This morning I had to go in to the actual office for work( usually I work from home). My office is in the Stanley Milner library in downtown Edmonton. Our offices are on the sixth floor and our windows look down in to the open space of the library. The library has a massive interactive screen that has different digital scenes - ocean, space, famous artwork, etc. Today the dinosaurs were up on the screens. People can touch the screen to learn and interact. This is a stock photo as I didn't want to photograph anyone in the library. Why is this beautiful?
- The technology is astounding! It is so fun to watch the dinosaurs and other creatures walk or fly across the screen. I am amazed that people have such creative ideas and are able to bring them to life. - The kids in the library that were interacting with the screen had so much fun. Watching their joy brought me joy. - When I need a break from work, watching the dinosaurs for a bit to helps me to refocus and reset.
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Like many places, Edmonton has had a cooler spring/early summer so the peonies are just blooming. We live in a mature neighbourhood and it seems like every second yard has a peony shrub in full bloom. Wow, are they spectacular! We took the dogs out for a walk after the rain and I captured this beauty escaping from the chain link fence. Why is this beautiful?
- I love peony season! The layers of soft petals and the fresh, sweet smell as I walked by, lifted my spirit. - It's easy to complain about all the rain we have been having but the rain droplets on the petals add whimsy...and the peonies are very full this year because of the rain. - This particular peony is beautiful because it is refusing to be constrained by the fence. You go Peony! I have been working from home since March 2020 and my two furry office mates set up in their work positions every morning under my desk. Sometimes they bring a bone or a stuffy to the office. Recently I was away for a couple weeks so they were out of their work routine but as of today, we are all back in work mode. Why this is beautiful?
- They lighten my mood and add a sense of calmness to the office. There is nothing better than listening snoring dogs while I work. Although one of them doesn't like delivery trucks, squirrels or random leaves blowing across the yard and the barking can have the reverse effect. - They are the best sounding boards. They listen to my rants and stories without judgement and they seem to be interested in all the ideas I bounce off them. - They show up no matter what. - They create balance by letting me know when it is time to take a break and end for the day. I love riding my bike and I don't do it nearly enough. I've had a tough couple of days and I decided my soul needed a ride. I especially love taking my helmet off near the end of my ride to let the wind blow through my hair for a few moments. Why is this beautiful?
- The wind in my hair makes me feel totally free. Bike helmets weren't a thing when I was growing up and it brings back wonderful memories of riding my bike as a kid. Especially during summer vacation where meeting up with friends and deciding what Slurpee flavour to get was the biggest decision I had to make. Simpler times and wonderful memories are beautiful. - Moving my body takes me out of my head. - The wind provides a lovely cool down at the end of a ride. Today we went out to our trailer at Seba Beach and it was a great afternoon to sit and watch the sky. I think these are Lodgepole pines - they are tall and skinny with branches on the top third of the tree. They sway in the slightest breeze. Why are these beautiful?
The pines fill my heart as they sway. It looks like they are dancing with each other to the music of the wind as the clouds slowly float by. Both the trees and the clouds go with flow, they know it is their nature. The subtle changes are beautiful and mesmerizing. Identifying images in the clouds always brings me joy. Watching the trees and the clouds allowed me to push my thoughts to the side and to really be in the moment. A great reminder to stay present and go with the flow. These beautiful souls are my aunts Pat and Mary-Lou, two of my mom's sisters. This photo was taken today as they head out to a memorial for a friend that passed earlier this year.
Why are they beautiful? - They have been with me and loved me my entire life. We've shared fun times, vacations, special occasions and sad times, including the day my mom crossed over in 2020. - They have huge hearts and really care for people. - Their laughter and support fills my heart and feeds my soul. - We can share stories and tears about my mom (and dad) which help to keep their memories alive. - They are my family. They are love. I participate in a course with the amazing Debra Doerksen called The Divine Self. This week we discussed gratitude and how sometimes making a gratitude list can be a cerebral exercise that feels a little flat or maybe a little "typical". I admit, I do have a gratitude section in the daily journal I keep. I record the things I'm grateful for everyday like nature, my family, air conditioning, the dogs, my health, food...there is always something to be grateful for. Right? Debra challenged us to find something that is beautiful every day. When we identify the beautiful thing, person or moment, we are to dig in to figure out why it is beautiful to us - what does it mean? how does it make us feel? The challenge is to really connect with our heart to feel the gratitude. Debra also challenged us to share the practice with others to create a ripple of beauty and gratitude. I'm up for a challenge so for the month of July I have decided to share my one beautiful thing on this blog. daily. We will see how it goes. OK, so here is July 1 - Rearguard Falls in British Columbia Why is this beautiful to me?
- The powerful sound of the water filled my heart. It made me feel like I am part of something much bigger than myself. - The rushing water made me think about how life always moves on. Sometimes it moves faster than we want it to and it seems scary. But if you look further down the river the water slows down and gets much calmer. Sometimes life is tumultuous and sometimes it's calm. - The mist from the rushing water tickled my face, it made me smile and cooled me down. - The rainbow is a reminder from the other side - they are with me no matter where I am. |