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Gratitude Sunday, August 3: Mother and Daughters

“Mothers and Daughters are Closest, when Daughters Become Mothers”

I am grateful this Sunday to begin the week in the presence of my two daughters as we begin our Fifth Annual Mother-Daughter Vacation in Martha’s Vineyard.

Rental House, Martha’s Vineyard, Oak Bluff, Mass.

Especially, grateful for the gift of these precious moments with my daughters to:

Reminisce about our past;
Discuss our moments in the present; and
Share our dreams for the future.

The Beginning of a New Passion

Living, Learning and Letting Go

During the last week of June 2011, I had a series of eye-opening experiences. As the week came to a close, I realized I also had a new direction in my life, the beginning of a new service project. How this project came about seemed almost mystical to me.

Some background first. Amma* has asked us for years to chant the Sri Lalitha Sahasranama** (also called archana) daily. While I have not been consistent in my chanting, I have had numerous powerful experiences when I have followed her direction to chant it daily. This was one of those times.

My normal practice is to read/chant the text while walking. I generally take one of four routes so that I know the terrain and can be focusing on the chant rather than my feet! This is what unfolded during those seven days in June 2011:

Day 1

I chanted the archana…

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Finding Great Support After a Cancer Diagnosis

The Traveling Swing Play Set

In 1998, the eldest daughter purchased and had this swing play set erected in her backyard. I said, “Oh, this is great for the grands. Little did I know how much happiness and joy this swing play set would open my life up to.

Location #1

During the summer months, the swing play set area was where I spent quality one-on-one time with my grandchildren.

Their play set activities quickly expanded beyond swinging, climbing, and sliding.

And the creative, spontaneous and impromptu activities took over. I began to wonder whether, “Did my children lack imagination as kids? Or, are these grandkids little creative geniuses?”

The two partially closed-off areas of the play set was their stage; and, they gifted me with self-directed, memorable, and creative performances in many:

Talent Shows
Dance Contests
Musicals
Plays

Eventually, the older two grandchildren lost interest. And the swing play set stayed childless in the eldest daughter’s backyard for several years.

Location #2

The eldest daughter decided to gift the swing play set to her sister; and, it moved to a new backyard.

Happy summer days again, sitting in youngest daughter’s backyard sharing new swing play set experiences with my youngest grandson, CJ. This neighborhood was more child friendly and the swing play set was a magnet to attract other boys in CJs age range.

They competed; and, I acted as the judge to select the:

Highest Swinger
Strongest Monkey Bar Hanger
Best Backward Slider

Now, a 14-year-old, CJ backyard activities revolve around soccer and basketball. So, several weeks ago, youngest daughter gifted the swing play set to her brother.

Location #3

The play set is now in the backyard of the home we own in Wisconsin. After we retired and relocated to Florida, our son moved into the house with his five-year-old daughter.

Though, I will not spend the same amount of time with Cupcake, as she explores and discovers different swing play set activities; I will patiently wait until next summer to have this special experience with her.

Why the Traveling Swing Play Set Is Important

This swing set has been a part of my life for more than sixteen years; and, I am happy that it now sits in the backyard of our Wisconsin home for our youngest granddaughter.

Ultimately, Cupcake will outgrow the swing play set, When this happens, I hope it moves to a new place, that will bring happiness and joy to other children and their families

I am grateful to my four grandchildren for my past, present and future memories of spending time with them on The Traveling Swing Play Set.

My Healing Container Garden

A gardener, I am not. But, when I retired to Florida more than four years ago, I decided our lanai was too cold and sterile. So to add life, I purchased a few plants to bring color and life into this space.

Since that time, the container garden has gotten bigger and bigger. Daily, I retreat to My Healing Garden to meditate, pray, and be still.

My Healing Garden Photos

12 Ideas For Breast Cancer Healing Gardens That Bring Comfort And Peace

My healing container garden uplifts me spiritually, emotionally and physically. Within this special space, I relax, meditate, and most important, I AM STILL.

Breast Cancer Authority

By Breast Cancer Yoga Staff.

Breast cancer therapy gardens can take as many forms as the plants within them, the end results are the same-healing spaces that bring comfort and peace to those who use them. The reshaping of your environment can promote prevention of health problems. Therapeutic gardens and horticulture therapy are a great part of a holistic approach to recovery.

Healing Garden Ideas:

1. Use lush, colorful planting that is varied and interesting
2. Use flowering plants over several seasons to mark the seasons and provide a sense of cyclical rhythm throughout the year.
3. Use trees whose foliage moves easily and creates noise even in a slight breeze.
4. Use plants and other devices (such as feeders and birdbaths) to attract birds and butterflies.
5. Use a harmonious variety of plant textures, forms and colors.
6. If possible, add a water feature. Moving water creates a…

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10 Tips for Better Air Travel with Fibromyalgia

Embarking on traveling by air to gather with family for the third time in six weeks. Will certainly incorporate some of the points shared in this post. Hopefully, this trip will be less stressful than the first two.

The Fibromyalgia Thriver's Guide

From my recent trip to visit my mom, I want to share a few things I learned about how to better manage traveling by plane with fibromyalgia.

My mom and I live about 500 miles apart so I flew to visit her.

Alone.

Yes, alone.

I planned the trip for several weeks. I weighed my options and made my decisions based on my personal worst-case and even best-case scenarios.

Now I think it is important to let you know going to see my mom is probably not like going to see your mom. My mother is also disabled and suffers from several mental illnesses so it is not just my own health I have to consider but hers as well.

So my Step One: Rent a car!!! But for you this might mean decide if you need a rental.

Where mom doesn’t own a car and where she can decompensate mentally at a rapid rate…

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Creating Your World of Abundance

Wednesday, July 23, I will begin to create my own abundance by following the 21 Day Contract presented in this post, which was originally posted by my blogging friend, Karuna, over at Living, Learning and Letting Go.

Living, Learning and Letting Go

I suspect all of us prefer living from a sense of abundance rather than scarcity. Moving from scarcity to abundance, however, requires that we change our unhealthy beliefs and behaviors, many of which have probably become habits.

Over the years, some of my clients have found it helpful to make the abundance contracts that I describe in this post. Each contract is based on principles I have learned in my personal and/or professional journey.

Principles:

1. In order to achieve your vision you need to create one!

2. Nothing is as powerful as gratitude for changing your mood and your outlook on life.

3. 100% commitment to your vision is important if you are to get it!

4. The current state of your mind will not change unless you actively work to change it.

5. If you surround yourself with bad news and negative people you will become negative yourself…

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Weekend Reading – Breast Cancer Magazines

Sitting aside quiet time to read these Breast Cancer magazines recommended by Breast Cancer Authority. Thank you Breast Cancer Authority for recommending.

Breast Cancer Authority

Try some of these free online magazines. These publications do a good job explaining and communicating facts, news, and the personal side of breast cancer.

The Pink Paper – FREE MAGAZINE – This is a gift to you and the Breast Cancer Authority Blog community from Roy and Natalie, founders of The Pink Paper. They will no longer be offering the print magazine, but will still provide many helpful articles, expert blogs and wonderful resources.

Breast Cancer Wellness – FREE MAGAZINE – The mission of Breast Cancer Wellness is to support the mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and environmental healing needs of women facing breast cancer, no matter what age or stage of the journey.

Cure – FREE MAGAZINE has become the source of information and inspiration for those on the cancer journey. CURE magazine, is the indispensable guide for every stage of the cancer experience. CURE Magazine combines science…

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Learn A Yoga Pose For Breast Cancer – Side Child Restorative Yoga Pose

I plan to restart practicing Yoga at home. When I took Yoga classes at the Y, last year, I was uncomfortable because others in the class were experienced Yogis. At some point, I may return to classes. But right now my Yoga comfort-level is withYoga Videos and the Breast Cancer Authority Blog.

Breast Cancer Authority

Learn A Safe & Supported Yoga Pose For Breast Cancer – Side Child Restorative Yoga Pose.

By Diana Ross, E-RYT 500, Founder of Breast Cancer Yoga.

The purpose of a relaxed pose may be obvious. Relaxation is intended to rid the body and mind of the negative effects of stress, unwanted thoughts, anxiety, fear, and then to create a state of rest. You will love this pose. Deep relaxation is a definite result of this well supported pose. It relieves anxiety and promotes well-being while balancing the healing response of the autonomic nervous system.
Benefits