Pride or Peace

Watching them succeed, each in his own way, is certainly filling me with an overwhelming sense of something. It May be pride, and I am proud. But not the kind that make me want to crow to my friends. It's the kind that makes me smile to myself, knowing that the are becoming self sufficient. Capable of setting goals independently and achieving them.

Colors

Are the colors a bribe for what's yet to be? 

Or perhaps it's the bulb burning brightest before it expires?

It seems if you are looking for peace you need to go within, or go without.

Peaceful fall morning

Today...

I am grateful for cold wet towels on a hot hot day in the yard.
I am grateful for a cool pool and a hot shower.
I am grateful that my family was all together with me.
I am grateful for a chicken burrito bowl and an iced cold corona
And a few aspirins...

Words

When you hear words that hurt, distract, or disappoint, at minimum, a silent whisper of gratitude is due the soul who unwittingly risked friendship with a spiritual giant, so that you might sooner understand that words needn't ever hurt, distract, or disappoint.

I love a rainy night

But, my dog, not so much. He acts all tough, but then he hides under my desk and sits on my feet. 
What is it about the primal things. Listening to rain, watching a fire, feeling a breeze, having you hands in dirt, that feels so right?
They seem to go right to a special place in my brain, maybe soul, that other experiences don't or cannot. For the knowledge that these things will always be available to me, I am grateful.

I think the Universe is trying to teach me to trust. Or, at least have some Faith. Why is this such a hard lesson?

"Offer your emotion a cup of tea, but you don't have to ask it to stay"

Beautiful evening on the lake.

Yoda Says...

"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

"When you look at the dark side, careful you must be ... for the dark side looks back."

"Careful you must be when sensing the future. The fear of loss is a path to the dark side. Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."

"Yes, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will."

Happy Birthday America and Thank you to our founding fathers!

A Lazy River

Cool breezes, warm conversations and life passing a slow as a lazy river. Doesn't get any better.

Right Action

Conserve your energy for worth endevours.
Don't waste it on anger, rage, frustration, self-pity.
Don't give it away to drugs, alcohol or other vices.
Don't let anyone take it away, no one deserves to be on this planet anymore than you.
Think of every opportunity to expend energy as an opportunity to advance your soul..
Or not.
Thoughts become words,
Words become deeds,
Choose the good one.

Memorial Day

Heartfelt thanks to all that served and those left behind.
To those that sacrificed and those that gave it all.
We will remember the sacrifices.
For them, serving was more than an obligation or a duty, it was a honor and a privilege.

Things that make you go Hmm!

What came first, the conscience or right and wrong? While we agonize about taking back incorrect change, one mama bird pushed two eggs out of a next before depositing two of her own. Perhaps they don't consider it life until the egg hatches. Will we see her at confession next week? Or will she continue on her eviction spree?

Talk about being out of your element

I don't think I shall ever see,
anything so strange as a duck in a tree.
At least not day...

Finding Your Element

This clumsy living that moves lumbering
as if in ropes through what is not done,
reminds us of the awkward way the swan walks.

And to die, which is the letting go
of the ground we stand on and cling to every day,
is like the swan, when he nervously lets himself down
into the water, which receives him gaily
and which flows joyfully under
and after him, wave after wave,
while the swan, unmoving and marvelously calm,
is pleased to be carried, each moment more fully grown,
more like a king, further and further on.

Rilke-Translated by Robert Bly

Curtain fall

Seven suns come and gone
Our sea flat as glass
Winds as light as a baby's breath
Seven hours to show time

Everyday

Everyday a different sky, no better, no worse
Everyday a different beach, no better, no worse
Everyday a different me, no better, no worse?

Good morning!

1000

One thousand miles I've traveled,
To meet a thousand thundering waves.
A thousand seconds more I wait for a thousand souls to float by.
Alone at last, with venus, a cresent moon, and a thousand stars.

Mind the Gap

Our problems arise when we subordinate this moment to something else, our self-centered thoughts. We bring to the moment our personal priorities, all day long. When attention to the present moment falters and we drift into some version of "I have to have it my way," a gap is created in our awareness of reality as it is, right now. Into that gap pours all the mischief of our life.

- Charlotte Joko Beck

Realization

Awareness dawns
Seeking to deny nature
The peace I desperately crave

Too close for comfort.

I don't often think about my own mortality. And, I'm not sure that I am right now. But something is poking at my conscious mind and I guess I need to give it some attention. It started earlier this week with learning that a business associate had passed on after a brutal battle with cancer. I didn't know him very well, but well enough to know that he was deeply loved and respected by family and friends. I was very surprised at the wake to find several of his photographs around the room. I normally pick up one or two of the prayer cards offered by the funeral homes and keep them on my desk or as bookmarks. Strange as that may seem, it does insure that years later I still think about some of those that have passed that I otherwise may not have. In any case, no prayer cards. Instead, the family had printed a doubled sided booklet with his picture, a few of his photos and excerpts from a couple poems that he wrote. I didn't know that he liked nature photography and writing. I really liked his writing. I think maybe I understood a bit of it too. At barely 10 years older than me, his transition really hit home. Am I doing what I want, living my life for me? Am I putting off what's important to me? How long do I wait to do the things I want to do? Before it's too late...

Battles...

Every battle needn't be of epic proportions to be important. 
Put down the fork, pick up the book, dial the phone, write the letter.
What victory can you claim in this moment?
The Angels

What if...

What if this year we all drop the belief that we aren't powerful enough or good enough or deserving enough?
What if this year we live without guilt or fear?
What if this year we learn to forgive all, including ourselves.
Can you imagine how much we will accomplish, how happy we will be, and how much joy will surround us.
I AM grateful for the fantastic year that we just started!