Hear, hear! (or Here, here!)
Your sentiment (or really EHcA) of "staying aligned with well-being and focusing on what you prefer" seems to be a strong resonance among those I think of as being in my "cluster" these days.
Quite the discipline, though, I would agree. Sort of like the monk trying to focus on at-one-ment and having various large buzzing insects circling one's head. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
By the way, bleeding hearts are a favorite of mine as well, for viewing and photographing. I believe Helium loves them as well (but doesn't Helium love most everything?).
all the best,
D

Oh Desmene, are you back from your workshop? How was it?

We have been given such hearty houseflies to buzz around us by the neocons, don't you think? They strengthen our abilities to focus, if we can resist the temptation to chase them around with a fly swat all day.

I often remember Thich Nhat Hanh talking about how he used the blasts from the air strikes during the Vietnam War, which were killing his people, like a temple bell- a reminder to stay present in the moment. That's what it's like to be evolved.

Bleeding hearts are definitely a pull to the lovely, and they have that wonderful name that gives them more than a touch of ambiguity.

Honored to be your clustermate. D

Buzzing flies indeed! Big fat juicy black ones. Oh my...
I am off today to find Pema Chodron's book "Start Where You Are" at the recommendation of a friend. Amazon has a few pages on their site under their "Look Inside" feature when you call up the title. I am very drawn to her kind, wise writing.
The workshop and concomitant events caused a seismic shift in outlook that definitely registered on the charts. However I believe that all has resettled for the best. I certainly feel more inclined to practice mindfulness and self-care.
Still seeing curtains floating gently in the breeze for you,
D

I do have a Pema tape, and my shaman, who visits the wilds of Cape Breton near Gampo Abbey, reports stories from the locals of cliff walking monks. I wish I had a little more concentration to read her books, which have been highly recommended by many.

Seismic shifts are always interesting. I hope this one was not of the incredibly disturbing sort, but seismic does tend to be that way.

Lovely to hear from you. I hope your curtains are blowing gently again. D