Thought for The Day - Grateful

The list of blessings for which I'm grateful is ENDLESS!!! So many things, so many people and so many immaterial things to be thankful for!

I am grateful for family and friends who can't fix everything in my life; indeed they don't try. But every now and then, they put themselves in a position to offer a shoulder, an ear and to remind me how valuable life is. One of the great things that happen over the summer is my oldest son saw my excitement over his single fish and his small aquarium. He wasn't able to buy fish and an aquarium for me, but he convinced my wife that it would make a great birthday gift. Long story short, they put their heads together, researched, shopped and bought a large aquarium for me! It's beautiful! And yes, it's been a journey with many fish bought, lost and ups and downs, but it's been a great year for that!

Yesterday, my wife surprised me with another gift: a 127 pound gift: my oldest child, my miracle baby came home for the holiday! Living in New York, studying for a master's degree, things are tight. So I didn't expect to see her until Christmas. But they managed to put together the money and to keep it a secret until yesterday; my wife said she was running a quick errand for her mother and would be back. When she returned, I opened the door for her, and there stood my daughter!

Again I could go on and on, but I am so grateful for all! I'm especially grateful for friends whose lives grow and blossom. I'm grateful for people I stay in contact with and friends I haven't seen in years, coming back around.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Thought for The Day - Life and Lessons in Death

Since the summer began, I have had an obsession with tropical fish and aquariums! My oldest son came home from college with a beautiful betta fish, he called brownie and it rekindled all my old hobby habits. I remember changing the water in my ten gallon aquarium once a month the old fashioned way. That is, I scooped out the fish and completely drained the water. I carried the tank to the sink to wash it and the rocks, WITH EACH WATER CHANGE! And I did it EACH TIME! I didn't lose fish the way I have with the modern conveniences and recommendations!

I bought a 10 gallon aquarium and filled it with Buenos Aires Tetra and Tiger Barb. It was the most fun to come in each evening and place my hand on the side of the glass and watch them swarm over to my watch my fingers! Twelve fish, swimming in close formation and playing! But them one morning, I came into my space and one of the tiger barbs was dead and stuck to the filter! Well not much loss, there were plenty of others to keep me entertained! And in the aquarium hobby, loss of fish is normal. That was earlier this week; today there are only 6 fish in the tank! An outbreak of "ich," a parasite that affects tropical fish, killed off the other fish in a little over 48 hours. Now from what I'm hearing, I wasn't proactive enough and if I'm quite honest, I didn't take any precautions at all.

An attachment is formed between people and their pets. An attachment is formed between people! Any loss of life is always a blow. This week's experience has taught me to slow the pace a bit! Take time to enjoy what's in front of me and cherish it. Whether it is pets or people, all life is valuable!

Thought for The Day - Late Night

There was a time when being awake, late at night was the thing to do! While my parents didn't go out much when we were children, their siblings, coming to town, was occasion to hang out until late. My cousins and I would hang out, talk, play games, while the adults did the same in their part of the house. There were no dull moments during these times!

It's been forever since I stayed awake, either hanging with family and friends or working. When my daughter is home, we all hang out doing the same thing my parents did, laughing, having fun and talking about our lives. The sense, in the late night hours, is that one can relax; the pressure is pushed off for another day. And hanging with those you love and bridging the distance the years and miles have created is well worth the time!

Thought for The Day - Momentum

...let it continue; there are words to be written, to be uttered; bring the other world’s energy to this place and effect a change. Planting seeds, providing soil and rain nourishment. Don’t stunt the growth, but permit it. Remove what is dead and useless to be moved. Pull up what is not desired and grow. But in all, continue moving until your soul says “pause.” 

There images in mind that when rendered, communicate truths. There are colors and shapes to bring from the source, their power and purpose can change the very lives of the viewers. And the only limit is the available time to draw them out. 

As one moves and gets in the practice of "gaining steps," one finds some things, some people fall behind. It isn't intentional, and certainly not your desire to leave, but you are gaining momentum, moving forward. A kind way to put it, is we aren't on the same path and it makes us feel a little easier when conversations don't occur as often. 

Momentum is needed and near perpetually. Even when the path we're on is uphill, full of obstacles or outright blocked, we have to continue on our way. And the difficulties, the times of loneliness, well we hope at some point the road gets smooth and new friends as well as old friends find their way back into our lives. But when you gain momentum, when you're moving forward, continue doing so.

Thought for The Day - Out for a Walk - What I found on The Path

Our for a Drive - 8 x 11 Colored Pencils

A rock

A stick

Butterfly wings

The journey, the life, the places, the stops and detours and the never ending cycle of strangers who become friends. Well, I would like to say to you all, if you only knew...

Some people find it hard to believe that I'm a true introvert, probably in every since of the word. They see me out for lunch, laughing it up, talking, listening and generally 'socializing.' Others, seeing me in other situations, would find it hard to believe I would talk at all.

But this is about the path of life, the strangers who remain that way, though I wonder how we're connected. The people who come into my life and for the most part, I always seem like I'm on the giving end. Yeah, yeah, it's more blessed to give than receive, but sometimes...Then there are he people who come and go and I wonder why they came at all. Some had significant impact, helping me along the path in just the right way. Others left me feeling like I was dragged through the mud and they thought they did a favor.

Then there are the butterfly wings. Those who came along at the right time. No dramatic effects or lingering doubts, they were kind, giving and whether they remained or left at the right time, everything is in divine order.