Relaxation and Self Care

I bought lots of plants for my patio - they look so pretty - I love taking care of them and having breakfast out there, and sitting in the gazebo reading. In the early morning I set up the flower boxes and putted around the house. I am fixing up as much as I can - new carpet is in, cleaned out the storage room, got FIOS from verizon, got the pool almost opened - and today I am in Maine. I am going to tile the patio floor and I ordered new furniture for it today. They have these great chairs that are single sleepers at My Bob's so I ordered two of them. I am here alone and it is quiet, peaceful and very relaxing. I am going to work on my book later today.

Sometimes I wish I had a partner to enjoy life with - then other times I think I am better off being alone. Doesn't seem my relationships last very long so maybe I should just be alone for now. But then again - the last two long-term relationships were both men who were separated and not divorced yet. Of course, after we broke up they both got divorced. One is already getting married. So that is now one of my discriminations - no more dating separated men - or men who are not emotionally available.

I'm glad I have Steven and Brianna living with me - they will be gone probably next year so that's when I might consider getting involved with someone again. Being single has its advantages. I can come and go as I please, spend time on my book, travel frequently, handle my own finances, go out with my girlfriends, run the yoga school, have the closet in my bedroom to myself - LOL. But research has shown we are healthier and live longer in relationships - especially marriage. My problem is I am not too emotionally available with all I do - so that is why I attract men who are not available. Maybe once I retire and slow down - or at least sell the yoga school, I will be more available. I have so much energy though. Even at my age I am constantly busy and I am happy with all I do. That is what is important - as long as you are happy with your life and love yourself. I really enjoy my personal trainer that I hired and my weekly Nia (dance and tai chi) and Pilates classes. Getting in shape for the summer.

Yesterday I lectured in the afternoon in Worcester at the DCU (old Centrum) to 1000 nurses for the Mass Nurses Assn. I lectured on MRSA and Clostridium difficile. They asked so many questions about MRSA. It's a very hot topic these days but the great thing - it gives infection control practitioners an opportunity to teach basic infection control - which will prevent other infections as well. In the 1980's it was HIV, now it's MRSA and Clostridium difficile. Always a new bug to worry about.....that's why I love my job - never a dull moment.

Great Weekend

First my weekend started with a great dinner at Vin and Eddie's with my friend Sue on Friday night. On Saturday I ran lots of errands and then I had carpeting installed in my yoga room (ie family room) and hallway. It looks great. I am fixing things around the house - planning to sell it next year when Brianna goes off to college and Steven moves out. My son passed the exam for the electrical union, went for an interview and did great - so we are hoping he gets in and will go to electrician school for 5 years. He is doing so great and is so focused on being an electrician.
Brianna wants to be a nurse so not sure where she will end up but she wants to live in a dorm (and not with me). LOL - I can't wait to be alone again!!! I'll probably move closer to Boston to cut down on my drive to the hospital.

On Sunday, the Finding Inner Peace Yoga School graduated 39 students at the Sheraton Hotel in Braintree. They had a busy weekend learning childrens yoga, prenatal yoga, seniors yoga, yoga with weights, acrobatic yoga, yogassage and the business of yoga. Then we had a great cake (Konditor Meister) and certificate ceremony - and ended with a trance dance led by Karendayal. So many of these young and seasoned yoga teachers came up to me and hugged me, thanking me for giving them this wonderful opportunity to become a yoga teacher. This is why I do it - I just love seeing these students develop into a self-actualized soul.

Next weekend I head up to Maine for Memorial Day weekend. Hope we have great weather!

Abington Athletic Club

I joined the Abington Athletic Club when it opened and have been going weekly and working out with a personal trainer - Stephanie. I also take some of the classes - especially the pilates on Thursday night. It is a great club - right on route 18 next to the Abington Ale House. I have to drag myself there some nights after the hour + drive home but after I get there and work out - I am so glad I did. I have also been taking a Nia class (tai chi and dance) on Tuesday nights with Patti Sheets at Feathers Wellness Studio. Getting in shape for the summer!!

Mother's Day - May 11, 2008

I went to Maine on Saturday with my son Steven to open the summer trailer in Wells Beach. We had a nice restful evening of pizza and TV - he got up very early and brought me back some flowers for Mother's Day. I had received two dozen roses from my daugher Danielle on Friday before I left.

On Sunday - after we left Maine - we headed to Boston to meet my son Eric and his wife Sandy at their apartment - on Devonshire Street near Fanueil Hall. We walked to the Elephant and Castle English Pub and had a great early dinner. It was really nice and I had a great Yorkshire Pudding. Eric also gave me 2 dozen roses.

When I got home there was another dozen red roses for me from Brianna. Roses are the flower of the Blessed Mother - so guess this year I am blessed! My living room looks like a flower shop!

(received this in an email yesterday)

Before I was a Mom:
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom:
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom:
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give
shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom:
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the
hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom:
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and
happy.
Before I was a Mom:
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make
sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,
The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom

Intuitive Reading with Charley Greene from Etna, Maine

(the picture is of Buddhist nun Pema Chodron)

I had a reading today with Charley Greene from Maine. She is a medium and intuitive reader. She said I will be leaving healthcare soon to take a position as a consultant with a company - and will travel to Africa as an infection control consultant. She said I would be doing more writing - (which I have lately - I finished an article for a medical journal and still working on my yoga book). She said I have a big writing career ahead of me and need to free myself from healthcare so I can focus more on it, traveling and lecturing.

She said a Buddhist nun Pema Chodron - came through and my guides recommended I read her book "When Things Fall Apart". I found this online about her: She became a novice nun in 1974 while studying with Lama Chime in London. His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa came to England at that time, and Ane Pema received her ordination from him. Pema first met her root guru, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, (the "Vidyadhara") in 1972. Lama Chime encouraged her to work with Rinpoche, and it was with him that she ultimately made her most profound connection, studying with him from 1974 until his death in 1987. At the request of the Karmapa, she received the full bikshuni ordination in the Chinese lineage of Buddhism in 1981 in Hong Kong. Pema is interested in helping establish Tibetan Buddhist monastacism in the West, as well in continuing her work with western Buddhists of all traditions, sharing ideas and teachings. She has written five books: The Wisdom of No Escape, Start Where You Are, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times and The Places That Scare You and No Time to Lose are available from Shambhala Publications. She recently completed a new book called "Practicing Peace in Times of War" that will be published by Shambhala Publications later in 2006.

Back to the reading......
She saw a blond woman on crutches - (who was my friend Sue) - and Sue's mother came into the reading. I have lots to share with Sue from her mother.

Then my brother came through - she said he had lots of light around him and brilliant eyes with a gentleness. He said he now appreciates the work I do and wants to help me. He wants to be my "travel agent" he said and laughed.

He feels badly for all the grief he has caused to others but wants them to know he is "fine" and wants to help others heal. He hasn't left the earth plane yet because he "loves the earth". He said to say hello to people he left behind and is embarrassed by all the pain he caused and things that happened to him when he was younger that caused the pain. He said "what a waste it was" and "I'm over it". He wanted to send a message to Charlene - the mother of his two young girls - that he likes her new "dress" - "That'll get her" he said.

Then one of my grandmothers came in - said I had her eyes - and she wishes she could have done some of the things I have done but she was so under the thumb and controlled her whole life. She is pleased to see my direction and wished I was born now to help in this century the woman's movement.

My father is resting she said - not around much now and my sister is still trying to recover from all the drugs she took before she died - that affected her spirit alot and has caused her difficulty with her ascension.

She had quite a bit to say about someone I dated/lived with last year - he has a very interesting future coming up (if she is right). Wouldn't want to be with him if what she said is true - serious health and family problems.

So - it was an interesting reading - gives me focus to start to think about eventually moving out of the hospital setting and into consulting in the future, continue my writing, stay single for now and read the book "When Things Fall Apart".

Abundance

This is a great daily motivator - click on the title to view the message or read below.

THE DAILY MOTIVATOR
Wednesday, May 7, 2008

True wealth
+++++++++++++++++++

Wealth is not a specific number or amount. It is an attitude.

There is more than enough abundance in the world. It is
yours to the extent that you imagine it to be and then
proceed to live and to genuinely act according to your
expectations.

The less you need, the more you have. When you need nothing,
you have it all.

What you grab from others will be of no use to you. It is
the value you're able to provide to others that creates
enduring wealth.

You can be wealthy this very moment. For when you sincerely
see yourself as wealthy, you truly are.

Look within yourself and discover the true wealth that is
unique to you. And find real joy in building upon that
wealth, day after day.

Ralph Marston

Brianna's Prom and Reiki Master

Brianna's junior prom was last night. She looked beautiful in pink. And her boyfriend "C.B." is wonderful - he doesn't drink, he works as a carpenter and is going to be very successful - lots of energy. And he makes her very happy. I went to her grand march and sat with her father and cousin Amy. It was great seeing her all dressed up.

On Saturday, I held a Reiki Master training today - had two students: Connie White and Terra Pfund. In addition, Sandi McNiff finished her Reiki Master/Teacher today.
I have not been offering much Reiki training lately - been too busy with the traveling and need the weekends to recover from jet lag and the stress of it.