Simple things can mean so much to me. Like gratitude. I have for a long time appreciated the power of just focusing on what you are grateful for. We tend to do the opposite in our culture, instead we notice what is lacking. Another simple thing I enjoy is lighting a candle. A simple ritual that can be so meaningful. At Gratefulness.org you can light a virtual candle (Thanks, Sherril!) that will burn for 48 hours along with other candles that have been lit by people all over the world. You can read there messages if they left them. I love that you can go there at any time to take a moment to light a candle out of gratitude or as an outward symbol that you are holding someone in your thoughts.

The healing effects of music have raised my curiosity ever since I heard about an indigenous people whose system of healing is based on music. When you are sick a song is created for you. I love that idea and know how deeply affected I can be by music. Then there is the research on certain music enhancing the function of the brain. One of the course descriptions in the California Institute of Integral Studies has a Certificate in Sound, Voice and Music Healing describes sound as:

…an ancient healing modality that has retained its potency throughout modern times. Ancient wisdom complements new technologies to impart a deeper understanding of molecular reactions, neurological benefits, and the emotional effects of sound in healing. Psychoacoustics -the study of the effect of music and sound on the human nervous system-forms the foundation upon which the emerging field of soundwork builds.

In an interview, Deborah Brown, Certified Music Practitioner says:

“I played for the newborns at Stevens Hospital,” she recollects. “When I arrived they were screaming, but as soon as I started playing they all stopped crying. I play lullabies for them – Brahms, a slowed-down Mozart sonata theme, and similar gentle music.”

In an article about the Symposium on Music and Medicine at the University of Arizona, Gene Jones, founder of Opening Minds through the Arts, a national program that interweaves arts with education, said:

“If we can get them to show that, yes, there is a change that takes in the brain, and it is affected by music, then we can fine tune what were doing,” Jones said. “We know we’re doing good things. … We don’t know how it’s happening.”

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I’m taking a music appreciation class. It’s very basic but I’m really enjoying going beyond the simple enjoyment of music and listening a little deeper.

I’m just squeaking in at the last minute on the first day of the National Blog Posting Month. It was a long day at work and I had to do my online music appreciation class work when I got home. The class has turned out to be a really wonderful way to feed my soul, so no complaints We’ll see how I do trying to blog every day. I thought it might be a fun way to get back into the swing of writing after my computer and shoulder woes (still grumpy about my Vista problems). I’m still not clear if I have to blog everyday on just one blog or if I can switch it and blog on my other one some days. I’m going to try to blog here everyday in any case. Cheers!

Visit NaBloPoMo

A futile pursuit of perfection is the trap I so often fall into. Over and over. At work and in my personal life, I set up high expectations and then get discouraged when I find myself struggling to live up to them. Of course, I should be able to work full-time, get As in my classes, have a great marriage, transform my self-care habits and establish a regular writing practice all at the same time. No problem, right? Instead it is difficult to find time for all my homework, writing as often as I want to, keeping up my self-care goals and my marriage. Being frazzled is a constant theme. Of all the things I desire, as I’m coming in for the final approach to my 4oth birthday, getting off this frantic, chronic-busyness ride is the main one!

I love world views that honor the spiritual quality of imperfection. I need that message and drink it thirstily when I find it. My first introduction to a reverence of imperfection was hearing about a Native American practice of purposely weaving an imperfection into their baskets. It caused my brain to come to a standstill as I pondered this idea. What? Being imperfect is good? It is to be honored? More recently I was fascinated to discover the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi. I need to hear these types of messages over and over to combat my perfection programming. It runs so deep. Doing a bit of web surfing I found philosophy professor, Kieran Setiya’s Ideas of Imperfection blog. I got a good chuckle out of his post on anxiety.

I am aware all the time that that I am falling short of my intended perfection. This desired state of perfection is a delusion. It is in imperfection that authenticity and the uniqueness of life is found. If I choose imperfection, I can let go of the relentless treadmill that ultimately cheats me of the moments that matter most.

Today has been one of those days when my new self took a bit of a vacation and my old self felt quite at home. I didn’t get to bed early enough, didn’t have a good breakfast, and didn’t do my yoga before I rushed like a mad woman out of the door. Very familiar territory. While I could dissolve into a sea of self-loathing, I am doing my best to salvage the day. I managed to drag myself out for a walk. I got into it after I was out there and walked for longer than I had originally bargained with myself for. If I do my new Qi Gong Flow series (recorded from PBS), I will be satisfied with the points I have earned in my goal tracking system. However, the late in the day efforts do not have the same impact that the morning ones do.

Thanks to my mom who clips articles and sends them to me, I read an interesting one on “morning rituals” and the positive affects they can have. This is even just relaxing with a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper types of routines. Just going through a regular routine in the morning can have positive effects. So when you form particularly healthy ones, you are maximizing this potential. I have noticed how much better my day is when I make sure to have a good breakfast and do my yoga. My stress levels are much lower throughout the morning. Everything flows from there. I am then more likely to make sure to take my midday break and go for a walk and to eat well throughout the day. Because I didn’t follow my morning rituals today, I have had a tough time getting through the day. I was tired and hungry through the morning workshop I attended and I neglected to get out for my midday walk. The good news is that I do feel better for having gone on a twilight walk. It is amazing how walking can bring out energy you would swear you didn’t have and can be like a body massage if you relax into it.

Tonight my goals are a good dinner, Qi Gong and get to bed early. Luckily morning comes again tomorrow when I’ll get another chance for a good start!