Lessons

[LightLizard]

To me, the greatest and most vital lesson in life is the lesson of letting go.
It is a lesson we have opportunity to learn, again and again.
As children, we need to let go of mother and father.
As teens, we learn about friendship and peers. Many of which we must let go of, for our own good, and theirs as well.
As adults, we learn to let go of youth, friends and family, lovers,fears,
resentments, beliefs, the past and
eventually, life itself.

Be gentle with yourself.

Let go.

love

~LL~

[LightLizard]

When you think of it, you might agree that the breath is one of the greatest teachers we have in learning how to let go. We wouldn't be able to take in oxygen if we didn't let go of the last breath.
With efficient and correct breathing, we can have a positive effect on so many facets of our being.
Relaxation, concentration, meditation, to name a few.
Improved respiratory function has a profound effect on blood pressure, heart rate, mental function and even our digestive system benefits from correct breath practice!

Here is a simple exercise I call 'Facing reality' -

Sit up straight, but relaxed. Feet flat on the floor. Release your shoulders and let your chin tilt down ever-so-slightly,
gently straightening the back of your neck....

Facing Reality

*Please read each sentence slowly for full effect*

1- Relax your eyebrows as you read this sentence.

2-Relax your eyelids, but don't close them.

3-Touch the tip of your tongue softly to the roof of your mouth and let your lips relax.

4-Gently raise your eyebrows.

5-Gradually let your lips form a soft smile.

6-Feel your cheeks pull the corners of your mouth up as the smile becomes 'brighter.' Feel the warmth on your face.

7-Breathe the smile in with a deep inhalation......

8-As you breathe out let your face relax completely again and feel the smile wash down your body, through your feet and into the Earth.

You have just faced reality.

Repeat as necessary....


love

~LL~

[kitkatz]

One should not throw rocks at God.

[Sluff]

 

[KICKSTART]

I dont know why LL but to me you seem a very calming person, i cant imagine you ever losing your temper! I am always fascinated by what you write ..or is it how you write it ?

[LightLizard]

Blessings, KickStart, you are very kind. I do have a temper, I believe, it's just been misplaced, for some time, now.
In so many ways, this 'condition' that we share has given me endless benefits.
One of them is the recognition that anger has no useful purpose at all.
Another gift is the wonderful realisation that Happiness is a choice
that anyone can make, regardless of their position in life.

May yours continue!

love

~LL~

[LightLizard]

Inner Peace

Thoughtless.....

There is a very good reason why no one ever has, or ever will, think their way to inner peace.

It can't be done.

Inner Peace is beyond thought.

Thought is like the wind on the surface of the water.

The wind blows harder and the waves flow higher and higher.

No wind, no waves.

Only this.


love

~LL~

[LightLizard]

Balancing the Hemispheres of the Brain

Most of us relate to the world around us with habitual patterns of perception that are developed early in life. Some of us are more 'right brained' (creative) and others are more 'left brained' (intellectual). These aspects of perception are geographically located in areas of the brain that we get used to using through daily life, but over time, we may find difficulties arise because of our self limiting manners of perceiving.

 For instance, if a situation should come up that requires a creative and spontaneous reaction from us, in order to resolve a problem of some kind, we might find difficulty in achieving a successful outcome if we are limited to relying solely on our intellect for the answer.
Conversely, if a situation arises that requires reason and logic, and we are used to approaching matters from a more creative and innovative mentality, we also may have problems coming to a satisfactory conclusion in the matter.

One of the things I have found through self observation, meditation, experience and much research into this subject is that there are methods and techniques we can employ to balance the hemispheres of the brain to ensure that the right and left sides are working together, as oppossed to against, each other.
It's much like muscle groups, which sometimes work against each other when a task or a movement we are performing is not coherent or 'co-ordinated' enough to be energy-efficient. This wastes energy and is more 'weakening' to the muscles than strengthening.

One (of many) techniques I have experimented with and explored, and have found very helpful in this endeavor, (the balancing of the hemispheres of the brain) is juggling. Yes, I said juggling.

The wonderful thing about juggling is that it forces you to be here and now, in this moment, focused and conscious. Also, the act of juggling encourages both sides of the brain to work together for the same result. It is very satisfying, in many areas.

Now, to begin is quite simple. You start with just one ball. In fact, it's probably better to use a pair of rolled-up socks, to begin with.( Then, when you drop it you don't have to go running all over the room to retrieve it.)

Simply hold the 'ball' in one hand, palm up about chest height, elbows down, and toss the ball from one hand and catch it with the other. Watch it with your eyes, don't watch your hands, as you throw and catch it.

Soon, you will be able to throw and catch it, back and forth, with no problem whatsoever.
Then, you do the same thing with two balls, if you wish to. But really, for the purposes of balancing the brain, you don't even need to progress to two balls at all!

Once you can throw and catch one ball, continuously, from hand to hand, teach yourself to do it while sitting in a chair and with your eyes closed.

It may sound difficult, but with a little practice, you will be amazed at how easy it really is!

And, you will be balancing the hemisperes of your brain at the same time.

love

light

balance!

~LL~

[kitkatz]

New research shows that the hemispheres of the brain that control art or that the other side controls logic is not true.  The brain has interlinking parts throughout it.  There are some deep dark secrets in the brain we have not figured out yet. Keep thinking!

Now if I can just get my two parts of my brain to help me type and correct my posts properly!

[LightLizard]

That's not new research at all. It's been known for many years that the link, the Corpus Callosum, joins the two hemispheres together and allows for communication between the two hemispheres.
Obviously, both sides are involved in certain activities of the body, but generally speaking, most people favor one 'side' or the other. The intellectual functions do have a geographic location, as well as the creative aspects of the brain. How we use them depends on many factors, but, the point is, the communication between the hemispheres can be enhanced and improved for anyone that is interested in doing so.

Stop thinking.

love

~LL~

[KICKSTART]

But i can juggle 3 !

[LightLizard]

But i can juggle 3 !

me too! and here is another really powerful form of meditation for you!
 

[kitkatz]

Ooops stopped thinking, and forgot to start again!

[st789]

It is so deep and way out there but I feel inner peace reading it.  Thanks!

[keefer51]

I have no inner peace my friend just another freaking morning of dialysis. Welcome to my world.

[st789]

I am empathy with you Keefer.

[jbeany]

Hmmm. . . was just picturing myself juggling while sitting in the chair at dialysis.. . ya think I can get the nurses to pick up the ball everytime I drop it?  Hehehehehehehe

[LightLizard]

Hmmm. . . was just picturing myself juggling while sitting in the chair at dialysis.. . ya think I can get the nurses to pick up the ball everytime I drop it?  Hehehehehehehe

maybe get that old crab next to you to pick it up.

give her somethin to take her mind off of her pressing needs, for a bit.
 

[George Jung]

"To err is human.  To forgive is divine."

[LightLizard]

"To err is human.  To forgive is divine."

well, not being pompous enough to call myself 'divine,'

i'll stick to revenge, thanks.
 

[George Jung]

Sorry, but I wasn't insinuating that you were divine.  It was in my horoscope today and I thought it fit in under this topic (Lessons).  I have not been reading the thread from start to finish and I apologize for any misunderstanding, it was random I guess.  Although you may not consider yourself divine (I don't consider myself to be) the act of forgiveness is certainly that.  Please, continue on.

[LightLizard]

don't mind me george. i can't resist making smart-ass comments at every turn.

no offense taken, and i certainly hope none was felt by you, too!

i forgive us...

love

~LL~

[George Jung]

Not at all dude.  I also find it difficult to refrain from similar types of comments.  Like I said, I hadn't read any recent post in the thread so I wasn't sure if mine was out of context at all.  Anyhow, I "forgive" us too....aren't we something!

[LightLizard]

Not at all dude.  I also find it difficult to refrain from similar types of comments.  Like I said, I hadn't read any recent post in the thread so I wasn't sure if mine was out of context at all.  Anyhow, I "forgive" us too....aren't we something!

something.....but.....

what?

 

[LightLizard]

Baked Ham

Family Tradition

The young girl watched her mother prepare a baked ham for the family dinner.
She observed as her mom seasoned the meat, pre-heated the oven, and then, just before placing the ham in the roasting pan, she took a long, sharp knife and sliced off the end of the ham.

After placing it in the oven, she wiped her hands and turned to her daughter. 'There' stated mother,'now you know how to prepare a ham the way our family has done for many generations now.'
The daughter looked puzzled. 'What is it, dear?' Asked mother, 'is there something you don't understand?'


'Well' the youngster hesitantly began, 'I don't understand why you cut the end off of the ham before you put it in the pan...'
'Ah', replied mother, with a smile, 'that is the family tradition. That is how my mother, your granny, taught me!'
'But...' continued the girl, 'why? it seems like a waste of food. Don't you always tell me to not waste food?' Mother was getting a little tense with this questioning and she still had much to prepare for the meal. Sauces, dessert-and the dishes needed some attention, too!
'Well,' mother responded, 'you could always telephone your granny and ask HER why we do it that way. She would love to hear from you, I'm sure!'

The girl went into the living room and did just that. 'Why, granny' she asked, 'did you cut the end off of the ham?' Granny told her, 'That my dear one, is how my mother taught me to do it. It is our family's tradition!'
'But...' the youngster persisted, 'why?'

Granny was not the most patient person. It was easy to understand, with her age, arthritis and other health concerns. Granny, stifling her impatience, replied, 'Why don't you phone your Great Granny and ask her? She's just turned 104 years old and is still at the same rest home, as you know!'

The young girl phoned her great granny. She asked her question, after the hellos and usual greetings; 'why did you cut the end off of the ham granny? Mom and granny don't remember!'

There was a long pause and raspy breathing at the other end of the line. Then, a gentle, hoarse cackle as great granny finally gave the answer; 'Because' the ancient voice spoke through her laughter, 'the damn pan was too small!'