Woman and Child First

Leunig to the Rescue

In response to your question 'What is worth doing and what is worth having?' I would like to say simply this. It is worth doing nothing and having a rest.

- Michael Leunig: The Curly Pyjama Letters (2001)

 

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THE AGE - LEUNIG: Just a cartoonist with a moral duty to speak

Good Morning Meditation

Turn on the video below, it's lovely. For the three and a half minutes it takes to watch, just stop. Breathe gently and slowly. Dont think, don't plan, just breathe and watch. 2 things, that's all. Breathe and watch.

Tip: Turn off your phone/s and let the loved one's know they can either join you or leave!

Full Moon Silhouettes from Mark Gee on Vimeo.

I love the music: Tenderness by Dan Phillipson

The Art of Receiving Compliments.

We are used to giving. As women, it's biologically built into our DNA over thousands of years of evolution. We are good at nurturing, it's an ancient gift and survival technique.

But what about receiving? Hmm. Not so good at that eh?

The ability to receive graciously is hard for us. When someone compliments us, how can we stop ourselves from putting ourselves down in our reply?  Well, let's see. You stop your mouth going into autopilot and saying, for instance, 'Oh it's marvelous what make up can cover up!' Instead, say, 'Thank you.' Smile.

Give the person the idea that you appreciate that they've just complimented you.

Give yourself a lovely refreshing breath in and breath out. Enjoy the compliment. Receive the compliment. It's a lot easier on your head, heart and soul that way.

Resisting a compliment is hard work, it requires discomfort and a fight on your behalf. That's valuable energy you're wasting! It also is a bit of a slap in the face to the person who wanted to let you have the good stuff in the first place.

So next time someone says something to you, about you that is flattering, enjoy it. It's good for you, it's good for them. Everyone wins!

Losing A Child

The death of a child. This surely must be a parent's darkest hour. But people have gone through this, survived and gone on to live rich, meaningful lives.

 Christian's Beach is a website that offers solace to those who have lost children. After the death of their son, Christian, the website owners (CarlyMarie and Sam) struggled to make any sense of it.

Then one night, CarlyMarie dreamt she saw her son playing on the beach with some friends who had died. When she walked toward the group, they ran away but as she approached the spot where they had been playing, she looked down to see "Christian" written in the sand.

She decided to write his name for herself in the sand and then photograph it. Her family still gain much peace from seeing this picture in their home.

On the request of a grieving parent, she will write their child's name in the sand, on a gorgeous West Australian beach, and photograph it for them.  Memorials can also be created. 

I think it's one of the sweetest idea's I've heard for helping people come to terms with an extremely painful and unique form of grief. As Carly Marie writes, " It is a simple act that recognises a life." 

An act that can give a sense of not only peace but something quite individually beautiful.

 

Dreamings From Bluecray

Motorcycles, Music and Wisdom in the Land

I dreamt of a billabong, still water clear
a tiny brown platypus sitting so near
hidden by reeds and tall growing sedge
I watched him dive freely away from his ledge.
As he entered the waters all bubbles and glee
I became that dear platypus and he became me
Then waking quite quickly, a smile in my mind
I “knew” what it meant to be one of his kind
A blessing a story a picture a song
this vision stays with me
tho’ the dream is long gone.

Thanks to al @ bluecray for this sweet interlude!

Not Everyone's Obsessed With Their Darling Money

You are looking at a picture of a man who, instead of giving his ancestral land over to a French mining company so they could mine billions of dollars worth of uranium, has given it to the Federal government so it can become part of Kakadu national park.

Described as "extremely shy and humble", Jeffrey Lee is senior custodian of the Kongarra land. He may well have become one of Australia's richest men but he chose something filled with heart, soul and a billion dollars worth of responsibility.

He's decided to look after the land instead. 

''Jeffrey Lee has put country and culture ahead of personal profit and his vision means this magnificent place will be protected for all people and all time''  - Dave Sweeney (Aust. Conservation Foundation).

Full story here.

Buddha's Brain

Rick Hanson's book has a lovely slant on the new brain science and it's a Buddhist one - a great read from a therapist's point of view.

I have a great respect for Buddhism, mainly because it's teachings are so complimentary to a peaceful life and therefore helpful in my office and also my head.The absense of a rigid religious grasp (think stranglehold) on life is continually refreshing as well.

While I've never waved any particular banner in therapy, I like this book and where the philosophy comes from. There's some great techniques which lend themselves beautifully to getting the brain to behave itself and be a happy chappy more often.

Good science, good spirit. Buddha's Brain is a timely publication in the area of raising happiness levels whilst being scientific and spiritual (Buddhist) at the same time.