Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- Z

Wow, is this really it, the last day of the Challenge? I'm sad but happy I participated in posting from A to Z along with a slew of other fabulous bloggers. Nice job, all! Pat yourself on the back. :D

With one last letter to blog about, I conclude with smiles brought to you by the letter Z; it stands for...

ZEN
  • According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Zen is defined as: "a Japanese sect of Mahayana Buddhism that aims at enlightenment by direct intuition through meditation."
  • I also like how Urban Dictionary defines Zen: "One way to think of zen is this: a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts." It also continues with this definition: "Complete and absolute peace."
My zen-like focus is peace. Peace is something difficult for me to access. Why? My mind is flying around a 228mph and I am in such a rush that I fail to slow down and smell the flowers and take pleasure in the moment. I think this is a reason for why I enjoy the outdoors and traveling; I can slow down and relish in what really matters and the beauty of the world.

Julia finding her inner zen at a monastery in Xian, China.

Those moments of my life when I have felt a measure of peace have come in a variety of ways: while attending religious meetings, being in nature, before I go to bed when I can slow down my mind, and while praying. I smile in those moments where I can cast away my worries and focus on the now, the zen-like letting go of me and absorbing the refreshing feeling of revelation and/or peace.

Love it!

How do you feel zen/peace? Starting with the letter Z, what makes you smile?

Love you all. Thanks for stopping by my blog this month. I hope to continue building great relationships with y'all through our blogging/writing adventures. :)

Writing Jewels 

PS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!

27 comments:

  1. I feel that peace when I play my guitar and when I pray.

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  2. Nice balance there at your lair, peace hmmmm when I sleep?

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    1. Oh, man sleep definitely is peace inducing. Good point and good on the joints.

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  3. I think 26 posts in a row were too much for my smile muscles. LOL

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    1. That big of a workout, eh? haha Glad you smiling muscles were happy at work. :)

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  4. Yay, congrats on finishing! I think we all need some zen right about now.

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    1. Zeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnn! --> zooming it to all the Challengers way!

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  5. I find peace in my writing, particularly when I'm writing haiku.

    Congrats on finishing the A to Z! I've enjoyed your posts. So glad I met you!

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    1. Super glad to meet you too, Dana. It's been a blast and a half. :)

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  6. I am convinced that meditation is necessary for the soul, but so many people seem to have excuses about why they can't meditate yet they have time for Grey's Anatomy...

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    1. Good point. I could use more meditation time... Netflix wins out. Thanks for prompting me in the right direction. :)

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  7. Congratulations on finishing A to Z. Hopefully May will be a month of Zen!

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  8. I could do with being a bit more zen!

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  9. Zen. Peace. When meditating, or sleeping.

    Congratulations on finishing the Challenge. I enjoyed travelling with you! See you again.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    Bears Noting
    Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)

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  10. Julia! We did it! I would love to have some Zen in my life. I'm sad to say goodbye to the challenge....I don't know what I'm going to do. :) Love your Blog!

    jules
    A Dose of Jules

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  11. Loving that picture of you, very zen like. I'm like you and , religious meetings, nature, that awesome restful time before bed. Also, I just like being with my family reading books or watching a movie together. Zen rules. Great posts for the month!

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  12. Love the photo! Congratulations on finishing A to Z! I think not having to come up with another post each day will bring me some peace!

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  13. I find that peace with a good book or some nice cross-stitching. Congrats on finishing! Your posts were wonderful to read!

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  14. I'm the same way with traveling. I think it's because I realize that I'll have to go back to the real world before I know it, so I take the time to really appreciate what is around me. That's pretty peaceful to me.

    Congrats on finishing!

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  15. Congrats on completing the challenge :)

    I find Zen with a good book, or a long drive, or some Me time in the beach side. Your posts were a joy to read. :)

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  16. through this challenge your blogs have been inspiring and uplifting. I am adding you to my bloglist so that I stop by daily :)

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  17. Hey Julia,

    I'm so terribly late into the proceedings. Apologies for getting to your "Z" only now. To me, Zen is all around. I immerse myself in the positive vibes, go out an appreciate the wonders of nature.

    Although I would never participate in the A to Z, congrats to you and all those who did. I hope that everybody did it in the spirit of an all different, all equal, sharing, caring blogging community.

    Julia, I feel 'Zensational'! :)

    In peace and goodwill,

    Gary

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  18. Zen is definitely a good word to end your theme with! Sorry for getting here so late, but I'm slowly catching up with my post-vacation blogging. Anyway, love the pic of you in China. And congratulations for finishing the challenge! And btw, the clip of Dean screaming like a girl is from episode 6 Yellow fever, season 4. (:

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  19. Hurray on finishing the A-Z challenge. Nice theme. I think this is something I will do sometime, think and write about what makes me happy. It would be great antidote to depression and a way to be grateful at the same time.

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