Harmonious Living

Thanks for a fabulous 2011 and Happy Holidays!

2011-12-22T21:10:00.000-05:00

Peace & Prosperity in the New Year!

No matter what your faith or beliefs - whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another holiday - the period that marks the end of one year and the beginning of another is a time for reflection and renewal.

As we close out our 15th year in business, we realize how much we owe to you, our very loyal customers and friends. We are honored and grateful for your friendship and support these many years. Thank you!

We wish you all much peace, happiness, health, and prosperity in the New Year!

-Sally, Chris, Lilo, & Amida

Everyone's a Winner When You Support Small Businesses

2011-11-07T20:01:00.000-05:00

Take a minute now and try to imagine what your neighborhood would be like without your locally-owned mom-and-pop shops. Do the terms "bland," "generic," "boring" come to mind?

Independently owned shops not only give your neighborhood its unique character, they also support the local economy in a myriad of ways. That's the premise behind small business advocacy campaigns like The 3/50 Project and American Express' Small Business Saturday.

Did you know that:

A locally-owned shop returns 68% of its revenues to the local economy, whereas a national chain returns only 43%?
Locally-owned shops employ more local residents and pay them substantially higher wages, in addition to having a broader range of jobs available?
Local businesses buy more than twice as much from other local businesses, and also are more likely to use local banks and other service providers?
Local businesses contribute more to the community through charitable giving, school funding, and other non-profit organizations?

And now, according to a recent study conducted by Civics Economics, there's one more reason to support small businesses: they help raise your property values.

The Small Business Saturday Shop Local event is November 26. When you register your American Express card in advance and shop at an independently owned small business on Small Business Saturday, American Express will reimburse you with a $25 statement credit! You can register your American Express card here.

Not only are you much more likely to discover some unexpected wonder or unique handmade treasure at an independent small business, but every dollar spent in a locally-owned shop is a vote for the health and welfare of your community.

Everyone wins when you "Shop SMALL" on Small Business Saturday!

Care for Kids! A Benefit for Children's National Medical Center

2011-10-12T16:19:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year again when we proudly support the Children's National Medical Center by sponsoring the "Care for Kids" Card campaign. The program is simple:

Buy a "Care for Kids" card for $50 here
get 20% off ALL purchases at more than 300 local shops and restaurants during the campaign period, from Oct. 21 through Oct. 30.

That's it! It's a great way to start your holiday gifts shopping while supporting a worthy non-profit. All proceeds from sales of the cards go directly to Children's National Medical Center, while the savings go directly to you!

In past years, the Care for Kids Campaign has contributed more than $1.5 million towards:

a clinical simulation training laboratory
a portable ultrasound machine
summer camp for sickle cell patients
a bright and cheerful playroom for patients in the respiratory care unit

Your purchase of the Care for Kids Card includes a catalog detailing the more than 300 shops and restaurants throughout the DC-area that are participating in the program. Purchase yours today!

The Therapeutic Effects of Kaleidoscopes

2011-08-29T19:48:00.001-04:00

I've always loved kaleidoscopes and found, even as an adult, that gazing at the wonderfully colorful and ever-changing world inside the scope had a soothing and calming influence on me. Well, apparently, I'm not the only one who feels that way. Dr. Clifford Kuhn, of the University of Kentucky, has this to say about kaleidoscopes:

Kaleidoscope viewing.... is restorative to the body in that it requires physical stillness and stimulates pleasant visual sensations. At the same time it has a beneficial effect on the mind by presenting an endless variety of form and color combinations that stir the imagination and stimulate the intellect.

Read the full scoop on kaleidoscope therapy on the Handcrafted Alexandria* blog, then enjoy a full month of kaleidoscope celebrations at our sister Handcrafted shop, Arts Afire.

*Mindful Hands is a proud member of Handcrafted Alexandria

Welcome to August!

2011-08-11T21:05:00.000-04:00

When it comes to mosquitoes,

the best defense is a good offense

August in DC means heat, humidity, and .....mosquitoes! It's been said that the best defense is a good offense, so we thought we would share with you some tips from our friends at the National Wildlife Federation on what works and what doesn't for reducing the mosquito threat in your yard.

What works:

eliminating all possible places for standing water, including gutters and yes, even bottle caps!
chemical repellents that contain DEET
natural repellents that contain lemon eucalyptus

What doesn't work:

ultrsonic repellents, zappers, & traps

You can read the full list from the National Wildlife Federation here.

Mosquitoes just adore me so I tend to really suffer in the summertime. And I don't like to use chemical sprays on me or the yard, so I really suffer in the summer.

There are three things I've found to be truly effective in repelling those pesky miniature vampires: cigars, incense, and these all-natural citronella & eucalyptus candles!

You might not want to use cigars or incense if you're having a backyard barbecue, but I highly recommend trying these candles. They are all natural soy wax candles made entirely with pure essential oils. The liquid wax can be applied directly to the skin for added bug protection. No synthetics, no chemicals, no bugs!

Come get your summer supply of these "all-natural, hand-poured, made in the USA" candles at Mindful Hands in Old Town Alexandria.

Thanks for a fabulous first fifteen years!

2011-07-08T21:51:00.000-04:00

Mindful Hands is FIFTEEN years old! That's practically ancient for independent retailers like us. And we couldn't have done it without you! A big THANK YOU to all our wonderful customers who have helped us not only survive but thrive! We hope to continue to support you in bringing serenity into your lives for at least another fifteen years!

We posted some photos from our big birthday bash here.

And Orrin Konheim of the Alexandria Gazette-Packet wrote a wonderful article about our little shop and celebration here.

Our first 15 years have been a wonderful experience and a grand adventure! We're looking forward to our next fifteen!

Children & Yoga

2011-06-03T16:04:00.000-04:00

Children, even as young as two years old, can benefit in many ways from learning yoga according to Michelle Mitchell, co-founder of YoKid and our own in-house expert on yoga for children. Yoga can help kids develop greater confidence and self-esteem; increase focus, awareness, and concentration; and develop better control over emotions and stress.

To learn more about the "kid yoga" movement, here's a couple of interesting articles:

"Yoga for Kids" (Yoga Journal)

"Raising a Generation of Children on Yoga" (Washington Post, 5/10/11)

Handcrafted Alexandria

2011-05-20T16:24:00.003-04:00

As most of you know, the majority of the items in our shop, Mindful Hands, are handmade, either by international artisan co-ops in India, Nepal, and other countries, or by artisans living here in the US. This year, we are proud to join a local consortium of 14 Alexandria-based businesses that offer handmade gifts, clothing, and artwork, or offer art and craft supplies, as well as classes, to help you make your own handcrafted wonders. You can check out the group, and sign up for the monthly e-newsletter, at Handcrafted Alexandria.

Chocolate, Tea, & Kitties: Celebrate World Fair Trade Day!

2011-05-09T16:03:00.003-04:00

Join us on Saturday, May 14, as we host a World Fair Trade Day celebration. We'll have refreshments of fairly-traded iced tea and chocolate, craft activities for kids, and chances to win prizes of fair-trade handmade gifts. The event will also feature the fairly-traded cats and kittens of Tails High, an Alexandria-based cat rescue group.

Fair Trade is a global movement that ensures that workers and artisans in developing countries receive a living wage for their work and healthy and safe working conditions. World Fair Trade Day is sponsored annually by the Fair Trade Resource Network and encompasses more than 100,000 participants in over 80 countries.

This year, we are proud to be a sponsoring partner of the Fair Trade Resource Network in celebration of this year's World Fair Trade Day. Mindful Hands offers fairly-traded home and garden decor, clothing, jewelry, and gifts from the Tibetan-exile community and women's co-ops in India and Nepal. Ten percent of all sales on May 14 will be donated to the Fair Trade Resource Network in support of their efforts to make all trade fair.

Please join us on May 14, 1:00 - 4:00pm, to celebrate Fair Trade!

2011-04-22T14:30:00.002-04:00

From our friends at Positively Positive:

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles. " - Anne Frank

Happy Earth Day!

April is National Stress Awareness Month

2011-04-10T13:10:00.006-04:00

Americans are stressed. We stress about our jobs, the economy, our health, global warming, and pretty much everything. According to the American Psychological Association, "more than 75% of adult Americans report experiencing stress at levels that exceed what they define as healthy."

What's more, our stress is worrying our kids, too. More than 80% of children of stressed parents know that their parents are stressed and are bothered by it. And though we know we need to be doing a better job at managing our stress, most of us say that we don't have the time or don't know how. (APA's "Stress in America Study")

Welcome to April, National Stress Awareness Month! Here at Mindful Hands, we are devoted to helping you live a gentler life, including providing resources to help you manage your stress. Gary Goodwin, of The Inner Arts Center, is our in-house stress management expert. In addition to running the monthly "Stress Reduction for Busy People," Gary offers these techniques for "on the fly" relaxation:

On-the-fly relaxation techniques are numerous, and in most ways, more effective than one or two meditation sessions per day. These regular world techniques are totally portable, invisible to others, and simple to work in.

Deep Breathing - Four or five cycles of breathing in, down to the belly and out really takes the edge off.

Sensory Mindfulness - Tune gently away from your thoughts and feelings and listenn to the sounds around you for a few seconds. Repeat for 30 seconds or up to a few minutes.

Calming Imagery - Bring to your mind’s eye any image that strikes you as calming (your last vacation, a favorite pet, etc.). Hold onto the image or make it more vivid for a minute or two. Feel the greater calm.

No cross-legged position required for any of these. No seclusion necessary. Invisible to everyone else but you know what really is going on. You are de-stressing, when you need it, within your regular life, all on the fly.

To learn more relaxation techniques, attend Gary's free monthly workgroup: Stress Reduction for Busy People and read more about relaxation techniques at his blog: Stress Reduction for Busy People.

Strange Vegetables + Ranch Dressing = Delicious!

2011-03-25T16:39:00.003-04:00

Support your local farmer by becoming a member of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). And if you haven't joined a CSA yet because of some qualms about what to do with all those "strange" vegetables, here's a nice little article from our friends at Local Harvest: Strange Vegetables

Be Still, Boost Brain

2011-03-14T17:54:00.004-04:00

There's new evidence from a study conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital that suggests that mindfulness and relaxation exercises can boost brain power. Participants in the study engaged in mindfulness-based stress reduction exercises that included guided imagery and stretching. Even as little as 30 minutes a day of mindfulness practice can have positive results in the areas of learning, memory, and emotional well-being.

The study was reported in the Washington Post and you can read more about it here.

Get a jump on National Stress Awareness Month in April and start your meditation practice now!

Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 14 -20!

2011-02-13T12:30:00.002-05:00

"How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it!"

-George Elliston; news reporter, poet

A simple act of kindness can:

bring two people together in spontaneous goodwill
create a smile that can go 'round the world
increase someone else's happiness as well as your own
ignite a small flame of positive thinking

Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week from Feb. 14 - 20! We'll be celebrating all week at Mindful Hands and will host a Kindness Fair on Saturday, Feb. 20. You can also follow us on Follow us on twitter (twitter.com/mindfulhands) as we post suggestions for random acts of kindness, inspirational messages, and updates on acts of kindness happening around the world.

If you're really feeling brave, you can take the Extreme Kindness Challenge from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. Commit to doing at least one act of kindness for each day of Random Acts of Kindness Week and share your experience via Facebook, Twitter or the Random Acts of Kindness website.

To get you started, here's a few simple acts of kindness:

smile at everyone you see
say "thank you" to someone who did something nice for you
compliment a stranger
pick up trash in your neighborhood
hold the door open for someone

Participate in random acts of kindness! We may not be able to change the whole world, but we can certainly change our little corner of it.

15th Anniversary Celebration!

2011-01-20T15:27:00.004-05:00

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Mindful Hands! We've certainly seen many ups and downs over the years and weathered many storms.

We've also changed our focus several times and expanded to meet the changing needs of our customers. We started out in 1996 as a Buddhist arts and meditation center then quickly expanded to importing Chinese antique furniture, eventually adding other home and garden accents to accomodate the needs of our growing customer base. In 2003, we expanded to the second floor and morphed into the specialty gift store and community center that we now are.

One thing has never changed: YOU! Our wonderful and loyal customers have stuck by us through thick and thin, ups and downs, and through all of our transformations. And you've brought your friends, family, and out-of-town visitors to see us and share in our little "oasis of serenity in Old Town."

To show our appreciation for your support, we're planning several special events throughout the coming year, including a 15th Birthday Extravaganza in June! To help us celebrate, and to make sure you don't miss out on any of the festivities, join our mailing list now!

Thank you for fifteen fabulous years!

Rarities of All Sorts

2010-12-24T13:48:00.003-05:00

We hope you had a chance this past Tuesday to witness the winter solstice lunar eclipse; a beautiful sight indeed. It is extremely rare for a lunar eclipse to occur on the same day as the winter solstice, a conjunction that last occured in 1638 and won't occur again until 2094.

We feel fortunate that our many loyal customers, many of whom have become friends over the years, are a different kind of rarity: socially conscious, engaged, and caring people living meaningful, fulfilled lives and doing their best to make the world a better place. We are honored that you choose our little center to help you on your journeys.

Thank you for your support & friendship over the years. We feel grateful, blessed, and proud to be part of such a caring community.

From all the staff of Mindful Hands, we wish you a healthy and happy holiday!
-Sally, Chris, Lilo, Amida, & Baby

Small Business Saturday

2010-11-19T15:45:00.003-05:00

Join more than 300,000 people nationwide who have already expressed their support for locally-owned businesses. Sponsored by American Express, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is a nationwide promotion in support of small business everywhere:
"A day to come together in support of the small businesses we love. The shops and restaurants that employ our neighbors and reinvest our money close to home. The businesses that are the heartbeat of our communities and local
economies."

Show your support and receive a $25 credit on your American Express statement when you shop your local small businesses on Small Business Satuday. See Small Business Saturday (smallbusinesssaturday.com) for details. If you're a facebook user, you can give a "shout out" to your favorite small business at facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday.

Shop Local, Shop Small!

The Value of Impermanence

2010-11-05T19:37:00.003-04:00

Fall is here, winter is soon to come. The changing of the seasons reminds us that nothing is permanent except change itself, to appreciate the good things we have while we have them, and that it is the last piece of Halloween candy that is always savored the most.

Welcome to November.

("Mount Vernon in the Fall," colored pencil by Chris Engnoth)

"Care for Kids" Benefit to Support Children's National Medical Center

2010-10-08T15:19:00.003-04:00

Every year at the end of October, The Children's National Medical Center sponsors a pre-holiday shopping promotion. Mindful Hands is once again a proud supporter of the "Care for Kids" holiday promotion. Mindful Hands, along with more than 500 other DC-area retail stores, will generously provide participants with a 20% discount off all regularly priced merchandise during the promotion period.

This year's designated shopping period is from Friday, October 22, through Sunday, October 31. All you have to do is purchase a Care For Kids holiday shopping card at selected merchants, through a team of 200+ volunteer sellers, or online at http://www.careforkidscard.com Your card purchase allows you to give a $50.00 contribution directly to Children's National and, in return, you will receive 20% off all regularly priced merchandise at participating stores, including Mindful Hands.

The Care for Kids program has provided more than one million dollars in donations to Children's National. Donations from previous years provided the Medical Center with a bright and cheery playroom for the patients in the Respiratory Care Unit, a clinical simulation training laboratory, and educational programs for children with Type 1 Diabetes and their parents.

Children's National is ranked as one of the top ten pediatric hospitals in the nation. The hospital provides care to all children in need, regardless of financial situation or whether insured or not. Last year, Children's National provided more than $50 million dollars in health care to children whose families could not afford treatment.

When you purchase a Care For Kids Card, 100% of the card sale proceeds go to Children's National Medical Center. Help this most worthy cause by purchasing your Care For Kids Card today!

Purchase your Care for Kids Shopping Card here.

Pledge to go Car Free on Sept. 22!

2010-09-17T13:28:00.003-04:00

September 22 is International Car Free Day. Celebrations are happening in more than 1,500 cities in 40 countries as people all over the world pledge to go car free for just one day. Imagine: one day a year with no traffic congestion; breathable, cleaner air; reduced reliance on gasoline; and a greener earth. And you can help to make it happen.

Try a day off from your car and see just how liberating it can be. You can make a real difference for the environment by choosing to walk, cycle, use public transit, or telework for just one day. Pledge to go car free (or car-lite) on September 22 and participate in celebrations and contests in your city or region.

In the DC-metro area, pledge to go car free and be entered in a raffle to win fabulous prizes. You can enter even if you're already car free. To learn more and to make your pledge, click here

Shops and restaurants across the DC-area are offering special promotions to those who take the car free pledge. At Mindful Hands, just say "I'm car free today!" and receive 15% off your total purchase!

To find other activities and celebrations in your area, check out the International Car Free Day website.

Pledge to Go Car Free!

No Child Left Inside

2010-08-07T15:58:00.003-04:00

You may have heard the term, "nature deficit disorder," coined by Richard Louv in his book, Last Child in the Woods (2005). According to Louv, today's children spend far less time outdoors than even a generation ago. With the rise in electronic entertainment - from television & DVDs to computer games to social networking sites like myspace and facebook, to cellphone texting and Wii - today's children are spending more than 50 hours a week with electronic media (Kaiser Family Foundation).

This disconnect from nature has been linked to childhood obesity, attention disorders, and stress and depression in children. Conversely, recent research has shown that children with ADHD concentrate better after a walk in the park. And overall health improves for both children and adults who live near parks or woods, even in urban environments.

The benefits to children of re-connecting with nature include:

increase in attention span, focus, and self-discipline
better problem-solving and cooperative behavior
increase in creativity, self-esteem, and overall happiness

According to the Children and Nature Network, "Children will be smarter, better able to get along with others, healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in the out-of-doors."

You don't have to send your kids away to camp, take a family vacation to a National Park, or even allow them unsupervised play in the woods across the street. Outdoor activities can take place - safely- in your neighborhood park or even in your own backyard. Making outdoor play a family activity has the added benefit of strengthening family ties and creating shared memories that your kids will cherish for many years to come.

Check out these resources for family-oriented nature activities:

The Children and Nature Network offers a free Nature Clubs for Families do-it-yourself toolkit
The National Wildlife Federation provides easy and practical ideas for a family "green hour" every day: What Is A Green Hour?

Keeping Cool By Being Green

2010-07-18T12:12:00.004-04:00

The Washington, DC-area is experiencing one of the hottest summers in history, as is much of the east coast. Chris & I just recently installed a room air conditioner in our bedroom. Our home has central air conditioning but as we live in a 3-story shoebox, we found our electric bills to be far too high for a house that was still uncomfortably warm. The central a/c was wonderful at keeping the basement cool, only so-so on the main floor, and did nothing for our bedroom upstairs. We are rarely home except in the evenings, so a single room a/c for our bedroom is not only far more energy efficient but also a lot easier on the pocketbook.

Since then, I've found a few other ways of keeping cool by reducing indoor air temperature. Even simple things, like turning off lights when you leave a room and keeping windows and blinds closed, can dramatically reduce the amount of heat generated inside your home. Here are a few other simple solutions to beat the heat:

Turn up the thermostat as high as possible during the hours when no one's home, or turn off the a/c altogether. Better yet, invest in a programmable thermostat.

Run heat-generating appliances in the early morning, late evening, or when you're not home (this includes clothes dryers and dishwashers). Better yet, line dry your clothes if you can.

Use ceiling and floor fans to circulate the air. Fans use far less electricity than air conditioners and the cooling breezes they generate will allow you to run the a/c at a higher temperature.

Install working window shutters, put up awnings, or plant a tree to shade your windows from the sun.

Try "tuning" your double-hung windows to suck the hot air out and bring cooler air in.

These are just a few suggestions for chillin' in the summer heat. Check out these additional resources for simple, low-cost ways to stay cool while being green:

How to Keep Cool Without Air Conditioning

Hot Time in the City? Keep Cool in Your Home

Low-Tech Air Conditioning Guide

Low-Tech Tips: Tune Your Windows

Peaceful Sleep, Peaceful Dreams

2010-06-06T11:41:00.004-04:00

According to the National Sleep Foundation, nearly 60% of Americans typically do not get a good night's sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to ill-health, poor decision-making, and depression. If you're finding it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or you don't feel refreshed when you wake up, then try some of these tips for healthy sleep:

(1) Try to go to bed at the same time every day. A regular schedule helps to maintain your body's natural circadian rhythm, important for good sleep. Try to wake up at the same time everyday, too.

(2) Create a sleep-inducing environment. Take your computer, television, exercise equipment, and other electronics out of the bedroom. Keep your room comfortable and quiet.

(3) Exercise regularly, but finish your exercise at least 3 hours before going to bed.

(4) Avoid consuming caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol close to bedtime.

(5) A relaxing bedtime ritual can be especially helpful. Turn off the television, computer, or other electronic device at least an hour before going to bed. Then soak in a hot tub, read a book, or listen to soothing music while drifting off to sleep.

More tips for healthy sleeping and other sleep topics can be found at the website for the National Sleep Foundation.

The Only Species with the Capacity to Destroy the Earth

2010-04-22T21:40:00.003-04:00

"We need to consider how our actions, in affecting the environment, are likely to affect others. This is often difficult to judge; but it is clear that we are the only species with the power to destroy the earth. Birds and insects have no such power, nor does any other mammal. Yet if we have the capacity to destroy the earth, we also have the capacity to protect it. I believe we have an urgent responsibility to do so." - H.H., the XIVth Dalai Lama

Celebrate the earth this Earth Day, and reduce, re-use, and recycle!

Can't We All Just Get Along?

2010-04-10T15:41:00.003-04:00

American culture is deeply rooted in the lore of individualism and competitiveness. We learn at a young age that achieving our own individual goals is more important than compromising for the greater good of the family or community. Yet study after study has indicated that cooperation, not competition, actually works better for achieving group goals as well as for achieving one's own individual goals.

Children gain many benefits when their parents and teachers encourage cooperation. Some of these benefits are:

increased self-esteem
a sense of belonging
respect for and trust in others
emotional maturity
creativity and flexibility in thinking

And studies have shown that when children learn cooperation at home and at school, they are much more likely to take this behavior into their work world and into relationships. People with cooperative natures are generally healthier, happier, have a higher sense of self-worth, and experience less stress than those who are more competitive.

So for your own good, can't we all just get along?

******

For more information on cooperative learning, visit The Cooperative Learning Center at the University Minnestota.

Cooperative board games are available through our sponsor, Mindful Hands, in their children's section.

Eat Healthy, Eat Local

2010-03-27T20:14:00.003-04:00

On March 25, Alexandria became only the second city in the country to pass a resolution in support of healthier eating, including increasing residents' access to locally grown, environmentally sustainable foods. And here at Mindful Hands we are happy to do our part in support of that same goal!

Mindful Hands is once again sponsoring an organic farm co-op (also known as a "CSA," or "community sponsored agriculture") in which members pay at the beginning of the season for 20 weeks worth of fresh, organic farm produce. If you are like me, you definitely appreciate the crisp and flavorful taste of homegrown vegetables picked fresh just that morning.

To find a co-op, farmer's market, or CSA near you, check out the Local Harvest website.

The Ten Virtues of Incense

2010-03-13T14:21:00.003-05:00

Lighting a stick or two of incense in the evenings is an easy way to relax and refresh yourself after a hard day's work. Some of you incense afficianados may already be familiar with these "virtues of incense." However for those of you who aren't, I thought our version - updated for a contemporary audience - might be of interest. Enjoy!

The Ten Virtues Of Incense

heightens your awareness
refreshes mind and body
purifies the environment
increases alertness
is a companion in solitude
used everyday, it harms no one
does not change with age
when it is plentiful, one never tires of it
when there is little, it is still enough
brings a moment of peace amidst a weary world

These virtues were originally compiled in the 16th century. We've slightly updated them for contemporary times but they remain as true today as they were then.

Random Acts of Kindness in the Snow

2010-02-12T18:23:00.002-05:00

As Washington digs out from one of our harshest snowstorms on record, we are emerging from our white cocoons to hear of almost the entire metro region paralyzed and shut down, more than a hundred thousand homes without power, major highways and roadways impassable because of icy conditions, accidents, and downed trees and power lines. Oh, and, another near-blizzard on the way!

And in the midst of all the chaos, there is kindness. Neighbors checking on neighbors, bringing food and medicine to those who cannot get out, sharing their homes with those without power, coming together to help shovel out cars, driveways, homes, and sidewalks. Neighborhood families coming out into the streets, backyards, and parks to sled and play in the snow together.

It may take a village to raise a child, but it may take a snowstorm to make a village.

Waking Up

2010-01-10T19:09:00.002-05:00

Hope runs high with the dawning of a new year. We leave behind the events and expectations from the past year - with all of its successes and failures, joys and sorrows, disappointments and happy surprises alike - and make way for the new: new beginnings, new goals, new activities, a new you. We talk about the start of a new year as if it is a chance to start fresh again, wipe away the mistakes of the past, re-invent ourselves, be the people we always had intended to be.

Actually, however, every day affords us that chance to begin anew. Every day that we awake is a new day and new beginning. It's rarely beneficial to set aggressive goals for one's self that, come March, will be forgotten amidst the fears and frustrations of too high expectations. Instead, try setting little every day goals, easily accomplished, that will bring pleasure to you or someone else. Small pleasures and little thoughtful actions, performed everyday, lead to big accomplishments.

Even large mountains are eventually worn down by the simple rain, one drop at a time. And like the rain, with focus and steady effort, transcending both hopes and fears, you will likely wake up one day to a kinder, gentler you.

Wishing all of you peace, love, and much joy in the new year!

In Gratitude

2009-12-20T14:09:00.003-05:00

As you know, 2009 has been a particularly difficult year for the independent retail sector. At Mindful Hands, we recognize that you have many choices for where to shop. As we enter our 14th year here in Old Town Alexandria, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude to our many loyal customers, friends, and supporters. Thank you for your wonderful support over the years and your continuing patronage!

We wish you a healthy, prosperous, and happy New Year!

- Sally, Chris, Lilo, Amida, & Lissy

Thinking Outside the Box

2009-11-19T11:40:00.004-05:00

Think outside the box this holiday season. Instead of shopping at "big box" or national chain stores, shop instead at your local neighborhood stores. You'll find your neighborhood "mom-n-pop" shops have most everything you need for your holiday gift-giving and home decorating.

And you're much more likely to discover some unexpected wonder or unique handmade treasure at a locally-owned shop.

Shopping at locally-owned independent shops also helps strengthen the local economy. Did you know that:

A locally-owned shop returns 68% of its revenues to the local economy, whereas a national chain returns only 43%?
Locally-owned shops employ more local residents and pay them substantially higher wages, in addition to having a broader range of jobs available?
Local businesses buy more than twice as much from other local businesses, and also are more likely to use local banks and other service providers?
Local businesses contribute more to the community through charitable giving, school funding, and other non-profit organizations?

Every dollar spent in a locally-owned shop is a vote for the health and welfare of your community and supports your neighbors in their livelihoods. This holiday season, think "outside the box" and support your locally-owned stores. Your neighbors thank you!

Teaching Kids About Climate Change

2009-10-15T14:31:00.003-04:00

Things are definitely heating up, including the Earth! According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average Earth temperature has increased by 1° Farenheit in the past century and is predicted to increase a further 2-6° in the next. Global warming can result in severe climate conditions across the planet, including extended droughts in some areas and coastal flooding in others.

Simple changes to your own lifestyle can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere and help to reduce the effects of global warming. If you have children, you can make it a fun family project to learn about climate change and global warming. And, just like 14-year-old Alec Loorz (see below), your kids can become advocates for change.

Here are some fun sites to get your kids interested and involved:

Alec Loorz and Kids vs. Global Warming (www.kids-vs-global-warming.com/Home.html)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Kid's Education Site (www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/cc.html)

October is World Fair Trade Month

2009-10-14T19:20:00.004-04:00

The simple act of buying fairly traded products can make an enormous difference in the lives of disadvantaged families all over the world. Fair Trade ensures that artisans and workers in developing countries receive a fair and living wage for their work.

Buying fair trade products means that:

a child can go to school instead of going to work
a single mother can support herself and her children
enironmentally sustainable practices are used
employees work in a healthy and safe environment

At Mindful Hands, we purchase many of our products from the Tibetan exile community, living in India and Nepal. After losing their country to Chinese Communist invasion in 1959, the Tibetans have since been in danger of losing their unique culture. Our support of these communities ensures that Tibetan families can support themselves and also helps to preserve their cultural heritage by bringing traditional handicrafts to American markets.

To learn more about the Fair Trade movement, check out these resources:

The Fair Trade Resource Network (www.fairtraderesource.org)
The Fair Trade Federation (www.fairtradefederation.org)
DC Make Trade Fair, a local grassroots organization(www.meetup.com/DCMakeTradeFair)

To learn more about Tibet and the Tibetan exile community, check out:

The International Campaign for Tibet (www.savetibet.org)

Thank You!

2009-09-29T17:29:00.000-04:00

THANK YOU to everyone who voted for us in the American Express "Shine A Light" award. We were not chosen as one of the 3 finalists, however, we could not have gotten as far as we did in the judging phase without the help of all of our wonderful friends and supporters. Thank you!

Shine A Light on Mindful Hands!

2009-09-09T17:39:00.003-04:00

Good News! Mindful Hands has been nominated for a "Shine a Light" award sponsored by American Express. Please VOTE for us by Sept. 13, we need 50 votes to be considered for the award. Click on the image to the left to read our story and cast your vote!

We could not have made it 13 years in Old Town Alexandria without the support and loyalty of our wonderful customers and friends! Thank you!

Support Local Artists

2009-09-06T18:24:00.002-04:00

The fall arts season is upon us once again. Alexandria, Virginia is fortunate to be home to many nationally-acclaimed artists as well as the world-renowned Torpedo Factory Arts Center. On the weekend of September 12 & 13, King Street will once again be closed to traffic from Washington Street east to the river. Several of Alexandria's local artists, many of whom rent or own studio or gallery spaces in Old Town, will be exhibiting their works along the sidewalks in front of their galleries. Look for these talented, and local, artists:

- Mindful Hands' own art director, Chris Engnoth, will be exhibiting his fine art watercolors and digital paintings (that's "Key Bridge on Ice" above) in front of 211 King St.

- Our next door neighbor, Nar Steele of Cobblestone Art Gallery, will be exhibiting watercolors, multimedia works and painted birdhouses in front of 213 King St.

- Visit Todd Healy at Gallery Lafayette at 320 King St. Todd is well-known for his paintings of local Old Town scenes and architecture.

- Andrew McDonald, former vice-mayor of Alexandria, showcases his photos and other works at AHM Gallery, 215 S. Union St.

A trip to Old Town Alexandria is never complete without a visit to the internationally acclaimed Torpedo Factory Arts Center. The Torpedo Factory is sponsoring "Art Activated" with artist demonstrations, hands-on activities, and special dance and music performances on Saturday, 9/12, from noon - 4pm.

If you can't make it here the weekend of Sept. 12/13, don't fret. The Torpedo Factory Arts Center and the art galleries and studios of our many talented local artists are open year-round. Celebrate the Arts any day of the year in Old Town!

Support Your Local Businesses

2009-09-06T18:03:00.003-04:00

If your community is anything like mine, there have been lots of mom-n-pop shops closing up lately. In every block there is at least one empty storefront. And we are fairly protected here on the outskirts of the nation's capital. Other parts of the country have been hit far worse by the continuing recession.

Old Town Alexandria, VA, where I live and own my shop, Mindful Hands, is lucky to be home to a large number of distinctive independent shops, catering to a wide clientele - from upscale chic boutiques to fine art and home decor galleries to multi-cultural fair trade and eco-minded handicrafts to family-centered children's stores. Many of Old Town's shops will promoting our community by sponsoring family-centered activities, on the weekend of September 12/13. Here are a few:

- Mindful Hands will be partnering with our friends, the King Street Cats, for "Kitty-purr-looza," a kitten adopt-a-thon, on Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 4pm. The kittens will be in their new "kitty corral" and, if past kitty-purr-loozas are any indication, it will be a kitty 3-ring circus! Stop by to pet and play with these frisky felines and maybe even take home a new friend (or two).

- Enjoy free lemonade and cookies, before or after playing with the kittens, jointly sponsored by Mindful Hands and our neighbors SoBe Unique Shoes - all at 211 King Street.

- Hooray for Books!, an independent children's book store, at 1555 King Street, will be offering hand-cut silhouettes - shadow portraits that capture the unique personality of your child - by Anne Leslie. She's one of only 75 silhouette artists in the United States, and she'll be at Hooray for Books! on September 12 from 1:00 - 5:00pm.

- The largest display of collectible kaleidoscopes will be at Arts Afire Glass Gallery, 1117 King St, all weekend long and through Sept. 30th. Artist reception, Fri-Sat, Sept. 11-12, from 5-8pm and 1-4pm on Sun 9/13.

- and don't miss "Children in the Churchyard at Christ Church," 118 N. Washington St., for family-friendly activities including a moon bounce, Sat and Sun, 1-4pm, FREE.

Support your local artists, businesses, and community institutions. In these tough economic times, your dollars do indeed count!

The Power of Prayer

2009-08-07T18:25:00.003-04:00

We've all faced what seem to be insurmountable difficulties in our lives, whether it be illness, financial woes, or a devastating loss. If you're a religious person or among the growing number of Americans who call themselves "spiritual but not religious," you naturally turn to prayer to help you through those difficult times. But does praying help? Well, the research is in and the results are unequivocal: yes and no.

Science has studied that very question over the last several decades with some surprising, and controversial, results. One could argue that science has no place in studying the power of prayer, that prayer by its nature is personal and the effects immeasurable. Still, science being science - and many scientists themselves also being religious or spiritual persons - there has been a growing interest in measuring the tangible results of prayer.

One study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health found that intercessory prayer (praying on behalf of someone else) had positive therapeutic effects on the health of hospital patients diagnosed with cancer and AIDS. A similar study by the Mayo Clinic found no such correlation (Time, 2002). And other studies have been equally lauded or criticized in turn (WebMd).

However, a new comparison of multiple studies conducted over many decades has found some surprising similarities among the research participants. In general, people who consider themselves to be religious:

(1) exercise better self-control
(2) are better able to achieve their long-term goals
(3) live healthier lives
(4) live longer lives
(5) have a more positive outlook on life.

So, whether your prayers are answered or not, it may certainly be true that "prayer may not change things for you, but it sure changes you for things" (Samuel M. Shoemaker).

For more reading:
"Investigating the Power of Prayer," Time, Jan. 16, 2002
"Probing the Power of Prayer," WebMD, 2000
"Religion May Have Evolved Because of Its Ability to Help People Exercise Self-Control," ScienceDaily, Jan. 1, 2009

Prayer Wheels in Tibetan Life

2009-08-07T18:20:00.003-04:00

If you've ever visited the Himalayan regions of northern India or Nepal, you will see these "wheels on sticks" being twirled everywhere by the old and young alike. Tibetans, being a deeply religious people, believe wholeheartedly in the power of prayer. Prayer wheels are filled inside with handwritten prayers and stamped on the outside with one of the most common Tibetan prayers, "Om Mani Padme Hum," the prayer of compassion. As you spin the wheel, your prayers fly on the wind and are dispersed to the four corners of the world, bringing prayers of peace and loving-kindness to all.

The Sad Realities of Kitten Season

2009-08-06T17:01:00.003-04:00

"Kitten season" is upon us once again, This annual ritual starts in late spring and usually runs through early fall. What is kitten season, you ask? Kitten season is the time of year when millions of homeless kittens will be born in the streets, parking lots, highway rest areas, and woods all across America. They will largely die - killed by starvation, cars, or predators - before they reach six months old. The lucky ones will end up in shelters, only to be euthanized two or three weeks later when no homes are found for them.

Here are three things you can do to help:

(1) spay or neuter your pets
(2) spay or neuter your pets
(3) spay or neuter your pets

And if you're looking for a new companion, please consider adopting a homeless dog or cat from your local shelter.

At Mindful Hands, we work with a local no-kill shelter, King Street Cats, to help find homes for the many pregnant cats and their kittens that end up in the shelter's care each spring.

We will be hosting a series of adopt-a-thons for the King Street Cats (KSC) at Mindful Hands' store location at 211 King Street in Old Town Alexandria. The next adopt-a-thons will take place on Saturdays August 8 and August 22 from noon to 4:00pm each day. The King Street Cats currently have sixty kittens looking for loving homes. Won't you be a friend indeed to a kitten in need?

For more information:

"Coping with Kitten Season," The Humane Society of the United States

The King Street Cats

Greening the Family

2009-07-04T20:04:00.001-04:00

You're already reducing, re-using, and recycling. You're bringing your own reusable bag to the organic market, you've replaced all your ordinary lightbulbs with compact fluorescents, and you've even started composting. So now what? Well, how about taking the burden of "going green" off your own shoulders and getting the whole family involved?

Here's a few simple suggestions for making the green revolution fun for the whole family:

(1) Toy recycling night. Have your kids go through their toys and games, considering what they want to keep and what they no longer play with. For every toy no longer wanted, have them consider if it can reused (by being given to someone else), recycled (toys with wooden or plastic parts), or reduced (thrown away). Assign 2 points for every reused or recycled toy, 1 point for everyone reduced. Decide ahead of time a realistic points total for your family and the treat that will be rewarded when the total is reached (such as family fun hike at a nature reserve or park).

(2) Plant a tree. Research trees that are native to your area and have the family go along to the nursery to pick one out. You can have fun planting the tree in your yard while enjoying a backyard picnic.

(3) Organize a community clean-up day. Have your kids and their friends make posters to put up around the neighborhood. Enlist other families to help clean up streets, sidewalks, and curbs. Enjoy a community potluck lunch after the work is done!

For more ideas for family fun while going green, check out these websites:
www.thedailygreen.com

www.treehuggingfamily.com

Ch-ch-ch-changes! The Earth Sangha moves to new location

2009-07-04T19:56:00.002-04:00

It's been said that nothing is permanent except change. Our long time friends and fellow meditators, The Earth Sangha, who hosted the Tuesday and Wednesday evening sessions at Mindful Hands, have moved their meditation sessions to a new location. They will now be meeting at Yoga in Daily Life at 2402 Mount Vernon (in the Del Ray section of Alexandria, near the Braddock Road metro station).

Wednesday (beginner-level) sessions stay the same at 7pm to 9pm but Tuesday (intermediate-level) sessions will change to 7:45 to 9:20pm. Visit The Earth Sangha or call (703) 764-4830 for details.

We wish them much success in their new location!

Saving the Children of India

2009-06-12T21:12:00.007-04:00

When Anita Edgar, a grandmother from Devon, England, vacationed in India one winter, she was horrified at the hundreds of children living in abject poverty and forced to beg in the streets for a miserable living. When Edgar returned to England, she packed her belongings and went back to India, determined to help these street children however she could.

That was thirteen years ago and she's never looked back. The charity she founded now operates four orphanages, three night shelters, and three independent-living cottages for older children in and around Goa, India. It also operates a children's hospital and "Manna on Wheels," a free food-distribution program. Altogether, the charity's residential programs care for more than two thousand of India's street children.

We are pleased and honored to host Ms. Edgar at Mindful Hands (211 King St, Old Town Alexandria, Virginia) on Thursday, June 18, from 12:30 - 1:30pm. Bring a brown-bag lunch and come hear Ms. Edgar's riveting talk on the activities of her charity and the lives of the street children, both before and after their rescue from the slums of India. Like the film, Slumdog Millionaire, her tale is both profoundly heartbreaking and sublimely uplifiting. Please join us.

To learn more about the El-Shaddai Charitable Trust, visit www.childrescue.net.

Remembering Tiananmen, 20 years after

2009-06-04T12:02:00.004-04:00

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1902741,00.html

http://www.newsweek.com/id/200220

Tea & Chocolate: World Fair Trade Day, May 9

2009-05-08T16:45:00.002-04:00

Join us for fairly traded tea and chocolate on World Fair Trade Day, Saturday, May 9. Fair Trade ensures that artisans and workers in developing countries receive a fair and living wage for their work. At Mindful Hands, we will be serving iced berry tea from Choice Teas and a variety of fair trade chocolate treats.

Worthy cause + chocolate, 'nuff said?

For more information and directions: http://www.mindfulhands.com/

Buy Fair Trade: It Makes a Difference!

2009-05-08T16:23:00.003-04:00

Punam's parents were ill and could no longer care for her or themselves in the New Delhi neighborhood in which they lived. Punam was introduced to a family-owned artisan cooperative where she learned the art of the beading to make jewelry and sewing handbags from recycled saris. Artisan cooperatives, usually owned and run by women, helped Punam escape from the abject poverty that is so often the fate of women in India. Through her work at cooperative, Punam was able to learn a skill while also earning an equitable wage in a safe working environment.

Punam's is just one of many families whose lives have been transformed by the growing number of companies that support and promote Fair Trade.

Fair Trade means an equitable and fair partnership between artisans in developing countries and the importers who buy their handicrafts. At Mindful Hands, we work with organizations that adhere to the principles of the Fair Trade Federation:

- providing a fair wage in the local context

- engaging in environmentally sustainable production practices

- providing healthy and safe working conditions

- providing financial assistance as need be

To learn more about the Fair Trade movement, check out these resources:

The Fair Trade Resource Network (www.fairtraderesource.org)

The Fair Trade Federation (www.fairtradefederation.org)

DC Make Trade Fair, a local grassroots organization (www.meetup.com/DCMakeTradeFair)

Just Relax!

2009-04-05T17:54:00.002-04:00

Feeling stressed? Who isn't these days? April is Stress Awareness Month. According to WebMd.com, a certain amount of stress in one's life is normal. Too much stress, however, can lead to headaches, stomachaches, insomnia, depression, a weakened immune system, and other serious health problems.

One of the easiest ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle is to learn how to relax. Simple changes in your lifestyle can often be the best cures for stress. Here are some suggestions:

Turn off the television and listen to peaceful music instead.
Add a water fountain in your living room or bedroom. The sound of gently burbling water can be quite soothing.
Soak in a warm tub. Add lavender essential oils for a particularly refreshing experience. The scent of lavender is known for its calming qualities.
Take a walk in a park. Surrounding yourself with nature acts as a counter-balance to weekdays overloaded with cars, computers, and other man-made contrivances. Nature is healing.
Start a meditation practice. Even five minutes a day can have a profound impact on your stress levels.

In Alexandria, two recurring events can help you start on the road to relaxation:

The first is Dona Witten's guided meditations for healing and relaxation. Dona uses guided relaxation exercises and calming contemplations to help you learn to cope with stress and anxiety. She offers her relaxation workshops at Mindful Hands on the first Saturday of every month.

Also on the first Saturday of the month, Historic Christchurch offers a Labyrinth Walk, from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Labyrinths have been used for many centuries as tools for meditation, contemplation, and relaxation. I've walked the labyrinth myself at Christchurch and it is, surprisingly, profoundly invigorating as well as deeply relaxing. Certainly a great way to start your weeked free from stress!

As Ovid once said: "Take a rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop."

Join Earth Hour Today!

2009-03-28T14:46:00.004-04:00

Two years ago, 2.2 million people in Sydney, Australia simultaneously shut off their lights for one hour in protest of global warming. One year later, the movement had grown to 50 million people around the globe including international landmarks such as the Roman Coliseum, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Sydney Opera House.

This year, the goal is to reach one billion people around the world - and today's the day! The darkness has already started. Beijing's Bird's Nest Coliseum and the Great Pyramids in Giza went dark for one hour. Athens has turned off the lights at the Acropolis. In New York, the Empire State Building will also go dark.

The City of Alexandria, VA has asked its residents and businesses to support Earth Hour. Mindful Hands, my little shop in Old Town Alexandria, plans to participate. You, too, can join one billion people around the world by turning off your lights TODAY for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30pm local time.

For more information and to view videos of the global dark hour, visit www.earthhour.org.

Use your light switch to Vote Earth!

A Little Madness in the Spring

2009-03-07T20:31:00.004-05:00

Ahhh, Spring! Spring temperatures (again), Spring smells, Spring sounds. Spring means a freshness in the air, a lightness in the step, the casting off of the heaviness of winter. There's a vivid sense of renewal, rejuvenation, a new kind of energy, a hope, a dream, and the anticipation of things to come. Certainly a kind of madness overtakes us: Spring comes once every year yet each Spring feels new, as if there had never been a Spring before.

To start your Spring off right, I thought I would share with you one of my favorite poems about Spring. This is from Emily Dickinson:

A little Madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King,
But God be with the Clown --
Who ponders this tremendous scene --
This whole Experiment of Green --
As if it were his own!

Key to a Simple Life: Being Pleasant

2009-02-16T17:25:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite quotes is from Elwood P. Dowd, of Harvey fame:

"To get along in this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant."

Of course, Elwood was also an alcoholic and I certainly can't recommend taking to drink to get along in this world. However, it seems to me that we can all benefit by taking a page from the book of Elwood. You only have to turn the TV to any "reality" show to see that we are now living in a world that encourages conflict, competitiveness, and the demeaning and humiliation of others. Yet, the participants on these shows don't seem to be happy. In fact, they seem to be living largely unhappy, complicated, and conflict-ridden lives.

I have to agree with Mr. Dowd, there's a lot to be said for being pleasant. Elwood largely avoided conflict by trying to be as agreeable as possible to those around him. He helped when he could, shared what he had, and tried to get along with everyone. He found everyone interesting and listened to their stories with fascination and appreciation. People liked being around him because he cared.

Sounds to me like a recipe for a happy life.

6-foot rabbit optional.

Mmm-Mmm! That's Good Eatin'!

2009-02-01T13:05:00.005-05:00

If you've ever grown your own vegetables you know there's nothing tastier than carrots, turnips, or fresh herbs pulled right from the ground and onto your dinner plate. Yet most of the produce you buy in your neighborhood grocery store travels up to 1,500 miles to get to your table. It's often over- or under-ripe and almost always tasteless by the time it reaches your refrigerator.

Even if you can't grow your own vegetables, there's still another solution to buying produce from industrial agribusinesses: buy from your local family farmer. In recent years there's been a growing awareness that locally-produced food is not only better tasting but it's better for you, too.

There are many benefits to buying locally-grown food, including:

locally-grown food is picked when it's ripe and not before, so it's more nutritious and tastes better
locally-grown food is often cheaper since family farms don't have the high overhead of transportation and labor costs
you'll contribute to the economic health of your local community as more of your dollars will stay in the community
you'll help to preserve the long-term viability of family farms, protecting them from encroachment by development
locally-grown food is often healthier for you and for the environment as many family farmers use fewer pesticides and other chemicals or use entirely organic farming methods

Chris and I support a local farm, the Farmstead of Charlotte Hall in Maryland, through a program called Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Every week, just-picked produce is delivered to a community location (in Alexandria, the drop-off location is Mindful Hands; how's THAT for convenience!). Members of a CSA buy shares in the farm prior to the growing season and then receive the bounty of their investment throughout the summer and fall.

The Farmstead's season runs for 21 weeks from June 2nd until Oct. 29th. Each week, members will receive a hand-picked selection of the ripest and tastiest vegetables, including lettuce, tomatoes, onions, beets, peas, carrots, radishes, turnips, squash, potatoes, and a variety of herbs. Mmm-mmm! Now, that's good eatin'!

To find a CSA in your area and for more information on buying locally-grown food from family farms, try these sources:

Sustainable Table (www.sustainabletable.org)
Local Harvest (www.localharvest.org)

Time for Happiness?

2009-01-20T18:27:00.002-05:00

Here's another idea whose time has come: a national Happiness Index. We all know that money doesn't buy happiness, and with the current state of the economy, that message has hit home, hard, for many of us. So if happiness doesn't come from financial prosperity then where does it come from? The little country of Bhutan seems to think it knows.

Bhutan has implemented a national Happiness Index, called the Gross National Happiness, to measure the success of its people and its government policies. Built on the "four pillars" of sustainable development, environmental protection (more than 25% of its landmass is protected forest), cultural preservation, and good governance, Bhutan has seen dramatic improvements in literacy, infant mortality, and the general health and welfare of its population.

Now other countries are studying the model, hoping to develop their own models of health and happiness that go beyond economic success. Both Great Britain and Canada have implemented national indices of well-being. Perhaps it's time for the U.S., too, to shift its focus away from increased consumption towards an increase in quality of life.

For more on Bhutan's Gross National Happines index:

"A New Measure of Well-Being from a Happy Little Kingdom," The New York Times, Oct. 4, 2005.

"Bhutan's Enlightened Experiment," National Geographic, March, 2008.

Time for Peace?

2009-01-14T19:18:00.002-05:00

Have you heard about The Peace Alliance? The Peace Alliance is a grassroots organization lobbying the U.S. Congress to establish a Department of Peace. This cabinet-level position will bring best practices and educational models to resolving conflicts both domestically and abroad.

Too many times, individuals as well as nations react to violence with more violence. Special interest groups often encourage a culture of violence and war because they, directly or indirectly, benefit from it, escalating conflicts beyond control and beyond any hope for reconciliation.

Well, the old models clearly aren't working. It's time to change our way of thinking. We need to replace our current paradigm of competition with one of cooperation, replace conflict with consensus and reconciliation, move away from a world segregated along special interests to one united under humanitarian interests.

Let's try some new ideas, let's try peace.

Vote for Peace: http://www.change.org/ideas/view/appoint_secretary_of_peace_in_department_of_peace_and_non-violence

Read more about The Peace Alliance.

Feeling Better

2009-01-05T14:08:00.003-05:00

I scanned the headlines today in the Washington Post and felt like crying. Bad news everywhere: war in the Gaza Strip, Ford and GM revenues down more than 30%, $50B Ponzi schemes allowed to run amok by the very regulators who are supposed to be protecting us, and on and on.

Then I came across this quote by one of my favorite people, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama:

"Choose to be optimistic. It feels better."

I realized that there is little or nothing I can do about the many national and global crises we seem to be facing lately, but I can certainly do something about my own attitude. Rather than focusing on the negative and getting more and more depressed, I can focus on what I truly believe in: the inherent goodness and resiliency of people everywhere.

No matter what trials and tribulations we may be facing currently, I heartily believe that we can and will get through this.

I choose optimism because it does feel better.

Simplify: Less is the New More

2009-01-03T21:46:00.003-05:00

Everything seems to slow down for me in January. January and February are two of the slowest months for my shop, Mindful Hands. The holidays are over, days are shorter and nights longer, no vacations planned. I always find January to be a good time to take stock of all the "stuff" Chris and I have accumulated over the years - from old clothes no longer worn, books no longer read, videos no longer viewed, and assorted knick-knacks we no longer have the use or room for.

All of it goes into one big pile in the basement. When we're satisfied we've combed through all our belongings as thoroughly as we can, we box and bag it all and leave it by the curb in front of our house to be picked up by The Lupus Foundation. It's a "win-win" - we get rid of our stuff and they get the funds from the sale to thrift stores.

If you're interested in un-cluttering your life and giving away your stuff, try these resources:

http://www.freecycle.org/
http://www.lupuspickup.org/

Resolved: No More New Year's Resolutions

2008-12-31T16:02:00.004-05:00

I gave up on New Year's resolutions many years ago. I used to promise myself all the usual things: lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier. Sometimes I would get creative and promise to learn a new language or fun skill such as ice-skating or ballroom dancing.

Somehow, though, all the usual excuses would creep in: work was keeping me too busy to exercise, too much traveling prevented healthier eating, I wasn't coordinated enough, or graceful enough, or committed enough . . .etc. etc. etc. And somehow all the resolutions I made at the beginning of the year seemed less important when I was grappling with the ongoing trials and tribulations, joys and sorrows, and just plain ol' day-in, day-out routine of living.

I tried, really tried, to be a better person, but failed miserably each time.

Then (I think it was 2002), I had a brilliant idea: why not give up resolutions altogether? Why make myself feel like a failure over something that was a self-imposed idea of a "perfect me." I really wasn't unhappy with who I was, so why did I feel like I needed to be improved? If New Year's resolutions were difficult to keep and making me miserable, then why not give them up?

So I did and, not surprisingly, my life didn't change dramatically. I still wasn't any thinner or buffer or healthier but I felt better about myself now that the pressure was off. And when I did occasionally make a few attempts at exercising more or choosing a salad over a hamburger and fries, I congratulated myself for doing so rather than beating myself up for all the times I didn't do it.

Giving up resolutions helped me focus more on all the positive things I was doing rather than all the positive things I could be doing.

But I felt something missing with each successive New Year. I had liked the internal exercise of taking an accounting of one's actions, behaviors, and attitudes in the past year. So this year, I have decided to re-institute New Year's Resolutions, not with the idea of improving myself but with the idea of enjoying life more.

To that end, I decided to take a favorite quote as a guiding principle. So, paraphrasing Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, for this New Year of 2009, I herewith resolve:

"Every day to hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words."

To all of you, I wish you much harmony in the New Year! - Sally

Peace Traditions: Japanese Peace Cranes

2008-12-21T14:57:00.001-05:00

"Peace Crane, I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world" (Sadako Sasaki, age 12)

A Japanese legend asserts that folding 1,000 paper cranes will bring peace, health, and good fortune to the folder. Sadako Sasaki, born in Hiroshima, Japan, was only 12 years old when she died of leukemia, the "atom bomb disease." She had folded 644 paper cranes. Her classmates folded the rest so that 1,000 paper cranes were buried with her. The statue erected in Hiroshima Peace Park in honor of Sadako is inscribed with her wish for the world: "This is our cry, this is our prayer: peace in the world."

Peace Traditions: Tibetan Prayer Flags

2008-12-20T16:26:00.001-05:00

In Tibet, prayer flags flutter everywhere. They are strung from the highest mountains and across the lowliest valleys. Tibetans believe that, as the flags flutter in the breeze, the "lungta" or windhorse will carry your prayers for peace and compassion to all the world.

World Peace Begins With Inner Peace

2008-12-18T19:01:00.001-05:00

Living a harmonious life means working towards developing that inner peace that can then result in increased caring for others, leading ultimately to world peace. One of my most favorite quotes about world peace comes from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama:

"World Peace must develop from Inner Peace. Peace is not the absence of violence, peace is the manifestation of human compassion."

Living With Outrageous Joy (book review)

2008-12-16T14:28:00.001-05:00

“Trying creates impossibilities, letting go creates what is desired.” - Stalking Wolf, an Apache elder

Living With Outrageous Joy, by Madeleine Kay, is a wonderful little book with a big message. In easy-to-read snippets, Madeleine Kay presents her ideas about living a joy-filled life. She quotes freely from Native American elders, as well as from Michelangelo, Helen Keller, and the Buddha, among others. This book is fun, energetic, and motivating and makes a great gift for anyone who needs a little joy in their lives.

Choose Joy!

2008-12-14T18:08:00.000-05:00

In the midst of our stress-filled, busy days we often find ourselves focusing on all the ways we failed to live up to our own expectations – the tasks that didn’t get completed or that were completed imperfectly, the people we failed to persuade or influence, the situations that didn’t turn out quite the way we had planned.

We spend precious minutes of every day focusing on the negative things in our lives – what we want and don’t have, what we don’t want yet have, the people who dislike us or are discourteous to us, the situations that we can’t control yet would somehow change . . . all of life’s little, and big, frustrations.

How much of what we spend our days worrying about really matters?

Choose joy, instead.

Choosing joy means:

Mindful Living – living with conscious, and constant, awareness of our thoughts, emotions, behaviors - and the choices we make throughout the day;
Focusing on the positive rather than the negative;
Recognizing those things that are within our control and giving up trying to control those that are not;
Doing something nice for someone else. It’s quite amazing to learn that when you bring a little joy into someone else’s life, it spills over into your own.

Choosing joy means not only accepting your own limitations and those of others but also recognizing that, in these troubling times we live, every moment counts. So make every moment count positively – choose joy.

Building Community, Restoring the Economy

2008-12-11T18:35:00.004-05:00

One of the many things I like about living in Alexandria, Virginia is the small town feel with big city amenities. Public transportation, from buses to cabs to subway, is plentiful and easily accessible yet Alexandria remains a very walkable (and "bikeable") city. The small family-run shops along Alexandria's main street, the historic King Street, contributes to the Mayberry-like ambiance.

Having grown up in a family-run shop and, now, owning my own little shop (full disclosure: yes, on King Street in Old Town Alexandria), I know how difficult it is to actually make a decent living in small, independent retail. These days, with the encroachment of Wal-Marts and other big-box and national chain stores, we independent shopkeepers seem to be a dying breed.

And yet, it is the small independent businesses that continue to be the financial backbone of any town or city in America. According to the American Independent Business Alliance (http://www.amiba.net/):

* Every dollar spent at a local, independent business returns three times more money to the local economy than one spent at a chain store;

* Locally-owned businesses make fewer demands on roads, sewers, and other city services than chain stores, and generate more tax revenue per sales dollar thus helping to keep your taxes lower;

* Locally-owned businesses employ more local residents and pay higher wages than the average chain store;

* Locally-owned businesses contribute to a neighborhood's unique character and provide opportunities for social gatherings, contributing to a sense of community;

* Locally-owned businesses contribute more than twice as much per sales dollar than chains to local charities, clubs, and events - giving back to the community in many ways.

In these difficult economic times, many people are understandably cutting back on their holiday spending. However, if you plan to shop at all during the next few weeks, you may want to consider shopping at your locally-owned neighborhood stores. Think of your favorite neighborhood business and how you might feel if it weren't there next year. Buying your holiday gifts at the shops owned by your neighbors ensures that your gifts will be original, thoughtful, and valued; and contributes to revitalizing the local economy - for everyone's sake.

Finding Beauty in Simple Things

2008-12-09T12:41:00.004-05:00

Christopher Engnoth is a talented Alexandria artist as well as the art director at my shop, Mindful Hands, and my life partner. So I'm a little biased when I say his landscapes of the Potomac River and surrounding environs are quite breath-taking. The image here is of Chris' watercolor, "Frozen Potomac." His interest in nature and water was sparked by his childhood on the Chesapeake Bay. He says of his art, "I hope that my paintings can bring some measure of peace and joy to those who, like me, can appreciate the beauty in simple things."

A Sunday Stroll

2008-12-07T16:15:00.002-05:00

Living in the city as I do, I don't have the opportunity to walk in the woods often. However, I am fortunate in that I live in Alexandria, Virginia, a city that has a real commitment to preserving "green space" and urban hike-and-bike trails. One such trail is the Mount Vernon Trail, an 18-mile paved trail that extends from George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate north through Old Town Alexandria and then even further north to connect with the W&OD rail trail that runs west for 45-miles through Northern Virginia and nearly to West Virginia.

I live close enough to the trail that I can (if I get up early enough) walk to my work in Old Town, about an hour's stroll away. I find walking the trail to be relaxing and refreshing. The trail follows the Potomac River the entire way and, no matter what mood the river is in - whether cheery and bright blue or dour and gray - I find it soothing just to look at the gently rolling waves and breathe in the fresh air. Though the trail passes right by National Airport and a coal-powered electricity plant, it also has some lightly wooded areas and marshy spots. I share the trail with many rabbits, geese, beavers, and even a turtle or two.

I may not be able to walk in the deep woods on a regular basis but I find the Mount Vernon Trail to be just as restorative. As the naturalist John Burroughs said, "I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."

The Simple Life

2008-12-03T19:41:00.002-05:00

Here is one of my favorite quotes about nature and living the simple life:

"To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life." (John Burroughs)

"The Peace That Brings Happiness"

2008-12-01T18:23:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things is the musical compositions of Tibetan singer, Dechen Shak-Dagsey. "Shi De" is Tibetan for "the peace that brings happiness." Dechen Shak-Dagsey, the daughter of a Tibetan lama, adds her crystalline voice to these hauntingly beautiful original compositions. With titles such as "Care for the Animals," "Care for the Environment," and "A World Without Weapons," these songs are an appeal to all people to tune into their higher selves for the sake of world harmony.

Random Acts of Kindness

2008-11-24T14:08:00.000-05:00

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
(Aesop, The Lion and the Mouse)

We've all certainly experienced an act of kindness - a memorable event when someone, perhaps even a complete stranger, came to our aid when we least expected it: a flat tire changed, a casserole baked, a helping hand with a heavy load. When we are at the receiving end of an act of kindness, no matter how small, we experience lowered stress levels and a lift in our spirits.

Apparently, so does the giver of the good deed. In recent years, there has been a host of research studies that indicate that doing good can indeed be good for you. "Helper's high," the rush of adrenaline that altruistic people can sometimes feel after doing a good deed for someone else, has been linked to lowered stress levels, improved immunity from illness, and longer life, in addition to a general sense of calm and positive well-being. And these feelings lead to the desire to do more good deeds, thus lifting your own spirits as well as those of whom you help.

According to Stephen G. Post, PhD, a professor of bioethics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a prominent researcher in the study of the biological effects of altruism, "All the great spiritual traditions and the field of positive psychology are emphatic on this point -- that the best way to get rid of bitterness, anger, rage, jealousy is to do unto others in a positive way" (WebMD).

And so, as counter-intuitive as it may seem, if you're feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed (and who isn't in today's economy?), the best way to help yourself is by helping others.

Source:
The Science of Good Deeds, WebMD, www.webmd.com

For more information:
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, www.actsofkindness.org
SmileCard Project, www.helpothers.org

Going Car-Free

2008-11-19T20:16:00.004-05:00

I am lucky to live in one of the most picturesque cities in America: Alexandria, Virginia. From cobblestone streets, tree-lined avenues, hike-and-bike trails along the Potomac River, an historic waterfront district and colonial-era architecture, Alexandria is a quaint little city with a small town feel.

Recently, the city of Alexandria passed an Eco-City Environmental Charter, committing to make Alexandria a place where its citizens can live healthier lives while reducing their impact on the environment. Alexandria is already a "walkable" city, pedestrian-friendly and with nearly-excellent public transportation options. The Eco-City Charter delineates the city's commitment to preserving green space, expanding hike-and-bike trails, and encouraging the use of public transportation in an effort to change the culture of the city from "cars first" to "people first."

I had been thinking about giving up my car for a long time. My Mazda 626 was ten years old and required extensive maintenance every year just to keep it running. I live right on a main bus line, so getting to work every day would not be a problem. Still I hesitated. I was worried that without a car I would feel a real loss of freedom.

The final straw came when I took my car in for its annual inspection and received the shocking news that it would need at least $1,500 in repairs to pass. That was it. $1,500 would pay for round trip bus fare every day for two years! Let's not even talk about the price of gas, rising then to outrageous levels. And when you consider insurance and taxes, it seemed like a no-brainer for my significant other and me to become a one-car family.

So I did it - I went car free! I was little anxious standing at the bus stop the first time. Would the bus actually come on schedule? (yes) Would I be late to work? (no) Would the bus driver be pleasant and helpful if I didn't quite know where my destination stop was? (yes)

I survived my first day on the bus , feeling really good about my contribution to the environment. And when, a few weeks later, I really needed a car, there was Zipcar ready and waiting for me. If you don't live in a city that has been Zipped yet (it's only a matter of time before "Zipcar" becomes a verb, like Google became "googling" and "googled") then let me fill you in. Zipcar is a car-share program, their tagline is: "wheels when you need 'em." They have cars in all sizes and shapes, and parked in convenient locations like metro stations. And they're reasonably-priced. Best yet, all gas included! You pay an annual membership fee (Alexandria reimburses your first year's fee, check to see if your city does too) and that allows you the privilege of reserving a car anytime throughout the year.

So I'm pretty happy with my decision to go car-free. And I find that I'm not too anxious to get a new car after all. I'm afraid that with all the maintenance and responsibility that comes with owning a car, I would feel a real loss of freedom.

What's Your Footprint?

2008-11-12T15:24:00.000-05:00

What's YOUR footprint? No, we're not talking about your shoe size. Your "environmental footprint" is, simply put, how much water, trees, and other natural resources you consume in order to maintain your lifestyle. According to The Footprint Network, the ecological footprint of the world is now almost 25% larger than what the earth can regenerate. In other words, we are using up natural resources faster than we can replace them.

In environmental terms, "sustainability" is the equivalent of a balanced budget. Sustainability occurs when our demands on our natural resources are equal to or less than the earth's ability to produce those resources, resulting in a balanced environment. To estimate your individual impact on the environment, take the Ecological Footprint Quiz at http://www.earthday.net/footprint/

When you think about your ecological footprint, it might be worth remembering this old Native American saying: “We do not inherit the Earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children."

Five Good Minutes

2008-11-08T16:32:00.000-05:00

Five Good Minutes: 100 Morning Practices to Help You Stay Calm and Focused All Day Long (Jeffrey Brantley, M.D.)

I'm a big believer in the value of meditation. Even if you can only squeeze in five minutes a day for meditating, the benefits you will receive in stress-reduction and re-energizing yourself are enormous. This compact little book contains 100 simple exercises, all of which can be practiced in five minutes or less. Starting with “breathing mindfully,” Dr. Brantley recommends new ways of looking at and doing everyday things – like taking a shower or drinking coffee -- that transforms simple activities into peace-inducing meditative moments.

Why Wait? Meditate!

2008-11-07T15:52:00.000-05:00

Why Wait? Meditate! Meditation techniques have been practiced for thousands of years in all countries and cultures. And the number of people engaging in meditation is steadily increasing. According to TIME Magazine, in a cover story published in 2003 on the health benefits of meditation, “ten million American adults now say they practice some form of meditation regularly, twice as many as a decade ago.” Meditation has been credited with many health and wellness benefits, including relieving stress, anxiety, and depression. A recent study has found that meditation can even increase brain size.

There are many different meditation techniques that are used for a variety of purposes. Some of the most popular techniques are: guided meditation, walking meditation, breath-awareness, and concentration (or calm-abiding) meditation. Whichever method you choose, meditation as a daily or weekly practice can help “calm your mind, relax your body, and soothe your spirit.” So, why wait? Meditate!

(sources: Harvard University Gazette, CNN.com, TIME Magazine) -->

What Makes You Happy?

2008-10-30T19:04:00.001-04:00

What makes you happy? Like Maria in A Sound of Music, I can list a few of my favorite things: hot cocoa on a cold winter's day, brightly-colored birds twittering excitedly around a bird feeder, long walks along the river with my honey. . . When you're feeling down, what gets you "up" again? What makes you happy?

Most people believe themselves to be pretty happy, overall. Research shows that "happier people are healthier, more successful, harder-working, caring, and more socially engaged." (The Sunday Times Magazine, October 2, 2005; read the full article here.)

Research on what makes people happy has blossomed in the last several years as a new field of study called "Positive Psychology." As its name implies, Positive Psychology focuses on the positive experiences in people's lives as well as the specific character strengths - such as humor and honesty - that make happy people happy. Some of the goals of Positive Psychology are to support the development of happy, healthy families, schools, and communities.

Positive Psychology support groups are popping up all over, including right here in my town of Alexandria, VA. The Inner Arts Center sponsors a monthly group on the 3rd Saturday of every month. The group shares articles, books, and techniques exploring topics such as optimism, resilience, savoring, and awe. If you're interested in bringing more happiness and joy into your life then you may want to look for a Positive Psychology support group in your own area.

And, as Maria von Trapp knew, simply remembering a few of your favorite things will bring a lilt to your step and a smile to your face - and then you won't feel so bad!

Be The Change

2008-10-26T15:44:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite quotes is from Mahatma Gandhi:

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

This little web journal is my contribution towards positive change - if not in the whole world then at least in my little corner of it.

Welcome!

2008-10-25T17:50:00.000-04:00

So. What do we call this thing, this blog? I wanted a catchy name that would encapsulate the topics I would cover here: getting back to priorities, simplifying your life, being happy with what you've got, not always chasing after more, more, more. Oh, and re-connecting with nature. Very important, if you've lived as I have, without a garden for so many years, surrounded all day long with gray walls and fluorescent lighting.

You get the picture. Somehow we've (I've) lost sight of who we really are. We are not the things we accumulate, the spouses we marry, the jobs and careers we work so hard at, the children we give birth to and raise. Certainly these things are important and they have their place in a happy life, but they are not the sum total of who "I" am.

And, to some extent, all these things can be so distracting, feeling that we need to work harder in order to have the perfect house, better cars, a nice vacation, to send our children to the best schools. We spend so much of the short time we have on earth in all these activities that are not "I" that there is no time left to spend on really knowing who we are, re-acquainting ourselves with ourselves.

And there's a certain dissonance in that. A feeling that even though all these things, these activities, these people we surround ourselves with and fill up our time with may indeed be pleasurable (or not, as the case may be), still they're not enough. There's something missing, a vague sense of incompleteness, a feeling that we can be so much more than just the sum total of what we have and what we do.

And after we've eliminated - figuratively if not literally - all the things that are not "I," then what's left? How do we re-prioritize, re-focus, re-acquaint? Simplify, pacify, restore, and re-energize? Calm down and de-stress? Un-busy ourselves. It's not so much the gaining control over life as the letting go of needing control.

So. We come back again to the beginning. I hope in this blog just to present some ideas, not necessarily to come to any definite conclusions, about re-prioritizing, de-stressing and un-busying, learning how to nurture ourselves as well as the people we care for, re-connecting with community and nature. Ultimately, learning how to live in peace and harmony.

Welcome to Harmonious Living.