“…how life SHOULD be” is a form of giving away my own authority to an external abstraction. My life journey is concerned with authenticity, with leaning into contentment and deepening gratitude for what IS rather than wishing for what should be.

Wonderment and gratitude. The day commenced with my daily Essentrics practice (highly recommend! essentricstv.com) continued with my weekly Iyengar yoga class on zoom, followed by a bike ride. I engage all these activities and more with deep gratitude for my blessed 72 year old body.

Oh oh this touches my core wound — and my lifelong transforming work as an enneagram One.

Sunrises from our island cabin facing east, sunsets a few blocks from our city condo facing west. In such constant universal rhythms what is there to feel but awe, reverence.

Friends and family. Safe city, shelter, clean water, waste management, universal health care, plumbing. clean air, electricity, stable, sensible, trustworthy government at all levels, internet, phone, fresh food readily accessible, money enough.

A posture of reverence.

The voices of the dear ones in my life both living and departed. The uniqueness of a human voice is a precious and beautiful thing.

Our public broadcaster, CBC (I’m audaciously assuming it will always be here) Actually, I haven’t forgotten to be grateful for it but during these days of pandemic even more so.

Belonging. Meaning.

Feeling confessional. The “new” behaviour I can practice is to suspend my criticism, to resist and transform the tendency to pay undue attention to what is missing instead of what is present. This is lifelong work for an enneagram one.

A photo this week of Greta Thunberg with Malala is an icon of hope. They are signs of a an emergent re-balancing of humanity’s priorities and – I dare to hope – choices.

Waiting at the. bus stop this morning, a smoker occupies herself inhaling and exhaling carcinogens. She then drops the butt on the sidewalk. Over my fellow citizens disregard for their health and the care of the earth I am powerless. The only power I have is to practice suspension of judgement which I fail to do.

It would change it utterly. The economic paradigm depends on citizens believing we are not enough and we never have enough. Gratitude is rooted in a sense of intrinsic worth and sufficiency.

Me too – sense of humour. Also, the impulse and follow through to create webs of connection.

It’s my intention since receiving a beautiful waterman fountain pen for Christmas to do just that. Thanks for the prompt!

the experience of being in my early seventies regularly brings new seeing – new perspectives – on my parents, childhood and family stuff. With this new perspective comes some regret alas. “I’ve looked at life from both sides now”

I have a lively appreciation of weather, its variety and vagaries. In this time of climate crisis however it is hardly neutral. patterns are irregular and in many places weather events are extreme and ways of life are disappearing (in the Arctic for example). Personally this evokes a variety of responses: worry, anger, grief, activism, curiosity.

In my early seventies I continue to revel in physical activities and thanks to the Essentrics program can enjoy them fully. Keep moving every part of the body is the mantra. BUT — I’m not at all accepting of my aging wrinkly, saggy, creviced skin. Oh to find the beauty there…

I choose to believe that every good vibe and action I put out is making a contribution.

I agree! We are blessed In most parts of British Columbia with excellent drinking water. And yet, consumption of water in single use plastic bottles is huge. Added to the absurdity is that some of that water is from local sources bottled by a corporation and sold back to us.