[sky dancer]

Right now, I'm working on painting ceramic lotuses. They will adorn a beautiful structure. I have 144 of them. 12 go on each column.

It's part of a huge peace monument in a community that I am a member of. It keeps me sane.

I also work outdoors as caretaker for the grounds on my property. My partner brings home the tofu and I care for the pets, and home and garden.

I have focused on the irrigation system most recently. I have an arbor of a variety of grapes and fruit trees and several cutting gardens that I work on.

I am a volunteer spiritual counselor for prisoners who I write to. I have six that I am penpal for. It helps me to help others.

I write poems and I write articles. Most of them are reflections on life.

I'd like to be able to work again, for pay, but I'm in a community hard hit with economic contraction and I am not yet at my most confident place to 'sell myself'.

What do you do to keep your spirit going particularly when you're at your own personal nadir (low point). I hit mine a few weeks ago.

I went to a seminar and the recommendation was to take three breaths, just to follow the breath and do nothing else, five times a day. I seem to remember once or twice a day instead of five times, but when I remember I am able to ask myself, "how are you in there?" And once or twice I was agitatated and I was able to check in and discover what was hidden in there and what the source of it was.

Also another method that helps me with anxiety, and this is new for me to try, is to focus on the heart center, (which is where my anxiety rests) and to sound a syllable like ahh, as a tone. That seems to really ease the fear.

Take care,

sky