My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
“I believe that reading and writing are the most nourishing forms of meditation anyone has so far found. By reading the writings of the most interesting minds in history, we meditate with our own minds and theirs as well. This to me is a miracle.”
Kurt Vonnegut
“His decision to live small made him larger than life.”
Allen Levi, Theo of Golden
I have noticed that most of my friends no longer talk about how much fun they had at the dance last night. Instead, there’s more talk about doctor appointments, and upcoming tests, new medications we’re taking, or how they detest the prepping for a colonoscopy, or going to rehab 3 days a week because of a knee replacement, hip replacement, shoulder replacement, heart surgery, back surgery, and the list goes on. I’ll leave you with that list and move to another list that includes blue skies, sunshine, robins singing, and I’m seeing new goose poop machines everywhere. It is perfect weather for the CSU graduations that are going on all weekend. And, probably a wise decision to stay away from campus all weekend! Time to push publish.
Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go.
Natalie Goldberg
a poet drinks from the
Garcia Lorca
well of the people, and
then gives it back to
them in a way that may
help them understand
themselves and the
world even better
Reading poetry is something new for me, coming in the latter stages of my life, and I must say enjoyable. I have found poetry that helps me understand myself and the world around me. I am drawn to poets who are connected to nature, creation and speak to me about their spiritual life. But there are poets I just do not understand. Yet, I know there are people who connect to them while not with the poets I connect with. I have come to agree with Lorca that in the short period of time I have been reading poetry I have come to believe that poets help us understand ourselves and the world better. I also believe that people can and need to drink from the well of the poet. I therefore see poets as a gift!
We are here to grow in wisdom and to learn to love better.
Rachel Naomi Remen
It was 11 degrees this morning so no sunrise photo although there was a lovely pink sunrise in the eastern sky. I enjoyed my mocha and conversation with Jeff and John this morning at Mugs. Alissia was our barista. Not a bad way to start a cold Sunday morning. I would like to say and live Remen’s quote as a prayer throughout this day for the world. And a keyword in her quote that stands out for me is “we.” Seems we need a good dose of wisdom, love, and prayer right now. I hope you have a good Sunday. Stay warm and dry for those of you on the eastern coast.
when words are welcomed
as ink flows on blank pages
journals take on life
mws
“There is a great difference between defending life and befriending it. Defending life is often about holding on to whatever you have at all cost. Befriending life may be about strengthening and supporting life’s movement toward its own wholeness. It may require us to take great risks to let go, over and over again, until we finally surrender to life’s own dream of itself.”
Rachel Naomi Remen
Journal writing is a voyage to the interior.
Christina Baldwin
Like most of the nation it is cold here. It was 1 degree at about 5:43 am this morning. It was too cold for me to get out and meet Eric for coffee so we chatted over the phone. I was curled up in my chair and wrapped in a blanket. But we have had blue skies and sunshine all day. It has been a good day to journal. I hope you are safe and warm!
“Wisdom is not gained by knowing what is right.
Barbara Brown Taylor
Wisdom is gained by practicing what is right,
and noticing what happens when that practice succeeds
and when it fails.”
We had an absolutely beautiful day here in Colorado, reaching a nice 72 degrees and sunshine. I sat outside and journaled in the sun. It seemed like the wise thing to do!
This wood carved Santa has a story. My dad started carving this santa a few years ago but became discouraged with it and set it to the side. One year when Sheree and I were down in Gold Canyon he brought it out and we all started working on him, carving and painting, including mom. Once we were satisfied with how he turned out we decided to start a tradition where he gets passed along with one of us for the year. So each Thanksgiving one of us takes him for the coming year. So, Santa is spending the coming year at my place until next Thanksgiving.