To make hard tasks easy, mountains molehills, and challenges simple, we can opt for one of two viable paths:
Are you more of a go around or go through type of person?
© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com
I’m currently in Cardiff by the Sea, CA, on a ten-day hiatus (May 4-13) to work on book two in the Creative Quill suspense/thriller series.
As you can well imagine, I’m enjoying every moment. I wake up early and write until about 3:00pm, then I cool my jets by taking a long walk along the beach. Did I mention that I’m having a blast?
I’ve turned off comments for this post but will be back with a regular to-and-fro post next week.
Joie de Vivre!
© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com
I just returned from St. Paul, MN, where I had the pleasure of speaking with the Board of World Citizen (a nonprofit organization for everyone who values a safe and respectful world) about peace.
With that event fresh in my mind, I thought, “This is a great time to share my peace meditation.”
I use a mala. If you’re not familiar, think of it as a Buddhist rosary. Typically a mala has 108 beads, plus the “Guru” bead (usually a bit larger) to indicate the place to begin and end.
My mantra is:
“Peace within. Peace without. Peace in me. Peace in the world.”
Here’s How It’s Done
Starting at the bead on one side of the “Guru” bead, I hold the mala bead between my thumb and middle finger. While holding that bead I:
Inhale and mentally say — “Peace within.”
Exhale and mentally say — “Peace without.”
Inhale and mentally say — “Peace in me.”
Exhale and mentally — “Peace in the world.”
With this mantra, each bead takes two full breath cycles. After I finish a bead, I move to the next one.
When I make it all the way around and reach the Guru bead, I know that I’ve completed 108 repetitions. If I’m going to continue, I turn the mala around and go back the way I came.
Do you have a peace practice? Click To Tweet
Do you have a peace practice?
© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com
I’m all about INclusion as opposed to EXclusion.
So while we live in a “baby-gated community,” it’s not to keep others out, it’s to keep our big dog, Willa, from wandering freely as she’s inclined to do at this time of year. And to keep Luna, our granddaughter, from joining her.
I’m about sharing our similarities and celebrating our differences.
I’m about crossing cultural, language, social, and economic barriers to build community cohesion, understanding, acceptance, and peace.
I’m about celebrating our shared humanity.
What are you about?
I’m about celebrating our shared humanity. What are you about? Click To Tweet
© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com
Last year I hosted a writing retreat on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. It was my second time there, and I loved it! One of the interesting things about this exotic location is the potcake dogs.
According to Wikipedia, “a potcake dog is a mixed-breed dog type found on several Caribbean islands. Its name comes from the congealed peas and rice mixture that local residents traditionally eat, as the rice that cakes to the bottom of the pot would go to the dogs. Although appearance varies, potcakes generally have smooth coats, cocked ears, and long faces. A group of potcakes is known as a parliament.”
PHOTO
In my experience, the dogs—who generally travel in small groups—are friendly. They’re usually looking for a food handout. If you accommodate them (which I don’t think you’re supposed to, but I did), then you have friends for life!
The same thing happened when I was in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
And the same thing happened when I was on a writing sabbatical in Darby, Montana—only this time, it was with a small herd of deer!
Would you feed a stray animal—even if you’re not supposed to?
Would you feed a stray animal—even if you’re not supposed to? Click To Tweet
© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com
We have a massive jar in the corner of our living room that I put a dollar a day into it. And each time Luna’s parents pick her up from us watching her, they drop paper money into it. At the end of each month, we deposit the money into a college fund account for our granddaughter.
You’d be amazed at how fast it adds up. Let me give you an example:
The entire year before we walked across Scotland as a family, we kept a huge jar by the front door. At the end of each day when we all got home from school or work, we’d empty our pockets and purse of all change—not paper money, just coins.
At the end of the year, we converted the change into paper money. It paid for all of our meals (3 people) for the entire time we were gone (21 days).
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” —Robert Collier
Currently, what small effort are you repeating?
Currently, what small effort are you repeating? Click To Tweet
© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com
Please join me June 28 – 29, 2019 for a magical journey at Soulful Prairies, located in Woodstock, IL.
Soulful Prairies is a registered International Peace Site with a unique energy that will transform you by just visiting and learning about their ongoing vision and events.
Arrive Friday evening and start your retreat with a group session focused on taking inventory of the first half of 2019.
You will create an updated vision for the remainder of 2019 from this powerful session and feel focused and back on track before a restful sleep at Soulful Prairies.
Saturday morning will bring renewed energy and determination in your efforts to earn your P.H.B. (Peaceful Human Being) self-generated credential. We will enjoy a tour of the farm, have an amazing horse experience in the arena, followed by the beautiful vibrations of Linda Bruce and her gong, and continue our group session taking us on a journey to seeking peace in yourself and others.
RETREAT AGENDA
Friday, June 28
Saturday, June 29
Registration
You will have the option to register for the whole retreat, arriving Friday evening including overnight accommodations, or the Saturday only option—whichever works best for you. SPACE IS LIMITED TO ONLY 11 participants for the overnight option.
Cost
Overnight Option: Friday through Saturday (full retreat cost) $195
Click HERE for overnight registration.
Saturday Only Option: $95
Click HERE for registration.
I look forward to seeing YOU there!
Join Laurie Buchanan at the Soulful Prairies Peaceful Retreat Retreat June 28-29 in Woodstock, IL. Click To Tweet
© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com
My most recent, “nailed-it” moment was when I typed The End on my first fiction novel—book one in a suspense/thriller series. After fist-punching the air, I burst into happy tears.
I wasn’t alone in my writing effort. At last year’s UW-Madison’s Writers’ Institute, I was honored to promote the Pathway to Publication program and signed up for it myself. My coach was Christine DeSmet. She figuratively held my hand through the new-to-me fiction territory, taking the fear out of it and making it a distinct pleasure.
Now I’m working on book two in the series.
What’s your most recent “nailed it” moment?
What's your most recent NAILED IT moment? Click To Tweet
© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com
One of my daily treks along the Boise Greenbelt revealed a new addition—a native plant and pollinator garden.
A posted sign explains:
“As the human population grows, so does our impact on the natural world. Buildings, roadways, and crops crowd out or completely eliminate the natural habitat needed by some species to survive. Pollinators are among those whose numbers are in decline.
“The City of Boise has installed an ‘insect hotel‘ at this location to provide a safe nesting site for insect pollinators. Its proximity to flowering plants ensures an adequate supply of nectar for feeding, and the hotel’s nooks and crevices offer a safe place for rearing offspring.”
Do you, or does your city, take steps to promote native plants and pollinators? Click To Tweet
In 2017, my sister gave me 1,500 ladybugs for my birthday. They arrived via special delivery with a “hotel.” And while the ladybugs didn’t take up residence in it (they were having too much fun eliminating aphids in the rose bushes), lots of other insects did. We have it located against the carport wall, underneath one of the rosebushes. It looks like a miniature version of the one in the native plant and pollinator garden along the Boise Greenbelt.
Do you, or does your city, take steps to promote native plants and pollinators?
© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com
Last Nov/Dec I had a miserable four-week bout of bronchitis. It was hard enough to breathe, let alone eat. So, not on purpose, but entirely by default, I inadvertently cut the CRAP:
Because I was miserable (and couldn’t enjoy it anyway), the CRAP was easy to forego. And though I didn’t need to lose weight, when I stood on the scale, I discovered that I’d lost 8 pounds.
As it turns out, I don’t miss not having caffeine, refined sugar, alcohol, or processed foods (except pasta), so I’m continuing to cut the CRAP. I feel fantastic!
On purpose or by default, have you removed anything from your lifestyle? Click To Tweet
I wish I were the one who’d coined the phrase “Cut the Crap,” but I’m not. It was established by James Duigan, a wellness warrior extraordinaire. If you’re interested, here’s a LINK where you can learn more about his philosophy.
On purpose or by default, have you removed anything from your lifestyle?
© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com