enCouragingBliss: Making a List...

A few days ago, I got the braces off of my top teeth. This is utter heaven. I still have them on the bottom, but I don't even care -- this little bit of relief is something to be so grateful for. Something to be more grateful for: the fact that the braces worked to get rid of my TMJ pain and my associated teeth grinding.

And this got me to thinking about today's challenge for enCouragingBliss.

(If you're new to this idea, go here.)

I thought it would be fun to make today's challenge fairly simple and yet very direct. This goes to the heart of the matter.

Think back over your last week. Where, what, when, and how did you find moments of bliss? Were there times or activities during which you felt completely on this path of bliss?

Were there any moments when you were able to transcend the ordinary, the difficult, and see the bigger picture -- the bliss that encompasses all of it?

Were you aware of the giant blissful response of Yes! to even that which was, perhaps, uncomfortable?

To start, here's my "list:"

Going to my healer and realizing that I am getting better already. I have finally, completely taken my physical well-being seriously enough to put the energy into it which it deserves. And the Infinite Divine, I think, has sighed a big sigh of relief.

Realizing before I took on too much that I was taking on too much. And putting a stop to it. This is big for me. Once I tell someone I am interested in working with them and meeting to talk it all over, I already feel 100% obligated. Usually, I would just push through, but this time, I said, no, sorry, but for me, I have to pull back.

Today, while working on a nonfiction book proposal, the first couple of paragraphs for a second novel came spilling out. Totally unexpected! And it felt like a little gift, a little congratulations for staying true to my priorities. (See paragraph directly above.)

Slowing down. A lot of things are coming together for me right now, and a big one is learning that I am not taking the time I need to assimilate all that I am learning and doing. So "slowly" is my new guiding mantra. And just after one day of paying attention to that little whisper in my ear, I am feeling the difference.

The magnolia tree blossoming in the alley.


The crab apple and the lilac in our yard just starting to open.


Lilly cat turning out to be, just like our sweet Jobie who passed, a yoga cat. When I roll out the mat, she gets on and starts doing downward facing dog and then rolls and rubs against me during my practice. sigh.

Being gluten free.


Sleeping so much better.


A writing group of kindred souls who continue to enlighten and lighten one another.


We managed to plant all of our vegetable seeds. Everything is in! And some things self-sowed from last year.

We ate the season's first asparagus from our garden two nights ago. Olive oil and broiled. This is food of the Gods.

I could go on and on...

But how about you? Where have you been discovering/finding/seeing/feeling/living/being your bliss this past week?

Remember, you can leave your answer in the comments, of if you blog, please write a post and use the Mister Linky below.