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jeudi

With the lunar new year not far off… I let my thoughts drift to another place and time… in my youth, I dreamed of being able to wander the grounds of a monastery high in the mountains. I knew I would feel at home .. looking out into the distance… hearing the soft chanting of the monks… the sweet smell of incense and sandalwood wafting through the air. I never made it to China but my Mom and sister did… . no their interests were not mine… but they did get to explore and bring home memories of a land that was very different from the world we knew. My time abroad was spent in Japan.. smiles with a soft stirring in my heart as I recall the cherry blossoms… and the rice fields as i wandered and took in life in Japan. I loved it there, but I missed hearing English and French, oui, je suis Canadianne …

We can’t always do all the things we want to… but we can explore and take in the world around us, every day there is something new to discover. We need only look around, and reach out, be open to try something new, something different, try something you have never done before. It’s a thought, think about it.

Once upon a time .. we used an expression, “arm chair traveler” have you heard it? do you know it’s meaning? Now I am an “internet buff” I use different platforms to explore my interests. In person, travel to far distant places is no longer a possibility for me, I’m just not interested in airports, long lines, customs, politics.. I simply want to enjoy life and the pleasures available to me. I am thankful for the experiences I have had, and the many wonderful people I’ve met along the way…. now I make no apologies for making time for ME… my interests, my joy at being able to explore places via the creative efforts of others.. I am learning and appreciating the talent and skills of creative minds that impact my world in a positive way.

I discovered I like being happy. I like sharing that happiness… and if it isn’t what others want who are in my space.. I move on. simply said. life is to be enjoyed.

Always express yourself for the happiness of others as well as yourself.

The happiness of those around you can lead to your own happiness. Cultivate a heart to always wish for the happiness of others.

PL2015.12

Oyashikiri

virtual landscape in SL (Second Life) http://www.secondlife.com

Hello?

Have you ever found you arrive somewhere and suddenly you know you are somewhere, but realize you don’t know or understand anything that is around you. It happens even when you are on home ground. You wake up and find that ..ok yes… you understand the language, but… the world around you, the voices you hear, even though they are speaking a language you know.. the meaning, the context, the way they see life is unfamiliar to you. Sometimes I feel transported by a Telephone Booth (Dr. Who) or I was highjacked by the Star Ship and I’m on a different galaxy. If I blink will it go away? Maybe Spock will walk around the corner. (fictional character from the Star Trek franchise. If I shake a strangers hand, will I get pregnant?

For awhile I thought, “it is because you are over 50 … you’re having a mid life crises.” But.. time moves on and no.. there is definitely a mis-connect. If on the computer, I would turn it off and do a reboot, or hit restart… But this is 2026… it’s real and I don’t think one can just reboot one’s life. I hear a meow and I look over and the cat is looking at me… I can see it in her eyes… you have to go now.. I’m waiting for you to open the window (she means the television, she wants to see the activity outside, YouTube has cat videos!) When I leave in the morning, my routine is to get ready .. I pull out my coffee (cold from the fridge, YES cold! I even fill it with ice cubes too !!) put it by the door and turn on the telly for them before I leave. They don’t even notice my leaving.

Today, I’m late.. getting organized, spent the night bleeding either awake or dreaming. I DO NOT usually dream… Maybe today I should seek out some ” Vulcan stoicism”. When I see the doctor today, I’ll ask him if he thinks my ears are somewhat pointed. OK everyone, have a good day.. Here is today’s PL message. (PL Perfect Liberty) philosophy from Japan.

Live with firm determination, thinking that “this will turn out for the best”

Everything in this world progresses and develops. Always be positive, knowing that everything will turn out for the best.

PL2010.15

Wednesday

Hors d’oeuvres – Onion Bhaji with Tamarind sauce

It is not often I allow myself the luxury of picking these delicious delights up, but after last night I felt I deserved something special. If anyone knows what the country of origin is for these tasty morsels I would appreciate it if you could let me know. I came across them about a year or so ago, there was a package on sale at a local specialty food shop … I thought why not… I was feeling adventurous.. I was not prepared for just how much I would enjoy them. I suspect they are laden with calories.. so I don’t allow myself the luxury, especially when prices have gone up so much. I eat them cold right out of the packaging. (they are found in the fresh food deli section .)

What happened last night. Grief,, sorrow, delayed reaction to the loss of my precious Canaille.

Canaille was a Porti (Portuguese Water Dog) who stole my heart the moment I met her. She and I bonded like nothing I had ever experienced before. We went everywhere together, she was my constant companion, My husband graciously allowed her to sleep with us, he knew there was no parting us.

When he was diagnosed with terminal cancer with only a very limited time to live, I rushed home to get documents they needed at the hospital and get personal items he needed. When I got home, she was having a stroke… I rushed her to the vet… and… well… you know the rest… it was a devasting day for me, but I needed to move forward. I never had time to properly grieve for her… Then recently a friend sent me pictures he found on an old disk I had given him… the above picture was what he sent me… Its been 8 years but the blinding grief, hit me so suddenly it was like it happened yesterday. We can’t go back, life moves on… but …. the hurt, the sorrow, the stabbing reality of the loss …. has shaken me to the core.

Life is fleeting, please… don’t squander time with loved ones… cherish the moments you get to hold them, share time with them… when its gone, there is nothing left but the memory.


Today’s message..

Offer your services instead of expecting from others.

Take the initiative to do what you can to help others. Understand their needs and act swiftly.

PL2020.14



Oyashikiri

Friday

a memory – a long time ago, my husband (at that rime) was the morning man for a radio station in Montreal. The owner bought a station in Nova Scotia and wanted to ensure good ratings, so he talked my husband into doing a stint in NS. I was a city girl, having lived always in big cities, the most recent one was Montreal. I was not amused. But pack up and fly to Cape Breton .. we did. Talk about culture shock… I’m talking years ago, when life was simpler.

While exploring ..one cold winter day, we parked and started on foot across a big open expanse of land, we could hear the surf pounding (the Atlantic Ocean was never far away from where we lived) We used snowshoes so that we could make better time across the snow. As we came to a wooded area, and made our way around it, there sitting as pretty as you please was this small wooden cabin (like the one above)… only it was winter and there was smoke coming from the chimney.

A elderly man came out (Mr. MacDonald).. he graciously invited us in for tea.. to warm up… I was totally charmed, he lived alone out there, he had to walk out and into the little wooded area we passed to his private little loo… in the one room home, he had a wood stove, that heated the home, and doubled as the stove. I must ask Dean if he had electricity, I don’t think he did.. but there could have been a single line to the cabin, for a lighting.. I recall he had some kind of root cellar for keeping things cool.

I came across this picture earlier and it got me thinking… this was a moment that I lived years ago (another life time) but it stayed with me, his genuine hospitality, to two “weird” strangers tromping across his land. BTW the ocean was just over the hill, when we got to the small hill and walked to the top, below us was the ocean pounding in on a deserted beach strewn with big pieces of driftwood. It was doable (getting down) we were young, we left snowshoes in the snow and were able to scramble down the steep incline to the water’s edge. (couldn’t do that today)

When I give thanks for the life I’ve led and all the adventures I’ve had, going to distant shores and meeting with people with/from different backgrounds.. I feel very blessed.

I know this is one reason I keep writing/blogging, I’ve met through this venue so many different writers/expressionist, story tellers, that I so enjoy. Reading your thoughts, seeing the world through your eyes…. the readers who touch base, who relate to something I’ve posted.. L I F E I S G O O D….. and it is because of you.

On Thursday, there is a Thursday Door feature, I know I’m a day late, but I’m going to post to that feature https://nofacilities.com/2025/11/20/yale-peabody-museum/ so anyone interested please visit Dan’s No Facilities site… for more doors.

Today being the 21st. there is a Thanksgiving service (Day of Appreciation) at the church, service is at 10 a.m. If you are unable to attend in person, please, take a few moments around that time to close your eyes and spend a few minutes with us in prayer.

Your feelings of Appreciation become real when you express them.

Express your feelings of appreciation by actually saying “thank You” out loud or by doing something to show how you feel Not only will the person you are thing feel good, but you will too, leading to better things in the future.

PL2014.21

Life is what we make it folks.. I am fortunate to be able to say I am grateful for the friends in my life, and for knowing love .. and the blessing and rewards it brings to living on this earth.

Oyashikiri

Sunday

It was Q’s rez day yesterday (birthday)… I got the notice and realized that I had totally forgotten. I made time to go in to SL (Second Life) (virtual platform) to spend some time with her. Wow she first appeared in my life in 2007.. She was an adventure into a virtual world, there were a lot of lessons to learn. I had to learn to walk, sit, build, communicate with others. Basically exist in/on a virtual platform… I did it … over the years I have progressed and managed to move around and adjust to the many changes one faces in a virtual environment. Photography of course is one of my greatest loves and challenges. I have over 6000 photos on flickr documenting the many changes over the years. I am definitely someone who has learned to live conducting and using my creativity as an avatar to navigate part of my life. The big buzz these days is Ai … which has filtered into “today” world in/on all platforms.

Listening to my lessons, studies, I am getting to know just how much Ai is out there. My visits to the woodlands are more frequent with the changing of the weather, There is something very humbling about being a human standing alone in the middle of acres of land … where a young moose can wander past, or the a call of a patrolling wolf warning you of his/her presence…. joins the chatter of the critters coming to greet you … looking for the treats you’ve brought for them to enjoy. I am finding a balance… outdoors with nature, and indoors with a computerized world…. both take the need to be “present” as an important factor in balancing one’s waking hours.

You will notice that while Q was out, she saw a lot of Christmas decorations in shops she visited.. So yes, Xmas has arrived in her “personal” space. I noted looking out my window last night, that there was a fully decorated tree, with lovely lights on the balcony across the courtyard. Might be time I changed my fall bouquet (on my patio) to something more Xmasy…I won’t want to be out there trying to do something when the weather changes and we are in a full blown “winter” season.

Today’s calendar

Avoid being careless or overconfident

Even though you may have put your best effort into doing something you still may have made some mistakes, that is why it is important to always work with a prayerful mind.

PL2019.16

Oyashikiri

Q isn’t one who smiles much (like me) but she is happy and content in her world…. (like me) =^_^= contentment is a beautiful state of BEING.

sequindo

I recall a trip we took years ago.. we drove to Montana, (my previous time to go there I had flown in, and never did I want to do that again).. So my husband the planner said, “let’s drive there” he planned out the route we would take from here in Ontario (Canada) and on a lovely September day, we took off with the two dogs for Montana. The only States I had visited before this was NY, Vermont, NH, Florida, and California. We drove down into NY State and from there he took us through as many of the middle states towards Montana.. What a diverse geography the landscapes were at times “mind blowing” especially as we got closer to Montana itself. I got to see Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wyoming, Idaho and then into Montana, It was many years ago now and my husband is no longer here to tell me if I’ve missed any of the States we drove through. He promised we’d go back, I had wanted to see Arizona and spend more time exploring, but we had limited time and our goal was my friend in Montana.

What brings the trip back is stories I have been listening to that take place in the “old west” life in the 1800’s and the fact that Brian always wanted to take me away during my birthday month. His birthday gift to me was to take me to places he wanted me to experience.(He had been a journalist and media personality, his work had taken him to all four corners of the globe. I used to love listening to his adventures.. ) Now of course I have to plan and decide my own “birthday month”.. After the years of having adventures planned out for me, I confess I was spoiled.. it is an adjustment.. I find myself, part of me anyway, wanting to pack the car and take off to explore… etc… however… another part of me says, “you’ve done that… and… blah blah blah)

In PL we say ” PL Precept # 1 Life is Art ” every day is a new beginning.. a new canvas.. At the moment I have a new living space to adapt to and make my own… a new “lifestyle” ….

The Excitement of life comes from expressing your individuality

In PL we say it is important to live each moment of your life expressing your true self with Makoto (sincerity) when we can do this we will experience the true joy of self expression.” Learn to live respecting one another and working for each other’s happiness.” a lesson we are reminded of daily when we recite the PL Prayer.

After mulling about what I want to do, and simply not getting anywhere, I opened my calendar to today’s reading…and et voila…

The picture for those who are unfamiliar with the Teepe or Tipi as it is traditionally know.. is a conical dwelling many Native American Plains tribes used as dwellings.

Whatever your day brings, enjoy .. smile.. be happy.

Oyashikiri

Why do teepees have 13 poles?

According to these teachings, the poles of the tipi represent the nations of people living upon Mother Earth and form the circle of life. Each one of the 13 poles also represents a trait to be honoured, starting with the three anchor poles that signify respect, obedience and humility. (wiki)

sexta-feira

It seems easy … just sit back, relax…. let the moments come and go.

I watched a short clip today, where there is a moving ball, starts at one side of the frame, moves slowly to the top (centre) of the frame pauses and then slowly slides to the other side of the frame. The caption and voice, asks that you watch taking a slow breath, then hold when the ball pauses, then release as it slowly drops down to the other side. Lovely reminder to pause during your day, to take a moment to just stop relax for a moment before hurrying on with whatever you are doing.

So often we live our lives on automatic pilot, When I was out yesterday driving to the conservation area I frequent, I thought about how often I had done this over this years.. and how the car just seemed to know where it was going. Ottawa is surrounded by green spaces. We are very lucky that way. I found myself asking the empty space around me (in the car) why I always went to the same locations. Why with hundreds of options, did I always go where it was familiar. (didn’t get an answer)(working on it)

When finally home, I settled down for a wee nap, and turned my iPad on to listen to one of my lessons, but instead of a podcast on male *health/ psychology, a story came up about a woman pilot.. a woman who had military training … now no longer in the military she was on a commercial flight when there was an incident that required quick thinking and the skills she had acquired while in the military,

This was not something usually on my radar.. but I was tired, comfortable, my eyes closed… so I let the story unfold. I woke to a story about a woman living in the wilderness of Nevada back in the 1800 when the land was wild, and civilization sparse ,… She tended a trading post on her own, in the middle of nowhere… stepping outside when she heard movement, she found an injured wolf… the story was about how she took responsibility for the injured animal.. and the consequences of her actions. (women did not have it easy!)

Both stories were nothing I would ever have searched out, but there they were.. … both told of courage, of kindness, of persons who put the safety and what was morally right first. Made me wonder what other “stories” were being offered. Interestingly I found that there are human interest stories .. that speak of kindness and helping others in all walks of life. There are consequences in life, and we are often the creators of our own “destiny”.

Have a great day everyone.. try something different. But keep smiling.

*this is a field of its own, men do have issues and problems specific to their gender.

Friday

View your difficulties as a chance to make rapid progress. You grow by overcoming the obstacles in front of you, one by one. Look at your problems as opportunities for growth and make the best of your situation. (PL2014.9)

Oyashikiri

top pic. Japan,

Lily, gave unconditional love, always!

Reality

Last night minding my own business, the bitmoji ap popped up and surprised me with a new look. Hmm did I do this in my sleep, the bottom one you’ve seen before that is the one I saw some time ago when I played with the ap. The new me, well.. that was a bit of a shocker. Got me thinking.

I try to be my “authentic” self, not a filtered version of myself. The “me” I’ve become over a life time of this and that moments that have left their mark/scars… on my psyche. None of the above look like me at all, at least I don’t think so… hair short yes, Asian eyes, yes, button nose, yes, In today’s world appearance seems to be important.

Yet… somehow … when I look around what I see, I don’t think is what the world around me is really like. I saw someone going for an interview the other day for an “office” position, and the person was wearing a pair of grubby jeans and a T shirt with graphics on it. Unheard of in my day, and then this morning I read where people book appointments and don’t show up, or call last minute with an excuse .. and want to rebook because “they forgot”..!!!

Sorry I am from a generation where such disrespectful behaviour just wasn’t seen or tolerated. OH.. yes the gray/white hair, that is me. I fortunately am in a position where I can shake my head and return to my quiet life. I even thrill when I find a good detective or police story where the there is actually a believable story line and the actors are in suits and ties (men) and the ladies in actually work clothes, skirts, suit jackets, slacks maybe, sometimes. Even the bad characters wear suits, casual slacks and shirts.

But then, clothes don’t make the man/woman … do they… but life experiences do. There are videos, tapes, podcasts, etc. on everything these days, all words.

Words, words, and more words. You don’t even know if a candidate /person wrote their own introduction/resume or it was generated by AI.. I was shocked to actually hear someone looking for work, just out of school, no work experience, complain that they were expected to work for less $ than a friend who also worked for the same company but had 5 years of service and experience in that field. and, it was added indignantly they would have to commute.

Sorry a bit of a rant… but if you can shed some light on some of the comments, feel free. For myself, I will not be using AI in my sharing with you, nor do I want it in my games and interaction with friends, I am old fashioned, I believe in sincerity/ respect for one another…. as a basic requirement in communicating.

Let’s listen to others until the end

When you interrupt or interject your idea when someone else is talking you will miss out on hearing the person’s true intentions. Clear your mind and listen carefully until the end. PL2014.30

Thursday

Whether coming or going, at home or 1000s miles away, There is no escaping, who you are, or what is happening in your “head”. We cannot always be where we want to be, or be with someone we want to be with. But.. always you are stuck dealing with the ramblings and thoughts that wander in and out of your “active” mind. Someone once said to me ” I wish I was on a holiday somewhere” I asked “why?” The reply I got was “so I don’t have to deal with all this “crap” “..”won’t it be here when you come back” I asked. “Yes! but I will have had time away from it all”

Sound familiar? ever have such thoughts? Ever try that? go away… take a break … when you come back is it easier to deal with?

For myself, if something is bothering me, I deal with it. I face it, deal with it, and then “let it go!” One blogger friend, I read took a solo trip … exploring this wonderful part of State that had amazing landscapes… I very much enjoyed her pictures, her adventure… that was a breath of fresh air … I didn’t have to deal with packing, unpacking, crossing state/provincial borders, dust, heat, strange sleeping arrangements. Guess I’m getting set in my ways… hmmm you think!

Willingly take on tasks that are behind the scenes

Be the one who is able to proactively take on the troublesome tasks that no one likes and for which they are not recognized. By doing so, you will be filled with a genuine feeling of accomplishment.

Life is full of surprises, some are happier experiences than others, but part of the journey is discovering new possibilities when we least expect it… I am winding down from the “need” to get a new car when it was not in my plans, or something I wanted to do.. I took my 2019 for her last drive to our haunts in the country, I loved that car,, she was my companion ..my comfortable place to be when the road got bumpy, I hope she will be happy where-ever she lands.

Everything in life happens for a reason, no matter the season… your life is what it is…. Sh#t happens, when we have been around long enough, we know… the only way out, is to focus on the road ahead and keep moving. It is all about the journey.

PL Precept # 17 Grasp what is most Essential

PL Precept #18 Each moment is a turning point.

Love a four letter word that defies any one definition

**no matter where you are, if you have a problem that won’t go away, distancing yourself physically, will not erase that “problem” from your gray cells. You will carry it with you…it will shadow you where-ever you are.

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