07/27/2025

"Yesterday I was clever,

so I wanted to change the

world. Today I am wise, 

so I am changing myself."

~Rumi

I constantly am amazed

recognizing those moments

in which I show no wisdom.

You would think at 75, I'd

have plenty of it. Alas, not

so! I still make mistakes

every single day.

So, what do we learn from

our mistakes?

Humility, for one thing.

Methinks 'tis these mistakes

that keep us from becoming

self-important. Ego time!

Unlike Rumi, I feel no

wisdom in my soul. Still,

I am learning every day.

For that I am grateful!

07/26/2025

"Your life does not get

better by chance, it gets

better by change."

~Jim Rohn

Often ask myself if I'm

not too old to change?!

Sometimes I answer, 

"I am who I am; take 

me or leave me."

But, that smacks of a

flippant response to me.

And I think, "Grow up

already!"

Maybe it's all about

compromise. Some

things simply have 

to be accepted. Others,

we need to work on

daily.

Methinks a good look-

see is needed. Change

is necessary as is

acceptance.

Maybe I am growing 

up a tad . . .

07/25/2025

"Eyes closed to pray...

still I see

that God is made

of human hearts

and hands

choosing kindness

every day

saving each other."

~A. Shea

I so love that we each

perceive God in different

ways!

It has taken me many

years to realize I simply

cannot even imagine

what God must be like.

And methinks, I don't

need to.

I see God in the nature

that surrounds me. I see

him in the people I love

and who love me in

return. I see him in the

kindness people gift

others every day.

I believe in the existence

of a higher power, but

have come to a place where

definition isn't necessary.

Blessed be . . .

07/24/2025

"Let's put 'kind' back

into humankind."

~John Mark Green

I have a friend who said

to me, "Oh, you're the

one who uses a quote

and then writes about it."

Must admit, I do enjoy

good quotes. So much

wisdom packed into a

few choice words.

I look for a good quote

each day and take it as

a special message to me.

Rather helps on some

level.

So, today's reminder,

let's be kind! It matters!

- - -

John Mark Green is a

poet and author who 

explores themes of love,

nature, personal growth,

and overcoming abusive

relationships.

07/23/2025

Today is my little bro's

b-day. 

Of course I remember

him all the other days.

I have an altar for him,

also a reminder.

Sammy was one of the

most remarkable people

I've ever known. Both

blind and a slow learner,

he faced life with honor

and courage.

He was fortunate to have

three seeing-eye dogs in

his lifetime. They offered

him a freedom that would

otherwise be denied. All

Golden Retrievers and

much loved!

I do hope there is a heaven

and that he's in it with all

three of his beautiful dogs!

Happy birthday Sammy . . .

07/22/2025

Yesterday was my dad's

birthday. I couldn't talk

about it just then; I miss

him ever so much.

My father was a wine

maker. He raised five

different kinds of wine

grapes. His wine was

valued here in Denver

at $30 a bottle way back

in the 80's.

Yesterday, I took three

bottles of wine in his

honor and drained them

around all the sacred

places in the yard. I

called his name and

wished him well.

On some level, it helped

my soul. But, I shall ever

and always miss him. It

is how it is . . .

Sooooo love you daddy!!!

07/21/2025

"Trust your instincts.

If something feels off,

it probably is. Energy

doesn't lie. Your eyes

and ears will play tricks

on you. Trust your soul."

~Brooke Hampton

Methinks we hear our

entire lives that we should

be paying attention with

our brains. 

Alas, instinct is put down.

Rather nice to see intuition

honored.

I notice that the older I get,

I sense things about those

I meet. Good feelings, a

wariness and absolute bad

vibes.

I've always loved that whole

Christian ideal . . . Treat 

others as you would like to

be treated.

So bad or good, treat people

well and choose your friends

carefully.

Blessed be . . .

07/20/2025

"I find it amusing that we're

all pretending to be normal

when we could be insanely

interesting instead." ~atlas

So love me this statement!

Not quite certain when and

where this whole desire to

be normal happened. What

would be wrong with each

of us being ourselves?!

In a gathering, I so enjoy

looking around and seeing

the differences in people!

Clothing choices, hair cuts,

make up, fun shoes. Every

where you look, each one

different!

I say, lose your normal, 

be yourself and have a

ball! Ever so much more

fun!

07/19/2025

"Ah kindness. What a

simple way to tell another

struggling soul that there

is love to be found in this

world." ~A. Shea

I find I'm ever and always

elated when I see an act of

kindness!

I make the effort to greet

people, compliment, nod,

wherever we go. Some

respond, most don't.

Methinks people are rather

huddled into themselves as

we're living in most difficult

times. I sooooo lament this.

Where do we go from here?

Let's be kind, kinder, kindest!

Blessed be . . .

07/18/2025

"There is even a little ok

to be found in broken."

~Matthew Spenser

Alas, I find I spend a great

deal of time pondering the

broken. 

Methinks it has to do with

those pesky elder years

having a look-see at a life

well lived!

Actually, I'm learning 

to live with my broken. 

There are things that can 

never be changed or fixed. 

Perhaps lessons were to 

be learned.

It occurs to me that these

broken parts of our souls

may have become stepping

stones to healing as well

as learning.

Crazy Libra that I am . . .

here's hoping there are less

broken places than healed!

07/17/2025

Had me a special all

health day yesterday!

I had hardened cheese

slices for breakfast . . .

my absolute fave!

Lunch gave me some

McDonald fries and 

a small shake. Yum!

Afternoon in the rain

potato chips and beer.

'Twas contemplating

ice cream but decided

I'd sinned enough for

one decade.

Would you like to hire

me for chef duties? Ha!

07/16/2025

"Rest is not idle, it is not

wasteful. Sometimes . . .

rest is the most productive

thing you can do for body

and soul." ~Erica Layne

I was fortunate to teach

40 years, 17 in Mexico

and 23 in the U.S. So 

loved it! In addition to 

day school, I taught four

nights a week, as well

as summer school.

Obviously, I was a tad

worn out by the time I

retired. And then, mom

came to live with us for

three and a half years.

That was the true worn

out; make no mistake!

Now that we're properly

retired, living in the cabin

for about 8 years, I am

getting some of my old

energy back.

I'm actually thinking about

how to spend it! And then,

get tired just thinking about

it!

Sooooo, I find the above

quote very comforting, 

very soothing! 

Think I'll just rest today!

07/15/2025

"To live without hope 

is to cease to live."

~Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Sometimes, I need to be

reminded . . .

SAD was particularly

difficult this winter. The

depression, beyond the

pale. Now that we are

enjoying summer, I've 

had a thought.

Perhaps what tipped the

scale was the actual death

of hope. We are living in 

tremendously difficult 

times.

War, political issues, 

natural destruction such

as flooding, job issues and

loss of life.

Obviously, we've ever and

always had this issues to

deal with. Still, we seem

to be quite hard hit this

time around.

We could do that whole

ostrich head in the sand

thing. Ignore the issues

and only enjoy the good.

Or, we could help others

however we are able.

Methinks the answer lies

in giving hope to others.

Helping where we can

inspires help within the

soul.

07/14/2025

"My only regret in life is

that I didn't drink enough

champagne." 

~Robert Noecker

Humorous at least and 

euphemistic at best . . .

One of the things I like

about aging would be

those bits and pieces of

wisdom we find.

For me, it's all about the

champagne of life . . .

Finding! Drinking!

Sharing! All good!

I love the champagne of

spending time with my

children!

The champagne of friend-

ship is without par!

Living the champagne of

life well . . . happily,

fully, peacefully!

The outdoors in summer,

pure champagne!

Pray I drink champagne 

at the fountain of life

until the day the gods

call me home . . .

Blessed be!

07/13/2025

"She found peace where

the waves kissed the shore,

a rhythm older than pain,

a lullaby the soul never 

forgets." ~Dede Hawkins

I remember whilst living in

Mexico, I would go to the

sea shore when I was filled

with angst.

We lived only 20 min away, 

so I could slip away for a few. 

Watching the comings and

goings of the waves, my soul 

would calm. I could return

home to deal with those pesky

whatevers of life.

Days upon days, I wish I had

a sea shore at hand. The closest

I get would be meditation and

it does help.

I must remember . . .

07/12/2025

"We can't heal the world

today, but we can begin

with a voice of compassion,

a heart of love, an act of

kindness." ~Mary Davis

It has always worried me

that healing the world does

not seem to be in the picture.

I've thought that if each of

us spreads joy and kindness,

we send out concentric 

circles, overlapping and

creating peace on some level.

And, I still buy this!

However, the words of Mary

Davis truly struck a chord in

me. As we grow older, seems

we can only do so much. So,

her idea of compassion, love

and kindness makes a great

deal of sense.

Bottom line, I choose these

three . . . compassion, love

and kindness . . . by which

to live and share.

Blessed be . . .

07/11/2025

"There's something so

beautiful about having

long-term friends that

have witnessed multiple

versions of you and 

loved you through it all." 

~Inspired Living

Methinks I've ever and

always had a thing about

friendship!

There's a part of me that

would like to keep them

forever. But, I get that

people move away, pass 

on to that better life, etc.

I still dream about old

friends. When it happens

I send prayers and best

wishes. I figure I dreamed

of them for a reason.

One of the things I've ever

enjoyed about x-mas cards

is the catching up. Alas, I

find that tradition may be

coming to an end as well.

My fave part of all of this 

is I have friendship with

my children . . . hopefully,

all of them. Best friends

ever!

Blessed be . . .

07/10/2025

"There is a way that nature

speaks, that land speaks. Most

of the time we are simply not

patient enough, quiet enough,

to pay attention to the story."

~Linda Hogan

I so love summer!

Indeed it does mean work . . .

 . . . and lots of it! Mowing, 

weeding, snipping, cutting,

moving outdoor furniture

around!

But at the end of the work

day, sitting and having a

good look-see, with a cool

drink in hand . . . wow!

Just  W O W !!!

I know that Mother Nature

has many different faces. I

see them right here in my

sweet, little space.

So love that she has shared

a small corner of the earth

with us . . .

07/09/2025

"Your weirdness

will make you stronger.

Your dark side

will keep you whole.

Your vulnerability

will connect you to

the rest of our

suffering world.

Your creativity

will set you free.

There's nothing wrong

with you."

~Andréa Balt

What a beautiful reminder!

I find, this year particularly,

that I tend to worry about

everything. Rather concerns

me.

Most likely has to do with

aging . . . what's happening,

what to expect, will I be able

to deal with everything?!

Why can't I just live each day

as it comes? I'm at post PhD

level of worrying and this 

needs to stop!!!

07/08/2025

Methinks I have the most

beautiful space in the entire

universe . . .

 

07/07/2025

"Life always offers all who

are blest a second chance . . .

It's called tomorrow."

Zen to Zany

I swear, I'm trying to live

in the present, in the now,

in today!

Having said that, knowing

I have tomorrow around 

the corner, gives me what 

I need in order to cope.

Still, I so want to live today

to the best of my ability . . .

 . . . knowing there is a 

tomorrow to look forward to!

07/06/2025

"You're not healing to be

able to handle trauma, pain,

anxiety. You're used to those.

You're healing to be able to

handle joy, and learn to accept

happiness back into your life."

Wild Woman Sisterhood

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!

I recognize truth when I see it

and this is it! How sad that we

become suspicious of joy as

we've seen so much sorrow.

In my elder years, I feel like 

I'm cramming for an important

exam. I have to hurry up and

learn all I can because I don't

have a lot of time left.

I do know I want to dedicate

as much of my remaining time

to joy! 

Find it! Make it! Do it!

07/05/2025

"I have never been drawn

to luxury. I love the simple

things; cool rocks, moss

covered hills, when the sun

filters through the trees just

right and people who try to

understand." ~R. YS Perez

Love this quote. Methinks

Perez took it straight out 

of my mind!

Yesterday, I was so sad . . .

and yet, today is another

day.

Today, I will return my

thoughts to Mother Earth,

Mother Nature and fill

my soul with peace once

more.

I will think of those I love

and send them thoughts

of joy.

Blessed be . . .

 - - -

R YS Perez is a non-binary,

queer Latinx writer born 

and raised in New York 

City. Currently working as 

a writing tutor, their biggest

passion is sharing her love

of words, whether through

her writing or helping the

students that cross paths.

goodreads

07/04/2025

I find I am sad today . . .

07/03/2025

"Silence is essential. We

need silence just as much

as we need air, just as much

as plants need light. If our

minds are crowded with 

words and thoughts, there

is no space for us."

~Thich Nhat Hanh

I have been a fan of this

master lo these many years.

His wisdom is without par.

And, I am so in tune with the

fact that silence is essential!

My question would be . . .

"Where do you find it?"

I've looked the world over,

as it were, and 'tis not to be

found. In the dead of night,

cars going by. By day, even

neighbors can be heard.

My conclusion . . . silence

can only truly be found in

meditation. Even then, it's

difficult.

Alas, we live in a noisy,

noisy world . . .

 - - -

Thich Nhat Hanh was a Vietnamese

Thien Buddhist monk, peace activist,

prolific author, poet, and teacher. He

founded the Plum Village Tradition

historically recognized as the main

inspiration for engaged Buddhism.

Known as the father of mindfulness,

he was a major influence on Western

practices of Buddhism. 1926 - 2022

Wikipedia

07/02/2025

"Enter silence. Let nature

heal you of everything

that hurts." ~Frederick AR

I find myself more grateful

than ever for our beautiful

summer weeks.

Alas, I have yet to heal from 

my winter SAD. The next

few weeks will indeed take

care of that.

Ever so grateful . . . and I 

am going to take the gift 

of silence. I may need to

create it rather than find

it. But, this shall happen!

07/01/2025

"So come to the pond,

Or the river of your

imagination,

Or the harbor of your

longing.

And put your lip to

the world.

And live

Your life."

~Mary Oliver

Methinks all the answers

are in the word, live!

Why is it that so many of

us simply exist, especially

when living is the answer?!

I'm learning to sit outside

everyday and enjoy the

heat of summer, the blue

skies and white fluffy

clouds!

I'm learning to enjoy the

people who come by to

visit and the moments

shared.

I'm learning to live the day

rather than the expectation

of the morrow.

I'm learning to live rather

than exist!