Overnight guests on the horizon, the muses engage in a flurry of home beautification efforts. “Ohhhhhh SNAP!” Thalia nicks a phrase she picked up from — only Heaven knows where. “An assist from Mother Nature.” Urania works to adjust the planter on its angled, natural base.
After reading your BFN post previously, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I imagined that some force of Nature moved you to plant at least this stylish planter. A close reading of your post suggested Nature had asked you to admire its handiwork. From another perspective, though, new beginnings can be a delight. Of Nature’s or our own.
The delicate glass bluebird symbolizes a new beginning in my life... almost 17 years ago. Beth, my wife and partner, tied a knot made of wedding bands in the shade of an old Live Oak tree growing in a huge fecund meadow. That entire meadow seemed to be a bluebird nursery. We had previously walked and ridden our bikes there. Bluebirds sang, caught insects, and flitted about as they attended our wedding. Sigh...
Julia Cameron’s quote resonated with a recent experience. A homeless man I’ve come to know panhandles at a busy intersection near our home. As Izzie and I set out on errands, the light was red at Charlie’s spot. When I rolled down Izzie’s window, he saw her and approached quickly. He wanted to greet her! The warmest look came to his face, seeming to convey his delight in that moment, and brought joy to my life as well. Capacity for delight!
I’m with Calliope. From what I experienced with Charlie, he occupies the catbird seat!
Oops! I mislead it appears. Our anniversary is Sept. 23. I didn’t mention that the “attendees” were a notary public that worked in a friend’s law office, her husband (perhaps because she was very preggers), and Beth and I. We didn’t notice until the end that we had a fifth attendee! A young boy on his bike sat a good distance away to observe us. At the end he called out, “Congratulations.” In a cheerful voice. As if delighted!
We had a nice celebration planned for a month later to accommodate certain friends’ schedules. That September day was very hot and unusually humid. Melting guests could have been a real possibility. Our invitations read, in part, “We want your presence, not your presents.” 😬
“My grandmother knew what a painful life had taught her: success or failure, the truth of a life has little to do with its quality. The quality of life is in proportion, always, to the capacity for delight.”
~ Julia Cameron: The Artist’s Way
#CapacityForDelight
As a point of reflection, we might ask ourselves:
I wonder what my capacity for delight is?
If the answer doesn’t align with what we desire, then we can ask another question.
I wonder what I can change to make more room for delight? 🤔
Socrates observed at his trial, “The life unobserved is not worth living.” Not very warm and fuzzy sounding, but when we’re in the ditch a wake up call can be very helpful. 😬
Ha! Calliope was hearing Garth Brooks in her mind's ear this morning. 😂
https://youtu.be/mvCgSqPZ4EM
Perhaps while wearing her boots? ☺️
I once had a beautiful pair of cowgirl boots that I gave away because I didn’t wear them.
Now Thalia wants them back! 😂
It’s hard to recover long ago thrift-stored articles. 🙃
Darn near impossible — I’d say!
Mission Impossible!
That’s okay. IIRC, they hurt my feet. 😂
After reading your BFN post previously, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I imagined that some force of Nature moved you to plant at least this stylish planter. A close reading of your post suggested Nature had asked you to admire its handiwork. From another perspective, though, new beginnings can be a delight. Of Nature’s or our own.
The delicate glass bluebird symbolizes a new beginning in my life... almost 17 years ago. Beth, my wife and partner, tied a knot made of wedding bands in the shade of an old Live Oak tree growing in a huge fecund meadow. That entire meadow seemed to be a bluebird nursery. We had previously walked and ridden our bikes there. Bluebirds sang, caught insects, and flitted about as they attended our wedding. Sigh...
Julia Cameron’s quote resonated with a recent experience. A homeless man I’ve come to know panhandles at a busy intersection near our home. As Izzie and I set out on errands, the light was red at Charlie’s spot. When I rolled down Izzie’s window, he saw her and approached quickly. He wanted to greet her! The warmest look came to his face, seeming to convey his delight in that moment, and brought joy to my life as well. Capacity for delight!
I’m with Calliope. From what I experienced with Charlie, he occupies the catbird seat!
Happy Anniversary to you and Beth!
Thank you for sharing Charlie and your friend/friend/fourleg connection with us! Woof!
Oops! I mislead it appears. Our anniversary is Sept. 23. I didn’t mention that the “attendees” were a notary public that worked in a friend’s law office, her husband (perhaps because she was very preggers), and Beth and I. We didn’t notice until the end that we had a fifth attendee! A young boy on his bike sat a good distance away to observe us. At the end he called out, “Congratulations.” In a cheerful voice. As if delighted!
We had a nice celebration planned for a month later to accommodate certain friends’ schedules. That September day was very hot and unusually humid. Melting guests could have been a real possibility. Our invitations read, in part, “We want your presence, not your presents.” 😬
“My grandmother knew what a painful life had taught her: success or failure, the truth of a life has little to do with its quality. The quality of life is in proportion, always, to the capacity for delight.”
~ Julia Cameron: The Artist’s Way
#CapacityForDelight
As a point of reflection, we might ask ourselves:
I wonder what my capacity for delight is?
If the answer doesn’t align with what we desire, then we can ask another question.
I wonder what I can change to make more room for delight? 🤔
😊😎😊
There’s a lyric in a Daphne Willis song that resonates for me:
“We like the way it feels when we earn it!”
I delight in learning and growing. 👍🏻
Love this!
I agree!
Feels extra special when it feels like we earned it!
🙌🏼😎🙌🏼
Socrates observed at his trial, “The life unobserved is not worth living.” Not very warm and fuzzy sounding, but when we’re in the ditch a wake up call can be very helpful. 😬
✋🏻 you got that right! 😉