How can I better nurture the things and/or people I treasure?
The things I treasure and the people I treasure are linked. For example the chairs in my lounge were given to me by my brother; the couch was given to me by friends at a time when I had next to nothing. This couch had seen much of life and at some stage the resident cats had used it as a scratching post.
My friends apologised for its appearance but I could have it if I wanted it. I accepted it with thanks and called it 'the skin hor...
How can I better nurture the things and/or people I treasure?
The things I treasure and the people I treasure are linked. For example the chairs in my lounge were given to me by my brother; the couch was given to me by friends at a time when I had next to nothing. This couch had seen much of life and at some stage the resident cats had used it as a scratching post.
My friends apologised for its appearance but I could have it if I wanted it. I accepted it with thanks and called it ‘the skin horse’ after the children’s story about a toy horse that had been loved to bits. My situation impr0ved. I called in two upholsterers to quote for recovering them. The first one took one look at the skin horse and said, ‘That’s rubbish.
take it to the dump and get a new one.’ The second man looked at it carefully and said he could do it up with new cushions and and it would look as good as new. That was almost 20 years ago. The skin horse and the three aristocratic armchairs are still going strong, constant reminders of friends, family and their gifts. All my ‘things’ are like that, and have a strong link with the people I treasure.
help them to be their best selves…that might be encourage…might be stay out of the way…might be listening…might be strategizing…might be prayer/positive energy. all of it is love.
Reduce my stress and anxiety so that I don’t react in a negative manner. Meditation has boosted my awareness and reduced my stress, so I am better able to respond in a more gentle and caring manner.
Essential I feel is to contribute with love, to everyone and everything I encounter. In the morning, before taking the water for my coffee, to softly speak to the salvia plant in front of the eastern window and offer some water to it. To cherish my food and all who worked for it with a moment of respect and prayer before eating. To smile to the stranger I meet while walking to my office. To reply to the phonecalls kindly and timely. To not forget to pause inbetween and in doing so, be kind to ...
Essential I feel is to contribute with love, to everyone and everything I encounter. In the morning, before taking the water for my coffee, to softly speak to the salvia plant in front of the eastern window and offer some water to it. To cherish my food and all who worked for it with a moment of respect and prayer before eating. To smile to the stranger I meet while walking to my office. To reply to the phonecalls kindly and timely. To not forget to pause inbetween and in doing so, be kind to myself. To express the joy I feel when I see the kids playing and having fun while being around in my office. To reflect what I perceive if this is welcome. A work in progress to always stay centered in my heart and lovingly interact from that place.
It is a simple and beautiful intention, dear Ose. To contribute with love to everyone and everything you encounter. In small, gentle ways. I feel encouraged by how you have answered. Thank you. (p.s. I smile when you mention your salvia plant… I also speak to and touch the philodendron in my kitchen every morning) I hope you are having a wonderful week end.
As for “things,” those that serve as tools or enrich my life in some way, I am grateful for having them and strive to avoid having them in excess. Beyond that, they’re just “things,” and I try to remember that.
In the people department, I treasure them most by being wholly present to them now, right now and not tomorrow or the day after, because life is ever changing and we simply never know…
In order to nurture people and things I treasure I must love myself deeply. We can’t love our neighbor if we don’t love ourselves. Cultivating compassion and loving kindness for myself and others is a really good place to start nurturing.
Antoinette, thank you for saying this — we can’t love our neighbor if we don’t love ourselves. The very literal reality of this has weighed on my heart for a while, though I couldn’t have expressed it as such. In this moment, I hold out wishes of loving kindness to you, and me, and all beings.
By appreciating them and enjoying time spent with them…
Reduce, reuse, recycle, go vegan, drive less, be one with nature.
How can I better nurture the things and/or people I treasure?
The things I treasure and the people I treasure are linked. For example the chairs in my lounge were given to me by my brother; the couch was given to me by friends at a time when I had next to nothing. This couch had seen much of life and at some stage the resident cats had used it as a scratching post.
My friends apologised for its appearance but I could have it if I wanted it. I accepted it with thanks and called it 'the skin hor...
How can I better nurture the things and/or people I treasure?
The things I treasure and the people I treasure are linked. For example the chairs in my lounge were given to me by my brother; the couch was given to me by friends at a time when I had next to nothing. This couch had seen much of life and at some stage the resident cats had used it as a scratching post.
My friends apologised for its appearance but I could have it if I wanted it. I accepted it with thanks and called it ‘the skin horse’ after the children’s story about a toy horse that had been loved to bits. My situation impr0ved. I called in two upholsterers to quote for recovering them. The first one took one look at the skin horse and said, ‘That’s rubbish.
take it to the dump and get a new one.’ The second man looked at it carefully and said he could do it up with new cushions and and it would look as good as new. That was almost 20 years ago. The skin horse and the three aristocratic armchairs are still going strong, constant reminders of friends, family and their gifts. All my ‘things’ are like that, and have a strong link with the people I treasure.
help them to be their best selves…that might be encourage…might be stay out of the way…might be listening…might be strategizing…might be prayer/positive energy. all of it is love.
Reduce my stress and anxiety so that I don’t react in a negative manner. Meditation has boosted my awareness and reduced my stress, so I am better able to respond in a more gentle and caring manner.
Essential I feel is to contribute with love, to everyone and everything I encounter. In the morning, before taking the water for my coffee, to softly speak to the salvia plant in front of the eastern window and offer some water to it. To cherish my food and all who worked for it with a moment of respect and prayer before eating. To smile to the stranger I meet while walking to my office. To reply to the phonecalls kindly and timely. To not forget to pause inbetween and in doing so, be kind to ...
Essential I feel is to contribute with love, to everyone and everything I encounter. In the morning, before taking the water for my coffee, to softly speak to the salvia plant in front of the eastern window and offer some water to it. To cherish my food and all who worked for it with a moment of respect and prayer before eating. To smile to the stranger I meet while walking to my office. To reply to the phonecalls kindly and timely. To not forget to pause inbetween and in doing so, be kind to myself. To express the joy I feel when I see the kids playing and having fun while being around in my office. To reflect what I perceive if this is welcome. A work in progress to always stay centered in my heart and lovingly interact from that place.
It is a simple and beautiful intention, dear Ose. To contribute with love to everyone and everything you encounter. In small, gentle ways. I feel encouraged by how you have answered. Thank you. (p.s. I smile when you mention your salvia plant… I also speak to and touch the philodendron in my kitchen every morning) I hope you are having a wonderful week end.
Through appreciation and gratefulness
Listen wholeheartedly. Voice appreciation. Share light and laughter.
Make them priorities amidst the everyday barrage of demands, requirements, intrigue, interests, and information.
Bring them peace whenever possible.
Bring your full attention, Be open, listen and spend time with the person or things.
Don’t do things forcibly, out of a misplaced sense of duty. Rather, seek to heal yourself and find enjoyment in the things you do.
As for “things,” those that serve as tools or enrich my life in some way, I am grateful for having them and strive to avoid having them in excess. Beyond that, they’re just “things,” and I try to remember that.
In the people department, I treasure them most by being wholly present to them now, right now and not tomorrow or the day after, because life is ever changing and we simply never know…
I can best nurture other things and/or people by nurturing my self and taking care of my own needs so I can be available for theirs.
In order to nurture people and things I treasure I must love myself deeply. We can’t love our neighbor if we don’t love ourselves. Cultivating compassion and loving kindness for myself and others is a really good place to start nurturing.
Antoinette, thank you for saying this — we can’t love our neighbor if we don’t love ourselves. The very literal reality of this has weighed on my heart for a while, though I couldn’t have expressed it as such. In this moment, I hold out wishes of loving kindness to you, and me, and all beings.
making an effort to keep in contact. giving them (people & things) attention when I do feel like it and when I don’t.
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