\ To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work. ― Mary Oliver It is easy NOT to pay attention. We know we’ve been inattentive when we arrive home and can’t remember the route we took, or we find our lost phone in the refrigerator. Something pops up on our phone, and we turn[…]
Birth and Death — A Christmas Story (This Fresh Views was first published 8 years ago. The baby described is now 8-year-old Fianna, a magical child.) “We understand death for the first time when he puts his hand upon one whom we love.” —Madame de Stael “Every child begins the world again.” —Henry David Thoreau[…]
“Since change is a wall and transition the gate in that wall, it’s there for you to go through. Transition represents a path to the next phase of your life .” –William Bridges Seems like everyone I know is going through some sort of transition. It’s back to school time. My granddaughter Ruthie moved from[…]
“You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.” –Jonathan Safran Foer I am sad. My friend Neil died a couple of weeks ago. He was young and had so much to give. But I’m happy I had a great visit with him just a few days before he lost his battle[…]
“He had occasional flashes of silence that made his conversation delightful.” –Sydney Smith I have had an amazing parade of wonderful people visiting and staying with me for the past four months. I have loved it. The last visitor left today and it is very quiet. The silence is so delicious, I find myself[…]
Friendship “A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.” — Elbert Hubbard Friends are Good for Us Who would I be without my friends? Certainly a far less happy creature. Here’s a partial list of all the things friends are good for. Health – research is clear – people who have[…]
Have you ever driven somewhere and had the feeling you didn’t even know how you arrived? I have; it is almost like I was on auto-pilot and had no recollection of the trip. It reminds me of a clever little poem by Portia Nelson: Autobiography in Five Short Chapters Chapter I I walk down the[…]
“An individual dies when he ceases to be surprised.” — Abraham Joshua Heschel Many of us yearn for a smooth, predictable life. We establish routines and systems to get things done and wish we’d never be interrupted. Yet what do we get if that wish is realized? As much as we try to avoid[…]
Today I’m sharing another post from my blog nancysmythalchemist.com originally posted on July 10th, 2014. Enjoy! Nakagawa Soen (1907-1984) Mujinzo (Limitlessness) Isn’t this scroll absolutely beautiful? It is a little mesmerizing for me; it swirls through me like ribbons flowing in the wind. And then just to ponder the concept “limitlessness” draws me inside as if the word[…]
Have you ever felt yourself in an exhausting groove of things not working in a relationship? For me, it feels as if the other person and I have gone round and round endlessly in this unsatisfying dynamic with each other. I want it to stop and my solution is that the other person needs to[…]