Reminders

Tonight, my sister and her partner J are in town on their way to Cali. J has never been to Burque. After hearing about my daily and weekly activities, she said, "You must have a good life here." I hesitated and discovered the only answer was, "Yes, I do." That injection of objectivity reminded me that I have much to be grateful for.

And the rains this week are proof that nothing lasts forever.

Gratitude list, take 2

Time, life has slipped away. So, here I go again:
1. Air at 10,000 ft.

2. My legs

3. My father

4. Pesto season!

5. Fresh eggs

Grace, 14/365

1. Getting something done at City Hall. It had stressed me for a few days, but now it's done. Now to not worry about food poisioning...
2. Things are coming together for the special event. There seems to be some plan coming to fruition.
3. Cafe con leche
4. A trip to the 415!!! Ca-ching for a cheap, cheap fare to Oakland. Ocean...hot springs...ethiopian food...I need this trip badly, and I'm thankful I can do it.
5. Watching plants grow.

Grace, 13/365

Today was a lovely day. La lista:
1. Spring weather. My favorite kind.

2. Smoked gouda soup

3. Cycle chic

4. Relaxation

5. Jokes from my sister.

Grace 12/365

Okay, so I'm behind a few days. Even with all the abundance in my life, I haven't felt much gratitude lately. Thankfully, a shift occurred today, and the shroud of negativity lifted. To make up for the missed posts, here's an expanded version of the list:
1. Friends. Today was being with three people who are special in their own way. Each has been in my life for varying periods of time, but they all have added a richness that I'm grateful for. Passing time with them, I feel at home.
2. Impermanence. And yet I was reminded while being with these friends of the impermanence of others and of life. I only have this moment.
3. Quincy Jones's Back on the Block album. I was given the March Shambhala Sun in which Alice Walker wrote an article called "Anxiety Soup," which contains three ingredients to ward of the instability of daily life. The first of which is dance. Walker suggests putting on a CD that gets us to move; one of her favorites is Jones's. It got me to dig my out old cassette copy. I'd forgotten about this gem of pure genius. ♥, say my ears and soul.
4. Reminders of attachment. It's not something I particularly like, but it's like a wise old friend urging gently of how much more I need to practice.
5. Lastly, boots. I try to stay away from things related to consumerism here, but I found a sweet pair on sale today. I'd been craving a pair for two years, so I bought them. Ah, I have a long way to go on #4 above!!

Grace, 11/365

1. Getting things done

2. Salad

3. Conversation

4. Cool evenings

5. Meditation

Grace, 10/365

1. Rest

2. Celebration

3. Music

4. Dusk

5. Movement

Grace, 9/365

1. Mondays

2. Sunshine

3. Chickens and their fresh eggs

4. Servas & travelers

5. Clotheslines (and my father for having put it in)

Grace, 8/365

1. Prairie dogs

2. Reading a good book

3. Sleep

4. Laziness

5. Canada geese

Gratitude, 7/365

1. The snow on the mountains

2. A cool, sunny day for running

3. Crisp air

4. Time to relax with a good book

5. Mushroom brie soup

Grace, 6/365

1. The sun peaking through the clouds during the waning moments of daylight.

2. Sushi

3. Generosity

4. Sleep

5. The weekend

Grace, Day 5

Even though things only slightly better, I still have plenty to be grateful for.

1. Reconnecting with old friends.

2. NM Nurse Helpline.

3. Support from others.

4. Garlic.

5. Bright colors that make me happy.

Grace, Day 4

So I'm feeling very short on gratitude today...

1. Locksmiths

2. Sleep

3. (uhhhh.....) Water

4. Air

5. Commitment to making this list.

Le fin....

Grace, day 3

1. Clean sheets dried on the line

2. Health insurance

3. A job I enjoy

4. Strawberry smoothies

5. Recognition

Grace, day 2

1. Being able to go on a long ride because I didn't have to work today.

2. Listening to people's stories while volunteering at a senior clinic.

3. Seeing the clear blue skies after the rain.

4. Smelling the damp earth.

5. Eating sushi.

Grace in small things

My friend aml linked to a cool page about grace and gratitude. So, I thought I'd try it, too.
Here's my list for today:

1. Sangha-for strengthening my practice and showing acceptance

2. Bicycle-for feeling the wind upon my face

3. My family-for being

4. Friends-for mirroring

5. Dreary, rainy days-for providing respite and for reminding me not to take the sun for granted

peace amid the craziness

I don't even know where to start after these past three weeks. I haven't been able to set pen to paper, or rather fingers to keyboard, to make sense of it all. The days have been full of challenges and beauty.

Just as I was putting a load of laundry in to wash today, I heard the sounds of Canada geese. I ran outside to see them flying over in formation as they head south. Yesterday, a raccoon sauntered across a street. It looked at me before crawling in the sewage drain, disappearing into the bowels of the city.

I've continued to canvass every weekend. While I didn't initially want to do it, I enjoy it every time. It mixes many of my interests-walking, exploring, politics and talking and affirms something that I tend to forget: most of us are on the path to a better future and want connection on the way.

I feel a sense of excitement that was void in the last election. In 2004 it seemed that there was a desperation in the air, but this time around, it's hopeful. I think I'll feel a loss once the election is over.

And speaking of hope, I went to a training last week on fundraising or resource development. I'd actually forgotten that I'd agreed to go. Thinking that it would be more about the basics of how to ask for money, I reluctantly went. It turned out to be much more. The trainer, Lynne Twist, focused on the importance of relationships. Her idea of scarcity vs. sufficiency really spoke to me. Many times, especially in this last year, I've lamented that I didn't have more time, sleep, health. She emphasized the fact that there is enough for us to live abundant lives (notwithstanding the inequities that exist in the world). So I have been trying to make a shift in my mentality. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by all I have to do, I give thanks for my job, volunteer work, friends and family, and health.

I have about a million things to do today before I volunteer for the local community radio station's pledge drive, but I've found a book I just can't put down. It's Four Seasons in Five Senses by David Mas Masumoto, a peach farmer in California. Only 100 pages remain. Just enough time to savor the final chapters...

Hope you have a good week.

Impermanence

The computer at my home completely crashed last weekend. Since then I've had limited computer access-I probably will for the next few weeks or months, except for when I'll be in Califas for almost two weeks.

My trip's slowly coming together. Everyone asks me, "Do you know anyone out there? Do you have family?" No. I'm planning to take part of my trip alone. I need the time to decompress and regroup. It's been a pretty hard six months because I haven't had time to let go of everything. Or maybe I just haven't felt that I could do it here with all the responsibilities I have.

My sister and her friend will be joining me toward the end. We're all running the SFO First Half Marathon, my first race with a time limit. Under normal circumstances the cutoff wouldn't be a problem, but my life and my health have been anything but normal lately. I know I can do it; however, if I can't make it by the time required, I go on my own or I take a taxi back to where I need to be. It really is that simple.

One observation I've made about my life recently is that so many of the things I do bring me back to my breath. Playing the flute, running, meditating. It's not about what might happen or what I'm not doing. They all remind me of what's essential. I'm grateful for this moment.