The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment, to appreciate peace and beauty that are available now... We need only to find ways to bring our body and mind back to the present moment so we can touch what is refreshing, healing and wondrous.
Thich Nhat Hanh

Ordinary Miracles

I was having coffee this morning and sitting in my favorite rocking chair watching the birds and deer as I favor doing each morning . It was 10 below zero and my feet were cold on the floor, and my cat had jumped on my lap looking for a warmer place to sleep away the morning. The sun was shining brightly and my child was still snug in her bed. I could hear my husband chopping wood outside. These were ordinary events. It was an ordinary day. And yet each of these events, are a miracle in itself. I try to spend time each day in awe over what I already have. Isn't it a miracle to be alive? Isn't it a miracle to just be? Spending time being reverent contributes to spiritual awakening.



We do not have to be the way we always have been. There is a miracle in growth alone. To be able to change, and allowing ourselves and our minds to be open to the possibilities of change and to know that you have the power to create within you the kind of person that you have always wanted to be. Is that a miracle?



Know that your life has a purpose. Read that again. Your life has a purpose. You may have pain everyday that makes it hard for you to do the things you want to do, but you do them. You may have struggles that make your life more difficult than anyone could imagine, but you get through it. Does it occur to you that you may be an inspiration to someone else? The life that you are living right now may be touching another life. You may be someone else's miracle. So there you are, an everyday person, an ordinary miracle.

Baby It's Cold Outside

I've kept the proverbial spirits up, I've sung the praises of old man winter, and I've worn my dry skin like a badge of honor, but holy crap it's cold out there.

This cold doesn't just make you feel chilly. No, this cold gets clean into the bones. I'm not a wussy girl. I've lived here a long time, but enough already.

I've raved about having a good attitude and and being willing to change and blah, blah, blah...10 degrees would be a heat wave, hell, 20 degrees we'd break out the spring jackets. Baby, it's cold outside.

Celebrate Life

"What would it be like if you lived each day, each breath, as a work of art in progress. Imagine that you are a masterpiece unfolding, every second of every day, a work of art taking form with every breath."
Thomas Crum

The following words changed my life. Maybe they will change yours too.

It is evening at dusk. I find myself drawn to the backyard of my home from where I can watch the fog float in from the sea, following the valley that lies between my hill and the wilderness across from me. The sky is violet and flame. The only sounds are the night birds chanting in rhythm like contented monks. Everywhere there is stillness.

I sit and marvel at nature's exquisite way of saying goodnight. And then I think to myself, it will always be like this here, even in forty or fifty years when I am no longer alive to witness it. The same fog will appear at sunset on hot summer days, and fill the night with mist. The same sea will quietly lay in the distance. The same trees will send shadows across the lawn. The same moon will rise through above the clouds, painting the valley silver with it's light. All of this will be here, but I will be gone.

For several moments, I am overwhelmed by the eternality of nature. I feel small, frightened and hopeless in my insignificance. What can possibly have meaning in my life? What can I possibly do or accomplish that will make sense?

Suddenly, I remember that all I am supposed to do is what I am doing. Stop, sit back and witness the glorious spectable of creation.

To receive the privilege and blessing of being alive...
To be fully present, right here, right now...
To love, to be grateful, to celebrate life, moment by moment.
Author Unknown

Intention of Wellness

Okay, let's get a few things straight. There seems to be this notion that chronic pain is something to be expected. It's not. And chronic pain is not a punishment for past life offenses. That's one I've heard alot.

Our state of mind, our thoughts, are very powerful. "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." (William Shakespeare) Need I say more? If you want to think healthy thoughts, here are a few for starters:

• I want to feel good and I refuse to let any other thoughts of disease in.
• I will say only positive things to and about myself (No, my butt doesn't look big in these jeans)
• I will seek out silence (lock that bathroom door, you may not get silence with the kids beating on the door, but you get the idea).
• I allow my thoughts to change ( think optimism, think healthy body, think I will not strangle my teenager...oh, wait a minute)
• I see beauty in everything... almost everything, most of the time (sigh).
• I am grateful for every breath I take.

So there you have it. You're already feeling better. Just repeat after me.

A Pain in the Art

Learning to live with pain, or perhaps more appropriately said, moving away from the suffering that pain can cause is not easy. But it can be done. One of the ways to move away from pain is through a creative process. It may be writing, painting, sculpting or drawing. You may enjoy bead work, jewelry making, quilting or crocheting. Try to find something that relaxes you and soothes your spirit and your soul. You may need to try a few different mediums before you find something that works for you. And above all, there is no wrong or right in art. Just have fun. I painted this abstract when I was having a considerable amount of pain several years ago. Art can take your mind off your pain and allow creativity to flow. Who knows, maybe you have a masterpiece inside of you. Kim S.

True North

Finding True North is more complex than going north, south, east or west. It's a journey that begins the day you are born. I believe that we all know our way to True North, but we stumble and fall, and when we recover, the way is shaded and the sun that once lit our journey isn't quite as bright as we remembered.


I believe that as we travel our lessons teach us. I believe that on our way to True North we sometimes need to walk through the past to be able to see just how important the future really is.


True North is home.
It's the place you long to be.
It's the love of your life.


I believe that True North is more than a direction or a wish. It's never giving up and it's never giving in. It's looking into the face of the unknown and knowing that even though you may emerge scarred and torn, you will emerge and you will be stronger for the experience.


I believe that being lost on occasion is part of our journey. It forces us to trust God, ourselves and our instincts. It sometimes means that we have to let go, take a stand, say goodbye, make a promise and keep it.

I believe that True North is not easily obtained and once you find your own True North, you need to take a close look at the past and then your dreams for the future and decide if the way you are will keep your compass pointed home, or are changes in order...

No one can know what the journey will bring. Listen to your heart. Learn from your mistakes. The next time that the road north seems to difficult to manage, stop for a moment, turn around, remember where you've been, take a stand, say goodbye, make a promise and keep it.
Copyright 2-5-2000
Kim S.

A Willing Spirit

No one lives in a state of complete or constant mental health. By the very nature of life, it challenges us. We struggle with worry, we cry, we become frustrated and encounter setbacks. In the same way that we can develop and preserve our physical health, we can do the same with our mental health and meet the day-to-day challenges more effectively.

Mentally healthy individuals are not immune to problems or conflicts. They perceive reality as it is and can express their feelings. They can deal reasonably with other people. A core element of mental health is self-esteem. Self-esteem is the belief and pride in yourself that gives you the courage to reach out and try new things and to form close relationships with family and build close friendships. Self-esteem is that voice inside you that tells you, you're okay.

Self-esteem is not something you get from other people or are born with. If we are loved and cared for as babies we begin to develop self-esteem. Low self-esteem is regularly seen in people who have been abused physically or mentally. Taking care of yourself can go a long way to building self-esteem.

We must first take on the attitude of a willing spirit. If we want our lives to change, we must change it. Remember that this may be uncharted territory for you. You may be uncomfortable taking an optimistic view if you are usually a pessimist. When bad things happen to optimists, they only see it as a setback or temporary incident. Pessimists might think or say that they always screw things up. Dispute those automatic negative thought patterns.

Having a sense of humor helps us express negative feelings without causing harm to anyone else. Laughter really is the best medicine.

And finally, we can't solve all of our problems on our own. When we build friendships and relationships we find that talking things over helps us put problems or even ideas into perspective. Individuals who are connected to other people tend to be healthier physically and mentally. Social isolation is a major risk factor for illness and early death. Reach out to help someone and you will be helped. Take on the attitude of a willing spirit for change and watch your self-esteem soar!

The Hairy and The Downy

Our backyard was taken over by the Hairy Woodpecker and The Downy Woodpecker this morning. It's not unusual for us to see both species here on the North Shore year round. What made this morning special was the sheer number of each. They are frequent visitors to our feeders, but something else was attracting them this morning and if it wasn't the 6th day of February I would have thought they were mating. After doing a little research I discovered that Hairy Woodpeckers will hammer on dead limbs to proclaim it's territory. Could it be that a new flock was moving into the neighborhood and the locals were up in arms?

Be Still and Know That I Am God

Another aspect of what heals me is my faith. How do I know? I've seen it and felt it. In a very dark time in my life I was praying that God would let me know that I had made the right choice. I was sitting in my car in the pouring rain and I suddenly felt something warm on my face and opened my eyes. There was a ray of sunshine, shining only on me. Not anywhere else, just on me. There was my ray of hope, literally. In your darkest moments where do you turn? Just be still and know that He is God.

A Credo for Our Relationships With Another

You and I are in a relationship, which I value and want to keep. Yet each of us is a separate person with his or her own unique needs and the right to try to meet those needs. I will try to be genuinely accepting of your behavior both when you are trying to meet your needs and when you are having problems meeting your needs.



When your share your problems, I will try to listen acceptingly and understandingly in a way that will facilitate your own solutions rather than depending upon mine. When you have a problem because my behavior is interfering with your meeting your needs, I encourage you to tell me openly and honestly how you are feeling. At those times, I will listen and then try to modify my behavior.



However, when your behavior interferes with my meeting my own needs, this causing me to feel unaccepting of you, I will tell you as openly and honestly as I can exactly how I am feeling, trusting that you respect my needs enough to listen and then try to modify my behavior.



At those times when either of us cannot modify his behavior to meet the needs in our relationship, let us commit ourselves to resolve each such conflict without ever resorting to the use of either my power or yours to win at the expense of the other losing. I respect your needs, but I also must respect my own. Consequently, let us strive always to search for solutions to our inevitable conflicts that will be acceptable to both of us. In this way, your needs will be met, but so will mine - no one will lose, both will win.



As a result, you can continue to develop as a person through meeting your needs, but so can I. Our relationship can always be a healthy one because it can be mutually satisfying. Thus, each of us can become what he/she is capable of being, and we can continue to relate to each other in mutual respect, friendship, love and peace. (Copyright, 1969, Thomas Gordon, Ph.D.)

Surviving is important. Thriving is elegant.
Maya Angelou

Kim's Top 10 Survival Tips

1. Bruce Springsteen CD's
2. Scented candles
3. Hugs
4. Say what you need, your family hasn't mastered mind reading yet. If they don't listen to you, say it again, only a little louder.
5. Relax your shoulders. Get them out of your ears for Goodness sakes.
6. Shower every day...even if you don't think you need it, trust me, you need it.
7. Take a good look at your face, see those frown lines that are getting deeper every day. Smile instead and give yourself a a facial. Take your time.
8. If your having a bad day, don't make any huge decisions. Whatever it is can wait a day. You will still have to do it, but you will be 24 hours stronger.
9. Don't worry about what you can do nothing about.
10. Take control of the things in your life that you can do something about: yourself, your children. Get busy, move your feet, make it happen. You have more control than you think you do.

A Word that Describes Heroes

My hope and prayer is that you may find inspiration in these pages. This morning I was looking over my journals and found something that I will share with the hope that you will see that I have come from a place of darkness into the light where I am now. Journaling is a very healing practice for some. I journal almost every day. This particular entry was 2 months after a very devastating experience for me and my children. Someone had said to me on this particular day that I had shown alot of courage.

November 10, 2002
Courage-A word that is used to describe heroes. We think of the men who fight wars to save us. We think of the firefighters and rescue squads who went into crumbling buildings on 9-11. They are worthy of the term "hero." They deserve to have the word "courage" used in the same sentence as their name.

My hope is that someday I can look back at this time in my life and see myself at courageous. I go back and forth between feeling scared to death and feeling, well, just okay. There is no shred of courage that I can find. Maybe someday I will find it and be proud. Proud that I will continue to move forward with my life. Learning as I go, loving with all my heart, and never giving up...

I'm thankful that I didn't give up.

An Activity for Every Mood

Physically Energizing

• indoor/Outdoor walking
• jogging
• indoor/Outdoor biking
• swim
• sports
• vigorous household maintenance
• cool shower with scrubbing

Physically Relaxing

• prolonged stretching
• back, neck, foot or body massage
• reclining, napping or resting
• personal care (grooming, manicures, pedicures)
• play with children/pets

Mentally Energizing

• reading
• a modest challenge
• upbeat music
• detailed hobbies (carving, stamps, models that require concentration)
• seminars, classes
• card games like Bridge, 500, cribbage
• board games like Trivial Pursuit, strategy games
• channel 8 (Public Television)

Mentally Relaxing

• journaling
• soothing music
• light reading, picture magazines
• repetitive hobbies, crochet, knitting, whittling
• visualization and relaxation techniques
• prayer and meditation

Socially Energizing

• adult education, church, clubs
• deepen the level of a friendship
• extend self in meeting others
• volunteer work
• read/visit in nursing homes
• attend sporting events
• attend concerts and free events
• invite a friend to your home

Socially Relaxing

• informal time with friends
• picnics
• casual support groups(not therapy) young mothers, PTA
• telephone visiting

Emotionally Energizing

• active listening/improving communication with spouse/friend
• being assertive/caring for yourself
• family/step-family bonding activities
• affirmations
• humor
• therapeutic support groups (AA, NA, Women's Issues, Arthritis Support Group)
• creative art
• a good hard cry

Emotionally Relaxing

• sincere expression of positive feelings
• calming music
• spending time in silence
• casual time spent with supportive person, being listened to
• prayer and meditation

Spiritually Energizing

• introspection of beliefs, morals and values
• reading inspirational materials
• exploring forgiveness
• being involved in nature
• helping an environmental cause
• volunteering
• retreats

Spiritually Relaxing

• prayer or meditation
• songs
• reading inspirational material that leads to clarification of issues

Ancora Imparo

Translated "Ancora Imparo" means "I am still learning." Michaelangelo said this in his 87th year after he had completed his timeless accomplishments of the Sistine Chapel and the Sculpture of David. This kind of thinking could really be powerful. If we open our minds and hearts to the notion that we are never a finished product until the day we leave this earth, we can give ourselves a little leway. We don't have to get it perfect today. We can keep trying. We can keep learning.

Whatever you are working on in your life, weight management, chronic pain, or any kind of addiction, just remember that you did not get to the place you are today over night and it will take time to get to the place you want to be. Be gentle with yourself. If your "ship" needs some work before you can set sail for home, then you must do the work. Living with unchecked emotional pain will drain the pleasure out of your life. It is incompatible with everything you want, need and deserve. Don't set yourself up to fail by leaving this important piece out. If you stay the course and do what is required, one day at a time, you will succeed and you will never stop learning.