Than Most People

Life is really funny.  A friend just texted me again. She called me three weeks ago.  I was having a coughing frenzy and told her I will phone her back the following day, which I did.  No response.  Three weeks later, she texts me again.

"Let's set a date to talk. I miss you."

I wrote back.

"I long for the days when someone just picked up the phone to check in with a friend.  No date, no agenda."

They have time for friendship. I suppose I should begin compiling my list of WHAT I DID, WHAT I WILL BE DOING, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, you know, things to talk about.  I better use their time well.

Or, maybe just hibernate.  I like myself a whole lot better than I do most people.

The Dissatisfied Buddhist

In a conversation today, a friend living in Ontario told me he just finished a week plus at Vipassana.  If you are familiar with these retreats skip this section. If not, let me explain.  Vipassana is intense.  You meditate most of the day and night.  Sitting for hours at a time.  Followers find it to be emotionally upsetting, draining, and then...ultimately peaceful.  One such friend mentioned before his retreat that he wanted to know what a peaceful meditator looked like.  I suggested that he not think about how things look.  Society is way full of everything telling us how to be.  How to pump ourselves up, make ourselves important.  Just look at all the selfies. That should tell you something.

Individuality is important.  Truly being who you are and on purpose.   Family member did his retreat over ten years ago. He was so exhausted, he fell over and hit his head, bleeding a bit.  He didn't think this type of meditation was for him. He prefers to be out on the water.  Everyone finds their place.  What works for them.

I've told my students repeatedly, meditation is just one way.  There are others.  Sample them and see what works.  Personally, I find the growth in drinking establishments a true sign of the immense stress people are under. Much of it is their own doing.  Buying into a belief system that doesn't work for them.  Then they go to a bar of some sort where no one can hear another speak.  Everyone overdrinks and the communication ends.  I find it funny albeit it very sad from a sociological perspective.

Dissatisfied Buddhist.  Isn't everyone?

Again

Sometimes it just catches up with her.  The children are grown and living their own lives.  She recently relocated.  Her old, somewhat fragile social network has changed.  She doesn't know where she is.

Again.

The Happiest People

The happiest people i've met, regardless of their profession, their social standing, or their economic status, are people that are fully engaged in the world around them. The most fulfilled people are the ones who get up every morning and stand for something larger than themselves. They are the people who care about others, who will extend a helping hand to someone in need or will speak up about an injustice when they see it.

Wilma Mankiller - The first Female Chief of the Cheroke Nation

February Ponderings

I'm reminded of the mid 70s more and more.  Sitting through the Watergate hearings for days.  In 1972, while working in a hospital in the D.C. area, my supervisor told me I had to shake hands with Richard M.Nixon when he came to visit George Wallace.  Wallace had an assassination attempt on his life and was brought to the hospital where I worked.  I didn't want to have anything to do with Nixon told her that.  She insisted because no one else was available, or was conveniently absent.

Fast forward to 2018.  We have a sociopath who blatantly lies about everything. He can't keep staff.  Simply put - he isn't well.  It is believed by many, that he is a crook.  That he committed treason.  These are scary times.  Sad times.

Fast forward to 2019.  So what do we do with all of this?  We stand up.  We speak out!  We demand that government change.  That it be totally focused on the people.  If you haven't figured it out yet - well, you aren't ready for a healthy government.  It takes a certain degree of health to maintain it.

I'm at my desk in the studio gazing out to at least a foot of solid iced snow. The sun is shining and I see something moving beyong the trees. Probably a squirrel.  Bigfoot?  The temperature has risen from -2 to about 18.  My long down coat keeps me toasty warm.  Oatmeal baths and lots of lotion ensure my skin isn't raw.  It is a bit dry. And boots are always by the door.  The garage is a constant 55 degrees so I am quite spoiled getting into my comfortable car.

The tall pines in front of me facing south in this back room are impossible to see in their entirety standing by the window.  There is a forest full of them.  It is time to put out the trail camera to find out who is visiting me at night.  Is the doe back?

It was more than just a thrill seeing her a few weeks ago in all her splendor.  I haven't seen the three legged buck yet. Neighbors say he has quitea rack.  Since I am the Fb administrator for our road, I need some good photos for our pages.

Soon, we will plan our block party.  There are about twenty-five homes on this street, most of which are a cape cod variety.  Just like the kind of home in Baltimore where I grew up.

Stay warm.  The ground hog ensures spring is near.