Wednesday, 9 December 2015

Wrist

The difference between a helping hand 
and an outstretched palm
 is a twist of the wrist.
  - Laurence Leamer

Monday, 7 December 2015

Life Expectancy

The good news is that life expectancy is increasing; 
the bad news is that the extra years 
are tacked on at the end.
 - author unknown 

Friday, 4 December 2015

December 4, 2015 Chautauqua


Beth's Ponderings
 
   What are you missing or lacking in your life?  

   A refill for your coffee?  A parking space at work?  Money in your bank account?  Someone to love you?  Time?  Safety?  Peace on earth?

   No matter what you think is missing or lacking in your life, the truth is that NOTHING is missing.  

   We get so hung up on the “form” we want the elusive thing to appear in, that we are blinded to the many forms that it does manifest in our lives. 

   For example, if your coffee cup is empty, you aren't really “lacking” coffee as there is probably more in the pot, and if not, then there is coffee in the jar to make more, and if not, then you can buy a cup ready-made at the coffee shop, or go to the store to get another jar to make more.  There is no “lack” of coffee in your world.

   If you think you are lacking money, look at where you do have money - change in a jar or under the couch cushions (never underestimate how fast coins can add up), some money in a coat pocket, money in a savings account, or a paycheque arriving on payday.

   If you think you are lacking time, think again - you woke up today which means you potentially have another 24 hrs or 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds at your disposal.  That’s a lot of time.  

   If you think you are “lacking” love, look around – you are alive, the sun still rose this morning to ensure your continued existence, and there is oxygen in the air for you to breathe.  That's a whole lot of pretty significant love right there.  Add in the approximately 7 billion people on this planet and you’ll find that no matter who you are, there is at least one other person in this world who will find you and like you.

   No matter what you think you are missing or lacking in your life, it is there somewhere.  Be open to recognizing that there are a multitude of ways and means that our desires can be, and are, fulfilled every moment of every day.

   “Try not to get hung up on the how and instead allow.” - Gabrielle Bernstein. 

 Beth

 Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IlSKb9wlrEeOY5HDaC54bSm2mRkz9iFg/view?usp=sharing

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

Wednesday, 2 December 2015

Happiness

It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves,
 and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.  
- Agnes Repplier

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

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