Thursday, June 19, 2008

Let the healing continue

I had lots of stuff planned for the last couple of weeks in June. A book-signing, a weekend intensive, a group reading with Lighthouse Litfest participants, a fundraiser for Lighthouse, and a one-week class at the Aspen Writers Retreat (with 300 pages of workshop entries to critique before hand). All cancelled due to my health. Oh yeah, I was also going to send in novel 2 by the end of the month.

I knew I'd been pushing it for a while, but my plan was to get through the rest of this month and then chill. However, my body's plan was to chill NOW. Not next week. Not next month. As Larramie noted, I'm like Humpty Dumpty (in oh so many ways!) putting myself back together again. Slowly. This time my body's calling all the shots and my mind has to follow.

This version of a Buddhist meditation on loving kindness from Andrew Weil's book 8 Weeks to Optimum Health really helps. It's specifically for those with heart disease, but I think it helps with everything. In light of Tim Russert's death, seems like all our hearts, healthy or not, could use a little more loving kindness:

My heart fills with loving kindness. I love myself. May I be happy. May I be peaceful. May I be liberated.
May all beings in this vicinity be happy. May they be peaceful. May they be liberated.
May all beings in [name your city] be happy. May they be peaceful. May they be liberated.
May all beings in [name your state/region] be happy. May they be peaceful. May they be liberated.
May all beings in [name your country] be happy. May they be peaceful. May they be liberated. May all beings in [name your continent] be happy. May they be peaceful. May they be liberated.
May all beings on the planet be happy. May they be peaceful. May they be liberated.
[This line is added by me] May my husband/wife/partner be happy. May they be well. May they be peaceful. May they be liberated.
May my parents [and siblings--added by me] be happy. May they be well. May they be peaceful. May they be liberated.
May my friends [and relatives--added by me] be happy. May they be well. May they be peaceful. May they be liberated.
May my enemies be happy. May they be well. May they be peaceful. May they be liberated.
If I have hurt anyone, knowingly or unknowingly, in thought or word or deed, I ask their forgiveness.
If anyone has hurt me, knowingly or unknowingly, in thought or word or deed, I extend my forgiveness.
May all beings everywhere, whether near or far, whether known to me or unknown to me, be happy. May they be peaceful. May they be liberated.

And for all of you: May my blog friends be happy. May you be well. May you be peaceful. May you be liberated.

The other things helping right now are these and these, which hubby and my great friend Maryann found at our local grocery, King Soopers.

And for a laugh till you cry, nothing beats this:

17 comments:

Therese said...

You and Tiger Woods.

:)

Thanks for sharing the meditation. I hope you'll have some of those chocolate-covered almonds on hand whenever I finally get out to Denver.

May you be healed.

Judy Merrill Larsen said...

This is lovely--thanks for sharing. Take care and be well.

Maryann said...

Yay! Glad you found the chocolate-covered raisins as well. A fun snack when you're done meditating. :)

Lisa said...

I'm so glad you are on the road to recovery and doing all the right things.

And -- thanks for the laugh! I LOVE these guys. I hope you spent a couple of hours watching every one of these Flight of the Conchords videos...they are classic.

Larramie said...

Ah, your agenda for June is the culprit, Carleen, especially after your busy, touring spring.

Enjoy the rest, your body deserves as well as needs it.

LadyLee said...

Get well soon... and yes, take time to REST!

Gina Black said...

Chocolate heals all, doesn't it? Good for you for resting. It's hard sometimes to stop, but so necessary.

BTW--the book is (finally) going in the mail tomorrow.

Cherlyn Michaels said...

Gotta make sure you take care of you! Thanks for sharing. :-) Feel better...

Sherry said...

Lovely meditation. Thanks for sharing this.

Josephine Damian said...

Ever since mysterty writer Elaine Veits had a stroke last year, I've been determined to cut back on obligations and demands on my time (translation: stress) - like dropping out of writers groups and not holding anymore officer positions. Writing contests were another big stressor (which you must know by now).

One thing about Russert was clear when he died - he was doing entirely too much, and at too fast a pace.

There are messages here for all of us.

Tyhitia Green said...

LOL. That video was hilarious. Thanks for that. :-D

Take care of yourself and relax. Your body will always remind you that it needs rest. I hope you feel better soon! :*)

Yasmin said...

Hey sis so sorry to hear that you're under the weather...please get better soon and take care of YOURSELF...
xoxo

Barrie said...

Hope your health is improving even as I type this. xo

Sustenance Scout said...

Ditto, Carleen. Hugs and well wishes from south of town, K.

Anonymous said...

Hi Carleen - sending a hug from New York. I hope the time at home is restful and maybe even inspiring. Feel better!

Kwana said...

The body will let you know. Listening is wonderful. Rest well and enjoy it. All else will follow.

How much do I love Flight of the Conchords? Too Much!! :)

Mary Ann said...

Thanks for sharing the meditation. I was, am, so sad about Tim Russert and sad for all of us, that we can't live forever. But your words are soothing. Be well.