Day 2 Tools and Treasures Thresholds 4 Life Transforming

Our passion for learning...is our tool for survival."  --Carl Sagan



"We become what we behold. We shape our tools.
Afterward our tools shape us."
--Marshall McLuhan

Daily Theme: Tools and Treasures

"The inspiration you seek is already

within you. Be silent and listen."

--Rumi

Take some time today in silence. Allow the stillness to be whatever it is. It may make you uncomfortable, or it may bring you some peace. Notice whatever rises up on different levels of your being. Emotions? Memories? Fantasies? Ideas? Longings? and then instead of hoping they just go away, listen to what those responses and reactions are calling up in you. 

Take time to exercise your body. Be simple with it. Don't try to plan out a month's worth of movement, but instead, so do simple things. Take a walk. Do some jumping jacks, we all remember jumping jacks, right? Bring up a yoga video or do a familiar exercise routine. Even a few minutes is worth it. When you walk down the hall, walk on tip toe and reach up with both arms, and 'pick cherries' as you tip toe down the hall. Do restorative yoga practices on a chair or at the sink. Move and give yourself the gift of staying active.

Take time to address your fears or frustrations in a positive way. Dance it out. Paint it out. Write it out. And then make an action plan for turning your fears, frustration, anger, or numbness into a more positive action. 

Take time to nourish yourself, body, mind, spirit, and emotions. Set the table for a meal. Sit down and enjoy your own company or the company of those with whom you live. Create some simple rituals around the daily events you may not normally have time for. Play games together or work those crosswords, sudokus, or puzzles. Most importantly, look for ways to treasure what you have and what you can do. Taking your mind off what you don't have or can't do, helps. It doesn't eliminate the problems, but it enlarges your perspective and life to include more than you might ordinarily appreciate. 

I've been studying a language online and in real time. Label items in your house in different languages, and build your vocabulary. Set up paints, crayons, pens, paper, and collage material, and get creative. If it helps you, create a new schedule, or simply allow yourself to find a new rhythm for your day and your work. Notice what you can do with the extra time, space, and solitary time. Read more. Listen to and play music more. Dance. Dream. Spend some time in devotion. 

The tools we have are our minds, our physical beings, our experiences, our memories, our imagination, our talents, and skills. What we do with those tools is our treasure. What we make out of the challenges and obstacles during this period of time, depends on how we use our tools and how we honor the treasures of who we are. 

Task for the Day

Spend some time assessing what seems most difficult at this point. I suggest writing the answers down so you can get them out of your head and in view. Also, later you might want to look back to help you determine where you're making progress or where you need some more ideas.  

• What seem to be the biggest challenges for you at this point? 
• What fears, if any, occupy your mind?
• How have you handled difficult times in the past? What worked best for you? What made things worse?
• Compare the answers, and pick one thing to focus on today. 

For example, when I'm trapped in fear, I find it numbing and paralyzing. I've found when I name the fear, I release some of the hold the fear has on me. I also try to find one small step I can take to address the fear, and then I turn to something else to move my mind and body out of the fear mode. Fear increases the cortisol levels of our body, and create more stress. We need to make physical changes to counter this. Singing, dancing, moving, putting our minds on a task that we CAN accomplish, helps. See how you can address one small thing to day, that is making your time more uncomfortable and upsetting.

Words of Inspiration

It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. 

Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.    

 --Joseph Campbell

“As he was about to climb yet another dune, his heart whispered, "Be aware of the place where you are brought to tears. That's where I am, and thats where your treasure is.”

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

“Our deepest fears are like dragons guarding our deepest treasure.”

― Rainier Marie Rilke

What's in your Toolbox?

One of the things that is in my toolbox is the inspiration of other women. Here are just a few of the people who help me keep my sense of humor, perspective, and determination. 

"Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced."

--Lucile Ball

People need hard times and oppression to develop psychic muscles. 

Emily Dickinson

First principle: never to let one's self be beaten down by persons or by events. Marie Curie

Changing the big picture takes time.. and the best things to do is focus on the things that we can make in our lives if we're doing all that. That becomes the collage of real change 

--Michelle Obama

In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. 

--Eleanor Roosevelt

WHAT IS IN YOUR TOOLBOX? 

Beauty inspires and heals me. Here's a photo of a very healing place. Look for beauty today.