What a blessing to have made another trip around the sun! In 2025, the “stars aligned” and I had the great joy of fulfilling a long-time wish to take a spiritual pilgrimage to Iona (Scotland). The experience was magical on many dimensions! Want to know more? Pictures, comments, haiku and more are HERE – – happy to chat at any point about the depth of experiences, relationships and AHAs from this time.
Quickly becoming a priority is 10-60 minutes of Lovingkindness Meditation focus time early in the day. Why? It helps transform relationship time and provides important perspective for the day ahead!!! Great materials are on the web – some summaries are HERE (lovingkindness) and HERE (meditation)
Other experiences/sharing to highlight
- BRAIN HEALTH / DEMENTIA JOURNEY – our local senior center (ATSC) has made Brain Health & Memory Matters a focus. Sadly, research suggests that most of us will have family and/or friends who experience dementia, so at ATSC we have a Brain Health series talk once a month plus Memory Cafes monthly led by a talented team. Helpful Brain Health & Memory Matters information is HERE if you – or someone you know – might value it
- MUSIC – what a blessing, whether listening to, participating in, experiencing through others!
- Joyful Noise experiences at senior living places have been a particular pleasure (pictures, music and details HERE.) We’re “Brightening lives, including our own!” If you’re in the Cinci region and would like to join us at any point, please let me know
- Chapel Folk “therapy”, hospice “environmental music,” Guitar Guild and other such endeavors bring me incredible joy – so glad my parents encouraged such involvement, and that we did the same with our sons
- RECENT FAVORITES
- CHARITIES: Whole Again (alleviating childhood hunger); Albinism (shirts, hats donations);
- MOVIES/SHOWS: many favorites are HERE, including Nuremburg
- BOOKS: The Mood of Christmas; The Book of Delights; The Power of Now
- SONGS: Child in the Manger (Mull-related); Pacing the Cage
- PHOTOS: “Artist’s Way” shots from the Scotland pilgrimage HERE
- Binder of a Lifetime Version 4.0 is available for FREE downloads HERE with hopes of “Enabling individuals to easily and enjoyably ‘Make, Capture, Organize & Share Memories, Now & Forever!’ “
Travel continues to provide wonderful AHA moments, even for trips a few minutes from home. Such has been the case in 2025 with 1) drives to family occasions bringing experiences of love and joy as reminders of the value of relationships; 2) travel to the Marietta, OH area for a focus on NW Territory and river activities; 3) walking Cincinnati and reminders of the beauty and history right near us
Though travel is energizing and valuable…THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME! What incredible joy there is in the groundedness of home and community: regularly scheduled family lunches, friend gatherings, volunteering, music “therapy,” brain health events, joyful noise experiences, family/friend Zooms and more, much more. These times provide recharging, new ideas, plus sharing of many stories (and accompanying wisdom from so many good folks.) Thanks to all who participate!
If you get the inclination, please drop me a line. Catching up with friends and hearing of your passions, experiences and tips is a blessing.
With a backdrop of lovingkindness meditation (HERE)
… wishing you and yours substantial joy, hope, peace & love of the season plus a positive-memories-filled year ahead…
Steve
** the family holiday note is HERE, in case you’d like to see it and it hasn’t arrived in your inbox…