My online journal sharing interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
new poetry book
ms
words offered to the soul
old chipped saucer
Bright sunny morning here in Colorado. It’s 51 degrees but the 7 mph breeze makes it feel cold to me. Coffee time and writing at Bean Cycle. Reading a book from a new-to-me poet called named Ted Kooser and his book called Delights and Shadows. Meet up and catch up with friends later today. I live a simple life but full.
This morning during my journaling time I began to list the jobs I have had in my life. I found it an interesting exercise into the past and recommend it just for the fun. One of the jobs I had for a short time was selling the Grit newspaper while I was in grade school. This paper required me to buy the paper and then have to sell them to make a profit. Hated it! I was not the salesman. Too much of the introvert to knock on doors. The recollection of those days invited me to look up Grit and see if it was even in print and read its history. Here is a link to the history from the company website. I found the information below from Wikipedia on Dietrick Lamade and his philosophy for the paper. We could sure use that philosophy today! Anyway it was a nice trip down memory lane for me.
Grit displayed news and features aimed at rural America, and climbed to a weekly circulation of 100,000 by 1900, following an editorial policy outlined by Dietrick Lamade during a banquet for Grit’s employees:
Always keep Grit from being pessimistic. Avoid printing those things which distort the minds of readers or make them feel at odds with the world. Avoid showing the wrong side of things, or making people feel discontented. Do nothing that will encourage fear, worry, or temptation… Wherever possible, suggest peace and good will toward men. Give our readers courage and strength for their daily tasks. Put happy thoughts, cheer, and contentment into their hearts.
We have overcast skies and a temperature of 36 degrees at 6:00 am. We may see rain later this evening. Let’s hope so!
morning coffee time
ms
fountain pen and blank pages
chocolate eclair
Emma is one of my favorite baristas, not just because she makes a good mocha latte but because she entices me with the biggest chocolate eclair from the bunch. And no way you can take a bite without the filling oozing out.
They have these new mugs at Mugs which they placed in the very middle of the entryway so I had to walk around them, slowly, each time I came in the door. Something about the color that caught my attention. Something about the shape that caught my attention. I was able to hold off the compulsion to buy one for about two weeks, then…
Sadly, I really don’t enjoy it. Its’ shape does not fit in my car console, nor does the shape fit in my backpack sleeve. But, I must admit the shape is nice to hold in my hand. The lip is designed so that it dribbles and runs down the side of the cup and onto my shirt. So I need to be careful when drinking from it. However, my mocha latte tastes fine in it. My consumer mind causing me to think I needed one, but didn’t. The one I have works fine. Sigh! Have a great weekend!
I journal because I believe there is a shadow side to me that I desire to acknowledge and understand. Thomas Merton says “The greatest need of our time is to clean out the enormous mass of mental and emotional rubbish that clutters our minds.” As I put down words on blank pages I’m given the grace to look upon these dark and negative sides of my nature as well as the bright and positive sides of my nature. So, I journal for the discovery of my true self, my authentic self, my higher self and discard anything that is not. I hope you are able to relate to what I’m trying to say?
Have a wonderful Friday!
“Solace is what we must look for when the mind cannot bear the pain, the loss or the suffering that eventually touches every life and every endeavour; when longing does not come to fruition in a form we can recognize, when people we know and love disappear, when hope must take a different form than the one we have shaped for it.”
David Whyte
With the state of the world I’ve been spending more time with a couple of familiar friends; my journal and fountain pens. I’m entering into these blank pages to find solace from the pain I feel inside, the suffering of humanity and our natural world. I ask my two friends to help me embrace in a hope beyond what my finite mind is capable of perceiving. I pray that I have the willingness to be vulnerable and accept the risk of this unforeseen hope. So, I add to my gratitude list the time spent with my two friends today.
It was 3 degrees this morning when I left the condo. And, we are expecting it to stay cold all day and into the night but no snow. I changed up my routine this morning and made it to the Little Bird Bakeshop for a mocha and one of their bostocks. I do have about six different coffee shops I regularly visit. Each one has its own ambiance. I’m sure most of my decision in selecting which one I visit is based on my subconscious. I’ve found it wise to listen to that voice. It had been a while since visiting the Little Bird because they open later, 8:00 am, and they serve pastries. I’m usually at the other coffee shops by 7:00 am. The Little Bird Bakeshop is primarily a bakery so there’s always the possibility one of their pastries calling my name as I walk in the door. If When that happens it equates to spending more money. Sigh! Along with more calorie intake. Sigh! To combat against more calorie intake I order smaller mochas in my attempt to justify the bostock. Sigh! Stay warm!