~ Valuable Info!  What’s Happening To Our Nervous Systems? ~
~ Sweetly Reminding Me With Laughter ~
~ Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and a Story For These Dazy ~
~ I forgot what I thought I had to remember.  This is what happened next.~
~ Sky Blue Pink ~
~ Best-Laid Plans ~
~ Unexpected Beauties~
~ Pondering Reconciliation ~
~ I did not learn this from the gods. I learned it from the dogs ~
~ It Is All Around Us ~

Ponderings, Poems & Practices
    for Living Your Brilliance!


Hello Dear Hearts,

I’m sitting at my living room window watching the stormy sea. The howl of the wind is intense. which makes a grand sound track for this cozy day.   

Lately I’ve been feeling a little stormy inside of myself and I ponder that as I watch the ever-changing wildness of this storm.   Yesterday was absolutely calm … that calm before the storm you’ve heard about.

Last week I listened to the OnBeing.Org  podcast  What’s Happening To Our Nervous Systems?   As I’ve been considering what to share in this Sweet Reminder that podcast keeps coming to mind.  It speaks to many of the conversations I’ve found myself in lately; conversations with clients, friends and me-myself-and-I as we navigate a full range of emotions and Covid-life begins to shift once again. 

Lack of motivation, forgetfulness, the bah humbugs, boredom and exhaustion have become familiar companions to many of us.  And right along side of those are often self-criticism, judgement, internal wrestling matches and hearty attempts to change or “get-back-to-normal”.

Krista Tippett’s insightful interview with clinical psychologist Christine Runyan offered valuable  information, understanding, and practical support that speaks to these experiences and I want to share the podcast with you.  
Here’s the link:
What’s Happening To Our Nervous Systems? 
From that link you have access to the produced podcast, the unedited interview and the transcript.   

Let’s be gentle with ourselves.

With wind-blown love to you,
Sharon

What’s Happening To Our Nervous Systems?
 
The light at the end of the COVID tunnel is tenuously appearing — yet many of us feel as exhausted as at any time in the past year. Memory problems; short fuses; fractured productivity; sudden drops into despair. We’re at once excited and unnerved by the prospect of life opening up again. Clinical psychologist Christine Runyan explains the physiological effects of a year of pandemic and social isolation — what’s happened at the level of stress response and nervous system, the literal mind-body connection. And she offers simple strategies to regain our fullest capacities for the world ahead.

 

 

 

Ponderings, Poems & Practices
    for Living Your Brilliance!


 ~ Laugh because that is the purest sound ~  Hafiz

Laughter is
Carbonated Holiness
      ~Anne Lamott~

Laughter is
the Language of the Soul
~ Pablo Neruda ~
 

Laughter is
Prayer
~ Sharon Mauldin ~
Today I see Laughter as Holy, Soulful Prayer.
I am grateful.
 
With love and laughter,
Sharon
 

Ponderings, Poems & Practices
    for Living Your Brilliance!

“Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.”  (Job 2:13 NIV)

Hello Loves,

And as the story goes …

It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn’t heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore’s stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore.

“Hello Eeyore,” said Pooh.

“Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet “said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice.

“We just thought we’d check in on you,” said Piglet, “because we hadn’t heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay.”

Eeyore was silent for a moment. “Am I okay?” he asked, eventually. “Well, I don’t know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That’s what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All.  Which is why I haven’t bothered you. Because you wouldn’t want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All, would you now.”

Pooh looked at Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.

Eeyore looked at them in surprise. “What are you doing?”

“We’re sitting here with you,” said Pooh, “because we are your friends. And true friends don’t care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are.”

“Oh,” said Eeyore. “Oh.”

And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.
Because Pooh and Piglet were There.

No more; no less.
          (A.A.Milne, E.H.Shepard)

Ohhh, the wisdom and heart of Pooh and Piglet … 

I don’t know if I would been that wise and generous.  I can imagine myself getting to Eeyore’s house and pulling out my bag of tricks, attempting to cheer Eeyore up. 

Maybe I’d suggest a walk in the woods; that could be good medicine for Eeyore’s spirit.

Maybe I’d ask for some details about what was wrong, and after being a very good listener, I’d offer my antidote or some grand practice to fix the situation.  I imagine I’d come up with some good, helpful advice that would show Eeyore how understanding and caring I am.

I can see myself pointing out the good things Eeyore has going for him and encouraging him to put his attention on those.

Sometimes I underestimate the value of just showing up as that kind of “Winnie-the-Pooh & Piglet” true friend. 
No more; no less.

Let us sit with each other in loving friendship,
Sharon

 

Ponderings, Poems & Practices
    for Living Your Brilliance!


Hello Dear Ones,

I’m not exactly sure what made me turn my attention back to kiteboarding.

Way back in the middle of December, frustrated and discouraged by my personal best of 3 seconds up on the board, the holiday visit of friends and lousy wind conditions merged to give me the perfect excuse to take a short break from lessons.

That “short” break turned into two-and-a-half months.

The longing to take more lessons crept up on me and two weeks ago I found myself  heading into the water with board, kite and my very patient instructor, Nelson.

My thoughts were full of nonsense disguised as truth:   “I know I’ve forgotten everything.” “I’ll be back at square one, starting all over again.” “I’m not even going to remember how to fly the kite. “ What are you thinking?” … No original, creative or inspiring thoughts at all!  lol.

Naturally, I was shocked when I was amazing!  Certainly, none of the spectators on the beach (apart from my devoted instructor and husband) would have used the word “amazing!” for the short rides I was having; nevertheless, I delightfully amazed myself.  My body knew what to do and it was happy. 

Later, when my neighbor who brings home medals from international kiteboarding competitions asked how my kiteboarding went, my huge smile was the best answer I could give her.   And when her response was  “you forgot what you had to remember,” it  twisted my brain a little bit and I took a mental double- take …

Her comment was laced with a hint of experienced chuckle … You forgot what you had to remember.  

I forgot what I had to remember and I flew across the ocean’s swells  with a big smile on my face.

20 years ago, after a long, information packed day during a tantra certification training, I was melting into a massage table while struggling to hold onto information, make mental connections and put new pieces of information together.    Not really needing an answer I asked the massage therapist “how do I remember all of this?”

You’ll remember what you need to know when you need to know it, was her reply.

Now I’m reflecting on the remembering that is deeper than my grasping and fenagling.  I’m wondering  about the remembering that doesn’t use words.  I’m curious how much I can let go and trust forgetting.

I forgot what I had to remember
I remembered what I need know when I needed to know  it.
 
As I’m putting the finishing touches on this note another memory has bubbled up. It’s a moment over 30 years ago when I was teaching a beginning Swedish massage course.  One of the students came to me moments before the final exam.  He was stressing out about the possibility of forgetting the stokes, sequences, the “everythings” … he was sure he’d forget “it all” and not pass the course.   My response was to relax and make it up; that’s when the massage you’re giving becomes your art. 

And today maybe I’d add  “forget what you think you have to remember …  and have fun!”

Sailing into love with you,
Sharon

Ponderings, Poems & Practices
    for Living Your Brilliance!


Hello Colorful One,

Sometime a beginning creeps up slowly, like the sky-blue-pink of this morning’s cloud-covered horizon. The morning light came with a gentleness that slowly peeled back the lingering night sky; the sliver of a crescent moon hanging above me, like the hint of a smile that knows a sweet-scented secret.

As the starlights slowly faded away that hint of a moon reminded me of the night that was ending.  It was a sweet reminder to take time to embrace and honor endings. 

Ending and beginnings always ride together.

Like the change of seasons or tides, sometimes endings-beginnings come in a leisurely timing that we anticipate.  And endings-beginnings can slam us in a way that unexpectedly finds us on our knees. In an instant, nothing will ever be the same.
 
Beginnings and Endings. These have been weaving themselves into my thoughts over these past weeks … hmmm …  over this past year, really. Or maybe it’s more of an unfolding conversation whose revelations span this lifetime.   A life’s journey is a continual parade of change. Comings and goings. Openings and closings. Starts and stops.  Ending and beginnings.
 
At times my gaze is firmly fixed on a new beginning.  There is a gravitational pull that boldly carries me into a dream or vision.  Those have been some of my most inspiring joy-filled days.

There have been those ending times when I was desperately scrambling to move away from something without a concrete thought to a new beginning or a what’s next.  Those have been some of my most challenging anguished-filled days. 
 
I think of the first wail of a newborn; protesting being pushed into a new beginning, gasping as it pulls in a totally foreign substance called air.   An ending to the cozy comfort of womb-love and into the clean-slate beginning of a life that’s beckoning to be lived.     
 
I reflect on the recent ending of a cherished friend’s life.   She knew it was simply an ending of life in the body.  She loved that body and lived in it with zest and gratitude.  And she unapologetically embraced it’s ending as she prepared to “fly with the angels” into the mysterious beginning that transition would bring.   She welcomed both the ending and beginning with peaceful, trusting grace.   I am blessed that we shared part of that journey together. 
 
Since my friend’s transition I’ve  been diving into my curiosity of beginnings and ending with different eyes. Endings and beginnings have become extraordinary teachers for me.

I’ve noticed there is often a tint of grief in many of my beginnings, even in the enthusiastic “Hell Yes!” beginnings.    Saying “yes” to one new beginning means turning away from other intriguing possibilities.    

Fondnesses, joys, regrets, what-might-have beens, get tangled around endings and mix with beginnings in a way that brings a full range of feelings. The sense of loss can be surprising when it tags along with wished for endings and joyful beginnings.

I’m  been noticing how anticipation, excitement, anxiousness, hesitancy, boldness, impatience and relief can be subtle, and not so subtle, undercurrents to both endings and beginnings.

I’ve watched how sometimes I don’t cleanly or completely end something before jumping into the what’s next, like how I put that next bite of food in my mouth before completely swallowing the previous bite. 
 
My practice  has become paying exquisite attention to a few of the  small endings and beginnings sprinkled throughout my day.   Scroll down a little if you’d like to know what I’m playing with.  Maybe you’ll join me!  I’d enjoying hearing where your juicy practice grounds are.

With love,
Sharon

Each day is filled with myriad of endings and beginnings.
Here’s a few I’ve been paying attention to:

The moments of ending sleep and beginning of wakefulness

Bringing attention to the last sips of my morning cup of tea

Being mindful when I set down an object on the desk

Offering gratitude to the beginning and the ending of a meal
Letting my attention follow the turn of the breath to notice when the inhale turns to exhale and turns to inhale again

Taking a moment at the end of a chapter in the book I’m reading

Sitting in silence after the ending notes of a song

Noticing when I don’t complete a sentence I’ve started or my train of thought gets off track

Letting myself feel the completion of this sweet reminder and thinking love has no ending or beginning

I’ve love to hear where you’re practicing!

With curiosity and love,
Sharon

Art: Andrea Balt

Ponderings, Poems & Practices
    for Living Your Brilliance!

“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”   Winnie The Pooh

Hello Beloveds,

Last week was a week of tumbled plans. Commitments and plans shifted as quickly and unpredictably as the Dominican weather.   

When the dust of disappointment and change settled, my calendar was suddenly left with several days of few commitments, followed by a Saturday dental appointment for a root canal.

My days are usually filled with appointments and connections that I thoroughly enjoy, so it surprised me to feel the deep sense of freedom and lightness when those days opened up.

It’s not uncommon for plans to unexpectedly shift, especially these days; but it is unusual for me to just leave them open instead of using that time to fit in some other luscious plan or “catch-up” with “things”. (“Caught-up” never happens for me, have you noticed that too?)

So, I let my days be open to my imagination.  I gave myself to the pull arising in the moment.    Ohhhh, I was deeply nourished by the spaciousness of that unplanned time-out.    I even enjoyed feeling sorry for myself and my achy tooth!

I’m being sweetly reminded to slip those “absolutely-nothing-extraordinarily-valuable” days into my life more often.   That is a reminder that’s great for me to come back to again, and again, and again.

With love and spaciousness,
Sharon

PS … The Root Canal went smoothly but I still have a few “feel-sorry-for-myself” days ahead. xoxo
 

Ponderings, Poems & Practices
    for Living Your Brilliance!


Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.  rumi

Hello Dear One,

I’ve been basking in beauty.  Not just the “take-my-breath-away” beauty of a sunset, a lovely vista or someone’s bright smile. 

I’m basking in the simple beauty woven through ordinary moments, like washing the dishes or preparing a meal.  Or appreciating the beauty in taking a walk with my husband, not needing to talk about anything.

I’m drawn in by the beauty that rubs my edges and softens me to new insights or perspectives.  I’m even seeing the beauty in my stubbornness and the way my feelings get hurt.

This past week I’ve been touched by the raw beauty under the skin of a tender heartbreak, and the beauty of a stranger’s simple kindness.   I’ve felt the gentle beauty in an unexpected tear and a compassionate touch.

I’m sitting with the beauty of a birth and the beauty of a death.  This Mystery of Life. Beauty.

I’ve always enjoyed this Rumi quote, “Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”

But today I’m flipping that around … Let what I do become the beauty I love. 
Hmmmm, I’m curious to see where this is going to take me.

With love,
Sharon

Ponderings, Poems & Practices
    for Living Your Brilliance!


Beloved One,

Once again, we meet here.  In these days of turmoil and intensity the prayer I am sharing, by Pádraig Ó Tuama, eloquently speaks to what’s on my heart.  It was offered to me by a dear friend and I am grateful.

“May we—separated peoples, estranged strangers,
unfriended families, divided communities—
turn toward each other,
and turn toward our stories,
with understanding and listening,
with argument and acceptance,
with challenge, change
and consolation.

Because if God is to be found,
God will be found
in the space
between.”

—A Prayer for Reconciliation by Pádraig Ó Tuama

I sit with this prayerfully
and I wonder …
What is the nature of a true turning toward another?

Where is my starting point; that first small step that I’ve resisted taking?

I realize I cannot bring to another what I have not been willing to bring to myself

and I ask myself …
Where am I separated from myself?

How do I hold a conversation that embraces the messiness of confusing paradoxes that live in me?

How do I turn toward the one in me that is exiled, misunderstood and judged? Can I offer her deep listening and understanding?

I’m marinading in these questions; not answering them with mental gymnastics or a figuring out; but breathing and living into them with a quality of curiosity and openness, inviting them to slowly simmer their way into the heart and belly of my being.

May we meet in that holy space of between.
With love,
Sharon

Ponderings, Poems & Practices
    for Living Your Brilliance!


Dear One, New Year’s Love and Blessings to You,

As we slip into a new year it’s common for many of us to put attention to things we resolve to do or be in the coming year.  Aren’t those resolutions usually wrapped in ideas that you’re not good enough just the way you are. “I just need to change a few things then I’ll be better.. life will be better … 2021 will be a better.”

Sometimes I find myself falling into that thinking so when I came across this wisdom from Fred LaMotte, a poet I really dig, it was like a drink of refreshing reality.  And it seems like the best thing I could share with you as we venture into 2021.

I’m celebrating you just the way you are!
with love,
Sharon

Fred LaMotte’s Wisdom from the dogs …..
         Enjoy!

You don’t need to be a rosy-soft new-age angel in order to meditate.
 
You don’t need to sip liquified kale, live in an ashram, or be politically correct, in order to tap the infinite Source.
 
You don’t need to be someone better, someone higher, someone purer, someone ‘else.’ There is no one ‘else’ for you to be.
 
Here is the heresy of Truth: The fundamental dis-ease that cripples our whole culture is the toxic anxiety of striving to be someone better. It is the very search that divides us from ourselves.
 
Let’s wake up and find the courage to be incomparable. Call off the search. The beginning and end of spiritual practice is to rest the mind in its own broken heart.
 
Align with your jagged edges. Tune into the rough, unpolished, yet sparkling joy of your uniqueness.
 
The symphony of creation would not resonate in the same harmony without your singular piercing lovely note. The world doesn’t need another Gandhi, or Jesus, or ‘spiritual teacher’ – it needs You.
 
‘Enlightenment’ is more like falling than rising, more like collapsing than getting it all together.
 
Fall into your own rhythm: this is perfect stillness. Collapse into the Grace at the heart of your own chaos: that is perfect peace.
 
I did not learn this from the gods. I learned it from the dogs.
 
 ~  Fred LaMotte ~

Shared with gratitude
Find other treasures on Fred’s Blog
https://yourradiance.blogspot.com/

Ponderings, Poems & Practices
    for Living Your Brilliance!


 ~ As you walk upon the sacred earth, treat each step as a prayer ~
Black Elk

Hello Dear One,

Rolling around in me ….
What is the nature of sacred?  And when does if deserve a capitalized “S”?

For 20 years Kenneth and I have named the couples’ retreat we offer “Sacred Loving”.  And I  chuckle when I think “But isn’t ALL loving sacred?”

Today, when I read Orland Bishop’s quote,  “Nothing is made already sacred.  It becomes sacred when we give our attention to it at a level that reveals what it holds as energy and information”    I wondered, “maybe everything, just by the grace of its existence, IS sacred;  but it’s sacredness isn’t revealed to me until I bring that exquisite quality of attention to it.

So, how DO I hold sacredness in my life?  What a luscious question to ponder with my heart, belly and thoughts.

From outside I hear kiddos screeching with delight as they playfully tease each other.

Below my window I see a toddler giving his mama kisses while she’s attempting a yoga pose.

And, in this moment, I know the nature of sacred.  I know the nature of Sacred.

Seeing You With Sacred Love,
Sharon

The sacred is not in heaven or far away. It is all around us, and small human rituals can connect us to its presence.  And of course, the greatest challenge (and gift) is to see the sacred in each other.  
~ Alma Luz Villanueva ~