Monday, 30 November 2015

Spark

Realizing that love is a divine spark in one's heart, 
one blows that spark until a flame
 may rise to illuminate the path of one's life. 
 - Hazrat Inavat Khan

Friday, 27 November 2015

Perfection

Our image of perfection is the reason 
why we reject ourselves the way we are, 
and why we don't accept others the way they are. 
 - Don Miguel Ruiz

Wednesday, 25 November 2015

Adventures

There is no end to the adventures that we can have 
if only we seek them with our eyes open. 
 - Jawaharial Nehru

Monday, 23 November 2015

Reality

Reality is that which, 
when you stop believing in it, 
doesn’t go away.
 - Phillip Dick 

Friday, 20 November 2015

November 20, 2015 Chautauqua


Beth's Ponderings

   I am sure I have mentioned before that I don’t really like shopping - unless it is in a bookstore - I can spend hours in a bookstore.  

   I enjoy buying things, I just don’t like the process of going into a store and looking for what I want, and not always finding it.  I prefer to go in, and then get out as quickly as possible.  And, for me, grocery shopping is the worst.

   That is one reason why I prefer shopping in small town stores where everyone knows you, and your preferences.  There is a chance to visit and catch up, and finding what you want doesn’t become an elaborate scavenger hunt.

   Yet, during this healing journey, shopping - especially grocery shopping - has been a bit of an adventure.  Mainly because I was trying to figure out what was safe for me to eat, so I was constantly on the look out for different products and items.

   In the past two and a half years of twice-weekly (then graduating to weekly) appointments in Red Deer, I needed to find a place to buy groceries, and I chose Eastview IGA.  The reasons for my choice were: I didn’t have to drive far off of Ross Street to get to it, I could park right outside the door, the produce section and tills were very close to the door, and they had a large selection of pre-cut fruit (and cut more if I needed it).  Important considerations when I was still rather weak.  

   While it is a city store, it feels more like one in a small town.  I’ve gotten to know some of the staff, and they’ve kept an eye on me - seems they were concerned about me collapsing in the aisles in the beginning - and my food purchases as I’ve progressed on this healing journey.  They’ve teased me about bringing Co-op bags to an IGA store and we catch up as I go through the till.

   So, I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to Joe, Shara, Becky, Bruce, Lynnie, MJ, Dorothy, Christine, Helen, Samantha, Lorna, Doris, Dallas, Tammy, Calvin, Donald, and everyone else (sorry I don’t know all your names yet) who work at the Eastview IGA for making it such a delight to shop in your store...from the “Fruit Lady”

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mnpftU0VZ7SzqnGfB4gIv9su92s0T9y6/view?usp=sharing

Contact The Chautauqua via email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua

Wednesday, 18 November 2015

Fear

Fear is healthy.  
Panic is dangerous. 
 - Jay Moriarity

Monday, 16 November 2015

Today

 Stop trying to be the person you were yesterday 
and let yourself be the person you are today. 
 - Author unknown

Friday, 13 November 2015

Love

Love is the knot you tie in your proverbial rope, 
to hang onto while God 
works out His will in your life. 
- Charlotte Hubbard

Wednesday, 11 November 2015

Battle

Check your road
 and the nature of your battle. 
- Ayn Rand

Monday, 9 November 2015

Throw Away

You don't throw a whole life away
 just 'cause it's banged up a little bit.
 - Mark Joyner

Friday, 6 November 2015

November 6, 2015 Chautauqua


Beth's Ponderings
 
    Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate. - Jordan Bach

   I do not participate in protests, nor do I tend to sign petitions, and I avoid boycotts if at all possible.  I also do not sympathize with those involved in strikes.

   The reason is that those methods of showing displeasure and demanding change rarely bring about the desired change.  This is true even if the point is only to raise public awareness.  It may grab people’s attention for a moment, but then their own concerns occupy their thoughts.

   Another reason, is that these methods of protest generally put the emphasize and focus on the opposite of what they want, then the results end up being the opposite of what they want, and then they can’t figure out why.

   Anti-drug campaigns, anti-war campaigns and others put the focus on drugs, war and whatever else they are fighting, and not in an educational awareness way.

   Truthfully, education and awareness are not lacking for most of these issues.  In fact, we are overloaded with information and statistics to the point it becomes just background noise.

   Even the all to common “Don’t Drink And Drive” campaigns don’t work.  Everyone knows that drinking and driving is wrong and that it endangers lives, yet it still happens every day, and lives are still lost.

   Maybe if they changed the slogan to something such as “Have Fun And Arrive Home Safe” they would see the results that they desire.

   Or are you trying to lose weight?  A more positive approach would be to focus your efforts on gaining health which is a more wholistic approach than just losing some pounds.

   Our memories are short and for a campaign to be successful, repetition is necessary.  Yet, what is being repeated should be what is wanted.

   Granted, sometimes it is easier to figure out what you don't want - we seem to be wired to notice the negative more than the positive - but once you figure it out, shift the focus to the positive and watch your results change.

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_jEldvggPzWl4OhMU2qli00VHbNtk9Iu/view?usp=sharing

Contact The Chautauqua via email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua

Wednesday, 4 November 2015

Fair

Expecting the world to treat you fairly 
because you are a good person 
is a little like expecting 
the bull not to attack you
 because you are a vegetarian. 
 - Dennis Wholey

Monday, 2 November 2015

Breathing

If you're breathing, things are looking good...
Your job is to be the best you can be in this moment, 
dealing with whatever is directly in front of you, 
one small step at a time.  
And when you need help, ask for it.  
- Dr. Bernie Siegel

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