Sacred Ruminations: Tennis Shadows and more ...

Food for Thought

(or reminders for myself)

Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.
Barbara De Angelis

"Whatever can come to a woman can come to me
Whatever can happen to anyone can happen to me."
Muriel Rukeyser

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."--Mother Teresa

"It is better to ask some questions than to know all the answers." James Thurber

"Forgive yourself for everything you did not know in the past but do now. Don't waste any of your precious energy beating yourself, or anyone else, up. Your power to change your life is in the present, regardless of your past."
Dr. Christiane Northrup

"Your purpose is to heal yourself first in mind and intent. Declare this principle to yourself -- I intend to walk the highest path to my awakening. I am fearless in the face of learning to discipline my mind and actions so they are attuned to my true divinity." Doreen Virtue

"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in this life has a purpose." Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

More thoughts ...

"It requires a direct dispensation from Heaven to become a walker." Henry David Thoreau

"It is no small task to change one's focus from what can go wrong to what can go right and to empower women to shift from destructive behaviors to those that are generally associated with health. I want to awaken that still, small wise, intuitive voice in all of us, that voice of our own body that we have been forced to ignore through our culture's illness, misinformation, and dysfunction. I want to give you the courage to listen to that voice and act on it." Dr. Christiane Northrup

"No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place." Maya Angelou

"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well. Diane Ackerman

"No one needs to know that you've shut the world out and are meditating as you stroll down the street. Twenty minutes to a half-hour every day is a good amount of time to restore a sense of serenity." Sarah Ban Breathnach

"One of the marks of an intelligent person is to be able to distinguish what is worth doing and what isn't and to be able to set priorities." Anne Wilson Schaef

"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love." Sophocles

More thoughts ...

"Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength." Sigmund Freud

"I need to understand the dynamics of effort & success. I will spend my energy on things & and activities that bring me the most fulfillment. I will spend less energy on the "stuff" that ultimately has no meaning to me." Dr. Christiane Northrup

"However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do if you do not act upon them?"
Buddha

"The greatest contribution that you can make is the aliveness that comes from simply being yourself, living your truth, and doing what you love. The passionate expression of who we are will heal the world." Shatki Gawain

"It is in solitude that we discover that being is more important than having and that we are worth more than the result of our efforts. In solitude we discover that our life is not a possession to be defended, but a gift to be shared." Henri H. Nouwen, theologian

"I am ready to supply the earth's needs with my riches. I seize upon my wealth within and give freely as I am replenished." Doreen Virtue

"... perception can be given a new purpose. ... Follow His Light, and see the world as He beholds it. Hear His Voice alone in all that speaks to you. And let him give you peace and certainty which you have thrown away, but Heaven has preserved for you in Him." A Course in Miracles

More thoughts

"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." Rumi

"I believe I'm here to speak my truth and that's all I have to do. I don't have to make people understand it... I just have to speak the truth." ~Anne Wilson Schaef

"A woman is like a teabag-only in hot water do you realize how strong she is." Eleanor Roosevelt

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow.
Learn as if you were to live forever."
Mahatma Ghandi

"...We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. ... And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Nelson Mandela

“Each of us has that right, that possibility, to invent ourselves daily. If a person does not invent herself, she will be invented. So, to be bodacious enough to invent ourselves is wise.” - Maya Angelou

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.”
Rumi

"A good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into place, but a seed to be planted and to bear more seeds toward the hope of greening the landscape of idea." ~ Henry David Thoreau

"I have lived long enough to learn how much there is I can really do without.... He is nearest to God who needs the fewest things." Socrates

Welcome to Sacred Ruminations

Scroll down for Blog Your Blessings on Sunday

I'm a tennis fan
watching the US Open
on television

occasionally
snapping photos from the screen ...
Shadow Mosaic

Cropped - straight out of the camera

with Poster Edges

Solarized for a 'kewl' view

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in
Shadow Shots at Hey Harriet
Mellow Yellow Monday
Blue Monday

"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today."
Cherokee Indian Proverb

1. It's been HOT and HUMID in Southern California at the beach, but when I've been able to stay home I've been watching as much tennis as my DVR will record. Please bear with me as I'm a dedicated tennis fan ;--)

2. Until last night the Americans were doing better than usual this year. I admit that it was hard to watch Andy Roddick get upset by John Isner in a 5th set tiebreak after coming back from losing the first two sets ... but, of course, the win was a HUGE break through for John. Hopefully the tall man will recover from the 5-set match well enough to do well in the next round.

3. Watching young Melanie Oudin take out Elena Dementieva in the previous round and upset Maria Sharapova last night helped make up for the disappointment of the James Blake upset and Sam Querrey's loss yesterday. What an incredible competitor this young gal is!

4. The amazing run of qualifier Jesse Witten had me on the edge of my seat hoping he could extend his run and defeat Novak Djokovic ... just because.

5. Watching Taylor Dent win his match in a 5-set nail biter felt even more exciting realizing all the physical challenges he's faced after having THREE back surgeries. What a recovery and amazing run so far. He'll play Andy Murray in the next round and I'll be watching ;--)

See also
my Daily Gratitude List
in the sidebar at Small Reflections

What are some blessings in YOUR life currently?

For others who 'Blog Their Blessings'

go to My Blog Rolls and/or click on the
Blog Your Blessings logo
above Really Good Things.

For those who participate in Sacred Life Sunday
click the logo below:

Blessed Be ... and so it is!

Thought for Today
"There is no greater loan than a sympathetic ear." Frank Tyger

21 comments:

Linda said...: Pictures from the TV -- what a fun collage!; September 6, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Sylvia K said...: Great collage! Terrific shadows! How fun! You always do very creative and fun things!

Have a great week!

Sylvia; September 6, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Nice and Easy Antiques said...: Fun shots and effects! Love them! It has been REALLY hot in So Cal!! Thank you for your lovely visit,
Marcela & Clara; September 6, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Rosebud Collection said...: What a great idea and very clever.
Really nice shadows and you get to watch tennis in the process.
Happy SSS.; September 6, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Carletta said...: Rosebud already said it but I will again - my but aren't you clever!
From the TV and they're wonderful. Not to mention it's my all time favorite sport to watch!
Love it!; September 6, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Hey Harriet said...: Now that's very clever! I love these tennis shadow collages! I would never have thought of taking shadow shots of TV images! Super idea! Enjoy your tennis :); September 7, 2009 at 2:04 AM
Blue Panther said...: Hey, Watching Tennis is great fun indeed, especially when you have a favorite player, or when there is a great match on!

Have a great week ahead!; September 7, 2009 at 4:24 AM
Stephanie V said...: Wow! You got those pictures from the TV...that's amazing. Love your collages and the trippy techniques that you play with.; September 7, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Sara Chapman in Seattle, USA said...: LOVE these shadows. You did this from TV images? Wow. Nice grouping.; September 7, 2009 at 10:39 AM
SmilingSally said...: It's quite artistic what you've done. Happy Labor Day! Happy Blue Monday.; September 7, 2009 at 11:08 AM
bobbie said...: Great combination of memes; September 7, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Willa said...: great photos!; September 7, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Mary Bergfeld said...: You put such a great deal of work into the collages you made for us today. They are terrific. I hope you are having a wonderful day.; September 7, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...: Very cool and artistic too! Thanks for sharing your blues. Happy Blue Monday and Labour Day.

Blessings,
sandi; September 7, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Magical Mystical Teacher said...: The tennis players
bend and arc like graceful swans
as they serve and drive.; September 7, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Sarah said...: What a creative idea! Thanks for sharing. If you have time stop by the QCI blog for a late Blue Monday post. Happy Blue Monday! ~ Sarah; September 7, 2009 at 8:48 PM
Susan Cook said...: That's great. Cool idea taking shots off of the TV. Love the yellow shirt.; September 8, 2009 at 3:56 AM
Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...: Great pictures, I love what you've done with the effects. The shadows are really sharp, thanks for sharing. My best for a great week.; September 8, 2009 at 7:44 AM
Mamí♥Picture said...: C☺☺L!!!
Thanks for sharing!
Have a Lovely♥Day!
to view my mellow yellow visit My little Man’s photoblog:

http://www.chasinglittlecrocs.com; September 8, 2009 at 11:12 AM
DeniseinVA said...: Thanks for this great post. I haven't had a chance to keep up with the tennis scene lately and this has made for a wonderful read. Enjoyed the collage of photos also. Have a great week.; September 8, 2009 at 11:38 PM
SandyCarlson said...: I think of you whenever I watch tennis.; September 9, 2009 at 5:55 PM