Paying attention is not my strong suit. Yes, sometimes I'm attuned to nuances of expressions or body language in others, but often, I'm so driven to the next thing on my to-do list, I miss the obvious. Maybe if I had muses to point out what I'm missing... Are the girls for hire, Gail?
“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.”
Sounds like joy to me… It does not sound like work.
“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper vocation?” Hmmm 🤔 Endeavor?
Endeavor brings to mind visions of Thoreau…
“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
I endeavor to live gratefully!
World gratitude day is just around the corner. We celebrate world gratitude day on September 21st each year. I am reminded of the relationship between Happiness and Gratitude as expressed by one of my favorites:
“In daily life, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.”
~Brother David Steindl-Rast
He also said, as it relates to paying attention:
“Look at the sky. We so rarely look at the sky. We so rarely note how different it is from moment to moment with clouds coming and going…”
I love your Good Morning, Sunshine person. Intrigued by her streaming “locks?” Almost like fern fronds?
Perhaps Mary Oliver’s quote provides a tip on what helped her earn a Pulitzer? And Tarrant? I often implore my dog, “Look at me!” So is her compliance an act of love? Pleasing her master? (I read recently that training a labradoodle - my dog type- is actually a negotiation. A post-nup?🙃 I think she would concur.
On today’s post title, earlier I read a Tweet from a man saying he had just awakened from a coma! He described the process as being between delirium and consciousness. I replied by suggesting a listen to “Let The Sunshine In” by The Fifth Dimension, 1969, that utilized two songs from the rock/ musical “Hair” from 1967.
Maybe a quick listen could encourage the “fuzz to hair” process? Peach fuzz has its limits with winter approaching!
That was delightful and thoughtful, Gail! My college years spanned 1967-1971, so this was the “soundtrack” of that time. There was a lot of optimism, hope for a less troubled, less war-prone future. While the VietNam War raged on. While no single event altered this hopeful time, 4 students shot dead on Kent State’s campus by Guardsmen shifted the focus for many. Next, 2 more students at Jackson State, Mississippi, we’re killed and many wounded. Those events for me marked an end to the times of carefree dancing to The Fifth Dimension. The Age of Aquarius lost its luster. Sobering realities have a way of doing that. 🤔 😔
Mahatma Ghandi: Be the change you wish to see in the world. Peaceful resistance was a method he championed. This helped free India from the clutches of the British Empire. Others? Martin Luther King, Jr. Interesting to note both were assassinated. In the Revolutionary War era, Patrick Hale proclaimed, “I know not what course others may take. As for me, give me Liberty or give me death.” We know that passive resistance to The Crown was insufficient. Tossing tea into Boston Harbor did not suffice.
In my world view, certain intolerable conditions demand action of this sort, due to societal power imbalances. Otherwise the imbalances will perpetuate the problem. 🤷🏽
In my world view, there is a Higher Power guiding the seasons... I see and know so little from my limited vantage point.
I've come to feel that my best course of action is to live close to my values, to hold my beliefs lightly, to be both strong and flexible like bamboo, and to live in the present moment to the best of my ability.
I appreciate and respect your perspective. And, no, I am not a Biblical scholar whatsoever. Note: I do possess a book titled, “What Jesus Meant.”
Ecclesiastes lays out the case for “Seasons” with no indication or exhortation to make summer follow winter.
On the other hand, the Book of John reports Jesus casting out the money changers from the Temple. Desecration of same. That instance models taking immediate action to right a wrong.
Well, yes, he was the son of God. Not certain that he was modeling for his disciples a course of action they, too, should utilize. Yet in other instances, Jesus referred to our bodies as the Temple of the Living God. He probably didn’t favor gambling addiction🤷🏽 And that looking for God in structures, physical Temples, was misguided. Thinking of Saint Francis in this regard?
Sometimes the “Season” is one in which to effect change? Guided by whom or what? Therein lies the dilemma. I’m not a big fan of “channeled books.” From whom and for what purpose? For now I read 3mm!
Gail I've been away and busy here with my book launch. I am so happy to know you are cancer free. All the best with your creative writing here!
Thank you Kathy! I hope you are finding much joy in sharing your creation with the world! 🎉
The Wisdom of Elephants: https://kathykarn.com/the-wisdom-of-elephants
I am Gail. The official book launch and exhibition was such fun last Saturday.
It brings me much joy to watch all of the projects our fellows from TCW and Forward Link are bringing to fruition!
Paying attention is not my strong suit. Yes, sometimes I'm attuned to nuances of expressions or body language in others, but often, I'm so driven to the next thing on my to-do list, I miss the obvious. Maybe if I had muses to point out what I'm missing... Are the girls for hire, Gail?
I suspect you have your own distinct cast of muses? 😉 One of them might be very much like Urania?
Thalia is asking for a playdate! 😂
I'm reminded that I DID have a cast of muses. They disappeared when I stopped writing on Medium, but here they are, if anyone wants to arrange a play date: https://medium.com/the-creative-cafe/me-to-my-muses-say-whaaa-3127ce86c1
Voila definitely seems like a keeper! 😍
Mary Oliver quote courtesy of Cal via Typist:
“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.”
Sounds like joy to me… It does not sound like work.
“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper vocation?” Hmmm 🤔 Endeavor?
Endeavor brings to mind visions of Thoreau…
“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
I endeavor to live gratefully!
World gratitude day is just around the corner. We celebrate world gratitude day on September 21st each year. I am reminded of the relationship between Happiness and Gratitude as expressed by one of my favorites:
“In daily life, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.”
~Brother David Steindl-Rast
He also said, as it relates to paying attention:
“Look at the sky. We so rarely look at the sky. We so rarely note how different it is from moment to moment with clouds coming and going…”
https://youtu.be/zSt7k_q_qRU
Endeavor to live, to truly live!
Work, vocation, endeavor... attitude? Fill in the blank with a word that suits your experience?
Happy (almost) Gratitude Day! Thank you for sharing the BDS-R link.
I love your Good Morning, Sunshine person. Intrigued by her streaming “locks?” Almost like fern fronds?
Perhaps Mary Oliver’s quote provides a tip on what helped her earn a Pulitzer? And Tarrant? I often implore my dog, “Look at me!” So is her compliance an act of love? Pleasing her master? (I read recently that training a labradoodle - my dog type- is actually a negotiation. A post-nup?🙃 I think she would concur.
On today’s post title, earlier I read a Tweet from a man saying he had just awakened from a coma! He described the process as being between delirium and consciousness. I replied by suggesting a listen to “Let The Sunshine In” by The Fifth Dimension, 1969, that utilized two songs from the rock/ musical “Hair” from 1967.
Maybe a quick listen could encourage the “fuzz to hair” process? Peach fuzz has its limits with winter approaching!
I love imitating drawings/paintings I find on Instagram. Excellent practice! I think this girl could be Calliope!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlrQ-bOzpkQ
Let us see what happens with the pace of my hair growth! 😊
That was delightful and thoughtful, Gail! My college years spanned 1967-1971, so this was the “soundtrack” of that time. There was a lot of optimism, hope for a less troubled, less war-prone future. While the VietNam War raged on. While no single event altered this hopeful time, 4 students shot dead on Kent State’s campus by Guardsmen shifted the focus for many. Next, 2 more students at Jackson State, Mississippi, we’re killed and many wounded. Those events for me marked an end to the times of carefree dancing to The Fifth Dimension. The Age of Aquarius lost its luster. Sobering realities have a way of doing that. 🤔 😔
There is a question(s) I keep at the top of my mind: What if you’re not here to fix the world? What if the world is here to fix you?
What if indeed? What if the world will always have it’s “sobering realities”? What if those realities are here to help us evolve and grow?
Mahatma Ghandi: Be the change you wish to see in the world. Peaceful resistance was a method he championed. This helped free India from the clutches of the British Empire. Others? Martin Luther King, Jr. Interesting to note both were assassinated. In the Revolutionary War era, Patrick Hale proclaimed, “I know not what course others may take. As for me, give me Liberty or give me death.” We know that passive resistance to The Crown was insufficient. Tossing tea into Boston Harbor did not suffice.
In my world view, certain intolerable conditions demand action of this sort, due to societal power imbalances. Otherwise the imbalances will perpetuate the problem. 🤷🏽
To everything there is a season...?
In my world view, there is a Higher Power guiding the seasons... I see and know so little from my limited vantage point.
I've come to feel that my best course of action is to live close to my values, to hold my beliefs lightly, to be both strong and flexible like bamboo, and to live in the present moment to the best of my ability.
I appreciate and respect your perspective. And, no, I am not a Biblical scholar whatsoever. Note: I do possess a book titled, “What Jesus Meant.”
Ecclesiastes lays out the case for “Seasons” with no indication or exhortation to make summer follow winter.
On the other hand, the Book of John reports Jesus casting out the money changers from the Temple. Desecration of same. That instance models taking immediate action to right a wrong.
Well, yes, he was the son of God. Not certain that he was modeling for his disciples a course of action they, too, should utilize. Yet in other instances, Jesus referred to our bodies as the Temple of the Living God. He probably didn’t favor gambling addiction🤷🏽 And that looking for God in structures, physical Temples, was misguided. Thinking of Saint Francis in this regard?
Sometimes the “Season” is one in which to effect change? Guided by whom or what? Therein lies the dilemma. I’m not a big fan of “channeled books.” From whom and for what purpose? For now I read 3mm!
T-shirt: “My hairstyle is called, ‘I Tried’” 😁
Maybe more, "I'm working on, come back later!" in your case, Gail? 😊
Mine is definitely, "What is this 'hair' thing of which you speak? 🤔"
I love this Jack!
For a couple of weeks now, I have stopped wearing anything on my head… I’m tired of trying to coordinate scarves with clothes. 😂
Plus… I like showing off my fuzz! “Hey! Look what I’ve got!”
Cute picture, I love that!
Thank you Pennie!
Love the drawing!! Great gesture/stance and it looks delightful to have that breeze.
Something fascinating is happening! I’m beginning to be able to look at 2-D images and re-create them. Such fun!