GIVING and RECEIVING COEXIST

I've been reading a book by DALAI LAMA XIV and it's REALLY, REALLY DEEP (should make for a very rich and interesting Book Club discussion). Quite honestly, a lot of it is almost impossible for me to understand and I'm challenged to really think through some of his concepts about Buddhism, Quantum Physics, Spirituality etc. Naturally it has me stretching my brain and thinking more deeply about "things" these days. 

Ok, maybe this concept is common knowledge, but I became mesmerized today thinking about how GIVING and RECEIVING COEXIST.  

If you are GIVING, someone is RECEIVING.  

If you are RECEIVING, someone is GIVING.

If someone GIVES to you, you RECEIVE. If you then GIVE it to someone else, he/she RECEIVES it. This can be a never-ending chain of positive events actually.

RIGHT?

Think about it........

You GIVE a HUG - he/she RECEIVES a HUG.

You GIVE a KISS - he/she RECEIVES a KISS.

You GIVE a DOLLAR - he/she RECEIVES a DOLLAR.

You GIVE a MASSAGE - he/she RECEIVES a MASSAGE.

You GIVE ADVICE - he/she RECEIVES ADVICE.

You GIVE a HELPING HAND - he/she RECEIVES a HELPING HAND.

You GIVE EMPATHY  - he/she RECEIVES EMPATHY.

And on and on..........

As you RECEIVE, someone is GIVING.  I like to think of this in terms of POSITIVE actions of course, but I'm really liking that this is a COEXISTING REALITY. 

It's a beautiful thing, really.

JOAN

"CLOVER!!!" IS HAVING A BALL (pun intended)

"iFetch Too" is the BEST dog toy ever!!! Thanks to AUNT JANE's gift at Christmas, "CLOVER!!!" keeps herself totally entertained and mentally challenged, both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Good for both of us.

We started out with the "iFetch", but that model is for small dogs and the tennis balls are TINY.  Not good for a GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG! Thankfully they designed one for regular-size tennis balls - "iFetch Too". Ahhhh......

"iFetch Frenzy" (multiple balls) is now available for small dogs. Perhaps by Christmas they will have an "iFetch Frenzy Too". AUNT JANE????

She chews through TWO TENNIS BALLS each day. They're advertised as TOUGH tennis balls for aggressive dog chewers - NOT. She's not even "aggressive" with the ball, but the rubber breaks inside and then she peels off the yellow cover..... and then it goes in the trash.  Thank goodness for AMAZON and bulk quantities.

Here she is entertaining herself.........

"CLOVER!!!" now knows WHERE the ball is going to come out and often catches it before it's launched.  If you watch to the end of the video, you'll see this.  

It's a mystery to me that she doesn't ALWAYS drop the ball in the correct place, smart as she is.......... 

JOAN

CARRIERES DE LUMIERES in PROVENCE, FRANCE

Yesterday I enjoyed lunch out with my cousin DENISE who mentioned that she loves my Blog. Awww...... nothing like a little positive reinforcement to make your day!

ONE of the things we discussed was PROVENCE, FRANCE - her trip there last year and my upcoming trip. Such a wonderful place, full of charm, good food, good WINE, country markets, boutiques, antiquities and beauty. I can't wait to be there again!!!

I was describing CARRIERES DE LUMIERES, near LES BAUX-DE-PROVENCE, which DENISE didn't have a chance to visit, so I promised her that my next Blog post would be all about it with many photos.

Last August, when I took my niece, her husband and their 3 children to France, we visited this magical place. It's an audio-visual experience in what was once a quarry, but transformed in 1976. Music plays while photos of paintings are continuously projected onto the smooth, almost 30 feet high (9 meters) limestone walls. To see the full display takes about an hour.

Arriving at CARRIERES DE LUMIERES.......

Last year they featured paintings by MICHELANGELO, LEONARDO DA VINCI, RAPHAEL: THE GIANTS OF THE RENAISSANCE.  It was spectacular.  Full color, repeated on all of the walls surrounding you.  Magnifique!!

My family is sitting in the far corner to give you a perspective of the expansive walls

And the visual comes alive on these walls......

Looking at the people in this photo gives you an idea of the size of the projected paintings and the length of the hallways.

Notice at the bottom of this photo, the ornate and colorful marble floors.

All of the walls have a painting projected onto it.  Seating is available for moments of concentration, reflection or rest. As you can see, there are several levels from which to view the paintings.

After the show we explored more of the complex, some of which is outdoors. Voluminous!!

I wasn't very excited to learn that this year they will be featuring the works of MARC CHAGALL, because he isn't one of my favorites (IMPRESSIONISTS top my list). CHAGALL was a POST-IMPRESSIONIST artist and has been described as an EXPRESSIONIST (he paints what he feels) and most notably as a MODERNIST, incorporating several art movement styles.

After reading "LISETTE'S LIST" recently (thank you for the recommendation SANDRA!!), which explained a bit of CHAGALL'S style, now I can't wait to see his work projected in such a dramatic venue!!

If you get to PROVENCE, FRANCE (which I hope you do!), perhaps you'll be inspired to seek out this wonderful experience.

JOAN