https://www.afocusonhappiness.com/home daily 1.0 2022-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1547761048332-UD3XMTVQKJQEQHS210D2/White+Blossoms.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1549504945592-RB3TW0YR7DUMQEYMA0LO/child+on+a+swing.jpg Home https://www.afocusonhappiness.com/about daily 0.75 2022-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1558206283771-18OWY9Q9HA15M7MFVPX8/20190310_113114.jpg about https://www.afocusonhappiness.com/workshops daily 0.75 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1675906878863-ZKHVAT5R6TI4YX4OHWJR/DSCN2714.jpg Workshops https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/fbb1bf3a-0e1f-47c6-86fd-ce8442da6cec/Daisies+in+the+meadow.jpg Workshops - The Wisdom of Summer Sit with us by the welcoming fire to share what you hold most dear in your heart, share what you have learned from the great teachers: Earth, Water and Sky and the Minstrels of the Four Winds; share what you have learned from the Evergreen Elders: Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock and Cedar; share what you have learned from our Brothers and Sisters who circle this way with us: Wolf and Mule Deer, Spirit Bear and Salmon, Raven and Great Horned Owl. Sit with us by the welcoming fire, sit with us to share the Wisdom of the Seasons for it is the stories we share that give our lives meaning and purpose! Next online gathering: Summer Solstice, Sunday, June 21st at 7PM PST. The Wisdom of Summer is found in the bounty that comes when two become one, the Mystery of the Sacred Union. In ancient times, agricultural communities gathered on the Summer Solstice to make offerings to Earth Mother and Sky Father, a time when we prayed that the Sacred Union of Earth and Sky might yield a bountiful harvest. In this 90 minute online workshop let us welcome the invitation of Nature to celebrate a Sacred Union, one relevant for us at this time, perhaps a purpose that truly makes you feel alive, perhaps a refuge from the troubles of this world, perhaps a deep sense of belonging that you long for in community. Today let us reflect on the bounty of such a union. In a guided visualization let us see ourselves in a meadow of Shasta daisies all in their wedding gowns and their hearts all aglow. Let us stir an ancient memory, a yearning for the two to become one, a yearning for the mystery to be revealed, the Sacred Union of Earth Mother and Sky Father. To register visit: www.afocusonhappiness.com/contact Any love offering you feel inspired to share can be sent to barryrhunt@gmail.com via PayPal or an e-transfer! Blessings from the Heartwood! Workshops for your circle or group: I would be overjoyed to offer a Summer workshop for your circle or group! Connect with me on my Contact page or call me to arrange a convenient time. “Taking part in a workshop with Barry is a beautiful process of invoking the imagination and then exchanging/sharing experiences with everyone taking part. An opportunity to speak, to be heard, and to grow through the always-loving feedback!” Louisa Sophia https://www.afocusonhappiness.com/contact daily 0.75 2024-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1547765831196-UAHOCU49LO6XOWAIQ8GF/Bird+on+Branch.JPG Contact https://www.afocusonhappiness.com/poetry daily 0.75 2026-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1547767031268-H1C7FRW61NJH4417DWNO/pink+rose.JPG Poetry https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/537a8d66-c0c5-4d96-ab2c-06f42e029427/Taking+Flight.jpg Poetry - Poetry Taking Flight: Poems to Inspire Lightness of Being I am happy to share that my latest book of poetry, Taking Flight: Poems to Inspire Lightness of Being, is now available on Amazon! Taking Flight is a collection of poems that invite us to reflect on the yearning we all share to soar lightly like seagulls over the roiling seas tumbling into shore. We all dream of it, that freedom, ease and grace! And what we long for, what we nourish with intention, is no more than a breath away. Simply let go of what weighs you down and fill your hearts and minds with lightness of being! Taking Flight is divided into three sections with twelve poems in each section: On the Precipice, Wrestling Angels & Demons and The Leap of Faith. This book is dedicated to all of you who have taken that leap of faith and to all of you who are on the precipice, wrestling angels & demons, one breath away from pushing off! Photo credit: Norman Parkinson Request a Poetry Reading for your Circle or Group If you would like a poetry reading for your circle or group use the Contact page to connect with me. https://www.afocusonhappiness.com/sharings-1 daily 0.75 2020-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1547835522907-IUZ8YW9N2YNK9PGR9QIN/DSCN2714.JPG Sharings (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1601822057740-EPNI97PMY9352NRSDV8E/The+Fallow+Field+%23230+_+John+O%27Grady+Art.jpg Sharings (Copy) - Fallow Time Fallow Time is the time of year when the earth takes time to rest and renew. We need fallow time as well. As a writer, I spend a lot of time on the keyboard, but I often find that inspiration comes to me when I take time away from the keyboard, when I let my mind be at rest. I meditate twice a day and I find it definitely nourtishes my creativity! No matter if you’re a writer, a dancer, a painter, or a chef, giving yourself time to rest and renew is critical to the creative process. But how do we apply this principle of Fallow Time in all aspects of our lives? In this 45 minute online workshop Sunday, November 22nd, 2020 at 2PM PST we will begin a discussion on the purpose and value of Fallow Time in our lives and how we can apply it in all aspects of our lives. Referencing Sara Rauch and her article, How To Make Time and Space for Creativity, we will also look at 10 tips to find the time, energy and space for your creative life. Workshop Fee: By Donation To register for the workshop: Go to my Contact page and complete the form ( Please include the name & date of the workshop under “How Can I Help”). Once I receive the completed form I will email you my PayPal information. And once I receive your donation I will send you a Zoom meeting link. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1605038010386-MZNUCJ9UB0X71RISNCEK/LDM+Food+Bank+FB+Profile+Picture.jpg Sharings (Copy) - The Transformative Power of Giving Christmas is a time to share what we have with people we love and people in need. For the last few years I have been wintering in Lo de Marcos, a small town north of Puerto Vallarta with a local population of 2500 that swells to 3500 between November and April. Like many small towns along the Mexican coastline, it largely depends on the tourist dollar for it’s livelihood. This winter will be a difficult time for these towns because many tourists won't be travelling. On Thursday, December 10th at 2PM PST I will be facilitating a 60 minute online workshop as a fund raiser for the Lo de Marcos Food Bank. We will talk about the Transformative Power of Giving. Referencing Jennifer Iacovelli’s book, Simple Giving: Easy Ways to Give Everyday, we will also look at 8 simple ways of giving and how we can apply them in our lives. Workshop Fee: By Donation. All Proceeds go directly to the LDM Food Bank To register for the workshop: Go to my Contact page and complete the form ( Please include the name & date of the workshop under “How Can I Help”). Once I receive the completed form I will email you the PayPal information for the Lo de Marcos Food Bank. And once your donation is received I will send you a Zoom meeting link. On behalf of the Lo de Marcos Food Bank, I thank you for your support! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1593386949536-JQSXDK8BK412OECQIWZN/20200228_085222.jpg Sharings (Copy) - The Gift of Sufficiency Many of us spend much of our lives seeking more. Nothing seems to satisfy this thirst for more. Every moment of every day we have an opportunity to realize that what we have is enough and when our seeking for more ceases there is a peace that settles deep within our mind and heart, a sense of sufficiency. In his blog post on the ‘Gift of Sufficiency’, Richard Rohr from The Center of Action & Contemplation writes: ”...Once we let go of scarcity, we discover the surprising truth of sufficiency. By sufficiency, I don’t mean a quantity of anything. Sufficiency isn’t an amount at all. It is an experience, a context we generate, a declaration, a knowing that there is enough and that we are enough. . . “ In this 45 minute online workshop Sunday, January 17th at 2PM PST we will discuss what we mean by sufficiency in life and how we might awaken this awareness within us. Workshop Fee: By Donation To register for the workshop: Go to my Contact page and complete the form ( Please include the name & date of the workshop under “How Can I Help”). Once I receive the completed form I will email you my PayPal information. And once I receive your donation I will send you a Zoom meeting link. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1602189778475-9JT13M0HGCY0HXUXB8QE/Love_cropped_560_315_s_c1.png Sharings (Copy) - The Joy of Love Love takes many forms and touches our life in many ways. The Greeks talked about 7 types of love. It can be the passion of Spring and it can also be the mellow sesnse of togetherness that we see in couples that have been together for many years. It can be the love we have for friends and family. It can also be the richly satisfying love that comes with self discovery and the love we have for the world around us. In this 60 minute online workshop Thursday, February 18th, 2021 at 2PM PST we will look at the different forms of love and how they enrich our life. We will also look at how we can support the flow of love throughout our life. Workshop Fee: By Donation To register for the workshop: Go to my Contact page and complete the form ( Please include the name & date of the workshop under “How Can I Help”). Once I receive the completed form I will email you my PayPal information. And once I receive your donation I will send you a Zoom meeting link. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1592250579505-WVKNLMANESJLVNL3ISRF/20200330_080734.jpg Sharings (Copy) - Creating Space for Happiness Creating space for happiness in life requires letting go of what clutters our lives. Marie Kondo has become an overnight sensation in inspiring people to use joy to determine whether to keep or let something go in organizing their environments. In this 60 minute online workshop March 19th, 2021 at 2PM PST we will look at what clutters our emotional lives and we'll map out a strategy to let go of that clutter including 7 ways to break a bad habit and 12 tips to overcome negative thoughts. Workshop Fee: By Donation To register for the workshop: Go to my Contact page and complete the form ( Please include the name & date of the workshop under “How Can I Help”). Once I receive the completed form I will email you my PayPal information. And once I receive your donation I will send you a Zoom meeting link. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1602187322135-D0TFLKED8AZUHZ5IXWUN/istock-1084192994_0.jpg Sharings (Copy) - Reframing Our Mindset To reframe is defined as “placing something in a new frame.” When we change our point of view on any given situation, the facts remain the same, but a deliberate shift is made in how we see it. In this 45 minute online workshop Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 at 2PM PST we will discuss how seeing something in a new way can enhance happiness in life. We will also look at how we may apply ‘reframing’ in our daily lives . Workshop Fee: By Donation To register for the workshop: Go to my Contact page and complete the form ( Please include the name & date of the workshop under “How Can I Help”). Once I receive the completed form I will email you my PayPal information. And once I receive your donation I will send you a Zoom meeting link. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1593180981304-MBRMPYAMKXF25RVASROF/20200625_132502.jpg Sharings (Copy) - Seeing through the Eyes of a Child For children, the world is a playground of happiness. They see the world as a place of awe and wonder. Many spiritual practices talk about seeing the world around us filled with awe and wonder but we often struggle to see the world in this way. In this 60 minute online workshop Wednesday, May 19th, 2021 at 2PM PST we will look at what we can learn from children about seeing the world as a place of awe and wonder and we will learn 7 ways to culture this sense in our lives. Workshop Fee: By Donation To register for the workshop: Go to my Contact page and complete the form ( Please include the name & date of the workshop under “How Can I Help”). Once I receive the completed form I will email you my PayPal information. And once I receive your donation I will send you a Zoom meeting link. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1602189096084-3K9YHJAWZVAF4OUMV9V9/positive-psychology1.jpg Sharings (Copy) - Life Lessons from Illness When suddenly there is an illness or injury with a friend or family member or one that we experience our world is turned upside down. All our priorities are radically shifted and our attention is laser focused. And yet often, as we work our way through this difficult time, we gain some insights that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. In this 45 minute online workshop Thursday, June 17th, 2021 at 2PM PST we will reflect upon an experience of illness or injury in our lives and what it may have taught us about happiness. Workshop Fee: By Donation To register for the workshop: Go to my Contact page and complete the form ( Please include the name & date of the workshop under “How Can I Help”). Once I receive the completed form I will email you my PayPal information. And once I receive your donation I will send you a Zoom meeting link. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1593058554024-LR4AIN8MHBD57YC22X0L/20200605_165525+%281%29.jpg Sharings (Copy) - The Path to Forgiveness There is a path to forgiveness…it starts with listening. It leads to understanding and compassion and ultimately, to more fulfilling relationships. In this 45 minute online workshop Friday, July 16th, 2021 at 2PM PST we will look at the difference between hearing and listening. We will look at what it means to become a listening presence. And we will look at how we can culture a “listening heart” in all our relationships resulting in more fulfilling relationships. Workshop Fee: By Donation To register for the workshop: Go to my Contact page and complete the form ( Please include the name & date of the workshop under “How Can I Help”). Once I receive the completed form I will email you my PayPal information. And once I receive your donation I will send you a Zoom meeting link. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1593387781006-YFPFVCMV5Z1WPETF6IO8/IMG-20200624-WA0000.jpg Sharings (Copy) - Coming Home So often our happiness comes from something outside ourselves. We are happy because we have a new job, a new car or a new friend. But then that lustre fades and we seek out something else to bring us happiness. However, there are times in our lives when an inner happiness fills us with joy. It is what we may experience in meditation or our yoga practice or perhaps sitting quietly in nature by a stream, a sense of ‘coming home’. In this 45 minute online workshop Wednesday, August 18th, 2021 at 2PM PST we will look closer at this sense of 'coming home' and how we might nurture that awareness in our lives. Workshop Fee: By Donation To register for the workshop: Go to my Contact page and complete the form ( Please include the name & date of the workshop under “How Can I Help”). Once I receive the completed form I will email you my PayPal information. And once I receive your donation I will send you a Zoom meeting link. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1594784554667-U1JR3S1ZPPOJV788A9WD/garden-tea1-800-8f10fe1c33bad5ea9eff82b0c6bff774.jpg Sharings (Copy) - Purpose in Life In 2008, Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow and New York Times best selling author, published his book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest. Holding the title of “most centegenerians on the planet,” and most women over the age of 100, is the Japanese island of Okinawa. Buettner suggests that Ikigai is one of the primary reasons for Okinawans’ remarkable longevity and emotional well-being. Ikigai can loosely be defined as value or purpose in life. In this 60 minute online workshop Tuesday, September 14th , 2021 at 2PM PST we will discuss what we can learn from Ikigai to increase happiness in our lives through finding a sense of purpose. We will also look at some practical steps we can take to identify and implement our Ikigai. Workshop Fee: By Donation To register for the workshop: Go to my Contact page and complete the form ( Please include the name & date of the workshop under “How Can I Help”). Once I receive the completed form I will email you my PayPal information. And once I receive your donation I will send you a Zoom meeting link. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c40e1b8cef3724b42499b93/1581013407480-REJ787HKLUSPH9FG6WD2/Elder-Wisdom.jpg Sharings (Copy) - Stepping into Conscious Eldering The Stepping into Conscious Eldering workshop provides participants with an opportunity to discuss how aging is portrayed in our society and to awaken a sense of purpose that 'Conscious Eldering' offers. Join me at 2PM on Wednesday, October 13th, 2021 for a 60 minute online workshop to look at the opportunity that Conscious Eldering offers as we enter our ‘Golden Years’. Workshop Fee: By Donation To register for the workshop: Go to my Contact page and complete the form ( Please include the name & date of the workshop under “How Can I Help”). Once I receive the completed form I will email you my PayPal information. And once I receive your donation I will send you a Zoom meeting link.