Friday, 31 January 2014

Tranquility

Tranquility is not created.   
It is there in all of us already.   
We simply lose touch with it.
- author unknown

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Present

Your mind may wander
 to thoughts of the past or future, 
but your body is only in the present moment. 
 – Niurka

Monday, 27 January 2014

Mundane

It is usually in mundane matters 
that the most profound advances are made.
- author unknown

Friday, 24 January 2014

Second

Your whole life can change in a second, 
and you never even know when it’s coming. 
 – Laurence Galian

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

Strange

If you haven’t found something 
strange during the day, 
it hasn’t been much of a day. 
– John Wheeler

Monday, 20 January 2014

Complicated

We have attempted to make 
our simple lives even simpler, 
and have ended up making them 
a thousand times more complicated.
- Author unknown

Friday, 17 January 2014

January 17, 2014 Chautauqua


From the Editor's Computer


   Of late, different people I’ve talked to have asked me about items on my “bucket list” that I’ll do once my health has been restored.  The most common item suggested to me has been running a marathon.  I can tell you right now, that won’t happen.  Running has zero appeal for me.

   In truth, I don’t have a “bucket list” of items I want to accomplish before I die.  That said, I do have subjects I want to delve into, activities I’d like to try, skills I’d like to learn, places I wish to visit, people I’d like to meet, and more. 

   But, there is no panic or urgency to those wishes and desires.  If I don’t ever get to do any of the items, I won’t in any way feel like a failure, or that my life has been a waste.

   I certainly don’t need to accomplish anything to “prove” to myself what I am capable of doing.  Due to past experiences and illnesses (I have gone through this before), I know with certainty that I am more than capable of doing whatever I decide I want to do – usually the real challenge has been deciding what I want to do!

   As well, I know how far I can push myself – I wouldn’t still be on my feet at all if I didn’t know that, nor would you be reading each issue of The Chautauqua. Not long ago, I had a friend tell me I sure don’t act like someone who is convalescing from a serious illness.

   I have also learnt what happens when I push myself too much!  Or at least what happens when I push myself in the wrong direction for me.

   So, I think the message is not that I need to heal so I can conquer the world - though I am still working at that in my own fashion - and accomplish items on a “list,” but rather, that I need to stop pushing, achieving, and doing. 

   Slowing down, stepping out of the norm, not following the general  societal consensus, and marching to my own beat seem to be what is working for me.  And why not, since that is who I really am at heart.

   And who knows...maybe when I feel more energetic, I may change my mind and create a bucket list after all?  If I do, I still won’t add running to the list!

Beth 
 
Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OgqwN7VTxVx4SkuIuK7prQ19bNF_k9vF/view?usp=sharing

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

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

Yesterday

Nobody got to where they are today 
without beginning where they were yesterday. 
- Author Unknown

Monday, 13 January 2014

Path

For me there is only the traveling 
on paths that have heart, 
on any path that may have heart, 
and the only worthwhile challenge 
is to traverse its full length – 
and there I travel looking, 
looking breathlessly. 
  – Carlos Castaneda

Friday, 10 January 2014

Heart

Remembering that you are going to die 
is the best way I know 
to avoid the trap of thinking 
you have something to lose…
There is no reason not to follow your heart. 
– Steve Jobs

Wednesday, 8 January 2014

Yourself

The key to know yourself...
is to let go of the idea 
that you need to find something 
that isn’t already present…
That which you seek is you. 
 – Niurka

Monday, 6 January 2014

Arrow

The moment you release the arrow,
 you must let go.  
 Release the desire to make the arrow
 fly the way you hope or think it should.   
Allow the arrow to fly unencumbered.   
– Niurka

Friday, 3 January 2014

January 3, 2014 Chautauqua

 
From the Editor's Computer


   Ever notice how much easier it is to give others advice? 

   The cliché “what you resist persists” must have been coined just for me as it is more true than I ever want to admit.

   I want my body to heal in MY way, on MY timetable, at MY convenience.  Ha!  My body and life don’t seem to realize their role in this whole journey, or they do and are completely ignoring me.

   Thus, I have finally realized that I can’t make my body heal through the sheer force of my incredible will.  In fact, the more will power I exert, the longer everything takes.

   So, I’m giving in…I surrender. 

   Please note: that does NOT mean that I’m giving up!  It means I will not fight what is happening any more.

   When I have a setback, I will weather through it.  I will no longer try to fight my way out, or stress myself trying to figure what triggered it. 

   My body is obviously healing in its own way, on its own timetable.  My life is changing in its own way, on its own timetable.  All I can do is step out of the way and allow things to happen as they happen.

   I will now take each moment as it comes.  Or at least do my best.  I know I’ll probably forget more times than I’ll care to admit as habits are hard to break, and this is a lot easier to say than it is to practice.

   But maybe, just maybe, easing the pressure on myself to heal the way I think I should, will bring about the healing I want to experience.  It’s worth a shot, since MY way hasn’t been too effective so far.

   On Christmas Eve I noticed the clouds looked just like a pair of outstretched angel wings which filled the entire eastern sky for a moment.

    This new year I invite you to stretch your own personal wings.  You don’t even have to do anything wild or outrageous.  Just stop adding unnecessary baggage to who you already are. (Eckhart Tolle)

   You may find it the most risky thing you’ve ever done in your life...to just be yourself exactly as you are.  Not as you think you should be, or someone else thinks you should be, or even how you want to be.  Accept that you are the way you are right now, and enjoy the new year!

Beth  
 
Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/153sKNH8SjbLaWDsaahXaZ3VD5B6cfdGD/view?usp=sharing

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

Wednesday, 1 January 2014

New Year

Many people look forward to the new year
 for a new start on old habits. 
 ~ Author Unknown

Happy New Year!
 
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