Obstruction

Sometimes things get in the way.

Whether at home, at work, at play or in our minds, it is pretty certain that something expected or unexpected will occur.

Now these 'occurrences' may not necessarily be a bad or negative thing to happen. They may enhance the experience.

Now what to do with those things that are not so welcome in our lives......the things that happen without any warning whatsoever.

I believe we need to acquire the capacity to accept and possibly even change what is challenging and obscuring our view.

That way we can learn to include these obstructions in our daily existence if need be. We may not like them but we learn to live with them.

Thinking Out Loud

I was thinking (no wise cracks!) and it occurred to me that there are similarities between photography and life.

Both require a certain degree of focusing. And the outcome for both can be directly dependent on what the focus is 'set' at. For example:


I was at a funeral on Tuesday. My cousin's husband died. 

While sitting in the church waiting for things to proceed, Ron and I were looking around the building from our pew.


It was quiet.

It was one of those 70's buildings where it was wide open and airy with a very tall a-frame/cathedral (quite appropriate I must say) ceiling.

I looked up. And directly above me was a HUGE crucifix with the body of Christ hanging from it. He was dead, and hanging towards us.

Having grown up in the Roman Catholic religion, I used to take all this for granted....the statues, grand churches etc. 


On this particular morning I couldn't help but be a little overwhelmed by the image of that body  hanging just ahead of and above us.

It wasn't an endearing image, nor was it soothing in any manner. To be honest I found it to be a bit disturbing.


I began to wonder what the rationale would have been to place this crucifix there. I can't imagine it being anything but scary and bewildering to children....and maybe some adults.

Here is where the 'focus' comes in. In the past this would have sent me in the direction of blaming  the church for so many things in my life.


Instead I decided to go in another direction, or have a different focus setting.

I think religions in general have something very important to offer us. I just wonder and question sometimes the manner in which they choose to do this.


Maybe it is 'age' that has changed my focus somewhat on a number of things that used to infuriate me.

I still feel the passion I had back in my youth about certain issues but I have changed the focus........less anger and more compassion.

The Beach At Dusk

I don't often use the 'video' function on my camera as is obvious from this.


There is something magical about the beach at dusk with the sound of waves in the background and a guest appearance by none other than Ms.Sophie and of course her ever-present new ball, Mr.Bionic!


Near the end Sophie spies Ron at the other end of the beach. Please excuse/ignore the unfocused portion......I'll get better.....sometime.

The New Duo MainTenanT

Our friend, Marilyn, forwarded this to us the other day. She is a dance instructor and she thought we would enjoy this. 


In the early 90's Ron and I were in the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo as dancers. It was here that we met Marilyn and we have stayed in touch ever since.


If you like dance then you will appreciate these two. It is not dance in it's purest form by any means, but a mix of gymnastic moves put to music.


Before you try any of these moves please clear out the furniture and wear a helmet! lol

Contemplative Monday

I just realized something. I always feel so peaceful after I have read something by Pema Chodron.


I 'found' her about 10 years ago when 'things were falling apart' around me. And a book by the same title, When Things Fall Apart, was recommended by a woman who was member of Pema's community, Shambhala Buddhism, which just happens to be centered here in Halifax.


I thought the book was all about me! lol It really hit home and allowed me see that I was not alone and it was a very 'human' trait to feel the things I was feeling.


So, today's 'advice' comes from Pema Chodron's Heart Advice newsletter of last week.

What It Is To Be Human


                                        "Although it is embarrassing and painful, 

                                          "it is very healing to stop hiding from yourself.

                                 "It is healing to know all the ways that you shut down,

                            "deny, close off, criticize people, all your weird little ways.

                         "You can know all that with some sense of humour and kindness.

                     "By knowing yourself, you are coming to know humanness altogether."

Eclectic Tastes

Like the rest of North America we have been having some very strange and unusual weather for January. As evening was settling across the eastern shore of Nova Scotia on Friday it began to pour. 


I immediately began to hum the following song. The title and the artist came to mind and thanks to You Tube here is Jose Feliciano from his 1969 hit, 'Listen To the Falling Rain'.

Retro Saturday....."Transformagic'

While at my Dad's house the other day I was rooting around and tidying up a linen closet, I found a box of my mother's craft/knitting booklets. The one above caught my eye. I figure it was from the late 60's or early 70's.

          It showed you how to turn a 'handsome chest and mirror' (or 'a sad old relic') into

       this above! A miracle done with painting! Or, you can turn an 'old round dining room

            table' into a coffee table.....again with paint. And how about those old wooden chairs...

                                  a coat of paint and some stenciling and voila! Brand new!!!

          Nowadays this would be sacrilegious and unheard of.......to even 'touch' anything 'old' 

             and alter the 'patina' in any way. How the 'value' of things will change over time.