Forest Bathing
The radiance in some places is so great as to be fairly dazzling… every crystal, every flower a window opening into heaven, a mirror reflecting the Creator. Source Unknown Sequoia, cedar, evergreen and other trees have been harvested for buildings, furniture and firewood. Apple, orange, olive, almond and other trees are grown in vast plantations for food. Now, more realize time among lots of living trees can heal hearts, minds and spirits. In the 1980s, when Japanese left green and forested areas for work in cities and technology, stress-related illness and disease skyrocketed. When the government searched for causes, one survey asked, “What happens when humans are exposed to forested environments?” As a result, Blake Ellis, a manager for the Chico State Ecotherapy Program, found, “forest bathing helps us recover from stress and trauma by reducing our adrenaline and cortisol levels, and alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.” She added, “Forest bathing also decreases blood pressure, improves cardiovascular and respiratory function, and improves our sleep quality, mood, attention, academic performance, creativity and immune function.” To try Forest Bathing NPR recommends, Find a quiet place with lots of trees Allow two hours, though fifteen minutes in the woods can help Choose calming activities that slow the heart. Stroll. Sit, Practice yoga or tai chi. Inhale deeply. Trees release phytoncides, chemicals that can reduce stress hormones and increase leukocytes, the white blood cells that fight bacteria, viruses, fungi and infections. For more information, here are this post’s Resources: National Geographic, “Forest-Bathing Nature Walk Health” NPR, “A Guide to Forest Bathing” United States Department of Agriculture, “The Healing Power of Nature” University of Minnesota, “How Does Nature Impact Our Wellbeing?” How Forests Heal People Click Here to View More Great Videos: PBS, The Healing Nature of Nature, 7 minutes TEDx: The Truth About the Healing Power of Trees, 14 Minutes Healing Forest, Guided Meditation, 37 minutes COMMENT Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. Shop Sandra’s Radiant Tree Books Beautiful, Uplifting, Inspiring, Encouraging
Paths to Joy 2023, Introduction
Embrace the healing power of these three things: Music, the Ocean, Stars — Source Unknown All “Illustrated Wisdoms,” the featured art in this 2023 “Paths to Joy” series were created by splattering viscous Dylusions shimmer spray on 11×14, 98 pound, Canson mixed media paper, then spritzing with water to see how the colors would run and gather. When dry, the above quote was evoked by “feathering” with water washes and tempera paints, meant to suggest the power of the oceans and of music. The final work was creating the darkness in upper right corner so that the stars could be seen. My understanding of this Illustrated Wisdom will change as the art reveals itself in new ways. What do you see? Write me. Three years after Succeed and Soar first presented the twelve “Paths to Joy,” the theme is revisited, with more enriching resources. The goal: No matter the troubling energies disturbing the world outside us, sanctuaries can be created where joy can flower within. Separate but a complement to “Paths to Joy” will be a four-part, “Re-Creating Eden” series. For those with interests in writing and reading, “Wordsmith Stars” and “Word Witty” will continue. There’ll also be three “Story Talk” posts where novels I’ve read are explored for author technique and craftsmanship. The one Succeed and Soar series that is done, with much joy, are the Select Short Videos, which will present brief, beautifully-produced stories ranging from heart-warming charmers to a mystery that’s both amusing and macabre. Lots to look forward to, including next week’s post. where Thrive! presents a tiny fruit with huge health benefits. In the meantime – and throughout the year – remind yourself of these five things daily [from Heartfelt Holistic Healing], I am amazing. I can do anything. Positivity is a choice. I celebrate my individuality. I am prepared to succeed. Succeed and Soar! This Month, Shop Sandra’s Art on Face Masks As well as tote bags, tee shirts, journals, puzzles, phone cases, ornaments, yoga mats, towels, blankets, cups, pillows, shower curtains and more When will we ever get back to plain, old flu season? In the meantime, safety is a great policy. Why not do so with style and pizzazz? This Face Mask is #8 from Succeed and Soar’s 2020 Path’s to Joy series. The face masks produced by Fine Art America are: 100% polyester Two ear loops with adjustable grommets for comfortable fit Sizes: Adult Large, Adult Small,/Youth Large Styles: Flat or Pleated NOT surgical mask grade See more details with item Price: $17.00 CUSTOMIZE. Use tools with item to: Enlarge, reduce size of art Change placement of art and text Choose background colors Purchase this face mask. Shop All Posters and Art Collections HERE. Thanks!
Forgive and Forget Revisited
In February, 2020, the merits of ‘Forgive and Forget’ were weighed. Part 1 of 2 were titled “Sometimes, Maybe.” Here are inspirations that update. Forgive and Forget, Healing Thoughts You can forgive someone almost anything. But you cannot tolerate everything…We don’t have to tolerate what people do just because we forgive them for doing it. Forgiving heals us personally. To tolerate everything only hurts us all in the long run. – Lewis B. Smedes It is not “forgive and forget” as if nothing wrong had ever happened, but “forgive and go forward,” building on mistakes of the past and the energy generated by reconciliation to create a new future. – Alan Paton Achieving a state of grace, peace and well-being after being injured is the primary goal. Certainly, when harm results from a pure, innocent accident, forgiving whoever caused the problem may help, as acts of generosity and understanding. When hurt by willful negligence and reckless disregard, outrage and anger may the healthiest response, eventually leading to grace and peace. As for those who deliberately and repeatedly injure, those on the receiving end must first take protective, preventive steps, then learn and grow from the experiences while moving on. Forgiving those who have mistreated, misused and abused can be inappropriate and become irrelevant. – Source Unknown Ruminating about the past will get you nowhere. So go ahead and learn from the past whatever you can, and then put it behind you. Remember, there is nothing you can do to change it, but you can use its lessons to improve your future. — Abraham J. Twerski Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. – Lewis B. Smedes Learn from yesterday, live for today. – Albert Einstein COMMENT. Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. Shop Succeed and Soar Puzzles Puzzles are made from premium 0.2” thick paper stock Include a semi-gloss coating that makes the top vibrant Arrives in a puzzle box with artwork printed on top for safe storage Puzzle pieces are unique shapes Purchase this puzzle. Shop All Collections HERE.
Generous Success
For our own success to be real, it must contribute to the success of others. — Eleanor Roosevelt In Invisible Acts of Power, Caroline Myss, Ph.D. says there is a fundamental aspect of human nature that needs to reach out to others. Documentaries on BBC’s Planet Earth and National Geographic Wild show that other mammals have the same capacity. [Perhaps some aves, feathered creatures, and aquatic vertebrates too.] The ways humans choose to be generous [now that we’re building skyscrapers and space ships] sets us apart. We can give for many reasons, which could — let’s face the truth — be selfish, ego boosting acts. We achieve magnificence when, as Myss wrote, “The warm glow we get from helping others is not just a good physical feeling – it is the energy of a healing grace that moves between the giver and the receiver and blesses both.” Bless means to ‘invoke divine favor.’ Bless involves a mutually and spiritually elevating sharing. In the success realm, Forbes offers “10 Ways to Help Others That Will Lead to Your Success,” including: Share knowledge [while advancing your personal education] Introductions [providing beneficial connections and contacts] Read more Succeed and Soar’s “Your Heroic Heart” post suggested: Imagine a world where gradually, one-by-one, more people become heroes? The process is simple: Random acts of kindness qualify. I think the fear-driven stinginess and meanness that has surfaced lately opens opportunities to see those niggardly behaviors for what they are. [Did you know there’s a movement to declare Greed a mental disorder?] That understood, we can choose healthier, more magnificent and noble ways of being. DivineSparks, a blog that collects, “words, pictures and other forms of media that remind me I’m a spiritual being having a human experience,” offered this Invisible Acts of Power insight, Anything you do for others, as well as the support you receive in your own life, has healing consequences for the whole human community. Succeed and Soar! Support Succeed and Soar this Month. Keep these inspirations glowing and growing. Shopping at Sandra’s Gifts and/or Sandra’s Galleries also helps. Invest Here. Thanks! Mark your calendar Let’s chat first Thursday, 7pm Pittsburgh [Eastern US] time. Succeed and Soar‘s first Zoom Chat touched on the Big Bang, Critical Race Theory, how thought becomes physical matter and more. Goal: Build community by sharing uplifting, enlightening conversations. See you December 2nd when we can also discuss Ivan Doig’s uplifting and fun novel, Last Bus to Wisdom. Eleanor’s Insights Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
Forgive and Forget? Part 2 of 2: Sometimes Never.
Forgive but do not forget, or you will be hurt again. Forgiving changes the perspectives. Forgetting loses the lesson. – Paulo Coelho Dr. Gerald Jampolsky is the psychiatrist who founded The Center for Attitudinal Healing, which now has 130 centers worldwide. In addition, Dr. Jampolsky has written several gorgeous books about love and healing, including Forgiveness, The Greatest Healer of All, and has said, “Forgiveness means letting go of the past.” Sometimes, history should be held onto. Psych Central’s list of four reasons to forgive and NOT forget says that remembrance of mistreatment and injury can prevent “being a victim of the same offense again.” As George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Here, ‘IT’ means people who are five to ten per cent of the population. They are the one in twenty people characterized by: Shallow Charm Contrived Reactions Pathological Lying No Guilt Secretly backstab and betray Create animosity [breaking up friends and families] These six descriptions are from How to Spot a Sociopath. The next is from “9 Ways to Identify that Sociopath, Psychopath, or Narcissist in your life.” The hundreds of thousands of people in this country with these anti-social personality disorders will also play “mind games” to control friends, family members, co-workers, and even strangers. This post ends with a must-see, reality-call video about the people [from all professions and walks of life] who find satisfaction in hurting others. In deciding whether ‘Forgive and Forget’ is always a good idea, consider Ishmael Beah’s words, A lot of people, when they say forgive and forget, they think you completely wash your brain out and forget everything. That is not the concept. What I think is you forgive and you forget so you can transform your experiences, not necessarily forget them but transform them, so that they don’t haunt you or handicap you or kill you. Remember, after wounds heal, there are reasons scars remain. Believe Nicolas Cage’s words about the heroic rescue attempts at the collapsing World Trade Center on September 11, 2001: Angels exist in people. Wisdoms Collection The inspiring and beautiful work in my Fine Art America collections is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here Thanks for your support! Sandra Gould Ford NOTE: size and placement of the art and words]can be changed as well as background colors.