This Morning

     My Thursday walking companion arrived at 7 AM this morning stating that we had to walk toward the Bay. Why? His answer was simply-- the sky. What a sky it was with feathered layers of deep pink and a solid grey. What were the heavens trying to tell us? Were we to finally have some rain or another warm autumn day? We continued looking and then the sky painter dipped into his water pot causing the deep colors to fade into muted tones, rapidly changing to almost no color at all. It was a gift presented quickly and then quickly taken back. Now it is only in my memory. As I write late afternoon I still see the morning sky. You may think I didn't say much. I didn't. The sky told its story.

Dancing Leaves

     It was only 5 minutes ago that I had composed a blog for today. The desires of a computer are stronger than mine, and I have lost what I wrote. No matter. I refuse to become upset, for life is too short to groan about lost words. So here I go again about the 10:20 dance performance I watched  last night. Departing from a play reading in Mill Valley, I was greeted by a brisk wind which began pushing the fallen leaves in many directions. I looked carefully and realized that the little leaves were dancing. Twisting, turning, leaping, running, jumping, the dancers raced across their cement stage.
     In the car with the car's headlights on the stage I watched as the dancing leaves entertained me on my trip home. Turning onto the main road there were no more leaves and no more dancing, but I still remember last night's performance and will never look at leaves again as just leaves.

Amistad--Friendship

      I can't get the Spanish word amistad out of my mind. Sitting here thinking about it I realize that friendship is one of the keys that unlocks the door to a happy life. This morning my friend Hector, my gardener, welcomed me into his life. He tolerates my Spanish as we discuss all kinds of things including what is happening in his home country. Yes, he is a United States citizen, but always frets about not having enough time to really grasp English. He tells me I must be his teacher. Hector is constantly looking for hints on what he should do. I feel good after a conversation with him when I am able to give him some tips. I hope he feels the same.

     Think about it. Don't friendships enable us to show that we care about enhancing another's life with what a particular person needs at  a particular moment?

A Winter of Wonder

     It is about time I put some thoughts on paper instead of guarding them in my head. The other day I was dwelling on the idea of a life being made up of seasons, realizing I was definitely in winter. When I was a little girl growing up in Illinois, I did experience some harsh winters, but like any little person I made the winter days into winter wonderlands. Jack Frost did not bother me. Falling down in the snow offered me the challenge of getting up. Being splatted with a snowball gave me the opportunity to throw one back.
     What is the point I am making? Just this. I need to make each day a wonderland. If I am knocked over by negativity, I get up. If I get the cold shoulder from someone, I don't react. What I am saying is that one must regard his/her winter season as an opportunity to bring sparkling joy to each moment. See the sun of your attitude melt the icicles threatening to take away your warmth.Get up, spread joy, laugh when you fall down. Who cares if someone throws a barbed snowball in your direction. Each moment is like a perfect snowflake, filled with beauty, opportunity and love. Rejoice in the winter wonderland that only you can make.

Love What You See

Thank goodness I am an early riser. So much beauty awaits us just for the taking at 5:30 or 6 in the morning. Last Friday's gift to me is still so clear in my head. The mountain--Mt. Tamalpais-stood clearly in the early morning light. A third of the way down, away from the top, a scarf of chiffon fog floated across the rocky surface allowing the top of the mountain to jut toward the sky. It didn't seem to be my familiar landmark but something gigantic from another country. I could not take my eyes away from this treasure. I wonder if all of us need to look around a little more to really see the beauty. It doesn't have to be early morning, any time will do. Turn away from ugliness and drink in beauty.

Walking

     What a day! Out for my daily walk with gorgeous clouds above, a slight cool breeze against my cheeks, and a desire in my heart to really appreciate life, I set forth. The air was so fresh I drew it in as if it was a magic drink that would reward me with something wonderful. It happened! As I rounded one curve there in front of me was the Golden Gate Bridge in all its golden splendor touched by the sun with diamonds of light. I spoke out loud. Thank you, thank you. I live in paradise. Keep walking forever.

Rain

     In the middle of the night I heard rain on the roof. I almost scrambled out of bed to look at it. Marin County needs rain, or by next year we will really be in trouble. Thoughts come into my mind and I wonder what an individual needs to live a satisfying life. Perhaps some need the heavy rain of friends; others a solitary existence. Most of all each person must be able to choose what will bring great growth just as the rains bring fresh green. The hills have no choice. They just are there. Perhaps all should take anything that comes to us and thrive in our own way. When the hills are brown, they are still existing. Think about it. Stir up the brain. What is the forecast for your growth--cloudy, no change, the usual? Does any of this make sense?

Inspiration

     Two pokes hit me recently. A friend said she had come to my blog spot and I hadn't written anything for months. The next thing I hear from someone is that she had read over all my blogs. Why, I wondered. Do I perhaps have something to say now and then?
     My question is--what is inspiration, and where does it come from? I don't know why this word and idea came to me, but I went to the dictionary and looked up the word. Eleven definitions face me, but the ones I like are "to produce or arouse a feeling or a thought" and "to influence or impel".
     When I taught my 8th graders many times I felt that indeed I had aroused some thought. Evidence of this came to me in some of the essays my students wrote. Seeing this evidence led me to want to keep inspiring as much as I could. Even now at my mature age I continue to at least try to influence or impel someone for a greater thought, yes to simply inspire them to greater things. Too many of us satisfy ourselves with so little. I include myself here, but I keep pushing myself to greater thought.
     How about you?