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I love storytelling and always want my readers to have options. You can find my blogs on my YouTube channel and listen to them on the go.
The Benefits of Meditation
If you had told five years ago that someday daily meditation would be part of my life, I would have said you don’t know me very well. Yet here I am now, practicing meditation daily and finding peace in my heart and mind that I never thought possible.
Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique such as mindfulness or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity - to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. - Wikipedia
The thought of meditation may sound silly to some, I know that’s how it sounded to me not too many years ago. But if you are someone who is finding yourself consistently stressed, tired, unhappy with life, or unable to focus, give daily meditation a try for a week and see if you still find it silly after giving it try.
The Basics of Meditating
The practice of meditation is simple and calming and can be done just about anywhere. The basics of meditation are finding a place to be able to sit quietly, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing.
When I meditate I like to have the lights low. I sit on the floor in a quiet room, with a small blanket under my tailbone, and with my legs in the crossed position. I close my eyes and take deep slow breaths, as I clear my mind.
When I first started meditating, I would do it for about five minutes, which honestly felt like forever. Now I meditate for twenty minutes or more and the time flies. I stand up from meditation and crawl into bed, completely relaxed, at peace, and ready to sleep.
The Benefits of Meditation
Relieves Stress
Life can be very stressful. Whether you are a student, a parent, or a boss, the demands on us in our daily lives can feel overwhelming. Just ten minutes, or three minutes if that’s all you have, can help bring calm, center you, and help you refocus your thoughts and reduce your stress level.
Helps With Sleep
I am an insomniac. I have struggled with sleep for years, which is why I choose to meditate before bedtime. Meditation is very calming and brings down your blood pressure, slows your heart rate, and gets your body ready for a good night’s rest if sleep is your goal.
Relaxing
Meditation is about quieting your mind and getting rid of all the brain chatter that prevents you from being able to decompress and relax. When you center yourself, focus on your breathing, and shutout all those other thoughts, you will feel your body soften as you began to relax.
Helps You Focus
Meditation promotes thoughtfulness. If you have a project or an important event coming up, meditation will help you clear your mind and focus. As you close your eyes and quiet your mind, breathe slowly as you allow your mind to gently focus on the specific topic.
Brings You Peace
The practice of meditation can clear both your head and your heart. When you are able to clear your heart and mind, you are able to make space for love, gratitude, and peace.
I am by no means a meditation expert or Zen master, but I can speak to how meditation has changed my spirit, how it has changed my stress levels, and how it has changed my life for the better. I work on my Zen daily and focus on inner peace.
What are your thoughts on meditation? Do you practice meditation? If so, how does it benefit you? Please share your thoughts and experience with meditation!
Home Spa...Simple Tricks To Creating A Spa-Like Environment At Home
When was the last time you enjoyed a spa day? It can be hard to find the time, or the money to treat yourself as often as you deserve. Life can be stressful at times, which is why it is so important to find ways to manage that stress.
There are many ways to relieve stress. Exercise is a great stress reliever. Sex is also a great stress reliever. But some days a girl, or guy, just wants to be pampered.
When I want to be pampered I head to the spa. I get a nice massage, deep tissue for me, which is exquisite pain. I do a nice soak, or mud bath, and then I end with a facial. Unfortunately, this can take all day, and beauty and pampering don't come cheap. So I try to create a spa-like environment whenever I get the chance at home.
This blog is all about turning your home bathroom into a spa like environment and relaxing.
There are some key ingredients needed, and then there are some optional items as well.
Lavender Oil
Epson or Sea Salt
Candles
iPhone for Spa Music
Foaming Bath Soak
Eye Mask, Cooled
Soft Sheet Towel
Terry Cloth Robe (optional)
Glass of Wine (highly recommended)
Run a warm bath, as warm as you can stand it. Add a cap full of bath soak, 3-4 drops of lavender, and 1 cup of epson salt. Light your favorite candles, turn on Pandora, and turn off the lights. Don’t forget your mask once you enter your soak.
I also recommend making the small investment of purchasing a paraffin bath for soothing, and smoothing aching hands and feet. As well as getting hot rocks to massage your legs, shoulders, and arms. You can find YouTube videos on giving yourself hot rock massages.
There is nothing better than making your home an amazing retreat, or having a staycation. Sometimes it's not about the destination, or getting away. Sometimes it's just about finding the time to relax, unwind, and spend time alone, or spend time with that special someone. If you are with your partner pamper each other.
What do you do when you can't find the time, or the money to go to the spa for a nice facial, or massage? Do you do it yourself, or go without? Please share your advice or experience!
My Lazy Saturday...I So Needed It!
Despite it being a Saturday, I was wide awake in the wee hours of the morning. Unable to sleep any longer, I got out of bed and headed down to make coffee. I sat quietly sipping coffee and reading. I always cherish my quiet hours, since most other hours of the day are spent with lots of noise, requests, and questions.
Once the family was up, we decided to go for an early morning swim. The swim was wonderful, and relaxing, but also very exhausting. My energy levels were low even before we went swimming due to lack of sleep.
Plus, I am clean eating all month, and probably need to up my caloric intake. We were done swimming by nine thirty, and then it was time to head out for our usual trip to Trader Joe's. I loaded up on fresh flowers for the house, and some other goodies as well. Last stop of the morning was Jamba Juice, for my favorite Berry Upbeet smoothie. Yum! Then back home for a long nap.
After napping I did a little laundry and packing for an upcoming trip, while I had Bates Motels on in the background on Netflix. I have been binge watching the series, and I am almost caught up to the current season.
Once I wrapped up with packing, I headed out for a short walk with my youngest daughter. Once we returned, I got dinner started, and hung out with my family. After dinner we played Yahtzee and listened to eighties music.
I will end my night with a nice bubble bath, with lavender oil, in hopes of a good night's sleep. My stress levels are very high right now so if I had to guess, I will be back at it early again tomorrow morning with coffee in hand, enjoying the silence. TTFN
How I'm Spending My Day...
My stress levels are high and my insomnia is in overdrive so I really need a nice, carefree weekend. There are some challenges to my desire for my carefree weekend because southern California is currently being pummeled by storms. Normally I would look out of my bedroom window and watch the rain fall, and enjoy the mountain view. Today when I look out my window and into my backyard all I see is the damage the storm caused to our backyard fence. Approximately 20 feet of wooded fence is now in my neighbor's yard. Awesome!
What I would have really liked to do is go for a nice long hike. Unfortunately the weather is just too yucky. So my back up plan has been created. It involves Netflix, Just Dance, cards, Monopoly, and as many naps as possible.
My girls and I are going to binge watch " Lemony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events", which is new on Netflix. We are already two episodes in and enjoying it so far. My oldest and I will play gin rummy throughout the weekend, while my younger daughter and husband play Uno. We will all play Just Dance, which is actually a really good way to burn some calories. Just when every one is getting along great we will play Monopoly, and the "happy happy joy joy" will end. Everyone is super competitive, especially me. I show no mercy, not even to an eight year old.
So that's my plan to try to destress, and get through a wet and rainy weekend stuck indoors. I will likely blog again this weekend as I am sure something else will go awry. Hopefully nothing involving a tree falling, illness, or me losing in Monopoly. TTFN
Rainy Days...The Best Way To Enjoy Them
Today was a lovely rainy day. Something about rain is calming and peaceful for me. I love the way the air smells and how pretty and vibrant my garden becomes from the extra moisture. The sound of the rain hitting my roof and the windows complete the mood.
The sound of rain woke me up in the middle of the last night. I am a notorious light sleeper and insomniac, but I did not mind this interruption. The sound made me smile and I was able to fall back to sleep with relative ease.
I live in Southern California so rainy days are few and far between. Although I love rain, I definitely prefer to be inside on wet days. I was fortunate today in that I worked from home and was able to avoid the treacherous roads and horrible traffic. I was a lucky girl today.
I spent most of the day sitting criss cross apple sauce on my bed, with large pillows propped behind me, laptop in my lap, and tea in hand. I raised the blinds on the over sized picture frame window, and watch the rain fall on the mountains a short distance away. It was a beautiful day with no sunshine in sight.
The rain continues as the night sets in. It is definitely a night for us to stay in as a family. A nice fire in the family room, hot chocolate, and a family friendly movie. I truly love a rainy day.
Pluviophile - (n) a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days