The day was damp and dreary ~ too blasted chilly. A 1.5 hour drive ~ on a good day ~ was not what I considered a good time, so my head was conjuring all kinds of excuses to stay snuggled up at home. But, "I promised I'd be there." Sigh.
When I arrived at the bookstore the weather was drizzling; my hair was frizzing and it was next to impossible to find a parking space. As I got out of the car, my umbrella gave up the ghost, so I was on my own for the mad dash to dodge the raindrops. But, "I promised I'd be there." Ugg.
I slipped soggily through the door and there they were, shining role models for women everywhere. They were in their element, greeting eager fans and giving of their time, and "I promised I'd be there!" ;)
As the event was coming to a close and the final book received its autograph, I made a passionate comment to my friend, Irene Anderson
(Power of Women United contributing author and FengSHe.org collaborator) "Irene I love your pin! There's something about Hummingbirds. I just love them!" "I really like it too. Bev May gave it to me." She responded as she was undoing the clip, "Since you love it some much, you should have it!" And in instant she had it pinned to my jacket.
Although not uncommon from this group, this unselfish gesture still took me completely by surprise. "Who does that?" I thought, then realized almost immediately that in our hearts we ALL want to make others feel the way Irene made me feel! So in a luminescent ride home ~ in the dark! ~ I decided that the first person who expressed their feelings about that gorgeous little pin, should share the same feeling I experienced when she gifted it to me.
Hummingbird Facts and Lore
According to Native American wisdom, when animals show up in our lives they always carry a significant message with them so it was time to do some research.
For our Aboriginal People the lovely little Hummingbird radiates pure joy. It is also a symbol of accomplishing what we believe to be impossible. Because its wings move in a figure eight pattern ~ the infinity symbol ~ and it's ability to fly in any direction, Hummingbird carries links to the past and the future and is seen as a messenger between worlds.
The most amazing physical aspects about these tiny beings are their tenacity and stamina. Sun worshippers that they are, some Hummingbirds migrate up 2500 miles from Alaska to Central America ~ without stopping! Because they can fly in any direction ~ up, down, backward and forward ~ they have few predators and have been known to chase off eagles! However, the delicate Hummingbird will die almost immediately if caged, caught or confined.
Through my research I also discovered that humming is really good for your health! Happily humming through life provides an internal massage that's good for your overall well-being. Some Yogi's use a breathing practise called Brahmari Pranayama which is a humming technique. The energetic vibration that humming creates is said to ground us at our core; calm mind chatter and promote clear thinking; relax neck, head, face and shoulder muscles; slow our breathing rate; activate the parasympathetic nervous system and improve sinusitis.
No wonder that joyful little bird has such incredible stamina and it certainly does seem to be able to accomplish the impossible!
Flying the Friendly Skies
Less than a month later, after the wrap up of a weekend long seminar with Don Miguel and Don Jose Ruiz ~ authors of The Fifth Agreement ~ while in conversation with flight attendant, she stopped me mid sentence. "What a sweet brooch. I have this thing for Hummingbirds."
As I removed my little friend from her perch on my jacket and placed it on Jackie's lapel, I explained that Hummingbirds must always be in flight and asked her to do the same when the opportunity arose. Though happy tears Jackie promised the little Hummingbird would travel with her on every flight and I handed her my e-mail address in hopes of hearing where that little joy-filled bird would travel next.
When I arrived home that evening, I was filled with anticipation of how many lives this one little gesture might touch. I fired up my computer and sat down to wonderful message ~
"Hello Mary." She wrote. "I had high hopes of 'our' happy little Hummingbird travelling the four corners of the globe with me, but it seems it was not meant to be. I had not moved 20 feet from where we were chatting when someone approached me to say just how much she liked the pin and how intrigued she was by Hummingbirds! And off she flew!"
The Humming Through Life Campaign
When my friend Bev May of Renew Studio heard the tale of the travelling Hummingbird, it sparked an inspiring idea and the Humming Through Life Campaign
was born!
Renew Studio
is the brilliant and generous creation of Bev's daughter Dee Miller. Dee was given a vision of how she could use her talent to improve the lives of cancer patients. With her extensive 28-year background in health and fitness, in 2009 Dee, a cancer survivor herself, opened Renew Studio
where she offers yoga and fitness classes and body healing meals in her cafe
The Nourishing Nook
, COMPLETELY FREE of charge, to individuals recovering from cancer.
Renew Studio offers a place where individuals can eat healthy food, exercise at their personal energy level and meet others in a relaxing, stress free environment. Dee's also written a fabulous cookbook ~ Healthy Bites
~ with over 100 healthy choice recipes!
Here's how the Campaign Works
We've chosen April to begin Humming Through Life Campaign
as this is when Hummingbirds start to return to Southern Ontario Canada, the home of Renew Studio! What better energy than that of the tenacious little ones themselves?!
To help us and Renew Studio spread, JOY and faith in a bright and healthful future for cancer patients:
1) Purchase your Hummingbird pin from Renew Studio
online or in person and be prepared to set it free!
BUY YOUR PIN NOW!
2) Set an intention for your own future and when it's time for your Hummingbird to fly, let it to take wing with your uplifting intention.
3) Request that the recipient allow the Hummingbird to remain in flight and provide your e-mail address to them so they can let you know where your pin is off to!
4) Access our Humming Through Life Campaign Blog
and tell us your story!
The proceeds from every Hummingbird Pin sold go to support Renew Studio. With your support we'll soon see Renew Studio locations across Canada and around the globe!
Like the Hummingbird, our gratitude knows no bounds!
Happy Humming!
Dee Miller and Bev May, ~ Renew Studio
Irene Anderson, DiscoveryWORKS!
Mary Giuffre and Paul Clark FengSHe.org
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!
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Biography
