Inspirations of Well-Being {5}

8 Experiences That Inspired My Well-Being This Week

1. Reconnecting

Have you ever met someone and felt such a sense of immediate kinship that it’s like you’ve discovered a long-lost friend? And with that person, instead of feeling like you are beginning a friendship, it feels more like you are picking up where you’ve [somewhere/sometime] left off? You know immediately—“this person is my friend, part of my clan, someone to whom I will be, am, and have somewhere/somehow been deeply connected.” That has happened to me several (less than I can count on two hands) times in my life. This summer it occurred again—and for that I am beyond thrilled. I am so touched to have [re]discovered a new dear friend—Kim S—who will be a friend [again] for life.

2. Preserving

With the summer bounty of produce in full swing, I carved out some time this week to embark on this season’s canning adventures. I chose Deluxe Apricot Raspberry Jam featured on the Canning Across America website as my inaugural recipe (see recipe here). Not only was it super easy to make but it was a sensual treat—the glistening colors of the fruits cooking, the magical sound of transformation as the fruit turned to jam, and, of course, the amazing smell of aromatic nectar that permeated my home. After the feeling of sweet satisfaction of making the jam, I remembered again when it comes to food preservation—Yes, I Can.

3. Enjoyment

The Deluxe Apricot Raspberry Jam looked and smelled so good, I ended up putting four jars up in the pantry and putting one in the refrigerator to enjoy pronto. And it was gloriously delicious! I’ve enjoyed it so far on toast with both almond butter and goat cheese. Every bite of it makes me smile!

4. Cooling off

I got to further indulge my summer love affair with fresh cucumbers this week by adding them to my water. Have you done this? Adding cucumber slices to either still or sparkling water gives it an immediately sparkle of cooling refreshment, like adding a summer breeze to your beverage. Delicious!

5.  Alchemy

It’s seemed that since the Sun had gone into Sun-ruling Leo, el Sol has shone more radiantly in Seattle. In honor of this, and to tap into the Sun’s transformative properties, I’ve been making Sun Tea. This week’s recipe included yerba mate leaves, a Remedy Tea blend that features cacao and peppermint, and Yogi’s Aztec Sweet Chili tea. I placed all in a quart-sized canning jar filled with cold  water and left it in the Sun for about 45 minutes. Strained and poured over ice, I found the tea both cooling warming, and really energizing.

6. Clearing

I decided to transform my front yard. It always had great potential. I just never prioritized my resources to making it into what it could be. And finally I realized the impact of doing so—I love my house and yet because of the inattention given to the yard I’ve been slightly turning off my awareness as I walked through the yard on the path to the front door. I became aware that the cost of this—of how it detracted from the ability of my house to wholly nurture me—was greater than what it would cost me to fix it up. And so I’ve committed to its transformation. The yard has now been cleared of the overgrowth and weeds. And this upcoming week my gardening guru neighbor V is going to help me thoughtfully plant flowers and add ground covering to make it into the space of beauty that it inherently can—and should—be. I am very happy.

7. Life

I was incredibly inspired the other day when I saw that the seeds I planted last week had sprouted. They, as a potential, had flourished into their unfolding. The “that which would become mustard greens, endive, and beets” had entered into their next stage of actually becoming mustard greens, endive, and beets. Lovely.

8. Remembering

Do you know that widely cited quote from Marianne Williamson’s book A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles” that begins “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure….”? A workshop leader yesterday reminded me of this passage–and the sentiments they express. He did so when while listening to me share something, he saw that while I am passionately committed to championing others’ in expressing their inner power, that I had some blocks about radiating my own. And in a moment, in his sharing the passage, I had a breakthrough that allowed me to joyously embrace and [re]own my creativity and personal power. Here is a link so that you can read the text in full. I hope it serves to inspire you as well.

What inspired your well-being this week? I encourage you to share your experiences and insights in the Comments section.

*** To learn more about the inspiration for Inspirations of Well-Being, see this post.