The days are getting shorter, the leaves have begun to change into their fall wardrobe. In this picture Chris caught just the perfect moment of sun/shadow… with the background architecture a perfect foil for the artistry of nature. Christopher O’Keefe is a photographer from the States who over the years has shared with us some amazing captures.
Today’s calendar speaks of sincerity, putting our hearts into our words. What struck me the most about Chris’s work is that he often captured “makoto” in his pictures.. ie. this picture for me evokes.. “sincerity”. You can almost feel the sun as the shadows shift bringing the building’s walls and windows to life.
Put your heart into your words. Do you tend to speak in just matter of fact tone? It is important to put your heart into your words.
Last night as I lay in bed drifting off to sleep .. words came to me that set my mind to thinking.. it would be a good theme either for a post or a song. has that ever happened to you, I know many of you blog/write. Writing is not only a hobby it is a passion.. a need to put something down.. to record a thought. I no long know anyone in my immediate circle who writes a journal, but I do have many who do journals… by do I mean they make journals. Either way, it is our creativity that is being expressed.
Back in the day when I was writing every day, I had a need to write, I wrote prose, poetry, stories, I wrote and posted fashion blogs, entertainment blogs, I had pens in every room…. note pads everywhere in drawers on surfaces..(this was prior to the days when we had cell phones/tablets and laptops)
Of course, I knew last night that I would remember the words/theme it was soooo thought provoking and said so much using so few words. I did not reach for a pen to write it down, I trusted I’d remember when I woke… or got up for a break… Guess what… this morning just the memory of the thought is with me. AND you are right if you think I don’t remember what the lines where that came to mind last night… I only recall that it was a song idea that would have been a country song… about love/relationship/longing etc.
I do remember that I thought,… why do so many songs have to be about “love gone wrong” and that I myself, me…. was not relating to the thought cuz I was happy actually content in that moment. happy with my personal thought process… so maybe that is why I didn’t feel the need to jump up then and there and start writing.
Today’s quote is about listening with Makoto (sincerity) in particular in interactions with others. However, I feel that it is advice that needs heeding in how we deal with our own thoughts and ideas that pop up in our own gray cells.
Face the speaker, make eye contact and listen carefully. Listening to people is also a form of expression. Listen with Makoto (sincerity)
Perfect Liberty 2022.15
There is /are reasons that thoughts and ideas go through our heads.. in my case, I think I was teetering on feeling a bit sorry for myself ..I was perhaps disappointed (so ego crept in and reared its head) .. my left brain was going into a woe is me mode… when the right side took over and restored calm and quiet. My inner self, preferred the happy and content response… because that was my true feeling.. I like being happy =^_^= (my ego -I do have one- had to back off)
Think of the timing before you say “but…” When starting your opinion, make sure you are being respectful of others’ opinions. Be mindful of this when you speak.
Chinese Lanterns, celebrations, happiness, they are such a joyful plant, I have the little lanterns at the entrance to my home, and in the house. I know fall is not far when they begin to show up, their happy colour peeking out from the green leaves. There is a lot of unhappiness in the world these days – share a smile, spread happiness – be open to listening – the only constant in life is change.
Think “now is the time” Instead of “it’s no use now” don’t give up by thinking it’s too late. Tell yourself that there is more that can be done.
Perfect Liberty 2022.7
Always and forever
Is Chinese lantern plant edible?
The fruits are edible and suprisingly, are higher in vitamin C than lemons. Care should be taken though, as all other parts of the plant are poisonous. The plant also has a long history of medicinal uses.
Num has just returned from a trip home to Thailand, he shared some amazing pictures which over time you will get to see some of my favourites .. but please indulge yourself, visit his Instagram to see some of the amazing shots he got while there. the next picture of his, was taken during one of his early morning strolls.
Thailand – good morning – by NumOttawa
Your smile is what’s needed. a smile invites happiness and cheer and is essential to energize others as well as yourself.
I’m an artist that likes to have my supplies around me, it inspires me, when I’m working on something I like to be able to simply reach out and grab whatever it is I’m looking for, or think I want. I’m focused on the project at hand, nothing else. During one of my outings the other day I heard a grumble and turned to see a dragon in distress. It had been put on a shelf with Halloween decorations and wasn’t happy being sandwiched between a bat and a rat that were one could easily see, not of his “vintage”
Seeing his distress and displeasure I walked over and took a closure look at him. His claws had been broken off and his tail was missing some of his scales, otherwise he grumbled he was fine and was having difficulty accepting his fate at having been cast aside.
Yes I agreed, I could understand his frustration at being replaced, and being cast aside, but I did explain, his previous owners had not not just tossed him out, they brought him to a place where he could possibly find another home. I pointed out his grumpy attitude certainly wouldn’t endear him to another possible owner.
Clever dragon gave me a shrewd look….” since YOU heard my complaining, and you’ve come over to see what I’m all about, don’t YOU think you should save me from this fate… after all… you know how and can?” Hmm good question, and it was true… of all the people who were around, I was the only one who was paying attention to him. It was the end of August, not too many people were searching out decorations for Halloween, besides he had likely been in someone’s garden, looks like he had been a water feature.
Yes, he came home with me. Now he is fixed up ready to be outside again where he can enjoy the visiting birds and wildlife that frequent the yard.
We all grow old, we all change with the passing seasons, and friends/family fall away, people go on with their lives, and we are left to cope with ours. Dragon felt rejection, I hope in tending to his wounds, listening to him, he will enjoy the next phase of his existence and return to his positive self… After all, as he pointed out.. dragons have feelings too.
Discover each person’s unique qualities. When we approach people with respect, we can understand them better and see their special qualities.
Perfect Liberty 2022.2
Enjoy the process and savour it. The feeling you have when you’ve seen something through to the end is awesome, but the true joy lies in the actual execution of the plan.
This is where I spend a few minutes each day weeding… pulling out the growth in that one area .. slowly the small birds, the nuthatch, chickadees .. are coming to see if some offerings have been put down, The Doves love cleaning up the “floor”… the blue jays are back watching for me to arrive… have even caught sight of black birds .. the wild turkeys are of course still around, they had several months of little to no traffic.. now the cars and humans are returning.
Let’s have a humble mind. Once you think, “that’s good enough,” you become blind to the opportunities to be more creative.
When we are constantly doing something… when the day seems to disappear and you are still doodling, there seems to be no end in sight to the “this and that” that are on your “to do ” list.
Are you overdoing things? Not only do you harm yourself when you overdo things, but you may be imposing on others as well.
Perfect Liberty 2022.29
When we are mindful, we appear to process information with our full bodies rather than simply the mind.
TAOIST Life is Art (Perfect Liberty precept #1)
contact info.- via blogs
--- there are two energies, Yin and Yang = ONE
---to have balance we must live each moment
of our lives.. with Makoto (sincerity)
The only constant in life is change. I am grounded in the reality of Living.
This is true, in all worlds. RL or virtual. I am me and only me.
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