• coffee life,  landscape,  latte art,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    There for a reason…

    “There are moments when troubles enter our lives and we can do nothing to avoid them. But they are there for a reason. Only when we have overcome them will we understand why they were there.”

    Paulo Coelho

    It is cold and the wind continues to blow this morning. Made my way to Pineridge Natural Area for the predawn colors. I watched as the wind scattered the ever changing clouds across the canvas sky. I felt within the sense of drama in nature as she constantly reshaped the clouds according to the wind’s whims. I’m now enjoying my mocha latte at Starry Night then will meet Mark for breakfast as he and I continue our fantasy quest of solving the world’s troubles. I say that with tongue-in-cheek as he and I realize changing the world always starts with ourselves. I feel I am finding that facing and overcoming troubles is much more of an adventure than just an unwanted task. In my past I had the tendency to run from them. Now there is more of a desire to learn from the lessons. Just facing them is a lesson. May you have a wonderful day, overcoming any and all problems while learning life’s lessons! Stay warm!

    Hannah’s latte art – Showing off again
  • poems,  poetry,  shadows

    Looking For Me

    I have been sitting here resting
    after my morning stroll, and the sun
    in its soft yellow work gloves
    has come in through the window
    and is feeling around on the opposite wall
    looking for me, having seen me
    cheerfully walking along the road
    just as it rose, having followed me home
    to see what I have to be happy about.

    Ted Kooser, Winter Morning Walks

    Another bitter cold morning at -8 degrees. However, the forecast is promising. I’m liking Kooser’s poetry in this new book called Winter Morning Walks recommended by Joe. Stay warm!

  • Cityscapes/Urban,  Documentary/Street,  lifestyles,  seasons

    Finally…

    Focus is on the raindrops and not the busyness beyond

    … we are receiving some much needed rain this morning. It began raining just after I went to bed. Sometime during the night I could hear it pounding against my window. Awoke to lovely puddles of water. The little boy within was enticed enough to want to jump in them.

    A light mist was falling as I walked to the bus stop. About an hour later it was a steady rain again. I sat in one of the lounge chairs at the coffee shop, looking out the window and watching the refreshing gift descending. Like snow there is a certain silence in gentle rain, when we pause and listen. I listened this morning. Everything smells fresh and new. I feel the coolness on my body and there is rejoicing in my spirit, even a giggle. Have a wonderful day!

    Looking out the bus window at transit center on campus

    “Let’s just sit quietly and listen to the secrets the rain wants to tell us.”

    John Mark Green
  • architecture,  quotes,  shadows,  window

    Self Discovery

    Early morning light through my front-room window

    “A shadow is never created in darkness. It is born of light. We can be blind to it and blinded by it. Our shadow asks us to look at what we don’t want to see”

    Terry Tempest Williams

    There is a dark side of me I that I did not always want to see or admit to knowing about. It’s a side that can be full of hate, anger, jealousy, envy, fear, insecurity, self-centeredness, and the list goes on. I imagine everyone could also add to this list. When I was younger I avoided looking inward, always had a focus on how I wanted you to see me outwardly. I am grateful for this time in my life where I use self-examination along with prayer and meditation as the light to acknowledge and face the shadow side of myself. It is a path of self discovery.

  • architecture,  Documentary/Street,  quotes

    Peace is an inside job

    “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.”

    Dalai Lama XIV

    We’re expecting another spring like day, temperatures into the 60s. So nice that I don’t need to scrape frost off the windshield.

    World turmoil is still the news of the day. Lots of prayers being said for the people of Ukraine and our world leaders. I didn’t watch State of the Union address last night but did read most of it this morning. I’m beginning to believe stronger than ever that to have peace and love in our world, to stop our negative impact on nature, to eliminate all the lies, there needs to be a manifestation of human compassion. I’ll go with the Dalai Lama’s option because it resonates with me. Have a super Awesome day!