Breathe In, Summer Is My Heart.

  Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the books, I am reading. The other one is about Paris, and The Last Castle ( Biltmore Estate) ( I would have to go in the other room, to find the Paris book title but I will later, promise)
     In my new Buddha Book ( my initials!) ( sign) it interweaves the practice of Buddhism and Christianity. Jesus says to Be Still and Know God, Buddhism says, Be calm and know mindfulness.
    The practice of mindfulness helps you be a better Christian, if that is your interest. I think it helps you center your thoughts, so you can pray better. Maybe even know yourself better. I think Jesus would agree with me.
       In meditating, stillness is most important, and when you breathe in, you should feel calm. Calm can be your mantra. My mantra is Summer! and when I breathe out Winter ! Summer is my heart beat, period.
     A funny story, in this same vein of summer continues daily! (Oh, Emma just bought me the book, I was telling you about, The Little French Bistro by Nina George)
    Breathe in, SUMMER!
    Remember to breathe out!!
    One afternoon, thinking that I did not really need to get my nails done, I jumped up and decided to get my nails done!!! My place is a hop, skip and a jump around the corner. Been going there over twenty years, they are family. It is a very comfortable experience. I sit, chill, little conversation, and Breathe!! Mindfulness in the nail salon, works!! UNTIL.. I just glance at the TV which is seldom on, and if it is on, its the cooking channel. I hear the words, Tupac and Biggie! I look around, to see if my kids are pranking me, after they surprised me on my birthday!!! I look a little harder at the TV, and these people are discussing a full tilt depth Tupac and Biggies death and autopsy results!! Namaste!!
I continue to think this is not real, no one is paying attention but me! I dive in, I love my hip hop rap, old school, peeps! Tupac was a poet!! They may have been gangsters, or just misunderstood!! thugs, but no one should die, riddled with bullets, and have their autopsy on TV, while I am trying to be calm!! I finally say to Linda, my person, do you understand what is on TV, by now I am seeing autopsy full blown photos. She smiles, and asks if I want my nails shorter.( She speaks very good English!!) Then she says, as the paint goes on, " You know this color is summer, and its winter outside." I smile, " Yes I know, because it is Summer in my heart, Linda and this TV program is making me angst!" Ok, maybe not angst, I Helen Kellered some hand gestures to sign crying!! ( all of this sounds bad!! How do I describe in detail, my ability to communicate with people who are pretending to not know enough English!) I love Linda so, I told her, true crime TV shows, maybe are not the best thing to have during prayer time.( I may have used my hands, again!) Can we turn the TV off? Of course she didn't care, not another soul in there had their eyes open!She smiled, and I smiled. I also let her know, that my summer nail polish, looked great. She replied, " I know you will be wearing it until October!" Like family!, she tuned me out when needed, and made me laugh at the same time. I never change my nail polish in the summer, its part of my mantra!! I also know that if I go in Linda's car, there is a Tupac and Biggie CD turned UP!!! Now I can breathe out!! I just had to tell you.
     Be still and know, Be Mindful and calm. Pay attention, be kind, live life, its a trip!!! Start Summer nails early, its in your heart.