From The Ridiculous To The Sublime -#98

It's still winter!

If you know me, you have undoubtedly noticed the last two silly posts were out of character. That being the case, you won't be surprised that our focus now shifts to the sublime (look it up - I had to).   

Reading Pema Chodron is a sublime but slow process for me. Her books are so rich; she packs so much into a sentence and a page. 

I purchased one of Chodron's newest books, Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change, several months ago. In spite of the fact that the book's Overview (an Agnes DeMille quote) doesn't use the word mystery, it is an apt descriptor of why this blog is my passion:

"Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how. The moment you know how, you begin to die a little. The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark."

When exploring mysteries, one takes leaps into the dark over and over again. Her quote really spoke to me about the risks one has to take to really be alive; about the wisdom of celebrating uncertainty. How do you deal with uncertainty? What risks are you willing to take to be fully alive? Share with us on the comments page.

Who was Agnes De Mille?

Find out next week - Midweek break will explore this mystery!

Thanks for exploring the mystery today - Nicky Mendenhall

Mid Week Break: Are You Silly?

I like the idea of being silly.

This statue, strategically located across from the toilet at my friend's house, made me laugh. Its location was perfect. My laughter warmed me up.

I encouraged you to be silly last week: take the sting out of winter I said. I didn't hear from any of you so I'm imagining that you are all frozen solid.

Prove me wrong! Flood this blog with silly comments, stories, or photos.  

Or just think your own private silly thoughts. Blizzards and disrupted traffic patterns need your silly smile and energy. 

Together we will make it through this colder than usual winter, especially if we explore the mystery and dabble in silliness.

Thanks for joining me - Nicky Mendenhall

Sock It To Winter - #97

This photo was NOT staged.

Look closely at the photo above: there are two identical socks huddled together on the pavement.  

This is a mystery indeed. 

When it comes to socks, it has long been a mystery that in the dead of winter (and also the heat of summer for that matter), when I throw a pair of socks in the clothes dryer, only one survives.  

What existential mysteries are you pondering in the deep dark days & nights of winter?

Take a photo of the most mysterious or silly mystery you can find and show it around. It will give the people in your life hope that they can and will survive until spring. You owe this to yourself and the ones you love!

I suggest a silly mystery a day will stave off depression and cabin fever. Let us know what you come up with!

I gave you bum information about how to post a comment - at the bottom of this email, click on exploring the mystery, which will direct you to the blog itself and then click on the comments section. Good luck!

Thanks for exploring the mystery of silliness - Nicky Mendenhall

A Do-It Yourself Midweek Morsel of Sustenance

Sometimes you hear a voice through
the door calling you, as fish out of 

water hear the waves or a hunting 
falcon hears the drum's come back.

This turning toward what you deeply love
saves you.*

It is not likely that those of us here in Iowa will hear somebody calling through the door; it is too cold. I don't know about fish or falcons but I do suspect that turning toward what you deeply love has a good chance of helping you survive the winter.

I'm being saved by books, Downton Abbey, down-filled pants, bone broth soup, phone calls, and an occasional outing.  

What do you deeply love? Does it help you during the dead of winter? Let us know in the comments section - just click on the word comments below this post.

Thanks for exploring the mystery with me - Nicky Mendenhall

*Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks discovered in Saved by a Poem by Kim Rosen

Nourishment For Your Cold Moments - #96

When you hear the word mindfulness, a popular topic these days, are you interested?

Do you wonder how to begin exploring the idea?  

There are probably as many answers to this question as there are people. 

Paying attention to the breath is often mentioned as a component of Mindfulness.

In the past I've tried paying attention to breath in order to foster mindfulness: my attention was short lived. 

Last week, I was gifted with a technique that helps me be more mindful of the breath. I am excited to share it with you: 

On the in breath, say a word or phrase that promotes ease. 

I chose: Be Present.

On the out breath, say another word or phrase that directs your attention to where you want it to go. 

I chose: Let Go.

The possibilities are endless for words. I had to experiment with different words before I found a combination that stuck to my brain.

When anxiety or uncomfortableness show up - let's call them cold moments - return your focus to the breath. When you find your words, they will be there to help you. 

Whenever you think of it (don't wait for the stress to build up) pay attention to your breath and add your words. 

So far I'm amazed at the power of my breath and words to help me center and be mindful. Let me know what words show up for you and what you learn from your breath.

Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall

Midweek Hint: How To Survive The Winter

Everyone these days is writing articles about mindfulness and the importance of being in the moment. 

No one mentions that in Iowa, our moments are cold. 

In order to survive the winter, it has been necessary for me to adopt a different morning schedule. Normally I love the early morning hours -  my internal alarm is set at 5:00 AM.   But since 5:00 AM in December and January didn't seem very welcoming, I've given myself permission to stay in bed longer. This feels nourishing. 

The following poem,written by Michael Leunig, gave me more ideas about coping with winter; I hope you will glean some helpful hints too.  

Season to Cherish the Heart

We give thanks for the blessing of winter:

Season to cherish the heart.

To make warmth and quiet for the heart.

To make soups and broths for the heart.

To cook for the heart and read for the heart.

To curl up softly and nestle with the heart.

To sleep deeply and gently at one with the heart.

To dream with the heart.

To spend time with the heart.

We give thanks for the blessing of winter:

Season to cherish the heart.

Another way of cherishing is nourishing. Let me know how you cherish and nourish yourself.

Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall

Used by permission from Inward/Outward is a project of the Church of the Saviour in Washington DC. Visit us on the web at http://inwardoutward.org

What Is Your Focus For 2014? - #95

After the holiday rush, my tradition is to transfer important dates to my new Day-Timer and to review my journal from the last year.

I am looking forward. I am looking backward.  

It usually is a challenging time; this year was no exception.

My beloved & naughty ASUS Ultrabook finally sauntered home two days ago. Session two of Downton Abbey flew in from Netflix yesterday.  The weather is warmer today but foggy & drizzling with a chance of snow. The sidewalks are slippery. A nap with my microwave heated clay pad seems essential.

During this fertile time of looking into the future and reviewing the past, this question arose: What do I want to focus on in 2014?  

The answer that surfaced: A focus on nourishment. 

Food that is nourishing. Relationships that are nourishing. Activities that are nourishing. Work that is nourishing. Reading material that is nourishing. Movies that are nourishing. Exercise that is nourishing. Meditation that is nourishing. Sleep that is nourishing.

My goal is to make Posts in 2014 nourishing for you. 

I am curious - do you nourish yourself? How?  I'd love to hear from you. 

Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall