Positive thoughts creating joyful conditions...
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 8:38AM There seems to be a theme for what is catching my eye lately - the brain. Here is a link to a great article in the Harvard Gazette (regarding a study of meditators). It's a particularly good read for those of us with aging brains.
http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2006/02/meditation-found-to-increase-brain-size/
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 3:19PM "Is it possible for one person to love more than another? In an attempt to find out, filmmaker Brent Hoff teamed with Stanford University neuroscientists to test lovers’ abilities, using an fMRI to monitor brain activity and measure whose adoration was the strongest.
It turns out — based on the levels of activity in the dopamine, serotonin and ocytocin/vasopressin pathways — it is possible for one person to exhibit that they can love someone more deeply than another person can. But what’s amazing about The Love Competition is seeing the participants talk about their loves and the effects the fMRI tests had on them. Many come out almost giddy when the test is complete, and one woman tearily explains that she just feels lucky for the love she’s had in her life.
What they found was unique, Hoff said, because the player with the lowest score was actually the one who probably “won” in the long run. “The guy who lost, who came in dead last, was probably the happiest of anyone; he realized he wasn’t in love with his ex-girlfriend,” Hoff said. “He walks out of there with his arms raised, triumphant.” ~ from Wired
The Love Competition from Brent Hoff on Vimeo.
Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 2:26PM The sunset was extra gorgeous on New Year's Eve so I'm sharing a photo of the sun setting on 2011—an extraordinarily good year. For the sun rising on 2012, click the photo tab and River Walk—Winter.
The best things in life are not things.
Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 7:20AM 
We had a beautiful evening, on the 21st, to celebrate the Winter Solstice at a 900 year old Solstice marker at the Aztec Ruins which is about 20 minutes from my house. Mother Nature wore her nicest clothes and the deer gave us an additional show. See photo tab and click on thumbnails for full photos.
GB Cornucopia, an archeoastronomer and Park Ranger from Chaco Canyon, led the way to the marker and gave a talk on patterns and connections to nature, and ceremony to celebrate those connections. He followed sunset with a talk (indoors, thankfully, as it had gotten very cold), about the scientific/historical patterns found in Chaco Canyon and other archeoastrology sites in the world. Planning for Summer Solstice in Chaco Canyon which is close to us as well.
The Earth offered her exhale into her inhale - and there was Stillness for a moment. ~ Olga Rasmussen
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 8:49AM This is the first year in a long while that I've really gotten into the spirit, put up a tree, decorated, had fun with the secrets that Santa insists on keeping. I've dropped expectations. What I receive isn't really important, it's who I've been able to be connect with, the fun I've had in making and choosing gifts.
A couple of great examples that have happened that are also in keeping with the holiday spirit:
I broke one of my grandmother's ruby glasses and I was devastated. The last one I broke, my sister sweetly replaced for me and I didn't have the heart to tell her I'd broken another one. I've treasured them for years, and I insist on using them everyday, not saving them for some special occasions because every moment is special occasion. So I went hunting online and found an antique store in Texas synchronistically called RUBY LANE. I ordered a set of them at a remarkably low price - both water tumblers and juice glasses. Couldn't find my PayPal info so sent a personal check. Amazing note back from the owner - he wasn't waiting for my check to clear, and he was sending a couple of additional glasses at no charge. WOW. How sweet was that? They arrived last night and are in beautiful condition.
My sweet, feisty granddaughter Allyson, trimmed my tree and hung decorations from my doorknobs for me (I hung my mother's tatted snowflakes in the windows). She has since cleaned out her closets and donated a ton of old clothes to Child Haven (an amazing child care system connected to CASA) here in Farmington. She's also set up a Christmas Around the World Facebook virtual event for anyone to attend, anywhere in the world. She rocks the spirit!
What examples can you comment on? Would love to hear more really wonderful stories!