I have a major crush on soft white light. If you peruse the ethnic section of your grocery store you’ll find seven-day candles in glass jars for about $1.79 and yes…they do burn for seven days. I’ve been using them for years. And, I think I’ll be using this gem for years too:
“The snow doesn’t give a soft white damn whom it touches.”
ee cummings
Let’s noodle that around for a little while shall we?
Here’s Starlight by Muse-love
Just before sleep gratitude:
I want to share this video clip from Last Holiday because it sums up what I’m trying to do for myself and us here every evening. I don’t want to wait until I have a terminal illness to start living extraordinarily and appreciating myself and I don’t want you to either.
I read something on a blog today that disturbed me. The short version is that Jesus didn’t try to change anyone. He loved people as they were so stop wasting time trying to change the system or get to the root of a social problem by protesting—social justice activism is a waste of time. Accept it as it is. Dealing with the outcome is the best we can do, but going to the source to demand change? Another waste. Get off the streets people.
I am not about to get all God-ey here, but I am 100% certain that Jesus was an activist with a social message at the very least.
I think activism is extremely important and of great value:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Anonymous (Margaret Mead is often incorrectly credited with this one)
So, I’m grateful for many things today, but rather than a list, how about a gentle reminder:
Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love.
They are performed by those who temporarily have more for those who temporarily have less.
A Course In Miracles
Just before sleep gratitude:
Just before sleep gratitude:
Tonight’s list is a little different than usual. First, I so appreciate having a place to share this very very very rough draft of my annual solstice card. He and the sun need work, but it’s fun thinking of how cute he’ll be when he’s been redone a few times, though I find him pretty squeezable as is.
Second, I love giveaways that feel special and big. I wanted to let all of you know about the giveaway happening right now over at Kind Over Matter for an on-line weekend retreat with Pema Chodron. The theme is Living Beautifully With Uncertainty And Change.
Just click here and leave a comment about how you live beautifully for a chance to win!
Learning how to be kind to ourselves, learning how to respect ourselves, is important. The reason it’s important is that, fundamentally, when we look into our own hearts and begin to discover what is confused and what is brilliant, what is bitter and what is sweet, it isn’t just ourselves that we’re discovering. We’re discovering the universe.
Pema Chodron
Just before sleep gratitude:
My “just before sleep” gratitude list is simple tonight:
I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as one loves certain obscure things,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom but carries
the light of those flowers, hidden, within itself,
and thanks to your love the tight aroma that arose
from the earth lives dimly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or
from where
I love you directly without problems or pride:
I love you like this because I don’t know any other way
to love,
except in this form in which I am not nor are you,
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,
so close that your eyes close with my dreams.
Pablo Neruda
