life

Poem for Today ~ Possession

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Possession

Mark Van Doren

Because this ground is mine it presses firmer
And softer up against my morning feet.
The grass ever is whispering as I walk. 
The trees lean a little, and the spring,
There at the head of the road, leaps out to meet me.
Some afternoons I think these hundred acres,
Knowing I lie on the mountainside in the sun,
Curl over as if to fold me in; then, rising, 
I smile and go, and they are level again.
But all of this is nothing to the night
I climbed that path and came into my own. 
The darkness—my own darkness—was a warm
Still wind upon my face, until I reached
The topmost meadow, open to the sky.
One step, and I stood naked among stars—
White stars, that clustered closer and larger down;
Closer, until they entered my two eyes. . . . 
When, deep inside, they burst without a sound. 

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Feel Good Tip ~ The Storm Will Lose Their Power

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Finding Inner Peace

Can you find inner peace no matter how a situation turns out? Not everyone can. The moment’s turmoil seems to capture us and when it does we find ourselves on traveling rapidly in the wrong direction. I’m speaking of a time when everything is going right and boom, an event interrupts the nice flow we were experiencing. Can we ride the unwelcome event without losing our sense of balance until the unwelcome event runs out of power? Metaphorically, the storm that interrupted us will lose its power and disappear. I think a sense of inner peace comes from knowing that we’ve experienced similar storms and made it through. There’s no reason we won’t make it through again. A good maxim might be, “I did this and I can do it again.”

Feel Good Tip ~ We Are Awesome Miracles

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Consider the Wonders of You

Saint Augustine said, “Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.” Is it time to stop and reflect on the miracle of who you are? Think of how your eyes feed information to your brain and in an instant your brain sends messages to the corresponding parts of your body. Think of moments when you were deeply in love and desired the moment to last forever. We are awesome miracles. Take nothing for granted. Be grateful for the who you are.

Feel Good Tip ~ High Hopes

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The kids in the neighborhood gather on the street corners waiting for their school bus Monday through Fridays. They’re chatting with each other, some are carrying instruments, all have backpacks. Scenes like this make me feel good. I see a new generation trying to figure it out. They will. I have hope that among them are peacemakers, doctors, scientists, and most all people who will make a positive difference.

Poem of the Day ~ A Distant Song

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A Distant Song

John Gould Fletcher

Whether awake or sleeping,
   I cannot rest for long:
By my casement comes creeping
  A distant song.

A song like the chiming of silver
  Bells which the breezes play,
Seeming to float for ever
  Towards an unseen day:

A song that is weary with sorrow,
  Yet knows not any defeat:
Through the past, through to-day, through to-morrow,
  It echoes on life’s long street.

Could I but make words of its power,
  Bring it from the future here,
Men’s souls would be waking, that hour,
  To the victory against fear.

But the vague sweet stanza befools me
  With its calm joy, time after time,
And no failure here ever schools me
  To cease from an idle rhyme.

That music afar, unspoken,
    ’Tis I have done it wrong:
I caught, and I have broken,
    A distant song. 

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Thinking Out Loud ~ Dare To Take The Adventure

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Free the Child Within

Beginning today I am reflecting on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s work, The Little Prince. The Little Prince is a modern classic.

Saint-Exupéry in writes in The Little Prince, “I showed my masterpiece to the grown-ups and I asked them if my drawing frightened them.  They answered: “Why should anyone be frightened by a hat?” My drawing did not represent the hat. It represented a boa snake that digested an elephant. Then I drew the inside of a boa snake so that the grown-ups could understand. They always need explanations. The grown-ups advised me to put aside the drawings of open or closed boa snakes, and to become rather interested in geography, history, calculation, and grammar. That is how I gave up, at the age of 6, a magnificent career as a painter. I had been discouraged by the failure of my drawings . . . The grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and, for children, it’s tiresome always giving them some explanations.”

NOTE: How many of us have been discouraged by “grownups” when we were younger. They saw the world through their fearful eyes and not through the eyes of an adventurous youth. No matter your age, open the door to the child within and dare to go on the marvelous journey you always wanted to take.

Feel Good Tip ~ Move Out of the Tight Circle

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I am blessed. I am surrounded by good neighbors and friends. They care about me and I care about them. When we move outside of our tight circle we discover a beautiful world filled with beautiful people who care and have loving hearts.

Photo of the Day ~ Friendship is the Best Gift

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Daily Inspirational Quotes ~ Letting Go and Opening New Doors

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“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.”

Paulo Coehlo

Feel Good Tip ~ Prayer takes Many Forms

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When Prayer Happens

I know that prayer takes many forms. It happens when I’m gathered with other believers. It happens when I’m grateful. It happens when I am in great need. It happens when I see or know of another suffering. It happens best when my lips are silent and my heart is speaking. I find peace when I pray. Whatever your tradition or faith, I imagine it is much the same for you.

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