Just This Moment

Sunday, August 11th 
 
Just This Moment

The title of this week’s theme is also the title of a song by our friend, Steve Walters (you’ll probably hear it this Sunday!).  Colleen was with a group of friends earlier this week and during their conversation, several mentioned how difficult it sometimes is to stay in the present moment.  Eckhart Tolle reminds us that “Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry – all forms of fear – are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of nonforgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”  Let’s explore and remind ourselves how staying in the present moment can lead to a much more enjoyable and productive life!

Quotes to ponder

“If you feel anxiety or depression, you are not in the present. You are either anxiously projecting the future or depressed and stuck in the past. The only thing you have any control over is the present moment; simple breathing exercises can make us calm and present instantly.” ~ Tobe Hanson

“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” ~ Abraham Maslow

“If you were conscious, that is to say totally present in the Now, all negativity would dissolve almost instantly. It could not survive in your presence.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

“Paths of Heart Presents…” House Concert Series – After a bit of a break, we have several concerts planned that we’re really excited about!    Mark your calendars to hear the rest of these scheduled and wonderful local and nationally touring artists!

Saturday, August 17th – Megan Bee with OMD (Our Mothers’ Daughters reunion!).  OMD is the popular a cappella group that Colleen has sung with for the past 30+ years!  They haven’t performed much over the last decade, so this will be a rare treat!  Former and current members are traveling from all over the country (NY, FL, MN, MI) to sing and play (in the varied sense of the word!) together. Megan Bee is a fun and talented Athens, OH based singer-songwriter that has performed at Paths of Heart 2 other times to an enthusiastic audience. Since her scheduled house concert date coincided with the serendipitous reunion of OMD, she has graciously invited us to share the stage with her.  Suggested donation is $20 at the door and we’ll have a finger food and beverage potluck during intermission.  Concert starts at 7!  Come early to grab a seat and please spread the word!

Saturday, Oct. 5th – The Home Fires
Saturday, Oct. 19th – Tracy Grammer

More details for these concerts to follow!

Tuesday, August 20th, 7 pm – Our next Song Circle

Sunday, August 25th – Our next community potluck, immediately following our gathering.

If you are an Amazon shopper, please consider shopping through Amazon Smile and designating Paths of Heart as your non-profit of choice.  A percentage of your purchases will be donated to Paths of Heart!  Here is a handy link:  https://smile.amazon.com/ch/81-4175487

If you are a King Soopers shopper, please consider joining their Community Rewardsprogram by linking your loyalty card online to Paths of Heart.  Our non-profit will receive a percentage of all your purchases there!  We just got our first check (over $300!) since the new program started a few months ago, so this is an easy and great way to support Paths of Heart effortlessly!  

We invite you to visit our website, https://pathsofheart.org. There you’ll find past newsletters, a newsletter sign-up form, more about our organization, a photo gallery, and a ‘donate’ button, for those who prefer to donate to our non-profit with a credit card.  You can even sign up for automatic monthly donations, which folks find very convenient!  Stop by for a visit and please share with friends! 

Gratitudes

We are so grateful to Cynthia Molson for purchasing alphabetical dividers for our songbooks!  We’d like to have a quick “assembly party”, perhaps right after a Sunday gathering sometime soon, so please let us know if you could lend a hand. “Many hands make light work”, as Colleen’s Dad often said during her childhood!  She still loves that phrase…
 
“You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.” ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

Other Details….
If this has been forwarded to you by a friend and you would like to join us, we encourage you to add your name to our newsletter list, as schedules do occasionally change,and we like to keep you informed of topics and special events as well. Just visit our website https://pathsofheart.org and click the newsletter sign-up link. If you know of other interested and kind-hearted souls, please refer them to our website, or they may also contact us by email: info@pathsofheart.org or by phone: 970-484-9600, to learn more about our non-profit organization. Thanks! 

Car-eography
You may park in the driveway, as well as diagonally along the north side of our property.  Should those areas become full, please park out on Hwy 1, which has plenty of space and a nice wide shoulder.  Do watch for passing cars as you are exiting and entering your vehicle, though! The carport area is reserved for folks with special parking needs. Out of respect for our neighbors, we ask that you kindly refrain from parking on Evans Drive beyond our property line. Car pooling is encouraged.  We also have a bike rack for cyclists!

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together in music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! Our gatherings are most every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at 117 Evans Drive in north Fort Collins. Childcare is available (please let us know ahead of time so we can make arrangements).

We hope our paths cross soon!

“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.” ― Rumi