New Thoughts

Here is what I've been pondering. What if we could let go of all our grievances. Perhaps this is called forgiveness, or maybe it's is something else, like the power of now. I've been pondering how my reactions made things worse in my last marriage. If had no reaction, or at least attached nothing to the things that came at me, perhaps I at least could have been calmer. Now I have a new friend, and for this friend I feel love. I'm wondering if I will be the same person I was before, or if I could muster myself to a place of peace. Perhaps just being an observer of what is happening. No judgment.

For many years I've been practicing no judgment in my writing and art. If one judges ones work, it is harder to be experimental and let things come as they will. But in relationship, if there is trust, and nonjudgment, perhaps things could be good that before were hostile. Or at least caused bickering.

Just a thought while the garden lies fallow. Some may be over there gardening still. But it has been raining hard and today cold again. I imagine even the grow boxes are doing little. I will go over and check to see if I have any chard left. The deer were getting pretty frisky when I last did any work over at the pea patch.

Okay, so check out the book The Power of Now for more thoughts on being with what is in the moment, rather than calling up all of tarnation for any little transaction.

Ciao,
Flower

Snow, where are you?

A big storm was predicted yesterday, and the news folks went wild, like some big wreck or other disaster had just happened. So everything got canceled, and here we are the morning after, no snow, at least not here in Bellingham--and it was supposed to come in during the night--3 inches--and more than that to the south.

I'm wondering if this kind of broadcasting could be toned down a bit. Perhaps if when the weather folks get excited about something, they could just say, you might want to stay home tonight, but we really don't know what this storm will do. Unless it's a hurricane or something. I mean, it so excites everyone.

It's like what has happened with the stock market these last few months. The news folks shouted fire and we all started running. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not be a lemming. I don't have any desire to be like everyone else. I do know that being individual takes a lot of courage. One has to be willing to let go--yes, that's it, just let go of the collective mentality.

So if we hadn't all canceled--Eileen would have gone to her lovely singing class, I would have gone to my lovely party, so-and-so else would have... But then again, what happened is just what was supposed to happen, right? That's what the new age thinkers say anyway. Or maybe not new age, but the thinkers that believe in the "now." Everything is happening in the now, and that's just what it is. So experience it and be happy.

I was awake until at least 1:30 in the morning. I had many adventures of the mind during that time. This morning I've vowed to get a practice going that will settle my mind down. I'm such a worrier. I worried about the garden, about what I'll do later this evening, about gaining a pound from all the cookies I've been eating, about love, about loss; I wrote a essay in my head and almost got up and turned on my computer, once I got up and ate cookies and watched TV. This really isn't necessary, is it? All this unsettled energy? Was it the full moon? Was it the gentleman I met at the neighborhood potluck? Was it the art show I'm having today? Was it the snow? I don't know, but I think I'll refer to a well known sage for some good advice: The Miracle of Mindfulness: Thich Nhat Hanh

Okay, so today, I'm having an art show in my studio in Fairhaven. Come by if you get a chance. Love to chat.

Peace, Flower

Trust

To be a farmer takes trust. You never know when a late frost will hit or a blight, or a long cold spring and then an early fall. This year, I think it's the long cold spring and the early fall that is a real thing. Folks are overheard saying, "What, it just got here three weeks ago." That's summer in the NW. Well at least this year, for there have been others when it is just one sunny day after another, and then people complain about that. I'm wondering why we complain about things, after all, our lives are mostly good. I knew this woman who taught folks about being in the present moment. She said, as I was worrying aloud, is there anything wrong right now. And there wasn't. Nothing was happening in the moment that was life threatening or bad in anyway. Of course, this wouldn't include every moment, but many during the day and the night are just okay, good even. So I'd like to be aware of that more of the time, that there is good in the moment, or at least, there isn't anything wrong with this moment.

I'm sitting on my bed with my cat listening to violin music. Very beautiful. There is a completely cool breeze coming in the window. A whiff of wood smoke, yes, really. And tomorrow I'll go to Orcas Island to teach writing. It's not like teaching someone to make a quilt, or even to blend oil on a canvas. Some things are more tangible than others. With writing there are always those moments that come clear, but usually they come to one after having heard the instructions over and over and over, such as show don't tell. Or write what you know.

Anyway, we can be happy, yes we can. We can feel the love that is there. We can be in the moment, just listening to the sounds of the day, the traffic, the birds. It's all that there is, right?

Caio! Flower.