life; 
it is all within yourself, 
in your way of thinking.   
- Marcus Aurelius

Friday 6 December 2013

December 6, 2013 Chautauqua

 
From the Editor's Computer 
 
   What is normal?

   For the past few months I’ve been trying to maintain as much semblance of normalcy as I can in my life. Which in light of what I am going through, is really a foolish waste of my limited energy.

   My life is not normal (as I’ve known it to be in the past). Nor, in the future, will it return to any familiar form that I could consider normal.

   I’m not alone in this endeavour. Everyone does it at one point or another.  When a major change occurs in our lives, we cling tightly to as much of the familiar as we can. Usually to keep us sane as live hurls out of control.

   We think that if we can keep some things the same that we can control the changes that are occurring, or (our usual reaction) completely ignore the changes.

   But life doesn’t work like that. More often than we care to admit, our lives change - sometimes it is a series of small changes so we barely notice, sometimes it is a massive change that we can’t ignore, and sometimes it is both at once! Sometimes we instigate the changes, and sometimes the changes are beyond our control.

   In times like this, trying to maintain a state of normalcy is futile. Whatever was “normal” yesterday is rarely normal for us today, and definitely not any form of recognizable normal tomorrow.

   Instead of clinging to the old way of living, we should be exploring the emerging new way. I won’t say “embrace the new way” as that takes a while, and by the time we are ready, another change has often occurred and the cycle starts over again.

   For me, letting go of my idea of normal means acknowledging that I am no longer the very early morning person I’ve always been, and the course of my day doesn’t follow the routines I’ve been used to. As well, I must realize that I can’t keep going and pushing myself when I’m tired.  But the biggie...realizing I’m not able to be as efficient as I want.

   Am I there yet? Nope! But each day I get one step closer, and that helps minimize the stress in my life and body, and aids the healing.

Beth  
 
Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_3oE-hdUgjq8UsNh7dgeYafUKg2IniQ-/view?usp=sharing

To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Nature

Nature is infinitely patient, infinitely calm.   
Everything comes, everything passes.
- Author Unknown

Monday 2 December 2013

Complicate

While man complicates his life, 
every other creature is busy enjoying it.
- Author Unknown