Sunday Quote of the week (13/03/2011)

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“The worst realities of our age are manufactured realities. It is therefore our task, as creative participants in the universe, to re-dream our world. The fact of possessing imagination means that everything can be re dreamed. Each reality can have it. The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.”


-Ben Okri

The Gratitude Post: Once upon a story - (a blog for GarGar)

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I'm a writer, but in my 20's I spent many years resisting the urge to write stories, for fear of what people would think of me, and it was only 4 years ago that I thought about writing stories again. Recently, I was asked to write a children's play, and it reminded me of my own childhood and how grateful I am for what stories DID for me. Growing up, I had 14 major operations, and 2 near fatal incidents which required me to spend a lot time in hospital in recovery.  Consequently, I've spent a sizeable portion of my life in bed.:p (I know what you're thinking Living the dream :p).  Well, it's true that I like my sleep as much as the next person. But aside from being in a lot of pain,when you cant move out of bed even though you want to,  it can be feel very restrictive. The doctors would give me morphine and injections and stuff, but that wasn't what rescued me. What rescued me, was stories. You see, I had this AMAZING great Granddad (I called him my Gar Gar).  He would come in the hospital every day, and when I was in in pain, I would squeeze his hand to let him know, and immediately he would start telling me stories. Incredible stories! I don't know where his imagination came from! As I closed my eyes and focus the hundreds of amazing tales he would tell me, suddenly I wasn't Nadia in the hospital bed, I was an explorer travelling half way across the world to meet unknown civilisations with funny names, or a Princess in ancient Egypt with a court at my command, or my personal favourite, She-Ra's KICK ASS daughter. :p

Not only did his stories feed my imagination, but it made me realise how powerful the imagination is. As I imagined myself going on the adventures he described, I felt as if I was no longer in pain, no longer unable to move; as I listened to his stories I could go anywhere, do anything. And it was through these stories that I began to realise that I was more than my body, more than my limitations, more than my disability. So each time the doctor's told me and Mum that would take me another 6 months to get back up on my crutches, if at all, I knew that I was going to prove them wrong, because I was more than my physical disability. And later when I was told that wouldn't get into mainstream primary school, I knew I would prove them wrong, because I was more than my disability. And when I got into secondary school, and they said I wouldn't last the first year, I knew I would prove them wrong. That all started with Granddad's stories.

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Through events of teenage years, I lost faith in a lot of things, including myself - but I never lost faith in stories. I began to write lots and lots as a teen; it helped me get pain onto paper, so that I didn't have to carry it round with me everyday. Very recently, I've found that writing a blog every week, gives me confidence, and is helping me to come out of my shell again. And today I truly feel that the telling of stories, whether you do it through writing, acting, drawing, singing, dancing is more than entertainment, it's a way to heal ourselves. And I would encourage anyone to do it.  If you can find a way to tell your story and share it with others, then great - because your own story will help others.  But if not, do it for yourself anyway; write yourself a personal poem,  doesn't matter if it rhymes. Dance your feelings round your living room, put your story to a tune and sing it in the shower, draw a scene from your life using stick men -it doesn't matter how you do it, just feel free to do it At the end of the day, this is just a humble writer's opinion,  but personally, I really feel that expressing  your own soul's stories helps to release it from pain, gain confidence, and empower us to live life beyond  limitation. So if the feeling grabs you, honour it- and don't let fear hold you back!

Text written and posted by Nadia O'Connell

Gratitude Post: Change our vision, change our future (19/02/11)

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There are days when I thank God for a child's imagination. Sometimes, I think, in order to really imagine life as good as it could be, we have to look at it through the eyes of a child. When I was younger, I was often criticised for being too idealistic. I was told, all too often by adults, that my hopes and views of the future, and of other people were "unrealistic" and the result of living in in La La land. And today, whenever I talk to people about my hopes and prayers for unity and peace in the world, people say:  "I'll believe that when I see it" .

Well, here is my question: What if you have to believe something before you can see it? Take an athlete - it's well known that confidence in their ability to succeed is essential to all Olympians, and many athletes will tell you that they spend time visualising winning before they start a race - a positive vision is a MUST for success. Indeed every inventor, every great scientist, artist, and revolutionary from Albert Einstein to President Lincoln had to visualise a goal before it happened. Martin Luther King couldn't have known a black man would be elected as President of the U.S.,  but he believed in the potential of the black man in America, and refused to place any limitations on that potential, despite a torrid of doubters and nay sayers. Some might say well, "people like Martin Luther King were different -- they were special people." But they were human weren't they? Flesh and blood, just like you, and me: the same frailties, the same potential. They just weren't willing to accept the status quo, that's what made them different. They had a vision of something beyond their reality, the hope of how things COULD be.

So, if their visions for the future created so much positivity in the world,  and those visionaries were not that different from us, then we might ask ourselves, what visions are we selling to ourselves ,our future, our children? Every day, news and media is swamped with stories of hopelessness, unemployment, tragedy and unfulfilled potential.  I don't for one minute believe that that's all there is to sell. There are hundreds of positive stories out there.But they never get airtime, or room on the front page, because they're not significant enough. It's crazy really. A mother wouldn't say to her little boy:  " you know what son, there is no good in the world. Life is hopeless, heartbreaking and relentless, and  that's all you will ever know, or ever experience;  and you don't stand a hope in hell of changing anything because you have no potential, and are basically doomed." Any kid who heard that, would be paralysed. They would probably never try to make a positive change in their life, because they would cease to believe change is possible.  No mother in their right mind to do that to their child. and yet, as a society, we do to it to ourselves every day. While idealism is laughed at, society is fed on a daily drip of pessimism, sadness, and hopelessness. And hopelessness is a quicksand really, since without hope, we cannot have vision, and without vision, we do not have the drive to take action, and without action, we CANNOT change the status quo. So, next time something strikes you as idealistic, or impossible - my suggestion is -don't laugh it in the face, just indulge for a moment, and take a leap of faith. Feed that vision with the mind of a child - the child within you. Because, like all children, the child within you knows that all things are possible, and the status quo that the human race has created so far, can be recreated, and changed.

written and posted by Nadia O'Connell (19/02/11)

Sunday Quote of the week (13/02/2011)

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And a youth said, "Speak to us of Friendship."
      Your friend is your needs answered.
      He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
      And he is your board and your fireside.
      For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.
      When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor do you withhold the "ay."
      And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
      For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.
      When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
      For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
      And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
      For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.
      And let your best be for your friend.
      If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.
      For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
      Seek him always with hours to live.
      For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
      And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
      For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. 


--Khalil Gibran

©1923 Khalil Gibran 

Gratitude Post: LOVESTORY SPECIAL -Love SUCKS...or does it? (11/02/11)

For someone who is insatiably romantic at heart, I get awful cynical  this time of year. Eleven months of year I'm all pink hearts and flowers, but the first 2 weeks of February arrive and my heart is the Arctic: frozen, cold and deadwood. Why? Well the pink bunny commercialism makes my skin crawl, and I've never seen the inside of a Valentine's card, so I just switch off, every February.
But this year, 4th of Febuary comes along, and clearing out my papers, I stumbled upon a poem, a BEAUTIFUL poem about the true meaning of friendship, that a friend had copied out for me 5 years ago. I'd forgotten about that! I found myself smiling as I read said poem, and weirder still I found my hand reaching for the telephone, as if automatically, and dialling the number of ANOTHER friend. "What the hell am I doing? I thought as I proceeded to recite the poem onto her answer phone machine. "It's February.This is wrong." At the last syllable, I put the phone down in disbelief. The ice had started to melt.

Then today,  I had builders round, dust flying everywhere, noise the lot. I couldn't write, so I decided to go the park across the road which is something I never do. But it was cold, so first I went to the unromantic local greasey spoon and ordered a takeaway tea. All was well. But as the tea lady handed me my tea on its card board tray - I was OFFENDED! "There you go!" She dazzled. "And there's some chocolate hearts there for Valentine's Day we're giving them to all our customers.-Happy Valentine!" I couldn't believe it - this was a greasey spoon! I'd asked for a cup of tea, not a marriage proposal! I wanted to politely tell her where she could shove her commercial tokens of meaningless affection, but as I looked down at the chocolate hearts -and looked up at her face beaming back at me - that warm feeling came over me again -and I just couldn't!

Finally I'm in the park - no loved up commercial crap could bother me here. Let the sulking begin. But before I could sulk, I noticed how the birdsong was unusually clear and annoyingly beautiful as it filled my eardrums. In panic I turned around to see the tallest man, with a scary face, a skin head, and a big dog walking towards me, commenting on 'what a beautiful day it was' and 'didn't the birdsong sound extraordinary?' I wanted to cry out: "Shouldn't you be mugging me or something? What's wrong with you?" What's wrong with the world?"

But before I could reply the HUGE labrador dog ran over and started licking my hands and put his paw on  my lap! And at that moment - the cynic died. The ice thawed. Puppy love.

So this year, despite a life time of reservations - I have to say - I AM  even grateful  for Valentines celebrations - I suppose. ;-)

written and posted by Nadia O'Connell

Gratitude Post: What are we fighting for?

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I have no desire to turn this site into a political /protest blog but I feel I must, for this post, make my voice heard in response to government plans to allow the shut down of so many libraries in the UK, by asserting that I AM GRATEFUL FOR LIBRARIES. I understand that in times of recession difficult decisions must be made when it comes to 'non essential services' in this country. I can even understand how, with the advent of Kindle, and downloadable books,  libraries might be seen to be 'non essential' nowadays. However, does the closure of such places not point to a deeper issue than just, well, books?

After all, it's not just libraries that are suffering is it? It's libraries, and museums, art galleries, theatres, concert halls, film agencies etc.  And it's not just now that cut backs to these services are taking place. Ever since I can remember, theatres and other places of artistic value have constantly struggled and vied for public funds. As if art has no value. It's only art right? It's not money making, economy saving, or a Corporation is it? It's not a banker's bonus, is it? No. It's much more important than that. It's the language of of our souls. The soul does not speak in English, Chinese, Spanish or footsie for that matter. The soul is expressed in the intricacies of a painting, the vibration of a dance, the harmony of a song, the chapters of a book.

 So I am grateful for libraries, and theatres, and galleries, and concert halls - these monuments to the voice of man's soul. And you may think it a worthy sacrifice when we've got an economy to save, and a standard of living to uphold, but I think only of the words of Winston Churchill, who, when pressured to cut funds to the arts for the sake of World War 2 replied: "Then what are we fighting for?"

written and posted by Nadia O'Connell

Sunday Quote of the week (06/02/2011)

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To try, to persevere, is to ensure ultimate and complete victory."  
- Shoghi Effendi

Gratitude Post: The unconditional gift

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The times we live in are fraught with conflict, immense upheavals, and international struggle. We see it on the news, hear it on the radio, and watch it on the Telly. The more we see it, the more we want to help. And yet the more we see it - we feel powerless. I've felt like that many a time. Then a friend wrote on her site last night reminding us of the need to pray for people in Egypt who are undergoing so much at the moment. And I am really grateful for that because she got me thinking how lucky we are to be able to do that.  Much like breathing, we take it for granted. But in the same way that breath keep our bodies alive, prayer also empowers our souls. It empowers us to send good intentions to others - it empowers us to love. Just think about it - if you can't walk, you can pray; if you are blind, you can pray; if you are unable to verbalise, you can speak with your inner voice.


You know, I have friends who are locked in prison in places like Iran because of their beliefs. There is so much that they and their families are not allowed to do: they are not allowed access to education, they cannot have jobs, have their own businesses, often times they cant even meet up with each other in their homes, because the government there won't allow them. But there is one freedom that cannot be taken away from them. The freedom to pray. Even if their hands are bound in chains. Because really, prayer is a gift of the soul. It doesn't require feet or hands to make it powerful. It just needs love and the faith to do it. 


Don't you think that's amazing? How in an age where you don't get something for nothing -we all have this free gift? The power to connect our own hearts to all others, so that suddenly neither we nor them are alone.  So in these times, when the world seems to be tearing itself apart, and when disaster after disaster seems to strike, know that you are a very powerful being and that there is always something you CAN do.


written and posted by Nadia O'Connell

Personal thought of the month February 2011: Beautiful Imperfections.

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In many different ways, society puts pressure on all of us to be perfect -- to be the best of the best, the end product. We are urged to have a perfect body, to be top dog at whatever job we happen to do for living, as if the  the point of life is to be an instantaneous success. But if that were the case, why were we not born knowing everything we needed to know to ensure that we were "a success" in the first place? Why were we not born with a degree in our hand, or with that perfect job to walk into the day after delivery? why? Because we needed to learn; we accept this - which is why we build schools for our children to go to. We accept this for our children - and then the minute we hit puberty the goal somehow gradually shifts from being to learn, to perfection. To have the perfect body and go out with the perfect guy/girl and achieve the perfect exam results. Suddenly, falls, failure and mistakes aren't much of an option, and the pressure is on to be the finished article. But hang on a minute -. I don't want to be "finished". Who wants to be finished?  I want to keep learning, and growing and discovering this beautiful world God gave us with fresh eyes. Isn't that the joy of life? Isn't that the most precious goal? Some folks may not agree with me, and  that's ok cos we all have our take on life - but if we do want to keep on discovering  life then we kinda have to be okay with learning from it- and that means not beating ourselves when we make mistakes, or cringing when we're faced with our own 'imperfections.' in the mirror. Why not be grateful for them instead? Personally, I'm beginning to appreciate importance of embracing the imperfections of life, because there's a BEAUTIFUL gift in every one of them. 


written and posted by Nadia O'Connell

Sunday Quote of the week (30/01/2011)

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"Books are only inert words. When a living human being cries out for help, if we are unable to lend a loving hand to help him, then what is the point of a book describing compassion? If we want to put life and consciousness into our words and thoughts, we have to put them into action."


-Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

Gratitude post: Hair power = girl power? Really?

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Maybe this is just one for the girls - but there are  just times in life when I'm just grateful that we have hair.  Yes that's right - hair. Sure I know it's  superficial, but when you break it down further there's something about it that is very healing. Like a couple of weeks go for instance, I was feeling really out of sorts -- really down in the mouth -and for some reason I just knew that going to the salon would really help me. and it did! I had 5 inches taken off, a wash and a blow-dry, and I felt GREAT! Now you might say "well that's probably because you don't look like Cousin It anymore" -- and you would be right, because to be honest my hair was getting pretty dire - but aside from that, there was something magical about it -- I came out feeling like a new person - as if all my worries had been rinsed out with the treatment conditioner - at least temporarily. And it's not just the trip to the salon that does it. Every time I wash my own hair - no matter how crappy I'm feeling -it has that uplifting effect somehow. And I'm willing to bet that most folks feel the same -even the receding types. After all Rogers and Hammerstein didn't pluck their lyrics out of thin air you know - and I'll bet their inspiration came from a bottle of Herbal Essences!     


Seriously, it’s as if at the dawn creation God suddenly said " Ok Ladies - I know I dealt you a rough hand, what with PMT, child birth, and taking the rap for the apple stealing incident" (let's face it girls - we all know Adam took it first)  "but if you can hang about a few years until the 20th Century -I'll give you Vidal Sasoon, L'Oreal and John Freida's Smooth Start® Hydrating Shampoo -Deal?" Now I don't know about Eve, but I know what I would have said:

 Thank -the -Lord! ;)


written and posted by Nadia O'Connell

Gratitude Post: Service with a smile (25/01/11)

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I was going to write about something completely different today, but then something happened that really touched my heart so I thought I’d share it in the hope that it might be helpful to somebody else. I have a physical disability. Growing up I was always determined to be a independent as I possibly could be. Then, 3 years ago my mobility decreased dramatically  and that meant that I had to start allowing carers to come into my home from various agencies to help me with personal care. If I'm honest, I found this really hard  in the beginning. I found it dis-empowering and felt as if I'd "lost the battle" to be "like everyone else". More crucially, I felt that I'd lost the ability to be of service to others, because my ability to help myself now was more restricted - and I found that really challenging, because I truly believe that we are all put on this earth to be of service to each other - and initially I felt as though that fundamental gift God has given to everyone, the gift of service - had been taken away from me. And this bothered me more than anything else, even more than losing the ability to walk. But over time as I got used to seeing the carers. I began appreciating the help they give me, and the company they offer.

Then one of the girls who comes to help me remarked out of the blue that she really loved coming to my house. I asked her why -- and she told me because I was full of smiles and it made her feel great. She said that she in general  she gets the feeling that clients she works for didn't want her there but when she comes to my house, she always feels welcome and it was something to look forward to.


I was taken aback because I had no idea that's how she felt, and because it reminded me that no matter how powerless I might think I am be of service - there is ALWAYS a way and I very thankful for that! So please, don't ever kid yourself that your powerless no matter how limited you think you are. - You can can do so much with the tinniest of God's gifts.  Even a smile - or a friendly word  sincerely intended  can make a MASSIVE difference to people. You don't know what impact your soul can have another soul until you until reach out to them, so don't ever feel powerless to serve another - because service, however small, is the birthright of humanity and is something we ALL have the means to do. :)


written and posted Nadia O'Connell

Quote of the week Sunday 23/01/2011

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"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

-Confucious

Quote of the week Sunday 16/01/2011

Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve.
You don’t have to have a college degree to serve.
You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermo-dynamics to serve.
You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

Martin Luther King

Quote of the week Sunday 09/01/11

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‘Cause love’s such an old fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night
And love dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves.

Queen

January 2011: Personal thought of the month. Live in love.

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In the world in which we live, it seems a lot of folks are cynical about love. As though that people are just too wrapped up in themselves to care.  But I don’t buy into that. After my encounter with kindness a couple of weeks ago,** I am convinced  that human beings are in programmed to love. I do not buy into the selfish gene theory. How can I say that with so much suffering going on the world and not enough folks seeming to care?  Because I believe the only reason “most people don’t seem to care” is because they are now persuaded their compassion is useless. And this, for me folks, is the most grievous deception on the planet. We are NEVER useless.  Never. We each have 2 hands to help with, 2 arms to hug with, and one huge heart to give and receive love with. This year, take the risk of using them. We can each make a difference to somebody else, no matter how small the endeavour. Every deed we do, every smile we give, every loving word we speak will send out ripples of love to soothe and help heal the hearts of our human family. So this year, empower yourself. Live in love. It will come back to you.

Best wishes for 2011. 

** “The kindness of Strangers” blog entry 24/12/10,


Written and posted by Nadia O'Connell

Quote of the week Sunday 2/1/2011

“You know the most insignificant of things if you think about it is a drop of water. A drop of water- it’s not even worth considering. And really, when you think about water, water is very much like love; it seems like it’s not powerful. It seems like it’s not changing. But literally water shapes the face of the earth, and so does love.”

Renee Pasarrow

Gratitude Post: The Kindness of Strangers (24/12/2010)

You know, a lot of people are sceptical about Christmas. We buy gifts, eat food, get together with friends and family…  And yet – how many of us really believe in the truest gifts of this particular holiday? How many of us really trust that when we really need it, human kindness and generosity, the most cherished of all qualities associated with Christmas, will actually be there? Well this Christmas, I do. I believe it because the other week, when a friend and I got stuck in the centre of town, in the middle of an extremely heavy and unexpected snowfall, we were rescued by human kindness. I use a wheelchair and the UK is notoriously unprepared for heavy snow. I also have poor circulation so within 20 minutes of being snowed on I looked like frosty the snowman on wheels and couldn’t feel my face. Everybody else was in town that night too because it was Christmas work party night for everyone in the city, creating an abundance of people and next to no taxis. All the buses were off. We were stranded, and freezing and struggling to get the wheelchair through the snow. We turned a corner, and suddenly, we bumped into this stranger, who insisted on walking with us. He helped us navigate my chair through the deep snow, gave me his hat and only coat and wore nothing but a thin shirt himself so I could stay warm during the 3 hours it took us to get home. He wouldn’t take his coat back even when I begged him to. Eventually we got home but we couldn’t have done it without him. I don’t know him and I may never meet him again, but that night, that stranger, who I found out was called Peter, confirmed my faith in human kindness. And for that I am extremely extremely grateful. Merry Christmas wherever you are Peter! Merry Christmas everyone! 

written and posted by Nadia O'Connell

Gratitude Post: Fancy a fritter? (21/12/2010)

Some might say I’m obsessed,  but honestly, I find there are few things to be more grateful for in life than food. And the joy of cooking food, the chance to try new tips, and get adventurous when preparing food (because no matter what the recipes says – you are always in charge  ), is one of the greatest joys in life. Mostly, I love to cook for friends.

This weekend, for the first time however, a friend came over my place and cooked for me instead, and I was really grateful  to sample something new: Courgette and feta cheese fritters. They were REALLY tasty and quick to make so I’m definitely going have a bash at them myself. I’m unsure of the exact recipe my friend used, but I googled it and found this, courtesy of the Hairy Bikers.

NOTE: My personal tip would be to TRY and stick to the ratio of cheese versus courgette – me and my friend went a bit Wallace and Gromit on the cheese, but it made the fritters a little sloppy and tricky to fry, so if you can curb your enthusiasm when it comes to the feta – then do.

Also, if you happen to have wheat allergy as I do, my advice is to use rice flour, or Doves plain flour mix as a substitute – works just as well!  Enjoy 

Ingredients

• 900g/2lb courgettes, grated
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Bunch spring onions, white part chopped, the green part discarded
• 2 tbsp chopped dill
• 2 tbsp chopped flatleaf parsley
• 3 free-range eggs
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 225g/8oz feta cheese
• 225g/8oz plain flour
• Groundnut oil, for deep frying
• Slices lemon, to garnish

Preparation method

1. Sprinkle the courgette with salt and allow to drain for 20 minutes.
2. Place the grated courgette in a clean tea towel and squeeze out the water. Mix with the onions, dill, parsley, eggs, paprika and freshly ground black pepper.
3. Work in the feta cheese and flour.
4. Heat the oil in a deep, heavy-bottomed pan. It is ready when a breadcrumb that is dropped in will sizzle gently in it.
5. Carefully fry tablespoons of the mixture in the hot oil until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen towels. Garnish with slices of lemon and serve immediately.

blog posted and written by Nadia O'Connell

recipe taken from the bbc website http://www.bbc.co.uk

Gratitude Post: Godbless free range hens!! :p (10/12/2010)

Today I am grateful that I was able to share a creative idea with a friend. And you know what happened?… The idea EXPLODED. Seriously, the idea mushroomed beyond the bounds of my own feeble mind, and expanded and grew into something even more exciting than I started with. See, the things is, I think a lot of creative people can get a little scared about sharing their ideas, which I understand because ideas are currency right? But if you can find somebody you can trust – my tip of the day is – DO IT!  Why? Because as soon as you let go of an idea – it takes on a life of its own.  Your ideas are still your babies – you don’t loose the idea by sharing it- but if junior can be raised by an extended family – think of how more well adjusted you’re child will be.  Honestly – You are likely to find that YOU yourself come up greater possibilities for your ideas by bouncing it off other people. So free Willy! Go on – put it out there. Sure it’s scary watching any child leave the nest – but can how can you know the full potential of your creativity until it’s liberated. The way I see it the best ideas are like hens – keep em locked in a battery – and they will always be limited but let them have free range, and the produce speaks for itself.

written and posted by Nadia O'Connell

Gratitude Post: A precious breath (9/12/10)

Today I am grateful that my friend Elika shared a haunting new composition with her friends. It’s such a soul stirring piece of music – kind of Einaudi-ish, and takes you to another place.

To be honest, for me, music is like a gatekeeper to my soul; magical wings to my imagination. It quietens the rest of the world, opens a door inside myself and allows me to commune within, better than any structured form of meditation I’ve ever tried. And its effects are instantaneous near enough. It’s like a key that opens up your heart and gives you space to know yourself, listen, and create. The last magical talisman to a world to a world wrought with stress and too busy moving to stop, and take a breath.

Enjoy this short breath, courtesy of  Elika: 

http://www.elikamahony.com/2010/12/07/a-gentle-meditation-of-the-soul/

blog written and posted by Nadia O'Connell

link posted from the Elika Mahony site.