the vip

back from vipassana. gotta love the buddhists- their philosophy of life
and the human experience layed out so neatly, a solid structure to
flow within. my mind is calm.

upon my return, i was getting something in the garage, when i spotted
a serenity prayer picture, hanging the window. again, a homemade thing,
this time with with purple silk hydrangea flowers hot glued onto the frame.

i think i found it out there in the meditation center, a few moments of inner peace.

luv ya,

ab

p.s. your recent gratitude picks are much to my liking. big gratitude!

gracious

oh wow, you're heading to vipassana?! "enjoy" in some sense of that term. you will benefit hugely.

i missed a day b/c i didn't have the internet yesterday, so...:

1. days without the internet, stellar slow-downs
2. carrot juice, fresh-squozen yumminess
3. friends getting rid of things that you can use
4. recycling anything ever
5. plants: roots, stems, leaves, and life...so beautiful
6. the cooing of the dove outside that calls me to meditate and to remind me of home (is this a double? if so i'm ok with being doubly thankful for that little guy ;)
7. chocolate chip cookies
8. overcast days that say, 'stay inside and get things done, and while you're at it, relax a little.'
9. avocados.
10. summer tans and the smell of sunscreen
11. surprise visits to a partner, anticipation is a fun little ride

au revoir

ecstatic gratitude listing

1. dream appearance by the dalai lama! like, really
2. surprise 'clarity thai massage', clearing up some energy lines and bubbles of clarity rising in the ajna chakra
3. delicious little michigan plum from aunt pat this a.m.
4. roadtrips
5. fresh starts
6. spontaneous storytelling
7. healing
8. beautiful memories
9. a murder of crows cackling out a good time
10. heading now to vipassana!!!

take care dear one.

xo

gratitude practice

1. Forgiveness of self or another. Forgiveness from another.

2. Constant golden retriever love.

3. Full-body immersion in freshwater lake- the particular purity and softness of freshwater.

4. Thai massage! An experienced thai practitioner goddess that gets to the bottom of long lingering issues in my friend's body.

5. Serendipity!

6. Knees...bring us forward with each step.

7. When "Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night" comes on the radio

8. Indiana sweet corn, nature's beautiful variations in its alternating white and yellow kernels

9. The asanas that challenge deeply everyday and the instant reward of embracing the sensation as it is

10. Earplugs...granting quiet sleep almost anywhere

dix choses

today, i am grateful for:

1. this little button on blogger that you can just 1, 2, 3 bullet points
2. index fingers. was chatting with a gal last night about this blog - being grateful for the thumb. she shared an unfortunate index finger manicure experience, and index fingers are important too!
3. the wind, particularly as i was strolling by a cat-litter-box-filled trashcan, and the breeze came by to alleviate that situation.
4. dolphins. they have inspired me since age 7, and they inspire me to go surfing all the time. when i think of the possibility of seeing a dolphin in the ocean, i get my butt out there and get thrashed in ma blue, and it's always the ass-kicking and refresher that the doctor ordered.
5. surfing! wow that's good fun, even though i'm...still in a beginner's mind...and body!
6. raunchniness. where would we be, ab, without it? even purity begs a balance.
7. french bulldogs! holy cuteness! have you seen this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0-Sv6YnxEc
8. youtube! how else could we share french bulldogs can't roll over? global community come together!
9. japan, for their refined culture, manners, politesse, and healthy diet. fuji apples for dessert?! not quite there yet, but i'll letchya know...
10. morning doves cooing. their call reminds me of home, and of the place i stayed for vipassana meditation...always a call to sit, breathe, and be.

mucho greatful

good morning sunshine................mucho grateful for...........

1. resistance to shopping but i go inside. a moment of persistance brings perfect beach outfits to me as if by magic (and yes, owning a bathing suit is a necessity here in the steamy midwest jungle)

2. grace is good

3. accepted into vipassana meditation course

4. older and wiser friends

5. friends with compassion

6. dave's homemade donuts (deep fried in oil)

7. redunkulous bag of hand-me-downs with a copy of 'committed' included, turns out a deeply thoughtful well-researched fun book.

8. persistant 4 yr old who wants big hugs instead of letting me finish this blog

9. daily dose of led (zepellin)

10. mom sets aside some vegetarian taco salad for her yogini daughter. grateful for her thoughtfulness.

xoxo

gratitudinally

ooh, delicious, delightful entry from miss beard...

today i'm grateful for

1. the ability to sweat. it feels good, and thank you, human body for taking in what you need and letting go of what no longer serves you [or me]
2. spontaneity - freedom to pull into a parking lot ready to do my shopping, feeling like, this isn't where i want to be - and going to hang out with friends.
3. dictionary.com, for spelling help on #2 and any other word at the tap of my fingers
4. onomatopoeia [#3 again] - for cool words like, 'pop!', 'boom!', 'schwaap!', 'bluurb!'
5. kind people with common interests
6. rats - they are cool pets, so loving and mellow
7. friends. friends from far away, friends who need help - especially grateful for the ability to serve and make another person feel their own value, their own light, and their own love.
8. the beach! black's beach, the most beautiful beach in san diego...basking glorious beauty.
9. ear plugs. i'd be sleep-deprived and crabby without ear plugs.
10. fresh tomatoes pulled from the garden, plopped straight into my mouf. nummmmm!