A New Day

Here is a wonderful and inspirational piece. It really impacted me, so I reformatted it into something I could print and give to people. You are free to copy this and share it with others. No hocus-pokus to it. It's simply feeding your mind with positive input whenever you look at it. I have this set up so it's printable on parchment paper stock suitable for framing.

It's great to give anyone, but especially those facing serious challenges in their life – like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, depression, etc. so, share it with others.

Photo-of-the-Week #155, Happy Easter, Ocean Pond, Osceola National Forest, Florida, March 2014

Happy Easter to Christians and Happy Passover to those of the Jewish faith. I thought this sunrise through the foliage and over part of Ocean Pone in Osceola National Forest in northern Florida would be appropriate for this morning.

I find a brilliant sunrise is always a motivating way to begin any day. On Easter Sunday, for those with deeply committed Christian and Jewish faith, these are most meaningful and important commemorations each year. Interestingly, they are related because both symbolize freedom and rebirth, both guided and ordained by God. Jesus, as a Jew would have celebrated Passover and indeed, many consider The Last Supper, if not most theologians and Biblical scholars, as being a Passover Seder celebrated by Jesus and his disciples.

To those who are not so religiously committed, Easter is typically a time of celebrating the end of the long winter and the rebirth of nature during the spring. Besides the religious services commemorating this time of year, Easter is celebrated with new, stylish clothes that have spawned Easter parades (possibly the most famous being in New York City on 5th Avenue). There is also the Easter Bunny aka Peter Cottontail and dyed Easter eggs. The art of egg decorating has historically been traced back at least 60,000 years. However, the Easter egg actually has significance to the Easter commemoration of Christ's death and rebirth and has been a part of Christian tradition since early Christianity. Easter eggs are often hidden for children to find on Easter morning. Even if you're not a Christian, I hope you've had the opportunity to participate in the fun of an Easter egg hunt. The tradition of dying and painting Easter eggs is taken quite seriously in many cultures and become exquisite art objects.

And, of course, let's not forget the large chocolate Easter bunnies, the smaller cream filled, chocolate covered Easter bunnies, the ever a favorite, yellow, marshmallow Peeps, (little chick shaped candy treats) and the always present small chocolate eggs and multi-color, multi-flavor jelly beans, resembling tiny eggs. All of this brings back very fond memories for this "adult child."

So, regardless of your beliefs, values and traditions, I hope this sunrise photo uplifts you, wherever you are and promotes the feelings of freedom and rebirth that everyday should begin with. Happy Easter to one and all. 

Enlightened Perspectives - Something A Little Different

A friend of mine forwarded the following perspectives to me the other day. Like you, I'm sure; I get a lot of these forwarded emails claiming some person of some significant celebrity had authored the great words of wisdom. It might be George Carlin or Bill Cosby or Mother Teresa, you know what I mean. In this case, the late Andy Rooney, the former 60 Minutes news magazine commentator who closed the show for 30+ years with his pithy insights into life.

Well, I've long ago learned that most of the stuff that is attributed to these folks was never written or uttered by them. Actually, the words they are credited with are often not even in context to who they actually were. But, we read them and perhaps, feel a little better. I did my research and sure enough, just as I had suspected, Andy Rooney was not the author of these "enlightened perspectives." In fact, they've possibly been the accumulated perspectives of several individuals, all unnamed. I guess they could be attributed to that well-known author Anonymous.

However, despite the fact that our dear, departed friend, Andy, is not the author, I still found them to be - as the email subject titled them, "Enlightened Perspectives." As I approach the end of my 7th decade of experiential existence on this planet, I found that they agreed with my own perspectives, especially as I was enjoying the relaxation and ambiance of the Paradise I had been enjoying for well over a week. So, maybe you've seen these before, maybe not, but I present them to you, have added a few to the list and take credit for authoring them since they pretty well express my attitudes and perspectives about this blessing we call life. I hope there is something meaningful, reassuring or enlightening here for you.

Enlightened Perspectives

Take the time to read these. You'll come away with an enlightened perspective. The subjects covered affect us all on a daily basis:

They're written by Anonymous or Andy Rooney or Ed Helvey, I'm not sure it really matters.

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with him or her.

I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned.... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

I've learned.... That no matter what it is you plan, it will always take longer than you planned.

I've learned.... That no matter how much you budget for something, it will always cost more.

I've learned.... That once you buy something from the least expensive source, there will always be someone cheaper.

I've learned.... That life is short and goes by fast, follow your dreams and live them NOW.

I've learned.... That what you don't know can hurt you, so never stop being inquisitive and learning new things.

I've learned.... That you should pay someone else to do the things you don't enjoy doing or are not good at, both parties benefit.

Final Words

So, there you have them "My Enlightened Perspectives" and now they are yours to do with as you will. You can embrace them and share them, use my name or Andy Rooney's or your own name. A gift once given is yours to do with as you please. I hope these platitudes will raise your attitudes . . . for today and the rest of your life. Life is too short to miss all the beauty, joy, happiness and grace that is ours to enjoy and embrace. Have a fantastic day wherever you are and smile at everyone you encounter, it's infectious. 

Photo-of-the-Week #105 - Signs of the Times, New Creek, West Virginia, March 2012

What can I say? This is a true sign of the times. I'm in a small rural valley community in Mineral County, West Virginia. This is a place where people made their living for the last couple centuries farming, mining coal deep underground, timber harvesting and making paper at the historic Luke, Maryland paper mill on the Potomac River.

While all of the industries I just mentioned have been downsizing and declining in this region (as well as many other parts of the U.S.), two new industries have been evolving and expanding. Fifty years ago there were few, if any, electricity generating turbines in the U.S. and the first Walmart (#1) opened in Bentonville, Arkansas. Today this photo is representative of what is happening not only all over the U.S., but around the world as Walmart has become, from it's humble beginnings in a small rural community of 2,900, the largest retail organization in the world. The family controlled chain operates 8,500 stores in 15 countries. The store in this photo is one of the smaller Walmart 24 hour Super Centers. It has, of course, changed the landscape of retailing and has been the scourge of the small "Main Street, Mom and Pop" retail industry across the U.S.

The windmill farm on the mountain top behind the Walmart represents the controversial clean energy initiative in the U.S. This windmill farm has 23 of these huge units. Further south, on the ridge of another mountain, is, yet, another windmill farm larger than this one. These are actually small in comparison to a number of windmill farms I've seen in rural areas of the mid-west and the western regions of the U.S. While I don't know the actual employment and financial impact this ancient form of energy, but new form of electric generation, has had on the coal industry, I'm sure it has its significance in the big picture.

Personally, I'm torn. I shop at Walmart and appreciate the convenience. But, as a small business owner and operator (not retail, thankfully) throughout my lifetime, it bothers me to see it turning historic downtown districts into derelict ghost towns and taking away from the fabric of communities when you shopped at and supported your friends and neighbors who knew their customers and treated them well. The same goes for the windmills. They are becoming an eyesore just as power poles webbed with the electrical grid, radio and TV broadcast towers, TV antennas on homes and cellular telephone towers became eyesores. Yet, can we afford to keep impacting our environment and using natural resources like coal, oil and natural gas at ever expanding rates before we pollute the Earth beyond its ability to continue to support the human species, not to mention depleting these resources?

It's a Catch-22. As I said in an earlier post, "Too Many People."     

Photo of the Week #57 – Sunrise in the Valley

I will not apologize! It’s another sunrise. Two sunrises in a row. What can a tell you? I love sunrises.

I GOT to live with this kind of sunrise for almost six years of my life. This is what was in front of my ranch house in the Shenandoah Valley every morning for those years I lived there. Yep! There was a sunrise EVERYDAY even when it was raining, a dark overcast or snowing. I always knew it was there and I could see it in my mind’s eye.

I can’t begin to guess how many sunrise photos I have from the front porch of the ranch. There always seemed to be another that was more beautiful and majestic then the last one. This happened to be a winter morning as you can tell since the trees had no leaves. But, to say sitting on my porch early in the morning and sipping something warm was magical would be a gross understatement. Watching those sunrises always reminded me that I was only a minute speck in something so much greater then I could begin to comprehend. It just couldn’t be all about me. Richard Carlson's words rang true, "Don't sweat the small stuff . . . and it's ALL small stuff."

I hope you enjoy sunrises as much as I do and I hope this one inspires you to seek whatever living free means to you.