Every Day Zen
Monday, Monday, can’t trust that day… Sentinel squirrel, cloaked in brown, white chest bared, standing atop the highest loblolly pine branch. In the distant blue sky, the red shouldered hawk soars. Sighted or no? Life and death matters on Monday morning but to squirrel and hawk, one day lasts a moment. Hurricane Dorian, the storm... Continue Reading →
Rather than play, I practice. There’s so much to learn and nothing to lose. Obviously, I lack the competitive edge, always have. For me, “the only way to win is to refuse to play" (Seth Godin). It is only in the last 10 years that I developed a lifelong practice, and that did not happen... Continue Reading →
It is the belief in story that takes me to truth, blinding as it always is. I used to think it was the act of writing, taking pen to paper, speaking words to screen but it was never about the act. It was the deed itself, the voice that will not be denied. Maybe that’s... Continue Reading →
A while back, Seth Godin wrote a great post about the response, “I don’t like your work,” emphasizing the importance of someone taking the time to respond. Time may or may not be money but for everyone, it has worth. Some who know me don’t like my work but so far, they still like me... Continue Reading →
“Be one with the dust of the way” Lao Tzu says. Effect an evenness of mind in all matters. There is no one way for everyone but for everyone there is a way. Such is the life experience. The Tao Te Ching was written at least 2400 years ago, probably by Lao Tzu (but definitely... Continue Reading →
Whether it is voice recognition, dictation, or Siri, predictive text is not given to the poetic in us. Rather, artificial intelligence assigns labels, predicts patterns. But humans always break the mold, no matter how predictable we appear to be. We fight for words, stretching sentence structure for all it’s worth. Fragments rearrange and clauses connect until... Continue Reading →
Today’s #LongerView considers the wisdom of Seth Godin in “Live With It,” appreciating boundary conditions even when they are regrettable. Somewhat like pick your battles but I take a quick side trip to the Little Big Horn River. Enjoy! As always, I provide the swinging bench. Aim for Even posts offer equanimity a dose at... Continue Reading →
Aging is freeing for a writer, a last gasp of so many why nots? I’ve mentioned wanting to write poetry but not having a poet’s heart, which I don’t, but why not a few lines of verse, from time to time? And because it is not real poetry but an exercise, I use a quotation,... Continue Reading →
Rumi says, “as you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” It is not troll-free nor has it ever been. Trolls have always been available to distract and sow discord. Theirs is not a world of substance but nothing stuns a troll like silence. If there is no reaction, if no one “bites... Continue Reading →
