Amazing isn't it, how another year just slides in. As I reflect on 2012, I realize how much I packed in to year. This time last year I made the decision to sell Andiamo and that set the ball in motion. Letting go of Andiamo made room for a year of new beginnings and new friends. As with most years there were ups and downs, the hardest was saying good bye to another friend who left us much too early. His family is always in my thoughts but especially during this holiday season.
The New Year was rung in with new and old friends at a ski resort in France called Les Saisies. We had a chalet that slept 12 but filled it with 17. There was a lot of champagne and a wonderful dinner. I ended 2012 and began 2013 with a day on the slopes with blue skies and sunshine. The snow began as I finished for the day. During our week there, I skiied 3 half days and one full and managed to squeeze in a cross country ski before we left yesterday! Only 120 km of perfectly groomed trails, of which I only managed to ski 9 km. I am so out of shape and I think I've packed on weight this holiday season. Too much cheese and bread, but never too much wine!!!
This morning I woke to a emails from friends and family remembering Jean-Luc. Thank you for thinking of me and remember him. I can't believe it has been two years. It seems like only yesterday. His is in my thoughts every single day. Will that ever change? He must have been with me when I skiied because I'm not sure I have ever skiied as well and with so much joy. I feel him the strongest when I am in the mountains.
So here we go, into another year. I'm practicing living in the present and enjoying each moment fully. The last time I was at Plum Village, Thich Nhat Hahn said, "Everywhere you go you are home." He means that we don't need to search outside of ourselves for happiness because it is inside us every moment. It is not the easiest thing to do but I working on it. I just read an article about Matthieu Ricard who is a french monk and accompanies the Dali Lama as an advisor. He has been involved in scientific research about the effects of meditation and it has been proven that meditation has positive effects on your brain. "It is a wonderful area of research because it shows that meditation is not just blissing out under a mango tree, it changes your brain and therefore who you are." Matthieu Ricard.
Oh my, this blog is going a completely different direction from where I had planned. I better stop before you all start thinking that I am going to become a monk!!! Gabrielle, if you are reading this I will try and scan the article for you. Maybe it will give you a different view on meditation.
Anyway I really wanted to let you know I am thinking of you all and wishing you the best for 2013. I will be here in Montmin for a few more days and then joining Judy, Serge and the Aussie girls to Paris on Wednesday. I'll spend the day with them on Thursday and then I need to get home in case I have my appointment for my visa medical. I think it's the last bit of red tape so I can stay for the year. Lots of love to you all!!!
The New Year was rung in with new and old friends at a ski resort in France called Les Saisies. We had a chalet that slept 12 but filled it with 17. There was a lot of champagne and a wonderful dinner. I ended 2012 and began 2013 with a day on the slopes with blue skies and sunshine. The snow began as I finished for the day. During our week there, I skiied 3 half days and one full and managed to squeeze in a cross country ski before we left yesterday! Only 120 km of perfectly groomed trails, of which I only managed to ski 9 km. I am so out of shape and I think I've packed on weight this holiday season. Too much cheese and bread, but never too much wine!!!
This morning I woke to a emails from friends and family remembering Jean-Luc. Thank you for thinking of me and remember him. I can't believe it has been two years. It seems like only yesterday. His is in my thoughts every single day. Will that ever change? He must have been with me when I skiied because I'm not sure I have ever skiied as well and with so much joy. I feel him the strongest when I am in the mountains.
So here we go, into another year. I'm practicing living in the present and enjoying each moment fully. The last time I was at Plum Village, Thich Nhat Hahn said, "Everywhere you go you are home." He means that we don't need to search outside of ourselves for happiness because it is inside us every moment. It is not the easiest thing to do but I working on it. I just read an article about Matthieu Ricard who is a french monk and accompanies the Dali Lama as an advisor. He has been involved in scientific research about the effects of meditation and it has been proven that meditation has positive effects on your brain. "It is a wonderful area of research because it shows that meditation is not just blissing out under a mango tree, it changes your brain and therefore who you are." Matthieu Ricard.
Oh my, this blog is going a completely different direction from where I had planned. I better stop before you all start thinking that I am going to become a monk!!! Gabrielle, if you are reading this I will try and scan the article for you. Maybe it will give you a different view on meditation.
Anyway I really wanted to let you know I am thinking of you all and wishing you the best for 2013. I will be here in Montmin for a few more days and then joining Judy, Serge and the Aussie girls to Paris on Wednesday. I'll spend the day with them on Thursday and then I need to get home in case I have my appointment for my visa medical. I think it's the last bit of red tape so I can stay for the year. Lots of love to you all!!!