Tag: ELAN
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Living in the Deeps…
Another ELAN Principle is “Observe Your World.” It is “Stop and smell the roses,” amplified; a practice of deep seeing, deep listening, deep connections and deep feelings. It is a walking, active meditation in which one gives in to the moment at hand, releasing worries for the future or regrets about the past. Pay attention…
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Mantras Make Things Happen…
Another ELAN Principle is “Make Things Happen.” ELAN, which stands for Elevating Life Attitudes Now, is a self-improvement curriculum I created and facilitated many years ago, but I still rely on the tenets to work on my own “life in progress.” One of the most effective ways to make things happen is to write a…
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Blues…
The Blues can oddly uplift a sad soul. Singing along in a minor key is like a good friend holding your hand during tough times. Sometimes the Blues signify a time of rest. We go, go, go. While in the frenetic fun times we can convince ourselves that things will always be this energetic, positive,…
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Broken Zen…
Time to reread old favorites that promote quiet time, non-judgment, inner calm and a Zen vibe. I so easily allow the scary wide world to poke a talon in the loose weave of my pretend peace. I’m not alone in this state of heightened frenzy over our 24/7 365 four-year cycle of coming together (haha)…
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Mosquitoes…
I love how steady showers perk up the little faces of flowers and green up the grass and trees to a fresh brightness. The smell of rain invites a lazy snuggle with a good book and warm blanket. Rain promises new growth, replenishment, and continued life for all of earth’s living things. But rain brings…
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Divots…
Divots are holes dug into a perfect green field by an overzealous or misdirected swing. Golfers merely replace the detached lump, stomp it into the earth and call it good. How do we react when we goof up and ruin the perceived perfection of a pristine life? Pristine and perfection are ideals, not to be…
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Pivot…
We think life runs in a straight line. But the dash between a life’s beginning and ending years, as posted on gravestones, is really a rectangular box that, when enlarged, reveals hills and dips and even backward steps of ragged years. Those detours and redirects signify an interesting and engaging life. Many blips in my…
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Command Z…
I made a mistake while writing recently. Let’s face it, mistakes abound while in the creative frenzy, when the pure joy of tapping on keys ushers in that flow zone. No problem, though, since a press of two buttons and presto, change-o, it is undone. Undo. What a perfect invention. I cringe at the memory…
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Out Out Damn Spot…
Forgive me for the total misuse of Lady Macbeth’s guilt-ridden appeal as she scrubs her hands, but those words keep popping into my own head while seeking a clear sightline through 2024. Like eyeglasses that constantly smudge from grit and grime of everyday living, that vision is blurred by negative self-talk, dream-squashing thoughts, and reluctance…
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Little Drummer Boy/Girl…
While drumming with the Joy of Djembe Drumming Ensemble, I feel peace wash over me as we send harmonious vibrations up and out. I hold visions of all peoples connecting via a common thrum within. A heartbeat. A need for love and connection. Acceptance of all. How glorious that vision. My human mind tells me…