Living in the Moment with Life’s Little Things
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realise they were the big things.” ~ Robert Brault There is much talk about being in the moment these days. And yet, how do we live in the moment when we are so busy, when our minds race from one thing to another? And what does it really mean to be in the moment, anyways? For me, it is quite simple. It means savoring every little experience throughout my day as best as possible, resting in my senses—feeling the miracle of warm water caressing my back in the shower; smelling the sweetness of freshly baked muffins in the oven; imbibing the vibrant colors of the lilies and daffodils in the fields, the drifting […]
Remembering Joy ~ Touching the Immeasurable Essence of Life
The more you teach the measurable, the more children will feel like they can never measure up. Since our early years, we have been inculcated with that which is measurable. We have not been fully supported to gaze in wonder at a butterfly, and explore the feelings and insights it gives us. Instead, increasingly we’ve had to know about it – to understand what kind of butterfly it is, how/where it flies, and what it eats. Rational thought and knowledge has indeed surpassed the purity of wonder. Knowing about has usurped our ability and desire to just be with—to commune with our surroundings, to be present with life. With pressures from parents and schools, and influences from society as a whole, we have become gatherers of the information age, conquers of time and […]
Go Outside and Play!
“Go outside and play!” said God. “I have given you Universes as fields to run free in! And here – take this and wrap yourself in it – It’s called LOVE and it will always, always keep you warm. And stars! The sun and the moon and the stars! Look upon these often, for they will remind you of your own light! And eyes… oh, gaze into the eyes of every Lover; gaze into the eyes of every other for they have given you their Universes as fields to run free in. There. I have given you everything you need. Now go, go, go outside and play!” “Go Outside and Play” – from Home Remembers Me: Medicine Poems from em claire ©em claire All Rights […]
Playful Revolution
Be Playful and you’ll Rock the Boat, Rattle the Senses, and Wake People from the Status Quo. When we play we give Joy to the world. And because most of us are used to feeling more stress than joy, it can be a bit unsettling when confronted with a playful spirit. A participant recently told me how her co-worker said to follow her outside. She went into her car, turned on some music (loudly!) and began dancing. The participant hesitated for a moment, but soon happily danced away as passer-by’s watched and scratched their heads. As the video demonstrates, we are all wanting to let our hair down and raise our spirit’s up! We are all wanting to be free! And yet we need playful […]
45 Seconds of Joy
“Grown men can learn from very little children, for the hearts of little children are pure. Therefore, the Great Spirit may show them many things that older people miss.” ~ Black Elk. Children are such wonderful teachers. I love how much joy they get out of the simplest things in life. They remind us to delight in the great blessings that surround us in every moment, and to be unabashed in our celebration. Start your week with a smile: Take 45 seconds to let these two little teachers connect you to the delighted and joyous child in you. “While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” ~Angela Schwindt * […]
Free Compliments
“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” ~A.A. Milne. Imagine going to work and seeing this on the wall? This flyer was in the office of a friend of mine. I thought it would be fun to share it with you, and perhaps inspire you to create your own Free Compliments flyer. Just in case you can’t see, here is what the tags say: You inspire me You are like a big hug I like to hear you laugh You are a treasure You have a gorgeous smile You are beautiful You amaze me You light up my life You look really good today You have a beautiful soul You are lovely Imagine the happy smiles you could create this […]
Letter from the Post Office
A quick story to warm your heart for the day. Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words: Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I ‘m happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and […]
Listening
“Deep listening is miraculous for both listener and speaker. When someone receives us with open-hearted, non-judging, intensely interested listening, our spirits expand.” ~ Sue Patton Thoele. 29 years old and listening for the first time We take our capacity to hear for granted. We’ve forgotten to savor and appreciate the rich diversity of sound continuously offered to us. Take time today to appreciate life’s endless melodies. Perhaps imagine this is the last time you hear this unique and precious sound. Be curious and notice its subtleties: is the sound wavy, crunchy, intense, whispery? What are its qualities? And when in conversation, notice how present you are. Are you listening, receiving their words and feelings, or lost in thought? I heard a statistic recently that mothers […]
Magical Inner Child
“Today isn’t Monday. It’s a moment. A field of moments like a meadow of daisies. Every moment offers another chance to get present and choose love instead of fear. As you answer emails, go to the doctor, pick up the children: practice breathing in a new moment with new and infinite possibilities that exceed your mind’s limitations. It’s not Monday. It’s a stream of chances to be alive.” ~ Tama Kieves. This is the playful mindset from which our Magical Inner Child sees and lives life! Take a moment, and connect to the Magical Inner Child in You! Imagine allowing your Magical Inner Child to take the lead on this Monday. Imagine she held the reins. What would she direct you to do? How would she respond to your […]
Play Begins with Permission ~ Freeing Your Self through Simple Play
Play is not dependent on anything except our willingness. The very first play principle I teach in my playshops is Permission. Permission is recognizing we have the play instinct within, and allowing it to be expressed in every moment. When we allow ourselves to let go and be care-free just a little, play emerges naturally, and we surprise ourselves in how playful we actually are. Adults asks “How?” Children just play. When we assume we are not playful, we tend to ask “How do I play?” It is a question I hear quite often from adults. The fact that we ask How is a statement of how difficult play has become for so many of us. It is a sign we have lost touch with […]