Today was mostly devoted to catching up on sleep and taking things slow. I did accomplish some tasks but nothing monumental or intense.
It was pretty much what we used to call a “mental health day.”
A downtime kind of day
Falling in love again…with Brahms
I’ve been so short on sleep lately that I was feeling a little drowsy on the drive from Yuba City (where I had my final post-op appointment-yay!) to Grass Valley, where I was meeting family for lunch.
I don’t usually turn on the radio in the car, but — in the interest of giving my mind something to focus on — I searched out a classical station and found myself listening to the symphonic music of Johannes Brahms for the first time in years and years.
It was his Symphony No. 2 in D major. It’s the only one of the four I’ve never performed but I still recognized it instantly. It’s such a glorious piece of music (a recording of the first movement is below)!
But what I found rather incredible is how intense of an experience it was. A number of feelings and insights came to me, which I need to reflect on in order to sort out what it all means.
One thing I do know is that I love Brahms just as much as ever.
A beautiful end to a wonderful week
Feeling so grateful to all the great souls who helped make both the Inner Renewal and Kriyaban Retreats so powerfully inspiring and incredibly deep.
To quiddle or not to quiddle
Can you believe there’s a NAME for this?
I’m reluctant to admit how completely this resonates with me.
In fact, I can’t help remembering all the times I just had to finish the housework in the final hours before performing a full recital! 🤦♀️
Kriya: high point of the week
It was already a big week (with music to prepare and classes to attend every day), but towards the end I added two trips to town for dental appointments and errands; helped prepare the music office for carpet cleaning; and had to track down missing expense info for our upcoming tax appointment.
And, of course, tonight was Kriya!
I was so tired that I almost stayed home. But I’m glad I went because it’s always deeply inspiring and motivating.
The earth laughs in flowers
I saw this beautiful photo, accompanied by the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, in a post from a Facebook group (Rumi and Spiritual quotes).
“The earth laughs in flowers.”
This lovely imagery immediately brought to my mind these lyrics from Swami Kriyananda’s song, “There’s Joy in the Heavens.”
“…the flowers are all laughing to welcome the morning; your soul is as free as the air!”
Determination
Final day of Inner Renewal Retreat is tomorrow (though it’s immediately followed by two days of Kriyaban Retreat, so the week’s still far from over for us).
The talks have been amazing. Lots of deep inspiration and wisdom and joy.
However, sleep has been at a premium. So, tonight I am determined not to turn on my computer after this evening’s program of a Q & A with Jyotish and Devi. Because once I turn on the computer bedtime gets later and later.
And that is why today’s blog post is about why I’m writing today’s blog post early. 😂
Learning my Stroud family history
I’ve never been particularly good at keeping track of extended family. Partly because I have so many of them!
My mother was oldest of ten children, while my father is second oldest of six. So, I had a lot of aunts and uncles, which means a whole lot of cousins!
But the fact is that my mother’s father (my grandfather, Tandy Stroud) was one of eleven children. So, I also had a whole lot of great-aunts and great-uncles — mostly living in Colorado — who I never did manage to get straight in my mind.
Well, come to find out that one of my cousins is in the process of making a movie about my great-uncle, Kelley “Dolphus” Stroud, an aspiring Olympic athlete who had to travel from Colorado Springs to the Olympic trials in Boston on foot when he was denied funding to travel by train due to his race. It’s really quite a fascinating story, as detailed in this article and in the video below.
Making a movie is an expensive proposition. I’ve made a small donation, but I’m mostly doing my part by helping to spread the word.
Heart offering tattoo
I don’t even remember where I saw this, but I love it.
Translation: “I know it’s not much….but it’s all I have.”
A beautiful way to live.
Four days of inspiration and joy
Yay! Inner Renewal Retreat 2024 starts tomorrow morning and goes through Thursday, February 22nd.
Featuring Jyotish and Devi, it’s one of the highlights of the year throughout the world of Ananda.
And for the first time ever, it’s being offered completely free of charge. So, check it out and register to attend online (that way you’ll have access to all the recordings even if you can’t make it in real time).
Of course, there’s music at the beginning of every class, so we’ll be there for sure. 😊🎶