Rice University Mirror Sculpture

Last night I came home exhausted needing a good skate, but my inner self told me I needed a mindful walk.  My favorite walk is a meandering trail through Rice University.  So with the moon over my shoulder I walked, each step feeling the energy of mindfulness reenergizing my inner self.  My final stop before heading home was at a sculpture called Mirror………and with the waxing crescent moon over Mirror I realized deep inside I had come home.  Mindful walk today and embrace the healing energy of life.

Stop and Say Hello to Life

Everyday Serenity: Meditations for People Who do Too Much

Finally a slow, relaxed weekend where each day we ate an early brunch on outdoor patios watching the clouds, like creative confetti, masterfully fill the sky. I love the smell of looming rain and our neighborhood had several light short showers that seem to always appear when we were on the scooter. My skating was longer and more relaxed, with more stops to talk to walkers, joggers, and cats that were curious about a man on wheels that crossed their path. We’ve all had times when we were afraid to stop our work, fearing we would lose the thoughts, or momentum. This weekend I stopped and said hello to life and reconnected to me and those things that are much more important to life.

Calming Energy of Trees

I’ve always felt a special kinship with trees.  My Scout troop called me “Trees” because I was always climbing and sitting high in their branches.  Their calming energy was a way for me to escape and ground or center myself back to being me.  My boyhood house had two live oaks in the front; one guarded my sister’s room. My bedroom side window looked out onto a small mimosa and its flowers attracted butterflies, hummingbirds and gave me wonderful dreams.  The backyard had a variety of oaks and two huge sweet gums and an oak that had grown into one massive tree.  But my favorites were two sassafras trees in the way back, straight, proud, with roots alleged to have medicinal powers.  My mom, diagnosed with cancer early in my life, and I always made sassafras tea and now I understand why.  Make a tree friend today and get back to being you. 

A Tobacco Free World

Do's and Don'ts of Helping Smokers Quit

Yesterday at lunch I was checking out Pickens Cafeteria and heard, “Hey Bill, today is my two year anniversary”, I turned and walked over to the deli and said, “I’m so proud of you”! She’d quit smoking several years ago and I’ve been one of her supporters. You could see in her smile and the way she stood that it had changed the way she felt about herself. Nicotine addiction is 1,000 times more powerful than alcohol, 10-100 times more potent than barbiturates, and 5-10 times more potent than cocaine or morphine (University of Minnesota). It takes time and skills to learn to be a non-smoker, and the support of others. Reach out and support a smoker in their effort to stop smoking today, and help create a tobacco free world for our kids and grandkids.

I Love Skating

In middle school we’d ride our bikes to the Louisiana State Capital grounds and try our latest homemade skateboards on the garden sidewalks and hills.  When I worked at Tenneco in downtown Houston there were several years that I’d roller skate the 7 miles to work by moon light.  Then one morning I took a bad fall where the pavement had been replaced with gravel.  I switched to inline skates over 15 years ago and now have a pair of K2 Mach90’s that two+ months ago I put back on and am skating 4-7 miles most evenings.  I like what I feel inside when I skate and the smiles I see on others as they watch a 65 year old fly by.  An added plus, I’ve lost 17 pounds in the process of making me and others happy.  What do you do each day for happiness?

Love the Color of Sunrise

David Lanz "Return to the Heart"

Early this morning, MaryBeth was sitting on the edge of the bed; she’s been restless all night. As I hand her the thermometer I get a vision of the early 50’s, I’m sitting on a piano bench in our duplex in PA and our family doctor is leaning down to checkout my chicken pox. One of my favorite David Lanz CDs is Return to the Heart and as I listen this morning to its rhythmic tranquility I am back on that piano bench with my mother’s hand on my shoulder and her love the color of a sunrise, brushed upon my heart. Let love brush your heart today.

Moon Blush

Sunday 4:05am - crossed the bayou and then as I rode over the light rail tracks the moon glided into view.  I was born under a full moon, and no doubt after feeling her warmth that first day, have been a dedicated moon watcher ever since.  A golden waning crescent moon yawned, and then blushed as I stopped to take in her beauty.  A moon thought captured: The moon blushes in all her beauty // and I am mesmerized // by the vision // that encircles my soul //drawing me deep //within the moment