active senior

Carolina’s Dance Recital

| helenburtonblog

My great-granddaughter Carolina was going to be in a dance recital near her home in Georgia. Jill, my daughter, and I boarded a plane at Trenton Airport to Atlanta, Georgia.  Trenton Airport is very small, and the waiting area is almost non-existent. It made me very nervous sitting next to so many people not wearing a mask. I didn’t care what others were doing and wore one.

Jill reserved seats for us in the front of the plane and we were allowed to board the plane before the other passengers. The plane quickly filled up and there were no vacant seats. We landed two hours later in the Atlanta Airport.

The airport is very large, and we had to take a train to get our baggage and another one to the rental car area. Then Jill and I drove over two hours to arrive at my granddaughter’s house. Once we got there it was so exciting to see everyone — especially my great-grandchildren.

Carolina, four years old, had me doing crafts with her as soon as we arrived. After eating, Carolina, Jill (her grandmother), and I got into bed to read books. We all took turns reading a page.

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Give yourself a gift by living in the present moment

| helenburtonblog

I heard a loud bang!  It sounded like a bird crashing into the window. To my surprise, there was a baby bird sitting on the window ledge. It was looking at me!  We had a great conversation!  The bird was chirping, and I was sharing about what was presently going on in my life. It certainly was a special moment!

What a long way I have come, becoming aware of my surroundings.  Many years ago I would have heard the bang, saw nothing was broken, and continued with my day. I was the type of person who was always thinking about the future, and not focusing on what was happening in the present. How sad to have missed so many special moments. My behavior changed after taking many workshops and self-development trainings. I realized how important it was to enjoy today because you never know what tomorrow will bring.  What a blessing experiencing life in the moment!

Yesterday I had coffee with my granddaughter, who was telling me about her fantastic Israeli trip. Listening intently, I was able to experience through her eyes and learn about the places she visited. This experience brought us even closer.

Living in the moment is not easy; it takes practice.  Even though I have been practicing this behavior for many years, sometimes my mind wanders as I am doing something or talking to someone. When becoming aware of not concentrating on the moment, I take a deep breath and start focusing again.

Please let us know some of the tools you use to bring yourself back into the moment.

I would love to hear about your special occasions while living in the present moment. Please leave your experiences in the comment section below, or send me an email to helen@helenburton.net. I look forward to hearing from you.

Take Care,

Helen

Sharing Your Special Gifts

| helenburtonblog

Remember always that you have not only the right to be an individual;
you have an obligation to be one. — Eleanor Roosevelt

You have spent many years learning and acquiring new skills. It is a crime not to feel comfortable with whom you have become. It’s time to acknowledge these talents and share them with the world.

I facilitate a weekly discussion group. We watch a TED Talk (Technology, Entertainment and Design) and then discuss the presentation. Check out TED Talks (www.ted.com). Yesterday, during the discussion period, I was listening to and watching the various participants. It was amazing hearing their stories, knowledge and wisdom.  I learned so very much.

Suggested Actions for the Day

  • Make a list of the things you’re good at.
  • Decide how you can share these talents with others.
  • Take one little step. (Example: Join a choir if you love to sing.)

Please help build this community by sharing your experiences, asking questions and suggesting topics you would like to discuss. I am looking forward to hearing from you by leaving comments below or sending me an email at helen@helenburton.net.

Helen

Living in the Moment

| helenburtonblog

I am looking out the window of my home in NJ and the butterflies are flying around the weeds and flowers. What a beautiful and peaceful picture.

It has taken me years to come to the point of just relaxing and enjoy what is happening in the moment. This was a hard transition for me to be able to take the time to enjoy what was happening right now and not focus on all the things I had to do.  I’ve attended many workshops/lectures and have read different books in which the presenters and authors always focus on the benefits of being in the moment.

How do you accomplish this feat? Some of my methods for finding peace:

  • Making myself a cup of tea, sitting in a comfortable chair and looking out the window. The first time I tried this, I sat for about 2 seconds. After trying this exercise for several weeks, I was able to sit longer. Don’t worry about your thoughts, keep telling yourself you are okay. It is amazing how relaxing and peaceful you will feel.
  • Taking a short walk outside and enjoying the sights and sound around me. Some people listen to music as they are walking and others enjoy the quiet. Moving and being outside restores my energy and I feel ready to conquer the world.
  • While spending time with friends, grandchildren and children, I take the time to think how lucky I am. On Monday evenings for the last 12 years my grandson and I have dinner together. We call this our bonding time and have built a great relationship.

Please share with us the tools you are using in order to enjoy the moment and the benefits you are receiving. Creating a list will help us find different ways of being in the moment.

Let’s continue to build our community in supporting each other with ideas, lessons learned and empowering thoughts. I am looking forward to hearing from you by leaving comments below or sending me an email at helen@helenburton.net.

Have a beautiful and peaceful day!