Magnificent sunrise

Taken this morning by Emily Polis Gibson

When I walked out into the early morning sunrise, it was really lovely and I tried to snap a picture, but I figured that someone on my latest favorite place on Facebook would have done a better job of capturing it than I did. Sure enough, Emily Polis Gibson has a series of photos on the Seeing Bellingham group page. This is taken from her fabulous collection. I tried to link to her page, whether or not it works is not clear to me. But isn't it beautiful?

It's been a week of mostly difficult news stories. I've been trying to keep myself from taking in too much of the most dire ones, and looking constantly for some lighthearted stories to help keep me sane. I don't need to list them (although I did briefly consider it), since our news outlets keep going over and over them, just in case somebody somewhere thinks one might escape my notice.

I can't see today's date without remembering 1963, when JFK was taken from this world. But it is also the birthday of one of my favorite people, Karen Lynch, married for many years to my old boss Mickey Glantz. I was at their wedding, which people thought might not last, because of the age difference between them (something like 13 years), but these days it would not even be considered notable. Times and customs change over the years, sometimes for the better.

I am so grateful that I have recently begun a meditation practice of following my breath for 15-20 minutes each morning after I get out of bed and before heading out the door. I am amazed at how just that short practice has calmed my mind and given me a new way to find some serenity. Of course we breathe all the time, but how often do we pay attention to our breath? For me, it was pretty much never, and now I am aware that I am constantly breathing! It's one of the few parts of our nervous system that is within our ability to change. The breath is a barometer for our nervous system. If you're interested in learning more, you can check out the Yogic Breathing Study Guide. 

Once I started taking yoga on a regular basis, I was introduced to pranayama, using the breath to become more focused. From that link:

Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic responses serve a purpose. Ultimately, we are looking for balance and some degree of mastery over the nervous system, so that we see the purpose of each state and can use the practices of yoga to find a place of inner equilibrium. Yoga helps us to establish—and maintain—this balance of the two.

Hey, look at that! I did find something positive to give you today, on top of that wonderful sunrise. Perhaps the coming American holiday of Thanksgiving will spread throughout our country and shower blessings of abundance, peace, tranquility, and love upon us. It can happen and I'm willing to start with myself. 

:-)