A Friend Knows the Song in Your Heart

A FRIEND IS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS
THE SONG IN YOUR HEART,
AND CAN SING IT BACK TO YOU WHEN
YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN THE WORDS.

~Donna Roberto

Of Note: This is a family portrait of my mom with her grandkids and great-grandkids. My whole family represents all that is good in the world. When functioning well like this one, families stand as a collective friend to its members. No matter what happens, someone is there to pick the other up. That's a guarantee. Statistics show that America is in the midst of a compassion and volunteering boom. A full 94% of Americans believe it is "important to be personally involved in supporting a cause we believe in" in our communities while 91% extrapolate that to the whole world. Could it be that Americans are awakening to the fact that we are all one family globally? That it is our universal responsibility to pick the another up as a family member not as an act of charity? If this is the case, it could be the start of a transformational wave that could bring in the new era of peace. That's a guarantee.

Today's weather Report: Although it was 65 degrees Fahrenheit earlier in the week, now it's in the 30's. Bright and sunny, but cold. With the help of the two dogs, I cleaned out the garden beds when it was warm and reveled in the sun's rays beating on my face. The canes created a "mountain" several feet tall. In my mind's eye, I can already picture the July garden bursting with color, although now only a tiny bit of daffodil leaves are showing. When the grass begins it trek skyward, my garden tractor will be ready having had it tune-up yesterday. Bring it on!

We Are Each Other

We are each others harvest.
We are each others business.

We are each others
magnitude and bond.

~Gwendolyn Brooks

Of Note: Quite literally, we are all connected like the seeds of these sunflowers. Great spirals of life in ordered pattern. Magical really if we only knew.

Today's Weather Report: Oh, my. It was actually 52 degrees Fahrenheit in the late afternoon. We haven't seen temperatures in the fifties since last fall! Snow is melting all around and great puddles are forming on the still frozen ground. Soon the road to the house will be next to impossible to navigate. What a wonderful problem to have as spring approaches. The puppies found the partial remains of a deer in the woods today and brought a leg home. Thankfully, they left it in the driveway. Gives a new meaning to dog kisses.

The Great Day That Dawns

I THINK OVER AGAIN MY SMALL ADVENTURES,
MY FEARS, THOSE SMALL ONES THAT SEEMED SO BIG,
ALL THOSE VITAL THINGS I HAD TO GET AND REACH,
AND YET THERE IS ONLY ONE GREAT THING:

TO LIVE AND SEE THE GREAT DAY THAT DAWNS,
AND THE LIGHT THAT FILLS THE WORLD.

~ Old Inuit Song

Of Note: Light is a topic that few really contemplate for long. It is ubiquitous and therefore ordinary. What more could be said about light than has already been said? The Inuits seem to know something the rest of us don't. Apparently, they see a day in the future where a different light fills the world than what is already here. I would imagine that they mean this in a literal rather than figurative sense. Many may not give credence to native beliefs, but the aboriginal people might be on to something.

Today's Weather Report: Old Man Winter is making his yearly decision whether it is time to go. With temps in the high 30's all week, it would appear he is packing his bags....though he usually has a snow storm or two to throw at us on his way out. According to my sister, Marie, the tulips are already coming up in Texas. The plants on my southern windowsill must know this because 4 different kinds are in bloom. Even the maple I am attempting to bonsai has sent up a shoot with two little leaves! It is my reward for watering two leaf-less maple "sticks" all winter.

My Philosophy is Kindness

There is no need for temples;
no need for complicated philosophy.

Our own brain, our own heart, is our temple;
my philosophy is kindness.

~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Of Note: This blog marks the 500th since I began this series in December 2007. These blogs have only scratched the surface of the remarkable knowledge contained in ageless wisdom that is available to humanity. Actually, not even the first molecular layer of the surface. I stand in awe at what humanity has before it. The darkness is very heavy at the moment, but the dawn approacheth. The horizon is ablaze with the first glow of light. The Dalai Lama stands as an example of a current world savior who leads by example. He obviously has seen the first rays as well and adds his quota through kindness, compassion, and criticism where appropriate. Watching men and women like him, we know that humanity is well served.

Today's Weather Report: The day opened with partly cloudy skies and will end with the same, most likely. Temps started in the teens and will rise to the 30's Fahrenheit. March often brings winds that blow winter out and bring in a glorious spring. Spring, it's getting close now.