Growing with gratitude for life's challenges
The art of listening, best taught by the family pooch –ears attuned to nuances, carefully weed throughhuman gibberish for words that resonate:treat, dinner, walk, cuddles… Those eyes challenge, invite compassionconvey a depth beyond understandingand when tone turns impatient,little paws retreat, as if words are blows. If only I could learn to listen,hear the workings of […]
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Birdwatching for me is a meditative practice. It involves immersing myself in nature and finding a quiet place from which I can observe. I begin with a prayer of acknowledgment and gratitude. I ready my camera and then I listen. Each bird has its own song and variations. It helps me determine where I want […]
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She was quite eccentric, and visibly older than most of the students attending our program. I’d had five years between first and second year, so I guess she was drawn to my maturity. We both wanted to be teachers. After graduation, she went on to her Bachelor of Education, and I gave birth to my […]
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Where does the river gowhen snow, blindingclaims the flow? Houses nestled in wooded grovesshudder at the exposure of leafless daysbrace against the chills of early eves. How quickly we rejoice at first thaw, eager to embracechange – emotion often premature. (For Lens-artists Photo Challenge: Winter)
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“Dear Grandma, We love you with all our hearts. We miss you and wish we couldtouch you and have sleepovers all the time. You are the best girlin the world and I love you so much and hate the coronavirus.” The note came in a homemade card, created and dictated by my four-year-old granddaughter. Touching […]
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Scratch any cynic and you will find a disappointed idealist. – George Carlin Born of losses,the way I steel myself –hard core belyingvulnerability. What if I acknowledged,gave name to the pain –forgave the circumstancesforgave myself? Would I then meltinto softness, wordslosing harshnessjoy taking hold? ** This week’s challenge was centred around the quotation: “Strive to […]
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Deborah, from AWISEWOMANSJOURNEY, offers daily inspiration, and one particular quotation struck me last week. I’m sharing it with you here as a focal point for the upcoming week: Strive to be uncynical, to be a hope-giving force, to be a steward of substance. Maria Popova Your response may use one, or none of the words. […]
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The last pages of my life’s narrative seem to have stuck together, locking me into this current lull. Is it the heat? The body’s response to stress, albeit positive? My mind’s ambition butting up against physical limitation? Likely a bit of each. We’ve already written the opening paragraph for the next chapter: purchased a new […]
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The Red-bellied Woodpecker caught my attention with his noisy chatter. Love that bright mane! The Downy Woodpecker makes a noise like a squeaky toy. This one seems to have found a tasty tree. (For Bird Weekly Photo Challenge: Woodpeckers/ Sapsuckers/ Flickers)
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Even the old flower –this appearance of decrepitudemerely camouflagefor the soul is eternalreaches for renewaland at every opportunityblossoms…. (For Lens-Artist’s Photo Challenge: Spring.)
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One Woman's Quest II 