Ecstatic Friday, 30 October 2015

It is very rare that I awake on Friday without some inspiration to post. This morning, however, I had nothing. No insight. No quote. Nada. Zip. No amount of searching or prayer brought forth anything but silence.

Then, I turned to the silence and said, "What am I missing?" And, with loud, thundering clarity it came: gratitude.

And, close on its heels came this quote from Tecumseh, the Shawnee Chief: "When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light. Give thanks for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. And if perchance you see no reason for giving thanks, rest assured the fault is in yourself.”

Well played, Universe, well played.

23 October Ecstatic Friday

Happy Ecstatic Friday from a bright and shiny Wichita, Ks. On my walk this morning, a Walt Whitman quote surfaced: "Some people are so much sunlight to the square inch.” Here's to your day being spent with someone who radiates sunlight for you. Or, even better, be your own sunshine and warm the world around you. Namaste!

Ecstatic Friday 16 October

Leaves are falling here in Colorado signaling that 2015 will soon be at an end. I began this year as a dedication to remove all the unnecessary things in my life, à la Michelangelo setting the angel free from the stone.

While that is still a work in progress, there is one truth I can share from this time of discovery. It comes from Dr. Seuss: "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."

So, get out there and celebrate being YOU today because you do it better than anyone else. Live it up and laugh it up.

9 October Ecstatic Friday

Autumn always brings a certain amount of reflection in my life and this morning I was reminded of one of my favorite Steve Jobs quote. Not sure why I want to share it, but here you go for whoever needs it out there: "Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." Exactly.

2 October Ecstatic Friday

Today, I toast the "saunterers" of life... those people who stroll, dosey-doe and amble through this season of harvest. I read recently that John Muir hated the word "hike."

He said, "I don't like either the word or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains - not hike! Do you know the origin of that word 'saunter?' It's a beautiful word. Away back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply, 'A la sainte terre,' (To the Holy Land.) And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not 'hike' through them."

I woke up this morning in my own mountain tabernacle. Hope you, too, are close to nature and can take a stroll to enjoy her good tidings!

Ecstatic Friday, May 22, 2015

First Ecstatic Friday 2015, Colorado style. Sunlight on snow-covered mountains, bunnies hopping outside. No matter where you are, I hope you heed these wise words from Anne Frank: “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.” Here's to finding your happiness today on this gorgeous gem called Earth.