Let’s all do this today.
Honor your spirit in all its magnificence. Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Work your way past the self-judgement (and for some the relentless condemnation), and recognize that you are a supreme being on this earth and no matter where you have been or where you are going, you must take the time out to celebrate this moment in all your glory. Sing your own accolades, herald your own existence, appreciate your gifts and share them. There is no need for self-limiting beliefs, there is no need for fear. Have faith that you are unconditionally loved and cherished as an integral part of the intricate network of the very first world wide web, and devote some time to revel completely in the experience of being you. Sometimes we get starved for love, for attention, for understanding, for support, for companionship, all we really need to do is quiet ourselves and look within. There are universes within universes within all of us and all we need to do is open ourselves up to the possibilities whatever they are -some of which we could never even imagine. Open our hearts to the love that is within and all around and spread that love where ever we go. It is a chain reaction and completely palpable when set in motion.

Start with the physicality of it all. Champion your own Divine unique design and remember: “Shhh, your body can hear you - speak to it only in sonnets and sing to it only the sweetest of love songs…”
Express outward gratitude for the feet that hold you up and let you move throughout your day, remember all of the magical places they have taken you. And the legs that help lengthen the stride of your feet, and support your upper body. And your backside for giving you a soft cushion to sit upon. Enjoy the strength and structure of your back and your spine for keeping you erect and allowing you to twist and bend. Give thanks for your neck that enables you to see in many different directions while standing with the rest of your body in perfect alignment. And for your head that holds a mouth that can speak and sing and eat and drink, and BREATHE, a nose that can also breathe and smell heavenly and not so heavenly things. Eyes that can express love and all other emotions, and give you sight of the brilliance surrounding you. Ears to hear the blissful melodies of the everyday workings of the world, or beautiful voices and music. Shoulders that convey courage and fortitude. Arms and hands for expression and exemplifying grace, and for giving and receiving, and holding. Embrace all of the vessels and nerves and the skin that keeps us all together and acts as a protective shield. Now move into the skin and through all the vessels and viscera and make your way to the mind, and be grateful for all its never ending diligence throughout all of your days and nights, and invite it to take a rest once in awhile. Now address your soul, and ask what it wants, how it can best be served, listen for answers and give thanks for all of the lessons. Emerge from this revelry renewed with exalted appreciation and awareness that you have the power to create anything your soul desires, and that is exactly why you are here.

Around every corner and some of the straight aways in between, if you come to expect to be enchanted you most thoroughly will. “Perception is Reality” as was so emblazoned on the door to my kids’ sixth grade class last year, and truer words were never spoken. Opening oneself up to the pure delightment that can await behind every bend is just such a fun way to go through the day. Yesterday as I was having a morning coffee I looked out on the street and suddenly to my utter amazement and amusement came along this perfectly pink little butterfly strolling down the sidewalk. With pink fairy like wings, a pink leotard, tutu and slippers, pink cheeks peeking out from a shock of white blonde bangs with pig tails and the most adorable pink antennae you ever saw - to cute for words….Then a little later in the day, pulling up to a parking space at the bank there was this enormous tree out front, a kind I had never seen before, with clusters of radiant orange puffballs coming off the branches - completely exploding with these blooms, that it seemed to make the entire surrounding sky iridescent and surreal - stunning…

I used to be a bit prone to road rage - well maybe that statement’s a little extreme - let’s say instead, I used to get extremely frustrated on a regular basis with my fellow travelers out there, and would have no problem voicing within the confines of my own vehicle my distaste for there driving ability, or the appearance of an entire lack there of. I finally figured out that participating in this particular activity was not only detrimental to my blood pressure, but also a real drag to be around if you happened to be a passenger when I decided to let it all loose. I made a choice that it was high time I change my tactics, and I forced myself to start smiling and waving at people instead when I got those urges to vent - and after a short time - what a relief is all I can say- this just made all the difference in the world to me when I was driving, and now I find it fun to play games and see how many people will react happily back, and you know, most of them do, and then the whole experience of moving from here to there throughout the day, just becomes a huge pleasureful operation.

So those are just a couple of examples, but then I thought, well why just limit it to the street, why not expect to be completely charmed and colossally captivated all the time?

Okay, so maybe not always in a big, dramatically, public way - that could be somewhat annoying to those around you, but an inside job - completely doable. It’s kind of like expecting the best out of people for example. When you have that expectancy, in all likelihood that is what you will receive - I think 9 times out of 10 (not documented but an educated assumption) they will be overwhelmed to give you their absolute best at that very point in time, plus as mentioned previously, it is ALL your own perception.

A slight diversion…I have left you for awhile, and now am in the middle of watching the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. TALK ABOUT ENCHANTMENT! WOWWWW!!!

I have always enjoyed watching both summer and winter Olympics and especially adore the opening ceremonies because you get to see all of the beautiful people with all of their gorgeous faces from a great representation of the many beautiful countries in the world in all of their fabulous costumes - I know there is always more than meets the eye on this evening, political and otherwise, but the expressions on the many faces of the atheletes, whether they exhibit austere stoicism, jet lag and exhaustion, anxiousness, reserved national pride, humility, extreme joy and amazement, extreme fear, lightheartedness and a sense of global unity, or if it is completely unreadable… it is such a moving vision, the most extreme palpable example (even if it is an illusion - and isn’t it all anyway?) of global solidarity - you can’t help but be enchanted, and in awe, and it brings to me anyway a great feeling of hope for us all. I like this night. I Love THIS NIGHT!!! You enjoy it too - wherever you are…

Many people find it difficult to meditate, the word alone can conjure up quite an unsurmountable attainment to many of us, that we don’t even have the desire to try. Many people are also under the assumption that you have to rigidly subscribe to some specific dogma in able to be a participant in such a practice, of course this simply isn’t so. It is a practice that is procurable to all of us, no matter what your belief system or firm lack there of. The benefits of meditation on a daily basis are incontrovertible. We don’t need studies to tell us this, the proof is in the pudding so to speak. Just try it for a week and feel the difference it makes in your world, then keep going day by day. Stand back and be utterly amazed. You will realize a calm within and all around you that you have never known before because you will be embraced by the beautiful process of deepening your connection to your higher self. You will be able to quiet your mind so you can hear inner guidance with crystal clarity. Your interactions with those around you will become infinitely more clear and balanced. Problem solving will become easier. If you find more traditional forms of meditation difficult in the beginning (you don’t do Yoga, don’t like chanting…), try this simple one below to begin with. Anyone can meditate it all starts with just one breath. And if this one doesn’t work for you, read on and try some of the other suggestions below to get to that same place.

Find a quiet space where you will have some time alone for awhile without interruption. Sit in a comfortable position - half lotus, full lotus, or crossed legs preferably on the ground if possible. You may use a cushion placed underneath your tailbone so your back stays straight effortlessly. With hands loosely opened up to the sky resting on your knees, and eyes held gently closed, breath in filling up your abdomen with air and move it steadily up towards your diaphragm through your throat to your nose on the count of 4, and then breathe out slowly from your mouth, down your throat, through your diaphragm, and slightly squeezing the entire breath out at your lower abdomen. Begin again, and keep counting slowly 1, 2, 3, 4 in, 1, 2, 3, 4, out. If your mind starts to wander, no worries, just begin counting again and pay attention to the rhythm of your breath. If it helps you can recite a particular mantra - lately I have been using: Breath in pure white light, breath out shiny rainbow colors, and I visualize that exact thing as I say it in my head.

Start for 5 minutes the first day and build on to that each consecutive day. Twenty minutes to a half hour a day is a nice, doable practice for most of us, and of course feel free during times of stress or befuddlement to find additional moments or chunks of time throughout your day to bring yourself back in balance. Once you get used to quieting yourself, you can do this anywhere. It is nice however, to have a place that you go specifically for meditation. This can be an area of sanctuary within your house or yard. It can be in a place of traditional religious worship. It can be in a garden, or in the woods, a favorite mountain top or rock…the list goes on - wherever you are moved to be still.

If the above meditation is not working for you, try one or a few ideas from the lists below by putting yourself in the moment completely. Breathing is key though, and whenever you feel your mind getting chatty on you, set it free by remembering your breath.

Earth Elements

• Find a patch of grass to sit on and listen to the sounds around you, let them move in and out of your awareness, not grasping on to any one in particular.
• Rest against a tree trunk and sit on top of its roots, contemplate your own roots and feel them growing deeper and deeper into the earth, so you’re body is anchored sufficiently for your soul to be able to soar.
• Hike in the woods and engage your senses in the scent of the dirt and the dampness of the wood, the fragrance of wild flowers, the sound of trees rustling in the wind and animals scurrying through the leaves, hear insects buzzing by you, feel a gentle breeze moving through your hair, the warmth of the sun through the trees on the bridge of your nose and cheeks, crunching sounds underneath your feet - Engage all of your senses..
• Climb a mountain, and by the time you reach the peak, you will feel at one with everything within your field of vision - again, breath it all in, and out….

Water Elements

• Sit on the bank of a babbling brook and listen.

• Enjoy the rushing sound of a waterfall, or sit under a waterfall (we used to do this at Kent Falls in CT. - maybe more exhilarating then meditative, but definitely keeps you present in your body!

• Sit at the edge of the ocean and listen to the waves (just make sure you know when the tide is due to come in or you might receive more of a rush than you anticipated!) Breath in and out with the tide.

• Take a bath, and with eyes closed, focus on the point at the center of your forehead, and again - What? - Breathe!!!

• Set up a fountain somewhere in your house or in your yard as part of an altar if you like.

• Tread along the shoreline, ankle deep in water and enjoy a walking meditation, feeling the waves lapping up against your feet and ankles - the sand racing from under your steps.

Fire Elements

(Of course it should go without saying, take care especially with any of the ideas below)

• Focus on the flame of a candle

• Stare at the flames in your fire place

• Have a campfire

AND BREATHE…

Air Elements

• Fly a kite and watch it soar - soar with it.

• Go outside in your bathing suit, or better yet nude if there is an area where that is acceptable, and really feel the breeze on your skin, not to mention the suns rays (Remember sunscreen!).

• Make a plan to go up in a hot air balloon.

• Sky dive, wind surf, hang glide (if your the more adventurous type!)

• Go to a bird sanctuary, or simply outside, and focus on the grace with which birds move through space.

• Watch trees as their branches and leaves dance in the wind.

• Go to a sculpture garden and set your attention on a mobile.

• Go to the beach and feel the wind off the ocean blow back your hair and blow all of the cobwebs from your brain.

Fully Engage Your Senses

• Just listen to the world outside of your doorway, or open your window and hear and feel the sounds
• Sit on the subway and listen to the mechanics of the train
• Listen to beautiful music, anything that stirs your soul or moves your heart - isolate each instrument and note the contribution it makes to the whole - be part of the symphony.
• Play an instrument - no instrument? - use what’s around you - remember STOMP?
• Play a guided meditation or enjoy a creative visualization exercise through a cd.
• Listen to chants or chant yourself.
• Sing without words or hum - feel the vibrations of the different notes and frequencies and how it effects different parts of your body.
• Dance
• Run
• Jump
• Skip
• Walk
• Swim
• Bounce
• Skate
• Look at and fully experience beautiful art, photography and sculpture. Place yourself in the picture, or be the grit of the clay, feeling the manipulations of the sculptors tools.
• Paint
• Draw
• Sculpt
• Build
• CREATE

Practice Mindfulness

When you focus your intention and your attention on something, you practice mindfulness and you are perfectly present at that moment in time doing whatever you are doing. This can bring you a wealth of calm amidst a crazy life and make mundane chores and everyday matters so much more appealing. You will begin to look forward to times you used to abhor (or at least not enjoy very much). You can practice mindfulness while:

• Doing Dishes
• Folding Laundry
• Washing your car
• Watering your plants or grass
• Vacuuming
• Brushing your teeth
• Driving
• Scrubbing the floor
• Washing windows

Actually any kind of cleaning work is great for practicing mindfulness and keeping you perfectly present in your body. You get a rhythm going and then there is also something accomplished at the end.

It’s a win/win (and we like those!)

I don’t believe there is a right or wrong way to meditate, just begin and see where it takes you - it doesn’t have to be difficult, shouldn’t be a chore, and try not to take it all too seriously - and if the spirit moves you let us know what works for you in this regard by adding to the list.

Thanks for sharing!

How many times did you hear that when you were a kid?

I am not talking to your kids though, I am talking to you.

Have you forgotten how? Possibly, but doubtful, all you have to do is go to your local school yard and you’d figure it out pretty quickly. But when was the last time you did? And I am not talking about your weekly softball team or your pick up game of basketball either - I mean unstructured fun - imaginative fun - just plain fun fun. If you are like most of us soooo serious adults, it has most likely been awhile. But you can change all of that and you can choose to act now. Grab some friends and pick one or a few from below, and go crazy, have fun, stop thinking so intensely and move with it! It’s good for your heart, good for your head, and good for your soul. And when you come back in - tell us how it went - better yet - add to the list!

1. Throw water balloons.
2. Run under a sprinkler, or get out the hose!
3. Thumb wrestle, arm wrestle, or plain old wrestle wrestle.
4. Jump on a trampoline.
5. Blow bubbles.
6. Play hopscotch.
7. Play jacks.
8. Play Chinese jump rope.
9. Play cats cradle.
10. Play in the mud.
11. Climb a tree.
12. Play hide and seek or kick the can.
13. Build sand castles.
14. Jump in the waves.
15. Ride bikes.
16. Roller skate.
17. Skate board.
18. Blindfold a friend and have them taste, smell, or touch things to see what they are.
19. Dress up and make up to plan for the upcoming Halloween, start making notes on events and displays for a neighborhood Haunted House.
20. Dance.
21. Play charades.
22. Get out the board games. (Although they are a bit structured.)
23. Build with Legos.
24. Make balloon animals.
25. Check out the rides at an amusement park.
26. Ice skate.
27. Bowl.
28. Play laser tag or paint ball.
29. Play pool.
30. Play Marco Polo in a pool.
31. While your in a pool, do a few canon balls.
32. Play with your food - make concoctions.
33. Get out the clay.
34. Cook without a recipe.
35. Play your instrument with out any sheet music.
36. Plan a mystery party or progressive dinner with a theme.
37. Jump rope, or double dutch.
38. Play catch or frisbee.
39. Sing and dance out in the next rain.
40. Roll down a really steep hill.
41. Hang upside down on the monkey bars, or slide down a slide.
42. Create a scavenger hunt.
43. After you have played for awhile, make ice cream sundaes.
44. Tell scary stories.
45. Play word games, like the one where you whisper a long sentence, and then it goes around the room and then you see what the last person heard - don’t know the name of that one.
46. Have a running race.
47. In honor of Pageant of the Masters, get some body paint and paint a friend, or even yourself.
48. Henna tattoo a friend.
49. Play egg toss, pass the orange under the chin, 3 legged race, sack race, and any other old time fair games.
50. Musical chairs.
51. Hot potato.
52. Duck duck goose.
53. Darts.
54. Make funny faces in front of the mirror.
55. Go to a photo booth and take funny pictures.
56. Pretend.
57. Practice tongue twisters.
58. Play Twister.
59. Play marbles or dominoes.
60. Keep the balloon off the ground.
61. Have a pillow fight.
62. Enjoy a pie eating contest.
63. Have a see how far you can spit the watermelon seed contest.
64. Try to tie a cherry stem with your tongue.
65. Play tag.
66. Hula hoop.
67. Practice juggling.
68. Yo-yo.
69. Make a movie.
70. Camp out in your backyard.
71. Then roast marshmallows on sticks and make S’mores
72. Tug of war.
73. Play with your pets.
74. Monkey in the middle.
75. Water pistols.
76. Build a fortress out of pillows.
77. Have a tickle fight
    
78. Join a fun group class at your local gym.
79. Hike, traverse, hop, jump or skip somewhere inspiring.
80. Mimic how animals move, like crawling like a lion, taking off for flight like an eagle - did this in a great movement class one time with a room full of people - quite fun.
81. Pole Dancing.
82. Have a staring contest.
83. Color.
84. Play in the sand dunes.
85. Fly a kite.
86. Eat apricots, save the seeds, throw them from a distance towards an exterior wall…The closest one wins…That’s a poor man’s great game
87. Ping Pong
88. Build a house of cards or toothpicks.
89. Tell jokes or stories.
90. Doing picture puzzles.
91. Suduko and crosswords.
92. Playing in the tide pools.
93. Getting the camera out and shooting some pictures.
94. The license plate game while your driving.
    

Greetings!

So I have been feeling a bit unsettled about the lightness of my recent posts. After all, you have taken the time to come visit, I should offer something worth the trip. Light is good though, right - like Ty’s picture below - what needs to be said? I can just stare at that and it takes me all sorts of places. Light is also good in the way of making your life lighter. That is one of the several processes I have been busying myself with recently, but it is not happening faster than the speed of light, which is what I would prefer.

Life is an evolution, a constant transformation, and I have never really been afraid of change. So I tend to jump right into what ever inspires me and work and play with it until I have reaped the desired benefits, and then happily move on, albeit sometimes before I have completely completed anything (can be quite frustrating to those around me, so you can probably surmise I have some half finished projects hanging around in various stages - leaving my family to think, oh remember when this was the day that that was going to be done, and remember when she was on that tangent, and there it still is.) Scatter brained - maybe, unfocused - could be, just constantly inspired to take new action - yes that is what I am going to go with here. Today, my desk drawers, paper laced counter tops and kitchen cabinets are inspiring me (that will be a big nut though, be careful of what your promise here), because until I organize and give away or otherwise get rid of the majority of accumulated stuff we have no need for, I won’t be able to feel the lightness, and move on with the more fun inspirations. How can one create in cluttered chaos?

Organizing my time is sometimes an issue. Recently when I was surfing around trying to find like minded souls out there, I came across an intriguing site, the Balanced Life Center. The author was talking about changing your life in 30 days. Take 30 minutes a day to honor your soul, 30 minutes a day to honor your body, and 30 minutes a day to honor your mind. After you complete this daily one and a half hour ritual for a month, you will be a completely different person. Completely doable in most peoples schedule I would say.
I actually try to make time for all of those things in my day, but I never broke it down like that before (which seems so reasonable), and I usually miss one or the other each day - this could actually be a solution. So I said why not and starting marking off the days on a sticky note stuck to my computer. Well, I did great for about 5 days, the sticky note is gone now, maybe I will pick it up again because I know writing things down, and for some lists then crossing them off, has always been a big part of my organizational style.

Anyway, once again I am reminded that in order to stay clear and present with what I am doing I need to get lighter. So let the cleaning begin. If I add to those (3) 30 minute categories, 30 minutes for sorting, 30 minutes for cleaning and restoring if necessary, 30 minutes for packing things up to share with others who might find new use for old treasures, then in a mere 3 hours I would have quite a lot to show for myself. Then continue with 30 minutes of writing here, 30 minutes writing on another project I’ve been working on, and 30 minutes of drawing, I will be able to make sure their was a chunk of creation time in my day and that is still only 4 1/2 hours of time.

Maybe if I get up earlier, that would help - 5 instead of 7. Because there are other things that need to be fit in to time frames as well. Wonderful family things especially now it is summer, and the list goes on. Can’t forget taking some time to just sit back somewhere in nature and soak it all in. Don’t ever forget that.

So I am going to leave you now and attempt to adhere (loosely) to the above schedule.
I can feel myself getting feathery already!

Have a fabulously light day yourselves!

Photo Courtesy of my son Ty

» Photo courtesy of Deb Reynolds

A message from Claudia…

Hey Great Ones,

Summer is here and we want to be outdoors and enjoying the beautiful beach and weather.
A couple of weeks ago I went to Germany and Spain (Ibiza) on an amazing Yoga retreat in the mountains which gave me more inspiration to share the bliss of happiness with you.

Come join us doing yoga on the beach with the sounds of the waves and spectacular view of the ocean. Sometimes the dolphins are joining us. What a blessing to see them once in a while. We can greet the dolphins with our Dolphin pose!!! Yes, there is one!!! Smile!!!

Where: Torrance Beach at the end of the bike path (at the end of parking lot at Miramar Park in the City of Torrance), corner of Playa De La Paseo and Via Riviera (Esplanade Avenue turns into Playa De La Paseo), at the 3rd and last life guard tower (Sign TORR) near the ocean across from the main lifeguard tower/restroom.

When: Every Wednesday evening Sunset Yoga form 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. (ish),
and every Friday morning from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. (ish) (except if raining)

Class Fees: Suggested Donation of $10.00 or more is gratefully appreciated.

• Bring a big blanket or sheet for the sand
• Water and sunscreen
• Dress comfortably (maybe a light sweatshirt if cold)
• Arrive 10 minutes early before class

Maybe we have some tea or coffee afterwards - your choice!

Namaste,

Claudia

For more information, call Claudia at (310) 370-3278, or (310) 698-9658 (cell)
Email: bliss-yoga@hotmail.com

Wowww!!! What a day, what a night…
Lots of questions and one most pertinent answer-

All you have to ever do is ask - ask the universe, ask your spirit guides, ask your angels, ask your higher self, ask your God…
You will get an answer. It may not always be the one you expect, or the one you like, or the one you would normally plan on listening to. But you will get an answer.

Tonight, my answer was “Raise your own vibration” - I have had the opportunity to explore many aspects of that this evening as my family is otherwise occupied and absent from the immediate locale, but I have enjoyed the company of many here in

my home all alone - and earlier today as well.

After a very emotional day of people yelling at me, and then the graduation ceremony of my two sons and all that that entails at a heart centered level - I was feeling a bit at odds - that precise sensation I haven’t experienced in quite some time. So after having a difficult time of trying to shake it all off and move on with my day, it was indicated that a walk was necessary. My destination was at that point to retrieve my children from their friends house. It is a short distance only 15 minutes roundtrip, but exactly what I was urged to do from the powers that be in the shadows.

So as I am walking in the sunlight, I come upon these amazing roses along the sidewalk - I am very grateful to this house’s owners, as they keep their roses so beautiful and they have offered all of us passersby such a stunning array of color and design…So the first ones I ran into were a deep ruby red - okay, I got it - get grounded - the scent was beyond reason - exquisitely joyful smiles… the next were a beautiful orangey-salmon color, so I am releasing it and allowing the pleasure…then deep, tightly wound yellow that opened up loosely at the edges that allowed me to see my truth and acquiesce…ahhh a huge, healthy and vibrant, big-leafed green tree that I had to duck to walk under, and I remembered to breath and open my heart, then these delicate pink blossoms that adorned my feet as I gracefully strolled by, but didn’t attach themselves, just let me move in and out - then, well then, I had to cross the street and I ran into some people and was passed all of the flowers, but they certainly and most efficiently (not to mention lovingly) carried me through my path and I felt so great when I got to our friends house. A big thank you….

So I love how things tend to unfold and I love those realizations that the universe has a sense of humor, and helps you to lighten up, and realize you aren’t in control of all that goes on around you, and that the only real truth of the power that you have is to raise your own vibration, and then you can’t help but add to the miraculous ripple. To try and steer yourself from a different vantage point most likely ends up in futile head banging against the wall, and to be frank, I’m not up for many more dents.

Photograph Courtesy of Arlene Yakush

A mouse makes a home in the clothes in one of our suitcases, at the same time twin donkeys keep watch at the perimeter of a backyard from a house we haven’t lived in since my twenties…Snap to the front yard and it is covered with spotted fawns and one small mother that shapeshifts into a goat that is head butting one of my sons. i have to keep lifting him up off of the ground so he doesn’t get slammed. Looking on with its infinite wisdom is the head of a buffalo peeking through the trees. Five different species all in one episode.

Then another night it is flying dragons both small and large like in the latest Harry Potter, although I hadn’t seen that in quite some time. Then there is the recurrence of the enormous orca causing a tidal wave with his massive tail. 3 huge bald eagles in silhouette perched on rooftops of 3 tiny houses all facing east, keeping watch amidst a purple backdrop. Fabulous…

Can’t wait for the next installment of guidance from the animal kingdom. It has been some ride in the middle of the night lately, I can’t get over how many have come to visit. It has been a fun challenge to decipher some of their messages.

So I kind of wondered what this flurry of fur, feather and fin was all about. I used to remember all of my dreams as a kid. Recent years they have been a bit sketchy if I remember at all, but lately it has been an incredibly vivid time, and they have quite a lot to tell me apparently.

On my quest for making sense of it all, I started my search with the internet and met with some success in finding out more about what these visitations could actually mean. Then while on Amazon, I remembered the name of a book I had seen on other people’s shelves, but had never actually looked through by Ted Andrews called
Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small

As it also states on the cover, it includes a comprehensive dictionary of animal, bird and reptile symbolism. Fascinating…

It will take additional time to unlock all of the treasures these animal totems are bringing me. I anticipate a magical journey and I look forward to discussing more with you in the future. I now realize several of them have been with me for at least one lifetime - its great to be able to count on that kind of council, and I am certainly grateful for the support!

If any of you want to share some of your experiences with the animal world, we would certainly love to listen!

Thanks,

Donna

Not much of a magazine reader (I more enjoy looking at pictures), I surprised myself when I replied to a subscription card I received via some unknown source (God knows how many mailing lists one gets on), and agreed to receive my first issue free of a magazine with the very timely title of Greater Good - The Science of a Meaningful Life.

I don’t think there has been in recent years anyway (in my teens there was The Journal for The Protection of All Beings, and CoEvolution Quaterly...) a magazine that I would or could actually read cover to cover without my mind wandering to various and sundry locations. But I did it with this engrossing publication, all the way through from back to front! Even the message from the editors page in the beginning (something I usually disregard), as I was very curious who these people are who created this intriguing slice of science and optimism.

Just fabulous - l loved it -lots of interesting things being put out there from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. According to their site, they are a “non-profit organization that promotes the study and development of human happiness, compassion and altruism…” Sounds good to me - I look forward to the next issue!

Go check out their site for the Center itself: greatergood.berkeley.edu
For their magazine: www.greatergoodmag.org
And for their Blog, Half Full - The Science of Raising Happy Kids: greatergood.berkeley.edu/half_full