A Blessing for Your Work

Today was my first day back to school for workshop. As much as I enjoyed the summer there is something about starting a fresh school year. I know there will be lots of ups and downs and times when I will be wishing again for summer! I found this Celtic Blessing for Work and I plan to keep it where I can see it everyday.

Celtic Work Blessing

May the light of your soul guide you.
May the light of your soul bless the work that you do
with the secret love and warmth of your heart.
May you see in what you do the beautyof your own soul.
May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those who work with you
and to those who see and receive your work.
May your work never weary you.
May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement.
May you be present in what you do.
May you never become lost in bland absences.
May the day never burden.
May dawn find you awake and alert,
approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities and promises.
May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.
May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected.
May your soul calm, console and renew you.

I hope you remember to play as hard as you work!! At Gathered From The Garden our work seems a whole lot like play because we enjoy it so much. Take a look at our website to see the products we are having fun with: gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

Patience

I get a daily inspirational thought from a website I frequent. The last one I got was on patience. I know, I know patience is a virtue but boy it sure is hard sometimes to be patient. I am learning to have more patience as I age. My grandchildren are helping with this. It's hard not to be patient when you are dealing with such precious little ones! I'm learning not to rush things and to just really enjoy my time with them.
I need to work on being more patient in waiting for answers to some of my prayers. God doesn't always work according to my timeline. I am trying to find time to listen and not always be the one doing all the talking/asking.
I thought I would share the inspirational thought about patience with you...

Patience is a virtue and a power too. Patience tells us that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and that we get over there one step at a time. Patience teaches us not to rush. Knowing that there is a reason and a season for everything it enables us to smile at the challenges, realizing that there is an answer to every problem. And, even though we cannot see it, yet there is awareness that within every crisis lies an opportunity. (author unknown)

Hopefully this will inspire you to try some patience with the people and situations in your life.
Our son has finally gotten word of when he may leave Iraq. We are hoping for the end of Sept. or early Oct. My patience will be tried as I wait for him to come home. (an answer to prayers--hurray!)

We here at Gathered From The Garden use patience as we try our best to bring you some great products. Try our soothing Bath Teas when your patience is tried and you need to relax. Lavender or Rose scented. Check out our website for more details. www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

Give A Little Every Single Day

What's the best way to stay healthy? Regular exercise, a low-fat diet, stress management...these are all good but the act of giving can actually add years to our life. Studies have shown that volunteering even beat out exercise when it came to adding longevity!
It all starts with the small acts of giving and making generosity part of your day. It could be leaving a big tip, listening to a friend or letting someone in line ahead of you. The key I think is to see yourself not in need of things from others but to see yourself as the giver of those things. What would you like more of in your life? Friends? Write or call a friend with whom you've lost touch.
We often give to those closest to us and that's a great place to start. But I think we need to look beyond and widen our scope--to send a message that we know there are others in the world in need. One organization that I try to help is the Fistula Foundation--they are helping women in Africa. I feel a need to help other women because I can. (www.fistulafoundation.org)
Look at the daily encounters you have as opportunities for generosity. Try making an effort to give kindness and attention to all the people you interact with. It's going to change your mood and the way people respond to you. An act of kindness is like a pebble thrown in a lake. The ripples continue outward and reach so many others.
In the current issue of Body and Soul Magazine (bodyand soulmag.com)
you will find "50 Ways to Give Right Now". This list includes things like "hold the door, give a compliment, tell a joke, pick up trash, surprise someone,teach your children about giving" just to name a few. The list includes some pretty simple ideas that could really impact someone you meet.
Gathered From The Garden has some great products that you could give to someone to make their day. Something as simple as our $2.00 lipbalm! Check out our website for more fun ideas! www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

"55" The Speed Limit or Your Age?

My husband turned 55 this past spring. It seemed to be just another number until he started to notice some Senior Citizen discounts applied to him! There seemed to be some perks for growing older and that made him smile. While I am younger than he is, I will be reaching that milestone age soon.
Along with noticing the discounts, I've begun noticing articles written on how to stay healthy as you age. The most recent one I read was about strengthening your bones and joints. Regular exercise pays big dividends for bone health. It can be going to the gym or using workout tapes at home or just getting in a daily walk. Non weight-bearing exercise is good for those with osteoarthritis. (swimming, water aerobics)
Vitamin D is important for preventing osteoporosis as it helps our bodies absorb calcium. We can use 15 minutes of being in direct sunlight a day. (More than that--use sunscreen!) Vitamin D supplements can also be used--check with your doctor first.
Watch what you eat. In addition to providing good fats that can reduce joint inflammation, nuts contain bone-protecting minerals. By substituting nuts for other less nutritious snacks you may maximize the benefits to bones and joints. Walnuts are a good choice because they contain Omega-3's. New research shows that drinking tart cherry juice helps aching pains postexercise. Research has shown that the juice reduces muscle soreness and pain.
Gathered From The Garden has a wonderful "Sore Muscle Relief Lotion." It is very soothing on sore or tight muscles. Check out our website for more info: gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com
I know I am really showing my age when I blog about getting older. :)