Ellen Kennon's Newsletter

Living Well Newsletter

Spring 2008

Wild Strawberries & Flowers Covering the Lawn at Mon Soleil

Dear Friends,

We’ve been enjoying Spring for quite a while down here in Louisiana. As I write this, I’m lying in a hammock in what I call my “outdoor cathedral” that I created this time of year, 18 years ago. The only sounds I hear are birdsong and the wind rustling the tree leaves high above my head. I’m reminded every Spring why it’s often said that West Feliciana Parish has the most diverse flora and fauna in the continental United States; and why John James Audubon painted so many of his Birds of America series here. As I’ve said before, the profusion of birds take care of planting most everything that grows on our property. The lawn is covered with such beautiful little flowers and wild strawberries; I had to share the photos above!

Not a day goes by that I don’t give thanks for being able to live on such a beautiful piece of property. I actually keep a gratitude journal where I write down everything I’m grateful for. I started doing this several years ago and I know it plays a huge part in helping me continue to live a life I love.

Despite the news about the flailing economy and plummeting housing market, our business continues to thrive. So I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have been so loyal and supportive. Business is always a pleasure because you all are so incredibly nice to work with.

This coming Summer Solstice, will mark seven years since we started Full Spectrum Paints and I wrote my first Living Well Newsletter. In the first paragraph, I talked about how our earth was changing and how time was actually speeding up and what we knew to be a 24 hour day was actually the equivalent of less than 16 hours. Well, I’m not sure what the Schumann Resonance is now, but time is definitely speeding by, so it’s more important than ever that we don’t get caught up in the whirlwind of life.

Although I’m grateful that business is keeping us so busy, I have to admit, I did get “caught up” for a while and neglected setting aside the time I used to spend each day refocusing and reflecting on what was really important in my life. Thank goodness Spring fever took over and I’m taking advantage of the spectacular weather to catch up with myself!

Over the years, I’ve written about many aspects to living life well—from the power of color and how different colors affect us (2001 Summer, Autumn & Winter issues), to ways to create successful color combinations and bring nature indoors (Spring, Summer & Autumn 2002 issues). Creating an environment that is truly your sanctuary is something we all need, especially during such uncertain times. However, the mind is an incredibly powerful instrument and I know from personal experience, that it can be used to create an oasis of calm and well-being, no matter what is going on in the world.

Over the past seven years, I’ve shared several resources I’ve found that have helped me turn my typical “type A personality” into one that is more serene. My Winter and Summer 2003 newsletters talk about living in the moment and creating a synchronistic lifestyle where everything seems to magically drop into place at just the right moment. The Autumn 2005 issue shares many of the books and other resources I’ve found over the years to help me stay centered and balanced. There are so many tools available today and I’m happy when I see DVDs like “The Secret” at the Barnes & Noble checkout and Eckhart Tolle on Oprah! By the way, if you haven’t read his newest book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, and are looking to transform your consciousness, get it! He explains how becoming aware of and therefore transcending our ego-based state of consciousness is not only essential to personal happiness, but is also the key to ending conflict and suffering throughout the world. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

As I mentioned in my Summer ’06 Living Well, I’m convinced one of the reasons I haven’t been ill in many years, is because I take time out to breathe deeply, imagining that when I inhale, golden healing light is entering through the top of my head and as I exhale (slowly) this healing light is filling my body organs, cells, DNA, etc. In Tolle’s A New Earth, he confirms that exercises like this not only anchor you in the present moment, but also strengthen the immune system and the body’s ability to heal itself. It certainly is a quick way to calm yourself when faced with something stressful!

In addition to taking time out this Spring to clear all the clutter from my mind, I’m also taking advantage of all this nice weather to air out the house and clear out all the household clutter that has accumulated. The Winter ’01 & ’04 newsletters give the many benefits and tips on editing your possessions. The Autumn ’06 Living Well explores other natural ways, besides letting fresh air in, to increase negative ions which produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of serotonin, that make us feel more energetic and alive.

On another note, I’m happy to report that since I posted the green living tips in the Autumn ’07 newsletter on ways to help with reducing carbon dioxide, I’m chipping away at becoming more green! You’ll rarely see me without a bottle of water in my hand, yet I no longer use plastic water bottles. I started recycling small glass water bottles to use instead. I also now have very little junk mail & catalogs because I joined www.greendimes.com, and I replaced my old car with a Prius which is getting 48 miles per gallon! Currently I'm reading the NY Times bestseller, The Green Book, which has everything you want to know about living green!

Wishing you a wonder-filled, joyous Spring green season!