Stillness...

"Some say that busyness is a form of laziness.

Because you're too lazy to work out what not to do." - Michael Bungay Stanier

I tend to read a lot of blogs... and I receive several e-newsletters... and every once in a while, I read something that makes me gasp. That's what happened when I read the provocative statement by Bungay Stanier. I think it's brilliant! We wear our busyness as a badge of honour, while in fact, it may simply point to our inability to reflect on our priorities and make meaningful (and often difficult) choices.

His assertion came as part of a short article in his e-newsletter called The Power of Standing Still. He states that:
1. Stillness gives you power, and
2. Stillness influences the system.

As a meditator, I was intrigued by how this message can apply to my worklife. For a vivid demonstration of how stillness can affect our environment, it was suggested to check out this 2-minute video from ImprovEverywhere. (Apparently it's been around for a while, but it was new to me - and it gave me chills!)

Now, because I strive for a balanced life, this weekend will be all about movement. :-) Hubby & I are off to Hamilton for the Around the Bay Road Race. He'll run the 30K while I'll be happy with finishing my 5K. There will be plenty of time for stillness after that, I'm sure!

Pace e bene,

The best medicine...

I dare you to watch this and not laugh. Go ahead... Give it your best shot. Better yet - give in and have yourself a great belly laugh!

Pace e bene,

Escape to Tuscany...

At long last, I have completed an online photo album that allows me to re-live my Meditalia experience. If you feel like taking a visual journey to Pisa, Florence, Assisi, Cortona, Siena, Monte Oliveto and Rome, just click here. Buon viaggio!

Pace e bene,

Spinner of the dawn...

GUIDANCE - by R.H. Grenville

Behold the spinner of the dawn:

how fine her fragile threads are drawn,

without a pattern or a plan

apparent to the eyes of man.

Shall wisdom, that could so impart

tuition to a spider's heart

to form this lacey filagree,

in time of need, not tutor me?

Shall this, the pattern of my days,

not yet evolve in lovely ways,

revealing, when the whole is shown,

a purpose greater than my own?

Pace e bene,

At long last...

Look who has finally been allowed to cross the border... Yay! hoops&yoyo - and of course, piddles. My household is now complete. :-)

Pace e bene,

Strong Women, Strong World

“The moment a woman comes home to herself, the moment she knows that she has become a person of influence, an artist of her life, a sculptor of her universe, a person with rights and responsibilities who is respected and recognized, the resurrection of the world begins.”
—Sister Joan Chittister, OSB

On this International Women's Day, here's to celebrating ALL the strong women in my life... And, as a Canadian woman, I'm taking a moment to count my blessings and to hold women who know little but struggle in the light of my God's Love.

As I write this, women from around the world are gathered in Jaipur, India for the a global summit called Making Way for the Feminine: for the Benefit of the World Community. They are exploring how the leadership of women can make a difference in the religious, political and economic arenas and aid in social transformation. But it's more than about trying to bring women leaders into the mainstream. From the summit web site: "It is time to allow the feminine to emerge, to embrace it, each one of us, male and female alike, so that we can bring greater balance to the dual forces of nature and of our being, the masculine and feminine, the yin and yang."

Here's to honouring the feminine - and the strength that comes with these qualities - in all of us.




Pace e bene,

Snow Joke...

It's the talk of the town...
It's on the front page of every newspaper...
It's both loved, and by now, reviled...
And it's not finished with us yet!

Yesterday, I finally got the joke - there is nothing else to do but laugh. Thirty-one centimetres of snow in one day, with another storm forecast for this weekend. I decided that I could resist & grumble & begrudge... or I could welcome it with open arms & heart. Either way, it's coming down - and there's not a damn thing I can do about it. So yesterday, I started laughing.

I am a strong believer in seasonal amnesia. I know that May will startle me with her vibrant greens and her blood-red tulips. By August, all this snow will be but a memory, and I will be seeking relief from the scorching sun. September & October will regale me with their dramatic tales of colour. And when that first December snow blankets my world in white, I will rejoice at the beauty before me. This is why I laugh - I laugh at the brilliance of Mother Nature's sense of humour, of her ability to make us forget and re-discover every season as if for the first time.


Pace e bene,

Awarding Achievement...

What if you held an awards show, and nobody knew...?

I'm about to divulge a national secret: the 28th Annual Genie Awards, celebrating the best in Canadian film, were held last Monday. Who knew?! No indication from the Ottawa newspapers the next morning: the front page displayed a photo of Hilary Swank, two-time Academy award winner, who was in town to give a speech at a motivational seminar. As a Canadian, should I be alarmed?!

And this was a big year for Canadian film... there certainly was a lot of hype here about our presence at the Oscars. Ellen Page, Oscar nominee, was on the front page of most Ottawa newspapers the day after the Academy Awards. She didn't win, by the way. Yet, when it comes to honouring our own, here at home... silence. Dare I say, indifference? I didn't watch the Genies, so I'm not standing from a pulpit when I say this: what's wrong with this picture?! Why didn't I even know they were on? And why the heck were they on at 10pm on a Monday night?!

The big winner was Sara Polley and her film, Away from Her - an amazing film, IMO. I think Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent should win an award for the Best-looking Onscreen Couple - they are so beautiful in this movie! I couldn't take my eyes of them... (Amazingly, Pinsent is 77 years old!!) I'm happy to see that they both took home Genies for their Leading Roles in this film.

While I'm on the topic of award shows, I feel compelled to share my "Best Moment at the Oscars" with you. By far, it was the award for Best Song by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova. I was thrilled that this beautiful music - one of the main characters of the film Once - was recognized. Way to go for the little guys!! Remember, you first heard about it here. :-)

Pace e bene,