Speaking from the Heart

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

The Book—Discovering the Seven Selves
The Experience—Life Harmony

Find me on Twitter @HolEssence

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Environment, Nature

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The Makings of Home Sweet Home

A robin feathering her nest
has very little time to rest
while gathering her bits of twine and twig…

A few weeks ago when the branches were still bare, we saw the makings of an impressive nest in our back yard. Having recently trimmed Willa’s coat, it’s clear that birds find her wiry hair to be prime building material!

It might be a person, a feeling, a specific structure, or a tangible item—what makes a house a home has as many different answers as there are people. Whether you’re:

Gil in South Africa
Kevin in Scotland
Sandi in the southern US
Terrill or Leanne in Canada
Sam near the Big Apple
Ted in New Zealand
Kathy in a her little house in the big woods

What is it to you that makes a house a home?

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

The Book—Discovering the Seven Selves
The Experience—Life Harmony

Find me on Twitter @HolEssence

Category:

Life, Musings, Nature

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The Art of Catching Dreams

One of my young clients — Matthew — recently handcrafted a dreamcatcher for me, thoughtfully adorning it with crystal beads and a feather.

According to Native American lore, our nighttime dreams are sent by sacred spirits as messages. The openings in the web-like pattern allow good dreams to reach us, while the strands of the web trap bad dreams, only to disappear with the first light of dawn.

The materials used to make dreamcatchers have a special meaning:

Scattered beads throughout the web represent good dreams caught throughout the night.
Essential for life, a feather represents breath or air.

“Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.” — Chief Seattle

What was the last dream you caught?

Discovering the Seven Selves Life Harmony Facebook

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Category:

Metaphysical, Nature, Spiritual Awareness

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Spring – Kind of like the Witness Protection Program

One of my favorite parts of spring is seeing all the new life. Buds on trees, green grass poking out of the ground, flowers starting to sprout…

Somewhat like the Witness Protection Program, spring heralds a new beginning—a clean slate. My teenaged clients would call it a “do over.”

A week ago I sent an email to my friend Sandi in Georgia and told her that two doors down the swelling dogwood buds on my neighbor’s tree looked like a cotton ball explosion!

Unbelievably, two short days later, I wrote her that the buds were in full bloom. This process—bud to bloom—normally takes a lot more time, but we’ve been experiencing temperatures that are 20-30 degrees above normal. In fact, they’ve been record-breaking for this time of year.

In the Witness Protection Program a person is relocated to a different geographic location and provided with a brand spanking new identity, including social security number, house, car, and job.

If you could step into a brand new career—no questions asked—what would it be?

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

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Category:

Humor, Nature

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The Cycle of Life

The leaves aren’t just dropping gracefully from the trees—it seems they’re dive bombing with a vengeance! We get one batch up, high-five each other for a job well done, then turn around and both yards—front and back—are covered again.

Leaf removal at our home is an all-family sport.

Once we rake the leaves from the yard to the driveway, Len uses the mower to mulch them.

From there, the pulverized leaves get transferred to the yard cart.

Where they get a ride to the compost bin.

Part of an ongoing cycle, they’ll be used again in next year’s planting process.

Where are you in the cycle of life?

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Category:

Life, Nature

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Painted by Sunrise

A few weeks ago Len surprised me with a dozen garnet-red roses for my birthday. Their velvet petals—tight like cabbage leaves—were held close to their vest, trying to conceal their exotic, spicy scent, but it escaped anyway.

Several days later I was sitting in our living room waiting for the sun to wake its sleepy head. Before I knew it, its golden fingers had reached through the window and painted the now-unfurled, fragrant bouquet.

When was the last time you were painted by the sunrise?

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

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Life, Nature

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Downshifting Into Autumn

Mornings are crisp and the evergreens flanking our front porch steps have donned festive red berries.

Goldenrod shows off its honey-colored mane as it beckons with a come-hither sway in the late afternoon sun.

All signs that autumn—a time of harvest, a time of reflection—is on its way. Len and I have played hard (and I do mean hard) all summer. Now is the season we intentionally downshift and live gently—we reflect, and we recharge our personal batteries.

“Autumn’s the mellow time.” – William Allingham, poet

What’s your autumn strategy?

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

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Life, Nature

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I Was Minding My Own Business…

…reading a suspense novel—The Night Before by Lisa Jackson—while enjoying a beautiful afternoon at Veteran’s Acres Park. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the leaves were dancing lightly in the breeze.

Enjoying a beautiful afternoon at Veteran's Acres Park

You know how when you’re watching a movie and the music score changes to let you know that something scary is about to happen?

All of a sudden I hear a “whomp, whomp, whomp” noise and turn my head to look. Rising from the lush green tree line I see a helicopter. The “whomping” sound is the tell-tale noise of the helicopter’s rotary blades.

Rising from the lush green tree line I see a helicopter

I turned to see if anyone else heard or saw the helicopter. The closest people—guys on the basketball court—are engrossed in their game, oblivious to everything else.

The helicopter hovered in that same position for several minutes. Through my zoom lens I could see that it wasn’t “Life Flight,” the police, or a news helicopter. Then it took off—practically over my head.

Then it took off -- practically over my head

The following day I checked the online edition of the Northwest Herald local newspaper to see if there was any mention of it—not a word.

When was the last time you saw something out of the ordinary in broad daylight that nobody else seemed to see, or care about?

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Category:

Nature, Life

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I Kid You Not!

By most people’s standards Len and I are considered casual—even amateur—gardeners.

But even we know that when you plant marigold you shouldn’t get cantaloupe!

Mariloupe or Cantigold? You decide!

What’s been your most recent surprise?

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Category:

Humor, Musings, Nature

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Ties that Bind

As you know, last week I had an adventure—a 2,100 mile roadtrip from Encinitas, California, back home to Crystal Lake, Illinois. As you saw in the photographs on the previous posts, the scenery traveling through Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska was breathtaking—each state compelling in its own unique way.

The highlight of my trip? That would be the 2-hour visit I had at the home of one of my mother’s closest friends, Mrs. Gaylor. It felt heavenly to be welcomed into her home and embraced by her warmth and good humor. A trace of the Carolina’s still lingers in her voice, bringing to mind amber-colored honey—gentle, unhurried, and sweet.

Laurie and Mrs. Gaylor

Then low and behold along come Chuck (left) and Joe (middle)—Mrs. Gaylor’s two sons—among my best friends growing up. I missed their sister Kathy (flying in from Montana) by one day. We gabbed and laughed as we reminisced about “incidents” we reminded each other of. Then all too soon I had to hit the road.

Chuck, Joe, and Mrs. Gaylor

It was a magical window of time—my growing up years on Goldenrod Street. I’m glad for the Gaylor-influence in my life. We couldn’t have lived so close for so many years and not have gleaned some of the best from each other. I’m proud to call them friends.

What friends were a positive influence in your growing-up years?

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan