Monday 30 October 2017

Imagination

Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination, 
never limit others because of your own limited imagination.
 - Mae Jemison

Friday 27 October 2017

Conformity

The opposite of courage in our society
 is not cowardice, it is conformity.
 - Rollo May

Wednesday 25 October 2017

Gain

If we gain something, it was there from the beginning. 
If we lose anything, it is hidden nearby.
 - Ryokan Taigu

Monday 23 October 2017

Little

There are many of us who are willing to do great things...
but few of us are willing to do little things.
 - Dwight L. Moody

Friday 20 October 2017

October 20, 2017 Chautauqua


Beth's Ponderings

   How would you describe the course of your daily life?

   Some (myself included at times) would say it is a roller-coaster with dramatic ups and sometimes even more dramatic lows, with twists and turns, and unexpected moments that turn you completely upside down, but the biggest feature is that there is no speed control as you barrel along gong faster and faster.

   Others may describe their lives as a spiral which turns around and around, but you have no idea if you are going up or down, or both directions at the same time.

   Another favourite description is the hamster wheel, where you feel like you are running as fast as you can but you’re just spinning the wheel and going nowhere fast.

   And, we’re all familiar with the “so many steps forward, so many steps back” version - another one I’ve used often - which can either have slow forward motion or backward motion depending on which side of the equation has the larger number of steps.

   This summer I heard that it is healthier to live our lives as a lemniscate (aka sideways figure 8 or the infinity sign ).  It is the natural motion that bees, as well as other insects and animals, follow. 

   The lemniscate is a balanced symbol - there are no extremes, left and right are equal, one side isn’t longer than the other, the distance to the top and bottom are the same as from the middle to the outer sides, and while it appears that one is going over the same territory in a never-ending (infinite) loop, each time is different as a greater degree of balance, calmness and clarity are obtained.

   Walking in the lemniscate pattern provides a great meditation for mental, emotional and physical relaxation.  It is a pattern that just comes naturally to young children, so why do we forget it as adults?  


   Drawing a lemniscate with your finger over your heart, or around your eyes (circle each eye and cross at the bridge of your nose) is healing,  calming, and it relieves stress as it brings balance to the body and brain.

Beth


Contact The Chautauqua via email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua

Wednesday 18 October 2017

Friday 13 October 2017

Solutions

You are surrounded by simple, obvious solutions...
The problem is you just don't see them.
 - Jay Abraham

Wednesday 11 October 2017

Faith

Faith is willingness to take action
 on that which you can't see. 
- Author unknown

Monday 9 October 2017

Today

Make today so awesome, yesterday gets jealous.
 - Good Housekeeping magazine (September 2017)

Friday 6 October 2017

October 6, 2017 Chautauqua


Beth's Ponderings


   How well are you able to handle change in your life?  Okay, now be TOTALLY honest - how well are you able to handle change in your life?  If we are honest, most of us resist change of any nature with every fibre of our being.

   We are entering a time when things are going to change for some communities.  Elections are on Monday, October 16, and the results will mean that changes are on the horizon.  Maybe the changes won’t be big, or overly dramatic, but there will be changes nonetheless, and the more we are able to accept them, whatever they are, the better.


   Incidentally, I can tell you some people can’t seem to handle that after ALMOST 16 YEARS, I updated my picture that goes beside my words.  If you can’t handle a small change that doesn’t affect you personally, how can you handle changes that do?  And quite truthfully, I have changed (aged) in those years, and I’m not 28 any more. ;)

Beth


Contact The Chautauqua via email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua

Wednesday 4 October 2017

Trust

Magic happens/every moment/
you release fear/and trust the flow 
Your best self/will trust yourself/
to play the notes/you do not know 
- James McCrae