I try to maintain Suzuki’s zen mind, beginner’s mind, seeing a bird, a breeze, a rain or sunlight as a new experience. These things don’t happen twice the same. I am grateful for the experiences.

Patient and loving, two so important words, not just now but throughout life. I learned it from the behavior of my parents and still practice it at 70. ✌️

When I did some hospice volunteering I found a special bonding offered to both the dying and the volunteer by simple presence. We need to foster such supportive togetherness outside of hospice situations, letting conversation slowly evolve supported by simple silence, sometimes just communicating with the eyes or a gentle touch.

In nonduality, fear, anxiety and concern are one with their opposites. Breathe into those also.

From the back window of our apartment, through open blinds I see the waving of the highest tree limbs as the sun shines through and I smile, that simple, that perfect.

To breathe is to flow. Being aware of it when possible, lets it take you away to moments of deliberate gratefulness. Thanks, gratefulness.org staff, for the reminder!

A celebration of the haiku and of my two cuties, granddaughters, both graduating from high school soon but cute every year.

.Hai, cuties: 4, 5
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
We can count on you..

Now, think about it,
she said, the moment destroyed.
The day remains good.

(We overthink too often, Where is the fun in that?)

Old man cannot hear
Yet sitting on the park bench
Springtime becomes him

I am motivated by a picture of Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh’s statue along the Grand Canal in Dublin, Ireland.

Thought of a haiku
gives notice the blind is closed!
Now spring sun pours in.

Spring breeze moves the bag,
Yellow across the front yards.
It will outlive me.

Sidewalk sale
wind twists a lifetime
guarantee tag

I am drawn to Mr. Clausen’s haiku because it speaks to me of life’s impermanence. I notice that it does so using a rather simple life example, the tag. I experience both the fragility of life and the offering that there may be a guarantee, but who gets the guarantee and what might it be? Much here in eight words.

A river flows, sometimes splashing, sometimes meandering. It has only that purpose, if we can call it so. Really, it just flows in a constant move toward its whole self in the oceans and in the sky as a cloud, only to return as rain to play some more and in its course it infuses the world with life. Thank you, Brother David, for your insight. I am grateful for that.

I travel with no real name that is lasting. My travels are more inward than outward, yet others move with me for long periods as they travel, too, or their own inward and outward movements. And like in a caravan we move as one.
That is why compassion is so very important.

Great story about the chef. Thanks. I find it heartening to see the positive effects of just smiling at people in the busiest of places. Even babies will smile back…..perhaps not so surprising.

Clearly, you are worthy. Breathe, smile.