December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Quality of Life Thought

Sherrilene s place of meditation

View from the Meditation Tree

1. Overall, on a scale of 1-10 how important is the Gaia community in your life? What  factors contribute to your scaling?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Thanks, Amber my love for the beautiful introduction!

I am honoured and almost embarassingly pleased to be featured!

My passion and my cause for living are to my view quite important so the more opportunities I get to express them to the world, the better, absolutely!

My beautiful country celebrated Independence Day yesterday and we will have a Bank Holiday today as well. It will be nice to walk over to my Tree and be peaceful and thankful for the blessings life has afforded me.

I am trying today to meditate on it being World Aids Day and I'm going to get my Christmas cards written up for posting tomorrow to my friends in Europe and the States. Better early than… well, late! I'd like to surprise them since handwritten cards are so rare nowadays. And to get them earlyish in the season will be great, I think!

Of course I have the important job of writing a high level document for the University Entrepreneurial Empowerment Project I am heading, but this has to come after my meditation and my friends love! Then I will be in a better frame of mind for everything else!

Look forward to checking in on GAIA of course, all through the day.

Blessings, always, Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Welcome Sherrilene -I look forward to seeing another of my
friends being the featured member.
December is a special month and I am sure it will be all the
more so, given we all have a chance to get to know you better!

Peace and love,
sandy
http://pods.gaia.com/peacenetwork

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I wish you a warm welcome Sherrilene and look forward to getting to know you this month.  This is a special month celebrating year's end and holiday time and will be fun sharing it with you and Amber as Mod.

Here's to a fun-filled month of wisdom and enlightenment.

With affinity,
~k

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherrilene,

Eight months ago, give or take a day. I informed you about a  on your profile. After a few emails back and forth you sent this to me.


Formality; you're already my friend :D] 

Just thought I might want to shout you out from time to time! Hope you'll make it official. Thanks in advance. Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

lol Lars. Your precision is completely awesome and such a pleasure to be a part of. I appreciate you so greatly. Even a little ducky shout out is a pleasure for me. Thank you so much dear!

Luv S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi Sherri [and Amber, Sandy and Kathy!]

I'm delighted to see the wonderful meditation space you shared with us. Great idea, to send out hand-written cards!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

YAY Sherri !!!   and THANKS Amber, for that glorious introduction !!!

I am already breathing warm air and feeling more relaxed!

This is gonna be another exciting month!!   I am really looking forward !!

“Quality of Life”  is something I too am very passionate about, though we'll probably discover we mean somewhat different things by it, and the differences will synergize.

Lots of people are caught up in a spiritual search that takes them “out of” this world, and lots of people don't realize that Quality of Life is something we are all able to choose for ourselves and affect for others, without any judgments, only preferences, even passionate preferences.

So, Hooray for everyone's Quality of Life, for Gaia-planet's Quality of Life, for Gaia Community's Quality of Life !

I await hearing more from you. BTW the little bit about sending cards early, and handwriting them. That is a Quality of Life improvement 

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi! And thank you for the really kind welcome everyone.

Yes, most definitely your particular 'brand' of Quality of Life is your own. We are each individual and unique and we should take the time to find out what works for us.

The challenge of everyday life is such that to even take a half-day off to ask yourself the question of what your ideal life would look like if there were no limits seems like a major theft of time! But to first envision your ideal life is your first step…

What I would add is that I usually, for simplicity, apply four segments to the Quality of Life spectrum - physical-financial, social-emotional, mental-intellectual and spiritual. [Quick link to our definition of Quality of Life here…]

If we keep this in our awareness and the vision which I referred to above you would see how a depletion or an excess in any one area can disrupt our individual Quality of Life…

Om, the cards are a great example of how I certainly enhance my own and my loved ones' Quality of Life on the social-emotional side. I get a very big high and thrill out of the beautiful responses in love from the people I love. For certain this [and the associated memories] help to sustain me when other areas of my life bring challenges to my wellbeing…

Again, my thanks!

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

What a wonderful surprise to see the spotlight on you, dear sister and friend Sherri! Thank you, Amber, for the perfect intro to a beautiful person and soul!

It seems I know so much about you but of course, I know there will something new every moment of our interactions and even the silence as and when they it comes. I treasure our frienship and know in my heart that this will extend beyond virtual space when the time is ripe.

Enjoy the limelight, shine on and make us all shine through!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Today, as my exercise in Quality of Life, I am going to put down on paper the four areas of focus…

physical-financial, social-emotional, mental-intellectual and spiritual.

As I look at the categories right now I see some serious imbalance… and I am going to explore my possibilities with the help of my counselor, of course! ~grin~

I know that I process everything 'out loud' so in order for me to really get a good picture in my mind of how I'd like my life to look I'll have to talk and talk and talk to somebody about it. (aren't you glad you're not that 'somebody'?!) Then I'll need to sit under Sherri's Meditation Tree for awhile and let it all soak in…

Sherri, do you have a particular way of working thru the categories you described? Do you start out in one particular area each day or do you sort of sense that maybe, for that day, the emotional or maybe physical may be out of balance and you stop everything and correct those areas of imbalance? Can you guide us thru a step by step process you have found works for you?

Smiles!
amber

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

:)

Like you, Amber, I tend to think out loud. It is a good thing I can achieve that through blogging and journaling now. [Yes I write constantly!] That seems to be indicative of a lot of mental energies going around. So I tend to start with emptying my mind… I am a highly literate person, so I'd have to say that my dominant tendency would be to over-think things.

After I've cleared my mind I find that a real sense of calm can come in, and with it answers usually, about what really might be upsetting my balance. And also a whole lot of affirmations that I might have made for myself sometime back! For certain the recollection that I am supposed to be calm; supposed to be joyful and that I can manage what's happening regardless of what it is, slowly comes back… When my mind is wandering, these are the last thoughts.

Certainly, as my calm and relative control reassert themselves, more answers tend to trickle in.

Very critical to this though is my breathing, which I have to consciously think of and regulate.

What's interesting for me is the fact that specific answers, as in, courses of action come in that space. Then maybe afterwards I realise how they connect to that imbalance which I spoke of, as in, yes I needed some exercise! Or yes, I needed to laugh a little, because life had got just too intense or I really needed to change up my routine and stimulate my mind a bit. A general feeling of wellbeing tends to prevail after I have followed that lead I am given in calm mind. That's really nice. :D

Off to get dinner now! I've worked hard all day!

Love, S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Welcome, Sherri.  It's so good to see you as this month's Featured Member.  Your shining light & love on Gaia is precious to see and I'm sure everyone will learn a LOT from everything you have to share. 

Have a fabulous month sharing all about Barbados and all your amazing wisdom and warmth.

Blessings and joy, Kathy

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I am so proud of you Sherri.  You are amazing, and have also inspired me here on Gaia:))
Love you

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Kathy and Lori, thank you for the welcome. I hope to bring warm, positive energy to the month! S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Welcome to the spotlight, Sherrilene.

I hope you find it as much an amazing experience as I did.  I look forward to getting to know you better throughout the month and learning more about your beautiful Barbados.

I've been lucky enough to find myself in places alongside you and you have always impacted me as being an incredibly peaceful person.  For our season of Peace here in the US, I can think of no one better to receive such attention, as being chosen to receive this spotlight gives.

Blessings on your month -

Deborah

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Concratulations Sherrilene!
Looking forward to seeing where this month, and this thread will take us!

Many hugs!

Claudia

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Greeting Sherrilene from a land down under.

Looking at your meditation tree and the view brought this to mind…

Not thus had God ordained it; nay, but He
To silent hearts is present silently;
He waits till in thee perish pride and shame,
Sense of thyself, and all thy thoughts of fame;
Then when thy task is over, His begun,
He leads thy soul where all the Arts are one–
Leads to His shrine, and has of old unfurled
To chosen eyes the wonder of the world.

                                                 - F. W. H. Myers

Enjoy!!!

Love and cuddles

- an eccentric Aussie

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Thanks, friends. This is special! Looking forward to the month. Yes.

Best to all. Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

                                  

                                           Barbados Flora



What is the ONE  thing you most enjoy about Gaia? Comments on my blogs… a close second: Grapevine messages!!

Speaking of Sherrilene's blogs I would like to highlight one I felt captured her essence most beautifully!

November 21st

What was the last thing you wondered about?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Congratulations, Sherri!

may you continue to be blessed with achieveing your deepest dreams
for the benefit of all beings

much love

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

 I see I had posted a comment on your blog already, Sherri. Do I get brownie points for that?  ;)

BUT I also saw that my comment is, embarrassingly longer than your blog. I do apologize; you seem to have started me off down memory lane! I guess blogs can do that, sometimes.

Do you like/dislike it if the comments are about a person's own experience as mine was; and not mainly about what you had written? [don't be shy to tell me; I'd really like to know!]

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

haha Meenakshi, no points to share, I'm sorry! But know that I appreciate your inputs which are always sincere and heartfelt.

I learn a lot more from people's own experiences actually. So I really don't mind a more personal take on things. There is so much scientific 'stuff' and big words floating around which distract you completely. I find a real perspective helps clear the fog a bit and leads to true insight.

So please don't ever hesitate to share on my blog. I like it!

Thanks again, S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

My dear Sherri,

I recall you to be the very firstest Zaadz /Gaia buddy who summed up your life exactly the same way as I do… LOVE… nothing but LOVE…

I don't know if you are a Boney M fan… but when I hear them sing Bahama Mama, I think of you… ( I know you are not Bahamian.. but I don't know any of your native songs… wanna share some?)

Hopefully, you smile when you hear that, because if my calculations are wrong, and you are not amused… I really don't want to become and elephant in your eyes… :-)

All in good fun, and congratulations, you clearly deserve to be in the spotlight… during this blessed season.

Love you

Dave

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi Dave. Yes I'm smiling. Actually I'm laughing out loud.

No fear where any elephants are concerned! Unless youre going to be like Kathy's Elephant!

Then you're welcome!

Thanks my friend. Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Quality of Life Thought

Sherrilene, you've spoken in some of your earlier blogs of the difficulty in finding people in your area who are similar in Gaian type beliefs, positive attitude, and love. In other words, it was a relief to find so many people here you resonated with on many levels.

Have you found more people around you in Barbados who share your beliefs and actions in more recent times? Or have you found that people have basically stayed the same. The quote above speaks of standing together during challenging times making the challenges seem less daunting. I can hardly imagine your energy and love not having a huge impact on those around you, especially the younger generation. Can you give us an update?

Smiles!
Amber

{Mod Edit - Amber posting to credit Sherrilene for the design of the Quality of Life Reminders. The still shots are Tamaras, Sherri creates the Reminders!}

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi Amber!

In fact I would say a combination of things occurred. One was my realising that I was part of the 'problem', in terms of looking intentionally for such persons. So in time, with a bit of gradual adjustment of my thinking, these persons began to filter into my space and have stayed close. They are still few in number, but that's quite ok. We have a challenge of being able to spend lots of time together because we are always consumed in our activities working with people, but we all understand the meaning of 'Quality Time' and make the best of any half-hour or 2 minutes we can spend together!

Another thing that occurred was me contributing to an environment where people would let their true, loving selves peek out, by being, well friendly and peaceful in interactions. I'd like to build a culture of authencity [at the very least around me, in my space]. So I make an effort to model that all the time. This is a full time job, when I think of it! People feel comfortable and express themselves more sincerely, so I get a good feedback in general in my interactions.

Where I have had the privilege of working with a whole group, I have found that in that little segment, the free flow of energy is much greater after my interaction. That's fulfilling in itself.

So yes, things are getting better!

I am observing, however, more and more 'freeing up' taking place. It seems like my need to make an effort to warm things up will reduce now and I'll move on to different things.

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Well here's a great downstream/spinoff from your thread, Sherri. I finally wrote my blog about my view of what Quality of Life is, and that is MOST satisfying.

I am hereby encouraging us all to allow you to inspire us to focus on this idea, and what it means to each of us, and for us to share. This focus on the positive, and on the Vision, goes a long way toward co-creating the world we are choosing !!

So, great blessings to you for bringing this blessing to us,
OM Bastet

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherrilene,

I bow to your incredible insight and wisdom! How many of us can say, “One was my realising that I was part of the 'problem', in terms of looking intentionally for such persons.” it's very difficult to see how we are getting in our own way sometimes by what we are chosing to focus on!

It's especially difficult when it is a reality there are more people around us who are carrying a dark cloud attitude then there are people who are walking in the light! You chose to focus on the people who are walking in the light and you found a small but precious group who lift you up…  and you value them once you've found them… a second important step in the process of adding quality to your life! Sometimes we take what we have found for granted, blocking our access to a better quality of life. Tragic but not uncommon for many of us!

You wrote, “I am observing, however, more and more 'freeing up' taking place. It seems like my need to make an effort to warm things up will reduce now and I'll move on to different things.” Do you feel that maybe you've practiced so much being positive and providing a welcoming atmosphere you're doing it without thinking and effort rather then moving on to different things? I like to imagine walking into a room where you are and seeing a natural, effortless smile on your face, a sense of well-being in the air… just like the feeling of well-being the beautiful ocean surrounding you gives the weary traveler.

Smiles!
amber

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Well, actually Amber, there's probably some truth to that. As they say, practice makes excellent - not perfect, not the goal :) [You may notice that my company slogan is 'Living Ever Closer to Excellence' for example :) ]

I've got really good at managing the harmony in my space; in charging my aura, as it were. So to some extent my usual contacts with the world are really smooth, pleasant and enjoyable.

Your comment about coming into my space and feeling my wellbeing has been said to me in different ways and at different times, yes. Quite recently in Groningen, when I went back to my student town for a Facilitators Conference [I haven't really got the chance to write on it yet, but I will link back later on…] there was a session entitled 'How to most effectively use the spirit and energy in a group'. I was actually asked to demonstrate how I achieve this, sine this is a tool of mine for effective communication and facilitation. It was heartening to have the leader of the session say after I had done my little demo [which just involved opening the session by going really calm and quiet and then saying 'Welcome' with a warm smile…!] that she 'got it', and furthermore, she felt like if something 'sacred' was about to happen!

What an absolute compliment I must say!

When I refer to my moving onto different things, I should elaborate to say that I had consciously 'upped' my loving output on detecting the prevalence of a cold, cold world. [Earlier blog on this here…] My detection today is that warmth is slowly creeping into the world around me, warmth in the form of care for others, for life, for quality. So in terms of how I use my intentional energies, I'll consider diverse but equally meaningful ways again…

In any case, I'm satisfied that being peace is definitely the way to go. I'm not gonna stop this path now!

Loving you, dear! Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hello OM!

I read thru your Quality of Life blog and thought, “Wow! I'm not doing half bad in the Quality of Life department!” I'm very blessed to have relative safety, access to food, clothing, shelter, and health care, I am surrounded by caring people who support me, and, while scary pushing outside of my comfort zone to really live a Quality Life, I seem to be surviving the experiment!

I wonder, Sherrilene, if you would have added anything to the list or have a similar list you've blogged about that you could link us to?

Smiles!
amber

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I'll just copy-paste my comments on OM's blog - which was fantastic and inspiring! There's nothing like asking the 'tough' questions!! - as my little but important summary ..

'exercising our free will, our gift of choice in how we live, in our achievement of satisfaction in this life, is so important! Feeling disempowered can be a drain on the spirit, on the will to live and to make a contribution while we're at it!

Taking first actions in our own lives, towards our own wellbeing actually can create the momentum needed to make that difference we so often think and talk about, by energising and inspiring us.'

I absolutely endorse personal leadership and I feel it's not the domain of any special person. We all can lead and lead great! It is the same qualities that we all were born with. Dissatisfaction normally comes from the knowledge [inside] that we could do better, be more, achieve more and contribute more…

I'll have to check around for any more writing I have done on this and come back with it. For now, I ought to get some more rest.

And Amber, you're doing ok! Your determination and will to keep living and your incredible continued smiling are great indicators that you're working towards a really good quality life. Please have a smile, on me and enjoy the feeling of satisfaction with knowing that you try, and you try hard. You are not stagnant!

Blessings and love to OM and everyone. Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Congrats to a most inspiring friend, entrpreneuer and teacher Sherrilene Collymore! Our Barbados beauty! Woohoo…

Becoming friends with Sherri was like finding an old friend along the highway of life…at a rest stop that was peaceful and in right place and time!

Sherri takes her friendship seriously and she offers so much love and generosity in her words and thoughts and ideas.

It is wonderful to see my friends highlighted here and gives me joy to read the words of others posted on this site and know the impact they have on others is similar to the impact they have made on my life.

Congrats Sherri and enjoy your month here in the spotlight…you deserve it and we love you!

Big hugs,
Aley

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Aley, you are very special to me also. You help to make GAIA a very worthwhile place to be! I hope you know how much!!

I'm having a good time, yes, thanks to the wonderful people hosting this pod!

My thanks again for all your blessings and bounty.

Love, Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Thanks for your kind words, Sherri.

Wow, I was right there in the room feeling your demonstration, and I felt it !! No long guided meditations or complex breathing techniques needed. You made it simple and natural and do-able. Fantastic !!!!

Blessings, OM

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I'm glad tp see this theme  this month, Sherri: Quality of Life. It's one that each of us is defining for ourselves as fears and doubts come up on the global sphere.

A great message. Thank you for having it ready to share!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Yes, everything seems so timely presently. I have been researching [i.e. soul searching] on this topic for a few years now and most people at face value get the benefit. But to see it as a major point [vs. running the Race of life] is a big step… a leap even!

However many that had passed it by in a cursory way are contacting me with sincerity as themes start to sink in in this economic climate. The whole question of value vs. having money is at hand…

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi, Sherri - welcome as Featured Member of the month - and congratulations!  Reading more about Quality of Life, and your and others' perspectives on it has been fun and fascinating - thank you :-).  It's caused me to reflect quite a bit on mine - one really important aspect for me is sharing whimsy and humor.  In that vein I especially enjoyed your blog about the Jack Russell terrior [g].


May we all continue to be surprised with chuckles and joy -



Sylvia

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

lol Thank you Sylvia. I do love story telling! I think I get as much pleasure in recalling and telling true stories as my audience does! I'm usually cracking up long before I am through with the telling!

Come to think of it, it does enhance the atmosphere around you when you can crack a joke and laugh a bit.

I'm often inspired by nature, especially the animals since I feel they are much closer to their true selves than Man [just an opinion]. And I like to see how they deal with challenges in life and compare how humans do the same. Our little BIG Jack Russell was a great example for all underdogs!

I'll link to the blog here in case anyone wants to read up!

Blessings to you. Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Ah, Sylvia, thanks so much for that addition !!! I'm not willing to universalize that humor is necessary for every human's Quality of Life, perhaps some are quite content without it (hard to believe, but possible) but I sure know that for some of us it is ESSENTIAL or our QoL would be quite impaired/degraded  !!!! (I refrained from using the crude word there. Best to just say I might even go NUTS if humor were somehow denied to me in my experience of life, and I'm not alone in that !!)

LOL !!!

OM

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi Sherrilene!  I'm looking forward to getting to know you!  I tried to stop by and give you some grapes but for some reason I couldn't!  So I will leave them here 0'0'0'0'0
                                               0'0'0'0
                                                 0'0'0
                                                 

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hehe, oops, it looks like I dropped them!!

And I just wanted to agree as well that I need humor to optimize my QoL.  I agree OM, I would lose my marbles.  Especially having kids - no humor.  Ick!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Jackie, you're funny! And yes, I would go nutty if I couldn't and didn't pull off a good ol' belly laugh from time to time! I laugh out loud often. In fact I have friends who complain that I dont have sufficient decorum lol

I always insist I claim no culture, so I wouldn't know what the rules were anyway ;) Convenient, huh!

S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Yes, especially with kids, Jackie !! but then, kids bring humor whether we ask for it or not, eh?

Only official Friends can post on a person's Grapevine, except Ambassadors can post on anyone's.

I thought your grapes looked just fine, very grape-shaped… (note humor….)

Blessings to all,
OM

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Hi Sherrilene,
First, Christmas for you is also different, being in such a warm climate. I grew up with snow, toboganning, skating and the like. It took me a few years to get used to Christmas on the beach in the southern hemisphere. It's a wonderful time of the year, it just doesn't always feel like Christams as I knew it.

 

Over twenty years ago I had the pleasure of spending considerable quality time as a backpacker in the heart of Bali. I was touched and deeply influenced by the rich social fabric of these simple-living islanders. It seemed they were always celebrating something or preparing for the next celebration. For them life was art.

To a certain extent my family and I have taken those Balinese messages and assembled them into a quality lifestyle that resounds with simple ritual and celebration.

First of all, Christmas in the southern hemisphere feels a little strange as its original date was established based on the pagan festivals of the coming of light. December 25^th is a few days after winter solstice and is the first day that was obvious to our ancestors that the days were getting longer and, hence, the light was returning. It is my understanding that's Jesus' actual birthdate was in January. Here in New Zealand Christmas falls in the heart of summer, creating stress for people as they attempt to finish off activities and shopping in this busy, outward and naturally warm time.

What do we do now? Both daughters make their own Christmas cards. The youngest, who'se almost 16 now, still makes paper snowflakes and festoons the French doors in our living room with them. Soon I will prune several large branches from a cedar hedge to create a ‘Christmas tree'. The girls will decorate it with many, mostly handmade, decorations.

For the past three years the girls and I have sung Christmas carols at homes for the elderly. That is an extremely rewarding pastime. Our family will host an annual summer celebration on December 21^st on the beach below our house. These events are attended by an eclectic crowd who follow a diverse range of religions and beliefs. We share a meal, leap over the fire to strengthen friendships, sing together, swim and relish the spirit of friendship. I usually attend carol singing at a couple of local churches. I sang in the church choir as a boy so it feels great to share these traditions. On Christmas Eve I'll join a few friends for Sanskrit chanting. We have no family nearby, so Christmas day is a quiet family affair followed by a get-together with another immigrant family (from England) who are actually like family for us. All in all, it is a season rich with celebration and low-cost sharing.

Sherrlene, enjoy your featured month and to all of you, have a great holiday season.

Blessings,
John

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

John, so nice to hear from you! It's been a while.

And I so seldom hear stories about countries in the Southern Hemisphere it's exciting to know some more.

Like you, we have our special traditions for Christmas; some are westernised but many, many are carried forward from the time of slavery when the territories were colonised.

I will write about Barbados' Christmas celebrations some more as we draw closer and just bask in learning about New Zealand and your special version of Balinese / NZ Christmas, in the meantime. It is great to see how you and your family create such wellbeing through your special dedication to the community and to your home life.

Quality of Life and Quality Time in general definitely don't get priced in terms of dollars. No, not at all!

You must tell me more about that book! And I encourage everyone to visit John's blog which is so beautifully written…

Thank you so much for coming by. You are blessed!

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

It was so fun to read your blog, John, about Christmas in a warm climate! Thanks for posting it here for us to enjoy! This story is a great example of how to have a Quality Life no matter what your background or location on the globe!

Quality of Life tip from John… Celebrations!

Quality of Life tip from Sylvia… Whimsy and Humor

and a repost from Gaia Networking member Martha in her email to me… how to graciously say, I'm busy but thank you for aking. Below is her post and we can all learn from her how important it is not to overwhelm ourselves by trying to do everything there is out there to do!

Martha said,

“I hope all is well with you.  Thank you for this invitation, and for thinking of me.   I think your discussion is great, and at the same time I'm really so busy that I won't be able to participate.”

Thank you Martha for being so sweet and taking care of you!

Smiles!
amber

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Oh, KES, you sure know how to make me blush with your Mt Everest praises! But I do take them graciously as a compliment from your heart. So please accept my sincere and quality THANK YOU!!!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

WOOHOO Sherrilene YEEHOO Amber!

If I could only escape and recreate to a place, in a warm climate, that's my own world…

Barbados?

…but I think I've found it already, thanks to you two!!!

Woohoo for Gaia-planet's Quality of Life

If you look around you, people everywhere are looking for someone who can deliver QUALITY, be it in a sweetheart, a potential employee, or a new boss.

People are looking for someone who can deliver QUALITY not quantity.

QUALITIes are difficult to find, measure , or test.

QUALITY is understanding what is unique about you-your accomplishments, experience, attitude-and using that to differentiate yourself from others.

The most qualified is rarely the one who wins.

”It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” -CHARLES DARWIN

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

LOU! It's been so busy I'm only now able to tell you, you are just lovely too! This post completely inspires me.

I think that Quality has been shoved below the carpet time and again. It's connected to the scarcity model taking precedence. But Quality endures…

It is built on self mastery and excellence, just like many have been attempting to explore in themselves here at GAIA.

I'd like to refer you to my article entitled Quality vs. Quantity for my full perspectives on this topic…

Thank you so much for enlivening this thread!

Much love, Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Quantity vs. QUALITY

No doubt Sherrilene, we live in age of quantity.

Just about everywhere you look it seems like larger, faster, and more are often the same with better.

We are told that we need to find more time, more things, and more love to be truly happy.

A smaller quantity of anything that is high in quality will almost always be more satisfying.

When you want ICE CREAM, twenty candy bars won’t satisfy you. 

You can never get enough of what you don’t really want.

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Kathy, this is simply the most fantastic post I have seen in soooo long! You have summed up why I stay here, very simply.

I can't say anymore. You are just LOVELY!!

What would any of us do without you being here?

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much.

Love and more love, to you!

Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Kathy, whenever I think of you it is your gentleness, clarity and the humility of one who has greatness shining through her. You showcase each person you meet, and help them to see their own inner beauty; as in your Dreams of Aritists™pod.  You are a true artist!

Sherri, I so enjoy the warm and authentic quality of your intelligence; these are rare qualities together. You hold a special space on Gaia as I see you do in your off-line life as well.

I am enjoying the way you are showing us different blogs areas on Gaia where you have traveled. As indeed you show us different areas on the off-line Gaia as well! I remember reading one of your travel blogs [ if not more] and am impressed by the work you do in different areas of the world.

As  in Off to Kenya at the end of this week

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Greetings again Sherrilene -
this is turning into such lovely warm and friendly thread,
isn't it -thanks to you!
I knew December was going to be a great month.


And speaking of warm -I shall certainly be that this
Christmas -will be visiting all my family in Darwin,
in the Northern Territory of Australia!

I shall be thinking of all of you shivering in the
Northern Hemisphere!

Peace,
Sandy

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Yayyy! I am so pleased, really! I hope it's truly educational as well; that we all can 'walk away' having been enlightened on very practical and [self] loving ways to enhance our individual and our loved ones' Quality of Life.

I thought my birthday was great! It is NOTHING compared to the month of December so far lol

Thanks again. Always, Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Lou,

That little guy going along on the bicycle is so cute! I love that his 'clothing' is flapping in the wind! We are looking for Quality people in our lives and, Lou, you summed it up beautifully!

Kathy, those were very 'tasty' grapes, Dear! Thank you for picking out the sweetest ones, putting them out on a platter, and letting us all share them like the proverbial loaves and fishes of the bible! We can all enjoy the grapes and no one will go away disappointed!

P.S. I LOVED Jackie's grapes too! Hers were seedless I could tell! ~grin~

Quality of Life

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Amber, before I do that, I just had to cross post from the Economy discussion thread to share a little on my other passion, which is business and economics.

Although the average person often is out of the know where especially economy is concerned, I feel that the individual is hugely important in overall economy… but we can discuss that another time!

In the meantime, I wanted you to familiarise yourselves, if you hadn't heard about it, with Bhutan, which emphasises Quality of Life in their national economic model.

How exciting for me to see this model is being looked at at something to replicate! Take a look: http://pods.gaia.com/z_network/discussions/view/366466#373599

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I do this with a bit of pleasure Amber. I'm getting into a lovely routine which is not quite routine, but seems to handle the incoming stuff increasingly easier…

First thing, I don't keep 'regular' hours. I sleep as long as I feel to; that could be 'cat naps' of a couple hours or a full night [6 hrs or so] of rest. But I usually rise around 4 a.m. It's still dark. I hit the computer almost immediately. I am a net addict! That's when I do lots of my blogging and commenting etc.

In between, I am tidying up my house, doing dishes, laundry, whatever. I am also a homebody quite a bit. I love cleaning up and keeping a lovely home.

When there is sunlight I usually open my back door and invariably nowadays Twitchy will hop in. He has started hanging out on my back staircase till I am available and then he comes in with me. I feed him while doing household duties. At daylight I normally put out food for the birds. I think they now see me as a regular food source! They can get really busy if I don't put anything out for a couple days! Before my fish died, I would feed them.

I like to incorporate some kind of physical activity first thing in the morning as well, like heading over to my cliffs, hiking southwards, yoga, running, lots and lots of stretching [isn't stretching simply wonderful??]  I don't exercise physically everyday but I do try to keep active. My brain work burns a hell of a lot of calories though, so I'm probably balanced lol

Ok, then I'd say I try to assess my actual appointments for the day and what I have to do to prepare for them. You might know I am a Human Capital Development consultant so I have to meet with individuals and groups to do my facilitation work, helping to bring out the best possible creative outputs from them. I work all my errands around my appointments. [I am single so I normally have to pull it off on my own; no complaints tho :D]

I like to drive my new car, especially in the countryside or along the coast, so I make the whole errand experience into a pleasant activity as well. I also like talking to regular people, so I do my bits of shopping often at the small vendors, the fish market nearby or at the bigger but busier market in Bridgetown [our capital]. Being over-intellectual can be such a drain at times [much of my present work is at the University!] that being down to earth can help to release the burden and keep in touch with the simplicity! I really enjoy hanging out a bit with normal, good-intentioned, totally 'unaware' people lol

I have wonderful friends all over, including here on GAIA, so I am always in contact, if only briefly with them through the day and night. I am also dating a wonderful man right now who is as spontaneous as I - moreso actually - and he will often introduce a diversion into my day depending on my and his locations at the time, where we can meet up for a snack or a drink.

I am usually home at nights except for the odd cinema visit [single lady being careful still…] and it's usually computer activity again mixed with cooking, mixed with music playing.

I try to remain flexible though. This has worked really great in keeping things in good order. Flexibility with focus… I try to set my priorities for the day bright and early…

Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherri, each time I think of Bhutan with that beautiful goal, it lifts up my spirits. Also, it's in the Himalayas, and I really miss mountains, living in Florida!

And two, because the young King –who we were all enamored by, as teenagers in India, when he became king [he's my age]–coined the term Gross National Happiness in 1972!

Seeing that it shares two [at least] of your passions; when are you likely to visit and share lovely photos of?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Ooooh, how exciting to imagine! I didn't even think of that for myself [yet!]

I'll have to do some research on that! That's pretty close to where the Dalai Lama lives, isn't it? Just being in that zone must be some sensory experience!

Thank you for the idea. Let's see where I'm guided. ;) [I haven't been anywhere in Asia, by the way…]

Blessings, M. Sherri

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

“That's pretty close to where the Dalai Lama lives, isn't it? Just being in that zone must be some sensory experience!”

In a manner of speaking. The Dalai Lama lives in Dharamsala in India [I'm blessed to have been there] and Bhutan is a country in that corner of the world:

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I confess to be ignorant about the lay of the land in Asia. I'm looking forward to remedying that in person :)

I think I will do something special [for myself] to recognise Bhutan's National Day on the 17th.

Is there anybody from Bhutan on GAIA? I would love to make a friend there.

I was led to this link at TED.com by Samme [princesamwise.gaia.com] and I thought it was very interesting . [Samme is my brother from another life, I'm certain of it].

If you scroll through to about 11:15 in the video, you will get to the part about happiness. I encourage everyone to take the time, please. We could learn quite a lot…

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jonathan_harris_collects_stories.html

Unfortunately I can't find Samme's blog [maybe he could link us to it to comment?]

Who would imagine such a small, apparently insignificant place in the world, that could perhaps hold the answer to so many of the world's problems…?

Love, S

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Sherri, serendipitously found that Dec. 17th is Bhutan's national day!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Yay! We were blessed with two great reads! Thank you, Sherrilene, for sharing about Bhutan and Gross National Happiness and what a day of Gross National Happiness looks like! Twitchy is definitely part of Gross National Happiness!

Your day makes me envious of your ability to be a functioning Early Morning Riser… so many of my friends get their day going before the sun comes up and have so much accomplished by the end of their day. It's 8:30 a.m. and I'm going to be hitting Spell Check often during this post as I'm working with a foggy brain! I function my very best from about noon until 2 a.m. so most of my productive hours are dark during the winter.

Sunset in Oistins

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Amber Smilemaker's Top 5 Daily Happiness Indicators

1. To wake up in a warm bed with the knowledge that I will always have a roof over my head and a warm bed to wake up in.

2. To always have adequate food, clothing, and medical attention so I could live my life without the worry of basic needs being met.

3. To have people in my life who love me and who I feel will support me no matter what crazy situation I might get myself into. In other words, security to try new things and possibly fail but the price of failure not be the loss of good friends.

4. To be able to make a contribution to my community, either thru a job that I do well or by simply being pleasant to be around.

5. To have a pet or someone in human form to wrap my arms around when I come in from my day.

Smiles!

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

It's freaking me out how much of Amber's list is precisely what I might choose!

Great, now I'll have to think if there's anything I absolutely must add!

I am so enervated to see how little of what Amber highlighted had anything to do with 1. cash or other material in hand 2. status symbols 3. controlling anything or anyone

This brings my heart joy!

Sherrilene

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

I am sorry Meenakshi. Nothing too spectacular emerging with me! Seriously, Amber hit it!

What about you?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

Well, I'm glad I made you look at Asia, Sherri. Maybe we'll meet up in India one day!

BTW, now that Amber's taken the plunge, can you tell I'm waiting for your happy list?

And after  you do that [keeping you traveling!]—I wanted to ask you if you've added your Quality of Life thoughts  to Gaia's Quotes library?

Re: December's Featured Member - Welcome Sherrilene!

A very quick response; I want to focus on a few pressing things this morning before I settle in and give a good half hour to GAIA!

I haven't participated in the community Quotes page too much since I noticed there are some exemplary offerings from GAIA members. I have from time to time, documented some of my own thoughts here on GAIA though, inspired but somewhat organised beliefs of mine.

If you feel to walk by, you can see some of them in my Added Quotes. Even I haven't peeked over there recently!

I'm not at all sure if comments come to my notifications. Will try and make some time to check into that.

I will be back!

Have a blessed day, friends.

Sherri