The Season's of my Life

A while ago a young child asked me, "what season are you in?"

"What an interesting question," I replied."Can I think about it for awhile?"

"Yes," she answered, "tell me tomorrow."

It took me a few tomorrows to ponder my answer. 

A week later, I found her sitting by the window drawing.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to answer your question. I had to do quite a bit of thinking.

I am now in autumn."

"Why?"

I knew she would want a reason.

"In Spring we are born. It is the time when all of nature comes to life.

In Summer we are children, the world is filled with adventure, abandonment and the pure joy of living. We stay in childhood for a long time."

"How long?" she wanted to know.

"Until we find ourselves," I replied.

"Do we get lost?"

"Not really but we are looking for our purpose."

"Then what happens?"

"Next we move to Autumn. The time of harvest."

"Are we vegetables," she wondered.

This made me laugh,

"No, but it is a time for us to reap. We begin our careers after years of schooling, many of us fall in love, get married, and have children, just like you. We raise our families and we celebrate."

"What happens next?"

"Then comes Winter. The season of rest. The time to remember the joys, the trials, the sacrifices and glory of our lives, our seasons."

"But in Winter,everything dies," she whispered.

"Yes, that's true. But we hope that our Winter will be long."

She gave me a hug and returned to drawing a picture of me in the Autumn of my life.

I watched her as she colored in the leaves that had fallen from the trees that surrounded me.

"I hope you stay in Autumn forever," she said as she smiled and handed me the picture.

"Thank you, " I replied hugging her.

"And may your Summer be equally as long!"

To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under the sun.
A time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal ...
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance ...
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to lose and a time to seek;
a time to rend and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Farewell Niko!

We cannot measure the love we feel for our pets these beautiful creatures with gentle souls. They are a constant comfort to us.

This beautiful dog, Niko

was my best friend's best friend. Yesterday she said goodbye to him.

 He passed quietly in his sleep. For 15 years she was blessed to have him.

For all that he gave, he asked nothing in return save a daily walk, a belly rub and love.

He will rest easy knowing that he left his family well loved and enriched for having known him.

He may be gone but he will never be forgotten; leaving behind memories of kindness, warmth and gentleness of spirit.

“A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.” 
― John Grogan, Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog

A Privilege To Be Alive

Make a promise today. Say five positive things for every negative comment you utter!

Can you do it?

"You are Never too old to Chase your Dreams."

How many people have reinvented themselves late in life and committed to pursuing dreams that were placed on hold because they were busy raising families or doing things that were expected of them. There may have been no time for adventure or risk taking. Much of life's work is about getting from one day to the next.

But as we grow older we are bolstered by the wisdom that comes from decades of life experience and we are less afraid to take risks. We know the clock is ticking.

Fortified by the fact that we have survived many of the challenges of living we wonder why not? 

After all what could possibly happen?

So we may get rejected, people may scoff at our silliness. But who cares.
Isn't it worse to never have tried than to try and fail.

Nothing is gained from being fearful.

Your thoughts govern your behavior.

Only a handful of people will pat you on the back for your successes and those are the ones who love you. And that's all that matters.

Why do we Grow Old?

“People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope as old as your despair. In the central place of every heart there is a recording chamber. So long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer and courage, so long are you young. When your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then, and then only, are you grown old. And then, indeed as the ballad says, you just fade away.”

Douglas McArthur~

Be Well Traveled

Travel is the manner in which we see man's connection to Nature; the beauty, harmony and the overwhelming force. A great deal of care needs to be taken in order for us not to completely destroy the perfect balance of life.

China's landscape is among one of the most stunning that I have ever seen; filled with green fields, ethereal mountains, expansive rivers and valleys. 

  On route to Guilin from Yangshhuo we stopped at this small farm. As I watched the farmers work, I marveled at how connected they were to the earth and how much respect they had for it. Their backs were bent and their skin was weathered beyond their years yet they still bestowed us with a kind smile, demonstrating great pride in their yield.
The land does not belong to them, none of the land in China belongs to the people, yet they care for it. 

It is the magical dance between the wisdom of mankind and the beauty of Nature that makes both endurable.

Life is the Journey Upon Which we are all Travelers!

Life is the journey upon which we are all travelers. No one knows where the road will end. It began the day we were born and will continue until the day we die. Our journey will be one filled with adventure, laughter, sorrow, and pain. It will be shared with the people we love, and the ones we encounter. They are our travel companions; shaping our path as it twists and turns, meandering like the mighty rivers. Our companions are our beacons in the darkness. They share our joys making them twice as sweet. They share our sorrows making them half as painful.

And when our journey finally comes to an end we must have no regrets. We will be wiser, kinder and older. We will have found ourselves. We will feel content that we have worn out our shoes, tired our bodies, and sated our souls. 

Travel well my friends!

My journey took me to China this month. One more check on my bucket list!

My life partner, travel companion and love of my life!

The Great Wall of China!

The Terra Cotta Warriors!

Pandas!