Put the kettle on, let’s have a cup of tea and talk about happy things.

Rejoice in everything, even in small things. If you start rejoicing, even a cup of tea starts having a sacred significance.” – Osho

I have to fess up, today is Friday. I usually write on Saturday mornings, but unable to tomorrow. In any event, happy Saturday.

Intentional listening is a habit I would like to improve on. Having an overactive mind at times leads me to not being the best listener.  Too often I assume what is being said and form the bias or answer before truly listening. 

To listen, we need not only our ears, but we also need our eyes and heart open to the other.

For one thing, it allows the other person to receive the gift of feeling heard. The second thing, when we give wholeheartedly, we receive much more than we give.

Those who practice listening find it to be one of the most powerful and influential factors in human relations. It is a magnetic and creative force. In fact, those who listen to us are the very ones toward who we move. Listening to us creates us, unfolds and expands us. Ideas begin to grow and come to life within us. The same happens when we listen to others with an attentive, uncritical ear. Listening recharges us so that we never get tired of each other. We are recreated. ~ Kelly Bennet

Listening to our heart's desire can be a challenge as well. Divine or not, it is usually met with resistance, so begins, “the great wrestling match.”

Life experience is like sport, always desire vs doubt.

The team or player with the most desire wins. Even in most cases, their talent may not be in their favour.

This week, I was reading a great story in a BBC Music Magazine of desire versus doubt.

Composer, Clara Schumann was born in 1819 in Leipzig, Germany. Her mom was a fine pianist and singer and her Dad was a piano teacher.

200 years later her legacy is being celebrated. She helped evolve the direction of classical music. Now, she is now receiving the attention she deserves. 

I have been listening to her beautiful music all week. The emotion of all that she was dealing with comes through each note. 

While courting she and Robert Schumann composed music to have it played for each other. Her father was dead set against their courtship. The notes from the compositions were converted into words. Sharing music was their way of sending “coded” love letters to each other.

Unthought of at the time, she took her father to court to win the right to marry the man she wanted to. 

Clara was a force. She won, they went on to have 8 children together.

Good Morning, Friends

I hope you are safe and somewhere warm, it is brrrrrr cold here today.

-13C or 5F for our US cousins.

It is a bit too cold to go for a walk this morning but did get me thinking about health and wellness. It seems to be top of mind for us and a number of friends.

Based on the articles written to fill the swath of monthly magazines, blog articles and news reports, it naturally will be on the minds of everyone.

But what do we do when we read something we know we should/could/want to do? 

Wellness starts with peace of mind.

Our minds are incredibly powerful—we can use our thoughts to improve our overall intellect, cognitive performance, and mental and physical well-being. Harnessing these natural resources will give you power over your present, depth and context to your past, and anticipation for the future. ~ Dr. Caroline Leaf

To overcome procrastination, I just decided to do one thing a day to improve my overall health. There were a lot of internal voices saying, “you can’t, don’t bother, you missed the opportunity, you are too old”, etc.

What peace can we hope to find elsewhere if we have none within us? Teresa of Avila

So, I decided to shut down the voices by doing the opposite of what they say and live by the fact that positive thoughts always overpower negative. Light over dark.

John O’Donohue is his beautiful book, Anam Cara states that the Celtic imagination loves the circle. It recognizes how the rhythm of experience, nature and divinity follow a circular fashion.  Connecting the dots I feel to experience wellness one must be connected not only to the physical and the natural but also the spiritual.

Augustine said, “Hope has two beautiful daughters: their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”

So to improve, I could not accept the status quo, even if it meant starting with one push up, one jumping jack, and one walk down the driveway, every day, I promised myself to add more on daily.

“Little strokes fell great oaks.” - Ben Franklin

No need to list my stats here but my physical health, mental health and general well-being has improved one thousand percent since April of 2018. Thanks to exercise.

It has been a lesson on creating peace of mind, joy and happiness.  Exercise can boost the mood by triggering the release of feel-good hormones and chemicals, like endorphins which can improve brain health.

When one becomes happier the affection for yourself as well as for others is ignited. The world opens to all possibilities and you take on a new perspective, compassion for others and desire to know more and be more.

Health and wellness for oneself is paramount, but so is the health of our planet. 

David Milarch is an arborist from central Michigan. In 1991, Milarch had a near-death experience that inspired a personal quest – to archive the genetics of the world's largest trees before they're gone and to replant global forests to fight climate change. This is the story of David and his efforts to save the redwood champions of Northern California from the ravages of climate change.

The best asset we have for making a contribution to the world is ourselves. If we underinvest in ourselves, and by that, I mean our minds, our bodies, and our spirits, we ignore the very tool we need to make our highest contribution.

But….a reminder to myself is a quote by Salvador Dali, "have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it."

I am curious, is there one thing a day you could do to increase your affection for you?

I hope some of the ideas from the blog over the past month and the sharings resonate with you. Thanks for being here.

If you choose to write in the comment section, thank you, it encourages. You can always reach out to me by hitting reply to this email.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead.

Listening to a beautiful album, Haydn, Ravel & Stravinsky: Works for String Quartet performed by the Tesla Quartet- Listen Here

With love from Prince Edward Island, 

Sincerely, 

Bruce

ps. 

A police officer pulls over a carload of nuns.

Officer: "Sister, this is a 65 MPH highway -- why are you going so slow?"

Sister: "Sir, I saw a lot of signs that said 22, not 65."

Officer: "Oh sister, that's not the speed limit, that's the name of the highway you're on Highway 22

Sister: "Oh! Silly me! Thanks for letting me know. I'll be more careful."

At this point, the officer looks in the backseat where the other nuns are shaking and trembling.

Officer: "Excuse me, Sister, what's wrong with your friends back there? They're shaking something terrible."

Sister: "Oh, we just got off of highway 119."

Greetings from Prince Edward Island. At least, that’s where I think I am! Shirley and I have just returned home following 24 hours of straight travel from overseas, feeling a bit wiped out. We spent 17 days travelling the beautiful country of Israel, and the cities of Paris and Amsterdam.

There were many highlights on this trip but one that stands out was going to the Keukenhof in the Netherlands. What is the Keukenhof? Take a quick look at this video below.

We went early, and the place had signs of busyness already, by the time we left, I counted over 100 motorcoaches and I couldn’t possibly count all the cars.

Below are three phone photos I took on Wednesday this week. 

#2

#3

Paris, we didn’t have the best weather, but what a city. We certainly got a small taste of what it is famous for, the architecture, the restaurants, small coffee shops, tea shops, bakeries, small specialty shops, I absolutely loved it. Definitely going back.

The language was not a barrier at all, most people understood English and were helpful even if they didn’t. We had lots of laughter and good humour with each other and those we met along the way.

We found by happenstance an amazing 80 seat bistro near where we were staying. The very busy Relais de l'Entrecôte owes its reputation to a unique formula: a green salad with walnuts, followed by an extra-tender beef tenderloin and its famous secret sauce accompanied by delicious homemade matchstick potatoes. Crazy to think that they have been doing only one menu item for lunch and dinner for 60 years. They have four locations. and is like a neighbourhood restaurant where everyone goes, young and old, families. 

Our server, Isabelle, told us that their fries were the best in Paris and continued to share one the secrets to their delicious fries. The potatoes are peeled, sliced, and stored in water overnight to remove the starch. I must admit they were some of the best fries I have ever tasted. We shared that Prince Edward Island is Canada’s leading potato growing area and becoming the country’s Food Island and should consider visiting and tasting some wonderful potato products as well. She took my card. Who knows, Isabelle and family might stop in and try our Potato Pie!

We managed to visit the Louvre and see Mona Lisa, that was an experience. You enter the huge hall, gather with an unorderly group of good people pushing each other to the front of the line to have 30 seconds of face time with Mona before being ushered quickly to move on. I managed to get this photo.

We had a wonderful time, but it sure is nice to be home.

There are buds on the trees which weren’t here when we left! Tulips and crocuses are popping up everywhere, and lobsters are being sold from the backs of trucks in parking lots across the Island. Spring is here!  

Our loyal readers know that I love to share unique bits of news from our fair Island, and so that’s why I wish to tell you about an event happening on Saturday, May 12th. It’s the 45th annual Women’s Institute Roadside Cleanup. 

The Women’s Institute provides bags and encourages Islanders to do their part by picking up litter from the ditches surrounding our homes. It really is a wonderful initiative and one of the events that help make our Island so special.

Do you have anything similar in your community?

Mother’s Day is May 13, we will be open from 11:30 till 4 that day. Our season starts officially May 18th this year a week earlier than usual. If you wish and are able to join us, we are taking reservations. Contact us customerservice@preservecompany.com or call us 9029644300 next week. The shop is closed this weekend, but opening 7 days a week starting next week.

Today, I wrote this while listening to: Alkan 12 Etudes Op. 35 by Mark Viner Listen here: https://apple.co/2HSIEE0

One last comment regarding our trip. 

One of the many wonderful things I will remember about Israel is the humour shared with us by our guides. Totally self-deprecating and very quick witted. I never laughed so hard. Susan, our tour guide wished us to refer to her as our Jewish mother, and over the course of the week told us many Jewish mother jokes, that I still laugh out loud when I think of them. I will try and share one her as told to us by her but it is hard to replicate without the vocal Jewish mother inflections, but here it goes. Try and imagine. 

Haven’t Eaten in 38 Days

After not speaking to his Mom for some time, Herschel called his mother.

Son: Hi, Mom how are you?

Mom: I feel very weak son.

Son: What is going on, Mom?

Mom: Well, I haven’t eaten in 38 days.

Son: Why Mom, what’s going on?

Mom: Sounding very weak states, I am sorry Herschel I hadn’t heard from you for 38 days and I didn’t want my mouth filled with food in case you called.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead.

Sincerely, 

Bruce