Coming Clean with an ABC Award

cleaning tools

If love is in our hearts, every thought, word, and deed can bring about a miracle.

Because understanding is the very foundation of love, words and actions that emerge from our love are always helpful. ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Started this a.m. cleaning house; no intention on visiting the web, or posting here. But a moment of un-mindfulness changed my trajectory, let’s hope for the good. To sounds of bird songs outside I prepared to wash the kitchen floor, as done from time to time. Mixing ammonia with warm water I was quickly affected by the strong smell. Eyes complained of burning, lungs were not happy either. I had not paid attention to pouring janitorial strength ammonia. Usually I’ve used the diluted home version which contains 3% ammonium hydroxide. This formula has 10%. Three times as strong. Spent some moments loving my lungs and eyes getting some outside fresh air, meditating on the beauty surrounding me. Went back in after feeling fresh again and diluted the cleaning solution with more water. Put on some swimming goggles to love the eyes and mopped away. Now I’m taking a break to share about a clean floor and an unexpected moment of happiness.

clean linoleum

Fellow blogger Kelly Kuhn nominated me for recognition with an ABC award. Generally I’m rather shy about blog awards, as I received abundant recognition with awards during my public health career, but at this moment it is a moment of happiness. Thanks to Kelly, who’s blog “Becoming one breath at a time” makes me smile with its heartfelt encouragements to take care, live a mindful, happy life.

According to her ABC Award post, ABC stands for Awesome Blog Content, and all I need to do to receive the award is follow 3 simple rules:
1.  Post the ABC Award logo on my site
2.  Write an ABC list that is relevant to who I am
3.  Nominate others for the award

So here is a rather spontaneous ABC about myself and non-self elements:

Air, I’m full of it.

Breathe, makes me happy and well

Compassion, energy I aspire to cultivate it deeper

Diligence, keeps my practice steps moving forward, usually more than backward

Empathy towards self and others everyday

Fun, sitting here and manifesting answers

Gratitude for this gift of life and all that supports me

Happiness is here and now, as are enough conditions to be happy

Inspiration to joyfully take the right action

Joy, what good is any practice without it?

Karma, I’m swimming in it

Love is all I need

Mindfulness is the energy that brings me into contact with the present moment

Nice, which I try to be, although sometimes fail

Opinion, of course I have one but it’s often open to change, I hope

Peace, in myself and hope for the world

Quiet, together with peace is how I spend many of my days

Relaxation helps my body, heart and mind stay young (relative to the age of the universe)

Self, I’m empty of a separate one, but full of the universe (smile also could define me somewhat)

Together we are one, our inter-being nature (from Thich Nhat Hanh’s calligraphy on the top of this page)

Unborn, undying I am; when conditions were sufficient, I manifested. When no longer sufficient, I’ll be gone in this form

Victoria was my first girlfriend; she slammed a desk down on my pinky in 8th grade and guitar playing has never been the same.

Why, a question I ask a lot, then I practice letting go of wanting an answer

Xerox, once I owned one of those copy machines

Your reading this completes me

Zebras smiled at me from a distance recently at the Oakland zoo

fresh sqeezed lemon & grapefuit, just add water and sweetener

Now I’d like to nominate a few of those who inspire me when I sign into the blogosphere every week or so. May all be happy and safe.
http://onemindfulstep.com/
http://wordsthatserve.wordpress.com/
http://bewellandhappy.wordpress.com/
http://theartoflivingintheverymoment.wordpress.com/
http://wildonewithin.wordpress.com/
http://landoffun.wordpress.com/
http://transcendingbordersblog.wordpress.com/
http://lifeasimprov.com/