Simple meditation

In times of uncertainty, I am grateful for this simple prayer: Ho'oponopono https://www.laughteronlineuniversity.com/hooponopono-4-simple-steps/ I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. You can easily turn this into a journal project: I love you: Who do you love? Why? What have they done for you? What do you do for them? I'm sorry: What do you regret doing or saying or not doing or not saying? What do you wish you could redo? How would you treat people or situations differently? Please forgive me: In several traditions and systems, you can seek making amends. Directly or indirectly. How can you make amends for what you listed above? Can you donate time, energy, skills to help others? Were you physically abusive to another? Can you make a direct apology? Can you volunteer services at a shelter to help others negatively impacted by domestic violence? Can you share compassion on other ways? Buy someone's groceries? Record stories? Drive people who can't drive themselves to appointments. Crochet/knit/sew blankets for newborns in NICU. Find people in need, like elderly or disabled or single mothers, who need help around the house and repairs. How can you be of service to others? Thank you: For what are you grateful? For whom in your life are you grateful? DO they know this? Why are you grateful for them? What do you take for granted? Share the love.

Reading

Don't have enough time to read? Now you do. Free books: http://read.gov/books/ Free books for kids: http://www.magickeys.com/books/ Storyline Online: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnBdzaRy-Ky9Vh54XJlFz1Q Choose something you have always wanted to read. Read something new. Listen to a book. Find a new podcast.

Learn new skills

So many posts this week show education resources. View museums virtually. Watch livestreamed concerts and lectures. Choose one, and do it. Here are 450 Ivy League courses you can take online right now for free: https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/here-are-380-ivy-league-courses-you-can-take-online-right-now-for-free-9b3ffcbd7b8c/?fbclid=IwAR0RicSwlSrn-g4tmn2hdaidRGeqq_DQGJimVIe--8qcexOqmGKhnDfaa0s Virtual Museum Tours: https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours Virtual tours and visits: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/03/9576127/free-virtual-tours-online 300 virtual museums: http://www.virtualfreesites.com/museums.museums.html Learn a new language: https://www.duolingo.com/ Drawing classes: https://www.udemy.com/topic/drawing/free/ More drawing classes: https://www.thoughtco.com/free-online-drawing-classes-1098200 Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/ Aquarium webcams: http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/exhibits/webcams What have you found? What did you try?

Beliefs

What do you believe? Truly, deeply believe? Is it your belief or is it based on something someone else told you? Parents? Clergy? Media? What are your limitations as a result of those beliefs? The first writing topic I give my students: If you could do anything (without limitations or restrictions of time, space, skills), what would you do? Travel to another place and time? Meet someone? Who? When? Where? Create a list of at least 10 things you would want to do without restrictions. Then choose one. What is currently holding you back? Write down all the ways to do it--whatever "it" is. Want to travel? What's keeping you from doing it? Money? There are ways to travel and stay on people's couches. Time? Do a day trip to someplace new? History buff? What's a historical place nearby you can visit? Love animals? Where can you go to visit new animals? Zoo? Nature preserve? Animal sanctuary? What resources are available to you? Is there a person you can visit or talk with who can help you with this skill? Why do you think you can't do this? Who told you you can't do it? A friend of mine was singing while cleaning her house for a party. I walked into the same room, and she stopped. I asked her why. She said she was told she couldn't sing. I asked for details. Turns out when she was in middle school and in choir, she was feeling under the weather. So, in choir, she mouthed words instead of singing since she knew her voice was off. The teacher saw she was mouthing and made her stand and sing in front of the class. When her voice cracked, the teacher mocked her in front of the class and told her to not sing another word. As a result, she didn't sing in public again. She let some bitch tell her she couldn't sing when she knew her voice wasn't in good condition. She let that teacher influence her joy in singing. I held that mirror up to her. She realized she let one person negatively impact her life. She let go of that negative belief and really listened to her voice as she sang. She wasn't making "a joyful noise." She has a beautiful voice. Since then, she has sung at many public events and to her daughter. You choose your limitations. What are you choosing? Why? What purpose does that limit serve you? Are you protecting yourself or others? What would you realize about yourself if you tried to do more, be more?

Creativity

We are all creative in our own way. What would you like to learn? A language? New skills? Recipes? What do you want to learn? How to fix things around the house--like basic plumbing or car mechanics? Pick a skill you wish you knew. Do you already have a book on it? Is there a YouTube channel or blog on the topic? Set aside 15-30 minutes to find more information on the topic. Do you have all the necessary items/ingredients? Try it. What can go wrong? What can go right? Will you surprise yourself? Will you be less dependent on someone? Will you have more appreciation for those who have that skill? What will you learn today?

Writing during uncertainty

Do you have a journal? Are you writing on laptop? Start with gratitude list. Then list of things to do/ change. Pick one, and list steps to achieve goal. When you get stuck, ask yourself, "what should I do now?" Return to list. If you are stuck at home, look around you. What do you have? What do you need? What can you cull? What can you donate to others in need? Rediscover a sense of wonder. Go outside and breathe deeply. What do you see? Be mindful and in the moment. When you drink your coffee, tea, water, juice, whatever. Savor every flavor. The initial taste and sensation. The after taste. The temperature. Mindfulness is a simple and complicated skill. This skill requires slowing down and being deliberate with what you are doing and saying and not doing. Are you eating well? What are you craving? I was taught at a young age that if I craved something, so it because there's a purpose. If you're craving a food, eat a little to satiate the need. Then slow down and figure out why you have that craving. If you are craving to go out, why? What do you want to do really? What are you avoiding? A friend told me that when I listened to music and tv all the time, even when in the shower, that I was avoiding silence and my own thoughts. Is that what you're doing? Are you avoiding being alone with your thoughts? Are you avoiding your faults? Your dreams? Your lack? Did you make resolutions and not start any of them or give them up? Are you feeling guilty? Use this time to focus on one goal. Just one. Write a list of things you want to do. Pick one to start. Or roll the dice to see which one you should try today. Do one thing today for 30 minutes. I was told once by a student that he felt he could attend and focus one minute for every year old he is. That makes sense. A 7-year-old can attend for about 7 minutes. When I teach classes, I keep the lessons to 15-20 minutes and then redirect the assignment or change from lecture to group work to individual work to lecture. The changing focus every 15 minutes allows the monkey brain to redirect to a new activity--or a new piece of the puzzle. That's why my students were so successful in learning what I gave them. They could take a complex task, break it down to bits, and focus on one piece at at time. What do you want to accomplish during this time? Or are you wasting it? Are you avoiding? I'll give new topics to explore. Let's see what you accomplish?

Power of sound and words

There is power in words and sounds. Affirmations and spells require you need to be mindful of the words you choice and use. Use positive instead of negative words. Mantras and songs are similar in their power. (Shanti for peace is less physically explosive in sound.) January moon I handed out mantras to try and see how they impact your life. Feel free to find others. I have done prayers for years with meditation and while driving, walking, rocking babies, dealing with cancer, holding sick friends and kids. Some goddesses have mantras associated with them---especially Asian/Indian ones. Find one that suits you or what you want. Put it on a notecard and recite frequently. Put it on your mirror. Find a way to incorporate the some or mantra. I have many CDs because I love the chanting and songs. If you want to check any out, please let me know.