Beautiful
Just watch ...
Just watch ...
My four year old daughter was the one who insisted we rise early enough to watch the sun come up over the ocean's horizon. Thank goodness because it was a stunner. She was really tired, we had stayed up late the night before packing for our return trip to another home. But she sweetly let me pick up her sleepy self and carry her to the car for the two minute drive to the beach.
There was beauty everywhere, a few people with a common purpose ... a couple of men waiting on the shore with fishing nets, some waiting in boats on the horizon, a small group of women waiting together on a beach blanket listening to inspirational music and the crash of waves on the shore. Every person waiting expectantly, solemnly, for first light on this particular Sunday.
Once the sun came up everyone respectfully moved into the day ... fishing nets were thrown into the sea, boats moved out to deeper waters, and the women rose and formed a circle of prayer, each taking her turn in the center while her sisters spoke love all around her.
C.S. Lewis said, "I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun, not because I can see it, but by it I can see everything else." So true. We were there to see the sun rise, which it did beautifully, but we saw love in everything it illuminated.
Bon Appetit, Harry.
Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.
One does not have to meditate only on a daily basis, Thich Nhat Hanh says, but one can meditate every moment. Watch as he shares four moving mantras we can all practice whether we are with someone or alone.
The Pixel Painter from The Pixel Painter on Vimeo.
I know we're all busy, but I promise it is worth the eight minutes to watch this short video about Hal Lasko, a 98 year old "Grandpa" who paints with pixels.
Grab a cup of tea and that cute little one you've been running around after all day, put your business on pause, and hit play.
It will put things in perspective and remind you of what love can create.
xo
O God, help me to believe the truth about myself no matter how beautiful it is!
Finding Love from hailey bartholomew on Vimeo.
Love this idea.
My four year old daughter and I do a version of it ... we look for hearts everywhere and when we find them we say, "love created this" ... clouds, graffiti, the tree in our back yard where blue birds nested and raised their babies (love grew there), even one of the spots on our dog, Delphine, is shaped like a heart.
Just read about Hailey and her project on the fatmumslim blog. Go on, watch the video, it's only a couple of minutes, then head over to her website and read more her and her 365 grateful project.
And remember to share the love!
Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.
Until we call attention to the moments of our lives, we miss our lives.
Dr. Lissa Rankin talking to Gabby Bernstein about her new book, Mind Over Medicine, Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself. In this video Lissa teaches you to activate your body's relaxation response with a simple exercise scientifically proven to support healing and prevent disease.
Give yourself a moment to check it out.
Love this heart carved into natural stone at Cueva del Indio in Puerto Rico so much I added it to the nature photography section of the Beach Bum Chix shop and called it Love Rocks. I know you will too, especially when you hear the story of this unique place on earth.
This limestone rock near Arecibo is open to hiking although it's a little treacherous with open holes that drop to sea level through jagged rock about 20 to 30 feet, and more, below. In one particular area, intrepid travelers can descend a 25 foot rickety ladder to an ocean weathered cave covered with archeological drawings that date back to ancient times ... all unprotected and open to the public.
It's an amazing place. By resisting all kinds of fear, you'll be rewarded with its beauty. My daughter (she's four and already much smarter than me) and I like to keep a running list of what Love did and did not create ... it's an idea from the book May Cause Miracles that I just finished reading.
We decided on this day that Love definitely created lots of things ...
this heart carved into this stone,
the courage we all needed to climb to the top of this huge jagged rock,
and descend that ladder,
the perfect timing of being there to watch the sun set over the ocean from the top of this ancient place,
and the unbelievable beauty we'll remember for a lifetime,
and the ability to be present and grateful for it.
Thanks Love!