Mindfulness Monday – Life as it is

On November 5, 2018 By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness, Quotes14 Comments

“What would it be like if I could accept life

– accept this moment –

exactly as it is?”

– Tara Brach

“How you look at it is

pretty much how you’ll see it.”

– Rasheed Ogunlaru

“Every experience,

no matter how bad it seems,

holds within it a blessing of some kind.

The goal is to find it.”

– Buddha

“Don’t let life harden your heart.”

– Pema Chödrön

Today I searched for quotes to help me simply accept life has it is right now, and change my thought process about it all. I promised someone recently, “Don’t worry I won’t let her steal my joy”, but by the time I said that, I realize I had already allowed that to happen.

The serenity prayer states, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.” My biggest problem right now is that I don’t feel I have the wisdom to know the difference. I’m spinning my wheels trying to figure out what I can change, and if I can’t change things, how can I just accept that? What blessing do I find in it? The greatest comfort I have right now is knowing that everything changes. This is just a blip in my life, it will change…..right?? Please tell me it will change. Between the stress in my personal life and the stress of politics right now, I just feel overwhelmed.

The holidays are coming up. I was really looking forward to having the holidays with family, but it is way too complicated for me. I’m ready to run away and hide for the next couple of months. Anyone want to come with?

Mindfulness Monday – Birth(day)

On July 2, 2018 By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness, Quotes18 Comments

“May I be easily able to let whatever needs to go, go.

And may whatever wants to come

be radiantly and joyously born.”

~ Tosha Silver

“The purpose of our lives

Is to give birth to the best

Which is within us.”

~ Marianne Williamson

“Every morning we are born again.

What we do today is what matters most.”

~ Buddha

You might be able to tell from the the quotes….Today is my birthday! I hope you have a wonder filled day, and have a grand un-birthday. (unless of course it is your birthday too, in that case, I hope your celebration is grand!)

Image is “Silly Goose” a silly doodle by me. It’s one of those doodles that comes from a stray mark on a page in my drawing journal. Try it, make a swoop on the page and let it be the start of a doodle. You can even make it silly. 😉

Mindfulness Monday – Shadow

On March 19, 2018 By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness, Quotes3 Comments

“Don’t chase after your thoughts

as a shadow follows it’s object.

Find joy and peace in this very moment.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

“Put your thoughts to sleep,

do not let them cast a shadow

over the moon of your heart.

Let go of thinking.

~ Rumi

“If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts,

happiness follows them

like a never-departing shadow'”

~ Buddha

Mindfulness Monday – Buddha on Love

On October 9, 2017 By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness3 Comments

”Radiate boundless love towards the entire world.”

~ Buddha

“Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life,
even so let one cultivate a boundless love towards all beings.”

~ Buddha

Remember to Love everyone always. Know, you are Loved. (photo taken by W. Holcombe)

Mindfulness Monday – Meditation

On September 18, 2017 By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness4 Comments

“Meditation practice isn’t about
trying to throw ourselves away and
become something better.
It’s about befriending
who we are already.”

~ Pema Chödrön

“Meditation brings wisdom;
lack of meditation leaves ignorance.
Know what leads you forward
and what holds you back
and choose the path that leads to wisdom.”

~ The Buddha (Dhammapada, verse 282)

“The thing about meditation is:
you become more and more you.”

~ David Lynch

Mindfulness Monday – Hatred

On August 14, 2017August 14, 2017 By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness4 Comments

20170806_110406

“Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world.
By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased.
this is a law eternal.”

~ Buddha

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom,
I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind,
I’d still be in prison.”

~ Nelson Mandela

*photo by W. Holcombe. Love everyone always. xo

Mindfulness Monday – Self Love

On July 24, 2017July 24, 2017 By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness9 Comments

“The first thing is to love yourself.
You cannot progress by self doubt and self hatred.
You can only progress by self love.”

~ Dipa Ma

“You can search throughout the entire universe
for someone who is more deserving
of your love and affection than you are yourself,
and that person is not to be found anywhere.
You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe,
deserve your love and affection”

~Buddha

Mindfulness Monday – Birthday

On July 3, 2017July 3, 2017 By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness7 Comments

Pooh Bear with Blue Baloon1

“When asked what he wanted for his birthday, the yogi replied:
‘I wish not gifts, only presence.'”

~ Author Unknown

“Each morning we are born again.
What we do today is what matters most.”

~ Buddha

*please note, all images on Picnic with Ants are created by W. Holcombe unless otherwise specified. Please do not use images without permission.

Mindfulness Monday – Buddha

On May 1, 2017May 1, 2017 By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness8 Comments

“The way is not the sky.
The way is in the heart.”

~Buddha

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

~Buddha

“Do not dwell in the past,
do not dream of the future,
concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

~Buddha

*all artwork on Picnic with Ants created by Wendy Holcombe, unless otherwise noted. Please do not use without permission.

Mindfulness Monday – Loss

On April 24, 2017 By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness5 Comments

“Everything that has a beginning, has an ending.
Make your peace with all that and all will be well.”

~ Buddha

“Compassion invites us to open our heart
to everyone who experiences
joy and loss,
pleasure and pain,
hope and despair.
This includes ourselves.

~Heather Strong, Mindfulness and Grief

*all artwork and photos on Picnic with Ants created by W. Holcombe, unless otherwise noted.

“What would it be like if I could accept life

– accept this moment –

exactly as it is?”

– Tara Brach

“How you look at it is

pretty much how you’ll see it.”

– Rasheed Ogunlaru

“Every experience,

no matter how bad it seems,

holds within it a blessing of some kind.

The goal is to find it.”

– Buddha

“Don’t let life harden your heart.”

– Pema Chödrön

Share this:

Like this:

“May I be easily able to let whatever needs to go, go.

And may whatever wants to come

be radiantly and joyously born.”

~ Tosha Silver

“The purpose of our lives

Is to give birth to the best

Which is within us.”

~ Marianne Williamson

“Every morning we are born again.

What we do today is what matters most.”

~ Buddha

Share this:

Like this:

“Don’t chase after your thoughts

as a shadow follows it’s object.

Find joy and peace in this very moment.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

“Put your thoughts to sleep,

do not let them cast a shadow

over the moon of your heart.

Let go of thinking.

~ Rumi

“If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts,

happiness follows them

like a never-departing shadow'”

~ Buddha

Share this:

Like this:

”Radiate boundless love towards the entire world.”

~ Buddha

“Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life, even so let one cultivate a boundless love towards all beings.”

~ Buddha

Share this:

Like this:

“Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It’s about befriending who we are already.”

~ Pema Chödrön

“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know what leads you forward and what holds you back and choose the path that leads to wisdom.”

~ The Buddha (Dhammapada, verse 282)

“The thing about meditation is: you become more and more you.”

~ David Lynch

Share this:

Like this:

“Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. this is a law eternal.”

~ Buddha

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”

~ Nelson Mandela

Share this:

Like this:

“The first thing is to love yourself. You cannot progress by self doubt and self hatred. You can only progress by self love.”

~ Dipa Ma

“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection”

~Buddha

Share this:

Like this:

“When asked what he wanted for his birthday, the yogi replied: ‘I wish not gifts, only presence.'”

~ Author Unknown

“Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”

~ Buddha

Share this:

Like this:

“The way is not the sky. The way is in the heart.”

~Buddha

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

~Buddha

“Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life,
even so let one cultivate a boundless love towards all beings.”

“Meditation practice isn’t about
trying to throw ourselves away and
become something better.
It’s about befriending
who we are already.”

“Meditation brings wisdom;
lack of meditation leaves ignorance.
Know what leads you forward
and what holds you back
and choose the path that leads to wisdom.”

“The thing about meditation is:
you become more and more you.”

“Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world.
By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased.
this is a law eternal.”

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom,
I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind,
I’d still be in prison.”

“The first thing is to love yourself.
You cannot progress by self doubt and self hatred.
You can only progress by self love.”

“You can search throughout the entire universe
for someone who is more deserving
of your love and affection than you are yourself,
and that person is not to be found anywhere.
You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe,
deserve your love and affection”

“When asked what he wanted for his birthday, the yogi replied:
‘I wish not gifts, only presence.'”

“Each morning we are born again.
What we do today is what matters most.”

“The way is not the sky.
The way is in the heart.”

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

“Do not dwell in the past,
do not dream of the future,
concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

“Everything that has a beginning, has an ending.
Make your peace with all that and all will be well.”

“Compassion invites us to open our heart
to everyone who experiences
joy and loss,
pleasure and pain,
hope and despair.
This includes ourselves.