tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24870352715898085122024-03-12T19:46:38.765-07:00Beautify...PacifyValhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-55848097269295097932017-11-11T13:09:00.001-08:002018-04-12T17:36:20.374-07:00The Joy of Autumn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Autumn is the season of harvest.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LToouwNJ2og/WgRsleR7IDI/AAAAAAAANks/-h7Hq7vLmgosdM4NUqbQJVzl5EKqeAiSACLcBGAs/s1600/%25E5%2590%258D%25E7%25A7%25B0%25E6%259C%25AA%25E8%25A8%25AD%25E5%25AE%259A%25E3%2583%2595%25E3%2582%25A9%25E3%2583%25AB%25E3%2582%25BF%25E3%2582%2599%2B26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LToouwNJ2og/WgRsleR7IDI/AAAAAAAANks/-h7Hq7vLmgosdM4NUqbQJVzl5EKqeAiSACLcBGAs/s320/%25E5%2590%258D%25E7%25A7%25B0%25E6%259C%25AA%25E8%25A8%25AD%25E5%25AE%259A%25E3%2583%2595%25E3%2582%25A9%25E3%2583%25AB%25E3%2582%25BF%25E3%2582%2599%2B26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0X3DiQR_tW4/WgV0G658u0I/AAAAAAAANlA/6X8f_SFelg0crqvpElCIgVfCVwh8VSJggCLcBGAs/s1600/%25E3%2582%25A8%25E3%2582%25AF%25E3%2582%25B9%25E3%2583%259B%25E3%2582%259A%25E3%2583%25BC%25E3%2583%2588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0X3DiQR_tW4/WgV0G658u0I/AAAAAAAANlA/6X8f_SFelg0crqvpElCIgVfCVwh8VSJggCLcBGAs/s200/%25E3%2582%25A8%25E3%2582%25AF%25E3%2582%25B9%25E3%2583%259B%25E3%2582%259A%25E3%2583%25BC%25E3%2583%2588.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I made a smidgen of jam from the fruit of a Russian Olive, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">which bore for the first time in our tiny garden.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The sweet and sour taste of the jam matched cold tofu </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">with pickled Yuzu (Japanese citrus) in honey.</span></div>
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...*...</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My absolute favorite is the clear blue sky with crisp air!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It cleanses my heart </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and fills me with power, hope, and joy!</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xGxumDDFs9E/WgQqt_lqGPI/AAAAAAAANkM/6bLyhnJUC0IDad_Fcmxnt7YXv0Oh84xgACLcBGAs/s1600/temp%2B022-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xGxumDDFs9E/WgQqt_lqGPI/AAAAAAAANkM/6bLyhnJUC0IDad_Fcmxnt7YXv0Oh84xgACLcBGAs/s320/temp%2B022-003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-89IfsM4r-_I/WgZV1p3ILFI/AAAAAAAANlQ/lk7C3BMm11c_QGL84cPDEizG7JopWG0OwCLcBGAs/s1600/P1030851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-89IfsM4r-_I/WgZV1p3ILFI/AAAAAAAANlQ/lk7C3BMm11c_QGL84cPDEizG7JopWG0OwCLcBGAs/s320/P1030851.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Additionally:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy these videos (sorry, they're just short music, though)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and a picture of the autumn festival, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">which was held in the middle of October.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For more information, please visit the following sites:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kawagoematsuri.jp/English/index.html" target="_blank">Kawagoe Festival</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kawagoematsuri.jp/English/about.html" target="_blank">Hikkawase</a></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxq0sVa-E_GmOlSOvEVCSacgcNlaVvauO2F0PPu-E8woecltJOfXMstenhIupCnAKMfQdq8eewjTDK1c-VFFw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qY9L6zEEKOo/WeL-SSCtDXI/AAAAAAAANiI/4fm1xQWP-Yg6DjSNypcUunIarGGFBCtwQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Desktop9-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qY9L6zEEKOo/WeL-SSCtDXI/AAAAAAAANiI/4fm1xQWP-Yg6DjSNypcUunIarGGFBCtwQCEwYBhgL/s320/Desktop9-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Above are the stands </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">along the streets,</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> for food, masks and games .</span></div>
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Sachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02402541779766934182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-79353923634143631342017-09-25T06:35:00.000-07:002017-09-26T15:20:04.420-07:00Micro and macro perspective for our peace.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our physical bodies consist of different organs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each one works in harmony with the rest. They help each other to balance,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to keep our hearts working and to live.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we analyze them further, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">we see that </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">so many parts of our body function to help </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">another.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If one part is damaged, other parts will make up for it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JIoBEo9se3U/WcmClfVxnxI/AAAAAAAANfE/uryV-uZKacM_vBVEy_cJM5tQ_2wNrx5YQCEwYBhgL/s1600/67c0ec5e6263790fa20ba15adf5da0a9_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JIoBEo9se3U/WcmClfVxnxI/AAAAAAAANfE/uryV-uZKacM_vBVEy_cJM5tQ_2wNrx5YQCEwYBhgL/s320/67c0ec5e6263790fa20ba15adf5da0a9_s.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I often speak about "oneness", or say " We are all part of the universe.",</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">or "We are all the same on the inside". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those ideas remain unchanged, and I'm sure they will never change.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It seems to me that our world is losing the balance environmentally. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Especially when we consider the international situation right now, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">which is going in the opposite direction from world peace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a member of this world, I'd like to do something to promote peace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wonder what I can do. Doing some good to other people, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">starting with those who are right in front of me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It seems like a very small act and would take a long time to change the world,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">however, it will at least create positive energy in our world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can't help thinking that conflicts create endless negativity.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A3uqhfN9PWY/Wcl7n2QL2XI/AAAAAAAANes/gWHqMtGwBsksmutmfEtR3H1woxxQxVYHQCEwYBhgL/s1600/7aab807ec5f8c2e4ec28cdacf462bda7_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="640" height="156" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A3uqhfN9PWY/Wcl7n2QL2XI/AAAAAAAANes/gWHqMtGwBsksmutmfEtR3H1woxxQxVYHQCEwYBhgL/s200/7aab807ec5f8c2e4ec28cdacf462bda7_s.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I started my former blog "steps to the sky" with the purpose of</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">contributing to world peace myself, even if only a tiny step,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by exchanging some thoughts with other people, not only Japanese, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">but also from other nations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finding similarities to confirm "We are all the same on the inside", </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and also to learn the differences so as to become a better person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I think learning differences and being a better person </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is one of the reasons why we came into this world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Upon reflection, I admit I haven't done enough yet to achieve my objective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I should write more. So I will keep writing without giving up, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">until I'm able to realize it.:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*...*...*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By the way, I mentioned about "en 縁" and "musubi 結び " in my previous post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the meanings of "<span style="color: red;">en</span>" is fate, or to be meant to be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We use "<span style="color: red;">en</span>" like "これもご縁ですね。kore mo go-<span style="color: red;">en</span> desune."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(We are meant to be met).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While one of the meanings of "musubi" is to tie </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">or to bind (holding the meaning "create" or "produce").</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8w0IYraD0X8/WcMc_VhDIjI/AAAAAAAANdU/PyNqr7AQMU4_hL-S3qrTYnRuoXMyYSfgwCLcBGAs/s1600/291696ac2b41e0b0df2478bd8a168779_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8w0IYraD0X8/WcMc_VhDIjI/AAAAAAAANdU/PyNqr7AQMU4_hL-S3qrTYnRuoXMyYSfgwCLcBGAs/s320/291696ac2b41e0b0df2478bd8a168779_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, so, when You have read this post, "Kore mo go-en desune :)",</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I would be very happy if you could leave a comment, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to create another step towards world peace. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you very much:)</span></div>
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Sachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02402541779766934182noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-74564660310463049422017-08-21T22:06:00.001-07:002017-09-25T22:46:07.555-07:00Summer holidays <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's already ten days to September. (Time flies! )</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hope you all are enjoying your summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here, school summer holidays are from around July 20 to August 31,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and most of the companies have Obon holidays from around Aug.13 to 18 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(just about a week, by adding weekend holidays on it)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So some people have gone back to work already, </span></div>
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and<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> school boys and girls are busy finishing their homework </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">for the summer holidays now (the last stage for it</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">!</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*Obon (or just Bon) is the time when we commemorate our ancestors.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">During this period, people go back to their hometown, visit their graves </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and spend some days with their families.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">During the summer, we have lots of summer festivals</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanabata" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Tanabata (the star festival)</span></a>, Hanabi (fireworks), </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bon Odori (dance), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosakoi" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Yosakoi</span></a>, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and various kinds of Matsuri, traditionally-held festivals </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">involve <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto_shrine" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Shinto shrine</span></a>, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">which are different according to the region.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QGYAwZ7BE-w/WZuHWcebQiI/AAAAAAAANaE/VQTwCa1uCbQAz1UwkzyzziBidhvUjhOAwCLcBGAs/s1600/free%2Bpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QGYAwZ7BE-w/WZuHWcebQiI/AAAAAAAANaE/VQTwCa1uCbQAz1UwkzyzziBidhvUjhOAwCLcBGAs/s320/free%2Bpic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bon Odori(up), Firework(down left), and the Star Festival decoration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Normally, the weather during Obon season is hot and humid, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">with glittering sunshine and cicadas buzzing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I somewhat like that atmosphere because I feel "alive".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, it was quite different this August.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Soon after my previous post, we had continuous rainy days until today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I gave up visiting some events, most of which were held at night, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">because of the sudden rain showers in the evening through the night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just one sunny day, I enjoyed "summer",</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> browsing the town </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">with old rows of houses <span style="color: #3d85c6;">(</span></span><a href="http://www.koedo.or.jp/foreign/english/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Koedo-Kawagoe</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">)</span> and visiting the shrine. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5J5ZlpQg0Bg/WZjxK7s9LgI/AAAAAAAANYg/B_qZt4mORioBtT6TKriGFmEyVwiNkyTVgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5J5ZlpQg0Bg/WZjxK7s9LgI/AAAAAAAANYg/B_qZt4mORioBtT6TKriGFmEyVwiNkyTVgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1332.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can enjoy more photos at <a href="http://www.hikawa-fuurin.jp/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">this site</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I visited the shrine, there were many couples.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This shrine is an Enmusubi-shrine, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">which comes from enshrined deities (five gods):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">two Gods are couples and one God is their son.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"En" meaning "fate" and "musubi" meaning "tie".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You see many Fuurin (wind bells) in the photos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These are Enmusubi-fuurin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Couples write their wishes on the strip of paper </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and tie it under the wind bells.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The note on the shrine's website says:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">it is said that ancient Japanese people used to say that</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">the wind brings "Omoi";</span> its literal meaning is thoughts, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">but "pray" is more suitable, I suppose :). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They also hold wedding ceremonies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can enjoy one of the traditional weddings <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.hikawa.or.jp/ceremony/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love the words En and Musubi. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The original meaning of them is a bit deeper </span>than<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> just "fate" and "tie".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I would like to write about it next time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Please just enjoy "Musubi"<span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.kawagoehikawa.jp/#/yuihimo/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a></span>:)</span><span style="color: red;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">(sorry this site is only Japanese).</span></div>
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Sachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02402541779766934182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-7558975588315121432017-07-20T01:01:00.000-07:002017-09-26T14:32:42.388-07:00Like lotus flowers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIPijG16OcE/WWcLw1BmTwI/AAAAAAAANEU/c0VlXwedLtcPfk6Z0Bawnblmdq10CYYTQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIPijG16OcE/WWcLw1BmTwI/AAAAAAAANEU/c0VlXwedLtcPfk6Z0Bawnblmdq10CYYTQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3332.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The lotus flowers are in full bloom now.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As you know, they grow out of dirty mud </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and bloom so purely and beautifully on the surface. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s why lotus flowers are known </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">as symbols of spiritual enlightenment in various countries. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yet, I suppose lotus flowers never need to contemplate suffering</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">or enlightenment as they grow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We human beings can regard the mud </span></span></div>
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as<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> suffering and obstacles to overcome in life, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">which make our hearts grow stronger! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’d had the idea that there is a long journey to becoming a lotus flower, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">but lately, I have developed a different view... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is beauty in the process!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">People who shine brightly show smiles, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">even if they are surrounded by difficulty. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It seems to me that they never regard their difficulties as mud.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They face reality and do their best. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They seem</span> like lotus flowers already!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I admit it is true that the mud (suffering) makes them grow stronger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, I've learned from lotus flowers </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and people who shine brightly that</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">we have the ability within ourselves to blossom in a single minute; </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">whether we can blossom or not depends on how we view our situation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So here's another beautiful moment! </span>I'll enjoy it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy your shining moments too:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sachi</span></span></div>
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Sachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02402541779766934182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-81656920082263136112017-06-26T06:21:00.002-07:002017-09-26T14:33:05.322-07:00To value the sense of season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's the rainy season in Japan now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Usually, we have lots of rain and the air is awfully hot and humid.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, there has been less rain than usual so far.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hydrangeas need much more rain, it seems.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well...I haven't seen snails nor frogs yet...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We used to live in harmonious rhythm with the four seasons,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">but I have to admit that the balance has been disrupted due to global warming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At such a time as this, I would like to intentionally value the sense of season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">During the summer solitude, many people rearrange the rooms, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">change clothes in their wardrobes, adjust bedding or tableware,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and eat seasonal vegetables, to keep cool. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for seasonal vegetables, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">lots of shiso leaves (one of the Japanese herbs) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">are growing in my tiny garden.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--bZWspQbtj4/WVDSSW0izeI/AAAAAAAANCY/jtGscyF_c6Ai40VexeM82nRF5NHqskUkACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--bZWspQbtj4/WVDSSW0izeI/AAAAAAAANCY/jtGscyF_c6Ai40VexeM82nRF5NHqskUkACLcBGAs/s200/IMG_1207.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The simplest dish for shiso leaves is to use them</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">as a seasoning or garnish for cold somen noodles and soba. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(There are no photos for cold somen noodles and soba for now, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">but I'll update this when I take them later). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The fragrance of shiso leaves is so refreshing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many summer events are coming one after another, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">such as Matsuri, which is an event held in gratitude towards nature.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm hoping to introduce some of these interesting events in the near future.</span></div>
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Sachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02402541779766934182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-40499070873477642042017-04-18T06:07:00.002-07:002017-08-21T22:42:45.760-07:00The sun is always there.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sun is always present.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is just the clouds that hide the sun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trees have begun to unfold their leaves towards the sun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So have the flowers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The flowers in our tiny garden have just started to unfold their petals </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and are showing us their lovely smiles :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-atm-q6MyF90/WPWLgrM8FNI/AAAAAAAAMzg/I7iwcFlDyXwFP0w3hPVui4-h6H3Lp9UzQCLcB/s1600/418%2Bfrom%2Bmy%2Bgarden1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-atm-q6MyF90/WPWLgrM8FNI/AAAAAAAAMzg/I7iwcFlDyXwFP0w3hPVui4-h6H3Lp9UzQCLcB/s320/418%2Bfrom%2Bmy%2Bgarden1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our soul, our true self, is like the sun, it seems.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is shining and smiling deep inside our heart, always and forever.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tif9YdpKJXQ/WPWvatJ3d6I/AAAAAAAAM0I/rgS4350xnwcCiz_rD8d4fOjUdo1EQirzACLcB/s1600/temp%2B022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tif9YdpKJXQ/WPWvatJ3d6I/AAAAAAAAM0I/rgS4350xnwcCiz_rD8d4fOjUdo1EQirzACLcB/s320/temp%2B022.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember that whenever I visited Val's former blog,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the photos on her blog appealed to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could sense the sunlight from her photos, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">which was filtered through her eyes, her true self.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy belated birthday, Val:)</span></div>
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Sachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02402541779766934182noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-53205362453527374402017-04-12T14:00:00.002-07:002017-04-12T14:04:39.040-07:00ObscurusHave I mentioned I was a fan of Harry Potter?<br />
That I am fond of all things fantastic?<br />
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Recently I saw the movie derived from 'Fantastic beasts and Where to Find Them'. It rekindled my love for all things Harry potter/J.K. Rowling.<br />
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I love the way this author uses magical metaphors to paint the miseries and grandeur of the mind.<br />
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The Obscurus struck me as one more powerful image of what goes on in our poor, tormented souls, sometimes. This parasite grows from the suppressed/repressed magical forces of a witch or wizard.<br />
The unfortunate sorcerer, for whatever reasons fate or foolishness or simply Life imposed on him/her, tries to cancel what is in him/her.Thus creating a huge, dark force that he/she can't control.<br />
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Such is the way our mind works, it seems to me. The worries and fears we have, we try to suppress. When we do that, we can't cancel what triggers pain or fear, but we do create another power. We generate more fear, more worry, more stress.<br />
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I think I did that over the past months. Somehow. Hiding worries. Frustration. Anger. Sadness. Pretending. And developping what never existing inside me before...<br />
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What if...this suspicion of illness became really serious? What if I died? What if I started feeling really old? What if I stopped achieving anything good in my life? What if there was no going back? What if I kept worrying like crazy? What if I kept postponing all the good things? What if I was really alone? What if I felt more and more listless and hopeless? What if it was too late? What if something bad really happened to the ones I love?<br />
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Did I become an obscurial? Not quite! :) But I developped bad things. Bad thoughts. Bad habits.<br />
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I started procrastinating. I got tired. Depleted. Nervous. I started watching stupid YouTube channels, just to ease my mind and be able to move on to the next day. I started blaming myself for too many things. Imagining worst-case scenarios. Worse than all, I started losing hope. And this all means the opposite of who I am.<br />
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These things form a vicious circle from which you suddenly realize you can't escape. From which feeling upset and frustrated becomes the rule. From which chronic pain and exhaustion get hold of you way too often.<br />
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But either you become an obscurial, or something clicks in your brain and you realize you're not on the right path anymore. And you change. Again.<br />
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I was born in spring. And spring has always been my favourite season. For me it is an eye-opener. A time when the senses awaken. When energy flows fast and merrily.<br />
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I have realized what things were missing in my life at the moment. What I needed to do to make things better. Well, kind of...That I needed to really take care of myself. Because noone will do that better than me. Because I too deserve to be pampered and taken care of. Because everything is possible, as soon as you believe again. Because it starts with baby steps. One dream at a time. <br />
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Because no kid on earth wants an exhausted, sad mom. Right?<br />
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And also because after all, you get what you focus on.<br />
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-81152335147272560572017-01-13T01:14:00.000-08:002017-09-26T14:31:58.373-07:00The Year 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hello 2017. </div>
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I hope your new year is off to a good start :)</div>
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Last year, I started practicing 書道 Japanese calligraphy.</div>
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So I wrote 四字熟語 Yojijyukugo, a "four kanji character idiom" message, </div>
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with 墨 (ink) and 筆 (brush) in my New Year's card for 2017.</div>
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The left one of the above picture is my New Year's card.</div>
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笑門来福 "Shou-mon-rai-fuku" means "Your smile calls the fortune."</div>
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I also wrote Yojijyukugo </div>
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which describes the state of mind I want to hold onto this year;<br />
it's sort of my new year resolution :)</div>
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The upper right of the picture 森羅万象 "Shin-ra-ban-shou" is</div>
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all of creation, all things existing in the universe.</div>
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And the lower right 明鏡止水"Mei-kyou-shi-sui" means </div>
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state of clear mind like a mirror without any blemish on it surface, </div>
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and it's also like a calm still water surface that reflects the viewer's mind.</div>
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I am a part of the Universe.<br />
This consciousness brings me a serene state of mind with perfect freedom.<br />
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I wish you all happiness.<br />
May all your New Year's resolutions come true:)</div>
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Sachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02402541779766934182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-3576231221378300662016-11-13T04:16:00.001-08:002017-09-26T14:33:31.392-07:00"Arigato" and "kansha"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Arigatou" is one of my favorite words. We say "arigatou" to express our feelings of "kansha"(gratitude).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I say "arigato", nothing is in my mind, but I feel warmth in my heart, thinking of someone or something who has touched my heart. I am so sure that everyone says "arigatou" with a SMILE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I'd like to share with you today is the original meanings of kansha and arigato in kanij, which touched my heart when I learned about them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kansha consists of two Kanji CHARACTERS; KAN and SHA, as you can see below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First, let me explain the meaning of each one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kan means to be moved, or to feel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kokoro is "heart".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sha is to express thanks, or to apologize.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Iu means to tell, say or express.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Iru means shoot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Arigatou has two kanji characters: aru and nan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Aru means to exist and nan means to be difficult.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, Arigato's ordinal meaning is that it is difficult to exist or it is rare and precious to exist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What touched me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well...it is difficult for me to explain in English, but if I try, these original meanings gave me the following sense: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Living in this world in this moment is rare and incredibly precious. We are not alone in this world. We are connected to everything around us; family, friends, society, world, nature, universe. We are alive with gratitude to everything around us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also find this saying "arigato" to be a beautiful cycle of energy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are moved by someone or something, and express our thanks or send them our gratitude. This is never one way. When you say arigato with a smile, the energy of your smile reaches someone else and will be returned to you someday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you so much for reading my writing today. Arigato:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sachi</span></div>
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Sachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02402541779766934182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-29863880459113632732016-10-16T16:14:00.000-07:002017-09-26T14:34:09.366-07:00Pure and simple <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First, I would like to apologize for having been silent for a long time. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yet, I have kept feeling this blog was a treasure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">The purpose of this blog, as set at the beginning, was focusing on to beauty and peace and sharing them across national borders. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">I am still so sure that it will bind us all together and also</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> give us hope to change this complicated world to be beautiful and peaceful. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">Today, for the first time after a long silence, I’d like to share two videos. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With lots of love to you all:)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think we all have the sacred place deep inside our hearts, searching for beauty, peace, and love. So I'm back too, to restart sharing some with you. I am so grateful to Val for allowing me to do that.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The older I get, the more I learn from pure and simple things. I'm always told that we sometimes put too many unnecessary thoughts in our minds. Once we get rid of them and become more pure and simple, we'd be able to recognize a lot of beauties and peace.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*Hug Time</span></div>
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLTD5_7Pl6Y</div>
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*The Charlie And The Seal:</div>
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoJTbfnCVkA</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for my writing, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I sometimes use unnatural expressions or uncommon words...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Could you please let me know when you find any?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sachi</span></div>
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Sachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02402541779766934182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-83268254560245320342016-10-07T01:33:00.001-07:002016-10-07T01:33:30.303-07:00We're never there, are we?Before sharing my readings, my musings, my craftings...I'd like to share a video I stumbled upon a few months ago, and that has deeply shaken me.<br />
Mainly the video explains things I knew already, but...in a different way, and I had a kind of epiphany. I realized most of the time, in spite my intellectual understanding and awareness, I still am not there. I always am somewhere else in my mind.<br />
My mind, like most of us, is a wild horse, taking me to another place where truly I should just...be there.<br />
Yes, I know life is short. Life is precious. We all say that, don't we?<br />
I know, I know...but hell, I mustn't know much, to keep moving forward in my mind. <br />
In the video, we hear a brilliant mind, Alan Watts. I heard so many of his talks, but this one brought me back to my centre and my essentials. It is beautiful. It is true. I daresay it is useful.<br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/176370337?outro=1" target="_blank">Alan Watts - Life is a dance, not a journey</a><br />
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I am a project girl. I live for hope and strive for improvement. But that shouldn't stop me from enjoying the dance. Yet, I believe I have so many times thought about the ending.<br />
I have so often seen my life as a journey. Not as a dance.<br />
In our society, I feel most of us are in a mad rush. We are rushing our kids in this mad race.<br />
In my civil life, I am...a teacher. I know see so many young people. Great, funny, ambitious, bright. But I see so many focused on their future career, their grades, their successes. Some of them told me they hadn't really considered what they liked, they had only considered what they should do, what was the likeliest path to success. Many told me money was necessary for them to be happy.<br />
I am a mom and my eldest has entered junior high...and I see the mad rush there too. So many parents doing their best so that their kids... are the best. <br />
We take our kids to leisure activities that have become a source of medals and certificates (not that I am against them, but are they the ultimate goal?).<br />
But...are we there? Are we there to cuddle and kiss, breathe the fresh air, enjoy this morning sunset when we set off to work?<br />
Are we there to taste this meal we're eating? Do we really feel this coffee we're drinking?<br />
Do we have time left, in our lives and in our minds, to enjoy the security of this roof over our heads?<br />
Worse, are we there to listen to our kids, I mean, really?<br />
Our lives are short, but don't we shorten them by getting lost in a maze of thoughts and prospects?<br />
Don't we miss out way too much?<br />
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Since school year started (beginning of september in France), I've made a point to stop hurrying. I've been determined to be slower. I've found that I am still on time at appointments, that people seem to smile back more often, that my body unwinds in a much needed way, that I don't get angry so much. That I am more present and that it feels good. That I realize even more how much is missed out and what mad pressure we undergo in our modern busy active lives.<br />
I find I do enjoy the dance. And I'm done with the journey.<br />
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Lots of love to you all,<br />
Val <br />
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-49479643565391421462016-09-26T13:51:00.001-07:002016-09-26T13:51:20.258-07:00We never stop growing up, do we?As this blog is now a place I come to to share, look for and shed light, I'll share my thoughts today.<br />
I've just read this post by Kelle Hampton:<br />
<a href="http://kellehampton.com/2016/09/the-middle-place.html" target="_blank">The middle place</a><br />
It has struck me recently how much I have changed. Maybe not as much physically as mentally. I've had hopes and illusions to throw away, I've had a new skin to grow, I've had deaths to accept... I have changed, and maybe I am a puzzle now of all the 'me' I've been. I feel our minds never stop expanding then shrinking then expanding again, depending on the events we live, the place we are in, the people we meet or live with, the destiny that befalls us. What's the point of growing up though, if it is not to evolve and try to be a better person. Better for oneself and better for others.<br />
Right now, I am in that middle place. My babies have grown, and I feel just the same as Kelle.<br />
How amazing isn't it, that no matter whether we are French, American, Japanese, Chinese etc etc, we are so alike and so diverse.<br />
Kelle has things in her life that I don't have. I have things she doesn't, probably. We don't have the same life at all. She doesn't know me. I've never met her. She shares openly so much about her life. I don't. We are so different. And yet, so alike. And I feel my heart echoes with the same tender vibrating notes as hers.<br />
I feel the babyhood slowly and steadily receding (clothes are being passed on to younger ones, conversations become philosophical, and hey, worries appear and evolve too). I feel it is demanding sometimes to face a life where, for my part, parents are not here anymore, and babies turn into young kids...this is all so harsh and yet so beautiful. It is an amazing thing to watch your kids bloom into little individuals who want to explore the world and understand it all! It is difficult, sometimes, to be the grown-up, to be the first on the battle line. Yet I wouldn't stop for a second being this mom pursued by her kids from the break of dawn to far after nightfall. With or without the 'helping hand' of the grown-ups before me. As Kelle says, let it last, let it last, let it last!<br />
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<span id="goog_1082913886"></span><span id="goog_1082913887"></span><br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-82831500068087013192016-09-19T00:41:00.000-07:002016-09-19T00:48:13.483-07:00And so, I'm backAnd so, I'm back, because recently I've remembered this blog, and realized I had missed it. :)<br />
Because in the past, I guess I was somehow expecting that maybe, we'd get more readers, more comments. That we'd find a way to help. A way to add a tiny drop of beauty and peace to the community ocean.<br />
And now I think I may just need to share some thoughts. Sure, I'd still kill for a comment or two. For new opportunities or ideas to pop up. For new ways to share. ;)<br />
But mainly, I've been missing Sachi's posts. I'be been missing these little criss cross posts born of a friendship bound across the oceans; I've been missing the wisdom and refinement of my Japanese friend. And missing the sharing of my own little thoughts.<br />
Also because the net has allowed me to discover a few beautiful people.<br />
You don't always know well the people you see. With the net, you get access to thoughts unshared in daily life. And this unveils the true beauty of some souls.<br />
So I am back. To share my thoughts and feelings. And to read yours.<br />
Because the littlest acts of benevolence already make a difference. I have learnt that in this past year.<br />
Lots of love to you all.<br />
Val<br />
<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-25684477230010767152015-04-18T05:21:00.001-07:002015-04-18T05:21:35.570-07:00Saying my good byesDear all,<br />
I obviously have a love/hate relationship with this blog!<br />
I write less and less here, I miss my point, my friend Sachi is too busy elsewhere too, very few people come across this place or leave comments (thank you, dear Nancy, for your lovely support)...I'm getting discouraged and I see no point in pursuing this little adventure. It has been like that for quite a while, too.<br />
Then I check at the previous posts and think, 'oh, what a shame, what a waste'.<br />
There is probably something wrong in the format, or the design, the concept or whatever. If not, I'd get the urge to write more here and I would take better care of this little space.<br />
There is so much I have to do, I still dig the idea of writing a blog. But this is probably not the right place for me. Or maybe my life is too absorbing. Or maybe I'm beginning to find more disappointment than fun in blogging/on the web...Or maybe I need right now to move to something else.<br />
I'm becoming more and more of a minimalist. I do think that clothes or objects you haven't been wearing/used for months on end are not right for you anymore. They have served their time, done their purpose, you have outgrown them...<br />
I think this is sadly the case for Beautify...Pacify.<br />
I'll leave this little space open for my friend Sachi, who might want to come back here or use it as she likes. If she does, I'll be so happy to come back here as a guest. Who knows? We'll see. But for now, I'm saying my good byes. Thanks to those who have left comments or been kind enough to read our posts. Maybe I'll meet you again on another blog. Nancy, be sure I'll keep visiting your sweet blog. Sachi, you are a true friend and I'd love to see you create a new blog. :)<br />
I'm off to new adventures. I think the real world is calling me away from the web and its giant network.<br />
Lots of love. Namaste!<br />
Valerie<br />
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-63294016747226096542015-01-05T06:52:00.000-08:002015-01-05T06:53:39.686-08:00A new yearA new year, a new beginning,<br />
This is at least how I feel<br />
These new months of january<br />
Are!<br />
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I wish you all a beautiful<br />
New beginning:<br />
The continuity of all the good you've had,<br />
The renewal of all that needs to be.<br />
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Checking my few favourite blogs, I see<br />
Bloggers picking their favourite word.<br />
I have picked mine: outside!<br />
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I've read an enlightening article recently:<br />
OK I knew I was rather an introvert, but well,<br />
It all confirmed it, and even more!<br />
I've been thinking that an introvert<br />
Might need to focus more on things outside of<br />
Himself/herself. I don't know if you'll agree,<br />
But I feel it is healthy to help our weakest<br />
Qualities bloom, so as to achieve this gentle,<br />
Delicate balance. It also happens that<br />
I've decided I'd take my family out more<br />
This year: little outings, little trips,<br />
Nights out, days out, a concert here,<br />
A play there, a movie, a lunch out...<br />
<br />
I believe I need a breather this year, my family does too.<br />
We've had lots of good in 2014, we've had losses too. <br />
I believe I need and want to step out of my comfort zone<br />
A little more often. I want the air, the fun, the open space,<br />
The horizon, the happy sounds of happy crowds.<br />
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Here's to being outside/stepping outside/going outside more.<br />
Wishing you a year full of beautiful outings, large and small!<br />
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-51043751484376199882014-10-22T08:25:00.002-07:002014-10-22T08:27:34.019-07:00Satori-no-Mado (window of spiritual enlightenment)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">October in Japan is in the midst of autumn, when many people look forward to visiting somewere beautiful where they can view the changing autumn leaves. Where I live, the leaves have just started changing color. Though it is getting cooler, we can still enjoy the clear blue sky and warm, comfortable sunlight with an obento (box lunch) on sunny days.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other day I found an advertisement for Japanese National Railways inviting people to come to Kyoto. They put out the same kind of advertisement every year, and I admit I am always tempted to go. The ad I found on the train used some symbols of one of the temples in Kyoto, which are vrey famous: the "Satori-no-mado" or "window for spiritual enlightenment", which is circular, and the "Mayoi-no-mado" or "window of the life of person", which is square. The ad really made me feel like spending a day sitting in front of those beautiful windows. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF24xn7i6ms" target="_blank">"Satori-no-mado and Mayoi-no-mado"</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Especially, in front of Satori-no-mado. A circular has deep meanings: the universe, wholeness, harmony, and many others. Perhaps we can create a "Satori-no-mado" in our mind, so that we can find beauty and peace everywhere in this world.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hoe you all have beautiful, peaceful and happy autumn days.</span></div>
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Sachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02402541779766934182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-27413979140682736082014-09-26T04:04:00.000-07:002014-09-26T04:04:19.618-07:00Sharing Beauty and Peace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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To dear Val and my dear readers,<br />
I apologize you for my long, long absence from this blog and also I would like to express my gratitude to Val for allowing me to keep writing my part here. As Val mentioned in her post, I created another blog in Japanese in April, although I have not been able to update it yet, due to a family problem. The main reason I started the Japanese blog is to share the concept of "Beautify and Pacify", FACE TO FACE.<br />
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Sharing positive thoughts and viewpoints is valuable, especially in this confusing world.<br />
Having read all of Val's recent posts, I really reaffirm my connections with her. I found myself nodding my head as I read each post. Beauty and Peace ARE always here, in an every single thing we do in our everyday life, and it depends on ourselves whether if we find them and enjoy them or not. I really feel them through taking care of my mother who has been in the hospital. <br />
As Val and Nancy say, every choice we make IS the key to make our world beautiful and peaceful.<br />
I hope to continue to move on to our/my purpose, both on this blog and on my Japanese blog.<br />
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*****<br />
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Lastly, I would like to share some photos with you from an event called Children's Day (or sometimes Boy's Festival) in Japan, which is held on May 5th. It was for celebrating boys but now it has become a day to celebrate children in general. The event has already passed and though my photos are not timely, I did tell you I would talk about it just before I took my long absense, so I'm glad to be able to share these photos here.<br />
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On Children's Day, dolls for boys (patterns after warriors and heroes) are set up (abpve photo). <br />
Also, if you come to Japan in May, you will see carp streamers everywhere, flying in the blue sky. Carp have the strength to swim up waterfalls. So, from ancient times, parents have prayed for the success of their children in life. Traditionally, the event was for boys, but towards girls or boys, the thoughts of moms and dads have been the same: Happiness, good health and success... They all come from their deep LOVE!!!<br />
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Sachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02402541779766934182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-26865903732051720922014-09-23T12:46:00.000-07:002014-09-23T12:46:08.070-07:00Run, run, little mamaThat is somehow what I could tell myself, so often.<br />
These days I've had a lot more work... at my work!<br />
And that feeling of frustration has started creeping back...<br />
Like I already mentioned , I was on parental leave for 3 years. And although I had the opportunity to experience how undervalued the status of stay-at-home mum is, I couldn't care less, and it was probably one of the best times of my life.<br />
Back to work, I'm feeling, these days, how hard it is sometimes to be obliged to work out of my home (even if I like my job) when I know I am missing on a few things at home precisely.<br />
My job is great, but it is also time-consuming and brain-sucking. It weighs on my mind and more than once, it keeps me from doing these extra activities, this homeschool work, these fun and entertaining expeditions that I know would be great for my kids.<br />
Run, run, little mama...<br />
Try to squeeze in as much time as you can, open up as much brain space as you can, to fulfill your kids' needs, to expand their views and knowledge, to take care of their health and ensure that their minds and bodies are blossoming the right way. The right way for them.<br />
I could do more.<br />
I love doing more.<br />
I love doing nothing, too, with my kids. Gazing at the sky. Talking silly. Singing.<br />
That is a luxury. Finding time to read with themat night is awesome. It is worth it. It is also so hard to find that time, when there is still work to be done. And sleep to catch up with. <br />
There is always something else/more to do. <br />
The race is hard, sometimes.<br />
And the strangest thing is, I love it, and I dread the day when I stop running.<br />
So run, little mama, run.<br />
And be still, whenever you can, so that the race is swifter, and the time is sweeter.<br />
A special thought tonight, to all the mamas, of all colours and ages and places.<br />
They're all the same. They mean so well. They do so much.<br />
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-78117498089276042622014-09-12T07:04:00.000-07:002014-09-12T07:04:41.342-07:00You've got to know where to lookIn this blogging community, there is a handful of blogs I love checking up on. There is my friend <a href="http://suiren-steps.blogspot.fr/" target="_blank">Sachi</a>'s blog (she recently shifted to Japanese and alas, my Japanese isn't good enough yet!). There is <a href="http://nancyaah.blogspot.fr/" target="_blank">Nancy</a>'s blog, there is <a href="http://www.nobiggie.net/" target="_blank">Kami</a>, there is <a href="http://vlijtig.blogspot.fr/" target="_blank">Kristel</a>, <a href="http://www.creativelightless.com/" target="_blank">Nikola</a>. And a few others, dedicated more specifically to <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/" target="_blank">cooking</a> or <a href="http://www.elhadadepapel.com/" target="_blank">handcraft</a>.<br />
They all tell a story, full of sweetness, passion, ups and downs, inspiration. In them I see beautiful women, this kind of real beauty made of resourcefulness and sensitivity.<br />
I love checking on them regularly, like checking on a friend to make sure eveything is fine and hear about the latest news from their life. <br />
Wait...there is also Kelle and Rachel. This week, these two have posted something that rings a bell and finds a way into my own heart, because it is my inspiration, the touchstone of my blog.<br />
<a href="http://lusaorganics.typepad.com/clean/2014/09/your-life-is-beautiful.html" target="_blank">Your life is beautiful</a>, Rachel says.<br />
<a href="http://www.kellehampton.com/2014/09/enjoying-payoff-in-present.html" target="_blank">Loving, even when it's hard, <i>is</i> the payoff in parenting</a>, Kelle says.<br />
I read those two posts and saw the same thing: there is really a lot of beauty in our lives, but sometimes it is not exactly what we would expect it to be. Sometimes it is there, behind a huge messy heap of daily chores, or in the early rain. Sometimes it is at the very root of what we could get tired of. Because it just needs to be seen and accepted in a different way. Because stress and hurriedness act as the most opaque screen ever....and when you stop and do open your eyes, it all starts flowing and overflowing.<br />
I believe it really requires us to stop. Stop in our tracks, even if we don't have time or don't feel like it. <br />
Though I never was in touch with Kelle or Rachel, though I think they never saw any of my comments, I am dearly attached to their blogs. There is a part of their life that graciously meets mine: the way they constantly surround themselves with beauty, a beauty you have to look for sometimes, or just embrace some other times. The beauty of the instant, in the way you can grasp the moment, yes, this tiny little moment, even if you're having a bad day. This moment of grace, of love, this little snippet of pure joy that's asking to be cherished and remembered.<br />
As Kelle and Rachel, and <a href="http://www.nourishingdays.com/2014/09/except-shes-beautiful/" target="_blank">Shannon</a>, reminded me, yet again, beauty is not automatic, it isn't always easy, it is what you decide it to be. YOU catch the moment. YOU create the beauty around you. I mean the beauty of life, of course...<br />
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-35350331639409783272014-09-02T05:44:00.006-07:002014-09-03T12:51:48.273-07:00Thirteen reasons why cooking can make you happier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've always been fond of cooking. But as in many relations, there have been ups and downs. Times of intense activity, and times of pure neglect. When I was a young girl, before studying in England, I didn't care too much about health, fitness, long culinary preparations. While being a student in England, I totally gave in. I snacked on Twix and melted cheese, not caring about all the other food available, never cooking. I occasionally tasted local dishes, but on a daily basis, I was a barbarian! I don't regret it. It was part of my youth, a time of freedom and carelessness. I came back to France with ten more kilos. I didn't wear the same size of clothes, my cheeks were chubby, I was happy. When I met my future husband, I started eating too much, somehow competing with his much larger appetite and stomach. And I put on weight again. <br />
Yet I have always loved cooking and caring about food. My mom offered me a book when I was eight: <a href="http://www.amazon.fr/La-cuisine-petites-filles-COLLECTIF/dp/B006D9WHI0" target="_blank">la cuisine des petites filles</a>. And I passionately cooked each and every recipe, including the slightly tricky ones. I was so grateful for this precious present! It was colourful, surprising, gratifying.<br />
I have always loved cooking <i>for people</i> too. I believe that this part of my life spent alone in my own flat, as a senior student, led me to less cooking because there wasn't someone to share food with, most of the time.<br />
I have always loved arranging dishes, making them look pretty. And I have always been a lover of good things, good food included! ;)<br />
Several moments in my life enhanced and developed my taste for food and its cooking correlate. Becoming a mom was the most important. It started with these little carrot purees I started making for my teeny tiny babe. And it kept developing as my baby kept growing, and as my family increased in number.<br />
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Having a family made it different. Cooking reached a higher level. I became more aware of the impact of food on health. When I was on parental leave, it reached a higher level still. For the first time in my life I had several babies to take care of, and time to cook real meals. I also had a much tighter budget. So cooking from scratch became a must. And I was stunned each day to see how happy it made me!<br />
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Now the babes are growing, I am back to work, my husband still has a strong appetite, and I have acquired enough experience to feed my whole family with care, with a reasonable budget, fresh products, abundantly but reasonably, while always keeping in mind the importance of health and pleasure that, I think, are inherent to cooking.<br />
I'm happy to share here thirteen reasons why cooking has changed my life for the better.<br />
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1) Cooking is sharing.<br />
My kids know how to cook. My younger ones love peeling veggies and spending time in the kitchen with me, throwing things in boiling water, cutting, pouring, washing...<br />
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2) Cooking is fun.<br />
Manipulating textures, dealing with colours, seeing food transform, making combinations. It's a bit of science class mixed with playing house! Not to forget the immense pleasure of tasting the result of all these makings and experiments! Cooking favours creativity and washes stress away.<br />
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3) Cooking means intention. It means taking care of oneself and others. In a medical sort of way. In a mommy's sort of way. In a gardener's sort of way. It makes me happier. It means doing something with intention, and this might not be far from what Sachi wrote about: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/.http://beautify-pacify.blogspot.fr/2014/01/honmono-genuine-thing.html" target="_blank">honmono.</a><br />
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4) Cooking preserves health.<br />
I've enjoyed reading The <a href="http://time.com/8515/hungry-planet-what-the-world-eats/" target="_blank">hungry planet</a>. The more you cook, the more you realize the impact on your health, and on your planet's health. Since I started cooking from scratch and making a real effort to keep processed food at bay, we gradually stopped going to the doctor. After a few years, we realized this stunning reality: we are rarely sick, and recover very quickly from colds. We are more energetic, we pratice more sports than before...So much time and money saved since we stopped being sick every now and then, especially in winter time. This is really worth the effort.<br />
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5) Cooking enlightens.<br />
I have learned so much, not only about the actual process of cooking, but about the way food is produced. From agriculture to economy, from philosophy to geography, food partakes to so many different fields of interest. Add to this all the cooking associates, like oenology, wine tasting, but also chemistry. I have a whole collection of cooking books that I keep jealously on a shelf in my living-room. <br />
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6) Cooking means playing an active role in economy, through the careful
choice of what you buy. It means you can have more control on what you
eat. It can even mean you refuse to eat food that comes from animals
that were ill-treated. You can stop eating vegetables and fruits soaked
with pesticides. Cooking more consciously, I eventually bought my own
chickens and extended my vegetable patch. <br />
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7) Cooking is educating: myself, my kids, my husband. It means discovering and enjoying new flavours, it involves the curiosity of tasting food from other countries. Discovering rare vegetables, exotic fruits, new dishes. Being respectful of our bodies, our environment.<br />
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8) Cooking develops organizational skills: planning, choosing recipes, adapting them to the number of guests and to the time of the year (a nice warm soup in winter, a sweet fruit sorbet in summer, veggies of the season...). Calculating amounts, quantities, proportions, distributing, freezing, preserving. It has a snowball effect. The more you cook, the more efficient you become.<br />
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9) Cooking leads to better eating. And this involves not only the amount of vitamins you will absorb, but also the quiet time you will spend together sitting at the table, sharing jokes and anecdotes, anticipating the pleasure of eating a meal prepared with love. If you cook, you might eventually ditch the overload of industrial, processed food that has become part of our daily lifestyle. You might slow down and take time to enjoy the process of giving food to your body. You might relax and feel gratified and grateful.<br />
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10) Cooking is love. It shows love. It shares love. It is family. It is friends gathered together.<br />
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11) Cooking is celebrating. It means Christmas. Thanksgiving (an event we don't have here, but I am slowly integrating it in my family's culture). Birthdays...<br />
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12) Cooking helps you lose weight (or keep your weight stable).<br />
I once read <a href="http://www.amazon.fr/Ces-Fran%C3%A7aises-qui-grossissent-pas/dp/2749903335" target="_blank">this book</a> and was struck by how true this might well be: traditional French cuisine may actually lead not to overweight, but to a stable, healthy silhouette. Though this is gradually losing ground in France, our traditional way of eating implies several courses, smaller portions, a little bit of everything: entrée, main and side dish, cheese, dessert...A meal cooked from scratch, with some variety, will lead you to eat more of everything and less of one thing. Hence a healthier lifestyle, a safer check on vitamins. I am a fan of French cook <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_Lignac" target="_blank">Cyril Lignac</a>, because I think he's unpretentious, reasonable in his advice, and wise in his approach. Like him, I think young people shouldn't be forbidden to have a quick snack, but should be educated and slowly guided toward fresh, home-made food.<br />
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13) Cooking is beauty. Shall I say more? It is beauty on the outside. It is beauty on the inside. Sometimes both, sometimes not. How does it matter? There is the beauty of all the work involved in the preparation. There is the beauty of showing it, like a declaration. And sharing it.<br />
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-91703149421761685502014-08-30T00:34:00.000-07:002014-08-30T12:52:41.272-07:00Quick DIY furniture makeover...and some thoughts about how less is more!Very often, I stop in my tracks and consider whether that trip to the mall is actually the best or smartest move.<br />
Very often I end up using leftovers, or whipping up a quick DIY project, and this leaves me a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment.<br />
Let's be clear, I'm a girl and I love the occasional trip to shopping places.<br />
But for a few years now, precisely after an emotional shock (the loss of my dad) and later a shift to a new condition/status (parental leave), I started pruning, decluttering,stashing away, while intentionally keeping the most precious and meaningful. And I haven't stopped loving it.<br />
Decluttering actually seems to automatically open new spaces in my mind. It freshens up my brain while freshening up the space I live in.<br />
This week I stopped again in my tracks. I gave up grocery/errands shopping; instead I cooked pasta and spotted a set of shelves abandonned in a corner of the attic.<br />
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I also decided to give up my tendency to wait for the best material/best moment/best fit. Better done now than possibly perfect in an indefinite future!<br />
These shelves didn't have a particular style. They had protruding elements on the top (to allow for the addition another shelf).<br />
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I then moved to my little boy's collection of Legos. Although he loves them, he didn't play too often with them. Mainly because they were heaped in a box, where it was hard to sort them out, where they were an indefinite mass of items. Kids need to have easy access to their toys. They need to be able to go through them without drowning in a pile of objects. They need a place to play with them. Sometimes just a little teeny tiny spark to set new games in motion. They need to be able to see what they have. Not to invest time in choosing and sorting through more toys than they can deal with. Excess induces stress not only with adults. Kids too, need space to breathe and relax, feeling free for creativity and imagination. And fun. And dreams.<br />
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So I took out all my boys' Lego blocks. Simply hot-glued a selection of them on the higher shelf (one layer), along the whole perimeter, and on one fourth of the bottom shelf (following my boy's instructions, as he wanted a small garage). This reduced noticeably the number of Lego blocks and allowed new playing space to play with the remaining mobile Legos.<br />
It was also the occasion to set aside a few toys that were broken or outgrown. <br />
In addition to that, it allowed me to finally create a kind of Lego table. I had seen some of those for sale, at a very high price. This one didn't cost me anything!<br />
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It was also fun to make, and all my kids engaged in the process, some simply watching, some selecting the Legos to glue, and some giving directions! ;)<br />
But the best part is that since this quick DIY furniture makeover, they have spent hours playing with my boy's Lego blocks. The little cars have found their place on the middle shelf, and I have customized the blue container that is now officially and obviously the box for Lego toys!Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-88367443059779534422014-08-21T14:25:00.001-07:002014-08-21T14:25:03.857-07:00Back to realityHowdy?<br />
I am just back from holidays. I was lucky to have a friend who invited us to stay one week in his house on the Atlantic coast. Lucky, right?<br />
As usual, I feel it was short and packed with emotions and errands and discoveries. One of the things I dig most in holidays away from home, is the change of habits, the novelty. Changing home and space sounds like the radical solution to see everything with new eyes.<br />
I even found some little time for myself: long walks on the beach early morning,while toddlers and friends and spouse were sleeping still. :)<br />
It is so easy in these condtions, to find beauty in everything. Yet I am not sure everyone does. I somehow feel like hundreds of treasures are overlooked, here and there. Unseen. Unappreciated. Forgotten.<br />
I just feel I want to lose track of time watching them. Losing track feels nice. It feels like joining the birds in their flight. Like racing with the waves. Like dissolving in the wind. Like tiptoeing on kids' laughs as if they were stepping stones. Like melting in the ocean's colours.<br />
I wasn't treasure hunting. No need to hunt. Just to breathe and walk and sit, eyes open wide.<br />
Did you come across many treasures on your holidays? Did you have time to slow down and watch around you?<br />
I hope you've had the sweetest holidays, no matter near or far. <br />
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-12004966479893138852014-07-06T06:51:00.000-07:002014-07-06T06:55:56.315-07:00Gift swap, anyone?<br />
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Dear blog readers,<br />
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I wonder sometimes where this blog is going.<br />
My last post dates back to april...seriously!?<br />
To be honest, I've been tempted to let it go. Several times. Too much 'stuff' to deal with in my life. Too much I feel like writing, and too much I want to keep for myself. Two opposite forces that keep attracting and repulsing each other. Too much time to spend on the Web, too many things to do outside the Web. Decisions and directions to take. A mother's life, a worker's life, a wife's life, and a blog that is still somehow looking for its own meaning.<br />
Does that make sense?<br />
My dear friend Sachi, though still a foundation of this blog's soul, has been called to other blogging activities. She may sometimes post something about it here, and will be most welcomed. But she is busy elsewhere, and I wish her the best with the task she has undertaken. :-)<br />
Yet, I keep coming back to blogging. I've met very nice people thanks to blogging. I've learned things. I've entertained myself more than once. I love sharing things. I would like this blog to become a place of exchange. A place to talk, share experiences, and learn, and help each other.<br />
These last months/years, I've been busy. Very busy. I stopped my stay-at-home mum's life to go back to work. I've had to help a dear member of my family facing serious illness. I've had to let go of what my life once used to be, thus welcoming very good things but saying good-bye to awesome things too.<br />
I haven't been gentle enough to myself, because I had to be there for others. Because I wanted to do so much. And I've been coming close to burn-out. <br />
Suddenly the holidays are (almost) upon me. My kids are on holiday. Time is bound to slow on its own. Life opening up to quiet evenings, star gazing, listening to crickets and nightingales, simply watching my kids playing. A true possibility of hurrying less, making new plans, breathing deeply, enjoying the moment.<br />
We all have so many grand plans, I believe. Yet, what do we remember in the end? Most likely those moments spent inhaling the simple happiness of loving and being loved, being alive, soaking in the beauty. <br />
I am considering shifting this blog's focus on 'the moment': sharing tiny snippets of Life's treasures. We'll see..<br />
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But for now, with the arrival of the holidays, the huge need to release pressure and indulge in sweet, self-relaxing activities, here is my call: gift swap, anyone? :-)<br />
Very much inspired by <a href="http://vlijtig.blogspot.fr/" target="_blank">Kristel</a>'s idea, I'd love to start a gift swap. Feeling interested by an exchange of gift for this summer? Anything that could include handcraft, drawing, playing ideas (toy-making, jewel-making, vintage - or not! - fabrics), essential oils, reading (books, magazines ..), relaxing, sweets, cooking, sewing, activities and little things for kids too. That is an unfinished list! Well, you get the idea: a little package of fun to receive, a little Xmas bubble in the heart of summer? The gift swap I've done with Kristel was awesome! Not to mention the packages Sachi and I sent each other! That's the added bonus of blogging: giftswap is bound to be entertaining, exotic, fun. It's so great to receive little things from another place, country, region, it is such a great opening of our views and boundaries.<br />
Let's get in touch via email or in the comments section if you are interested! I hope you will! ;-)<br />
Namaste, friends!<br />
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-87839035627834207072014-04-23T03:12:00.000-07:002014-04-23T03:12:00.736-07:00Going nowhere, doing nothing, planning nothing<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello, hello...I think I never let this blog down for so long?</div>
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And suddenly, Spring was upon us, and suddenly it was holiday time!</div>
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I think it is obvious that I am going through a mini crisis,</div>
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Questioning our consumers' society, our need to rush and show off,</div>
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Our race to get more, prove more, speak louder...</div>
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It is something I feel, and life as a working mom adds to the rush.</div>
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Well, does it really?</div>
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It does, but it's up to us to question what we do, the way we live...</div>
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I am personally by Nature torn forever between my contemplating tendencies</div>
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And my love for activity and movement...Well, Life is a constantly self-readjusting balance</div>
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Between all our aspirations and needs...</div>
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This week, I've chosen my balance :) Everything comes to a stop...</div>
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No more going here and there, no more activities for the kids...Exit judo, riding lessons,</div>
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Exit getting ready for school, exit getting prepped up and cute-looking for work.</div>
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This week, it's holiday at home. Spring has finally arrived,</div>
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The garden is in full bloom, and my motto is 'no rush'.</div>
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Each time I have something to do, I stop and think about how I can do it</div>
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Without hurrying...I think of all things, hurrying is one of the most harmful things</div>
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I have to face. </div>
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I also have enrolled in an <a href="http://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank">online course</a>, fascinating...and I'd like to present you</div>
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Our new family member...I am falling in love with that one, too:</div>
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Well, it feels good to be back here!</div>
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I know Sachi has plans that may include this blog too,</div>
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She has come up with great ideas...</div>
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Wishing you all a happy, sunny day</div>
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(Like many, I am so fond of <a href="http://youtu.be/y6Sxv-sUYtM" target="_blank">Pharrell Williams' song</a>!)</div>
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Val</div>
Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052983331122916155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487035271589808512.post-13935007977591835642014-04-07T21:09:00.003-07:002014-04-07T21:11:07.868-07:00Cherry blossoms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When you visit Japan during this season, you will see so many cherry trees in full bloom. Whenever you go, you'll hear people talking about the cherry blossoms (and I hope you don't get tired of it), ad see people having parties under the cherry trees. Well, I guess you could say we have special feelings towards cherry blossoms.</div>
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The cherry trees are in full bloom from around the end of March to the beginning of April--the season when we are waiting for the warmth of spring. Our ancestors set the time of graduation and school enrollment during this time. It's a time of new beginnings, so cherry blossoms are a symbol of life itself, so to speak. I think I can say that Japanese people cherish the thysms of nature. We are always attune with nature in a way.</div>
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We cherish the falling cherry blossoms as well. Seeing those beautiful cherry petals fluttering in the warm sunlight is amazing, but also it is touching to see how they fall to the ground. I feel a kind of "shining life" there, and many Japanese people probably feel the same.</div>
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I wonder if you feel something similar about cherry blossoms?</div>
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I believe we share the same feelings about spring. I hope you enjoy your bright warm spring!</div>
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Sachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02402541779766934182noreply@blogger.com2