Stuffed Pumpkins & baked apples, cardigan sweaters & wood fires, long lingering evenings after short cold days these are a few of my favorite things.
I am basically lazy. In part my not wanting to leave home may have something to do with where I have chosen to live. I am situated on a dirt road between Burlingame State Park & the Kimball Bird Sanctuary. The name of the road is Sanctuary Road. No wonder my house feels like a church to me. There are no street lights and I look out over what has affectionately become known as Walden Pond 2
When Saturday morning arrives, I usually feel ready for just about anything. I think that arises from the sense of freedom that I have come to give myself on Saturday mornings. I can write, paint, draw, play my keyboard…or, if I prefer do nothing. Doing nothing, just ‘putsing’ around,. is a leisure time activity very near meditating for me.
This morning is gray, the leaves are still green, but it is clearly a fall morning. The wind is a lot stronger than a breeze and everything seems to be moving slightly, although everything is clearly attached and feels very secure. The day sets itself up for me as a canvas to contemplate. I am acutely aware of muted colors. The reds are more of a rust and the browns are actually a light gray & the greens are more dusty than brilliant. I feel a painting coming on.
But, before I begin what ever activity the universe leads me to, I want to spend another moment with this conscious connection with my soul. I have become aware, again, that it is gratitude that feeds my spirit. And although I am not always able to muster up the energy to get myself there whenever I contemplate the list of “things” and “conditions” that nourish me, I FEEL better. However, I am not always capable of praying in that way. There are time when worrying, and filling my mind with fear and negative words takes my breath away.
I say, my breath because when I sit in meditation there are always two things that immediately come to my mind. I am breathing and I am thinking. When my thinking is so strong I forget to remember that when I concentrate on my breath I can remove my focus from my egoic thinking mind and for a brief time, I feel calm and spiritually fit.
I am reminded that I am in touch with my soul by the energy that I have for creative projects when I am in a state of gratitude instead of a state of fear and worry…..below is a recent watercolor that I titled, Island Meadow
island meadow
