33 Strings for Your Soul: debut CD shines

A long-time friend of mine is the mother of two lovely, intelligent young ladies. Sophia and Olivia are homeschooled, and I am ever in awe of their myriad interests and engaging conversations; outgoing personalities; zest for life and the selfless, humble kindheartedness they extend toward others—whether their fellow human-being or those of the four-legged variety. Sophia’s love for music and sharing it with others began when she was a child and, according to her website (which she developed, earning her a blue ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair), she “is passionate about sharing her musical skills and bringing the power of music to others.” I am incredibly proud of Sophia and her debut CD—a relaxing and peaceful blend of harp melodies which would benefit such places as nursing homes, animal shelters and daycares. From the thoughtful content on the CD jacket, to the compositions she performs, to the recording of each piece, Sophia is the consummate professional. Her talent will bless you.

For more info: https://www.sophianienaber.com/.

Photo courtesy of patrisyu at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Refueling depleted reserves

 

Since I began the practice of Bikram yoga nearly three years ago, many of my posts paint a picture of the takeaways, the lessons learned… mindfulness and a focus on the breath—the present—two recurring themes to carry outside of the hot room. A few days ago, my morning began as a test, or an opportunity, to practice my yoga off the mat. To remain peaceful amidst chaos. My car did not want to start and, when it did, it argued about it until AAA came to the rescue. Eight hours of work, an empty suitcase and last-minute trip plans loomed ahead of me, my flight took off in 24 hours and my adult child still needed her mom. By the time I burst into the yoga studio, I had practiced so much mindfulness throughout the day, my reserve underwent depletion. Thankfully, it only took me an hour to pack after a rock star practice. And I slept like a baby.

How do you refuel depleted reserves?

Image courtesy of Carlos Porto at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Word-of-the-month: halcyon (adj., n.)

[Image credit: Arvind Balaraman]

Memories from our childhood may bring to mind special traditions shared with family and friends during the holiday season — a halcyon time of year.  Today, however, many of us are unsettled and filled with stress.  Financial concerns, travel hassles, foul or unpredictable weather, health issues, missing loved ones who may as well live on the other side of the world or those who have passed on — all of these conditions are examples of what may turn a hopefully peaceful, reflective time into just the opposite.  Halcyon, an adjective (pronounced halsēən), means denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and serene.  This is oftentimes best illustrated around the holidays, but could also denote family vacations or favorite pastimes.  Synonyms of halcyon include quiet, calm, placid, tranquil, still, untroubled and heavenly.  Used as a noun, a halcyon is a kingfisher (especially of the genus Halcyon) with brightly colored plumage.

May your holidays be the kind you look back on as being halcyon, healthy and memorable.