Heidi Martin's Blog, page 6

Living Free

I love watching the energy of young children. They play, laugh, and giggle with pure joy, never concerned with what others may think, never caring if their creations are perfect. They simply enjoy the act of creating something beautiful in their own eyes. Their thoughts and actions are completely uninhibited. They live every part of their lives from the heart, open and free. For them, anything is possible because the end results don’t matter. Their joy comes from creating, expressing, and loving others. They are being who they were made to be. They are truly free.

So, what happens to that joy as we get older? Why do we start to hold back from the things we love? Why does the end result become so important? As we grow up, we learn that others have expectations of us – there are certain ways we must act and things we must do in order to “fit in” with the people around us. We do not spend our time freely; we have tasks and studies to attend to. Our lives become structured, and there are certain things we need to accomplish in order to be considered “successful.” Often, we become less of who we are and more of who we think we should be. We become inhibited, choosing to blend in rather than reveal our unique selves. Why do we do this? Is it fear of what others may think? Is it fear of our own failure? What truly holds us back?

According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, the word inhibited means “1) to prohibit from doing something, 2) a: to hold in check: restrain, 2) b: to discourage from free or spontaneous activity especially through the operation of inner psychological or external social constraints.” Those are some pretty daunting words. But they make me realize that inhibition is something we do to ourselves. No one else makes us do it. We hold ourselves back, blocking our creativity and our dreams.

So, why do we do this to ourselves? Why can’t we live our lives with a little less inhibition? Why can’t we simply allow ourselves to be who we were made to be? The answer is that we can. We just have to give ourselves permission. You can start with small steps (or big, it’s up to you). But begin to express yourself creatively, take action, and achieve your dreams. Stop holding yourself back from the things you love to do. Stop thinking of reasons why you can’t do something and instead, think of reasons that you can. You don’t get another chance to live this life, so make the most of it while you are here. Make it count.

Even the birds outside my window this week know how to make the most of every day. The blue jay flits through the branches, continuously searching for its next meal. The robins and chickadees chatter and sing their songs, uninhibited and free. They are living in the moment. Birds aren’t worried about the future, they simply live in the now.

Perhaps we need to pay attention to the lessons from both the children and the birds. It’s time we listen to our hearts and let go of the fear, making the most of every day. It’s up to us to create the future we desire – one where we live our own lives, glorious and free.

Celebrating Silence

This past week I was discussing the busyness of the holiday season with
a friend of mine. She mentioned she had gone on a silent retreat years ago.
While on this retreat, she didn’t speak for two weeks – which I thought was
pretty amazing (and somewhat appealing to an introvert like me). She said that
although she didn’t remember much specifically about it, there was one thing
that still stuck with her. One of the leaders on the retreat shared with the
group his early morning ritual of mediating, reflecting, and praying before his
day began. He never missed his morning routine and considered it a crucial
starting point to his day. While he was sharing, one of the people on the
retreat asked him how he prayed or responded during tragic world events. (The
9/11 tragedy had happened only a few weeks earlier.) He responded that when he
was faced with a world tragedy or an extremely busy day, he got up even earlier
in the morning, so he could have extra time to mediate and pray for those in
need. It was his way of helping them. His meditation time grounded him so he
could stay centered to pray for others and better face the busyness of his own
day ahead.

Reflecting on that conversation, I realize what an amazing concept that leader
shared during that retreat. So much of the time, we are always racing from one
thing to the next, hardly taking time to breathe. When we are faced with a
particularly busy day, we often drink six cups of coffee to try to “power through
it” rather than get up a little earlier, settle our minds, and silently prepare
for our day. To many of us, taking the time to be silent seems ironic. But, I
have found it actually works. When I take the time in the mornings to quiet my
mind, I am calmer and more productive than on days that I don’t. Beginning the
day in silence makes a big difference for me.

But, I’ve also noticed how easily my all-important silent time can be
eliminated from my morning routine. Often, I feel exhausted when my alarm goes
off, so I sleep as late as I can and then jump out of bed, hastily get ready,
rush my kids out the door, and then attempt to tackle my day (sometimes with
little success). Although I’m aware how much my silent time benefits me, it is
often at the bottom of my priority list because it’s something I don’t have to
do. But, maybe it really is something I have to do. I know from experience it
makes my day more productive and yet, it’s the first thing to go when I feel
rushed and exhausted. That doesn’t seem right either. But I find it’s the
things that benefit me the most are often the things I choose not to do. I have
too many tasks on my list. And like most of us, I will help others long before
I help myself. (It’s that good old-fashioned guilt thing.)

Not taking the time for ourselves happens so easily. This past week, we had a
guest in our home, and it was a frenzy of activity. We went Black Friday
shopping, attended the Nutcracker Ballet (which was absolutely amazing),
painted some figurines, selected and purchased our Christmas tree, finished up
our holiday shopping, and wrapped presents. Needless to say, it was a very busy
few days. I slept much less than usual and, of course, in my busyness, the
first thing to go was my quiet reflection and meditative time in the morning. I
just couldn’t fit it in. And I’ll admit, after several days I could see the
difference. My whole body felt “off.” It was as though I was reeling from
something I couldn’t even see. My entire energy field felt displaced. Now, I
realize I wasn’t grounded. I hadn’t taken the time to be silent and center
myself in the mornings. And, it had affected my entire being.

So, as we enter into a very busy holiday season, it’s easy to be consumed by
all the tasks ahead. Yet, we don’t have to do it all. Some things we can choose
to let go of. It’s about centering yourself first, so you can then be more helpful
to others. Get up a little earlier and mediate or pray or reflect upon your
day. Take the time to be silent. And when tragic events happen around the world
(as they do so often these days) pray for those people and send them love. See
if being silent makes a difference in your life. See if focusing and quieting
your mind can center you for an entire day. See if celebrating silence can make
all the difference.  

Treasured Traditions

As I thought about celebrating Thanksgiving this week, one word came to my mind – tradition. Sitting around a table filled with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, mac and cheese (for the vegetarians in the house) and pumpkin pie, I reflected upon the things I’m most grateful for. It’s part of my Thanksgiving tradition.

Why do traditions matter so much to us? Why do we do the same things year after year? For many of us, traditions are the things we associate with a particular holiday: the foods we eat, the games we play, the people we’re with. Over time, our traditions remain the same, and that’s how most of us want it to stay. I know this from personal experience. One year for Thanksgiving, I made a Tofurky because my children, my husband, and I are vegetarian. I didn’t tell anyone ahead of time and after placing the cooked Tofurky on the table, our guests gasped. With disgusted looks on their faces, they asked, “What is that? Why don’t you just have turkey like everybody else?” But, the truth was I didn’t want turkey, and neither did my kids. The minute I placed Tofurky on the table, I had broken tradition. Many of my guests didn’t know what to do. They couldn’t understand why I changed the menu. It had always been the same, and that’s how they wanted it to stay. It was their tradition.

Traditions often provide families with routine and comfort during a very busy time. If you have the same meal year after year, you certainly don’t have to place too much thought into planning the menu. That is welcome news for many people because they are already stuck in long lines at the grocery store, desperately grabbing for whatever they need. Family and friends are welcome at these occasions, but sometimes extra people can create stress for the host/hostess. They strive for perfection as they want every dish to be served piping hot and beautifully presented with nothing over or under cooked. That creates a lot of pressure which following traditions can ease.

Also, traditions are part of what makes families unique. Each family celebrates the holidays in their own way. Traditions help make every family member feel as though they belong, and they make the holidays memorable. When I was growing up, Santa Claus always came to my house twice (yes, twice) – once on Christmas Eve night and once on Christmas Day morning. Every year, I waited with anticipation for Santa to come. The only way I passed the time was by copying the story “The Night Before Christmas” in a notebook. (It made an hour pass by pretty quickly.) There were other families I knew that only had Santa come on Christmas Day. Each tradition was unique to each family. But, it’s those very traditions like Santa Claus’s arrival, making Christmas cookies, or making latkes for Hanukkah that make holiday times memorable.

So, think about the traditions that you celebrate with your family during the holidays. Maybe you watch football every Thanksgiving or maybe your family plays board games like Monopoly and Life. Whatever your traditions are, enjoy the time you spend with your family and friends. Traditions are an important part of our lives. They are the things we remember and often, the things we love about the holidays. But, traditions don’t always have to remain the same. If the time is right, we can change them to better suit our family’s needs.

Finally, remember as we celebrate our traditions this season that everything doesn’t have to be perfect. Each year I often think about the marshmallows on top of the sweet potatoes – yes, that’s actually a recipe –that started on fire in the oven of my family’s kitchen as my mom prepared Thanksgiving dinner. It created quite a scene as my mom tried to blow them out before the smoke alarm went off. That memory always makes me smile. It turns out that sometimes our best memories are made of the things we never expected to happen. So this holiday season, embrace the unexpected and treasure the traditions you hold dear. And above all else, celebrate them with love.

Pruning for Beauty

This week my husband brought home a beautiful bouquet of red roses. Their vibrant color and picturesque blooms made me smile. They truly are nature’s perfection. As I breathed in their rich fragrance, warmth infused my entire being – their pure essence filling my very soul.

But this morning, I noticed that several of the leaves were turning brown and decaying in the water. I needed to prune them in order to extend the lives of the roses. With my scissors in hand, I clipped the leaves below the waterline as well as those wilting on the stems. As I clipped, more space was created for the roses to breathe. Finally, I recut the stems at an angle and placed the bouquet in fresh water. With a fresh drink and a trim, the petals began opening into beautiful blooms. The removal of decay had allowed them to expand and grow toward their full potential.

Watching the effects of pruning upon my rose bouquet, I realized that pruning is essential in our own lives as well. It’s what keeps us healthy. As we go through our lives, we face many challenges that often leave us feeling disappointed, rejected, confused, angry, or hurt. These are all valid feelings, but many of us hold onto them, sometimes for decades. We never really let them go. They cling to our hearts, and we let them fester until there is so much hurt and shame within us that we become angry and resentful. Gradually, they impact our relationships with ourselves and others. When this happens, we are the ones who suffer most. We are stuck in our own pain, punishing ourselves for a past we cannot change. We are not living the lives we intended to live. And often, we aren’t sure what to do about it. So, is there anything that can help?

We will all experience feelings of hurt or disappointment at some point in our lives. But, the key is that we need to fully feel our grief, shame, and resentment without placing any judgment upon them. When we allow ourselves to completely feel our emotions and accept them without any judgment, we are finally able to let them go. We want to breathe in love – my friend, Patti, describes it as “bubble-gum-pink love” – and release our feelings of fear, shame, and lack back out into the universe. If the feelings or energies are no longer serving us, it is time to let them go. Once this happens, we often learn valuable lessons about acceptance and are ready to move on to the next step of our journey. At last, we can let go of our hurts that have kept us hidden in the shadows and finally step into the light.

So, this week if you are harboring hurts or anger, try to release them. Keep the bubble-gum-pink love (or whatever color you want it to be) and release the energies. Breathe deeply and let them go. When we accept our feelings and release them, we will finally be able to blossom into the person we want to be. We will open like a flower into the best of who we are. And once you’ve finally released your hurts, consider buying a bouquet of flowers. While you’re pruning them, inhale their sweet aroma and know that true beauty comes when we cut back all that we no longer need.

The Lessons Within

This past Saturday, I was enjoying the outdoors with my son doing what he loves best: playing soccer. The air was fresh and crisp as fallen leaves crunched beneath our feet, and warm rays of sunshine cast their glow through the bare branches of the trees. We chased after the ball, laughing and battling for possession. Each of us kicked the ball fervently toward our own end of the yard, hoping to get a score. Surprisingly, after only a few minutes, I was up 2-1, but I knew my son would be on the move and tying the game before long. What I didn’t anticipate was what happened next. We were racing after the ball – as we had done a hundred times before – when a searing pain shot through my right foot. Immediately, I stopped running. When I put pressure on it, the pain returned with increasing intensity, and I knew I was done with soccer for the day. After limping through the back door, I landed on the couch. Frustrated, I placed an ice pack on my foot as my husband went out to finish the game for me. I was totally bummed!

Leaning back on the couch cushions, I decided I might as well pass the time watching a few Hallmark movies. They distracted my attention from my injury and enabled me, at least temporarily, to relax. I knew my self-assigned list of tasks for the day would remain undone, but there was nothing I could do about it. Sipping hot tea, I hoped my foot would heal quickly. However, when Sunday came there was no change. My foot still ached, and I had no choice but to plant my butt on the couch. Only this time, my son and daughter joined me. We watched Hallmark movies together and it was really fun - although now both of them think all I do every day is drink Dunkin Donuts coffee and watch Hallmark movies. My son said to me on Sunday night, “You really are into those Hallmark movies, aren’t you?”

As Monday rolled around, I still hadn’t finished any of the tasks that I had set aside for myself over the weekend. Sitting on the couch for the third day, I decided not to let my frustration at my lack of productivity get me down. Instead, I chose to take a new approach. Rather than being angry that my foot wasn’t healing fast enough, I closed my eyes and sent healing energy to my foot knowing that it would heal in its own time. (Of course, having it miraculously heal at that very moment would have been nice, but we don’t always get what we wish for.) As for the unfinished tasks, I decided to take a deep breath and change the question I was asking myself. Instead of asking, “Why did this happen to me?” I asked, “What can I learn from this? What message is my foot trying to tell me?” I know these may seem like strange questions, but the technique actually worked pretty well. It made me stop feeling sorry for myself, and instead I tried to take what was happening as a learning opportunity. I realized that perhaps I was spreading myself too thin and that I needed to take some time to enjoy my family – that resting and watching movies was actually a good thing to do even if it wasn’t “productive.”

In our lives, many of us often wonder why things happen, and we feel discouraged by our lack of control over different situations. But perhaps we could change the way we look at things. Instead of wondering why something’s happening, maybe we could ask, “What can I learn from this? What is it trying to teach me?” Everything that happens in our lives helps us grow, especially our struggles. It doesn’t mean we have to like everything that happens, but somehow through our struggles and our mistakes, we find out more about who we are. Consider your own struggles. Whether they are small, medium, or large, see if you can find the lessons within all of them. You might be surprised at how helpful those answers can be.

Oh, by the way, my foot seems to be improving and I’m grateful for that. (I just need to watch a few more Hallmark movies!)

Skipping Stones

This first week of November has been incredibly mild in New England. With temperatures in the upper 60’s, I have spent as much time outdoors as possible knowing that the cold days of winter aren’t too far away. I love being in nature. Whether it’s a hike in the woods or a walk on the beach, being outside helps me feel my connection with the Earth. It calms me like nothing else.

Sometimes, my husband, Matthew, comes along on these outdoor adventures. This past week, we walked for 2 ½ hours along the beach near our home. The tide was low so stretches of sand expanded past the usual shoreline and the waves provided their soothing melody. We began discussing the usual things like how the kids were doing, what our schedules looked like for the upcoming week, and our decision to stay home for the holidays this year. It was a typical conversation about routines and responsibilities – our dialogue going back and forth like the surf.

As we continued to walk, I realized our conversations were always so serious. We would occasionally throw in a small joke or two, but it seemed that we didn’t laugh together as much as we used to. Life is hectic and we always have so much to discuss. Since my husband travels a great deal and we have children, we don’t have much one-on-one time. So, I wanted to change things up a bit and have some fun.

Peering down at the sand, I noticed numerous rocks glistening in the sunlight. (New England beaches usually have plenty of rocks.) Bending on my knee, I reached for a smooth, thin stone and asked, “Hey, why don’t we see how many skips this one has?” Matthew smiled and said, “Probably at least three or four.” I grinned and with a snap of the wrist, I threw it into the crashing waves. It skipped once and then plunked into the surging water. I shrugged and reached for another rock. I could always try again. By now, my husband was carefully surveying the selection of rocks. He always took his rock skipping very seriously – wanting to find the perfect stone. His eyes still scanning the shore he said, “I saw two perfect skipping rocks on the walk earlier. I should have picked them up. But, I didn’t because I didn’t think we’d be throwing rocks today.” I winked and said, “Well, maybe next time you’ll have to grab them just in case. There’s always time to throw a few rocks.”

We skipped rocks for the next half hour as we meandered back down the shoreline. We joked and laughed about our rock-skipping failures and our occasional threats to push each other into the crashing waves. (Neither of us got too wet, so that was a good thing.) Matthew observed that these rocks weren’t as perfect as the shale rocks on the shores of Lake Champlain. It was there a few years ago that he skipped his all-time record – 13. I thought that was pretty impressive!

As we neared the end of our walk, Matthew determined that his day’s best was four skips. Definitely not the most he had ever done, but that was the best he could do for today. At that moment, I saw the perfect skipping rock. I picked it up and offered it to him. He smiled and said, “You go ahead.” I gave it my best snap of the wrist and the stone skipped across the water seven times. I was shocked. “I guess that’s the new daily record,” I said. “No,” he replied. ”That’s your daily record. Mine is still four. And if I match my daily record, I have to be happy with that.”

His comment made me realize that life is a lot like skipping rocks. Some days the journey will be rough with tumultuous waves and high winds affecting your very trajectory. Other days, the seas will be calm and it will be smooth sailing – a record-setting day. But, the truth is it doesn’t really matter. Every day we get the chance to try our best and if we match our daily record, all is well. Some days will be better than others. But, we just have to remember to have fun along the way. Laugh and enjoy the moment. Tasks and routines can wait. So, try to find time to skip a few rocks this week. Snap your wrist and watch them skip across the water. And maybe just once, it will even skip 13 times!

Who’s Behind the Mask?

With Halloween right around the corner, I went to my local Party City store and was amazed to see the assortment of elaborate costumes and feathered accessories littering the shelves. But, what surprised me even more was the abundant selection of masks. Some were gruesome and scary while others were ornate and very beautiful. I imagined myself hiding behind different ones. I realized people’s reactions to me would vary greatly depending on which mask I chose. I could frighten or impress – make people want to know me or make people run away. The power of a mask was simply remarkable.

So, is that the allure of Halloween? We can hide behind any mask we want? Yesterday, my daughter explained why she loved Halloween so much. (And surprisingly, it wasn’t just for the candy.) She said, “I love Halloween because you get to dress up and pretend to be anyone you want to be. I mean, isn’t that the whole point? To act and look like whoever you want?” Her statement made me stop and think. That is so often what we desire. To act and look like whoever we want without judgment.

Perhaps that’s the appeal. We get to spend this day being whoever we are without criticism or ridicule. It’s like a free pass for us. But, Halloween only lasts for a day. And yet, most of us leave our masks on long after Halloween night.

Many of us wear masks throughout our lives. We hide behind them, rather than showing people exactly who we are. And often we have more than one mask. We take them on and off multiple times each day. So, what are we so afraid of? We don’t want to show people who we really are. We have a persona that we want to protect. Have you ever been arguing in the car with a family member and then right before walking into church, put a smile on your face and acted as though you didn’t have a care in the world? You put on the “everything’s fine” mask. Or, perhaps when you were younger, you believed you weren’t as smart as everyone else so you studied up on facts and tried to know a lot of information about things. You put on the “know it all” mask. Or, maybe you’re someone who always likes to make people laugh. You are rarely ever serious about anything. You put on “the clown” mask. These are all personas that we want people to believe about us. So, we wear our masks to hide our real selves from the world. But, these masks present us in a way that is much different than who we really are.

So, this Halloween as you dress up like a vampire or prisoner, enjoy the anonymity and freedom that disguise can provide. But, when the sun comes up tomorrow and you’re back in your day-to-day life, remember that masks do not resemble the real you. They bind you into being what you think others want you to be. They trick you into being someone you’re not. So, on this Halloween go ahead and disguise yourself, but then be bold enough to finally take off your mask so the world can see who you truly are. It might be a real treat!

Express Your Individuality

Recently, I went for an angel card reading. And whether or not you believe in angels, that isn’t what this week’s message is about. It’s about the messages we receive (though they can come from many sources) and what we choose to do with that information.

One of the cards I drew during my reading was the “Express Your Individuality” card. It really made me realize how much I had conformed to the world around me without even noticing it. I realized that my thoughts are often focused on the things I need to accomplish and my wardrobe resembles that of most other people I know: yoga pants, jeans, plain t- shirts (most of you probably have these things somewhere in your closet). I guess I never really wanted to stand out too much. But somehow, in the midst of this, I had lost my individuality. The little girl inside me was trapped. She wanted to come out and express herself – to be creative. She wanted to wear exotic flower patterns and have short, pink hair. Clearly, I expressed myself much more when I was younger. But, then social norms and other people’s expectations got in the way. Funny, how it happened and I never even seemed to notice – like a shroud slowly encompassing me, smothering my originality.

The cards also reminded me that I used to express myself through painting. I used to enjoy brushing paint on paper, but soon I began to judge my own work. I never felt talented enough so I gradually stopped. Perfection seemed more important than creation. But there’s something very wrong with that idea. Creation is what life is all about. And sometimes, ideas for that creation come as small nudges. For me, I had recently considered the possibility of illustrating my own children’s book one day, but then quickly disregarded the idea. I simply cast it aside. It became something I might do one day – and that was the end of it. But, maybe those ideas shouldn’t be cast aside so easily.

Do you have dreams about something you might do one day – something that connects with your soul and truly expresses who you are? That’s what writing does for me. But, that doesn’t have to be the only thing. I have other creative outlets that need to be fed. Sometimes, I become so focused that I channel all my energy into one area of creativity. But, I don’t have to limit myself. It’s okay to be doing several projects at once – to leave things undone and just create.

So, what about your creativity – your need to be an individual? What does that look like? For me, it was having the nerve to place the brush on a canvas and let go of the result after a quick stop at the craft store to buy fresh paints and supplies. But, maybe next week it will be writing a poem or snapping a few pictures along the seashore. What about you? Will you pick up a brush, play a few notes, or write in a journal? What is calling to you? Express your creative side. Dye your hair. Be who you are. It might surprise you how fun being an individual can be.

Be Free with Authenticity

In a world dominated by social media, people’s opinions matter more than ever. Why do we care so much about what other people think? Why does someone else’s opinion matter more than our own? And, should it?

Authenticity is a word I have come to value. It’s about being who you are, always. It’s not changing your ideals based upon who you’re with. It’s about acceptance of who you are and what you believe. But in that acceptance, you also accept others exactly as they are – no judgment, no snide comments – just people trying to find their way.

Yet, being authentic is much harder than it looks. It’s about working on yourself first and letting go of the result. It’s about discovering who you really are. Why is this so difficult for most of us? It’s because we are usually our own worst critic. We use negative self-talk all the time. “I’m fat…My nose is crooked…I wish I had hair like Julia Roberts” (or Selena Gomez – I’m showing my age here). Yet, these thoughts lead to feelings of inadequacy and doubt with often crippling effects.

But, if we embraced ourselves with love it would make all the difference. Life isn’t about being the smartest or the prettiest. There will always be someone smarter or prettier than you. (Sorry to burst your bubble.) But, there will never be another you. You are the only person with your specific talents and skills on this planet. No one else can do what you can do. No one else is here for the same reason as you. But, you have to first love and accept who you are – even the parts you don’t like very much. Once you let go of the result, you are free to be yourself in every situation. And that is the most freeing thing of all. As a character in the movie, Adaptation, says, “You are what you love, not what loves you.”

So, try to be authentic this week. Choose love instead of judgment. Say something positive into the mirror rather than criticizing the usual flaw (or flaws). Love yourself and connect with who you are on the inside. No one else’s opinion matters. As Wayne Dyer always said, “What other people think of me is none of my business.” So, mind your own business and discover how free you feel!

Noticing the Blue Jay

As I look out my window this morning, the trees blow gently in the breeze and the birds flit joyously among their branches. Yet, what draws my attention is the large blue jay that suddenly darts out of view, his azure plumage whizzing past. Moments later, he returns for only a second or two. He streaks by the window and then disappears for good. I cannot make him come back. (Unless I have a few fresh peanuts I want to part with.) He has simply moved on.

This brief encounter with the blue jay reminds me of how precious time really is. Every day we are given a gift: we wake up and have the opportunity to live this incredible life. Yet, how often are we too busy to really appreciate it? We roll out of bed, exhausted, at the sound of a blaring alarm and then go through the motions of our day, not even stopping to feel the sunshine on our face or the wind blowing through our hair. We are lost in our schedules and our tasks. We don’t notice the squirrels rummaging for acorns or the melody of raindrops that falls from the sky. Do we ever stop to look and listen? Do we ever stop at all? Yet, we cannot get these moments back. We cannot live this day over again. Tomorrow, it is gone forever.

So, why do we rush through life with blinders on? In our haste to get somewhere, we miss the beauty all around us. We can live two miles from the ocean, yet never hear its thundering waves or feel the cool chill of its spray against our skin. There is so much magnificence everywhere. Breathe the fresh air, touch the delicate petals of a flower, and listen to the whispers of the wind. These are all incredible reminders of what we miss in our busy lives. But it isn’t too late. It’s up to us what we choose to see, to feel, and to experience.

Can you take the time to observe the beauty right in front of you? Can you live in this moment right here, right now? Can you appreciate life’s hidden treasures? If so, marvel at the small wonders of this world and don’t forget to smile at the blue jay the next time he drops in.