the shape of trees

This now is it.

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Father Reason

The universe is a form of divine law,
your reasonable father.

When you feel ungrateful to him,
The shapes of the world seem mean and ugly.

Make peace with that father, the elegant patterning,
and every experience will fill with immediacy.

Because I love this, I am never bored.
Beauty constantly wells up like the noise of springwater
in my ear. Tree limbs rise and fall like ecstatic arms.
Leaf sounds talk together like poets
making fresh metaphors.

The green felt cover slips;
we get a flash of the mirror underneath.

The conventional opinion of this poetry
is that it shows great optimism for the future.
But Father Reason says, No need to announce the future.

This now is it. Your deepest need and desire
is satisfied by this moment's energy
here in your hand.
                                                             ~Rumi

I find great comfort in these words. I hope you do, too.

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Beautiful kindness.

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Do you like reading my posts? Why not sign up for an email subscription? You receive a little somthin’-somthin’ to ponder every Tuesday and Thursday.

 

Go ahead. Ask.

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Who are you? What do you want? Do you believe in the wisdom of uncertainty? Why would kitties sit in any sliver of sun when it shines? Does love come into the heart with a song? Can you wrap your legs around your head? Do you want someone to listen to you? How many times do you sneeze in the morning? Is that coffee in your cup? Which do you prefer – the left coast or the right? Is that a live oak or a red oak? Are you a gold or silver kind of person? Can you watusi? Do you want to be heard? What is the color of heat? Do you think if you live the questions, life will move you to the answers? Are you fascinated by the shape of trees? Do you like reading my posts? Why not sign up for an email subscription – you receive a little somthin’-somthin’ to ponder every Tuesday and Thursday? What is my purpose?

List maker.

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What is it about the human psyche that responds to lists?

Americans have our top 10’s, our winners, our honeydo’s, our grocery lists. I’m an organized person and pretty old school about my lists – I like to write them out and check them off (if applicable).

Can you tell a lot about a person from their lists? Hmmm. Take, for instance, my own fickle list of favorites, (partial, among other things):

Favorite guilty pleasure: ABC’s Castle

Favorite current TV image campaign: USA’s Characters Welcome

Favorite recent television commercial: iPad, VO: Peter Coyote

Favorite newscast: ABC World News

All-time favorite newscast: CBS News Sunday Morning

Favorite TVchef du jour: Roger Mooking, Everyday Exotic

Favorite new spice mix: vadouvan

Favorite drink: all things wine

Favorite mind game: meditation

Favorite exercise: yoga

Favorite fashion inspiration: Anthropologie windows, catalogs … and shoes

Favorite book at the moment: Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Favorite music discovery: Tina Malia, The Silent Awakening

Favorite sanctuary: San Diego

Favorite thought-provoker: spirituality & religion

Favorite garden flower: geraniums, especially scented geraniums

Favorite night sky: full moon in the desert

Favorite Steeler: Hines Ward

Favorite Charger: Antonio Gates

Favorite Cowboy: blue-eyed Miles Austin

Favorite Saint: Drew Brees

Favorite Falcon: Michel Turner

Favorite Giant after Michael Strahan: Osi Umenyiora

All-time favorite coach: Bill Parcells

Favorite owner I love to hate: Jerry Jones

Favorite NFL TV show: FOX NFL Sunday

Favorite football commentator of 2010: Jon Gruden

Favorite other sport to watch: Tennis, especially the US Open

Favorite moment of the day: the moment of gratitude

Now … you tell me.

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Enthusiastic response.

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I learned recently that the Greek root of the word, enthusiasm literally means “inside God,” interpreted as being inspired or possessed by divinity.

What is your last enthusiastic response? Does it bring you joy?


My most enthusiastic response is re-dedication to my yoga practice. I come away from class in a state of grace, joyful, in the present moment. And it flows into everything else that I set my mind to. Enthusiastically. Like the vinyasa I practice … inhale, move through deadlines … exhale …set my mind at ease.

The release is my play.

The effervescence is the laughter of my soul.

Do you like reading my posts? Why not sign up for an email subscription? You receive a little somthin’-somthin’ to ponder every Tuesday and Thursday.

Northwest diamante.

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Raincloud

De rigor, Deceptive

Threatening, Releasing, Nourishing

Water, Shadow, Meadow, Light

Hiding, Streaming, Revealing

Remarkable, Restorative

Sunbreak

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Soundtrack.

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Why don’t I listen to music more often?

I say this to myself each time I open up iTunes to download something I hear on a Glee episode (So addicted. This time, it’s the lovely, “I Feel Pretty/Unpretty”).

Come to think of it, why don’t I sing more often?

There was a time in my life when I listened and sang  -and laughed- every day. Seems like I have to make a conscious effort these days (don’t worry if it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear…).

Such a lovely way to express joy.

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For everything else, there’s Walgreen’s.

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A while back, when I was reconnecting with a few of my old girlfriends at a book club meeting, I overhear one of them say, “I used to be a ‘Nordstrom woman’. Now, I’m proud to say I’m a ‘Kohl’s girl.'”

You get her meaning immediately, I expect. The comment makes me laugh at the time. “I hear you,” I say. “I’m a ‘Tar-jay girl,’ as well.” And there’s no shame in this.

Overhearing my husband talking on the phone to his Dad, discussing what’s on sale at Walgreen’s does give me pause, though. That is, until now.


Another while back, Walgreen’s begins running these commercials that also make me laugh at the time. “I hear you,” I say. “You remind me of that fun television show, Pushing Daisies, all wildly wonderful and eccentric.” And there’s no shame in this, either.

Now, somewhere between Nordstrom and Kohl’s and the sound of Jim Dale‘s voice (he tells the story of Pushing Daises, and he tells the story of Harry Potter in the fabulous audio books) …

I’ve actually become a “Walgreen’s girl.” I sit here in my sneakers and stretchy pants and wonder if there’s shame in this now.

Or is it just a healthy desire for a bargain. Or …

…could it be that the “perfect” Walgreen’s spots are … effective?

Do you like reading my posts? Why not sign up for an email subscription? You receive a little somthin’-somthin’ to ponder every Tuesday and Thursday.

A few favorite blogs.

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Part of being The Versatile Blogger, awarded to me by Michelle Beish, is passing the award along to 15 new-found blogging buddies and contacting them with congratulations. The whole blog experience is less than a year old for me, so here’s a list of the blogs I’ve “newly-found” so far:

Seth Godin’s Blog – Discovered while trolling my Facebook News Feed, I quickly subscribed to Seth’s daily posts because he’s inspired me in the past and still does today.

Julia Cameron’s Blog –  a long-time practitioner of The Artist’s Way, I recently signed on to Julia Cameron Live, her new online course and community.

Writing It Real Blog – Sheila Bender is a writer and a teacher. I recently attended her writer’s conference in Port Townsend, WA. Great workshop that’s great fun.

Media Post & Media Bistro blogs – great media industry-type stuff.

Tiny Lights – Susan Bono‘s lovely resource for writers and other strangers.

Clouds Full of Rain – Initially, it is the name that captures my attention. Now, I’m interested in Tamika’s journey.

49 and holding – One of the ways I’ve re-connected with cherished friend and old colleague Deborah Cole Wise.

brainywoman’s bw Blog – Every Tuesday, Patricia Anaya serves up her take on The Law of Attraction and more.

SoulPancake – more community than a blog per se, but very social nonetheless. Not to mention I like to chew on life’s big questions.

Do you like reading my posts? Why not sign up for an email subscription? You receive a little somthin’-somthin’ to ponder every Tuesday and Thursday.

To be a versatile blogger.

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It is in early April when Michelle Beish honors me with The Versatile Blogger award, and I am truly grateful to her. For me, it is such a gift to connect with those of like mind … isn’t this one of the reasons we reach out with our words and actions in the first place? Michelle’s thoughtfulness reminds me that it’s nice to acknowledge it once in a while.

Rules governing this award include:

~Thanking and linking to the person who nominated you

~Sharing 7 random facts about yourself

~Passing the award along to 15 new-found blogging buddies

~Contacting those buddies to congratulate them

SEVEN RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME

While living in Idaho, I fall in love with goats. Typically, their personalities tickle my funny bone, as I expect most goats are characters. Shortly after discovering this, I read Brad Kessler‘s Goat Song … and fall in love with Brad Kessler’s writing, too.

I was a cowboy in another life.

Those personalized ads on Google and Facebook -I find them fascinating; I’m learning about so many products and services I’m actually interested in. The rest, I ignore –like telemarketing phone calls. It proves to me that Big Brother is only as irritating as you allow him to be. Or her, depending on your point of view.

I’ve lived in six United States and have visited nine countries … so far.

The science of the soul, quantum physics, spirituality, noetic science, What the Bleep, The Bible … my mind likes to linger here.

I’ve produced the advertising/promotion campaigns and  commercials for Xena: Warrior Princess, Charmed, Vanishing Sun, William Shatner’s TekWar series, New York’s Movie Station, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and more, during my 30 years in the broadcast creative services biz.

JFK was assassinated on my birth date: 22 November.

Find out about my favorite blogs in my next post. If you like reading them, why not sign up for an email subscription? You receive a little somthin’-somthin’ to ponder every Tuesday and Thursday.