Welcome to our sanctuary,haven,oasis,happy place
A place in time for aircrew,past present and future,and our families and friends
Somewhere to relax and reconnect
Somewhere to revitalise and replenish
Somewhere to return to whenever you like,wherever you are:-)
In the last week of August,and the September days leading up to the autumn equinox on the 21st,we're enjoying the warm days and cooler evenings of summer.And preparing for the seasons ahead.
For those who are spring and summer people,and find the colder days and longer nights challenging to get through,I'm suggesting we consciously decide to spend more time outdoors every day,whatever the weather.So that it becomes easier to appreciate the gradual changes in our beautiful natural world.
And most importantly,to keep the light coming into our eyes and lighting up our lives.
A moment after publishing this post and tweeting "catch the sparkle",I took my own advice and went out into the sunshine.In the twinkle of an eye,a dragonfly flew towards me and landed right next to me on the steps,its wings shimmering and shining,the colours iridescent in the warm sun.Wonders never cease:-)
Nobody likes to lose someone or something they love.It really sucks.I t feels horrible.You get pulled into that awful feeling that you've experienced before,more times than you care to remember.It's primal and it feels totally icky.
But here's the thing.It's part of life and love.It's the dance.The dance of life and love, where the shadow is created by the sunlight,moonlight and stars.You can't have one without the other.So when you experience huge loss,you're experiencing the shadow.
So you know what?let yourself cry,howl if you need to,allow yourself to feel all the emotions that belong in the shadows.Give yourself permission to let them out safely,experience them,like a stormy night of the soul.From an early age,we're taught to stuff down our sadness,our anger,our fear.Give yourself that gift of feeling your grief.Storms pass through and clear out the negativity.Know that the sun is always shining,but you have to seek it out and turn your face up to it.
To me,warmth and sunshine and clarity feel better,and that's what I prefer to experience more often,given a choice.We have all been gifted with freewill and the freedom to choose what we experience from moment to moment.So today,we may not choose to experience loss,but we can make a conscious choice to be gentle with ourselves and be kind to each other in every waking moment.And to make healthier choices that will help us feel good,and feel the sunshine in our lives instead of living in the shadows.
Yesterday,we lost a part of our heart.Animals are like that.They are so close to our hearts and such a comfort that when they leave ,it tears us apart and leaves what feels like an abyss.So yesterday we wept.All day,most of the night.Separately and together.Today?I'm going to make a conscious decision to honour the people and creaturebeings that share and have shared their lives with us and given us so much unconditional love.How?By feeling good.As much as humanly possible.Today it's sunshine and showers.
Enjoy a taste of the tropics with papaya and fresh lime as a starter for breakfast.But keep the peel in the fridge for a facial treat later in the day!The natural enzymes of this luscious fruit are a rich source of antioxidants.Use it as an exfoliant to remove old skin cells and revitalise your face.
Avoiding the eye area,gently smoothe the inside of the papaya peel over your face and neck for a few minutes,enjoying the cool sensation and the fruity scent.Rinse off with water,apply a hot flannel to your face,then splash with cool water again.Pat dry and moisturise with pure coconut oil.Remove excess oil from face with a clean tissue.
How does that feel?
21 years ago,on June 21,we set off on an epic journey to the heart of the United States.We were fortunate indeed to be in the right place at the right time for this Powwow.But all powwows are special.Every summer,without fail,I feel the urge to return.
Heartfelt gratitude and respect to everyone who made our journey and the experiences possible.
"Inspiring Confidence" are 2 words that are good to think about.
Inspiring literally means breathing good fresh clean air into our being (and back out of course).
And confidence means with faith and trust.
Chloe Goodchild is a devotional singer whose voice workshop I attended a while back.Her teachings are inspirational,and she said something that I found incredibly intriguing at the time.
"Who is breathing you?"
