Thanks Nick

The E. Laurence Bake poem “Leaves” comes from the musical side of his career as both writer and musician. This poem has been enjoyed by thousands of people who have heard Laurence perform it live on stage with a modern Jazz/Rock musical composition accompanying the poem.

One fan remarked “I felt like I was in a tornado in the fall with leaves pounding out the music in my ears”

The rhythmic nature of this particular poem it lends itself very naturally Laurence’s sense of big stage productions for poetry and music.

He was once quoted as saying, ” why just poetry and a flute and all that old stuff. Why not a poet with band that can blow the roof off in a concert hall and then some.”

Have you read TREASURES yet? This book will change the hearts of humanity forever! It is a true MASTERPIECE complete with the most stunning art work you have ever seen.

Visit TreasuresGiftBook.com.

If you would like $5.00 off the purchase price of Treasures, please contact me
for my promotional code using the comments section below.

Have an awesome day,

Nick

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Photo Courtesy of Pauline DeForest. “Oh Fragile Life.”

Editor’s Note: Recovery Project. Here is a another post recovered from those lost when I had a data base failure.
Nick

The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach.

Source: Lin Yu-t’ang

This is one of those proofs that a picture is worth a thousand words.

There is a simple joy here; the contentment of having a nest, of bringing warmth to new life, and pride of location.

While the bell could be a danger, here it is a roof offering a dry place away from the elements.

“What more could I possibly want?” asks the bird.

Gaze on the photo and the bird, and let the bird’s contentment enter into you and wash away desire, and leave behind (for the breath you tarry) simple, profound joy.

It brings tears to my eyes.

Let Life Teach You,

Nick

PS The photo was taken by my sister, a budding photographer, on the day we interred our mother.

Mum’s message: all is well.

“Our senses are indeed our doors and windows on this world, in every real sense the key to the unlocking of meaning and the wellspring of creativity”

I have run a series of photo’s like this now. The photo itself speaks to us. This one took my breath away when I saw it. The way the sunlight streams across the road, the way the trees frame the image of the road and the light. It feels like early morning. The road calls us out to adventure. The sun shines out joy, and hope and promise.

The picture fits so well to a theme I have been talking about, “the journey” .

Take awhile to focus on the photo. As you focus become aware of your breathing. Follow the breath in and then out. Let your shoulders relax, and allow the photo to touch you. Concentrate on what you are feeling, sensing, what emotions are stirred.

When you are finished write about your experience in your journal.

Have a beautiful summer morning,

Nick

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There is an atmospheric running through the music of America that isn’t found anywhere else in the world. The fusion of jazz, rock, blues and soul build a density that drips both the raucous history of the country and the joy and heartbreak of living in country that lives at the edge of freedom. So many of America’s cities are blessed with a music that conveys their unique personality to the world. I am not sure I am expressing what I want to say, but I hope through the words you can read my heart.

Here is a song full of life mixed with a nostalgia for Elvis, and joy in the performance and the dance.

Folks this is what inspiration is. Listen and Love it.

Music Touches the Soul

Have a wonderful Sunday with Family and Friends

Nick

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Eckhart Tolle moved back into number one spot on our best seller list this week. With the popularity of the “A New Earth” series hosted by Oprah and the astounding results of the book world wide, this is proving to be a publishers dream.

Stories of success from people who have read and understood the message in the book are remarkable. In fact I was witness to one of those stories in my office at work. I had suggested an associate read “New Earth” as I felt it could help her with some difficult questions she faced. Only two days later in my office at a meeting she read a passage from the book and suggested a course of action I would never have felt possible two days before. Not only that she spoke with a passion and a new found belief in herself.

So if you still have not purchased this book (Please use my links) or are resisting purchasing this book because you have heard it’s difficult to read, or read some critics negative review, I urge you to change you mind, and read one of the most important books of this decade.

Bye the way, if you think what Tolle is talking about is all nonsense, then you need to read “My Stroke of Insight” and watch this video. We’re talking a brain scientist with proof. Here is the link to the video. Actually I repost this here as it was lost in the data base a while ago.

Beautiful Summer Morning Top Five Inspirational Books

1. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose (Oprah’s Book Club, Selection 61) By Eckhart Tolle
TW # 1 LW #3 # of Weeks 18

2. Big Russ and Me by Tim Russert
TW #2 LW– 1 of W 2

3. My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor
TW # 3 LW — # of W 1

4. Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons by Tim Russert
TW #4 LW– 2 of W 2

5. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
TW #5 LW #4 # of Weeks 9

Books to Watch

You Can Heal Your Life (Gift Edition) by Louise Hay

Number 14th overall at Amazon.com

Steering by Starlight: Find Your Right Life, No Matter What! By Martha Beck

Beautiful Summer Morning Book Review

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Ever since a reader wrote and told me “The Alchemist” was still the most inspirational book they had ever read

A Singing Heart

By Janet Trickett Merryman

Are you doing the work that makes you joyful? When you arise in the morning, do you eagerly anticipate what you will be doing in the day? Do you even know what makes your heart sing?

If you dread Sunday evenings, knowing that early on Monday morning, you will hear the invasive sound of an alarm clock, you are most likely NOT doing that which makes your heart sing. If you cringe at the thought of facing your day each day, you are most likely NOT doing that which makes your heart sing.

If you do not know what makes your heart sing, do you know how to figure that out? When we spend most of our day several days a week doing something that does not feel good, we are not doing what we are meant to be doing. Life is not meant to be about struggle and fear. Life is about love and joy!

Here are a few tips to help you figure out what brings you joy:

1. Experience silence for a few minutes. You may not think you have time to do that, but you really do. Even if you are just taking a shower, or on a lunch hour, you can be silent. You can just listen to your breathing, in and out, in and out. You can turn off the radio or tune out what is around you. You do not have to be sitting on a mat, legs crossed, listening to beautiful music, although that is certainly a wonderful and helpful experience. In that silence, you can listen to what is within. That is when you will connect with yourself, your inner being, your true and pure self.

2. Take just a few minutes to make a short list of all the things that you truly enjoy. Not what you think others would like you to enjoy. What YOU enjoy! It doesn’t have to be a long list, just an honest one.

3. At another time, make a list of all the things at which you excel. (e.g., writing, sewing, accounting, exercising, cooking, making jewelry, playing softball) You know deep down the things that you do best. And most likely, you truly enjoy those things that you do well.

The reason it is good to do the lists at different times is so that these tasks won’t seem overwhelming and give you an excuse to put off doing them.

The very best way you can figure out what brings you joy is to just listen to yourself. Not others, just yourself. No one knows what is best for you, except you. No one else knows what brings you joy but you. Just you.

Listen to the silence. Explore and express yourself. That is what will bring you joy. That is what will make you joyful.

Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Janet Trickett Merryman

Editor’s Note; I am thrilled to have Janet participate here at Beautiful Summer Morning. Many of you might recognize the name because Janet has contributed many beautiful photo’s to this site. This is her first article for us. Please comment and let her know what you think. Feedback is the life blood of site’s like this.

Nick

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This week to inspire you is Josh Groban with a beautiful Video based on the song “You are Loved”

Take a look and enjoy.

And if you look over at the side bar under Inspirational Video, you will find many more inspirational videos.

Have a wonderful Sunday with Family and Friends

Nick

The recent media blitz over Tim Russert’s passing seems to have renewed interest in Tim Russert’s books, both of which place in the top ten of Amazon.com’s Top one hundred list. Both books appear to be inspirational in nature, and thus make it onto this list. If you have any feedback on these books, I would love to hear from you. Use the comments section at the very bottom of this post.

Beautiful Summer Morning’s Top Five Inspirational Books for the week of June 21 2008

1. Big Russ and Me by Tim Russert
TW #1 LW– # of W 1

2. Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons by Tim Russert
TW #2 LW– # of W 1

3. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose (Oprah’s Book Club, Selection 61) By Eckhart Tolle
TW # 3 LW #1 # of Weeks 17

4. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
TW #4 LW #2 # of Weeks 8

5. Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin
TW # 5 LW # 5 # of W 21

Beautiful Summer Morning Book Review

Anyone subscribed to my Inspirational Quotes Page know that I have been using quotes from this book for several weeks now.

The Book is called The Dance: Moving to the Rhythms of Your True Self by Oriah

I love this book. I love books that open you up like a ripe melon to dig about in your soft parts, and then inspires you to Dance with the images Oriah creates. Each chapter of the book is based on a stanza from Oriah’s poem, called “The Dance.”

“

There are no pulled punches, no holds barred, in the frankly honest writing that speak to the heart and the soul with truth and rationality and common sense. We don’t have all the answers, we can’t always provide the answers some one else needs, but we can be there with the understanding that, as we are, we are good enough.

To learn to accept that “you are good enough, just as you are” is the central theme in the steps of this Dance.

Every page carries an inspiration, a new insight , a new learning about self, or your relationship to others you are left breathless.

If you wish to look into a truly passionate heart full of love for us without regard to our condition, this is the book for you.

Oriah makes no bones about being flawless, what is unique is her approach comes from her learning about her own challenges, her own struggles to live the Dance.

You will come away from the book, a much richer person.

Her is a Video of “The Invitation” a poem that precedes “The Dance”.

Get Inspired…Read a Book!

Nick

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Un-sticking My Mind

© Nick Grimshawe

I believe you need to learn to be open to the messages the universe is throwing at you.
This morning I wrote these words in my journal.

We, in our physical bodies, act as a bridge between two worlds for within us we hold both in a unique foothold that some would rend asunder.

When we find those moments of solitude and peace where we come face to face with the profound love at the core of our being, yet can still hear the sound of nature all around; the trickling brook, the bird song, the distant train whistle: We have opened the bridge to the traffic of understanding, joy and of radiance.

Communication flows from our ability to translate the language of both worlds.

Once you open the bridge the messages of the spiritual world find revelation in the physical world.

People farther removed from our modern, overwhelmingly physical world were able to read those messages in the flight of a bird, in the appearance of a snake, in the juxtaposition of apparently dissimilar events.

To change the metaphor slightly: My bridge is more like a draw bridge from a medieval castle. Quite often you find me with my draw bridge up in a defensive position to comfort some perceived threat. Only when I let the bridge down does the traffic of inspiration flow and I receive the communication of the world outside my walls.

You might argue that having the draw bridge up can be a good thing when the enemy is at the gate.

I ask “What makes them an enemy the first place?” The answer can be found within the castle walls (you). Don’t forget sieges, a favourite pastime of medieval knights, can leave a walled castle the victim of its own enclosure.

As human/beings we each have a job to do—open our unique bridge between the worlds so that the song of a meadow lark becomes the chorus of the heavenly hosts.

I finished the entry as I finished breakfast and went about my day attempting to keep my draw bridge down. For that reason I think I was open for the message that came screaming through to me.

Let me back up.

A few days ago I received, in the mail, my “retirement check-up” from my financial company. I took the news hard. “We would have to sell the house, because at retirement we were not going to be able to make the payments.” Down this negative path I went in a blue funk that has troubled my days and nights since.

The funk expanded, as funks have a habit of doing because it dampened what has been an awesome time for me spiritually.

I finally went back to an affirmation I have used with powerful results in the past.

“What is desired is on its way.” Just repeat ten or twenty times at a go.

Today because my draw bridge was down what was desired crashed through my ridiculous state of mind.

The message came as the dogs and I returned from a walk.

I passed a house with a “For Sale” sign.

We went sailing passed. But something about the house grabbed my attention.
To the dogs, I said, “Guys I think that was a sign. Do you think that was a sign? I think it was a sign, we’re going to turn around and go back. I’m sure it’s a sign.”

A U-Turn and several minutes later we pulled into the drive way of the house.

The house met my desire for a quiet location, perfectly. A fenced dog play area also added to the perfection, and a river (well a creek really) ran through it, plus 3.5 acres to play in.

I started to think about price as I copied the realtor’s number down. As I drove away I am thinking if the price is reasonable then we could reduce our mortgage payments …aha!

Suddenly I realized how fixated I’d become on some banks calculated retirement income that I’d shut the door on all other possible solutions. I’d given a piece of paper power over me. Instead of solutions I saw only the barrier.
Once the barrier blew away, all kinds of options opened up, and my dream of simplifying my life appeared much closer than it did a few days ago.

A call to the realtor dashed my hope that it could be that house but I didn’t care by then. The house showed me the way pass my barrier.

The lesson: Do everything you can to keep your unique bridge open so you can translate the messages coming through.

Nick

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There is An Adventure Waiting for All of Us

© by Nick Grimshawe

The way is open to us all.

The way has been called many things. The one I like the best is:
“The Great Way” referred to in the Tao Te Ching.

“The Great Way” conjures up images of all the adventures of time: The Silk Road blazed by Marco Polo who found a new world for western eyes, Alexander at the end of the world, Christopher Columbus setting foot in the new world, Neil Armstrong stepping out upon our closest celestial neighbour , the Moon.

I think of the Tales of the Arabian Nights. I think of Treasure Island. I think of reading Dune for the first time. I remember the excitement of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

The Great Way is all of those things and much much more.

The Great Way is a journey into our selves.

How you get onto the path does not matter whether through religion or spiritual message, or a simple desire to find a more empowering truth. Why you started out on the journey may be lost in the fog of time but you remember the call; that irresistible urge to set forth and seek out.

If you are a human/being (a being in human form) then within you, whether you acknowledge it or not, is the call to come on out and join the throngs of pilgrims on the hot and dusty path called the “Great Way”.

Hear the tinkling of bells upon the wind, feel the swirl of excitement around your belly button, sense the sweeping vistas of joy a waiting, understand the sense of longing to be home, truly home.

I have learned all that I seek is within me.

I have learned that that which is within me is part of the Mystery to which I am eternally link.

All I have to do is unfold, open out, allow, and be present.

All!

That’s why we call it the Great Way.

Like all journeys you confront risks, face challenges, encounter fears you did not know you had. You will want to step off the path at times. Frustration will dog you at the end of blind alleys that make you retrace your steps. The heat will make you thirsty. The night will make you cold.

Yet you are more spirit than form, though that might now be clear to you now.

As spirit you are the call, the journey, The Great Way and the Mystery. You can no more refuse the adventure than refuse to breathe.

You are surrounded by other travelers, some reluctant, some willing. Do not judge their journey, how far they’ve come, how far they have to go, or their method of travel, simply celebrate their adventure, share a helping hand while you are together, and wish each other well.

Now excuse me, the clash of cymbals sound, the pipers play my song, the dusty heat, the multitudes, all call me out to my inward path.

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