Today - a short note of gratitude to you for making the world a brighter, lighter place!

This week I was practicing work-life balance by digging in the dirt and was vexed by a hungry, mischievous squirrel who seems to enjoy pouncing on my flower boxes just as I was restoring them to balance. Each morning when I have gone onto my back porch (i.e., the object of my affection and quest for balance), I have found a fresh path of destruction.

The message - perhaps inner wisdom - that popped into my mind and amused me was, "when things get messy, plant pansies."

Do you ever have the feeling that something - or someone -  is pouncing upon your quest for balance? 

It happens in small ways - an interaction gone wrong for one reason or another - somebody else having a bad day perhaps - but the end result is that sometimes things get messy.

Sometimes we have to repair - sometimes we have to pull the weeds - and sometimes we need to plant a new garden or replace a flower box with something fresh - something less attractive to a pesky squirrel. 

My message today is about assessing and reframing situations - and creating beautiful things despite the odds. 

You have been doing this for a lifetime - by adding light to the world - to your workplace, communities and homes - by bringing positivity and optimism - by bringing a listening ear - by being present - by "planting pansies" if you will.

Thank you!

It matters.

In this case, my squirrels may have seemed to win - but actually, they were bringing me to the inevitable change of the seasons when I will be planting some beautiful pansies anyway. 

The squirrel was simply inviting me to move on to the new - a little faster than I was prepared to.

The university where I teach is on break - I am resting - refreshing - resetting - recalibrating - and planting pansies. The weather is turning cooler and is feels invigorating. Perhaps there is other wisdom waiting for me as I dig in the dirt - I will be listening.

Wishing you the best and sending gratitude for all you do - in so many different settings.

Sending light and energy for fresh visions,

Kathy

Kathy Sturgis, PhD

CEO and Founder, Refreshment Zone

Stay to the End....

Many of you know that I sing in my husband's choir. This semester, we are singing this piece which was "brought to light" in May 2020 when things were rather uncertain for us all. The message still stands and I hope it uplifts you today.

The beginning may seem a bit dark (in a minor key), but I hope you will stay to the end - and I hope it takes your breath away in all the right ways! It is a stirring performance.

The text includes this text in a round that builds in intensity from one voice to many:

"Light shall lift us. Everyone! As sure as there's a sun, light shall lift us. Light shall lift us to a place of everlasting grace. Light shall lift us.

I can only hope that this performance supports your own light.

Thank you for planting pansies - wherever you are. It makes a difference. You make a difference!

~Kathy~

Find other uplifting, meditative music on my "Music & Meditation" page.