Category Archives: Uncategorized

No. 1054

Materialism and consumerism run rampant. One of the things we talked about in the wake of my mother’s passing was how the generation that grew up in the 1930’s is disappearing. With them goes the ethic of not wanting for more than what we have. When we experience our place and time in the world with indigenous qualities unique to it, it changes how we experience the world. That is a valuable lesson to be learned from those who went before.

Chris42's avatarAuthor, C A Middleton

Embrace The New Dawn. By CpSingleton © 2015
Breathe like summer’s lighting up your skin.

That tingle in your cheeks to signal

A smile is about to begin

To take over your features.

This is what defines us from

The darker shadow creatures.
Don’t rely on your bank balance to bring you joy.

Numbers can’t replace a gifted soul,

Nor the shiny toy,

Or worthless rock.

No man found enlightenment

From sweating over stock.
Instead, open up your mind wider than a dragon’s yawn.

Disregard last night’s teachings and

Stride into your new dawn

Ready to enjoy your day.

Because, in a flash that is your life,

It can all be taken away.

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Homage to the Prophet

This is a triple-whammy. The post begins with a wonderful quote from Khalil Gibran and then provides a poem that expands on teh quote. The poem is co-written by Frederic and Lorrie. Love and peace are not easy to find. Thomas Merton wrote we call it falling in love, because it is hard work. Robert Greenleaf reminds us that passion comes from the root meaning to suffer and (com)passion is sharing that suffering in ways that make us better people and provide a better world.

I guess that settles it then…

Einstein had a way with words that just cut to the chase of the message.

Mary Oliver poems

I can not pass on Mary Oliver poetry even when I posted Wild Geese recently. I have not posted The Journey. We each reach those times when we do not follow the directions we are given by others and live life for what it is to be lived for. We can only live it for one purpose and that is our life.

Cora's avatarWonder and Impact

I’ve recently woken up to the poetry of Mary Oliver. I don’t know why I haven’t really discovered her till now; it wasn’t for lack of the universe whispering her name in my ear! Here are two of her poems that I love.

The Journey by Mary Oliver
 
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice–
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the…

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Things You Don’t Have To Do

I am not sure which is more spectacular the image or the poem. They fit so well together. The opening lines reminded me of Langston Hughes’ poem: A Dream Deferred. We need our dreams and interests, the people and things, we love to make our lives complete.

My Positive Outlooks's avatarMy Positive Outlooks

Don’t ever let people tell you that you aren’t good enough
Because you are.

Don’t ever give up your dreams
Because you need them.

Don’t ever compromise your morals
Because they make you who you are.

Don’t ever hide your feelings
Because someone’s willing to hear them.

Don’t ever think you’ve got it all figured out
Because the next moment you won’t.

Don’t ever live your life in the past
Because then you’ll miss out on the now.

Don’t ever let people bring you down
Because they don’t deserve to.

Don’t ever be someone you aren’t
Because then you’ll never know you who really are.

Don’t ever let someone tell you how you feel
Because it’s not their right to.

Don’t ever give up something that feels right
Because it probably is.

Don’t ever worry about the petty things
Because they just don’t matter.

Don’t ever run away from your…

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A contented mind

When I was growing up, an ice cream cone was a treat. It was a little thing, but it was special. It is often the little things we recall from our past or perhaps they call us.

Karl Duffy's avatarMindfulbalance

File:Thai boys eating icecream.jpg

Great wealth consists in living on a little with a contented mind;

for of a little there is never a lack.

Lucretius, Roman poet c 99 BC – 55 BC,  On the Nature of Things Book 5,  1118-1120

photo Suriya Donavanik

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Daffodils at the Farmstead

This is a wonderful picture that is all about spring and Easter. It was a great way to conclude the week.

Bette A. Stevens's avatarBette A. Stevens, Maine Author

AMAZING WEEK bas 2015 DaffodilsDaffodils donned their May bonnets here at ‘The Farmstead’ in Central Maine today. Wishing you all an amazing week, my friends! ~ Bette A. Stevens

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“There is a core…”

I just finished reading Alan Watt and his book called The Book. He says there is no need to describe and define God. God exists in our inability to define and describe the mystery.

jhana jian's avatarWalking In The Mountains

tesla lab
“My brain is only a receiver. In the Universe, there is a core from which we obtain knowledge, strength and inspiration. I have not penetrated into the secrets of this core, but I know that it exists.”

— Nikola Tesla

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The Ground I Stand On Is Holy

The present is the whole of the past and future that mingle in the recurring present as holy ground — Alfred North Whitehead

Healing Soul Streams's avatarHealing Soul Streams

garden bdd4454a1ee5e8005080ed13002c6a49

I do not have to go
To Sacred Places
In far-off lands,
The ground I stand on is holy.

Here, in this little garden
I tend
My pilgrimage ends.

The wild honeybees
The hummingbird moths
The flickering fireflies at dusk
are a microcosm
Of The Universe.
Each seed that grows
Each spade of soil
is full of miracles.

And I toil and sweat
And watch and wonder
And am full of love
Living in place –
In this place
For truth and beauty Dwell here.

~ Mary de La Valette
Photo at: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/543668986236840425/

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Mindfulness

This is a great and concise description of what mindfulness is. I love the Mark Twain quote about half way in the article. Despite the simplicity of the article mindfulness is challenging. It is a practice because it takes practice.