Happy New Year 2013

Dear Visitors from Near and Far,

Thank you for stepping by regularly or by chance. May this coming year bring you lots of love, joy, and prosperity!
With my heart-felt wishes for you and a smile,
Monika
PS: Let's keep the smiling universe going :)

The Universe Is Smiling: "Relaxation"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:
Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: Take your time, relax, and listen to your dreams! :)
"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop."
 - Ovid
"Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are."
 - Chinese Proverb
"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths."
- Etty Hillesum

The Universe Is Smiling: "Light"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:
Q: What is today's wisdom?

 A: Strive towards the light!
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."
 - Plato
"To love beauty is to see light."
- Victor Hugo  

The Universe Is Smiling: "Time"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:
Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: Take your time :)
"Smile, breathe, and go slowly!"
- Thich Nhat Hanh
"You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future."
- Anonymous
"To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time."
 - Leonard Bernstein

The Universe Is Smiling: "Reminiscing"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:
Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: "Cherish your memories but stay in the moment :)"
"Pleasure is the flower that passes, remembrance the lasting perfume."
 - Jean de Boufflers
"A smile happens in a flash, but its memory can last a lifetime."
- Anonymous
"Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going."
- Tennessee Williams  

The Universe Is Smiling: "Flow"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawing:
Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: Go with the flow!
"Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate."
- Zhuangzi
"... So this is how you swim inward.
So this is how you flow outwards.
So this is how you pray."
- Mary Oliver
"The quality of the imagination is to flow and not to freeze."
 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Universe Is Smiling: "Security"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:
Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: Inner peace is our life belt of security during the storms of life.
"For happiness one needs security, but joy can spring like a flower even from the cliffs of despair."
 - Anne Morrow Lindbergh
"There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity."
- Douglas MacArthur 
"The opposite of security is insecurity, and the only way to overcome insecurity is to take risks."
 - Theodor Forstman

The Universe Is Smiling: "Inner Child"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:
Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: Awake the inner child!
"The most important muse of all is our inner child."
- Stephen Nachmanovich
"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
- C.S. Lewis
"Whoever wants to understand much must play much."
- Gottfried Benn  

The Casual Observer: "Pumpkin LIVE"

The annual Night of the 100 PUMPKINs at The Bakery: Creativity, fun, and some ghoulish scare guaranteed :)

Pumpkins are getting ready for their big night out:

 

some are a bit shy and hiding

others seem exuberant

cute!

The Zen of mice life: Is it cheese or not?

New Paltz businesses in a web map

 Ready for action:

 

 The night has come. Pumpkins are ready to be on fire. The drums are filling the air, and the long line of visitors is passing by with free pumpkin bred and hot apple cider in hand. Get into the groove and dance with the music :)

 

Clockwork of Time

Let's get out of the rut of habit and create a future of love, tolerance and creative play! Are you on board? Smiles to YOU :)

The Universe Is Smiling: "Protection"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:
Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: Even if we don't know it, we are protected. It may take some faith to trust that.
"On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him."
- The Buddha