It’s Good to Do Nothing

Greetings all! 

Today, I had an amazing meditation session! In fact, it was so good that I listened to it three times in a row. And then one more time so I could transcribe it for you! 

“It’s good to do nothing. In meditation, you sit around and you do nothing, and at the same time, this doing nothing is an exploration that makes your life better.

 

And it all happens at once: the doing nothing, the exploring, and the making your life better. Somehow doing nothing improves everything.  

You arrive here, in this present moment, and you let yourself be here. You let everything be here - the sounds happening outside you, and these feelings and thoughts and sensations happening inside you. 

You just sit right here, in the middle of your life, and you do nothing and it’s good for you. 

So this sitting here, doing nothing, is absolutely the essence of meditation. And sometimes it’s easy, and sometimes it’s hard because our mind can be skittering around like a squirrel on the linoleum floor.  And if this is you today, you are in good company. [Side note: that made me laugh.]

And the move is to give your skittery mind something to do, something of your own choosing. You can choose to focus on your breath or on a sound outside. You choose something and then you do your best to stay with it. 

And you are just sitting here, being here, in this moment, sinking in, not trying to change anything or upgrade your situation. 

And you keep doing not much of anything. 

Sometimes subtle resistance can come up - It’s hard doing nothing, I need to do something. And that is fine. You can try to notice any impulses like that with some humor, maybe even compassion. And then you go back to doing nothing. And you are trusting as you do this, that something deep down is getting calmed, down in the depths, ever if the surface still feels jumpy. 

Nowhere to go, nothing to do. All these sounds and sensations are happening all on their own.  

Part of what’s good about doing nothing is this clearing out that can happen. It’s a bit like the noise of our busyness, all this constant pushing and pulling and scheming, it starts to cool out, just a bit. And as it does, then it can be this very simple feeling of being just a little more available to life. Like you have a little more space. It was just waiting here, all along. All you had to do was nothing.” 

I have to confess: I did 'upgrade my situation' before I started for a more relaxing experience - I wore toe separators, put a strawberry mask on my face, and had my legs up the wall. And after 3 rounds of doing nothing, I felt amazing and refreshed!

What did you think? Drop me a line! Or actually, don’t - go sit and do nothing! 

Sources: CALM

Unbelievable: Matthew McConaughey in My Inbox

  
Subscribe here: https://lyricsoflivin.com/ 

un·be·liev·a·ble
​adjective
Not able to be believed. Unlikely to be true. Extraordinary.

What a foolish word. A rude and disrespectful word.

We think we use it to flatter, to give credit. What an unbelievable play. What an unbelievable film. What an unbelievable act of courage. What an unbelievable sunset. What an unbelievable break.

But why would we define things that are incredible and awesome - things that actually make us believe more - with a word that means the opposite? Something spectacular, phenomenal, outstanding, most excellent, is most definitely not unbelievable.

Awe-inspiring? Magnificent? Prodigious? Extraordinary? Yes. It just happened. You just witnessed it. You did it. Believe it.

Unbelievable? Quite the opposite. Give incredible more credit.

A man flies a suicide jet into the World Trade Center. A coronavirus comes. Hurricanes ravage. Fires burn. Enron’s a scam. The government lies to us. Our best friend lies to us. We lie to ourselves. Our fiancée says “I do.” We won an Oscar. Our child says his first words. One day we find a cure for cancer. One day we die in peace.

Unbelievable? No.
It happened. You witnessed it. You lived it. Believe it.

Acknowledge the existence of greatness and phenoms, excellence and extraordinaries - pleasures and pains. Recognize them as real entities, both beautiful and horrible, tragic and heaven-sent. Be not naïve to awe-inspiring feats of good or good fortune, nor gullible to mankind’s capacity for evil. Be not blind to the credence of natural beauty or disaster.

Nothing God or Mother Nature does is unbelievable. And if there’s one thing you can depend on people being - it’s people.

So why am I bothered by the usage of this word? Because we are not only saying it, we are also living it. What I really think this comes down to is us - each of us - individually. Unbelievable also puts constraints on what we believe we can reach AND it stops us from enjoying our success and ease.

First, the constraints we put on ourselves, the limits we assume about our potential, those are man-made.

Who the hell do we think we are putting ceilings over ourselves? We’re barely tapping into eleven percent.

Take the Icarus story. We think the wax on our wings is melting because we’re flying too close to the sun. Most of the time, there’s still ice and snow on the ground. It’s not even close to hot enough to melt the wax. We’ve got so much farther to fly than we give ourselves credit for.

It’s arrogant for us mortals to put a roof overhead and say, That’s as good as it can get. That’s as much as I can succeed. That’s as much as I can love. That’s as sad as I can be. That’s as happy as I can be. No more.

Secondly, we don’t know how to enjoy success or ease, even the five-star treatment. I struggled with a non-deserving complex for years. If things were going too well, I’d get anxious, masochistic, judgmental. I’d interrupt the flow with a faceplant instead of being cool - enjoying the grapes and palm fronds.

What I know now is this: there’s no need to make it hard on ourselves when it’s going well. It’ll get hard soon enough.

So take the roof off. Say, No - this isn’t even close to as good as it can get. Trust that we have far more capacity than we allow ourselves to believe. Putting a ceiling on ourselves isn’t humility. It’s arrogance.

And learn the art of running downhill. Don’t trip yourself while things are going well. That mountain you want to climb? It’s just around the corner. Don’t invent drama. It’ll come on its own.

Unbelievable happens all the time. Sometimes it’s divine. Sometimes it’s a loogie in the face. Don’t deny it. Depend on it. Expect it. Believe it. Enjoy it.

​REASON

​Here's a study a lot of people call unbelievable. When in fact, the conclusion of it is that belief is what makes it true.

Harvard psychologist and researcher Ellen Langer ran the famous counterclockwise study. In 1979, she took elderly people to a retreat designed to make them feel it was 1959. They listened to songs Perry Como and Jack Benny from the 50s, watched Ed Sullivan on black-and-white television, discussed 'current' events and even dressed like it was 1959.

By the end of the week, their physical health reflected the psychological reversal of time: They showed improved flexibility, memory, hearing, posture, cognitive ability and wellbeing. They even looked younger than before the retreat according to people who knew them.

They believed it.

Interesting Botanical Facts

Greetings all!

Did you know that lemon trees have thorns? I did not until recently – when I plucked a lemon from a neighborhood tree and got a painful surprise. Apparently, lemon and lime trees, similar to porcupines and hedgehogs, developed the thorns for protection.

Here are some other interesting botanical facts:

• All berries are fruit. But not all fruit are berries.

• Watermelons are berries. And so are cucumbers, cantaloupes, squash, and pumpkins! Banana, grape, melon, orange, and avocado are also berries.

• Strawberries and raspberries are NOT berries; they are “aggregate accessory fruits”, and apparently each tiny seed is technically an individual fruit. But unfortunately, one strawberry with multiple seeds does not count towards your daily recommended dose of fruit!

• And finally, I just discovered that I love drupes! Cherry, plum, peach, and olive are all drupes, also known as stone fruit. A drupe is a fleshy fruit that usually contains a single seed.

Who knew that botany could be so delicious?

What did you think? Drop me a line!

Sources:

• https://www.yarden.com/blog/does-a-lemon-tree-have-thorns
• https://www.foodandwine.com/fruits/melon/watermelon/shattering-truth-about-watermelons-and-other-fruits-you-thought-you-knew
• https://www.britannica.com/science/berry-plant-reproductive-body

Cat-Modified Reproductions Of Famous Classical Paintings By Svetlana Petrova

 

Do Cats Like Human Kisses? / 

"The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt

The Creation Of Cat-Dam / 

"The Creation of Adam" by Michelangelo

The Purrsistence Of Cats’ Meowmory / 

"The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dali

Bathing In The Pond Of Water Lillies And Other Summer Delights / 

"Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies" by Claude Monet

When You Date A Cat-Lover / 

"The Abduction of Psyche" by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

Do Cats Love Irises? / 

"Irises" by Vincent Van Gogh

The Furry Night / 

"The Starry Night" by Vincent van Gogh

Cats Are True Angels / 

"Sistine angels" by Raphael

Source (and more!): https://www.boredpanda.com/hilarious-orange-fat-cat-photobombing-classical-art-fatcatart/

Thought of the week – Get Better at Saying No

Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/49889874@N05/5580127313 

“If you'd like to get better at saying no, try this:

Keep a list of things you say no to. Whenever you ignore a distraction or turn down an opportunity, add it to the list. As the list grows, you begin to feel a sense of accomplishment for your ability to say no and remain focused on what matters.

Turn each no into an achievement.”

  ~ James Clear, https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/August-1-2024

Monthly Oracle Forecast for July

Greetings all!

Someone recently randomly mentioned “Mercury in retrograde” and said to be mindful and do your best. Then I got an email from Colette Baron-Reid with her July forecast and a message to stay close to what truly nourishes us.

“July is a packed energetic month!

The first half of the month, especially, feels big. There may be moments that feel tense, disappointing, or even a little shocking.

July includes a Mercury retrograde in Cancer, making it a month that's worthy of your attention. Things left unfinished may resurface. Conversations, relationships, or situations you thought were behind you may ask for another look.

While we may find ourselves witnessing things that feel unfair or confronting, our energy is better spent staying connected to the people who matter most, contributing in meaningful ways, and choosing our battles wisely.

This isn't about bypassing reality or pretending everything is fine. It's about being smart, staying grounded, and asking yourself, How can I contribute? How can I stay out of unnecessary drama?

There's also a deeper theme running through this month around partnership, connection, and discovering what truly feels purposeful and aligned.”

Stay grounded, avoid drama, and a find a way to contribute!

Image: https://www.colettebaronreid.com/resources/pick-a-card/ 

Football Smash Cocktail

Greetings all!

Are you following the FIFA World Cup? Here is the Football Smash cocktail to help you stay hydrated for the remaining matches.

Recipe and image: https://www.totalwine.com/cocktail-recipes/football-smash 

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 parts Sauvignon Blanc
• 1/2 parts agave syrup
• 2 strawberries
• Handful of mint 

Directions 

• Muddle mint and strawberry in the bottom of a rocks glass
• Add agave and Sauvignon Blanc
• Stir until well mixed
• Top with ice and the remaining Sauvignon Blanc 

Bon Appetit! Let me know how you like it!

TripAdvisor Best of the Best: 2026 Travelers' Choice Awards

1. Bali, Indonesia

2. London, United Kingdom

3. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

4. Hanoi, Vietnam

5. Paris, France

6.Rome, Italy

7. Marrakesh, Morocco

8. Bangkok, Thailand

9. Crete, Greece

10. New York City, United States

Source (and more!): https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Destinations

Dear Anxiety….

Greetings all! 

If you check in with yourself right now, do you feel anxious? So many people have constant background anxiety. But what if anxiety is trying to do you a favor? 

Image: https://www.dreamstime.com/funny-kawaii-i-scream-cartoon-anxiety-quote-sticker-sublimation-print-image375751609

Here are some CALM thoughts on anxiety:

"It’s easy to think of anxiety as the #1 enemy, but what if, instead, you thought of it like an alert system letting you know something needs your attention?

Acknowledging and reframing your experience of anxiety often helps you slow it down and regain control.

When anxiety feels like a runaway train, pull the brakes with these three simple phrases:

💙“Anxiety is trying to keep me safe”

💙“I can listen to the message of my body”

💙“I’m here now”

Remember: Sometimes, anxiety can be an important (and even helpful) experience.

Reflect: What message might your anxiety be trying to share with you right now?

Reframe: 'I hate feeling anxious.' -> 'I can take the lesson from anxiety and let it go'."

Breathe and have a great week!

Time Confetti

Greetings all! 

I recently came across the term “Time Confetti” – and I thought how cute and envisioned something pink and sparkly! Wrong! 

Karen Kwong, an executive and leadership coach, aptly describes time confetti as “tiny chunks of time here and there, in the form of minutes and seconds, lost to non-productive multi-tasking,” all in pursuit of feeling more productive. My readers know how I feel about multi-tasking: “I was not created a Swiss Army knife to multitask like this!” 

Here is some food for thought: data shows that an average desk worker changes desktop applications every six minutes. What meaningful tasks can you really accomplish in six minutes?

The term 'time confetti' was actually coined by author Brigid Shulte to describe using free time to do little bits of seemingly inconsequential tasks. 

In her book “Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time,” Brigid writes, "As work weeks get longer and leisure time shrinks, people are becoming sicker, more distracted, absent, unproductive, and less innovative.” 

How true – and sad! - about shrinking leisure time! You might feel you are getting more done, then you use those time pockets to find and do more work, and voila - interruptions now become your new normal. 

For example, if you have a free hour, would you relax guilt-free with a cup of tea and a good book or would you feel the need to do something productive and clear some of your to-dos? 

Time confetti might manifest in: 

·        Inability to relax during break times

·        Always feeling switched on

·        Constantly rushing from one thing to the next

·        Decreased ability to focus

·        Anxiety when you’re not “busy”

·        Stronger tendency towards unproductive multitasking

·        Feeling like you never have enough time

o   This is actually known as 'time poverty' or 'time famine' and was researched by Leslie Perlow in 1999 

If you need to feel busy at all times and/or are anxious and dissatisfied when you are not, you might be experiencing time confetti. When you try to do “everything, all at once, all the time,”  then you are never in the present here and now, and your brain does not rest. 

To fight time confetti, you can be more intentional and honest about your use of time, block time for uninterrupted work, schedule intentional breaks, protect your leisure time, and learn to say NO. Do not mistake movement for achievement. 

Rest/leisure is not a luxury, it is a necessity. We should not feel that we need to be productive 24/7. 

Now – how about that cup of tea and a book? 

Sources:

• https://hubstaff.com/blog/time-confetti/
• https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/body/health/a38696205/time-confetti/
• https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-18/time-confetti-is-making-you-work-harder-and-relax-less/104875442?future=true&
• Image: https://deepai.org/

Poem of the Week: Sea Fever

 
Image: https://deepai.org/

Sea Fever (1902) 

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over. 

~ John Masefield (1878 – 1967)
Read on: https://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/sea-fever

Selection of Funnies: Perfectly Timed Nature Photos

I wish I was half as calm as this frog at any given time.

This lizard holds the record for reptile pole vaulting. 

"And then, listen to this, he said, 'I'm not texting other girls. I promise.'"

That giraffe must have really wanted to say "what's up?" to the passengers on that plane.

When your food arrives at a restaurant and you start eating before realizing that nobody else got their meals yet.

When "Happy Monday!" emails start rolling in before you've even had your coffee.

"Excuse me, ma'am, may I speak to the manager?"

It's day one of my plant-based diet! I’m doing GREAT.

When you make eye contact with the person you’ve been gazing at from across the room... Hello, beautiful.

Source (including captions and more!): https://www.countryliving.com/life/g35653074/funny-animal-pictures 

Thought of the week – Be ‘Selectively Ignorant’

 

“Be ’selectively ignorant.’

Ignore topics that drain your attention.

Unfollow people that drain your energy.

Abandon projects that drain your time.

Do not keep up with it all. The more selectively ignorant you become, the more broadly knowledgeable you can be.”

Sources:

• James Clear, https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/october-29-2020
• Image: https://deepai.org/ 

Italian Pasta Salad

Greetings all! 

If you are hosting a summer potluck or invited to one, how about putting this Italian Pasta Salad on the menu? I have not yet made this particular recipe, but I love all the ingredients so I am sure it will be delicious! 

Ingredients 

• 1 lb. cooked fusilli pasta
• 8 oz. mozzarella balls, halved
• 4 oz. salami, quartered
• 1 cup artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup pitted black olives, sliced
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
• Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper 

Directions 

• In a large bowl, toss pasta, mozzarella, salami, artichokes, tomatoes, and olives. 
• In a jar, combine oil, garlic, vinegar, parsley, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Secure with a lid, then shake to combine; season with salt and black pepper.
• Pour dressing over pasta salad and toss to combine.

Bon Appetit! Let me know how you like it! 

Source: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a19601468/italian-pasta-salad-recipe/ / PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Google Calendar’s Secret Codewords

Greetings all!

As I was reviewing my upcoming week in Google Calendar, I realized how much I enjoy seeing an event image. One of my favorites - which, alas, I have not yet  planned! - is “synchronized swimming”!😊

You can see gym, lunch, dentist, and so much more at a glance on your phone.

To get an image, sometimes you have to put more than one word, and some images look strange or just missing - so this is not very intuitive. For example, “pay bill” makes me think of going to the beach because of the waves and potentially a hot weather warning.

There is no “meeting” or “contact” image but I did find “reach out to” (make sire to include ‘to’).

Also you cannot plan for “work” – is this a sign that work should not be on our calendar? I did discover “interview” and “week planning” are good approximations.

Do you have any useful or unusual Google Calendar codewords? Drop me a line! 

Source: https://theintelligence.com/20085/google-calendar-codewords/

The World Would Be Dull Without You

Greetings all! 

Just in case you need to hear this: 

“You never have to apologize for who you are. You are enough. 

With so much noise around us constantly shaping our thoughts and actions, finding the courage to show up authentically can sometimes feel…impossible.

It’s normal to want to fit in, but belonging can never come at the expense of being true to who you are.

After all, the world would be pretty dull without you.

Remember: There’s only one you. Take that job seriously.

Reflect: Where am I playing it small in my life? How can I show up more fully in this area?

Reframe: I’m too much -> I’m just enough 

Let the you shine through! Stay true to yourself!” 

What did you think? Drop me a line  and keep on shining!

Source: CALM / Image: https://deepai.org/

Oracle Message: Time To Go

Greetings all!

Do you feel that you need a sign right now? Are you wrestling with your next step? 

I love this timely Oracle card that tells you to trust what you already feel shifting. To let something complete, even if you can’t yet see what’s next. 

 

"This is an auspicious sign, because there is no choice that will benefit you other than risking stepping into the unknown. It is time to walk toward something new. You have done all you can; now trust that Spirit keeps the plan moving forward.” 

What did you think? Drop me a line! 

Source: Colette Baron-Reid

Australia’s Fashion: Pied Piper Duck Parade

Greetings all!

Even if you follow fashion, I bet there are some models you have never heard of!

In the past, Australian farmer Brian Harrington dressed the ducks and geese in stylish outfits so they could waddle the catwalk in style at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Each bird modeled 3 outfits: day, evening, and wedding. 

Why a duck would need a wedding outfit, or any outfit - with a hat! - raises so many questions but that is a different story! And looking at what I am wearing while writing this post, I have to confess that these duckies are better dressed than me! My only excuse is that I am not attending a wedding today!

Hope this made you chuckle! What did you think? Drop me a line!

Sources:

• https://sortra.com/australias-annual-show-of-pied-piper-ducks/
• https://mymodernmet.com/australian-pied-piper-duck-show/
• Watch a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v1GsXXrYuo
• Images by Rachel Lord