Journey to Center

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966938080067453242009-07-09T11:43:12.932-04:00Journey to CenterStories, articles, research and quotes to support you in your journey to centerJudy Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07644738305279130498noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-14675968754364358032009-07-09T11:36:00.002-04:002009-07-09T11:43:12.943-04:00Walking Down Another Street

I first read this poem in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche. When I Googled it, I found fourteen pages of links. It's clearly a favorite with many, including myself. Autobiography in Five ChaptersI walk down the street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalkI fall in.I am lost . . . I am hopeless.It isn't my fault.It takes forever

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-68215345161864336412009-07-04T09:50:00.004-04:002009-07-04T09:58:59.203-04:00A View From the Other Side

Here is a piece that I couldn't resist sharing from our fellow aikidoka blogger, Mark Walsh, over in the United Kingdom. It is called 7 Reasons Why I Like the Recession. This is not meant to diminish acknowledgement of the pain that recession brings. But, as always, conflict bring opportunity and Mark does a great job of opening our eyes to that viewpoint. Thank you Mark for these great points!

Judy Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07644738305279130498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-10783307861723144702009-06-26T17:44:00.005-04:002009-06-26T18:20:57.076-04:00Positively Philadelphia

I haven't been to Paris, but I did spend part of last week in Philadelphia attending the First World Congress of Positive Psychology, where I enjoyed four days of learning, dining al fresco, and taking in as much as I could of what this great city has to offer (which is a lot!). And yes, I climbed all those stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art - the ones Rocky climbs, waving his arms in

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-60653999247306321212009-06-21T03:30:00.001-04:002009-06-21T03:32:45.894-04:00Lessons from Paris

Sitting here on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean this morning. ..a peaceful Sunday morning in Paris. My travel schedule for May/June has severely curtailed my blogging. Much thanks to Ellen and Judy for filling in.I am always fascinated when I travel with the opportunities to step back and reassess my own behaviors. This trip to Paris is no exception.Yesterday my husband and I stopped for

Judy Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07644738305279130498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-66803994259586940722009-06-13T06:16:00.003-04:002009-06-13T06:49:28.468-04:00Live and Laugh At It All

One of my Aunt Mimi's favorite songs was "Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries."Life is just a bowl of cherries,Don't take it serious, life's too mysterious.You work, you slave you worry so,But you can't take your dough when you go, go, go,So, keep repeating, "It's the berries."The strongest oak must fall.The sweet things in life to you were just loaned,So how can you lose what you never owned.Life is

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-24323351352547833992009-06-07T10:30:00.009-04:002009-06-07T11:00:43.801-04:00Time is My Friend - More Thoughts on Time Management

In an April Journey to Center posting, I wrote about the quirkiness of time, and included the following aphorism: TIME IS MY FRIEND TIME IS MY ALLY I HAVE ALL THE TIME I NEED FOR EVERYTHING I WANT TO DO. Since then, I've had oher occasions to revisit just

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-59825000930281146112009-06-02T08:37:00.003-04:002009-06-02T09:15:04.355-04:00Waiting for ....

First, a very big smile and thank you to my aiki gal pal, Ellen, for liking my new CD, Simple Gifts, and for reminding me why I created it. I need to listen to it again myself - again and again. It's so easy to fall into forgetfulness. I get overwhelmed by all there is to do and forget the beauty of the day, the sun, the moment. I catch a bit of daily news and lose my center to it. Forgetting to

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-28273988549668130642009-05-30T18:58:00.001-04:002009-05-30T19:01:25.349-04:00Simple Gifts

I got a lovely package in the mail last week from my friend and fellow aiki gal Judy Ringer--it was her new CD, "Simple Gifts", a collection of stories and songs about her own journey to center. I got it in the middle of a frazzled week--money woes, work overwhelm, strange communications, not enough time, etc.--and I set it aside, until I was a little more centered and could give it my

Ellen Stapenhorsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05467340282598955060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-84230271733382982212009-05-19T07:22:00.005-04:002009-05-19T07:38:11.726-04:00Perspectives from Space

With astronaut Mike Massimo twittering from space, I have been reminded of the perspectives that viewing our planet from space gives. Here are some wonderful quotes from astronauts , past and present:"At the end of my spacewalk, I had time to just look at the Earth, the most awesome sight my eyes have seen, undescribable" - Mike Massimo, USA (twittered from space)“It suddenly struck me that that

Judy Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07644738305279130498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-44718431316142568262009-05-16T09:13:00.004-04:002009-05-16T09:21:36.050-04:00How to Let Go: Taming the Inner Critic

Recently, I had the opportunity to face my inner critic yet again when I made an offhand remark to a friend and later wished I'd held my tongue. A colleague told me last week that he'd made a blunder that was keeping him up nights. While it sounded like a minor miscue to me, it was interrupting his sleep and sapping his usually upbeat energy. How Do We Let Go?It's a question that comes up all the

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-92045561503321266292009-05-13T06:52:00.003-04:002009-05-13T07:13:01.045-04:00Forest Through The Trees

"Do not get caught up with the form and appearance of a challenge. Aikido has no form – it is the study of the spirit. "M. Ueshiba, Founder of AikidoThis quote showed up in my twitter account a day or two ago. I posted it in our dojo as a reminder to students who get too caught up in 'itemizing' all of their throws. Learning throws as 'tools' or techniques for handling attacks is essential but

Judy Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07644738305279130498noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-4641107950784476682009-05-02T16:38:00.005-04:002009-05-03T08:20:07.255-04:00Temper, Temper! Ways to Manage Anger

Emotions happen. We can, however, make choices about how we manage them. When we reframe emotions and think of them simply as energy, we can begin to question the notion of "good" and "bad" emotions and instead work with this energy and direct it in positive ways. The energy of anger, for example, can cause us to become reactive. Or it can help us to gain

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-26880843524591462002009-04-27T11:19:00.003-04:002009-04-27T11:42:25.788-04:00Loving Kindness

During a recent Mind/Body class in our dojo, one of our instructors taught a moving meditation on Loving Kindness.May I be filled with loving kindness.May I be filled with wellness.May I be filled with peace and ease.May I be filled with happiness.For a movement to accompany this meditation, you could begin facing east and extend your arms to the east while speaking the first sentence, then turn

Judy Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07644738305279130498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-45788669423877901802009-04-24T06:58:00.006-04:002009-04-24T07:23:05.144-04:00Another Stress Related Post

Once again the Harvard Business Publishing blog has caught my eye. This time they are addressing the issue of stressful behaviors among colleagues due to the current economic conditions. I will give you the link to their blog at the end of this post.What caught my eye was a sentence in their blog: The trick is to tap into your best, not your worst, self. This concept ties in beautifully with Tom

Judy Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07644738305279130498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-26395889117408887112009-04-20T14:33:00.002-04:002009-04-20T14:36:50.610-04:00Be Yourself

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."Judy Garland

Ellen Stapenhorsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05467340282598955060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-14812949468151188892009-04-18T06:28:00.003-04:002009-04-18T06:36:19.185-04:00Dancing in Antwerp

Look at this window: it is nothing but a hole in the wall, but because of it the whole room is full of light. Being full of light it becomes an influence by which others are secretly transformed.-– Chuang TsuIt seems to have been a week of inspiring videos from YouTube. I received this one last night from a good friend. Amazing the power of a few people to transform an environment.--Judy Ringer

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-68412494508483853602009-04-16T15:36:00.002-04:002009-04-16T15:40:11.499-04:00In Case you've Missed....Susan Boyle

In case you have been somewhere without TV or internet for the past few days, please do listen to this YouTube clip. It is quite wonderful at so many levels. I have received copies of this through so many of the networks I am in that I would think it is safe to say that Susan has touched the hearts of many, many people cross generations and interests.Judy Warner

Judy Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07644738305279130498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-15322537679695202782009-04-15T22:17:00.003-04:002009-04-15T22:30:25.994-04:00A Little Bit of Twitter on O Sensei

I have been learning the ins and outs of Twitter the past few weeks. While the jury is still out, I have some discovered that I do like some aspects of this communication vehicle. I can't say that I feel compelled to report my daily wanderings, or have a lot of interest in following most others in great detail. But, I have discovered at least one benefit.The Midwest Aikido Center is 'twittering'

Judy Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07644738305279130498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-30298206974153827152009-04-09T06:19:00.007-04:002009-04-09T06:31:48.479-04:00Stress Reactions

The following email on stress arrived in my in-box this morning from Harvard Business Publishing:We've been told over and over again about the harmful effects of stress, but how can we handle stress if its source doesn't go away? Figure out what your stress reaction is. If you respond to stress by doing something productive — like cleaning your house or checking in more frequently with your team

Judy Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07644738305279130498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-67939260269269764762009-04-04T16:20:00.004-04:002009-04-04T16:26:09.112-04:00Thank You, Dr. King

On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, and the world lost a powerful voice for non-violent change. A year earlier, on April 4, 1967, King gave a speech which has come to be known as “Beyond Vietnam—A Time to Break Silence”. I find myself listening to it at least once a year, always learning something and being stretched to think deeply and differently about

Ellen Stapenhorsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05467340282598955060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-83676852470036386092009-04-03T17:57:00.003-04:002009-04-03T18:03:04.112-04:00Time is My Friend

A long time ago, a friend gave me a bit of advice in the form of this aphorism: TIME IS MY FRIEND TIME IS MY ALLY I HAVE ALL THE TIME I NEED FOR EVERYTHING I WANT TO DO.This past week, it's been a challenge to remember that time is plastic. It expands and contracts with my attention. I can only be present to this moment

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-34757485507448413162009-03-30T08:29:00.003-04:002009-03-30T08:36:23.294-04:00Inventing Your LIfe

It's Monday morning. How are you inventing your life today?The Dalai Lama is quoted as saying, "If you don't like what's happening in your life, change your mind."Have you ever noticed that the same circumstances that seem daunting one day can be exciting and filled with potential the next. I am doomed. I am lucky. I'll certainly fail. My day is filled with promise.To believe that by changing

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-4385109015125720332009-03-26T06:29:00.002-04:002009-03-26T06:32:52.884-04:00What a Wonderful World

You may have seen this YouTube video, since over 12 million people have clicked on it. In any case, I hope it brings a smile and some perspective.What a Wonderful World, with background music by Louis ArmstrongGood ki,Judy Ringer

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-1142294343567340302009-03-23T21:23:00.004-04:002009-03-23T21:33:32.366-04:00Today's favorite quotation

I love quotations and collect new ones whenever I can. This one came my way today:"If you want to get the best out of someone then you must look for the best that is in them."--Jack Welsh, former CEO, Chairman of General ElectricI like this quotation because it reminds me how easy it is in conflict and other difficult situations to see only the parts of people that are troublesome. It's easy to

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-51096314477541247922009-03-14T14:11:00.004-04:002009-03-14T14:21:02.596-04:00Clam Chowder

Judy Ringer, Ellen Stapenhorst, and Michelle Morin wandered through New Hampshire and Maine and uncovered the Secret of the Universe -- Be Who You Are.Authenticity showed up in coffee house conversations, asking directions (police officers always know where to find the best clam chowder!), house concerts and late night girl talk.Ego is the only thing that keeps us from shining.Rachel Carson,

Judy Ringerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559968095710475819noreply@blogger.com0