Presence

    

    Your presence is requested

     My daughter and son-in-law arrived at PDX airport excited, tired and hungry after twelve hours of traveling.  I was anxious to hug and hold my daughter since I last saw her six months past.  I was able to see her and touch her baby belly bump.  She was now twenty weeks into her pregnancy.   That evening as we gathered around to rest I felt her baby moving in her tummy.  

     

     The following day three of my four sisters arrived in town.  I met them outside and waited as they got out of their car so I could hug each one of them tight.  They were full of spunk and vinegar after their long day and flight. 

     "Why is everyone coming to town?"  To join in the celebration of my wedding day.  

  

      My love of the outdoors prompted me to have an outdoor wedding ceremony.  Native "Oregonians" questioned my decision and warned me to be prepared for rain.  I prepared as much as one could and left the weather up to mother nature.  

     I remember a few weeks past standing outside the church searching for the ideal location to hold the ceremony.  To my amazement I saw a tree trunk that adjoined seven other trees nestled around in a circular fashion.  These eight trees and their enormous height reached skyward.  I felt the warmth offered by the sun gleaming from the eastern sky and my ears heard the whistle of a train.   As I stood taking it all in, I knew this was the exact place.

   The sunshine, the outdoors and the sound of a trains whistle.  Three of my favorite things, I was captivated and awed in the moment.   

    

   Tuesday came offering clear skies, endless sunshine and a brisk wind.  Family and friends all gathered around the tree providing a feeling of unity.  The pastor began the ceremony speaking of love and how love originated from God.   As my husband to be spoke his vows I stared into his blue eyes. I felt the certainty and warmth from the words he shared of his heart, so much that I forgot in that moment, that anyone else was around.  

     The end of the ceremony I arranged for a song to be played.  I chose a happy upbeat song to break the ice and catch everyone off guard, yes the song was a surprise.  Almost everyone joined me with random dance moves.  Our photographer standing by capturing photos of our special day. 

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I have often heard this saying, "Count your blessings."  What is a blessing? According to webster's dictionary; a blessing is defined as God's favor.

Counting your blessings: Positive memories among grateful persons

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-004-1008-z

Abstract

     
Two studies conducted investigating the relationship of 

gratitude to autobiographical memory of positive and 

negative life events. Gratitude was assessed with an 

attitudinal measure and college students were asked to 

recall both positive and negative events from their past. In 

both studies, a significant positive relationship was found 

between trait gratitude and a positive memory bias. In Study 

2 it was found that gratitude still reliably predicted positive 

memory bias after controlling for depression. Further, it was 

found that a positive intrusive memory bias was associated 

with gratitude in both studies. Thus, an important 

component of gratitude may be an enhanced tendency to 

recall positive events from one's life.

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My "Independent research' I found that music offers both uplifting effects and relaxing effects. 

     Music is an art form whose medium is sound. Its common elements are pitch (which governs melody and harmony), rhythm (and its associated concepts tempo, meter, and articulation), dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture.  "Wikipedia"

     

     In my interview with Melissa, a grade school music teacher.  She shared that in her experience music has proved therapeutic and has healing powers.  Her brother has cerebral palsy and music allows him to use his extremities with agility.  As he listens to music his entire demeanor becomes positive as though pain free. 
This inspired her to study music and become a music teacher.

     In my interview with Andrew, a school teacher.  He shared that his mom has early stages of Alzheimer's.   In his experience with his mom he has found that music has the power to trigger her memory of past events and appears to restore her youth and disposition.  Is music similar to the fountain of youth?

http://www.nydailynews.com

     Music & Memory founder Dan Cohen distributes donated iPods to nursing homes, bringing dementia patients a sense of calm and igniting buried memories. It’s helped lower the amount of antipsychotic drugs administered at nursing homes and brings patience peace, he said.  A new film, ‘Alive Inside,’ tells their story.

    Inspired by Happiness 

     Happiness. "What is happiness?"  A question such as this is certain to receive varied responses depending on who I ask.  

     The Partridge Family a television series from 1970 played a opening theme song encouraging their audience singing phrases such as, "Being together, singing together, come along and get happy."  

     

     Happiness defined in the webster dictionary;  Happiness is pleasure, joy, exhilaration, bliss, contentedness, delight, enjoyment, satisfaction.   Happiness results from the possession or attainment of what one considers good.  

     Good - what is good?

Inspired to make a difference 

     Pressing onward through this journey of my daily ritual I often times wonder,  "What difference can I make?"

     People that I am fortunate to encounter on my path appear to be going on about their business in a hurry and disregard those around them.  

     I turn my head and look in front of me at a young woman walking towards me and she exchanges eye contact,  then I offer a smile and greet her, "good morning."  She responds with a smile and expresses her similar response in wishing me a good morning.  This small gesture exchanged between the two of us makes the world feel a bit smaller and I am excited for the start of my day.

     I embrace each opportunity that presents itself and strive to make my insignificant presence known.  Now I grasp hold of the inspiration I feel and use this as my approach toward other opportunities as they present themselves.   My original question raises another,  "What difference do I want to make?"

     The difference I am able to make is to be the very "difference" I seek.

                                                                

Inspired by words

                             May the road rise up to meet you

                          May the wind be always at your back

                        May the sun shine warm upon your face;

    the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

                     may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

                                                                     

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     From the very first day I was excited.  Inspired in the moment feeling free.  This very inspiration is what created by topic.   "Inspiration"

                                                                        ------

"Come, sing and join in exploring"

   

Ideas

The who, what, where, when, why and how of inspiration.

The many facades of inspiration. 

The meaning of inspiration.  What does inspiration look like?  How can inspiration affect us?  Why does inspiration exist?  When to use inspiration?  Where can I find inspiration?  Who and what is my source for inspiration?  

      May I be open to receive whatever crosses my path.  "So lets get started."

                      

          

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-004-1008-z

wikipedia

http://www.nydailynews.com