The Little Things

Here’s an example of how my life is, and how everything is always working out for me.

As some of my friends know I find things during my walks all the time, tools, money, etc.  In the money category I find small change, mostly pennies.  Well, after a while they build up, and I take them to my bank, and put them in the coin machine for processing.  After they are processed, it spits out a slip, you take the to a teller and she gives you something other than pennies.

Today my bag of pennies came to nighty-nine cents, not a dollar, just nighty-nine cents.  So, today it’s a long line, and I’m talking to this guy about why we are standing in line, and I mention my nighty-nine cents.  He offers me a penny to make it a dollar, and I say, “That’s ok, I’ll be on my walk later and most likely I’ll find another penny, and that will make a dollar.”  I go to the teller, get my nighty-nine cents, and head out to the car.  I’m walking along the sidewalk outside the bank, and just before I get to my car I see not one penny, but three!  Yup, my life is great!

Hopefully my friends will get this story, it’s about the “little things.” These are the small, almost unnoticeable blessings of life that come your way that we pay no attention to, that we have no gratitude for, but we should because it is part banquet of life that has been placed before us.

How rich your life is depends on how you count.

Life is a blessing, be grateful for it all, enjoy!

T.

Mattie’s Bush

Mattie’s Bush

There is a Lantana bush in my front yard I call “Mattie’s Bush,” because my friend and wildlife photographer Mattie Bryant would spend hours photographing it from every angle.

Welcome My Love

Even before I understood my need for you, saw your face, heard your voice, or kissed your lips, you were there.

I have seen myself reflected in your eyes as you touched me while whispering the depths of your heart.

You have been my soft place, my wise counsel, my inspiration, my sun parting the dark clouds in moments of doubt.

You have been my tender lover, lifting me to such heights I could easily gather stars.

We have shared horizons, seasons, laughter, tears.

With sorrow you have scattered my dust to the wind on a lone mountain top, only to smile when you realized I was still there.

Everything is as intended, from the moment a first step made, the journey is complete.

The path for us has been long, each day a stepping stone closer to this moment.

Oh, there you are my love, welcome.

I knew you were with me all the long, I could feel you.

The Holiday Season 2012

The message I have this year is so simply clear, and it can be summed up in just one four letter word.

Live

Optimistically

Value

Everyone

 

I have so many friends, in so many places, scattered all over the globe.  They are of all different nationalities, races, and religions, and they all have one thing in common other than being my friend, it’s the love they have for their families, and others.  I am very grateful to have the privilege of being your friend, thank you.  So, in the spirit of the season, I wish you all Happy Holidays, and a prosperous, joyful, New Year!

T.

Early Morning Color

Hibiscus on my back deck.

When I went into the kitchen this morning a flash of color caught my eye, a bud on my Hibiscus had opened.  I have had this plant for years, if memory serves, since 2005, it didn’t cost much, maybe $25 USD, you can find them for a similar price at any home center.  This is the same one featured in “On My Back Deck,” a post I had made some time back.  It’s not had an easy life, neglected, not watered, battered by the storms, frost bitten, etc.  In other words, it’s had the typical treatment a single man would give it.  I am amazed at how it’s “hung in there,” managed to survive, and bloom year after year.

I think we could all take a lesson from this simple plant, no matter how rough things get, how beaten up we are by life, we should stay resilient and keep in mind that someday soon, the sun will shine, and we will bloom once again.

T.

Really??

I am constantly amused and saddened at the way folks are, I  was at Wal-Mart this morning coming out of the store, I was headed back to my car, and  I hear “you f***ing a**hole!”  This wasn’t all I heard, I’m sure I don’t need to elaborate, but, I will tell you it was a torrent of angry obscenities.  They were all coming from a woman and being directed at an elderly man who had just parked his truck.  So why all the fuss?  The woman was driving an older SUV that was pulling a rather long camper, and she had parked it by pulling through several parking spaces and he had just parked in a spot one space past her.  Just to make things clear, this wasn’t at the back of the lot where you would expect to park a  trailer rig, no, not at all!  This was very close to the front, near of one of the store entrances.  It was early,  there were lots of open spots and room to maneuver if she was careful, but she should have known better.

It’s most likely the old man didn’t even notice where he was parking, or understand he might have been blocking her, and I don’t think he did it on purpose.  But, her reaction was as if he had done it to spite her for parking where she did.  She didn’t even attempt, “excuse me sir? could you park elsewhere? I’m getting ready to pull out and I need the room.”  Nope, she just launched into her tirade, the moment the man heard her he just started to walk away quickly, trying to avoid the conflict and get away.  Funny thing is, even after throwing a fit,  she was still able to pull out, no problem, with room to spare.

And the benefit to all of her raving?  None, she would have still been able to pull out without her useless tirade, if anything she made herself feel worse by getting upset.  Then there’s her “victim” in all of this, what were his feelings during, and after her verbal assault?  We’ll never know, but I would say most likely not good!  Sad thing is, I have seen people like this woman before, they go through life angry, THEY are the victims, or so they would say, the world never gives THEM a break, everyone is out to get them, etc.  It’s too bad that they feel like victims, and life is “unfair,” or what other terms they might use, but they victimize their own selves, with their thoughts, words and deeds.  From the condition of her SUV, (old) and trailer, (ratty) prosperity was not something enjoyed in her world.  The trailer was obviously her and her companion’s home, they were not on vacation, it had Illinois plates, and they took the southbound ramp to the Interstate, most likely heading to Florida, where there’s a job to be had, that won’t work out, because the new boss is a…….  well, you can guess that one!

Lesson:  Mind your thoughts, words, actions, you only harm yourself, if someone inadvertently gets in your way, causes problems, harms you, temper your reaction  with patience, kindness, everyone make mistakes, don’t let your’s be one of anger.

T.

Mattie’s Eyes

Mattie’s eyes are of the deepest brown, they see.

Mattie’s eyes see.

The single drop of morning dew on a flower’s petal.

Mattie’s eyes see.

The glowing colors of a rainbow under cloudy skies.

Mattie’s eyes see.

Jewels on the beach cast up by a generous sea.

Mattie’s eyes see.

The full Moon set against a starry night’s sky.

Mattie’s eyes see.

The the fiery colors of the evening sunset.

Mattie’s eyes see.

The field of freshly mown hay, the mountain, the waterfall, the babbling brook.

Mattie’s eyes see.

All the beautiful and wondrous gifts of nature.

Mattie’s eyes are of the deepest brown, they see, her finger moves, the shutter and aperture obey her command. Frame by frame, we see the world as seen through Mattie’s eyes.

Goodbye 2011

In a few hours 2011 will be over.  I’ve had some mixed feelings about it, in a lot of ways it has been a rough year.  I have had two of my 2010 wedding clients lose their Mothers to cancer, both died too young, a friend lost his brother, and in the same month endured the devastation of a hurricane, adding to that, my own Mother passed away.  Our country has been through some hard times, the bad economy, literally every country in the world hates us, or at the very minimum does not respect us, and our leaders are so wrapped up in their own selfish desires they have forgotten that they are the trustees of our nation.

You might say I should damn this year to hell, but, I can’t.  In many instances of these “bad things,” I have had my friends and adopted family come to my aid and support in my time of need, for that I am so grateful.  In Law Of Attraction we say that knowing what you don’t want helps you to know what you do want, so you ask for the improvement, this year it has come in abundance!  With the asking comes the ways for the improvement, and expansion that is the way of the Universe.  So, I did the asking, and the ways came, and because of that, 2012 will be so much better, and so, for this past year I am grateful.

Some say December 21, 2012 will be the end of our world, that so many calendars end, I do not think it will be “the end,” but a new beginning for our world if we will only allow it.  They say that alcoholics and drug addicts need to “turn a corner,” or, “hit bottom” before getting help.  I think we are at that point as a society world wide, we need to ask for the help, to visualize, and ask for the improvement.  To ask, for example, not that our enemies are defeated, but that there is understanding, so they are no longer our enemies and there is peace so that all may prosper.  That is only one example, and just a suggestion, I’m sure you can think of more, just keep in mind, that in the asking, ask for only positive things based on love.  It may be hard at first to love an enemy, or someone you hate, and it may seem impossible, but move from it, bit by bit.  The hate, distrust, greed, all the negative things must stop if we are to survive as the human race. (HU the human element)  The best way to stop doing something is to start doing something else, so love, trust, and be generous with others.

What are you grateful for?  What is your asking for improvement in 2012?  And with the asking, are you ready to receive your desires?

T.

Come With Me

Come with me.

To our place by the cozy fire.

Let us make our plans, to escape Winter’s chill, travel to a far off land.

We will walk ancient pathways, the busy market, the sunny shore.

Come with me.

To our big brass bed.

By candlelight let us love till the hour grows late.

With you wrapped in my arms we fall asleep to the dulcet song of Spring’s gentle rain.

Come with me.

To the highland meadow in Summer where wildflowers bloom and cool breezes blow.

We will spread our blanket on the soft grass by the old oak tree.

Touch for touch we tease, kiss and play, our love witnessed only by the birds in the trees.

Come with me.

To the mountains cloaked in the fiery colors of Autumn.

We ride the winding roads, the engine sings, our wheels scatter the fallen leaves as we pass.

Your arms are wrapped around my waist, a gentle squeeze assures me of your trust and love.

Come with me.

To the cozy fire.

To our bed.

To the highland meadow.

To the winding road.

Come with me, be my love.

Not just for now, but for our endless seasons to come.

A Summer’s Day

We gathered on a midsummer’s day, friends, family,  joyous all.

The time had come, pledge for pledge, our promise of two lives as one.

Celebrating, we danced under evening’s magenta sky, we danced

till the stars came to bid us farewell and goodnight.

Today was our gateway, we now walk the path hand in hand.

T.