Temperatures were in the low 20’s when this image was taken.
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Retirement
Retired What will you do when you retire? Most of us will want to enjoy the latter years of our lives but will the days be spent loafing or will we keep active. If you do a google search on the question, “What will you do when you retire?”, you will get hits leading to links for money management/investments. That’s not what I’m asking here but asking what we will do with our time. It’s a valid question and one we all can look at.
Don’t simply retire from something; have something to retire to. Harry Emerson Fosdick
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Plugged in
Plugged In Waiting at the airport.
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Teasels
Teasels Snow covered teasels from Blendon Woods Park.
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Dad's Hands
Dad’s Swan I remember the first time I really noticed my dad’s hands. I’m not sure if he was holding me or if I was just sitting beside him. Their size was impressive as I was young at the time. I remember touching them and noticed how the wrinkles of age had begun to appear. They had worked hard for many years and they still do. My father learned from experience how to use his hands. He used them to work for a paycheck that provided shelter and food for his family. He used them to repair cars, repair and also build a house, make a toy gun from a piece of wood, plant and harvest a garden. He also used them to discipline his children. I remember the last time I felt the well deserved impact of his hands on my posterior. Later in life he would surprise me by using them to create wood carvings like the one you see above.
A few years back I looked down and realized my hands were starting to look like his. I’m proud of that. My hands are not identical to his nor do they not have the same strength, talents or gifts as his but they have his imprint on them. Today is my dad’s 80th birthday. He still walks everyday and stays in very good physical condition. He’s also pretty sharp between the ears, too! I love you, dad, because of your strengths and your weaknesses and because you have shared your hands with me.
Happy Birthday Dad!
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The Guys
The Guys So what do you suppose they are talking a bout? Maybe they are a bit embarrassed and just turning away. It was an unusual scene so why not.
“When you photograph people in colour you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in B&W, you photograph their souls!” Ted Grant
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Accepting the Moment
“When we can be in touch with what is wonderful in the present moment, we are nourished and healed. When our energy of right mindfulness has become solid, we can use it to recognize and embrace our suffering and pain, our anger and hatred, our greed, violence, jealousy, and despair. Dwelling peacefully in the present moment can bring about wonderful healing, and can take ourselves out of the clutches of regret about and attachment to the past, and of our worries and fear of the future.” The Energy of Prayer by Thich Nhat Hanh
Reading back over some early journaling of mine I found the word “want” as a consistent theme. The word was standing out boldly and caused me to ask why I was using it. Each time I used the word, it was in reference to the past or future. I became aware of how easily I moved away from the present and journeyed to another time where I cannot physically live. As the Buddha taught, “The past is already gone. the future has not yet come. Life can only be touched in the present moment.” I realized I was not accepting the present moment.