The Next Step

       The Loving Kindness practice was very interesting. I found it to be too long, at first...it was easier for me to focus at shorter intervals. I did find this practice to be beneficial to my goal of forgiveness, but attaining this goal will take some time - it's difficult to cultivate genuine forgiveness. I would recommend this practice to others because it covers a range of emotions which makes it a good starting point for mental training.

        The concept of a mental workout includes the idea that the mind can be trained. This training has been scientifically proven to benefit the physical, psychological and spiritual aspects of life. I find that practice for mental training is best accomplished in the morning and early afternoon. Evening sessions can lead to feeling sleepy after a long day, making it difficult to focus.

Moving On

Personal wellness, for me, has seen a gradual progression over the past few years. Physically, I would rate myself at "7"...I've always been physically healthy; however, I need to lose about ten pounds that I gained over the winter months. I plan to accomplish this by manually preparing the existing garden - instead of using the tiller, and attempting to run the dog...he's not always cooperative! My spiritual well-being could be better, and I would rate it at "5"...I spent 27 years in a very difficult marriage, and am still finding myself five years later. My goal here is to learn to forgive. My plan to accomplish this is to attempt to repair the damaged relationships in my life, beginning with the neighbors. I rate my psychological well-being at "8"...I can honestly say that my new found freedom to be "me" has made me happier than I've ever been in my life! My goal, psychologically, is to learn how to train the mind. I plan to accomplish this through learning yoga - exercise and philosophies.

The relaxation exercise, The Crime of the Century, seemed to be like any other...very relaxing!! I was astounded when it came to "our purpose in life", however, because I had just been feeling overwhelmed about my herb garden expansion. Reflecting on my choices during the relaxation exercise gave an immediate calming affect, and I no longer feel overwhelmed. I now look forward to my new ideas, and am confident that everything will work out just fine!!

The Beginning

Grow, Gather, Make Medicine will be a format for me to record my personal journal into the realm of human flourishing. I'm not sure what to expect along the way, and the comradery of my fellow classmates will be a welcome and appreciated learning experience! 


I was first introduced to relaxation techniques in a stress management course, and have been practicing deep breathing exercise for several months. "Journey On" was, for me, a remarkable experience! It wasn't long before I began to realize each suggestion shortly before it was voiced - especially when an attempt at raising the arms was suggested...my first thought was "I'm not even going to try because I'm too relaxed"!! I was also astounded that this exercise took only fifteen minutes...I felt as though it had lasted at least a half an hour! I've heard others talk about how much they like a "power" nap. Relaxation techniques have become my personal choice for rejuvenation during the day:)