Friday, 26 February 2021

Exhale

Exhale first. 
Your body already knows how to take the next breath 
without you having to "figure it out" or put it on your list.
 Hallelujah, one less thing to do!
   - Lisa Medley

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Now

Live like no one else now, 
so later you can live like no one else.  
- Dave Ramsey

Monday, 22 February 2021

Truth

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, 
but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off 
as if nothing ever happened. 
 - Winston Churchill

Friday, 19 February 2021

February 19, 2021 Chautauqua


Beth's Ponderings

   I don’t usually write about the weather, however, last time we were in the midst of a blizzard, and this week (as I write this), we are in the midst of extreme cold with windchill in the –40 to –50s.

   Winter is naturally a time to pause.  Unlike other seasons, there is no planting, no intense activity (we haven’t even had much snow to shovel this winter), and we’re not busy harvesting.

   Winter is when we get a chance to slow down from the busyness of the rest of year and put our feet up (preferably with a mug of hot chocolate!)

   It’s a time for snuggling in warm blankets and sweaters.  A time for lighting candles and fireplaces.  A time for savouring hot stews and chili. A time for completing indoor projects that we don’t have time to do the rest of the year.  And, a time for staying indoors out of the extreme cold (provided you don’t have a job that requires you to venture out).

   Winter is the time when we make our plans and dreams for the rest of year - plans that will be executed when the weather is warmer.  While, we are still in a situation that makes planning a bit of a challenge, there are still lots of areas of our lives that we can make plans to enhance. 

   Pause and take advantage of the winter to do some future dreaming.

Beth 

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l1ZnJg6IEPAZWB9DWVG7K4DAqmdGtXOQ/view?usp=sharing

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

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

Dreams

The dark is for dreams - 
and morning is for making them come true.  
- Chris Hatfield

Monday, 15 February 2021

Children

As parents, we should allow our children 
to grow up and become their own people.  
We should not expect them to be exactly like us. 
 - Kahlil Gibran

Friday, 12 February 2021

Giving

Express your aliveness by giving – 
of yourself, of your resources, of your heart.  
- Patti Digh

Wednesday, 10 February 2021

Integrity

Popularity allows you to live with others, 
but integrity allows you to live with yourself. 
 - Bruce & Stan

Monday, 8 February 2021

Success

Remember that success is not a destination, but a process. 
 As long as we are engaged in the process(es) of what we want to be doing, 
we can consider ourselves a daily or even hourly success.  
- Laurie Beth Jones

Friday, 5 February 2021

February 5, 2021 Chautauqua



Beth's Ponderings

   As I write this, the snow is falling - okay, truthfully, it’s snowing and blowing up quite the storm right now.  By and large, we’ve been very lucky this winter to have such lovely mild conditions so far, even if this week looks and feels like winter. BRRRRRRRR!

   As I thought about what I wanted to write today, I realized what I really wanted to do was just sit and watch the snow fall. 

   Sometimes we need to stop everything we are doing, or stressing about what we want to do, and just watch what is happening around us, whether it is the snow falling, a candle burning, a sunrise or a sunset.

   There is an old saying “that a change is as good as a rest,” meaning that we can get excited and recharged by changing what we are doing, thinking, or even where we are.  How many times have you felt too tired to do something, or go somewhere, but as soon as you went, you got a second wind and felt energized?  But sometimes, what we need is a rest.

   For too many of us, rest may mean that our body is still, but our mind isn’t as we still worry and fret about what we think we have to worry and fret about, or our very long list of to-do’s.  Mental - and even emotional - activity is even more exhausting than physical activity!

   Yet, when we really pause - to watch the snow fall or a candle burning, or whatever you notice - in those moments (even if they only last a heartbeat or two), we are revived at a deep soul level, and we are able to move forward with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mlpSWh0g3QXWYoIVmjwhRHSd4oxLWGiP/view?usp=sharing

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

Wednesday, 3 February 2021

Simplified

A simplified life means that what has to get done will get done. 
And when we pare down life to its simplest,
 most beautifully basic parts, we’re left with room 
to enjoy each other, to rest, and to truly savor life 
with all our hearts, minds, and spirits. 
~Emily Ley

Monday, 1 February 2021

Crafting

The first step in crafting the life you want 
is to get rid of everything you don’t. 
  - Joshua Becker

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