If you can~ đ still your mind, when chaos surrounds you, đ observe life, without judgement đ see freedom in having less rather than more, đ hold the natural world, in reverence for the majesty she is, đ appreciate simple pleasures and simple times, đ regard kindness and gratitude, as two of the most important and beautiful human characteristics, And, đ maintain your sense of self, in a world thatâs constantly trying to shape you into something youâre not, then,⌠you my friend, will find peace as you sail upon, this funny little thing called life.
I donât go to the forest to get away from the real world, I go to the forest to be with the REAL WORLD. The quiet, the beauty, the safe embrace of the trees, and the voice of wisdom that comes when the mind is still; these are things that provide a tranquil retreat and a peaceful haven from our busy human world.
Do you need a time out? step into the real world. đ˛đ˛đ˛đ˛ Toni OâKeeffeđšâ¤ď¸
As I get older, the frequency in which I receive news of a friend, acquaintance, colleague, neighbour or family member passing, increases.
When we, or someone we know, loses a loved one, the realization that our time here is temporary comes sharply into focus.
Each loss moves us to scour the cracks that separate our days, making sure we didnât miss an opportunity to say; âI love youâ âI miss youâ âIâm sorryâ âI forgive youâ âCan I helpâ We look back on that last conversation and our last moments together and replay what we wish we had said or done.
We waste so much time and energy, being âbusyâ, angry, negative, stubborn, dismissive, judgmental, stuck or offended.
What if we were more mindful of the time we spent together, set our egos aside and let kindness, forgiveness, compassion, gratitude and love be our guides? Then, perhaps when itâs time to say goodbye, we will not lament, but celebrate and give thanks for the pleasure of sharing time with the ones we loved and lost.
Itâs the impermanence of life itself that should make every simple, ordinary moment, shared with those we love, a beautiful and cherished event.
Letâs not wait till death do us part, to love, cherish and forgive each other. Letâs do it while weâre still here.
Create space in your life for more happy adventures.
Any adventure big or small can help get you out of a rut, will exercise your curiosity (and your body), tickle your senses, expand your mind and add colour to your life.
Opportunities for adventure are all around you. Sometimes you just have to open the door and go.
When it all feels like too much; the news, the weather, the loss, the lies, the demands, the cost, the noise, the political unrest, the sadness, the brokenness, or, whatever it is for you, Pause Unplug, step back, and reach for the good stuff. The beauty in nature, the beauty in you, the generosity and kindness of those who love you. Laughter, music, art, pets, flowers, sunshine, rain, colourful sunsets, your favourite cozy blanket, the perfect cup of coffee, the sound of the ocean, a kiss from the wind, and all the other little miracles that surround you.
Let neither success or failure go to your head. Both are simply stepping stones guiding you down your path. Neither make you better, less, above or below anyone.
Judging yourself or comparing your successes and failures to others is futile. We donât compare a cactus to an oak tree, or, poison ivy to a lotus or, a zucchini to bamboo. While they are all plants, each serve a different purpose within the environment they grow. Like plants, we each play different roles within the environments, families and cultures where we grow.
Be grateful for both your successes and your failures. They are the sign posts pointing the way and fuelling your personal growth.
Let them wander through forests and meadows, explore seasides and mud puddles. Let them dance, sing their whimsy songs, colour outside the lines, paint the sky, hang off clouds, dream their big dreams and tell their tall tales.
When we try to shut down an individuals, creativity and move them onto a path thatâs not authentic for them, often, what weâre really doing, is crushing souls.
When we say things like; âgrow upâ âthatâs stupid,â âthatâs childish,â or âdonât be so ridiculous;â we might be robbing someone of their dreams, their creative gifts, their playfulness and taking away the thing that gives them joy.
The damage done with a few mocking comments takes only seconds to utter, but decades or an entire lifetime to repair.
Whether theyâre four or 84, nurture their joyful, silly, whimsy bits. That spark of wonder is their light, and could evolve into a masterpiece, an important scientific discovery, a lifeâs work or might merely be the thing that allows an individual to cope in an often cold, critical and angry world.
Let them hang on to their whimsy bits. Thatâs where the light resides in all of us.
On days when you donât have it all together, just wing it; the hair, the lipstick, life, everything!! If youâve got coffee(and maybe a dog),everythingâs gonnaâ be alright. đ¤âď¸đś Toni â¤ď¸
This sweet dream carried me away to a field of flowers, where I fell in awe of the tapestry of colour so brilliantly stitched together.
Floating above the field, I gazed down upon tall golden sunflowers reaching for the sky, lupins exploding in hues of purple and blue, sunny daffodils and wild crocus all sharing the same soil and blooming side-by-side.
Crimson poppies, delicate white daisies and purple bachelor buttons their stems splendidly entangled, grew freely, no fences, no boarders, just beautiful wide open space allowing their roots to stretch and grow.
Rays of sunlight touched each flower, and bounced off dew-drops, making every flower sparkle. Tiny delightful buttercups dancing between it all, knit this rich bouquet of diverse colours, scents, sizes and varieties together.
Bees, butterflies, birds and bugs of every type, moved above, below and upon the tapestry doing their part. How wonderfully all life here cooperated, grew, bloomed and thrived perfectly together, it was stunning.
Then a single dandelion, falling to seed at the end of her days, but still so beautiful, called to me and asked me if Iâd like to make a wish upon her, I did. I was moved that in her final moments of life, she still had something to offer, and she offered it to me.
As I continued to float above this kaleidoscope of grace and peacefulness, the flowers became us; me, you, my family, my neighbours, strangers and I knew this peaceful field was showing me, how life could be, how life should be.
I drifted back to this world, and woke, with new hope and optimism for our own diverse, and colourful human garden.
The Whimsey Angel 