Welcome, my Friend! 052419

WELCOME FRIENDS!

Happy Phriday!!!!

The Weeeeeeeeeeeeekend is here

I am so glad you are here with me

I hope something I've posted today

Will Brighten Your Day

and

Benefit Your Life

I will not be posting over this 3-Day Weekend

So my plan is to resume posting on

TUESDAY, MAY 28th

I hope to use the time to find 

some more Good Stuff to share with you next week

Remember our Daily Gratitude Journals

David found a great web page with very good info

On keeping a gratitude journal

Tips for Keeping A Gratitude Journal (link)

I tried to bring you some extra GOOD STUFF today

Because it is a 3-Day Weekend

It's here if you have the time

I wish you a Beautiful Day

And a Wonderful Weekend

I hope to see you Tuesday!

Peace and Love to you, my Friend

Phil

~*~

I Love the smell (and taste) of Tea in the Morning 
(and any time of day : )

Meditations: Friendship

artwork by James R. Eads

~*~

“Let us be grateful 

to the people who make us happy; 

they are the charming gardeners 

who make our souls blossom.” 

~Marcel Proust

~*~

“Friendship is unnecessary, 

like philosophy, like art.... 

It has no survival value; 

rather it is one of those things 

which give value to survival.” 

~C.S. Lewis

~*~

“The glory of friendship 

is not the outstretched hand, 

not the kindly smile, 

nor the joy of companionship; 

it is the spiritual inspiration 

that comes to one when you discover 

that someone else believes in you 

and is willing to trust you with a friendship.” 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

~*~

“When I say it's you I like, I'm talking about that part of you that knows that life is far more than anything you can ever see or hear or touch. That deep part of you that allows you to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive. Love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed.” 

~Fred Rogers

MUSIC: "Your Song" by Elton John

I FEEL MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOU

I want to express how grateful I am for you

For following me wherever I blog

For your continued love and support

For blessing me with your visits, comments and E-mails
For watching my daily dance

And listening to my daily songs

I'd like you to stop a moment

(stop - there's an important word)

And read the lyrics as you listen to this song

And think of this as me singing to you

To You

Who continue to follow me wherever I go

For people like you

Who keep the sun turned on

This is Your Song

How wonderful life is while you're in the world

Elton John 

"Your Song"

(Remastered Version + Lyrics)

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/sZCTt6mBZWw

Commercial Break

today's posts are brought to you by FRIENDSHIP

My Meditative Music Experience

I rarely Meditate with Music - but - I Meditated with this Music the other night - It was the longest and deepest Meditation experience I have had.  I felt so much Love radiating inside me - I could feel this beautiful radiance glowing within me and it was Me - I felt as though a friend was sitting next to me holding me, putting his head on my shoulder - It was all the Love inside me Loving me - me being Love-Joy-Gratitude-Peace all at once. I must note that this is not the usual Meditative experience from what I've read and experienced. Meditation is more about letting go and just being the watcher of thoughts and feelings - so I'm not sure I can really call what I experience the other night, Meditation, but the Breathing and the Music just  opened up a whole can of Peace and Love.

I'm sure it was a variety of things that brought this about that night, but this Music definitely set a wonderful atmosphere in which to Meditate. I never expect anything from my Meditation sessions - and I don't expect to have this experience again - but this one time did bring about a loving wholeness that I can still feel living in my heart.

I've listened to many of these meditative, relaxation background music thingy's - and this one is one of the best I've listened to. I can just put it on and work, study, sleep, etc. I'll be adding it to the sidebar soon.

3 Hours of Deeply relaxing positive energy boosting, 

healing meditation music tuned to 432hz for optimum relaxation. 

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/4wtG01ymIjE

Click Play and Listen for Just a Few Minutes

Breathing in, I calm your body, 
Breathing out, I smile
THEN continue listening to this music as you
Scroll down to view the artwork of James R. Eads
In the following post - really cool to experience his art to this music

TGS Gallery: The Artistry of James R. Eads

James R. Eads is an American contemporary artist widely known for his illustrations. He is known for his complex aesthetics often taking inspiration from the grand scale of the universe. 

James R. Eads Art Website

https://www.jamesreads.com/art

James R. Eads Merchandise Website

https://www.jamesreadsmerch.com/

Performance Art: DUO UNITY (Duo Cyr Wheel)

Gorgeously Artistic Performance

I've seen one person perform the Cyr Wheel

But I've never see two perform it

This is a magical performance

Just sit back, watch and enjoy

DUO UNITY 

Duo Cyr Wheel

Dinner Show "ARoma" Antwerp 2016

FULL-SCREEN RECOMMENDED

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/3o7pb6nVPVQ

Closing Thought: 052419

I hope you get up to some 

Damn! Good Fun this weekend!

I hope to see you TUESDAY! 

((((HUGS))))

Welcome, my Friends! 052319

Howdy Doody, Dudes!

Happy Thor's Day!

Great to see you

I'm so glad you are with me here

I hope you've been enjoying

The Good Stuff

:  )

Remember our Gratitude Journals

We have completed our first of two week experiment

I've had some very  encouraging reports

That they are making a positive difference

I hope you will enjoy your visit

May the Good Stuff be with You!

Peace and Love,

Phil

~*~

ART: Thomas Moran

Sunset In Mid-Ocean by Thomas Moran

Thomas Moran (February 12, 1837 – August 25, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker of the Hudson River School in New York whose work often featured the Rocky Mountains. Moran along with Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Hill, and William Keith are sometimes referred to as belonging to the Rocky Mountain School of landscape painters because of all of the Western landscapes made by this group. Thomas Moran's vision of the Western landscape was critical to the creation of Yellowstone National Park.

Meditations: Living Mindfully by Thich Nhat Hanh

Living Mindfully

In this passage, Thich Nhat Hanh takes the example of 

drinking Tea Mindfully to show us how to live Mindfully.

“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves. Slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life. You must be completely awake in the present to enjoy the tea. Only in the awareness of the present, can your hands feel the pleasant warmth of the cup. Only in the present, can you savor the aroma, taste the sweetness, appreciate the delicacy. If you are ruminating about the past, or worrying about the future, you will completely miss the experience of enjoying the cup of tea. You will look down at the cup, and the tea will be gone.

Life is like that. If you are not fully present, you will look around and it will be gone. You will have missed the feel, the aroma, the delicacy and beauty of life. It will seem to be speeding past you. The past is finished. Learn from it and let it go. The future is not even here yet. Plan for it, but do not waste your time worrying about it. Worrying is worthless. When you stop ruminating about what has already happened, when you stop worrying about what might never happen, then you will be in the present moment. Then you will begin to experience joy in life.”

I don’t think of the past anymore, I don’t think of the future anymore, I’m free from the past, from the future, and there is a real encounter between me and the tea.”

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Meditative Moment: 052319

“if 

the ocean 

can calm itself, 

so can you.

we 

are both 

salt water 

mixed with 

air.” 

~Nayyirah Waheed

~*~

“Do you have the patience to wait 

Till your mud settles and the water is clear?

Can you remain unmoving

Till the right action arises by itself?”

~Lao tzu

MUSIC: "Rhythm of the Forest" by Diane Arkenstone

Feelin' Good

Great Tune

Nice Video

Diane Arkenstone

"Rhythm of the Forest"

Album Spirits of the Rainforest

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/6PE_rSPQe6E

Commercial Break: 052319

today's posts are brought to you by LAUGHTER

Click Play and Enjoy

Ellen's Favorite Babies Laughing

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/384BtgIjdvs

Just for Laughs: 052319

I found some of these funny

I hope they will bring you some laughter

Best of Just For Laughs Gags Part 5

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/1fWgSk6MAXs

Note:
The first gag in the video above
You may have seen before
It is from the Charlie Chaplin film
"Modern Times"
Here's the short clip of that scene

"Red Flag Scene"
YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/idB8FqlYMqw

Parting Shot: 052319

Weeeeeeeee Heeeeeeeeeee

Today is OURS to Choose!

Wishing you a most Deee-lightful Day, my Friend!

((((HUGS))))

WELCOME, FRIENDS, 2 da Good Stuff : )

Welcome, my Friends!

Happy Hump Day!!!

Thank you for being here with me

I really appreciate you following me here

It is my greatest hope and greatest joy

To bring things to you

That will 

Benefit Your Life

and

Refresh Your Spirit

Let us TUNE IN to ourselves

Before (or after) we tune into the World

We have some really good things today

Some "Really Good Stuff, Maynard!"

(from the Dobie Gillis Show - I remember : )

We have a TEDX talk

That I really want you to watch

It is truly an amazing talk

That CAN help us change the World for the better

I found it to be most beneficial to my life

We also have a FIERY DANCE

SO COOL! 

(or hot with the fire)

Plus we have some other very lovely things

To add to our lives

~*~

IMPORTANT QUESTION
I received an E-mail yesterday from a reader
He said the text was showing up
 on a gray background making it difficult to read
IS ANYONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM????
Please let me know so I can fix the problem

~*~

I hope you will enjoy your visit

I wish you a MOST Grateful Day!

Peace and Love,

Phil

~*~

~*~

GENTLE REMINDER

~*~

OH!

Yesterday was Tom Daley's Birthday 

Happy Birthday to TOM!

ART: Maxine Noel

Water…The Giver Of Life by Maxine Noel

Maxine Noel CM (born 1946) is a Canadian First Nations artist from the Santee and Oglala heritage. A self-taught artist, she first worked as a legal secretary in Edmonton and Toronto before becoming a full-time artist in 1979. Her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across Canada. She works with serigraphy, lithography, etching, painting and cast paper. (Wikipedia)

You can find out more about Maxine Noel as an artist 

and find more of her exquisite artwork Here (Link)

Meditations: "Grateful Living" by David Steindl-Rast (TEDX)

JOIN THE GRATITUDE REVOLUTION

A Must See!!!!! Very Beneficial

If I had to choose one post I'd most want you to see -

THIS IS IT! 

: )

From years of study and researching how 

to live a healthier, happier life

I've come to understand that

GRATITUDE is THE KEY to HAPPINESS

David Steindl-Rast, who presents this TEDX talk,

Is the same man who narrated the video we saw recently

"A Good Day: A Gift of Gratitude"

If you have not seen that video

I HIGHLY Recommend you do

You can watch that video Here> Link

Or you can watch it on YouTube> Link

It's a video that would be

Very beneficial to us to watch everyday

If you have time

Watch "A Good Day" video after you watch this video

Now to this video:

Want to be happy? Be grateful.

"The one thing all humans have in common is that each of us wants to be happy, says Brother David Steindl-Rast, a monk and interfaith scholar. And happiness, he suggests, is born from gratitude. An inspiring lesson in slowing down, looking where you're going, and above all, being grateful."(YouTube)

STOP. LOOK. GO.
Let Us Put Stop Signs in our Daily Lives
Reminding us to Open Our Hearts
To Feel Grateful
And to Enjoy 
The Wonderful Gifts We Receive Each Day

Listen to David as he tells us why Gratitude 

is so important in changing the world for the better

And how we can bring more Gratitude into our lives

Grateful Living

presented by

Brother David Steindl-Rast 

from his talk at TEDX

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/UtBsl3j0YRQ

~*~
**Link to the Network for Grateful Living**

Commercial Break

today's posts are brought to you by LOVE

LOVE

The More We Give

The More We Have

Poi Performing Art: Dima Holmsky (Poi Master)

Mesmerizing Magical Graceful Fluid Motion

Finally someone put some decent music to this performance
It fits pretty well - nice and bouncy

Poi Performing Art:

"Poi refers to both a style of performing art and the equipment used for engaging in poi performance. As a performance art, poi involves swinging tethered weights through a variety of rhythmical and geometric patterns. Poi artists may also sing or dance while swinging their poi. Poi can be made from various materials with different handles, weights, and effects (such as fire).

Poi originated with the Maori people of New Zealand, where it is still practiced today. Poi has also gained a following in many other countries. The expansion of poi culture has led to a significant evolution of the styles practiced, the tools used, and the definition of the word "poi.""(Wikipedia)

Dima Holmsky 

(Poi Master)

Music:

Spirit's Pulse (Omnia Remix)

by 

Andy Moor vs M.I.K.E.

Full-Screen Viewing Recommended

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/bg0SoKi4FkI

Moments of Serenity: 052219

Click play and listen for just a few minutes
Breathing in, calm your body - Breathing out, smile


~*~
Tropical Island Beach Ambient Sound

Thailand Ocean Sounds For Relaxation And Holiday Feeling

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/DGIXT7ce3vQ

~*~

At this very moment as I type these words

I feel deep Gratitude streaming from my heart flowing to you

Open your Heart, 

Take a moment to Feel Gratitude

Then take it with you throughout your day

Sharing Gratitude with all those you meet today

Wishing you a most Grateful Day!

((((HUGS))))

Welcome, my Friend! 052119

Welcome, Friends!

I hope you are doing well and feelin' fine!

I am so glad you are here with me

I hope the things I share today will

Brighten Your Day

And

Refresh Your Spirit

I'm still trying to work out how much to post

I have so much good stuff to share

But I don't want to overwhelm you

Or underwhelm you each day

It's part of the fun of creating a new blog

Like painting a new canvas

If you have any suggestions

Don't hesitate to let me know

Here's our reminder to do our

Gratitude Journals
I missed it yesterday morning
But I did get to it yesterday afternoon
What's really cool
Is going back and reading previous entries
Remember to take time to FEEL what you are grateful for

I hope you will enjoy your visit

I wish you a Beautiful Day

Peace and Love,

Phil

Meditations: 052119

Three Tahitian Women, 1896, Paul Gauguin

~*~

“You have brains in your head. 

You have feet in your shoes. 

You can steer yourself 

any direction you choose. 

You're on your own. 

And you know what you know. 

And YOU are the one 

who'll decide where to go...” 

~Dr. Seuss

(Oh, The Places You'll Go!)

~*~

“Life isn't about 

finding yourself. 

Life is about 

creating yourself.” 

~George Bernard Shaw

~*~

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” 

~Marianne Williamson

MUSIC: "Proud" by Heather Small

Inspirational!

I love the message of this song

And, also,

I just had to post it because

This is the song referenced

Throughout the TV show, Miranda

It's the song Miranda's friend, Stevie, 

Often belts out to inspire Miranda

"What have You done today

To make You feel Proud"

Heather Small

"Proud"

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/-4szP49_HKE

Commercial Break:052119

today's posts are brought to you by GRATITUDE

DANCE: The Aerial Dance Group, Zurcaroh on AGT

Mind-Blowing Performance 

A Must See

3 minutes of WOW!

Zurcaroh

Aerial Dance Group

America's Got Talent Final

Music: "Baba Yetu" by Christopher Tin

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/ojpNgvbCtmY

(runtime: 3:08)

Moments of Serenity: 052119

Click play
And just listen for few minutes
Breathing in, calm your body
Breathing out, smile



~*~

Relaxing Nature Sounds: Soothing Flowing Stream
This is an hour long video for Sleeping, Meditation, Relaxation, Studying

You may want to bookmark this for later
Or return to it at any time you need to refresh

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/25bqJ2bGdDs

~*~

I Radiate Peace and Love to You

Open your Heart, Feel the Peace & Love
 Take it with you

And radiate Peace and Love

to all those you meet today
(Especially those cantankerous folks
They need it the most)
:  )

((((HUGS))))

Welcome, my Friend: 052019

Welcome, my Friend

Happy Monday to you!

I hope you had a lovely weekend

Mine was very nice

Had steak, potato and salad

With my folks on Saturday

They bought a smokeless grill

And just HAD to use it

I have no objections

Bring it on!

We must perfect our grilling!

:  )

Today we have some dancing hands

A little Walt Whitman

I mean a small portion of his writing

Not an actual little Walt Whitman

That would just be weird

LOL

(Sorry - me being silly again

It's a line from the series, Miranda

A great BritCom on Hulu)

And

We also have

TOM DALEY

Yeah! 
He's in the house!

Woooo Hooooo!

~*~

Just a reminder

For those of you doing

Gratitude Journals

We are up to day 5 in our two week experiment

Anyone can join in at any time

(Link to the instructions on the sidebar---------------->

Super Easy and Simple

Yet can be significantly beneficial

TRY IT! YOU'LL LIKE IT!

:  )

If you are looking for something to binge on HULU

I highly recommend

Miranda and her crazy family and friends

Have kept me in stitches all weekend

On HULU now

~*~

You might notice I am playing around
With names for our new blog
Not sure yet - just gotta play a bit
To find what feels right
What this blog is all about
Playing with the idea of calling our new blog
Up

~*~

I hope you will enjoy your visit

And that something I've posted

Will Brighten your Day

I wish you a most Grateful Day!

Peace and Love to You,
Phil

~*~

ART: Joshua LaRock

Japanese Hill and Pond Garden by Joshua LaRock

Visit his website to learn more about him as an artist 

and to experience more of his exquisite paintings. 

JOSHUA LAROCK ONLINE

Meditations: "The Learn’d Astronomer" by Walt Whitman

When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer

BY Walt Whitman

"When I heard the learn’d astronomer, 

When the proofs, the figures, 

were ranged in columns before me, 

When I was shown the charts and diagrams, 

to add, divide, and measure them, 

When I sitting heard the astronomer 

where he lectured with 

much applause in the lecture-room, 

How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, 

Till rising and gliding out 

I wander’d off by myself, 

In the mystical moist night-air, 

and from time to time, 

Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars."

~*~

I love this poem by Uncle Walt. 

It reminds me of the story of a father

teaching his son how to ride a bicycle.

The father first had his son 

memorize all the parts of a bike,

then made him draw pictures of the bike,

and  then made him write articles about the bike.
Strangely enough, the kid still couldn't ride a bike.

Or 
that time on the TV show, Friends

The way Phoebe taught Joey the guitar

By NOT touching it

:  )

We can memorize, quantify, and diagram Nature all we want

Scientifically study it up and down to the smallest detail

But to truly understand the nature of Nature

We must "wander off" and experience it for ourselves

What Uncle Walt calls a mystical, intuitive experience

His poem is a great statement
Illustrating the different between Knowledge and Wisdom

A good lesson for living, as well.

Thanks, Uncle Walt!