blissful moments

It’s the Little Things

/ Shirley Sorbello / 6 Comments

Do you ever take the time to  notice and reflect upon an unexpected flash of nature?  A couple of months ago I looked out of my back window and was amazed to see petunias bursting through a crack in my pavers. How pretty they looked among the hard, gray stones that encased them. I don’t grow any petunias in my yard so that made this sight even more fascinating. It seemed like it was reminding me that beauty can be found anywhere.

Petunias

Recently, I came face to face with a hummingbird that paused in mid-air and looked directly at me for about ten seconds while I was sitting on my front porch. This amazing creature was only about twenty inches from me. That glimpse into each other’s eyes felt meaningful, like a reminder that all of God’s creatures are one.

While sitting on the same porch two weeks ago, I turned around and saw a huge, green praying mantis crawling along the sill of my front window. I stood up as he came close to my shoulder. Even though we are “all one,” I wasn’t sure that I wanted him crawling along the back of my neck. I went to get my camera and returned to find him climbing up the shutter. I hadn’t seen a praying mantis in a few years, let alone one this large. It is said to be a symbol of stillness and peacefulness. Maybe he was encouraging me to continue in the meditation practice that I’ve been struggling to make a habit.

Praying Mantis

Could it be that signs like these jump out at us when we get so caught up in our busy lives that we don’t take the time to feel or reflect?

An unexpected smile or reassuring touch from a stranger can brighten our day if we take the time to notice and appreciate it. A quick hug or kiss form a loved-one can do the same especially if we are not expecting it. Do we take the time to feel and appreciate the love in these actions?

The sky is filled with never ending hues of color and unique cloud formations. How often do we look at it or take the time to notice the gentleness of a breeze blowing across our face?

The world is full of love and beauty; we have only to take the time to notice it. Although focusing on it will not remove the bad and ugly that exists, it goes a long way in enhancing our quality and enjoyment of life, as well as bringing more of these lovely experiences into our existence.

Magical Moments

/ Shirley Sorbello / 12 Comments

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. – Unknown

Sunset Beach, Cape May Point, NJ Copyright 2014 Shirley Sorbello

Sunset Beach, Cape May Point, NJ
Copyright 2014 Shirley Sorbello

I returned a few days ago from a relaxing, refreshing week in Cape May, NJ. Holding on to that sense of inner peace I’ve felt since I returned becomes more difficult with each passing day, but I’m determined this time to wait a bit longer before I allow it to slip through the cracks of everyday life.

I spent a lot of time sitting on Sunset Beach at Cape May Point staring at the Delaware Bay watching the dolphins doing their spins. The sand there is filled with bits of quartzite which are polished to a brilliant shine and sold as Cape May diamonds. Off shore lies the remains of the SS Atlantis, a concrete ship from World War I that was towed to Cape May to be used as a ferry dock in 1926. In June of that year, the ship broke free of her moorings in a storm and ran aground here.

SS Atlantus, Cape May Point, NJ Copyright 2014 Shirley Sorbello

SS Atlantus, Cape May Point, NJ
Copyright 2014 Shirley Sorbello

On the cloudiest day of the week, I was enjoying the refreshing salt air on Sunset Beach when I began to see a band of sparking light along the horizon. A few minutes later the entire bay before me was covered in sparking sunlight. Several more dolphins were frolicking. Soon the sunlight faded completely and minutes later the band of light appeared again on the horizon and stretched again across the bay as the sun and clouds did their dance. This repeated a couple of more times. The picture at the top doesn’t do it justice. It looked like nature’s beauty at it’s best and felt like God had the paintbrush in His hand.

Sunset Beach, Cape May Point, NJ Copyright 2014 Shirley Sorbello

Sunset Beach, Cape May Point, NJ
Copyright 2014 Shirley Sorbello

I had always believed that Sunset Beach was a special place because the energy there felt so positive and relaxing. Now it’s even a bit magical for me; I can’t wait to return.

How about you? Magical moments are gifts for the soul. Have you experienced any lately?

Photo Friday – Ascona, Switzerland

/ Shirley Sorbello / 4 Comments

Today’s peaceful photo was taken in Ascona, Switzerland. Ascona lies near Locarno along my favorite body of water, Lake Maggiore. It is a small town that attracts tourists and artists and has lots of unique shops and outdoor restaurants. I would love to be sitting on that bench right now.

Ascona, Switzerland Copyright 2007 Shirley Sorbello

Ascona, Switzerland
Copyright 2007 Shirley Sorbello

My Go-To Place

/ Shirley Sorbello / 14 Comments
The walkway at Riverwinds

The walkway at Riverwinds

It’s where I go to think things over and sometimes to write. For me, it’s a nearby place of inspiration and gentle breezes that stir the soul. Located in Thorofare, New Jersey, Riverwinds Community is bordered by the mighty Delaware River.

Behaving as a writer and not a photographer, I grabbed my writing pad rather than my camera, when my daughter unexpectedly suggested a visit during a recent day of Indian summer. I would have preferred that these photos came from a camera, but I have to admit that my cell phone did a half-decent job.

Early signs of Fall

Early signs of Fall

On a clear, warm day like this, I was reminded how good it felt to be alive as I glanced out over the river. At times, the soft sounds of the waves lapping at the shore were lost int the roar of the planes landing across the river at Philadelphia International Airport. Nonetheless, there seemed a strange sense of harmony between the solitude of nature and the intrusive sounds of a busy world.

Plane landing across the Deleware River at Philadelphia International Airport

Plane landing across the Deleware River at Philadelphia International Airport

Maybe harmony is the key here. Perhaps those times in the past when I came here for confirmation of an important decision or comfort for a troubling situation, it was harmony I sought and received.

A powerhouse of humanity - the Philadelphia Skyline seen faint in the distance.

A powerhouse of humanity – the Philadelphia Skyline seen faintly in the distance to the right.

Of course, some people still throw trash into the river. I was reminded of my post, Sad Signs of Spring from early 2012 as I looked down at the bottles on the beach.

Trash on the shores of the Delaware River

Trash on the shores of the Delaware River

So how about you? What do you do or where do you go when you want to think things over or need to relax and get away from the everyday hassles of life?

Soul-Filled Moments

/ Shirley Sorbello / 8 Comments

We came here to connect with, not disconnect from, our true selves. For some of us, this takes a lifetime; others seem to be born with a knowing that we are more than our physical body. Sadly, there are those who barely connect and continue to live a life of quiet desperation, with an empty feeling they try unsuccessfully to fill. Others never connect at all until they die and reunite with their true higher self.

Some of us feel our soul in the whispers of the wind; others in the crashing of the sea upon the jagged rocks. It might be heard in the spring song of a robin or seen in your baby’s first smile. It is that feeling of joy and infinite peace that you experience when you hook up with all that you are – the part of you that never dies but lives through all eternity. How do you connect? What is it you do when you lose yourself completely and time no longer exists?

When you take the time on a regular basis to experience soul-filled moments such as losing yourself in a hobby you adore or quiet moments of meditation, you will find it easier to keep your life in perspective. You will tend to detach, not escape in addictive behaviors, from the pain or complexity of your existence. You will be able to see through more neutral eyes as your ego-driven personality relinquishes control, and you become capable of seeing who you really are, in love and light. Not only will your health improve, but you will feel at peace as you see the wholeness and magnificence of this unique, loving being you were created to be. Nothing will seem impossible to you then. All problems are solvable, and they no longer even matter. Isn’t that a good place to be?

Follow Your Bliss

/ Shirley Sorbello / 2 Comments

 

Wine and ChocolateFollow your bliss…it’s a saying that is heard frequently.  What does bliss mean exactly?  I signed on to the internet to take a peek and found a general consensus among links that it is an “extreme state of happiness,” if nothing else.  Sound’s good doesn’t it?

What does it mean to you?  What makes you extremely happy, or even just happy? Of course, it’s different for each of us.  Start small if you’re having trouble.  Perhaps it’s eating some chocolate or a tasty piece of filet mignon.  I’m in for both of those.  Keep adding until you have a happiness checklist.  It could be spending time with friends or that special someone.  Maybe it’s a hobby that you get so lost in that you lose track of time.  It’s wonderful if  your profession is blissful, and you are doing what you love everyday at work.

So how do you follow your bliss? If you’re doing it, you already know.  Your days are filled with moments of joy and deep satisfaction. If you’re still working on it, then keep the checklist handy and begin to integrate more of these happy options into your daily routine.  I also use the “follow your bliss” concept when it comes to making simple choices like which housekeeping chore to do first.  If I do first, the one I dislike the least, I find the rest of them go easier and faster.  Of course, use it when making a big choice like selecting which house to buy.  Choose the one that makes you smile and sings to your heart, assuming you can afford it, of course, or it won’t be a blissful choice for long.

I’m for bringing more blissful moments into each of our lives, week by week, day by day, moment by moment, until “following your bliss” becomes a wonderful habit.  How about you?