Sometimes Lonely Isn't Sad

Can't get this song out of my head. I'm going to declare it my song of the day. July 8, 2011.

(Hey, hey, look who is getting all fancy. I taught myself how to embed videos.)

Mystery squash & feng shui...

(Mystery squash/pumpkin? that is growing all along the fence. I picked some blossoms off & cooked them tonight. One of my favorite things to eat in the whole wide world. If you haven't tried it, just take the flowers, put them in a tiny bit of olive oil in a skillet with a pinch of salt. Sounds weird, but trust me...it is delicious.)

So, I was able to get up this morning at 6am! Snoozed for 30 minutes, which I felt wasn't bad, considering it was my first day of trying this whole early morning business....AND it was raining! I was trying to convince myself that I could just go back to sleep, since I couldn't go for a hike in a storm, but somehow I yanked myself out of bed anyway. I got so much done this morning on my long list of things to do. I had a slightly narcoleptic moment around 3pm, but other than that, it was a success! Going to give it another try tomorrow.

I spent the day with a great group of people and learned about Feng Shui. I had always been interested, and tried a few things when we moved into this house. Anyhow, I got home this evening and rearranged a lot of my house. I can already tell a huge difference. I had noticed that I was never wanting to sit at my desk...or even go in the room where my desk was. Something just felt off about it. Now I have my office in what used to be my living room & it feels so much better. I can't believe I didn't try this configuration before.

About eight years ago, I bought a framed copy of this (see below) at a Goodwill store. For a while I had it hanging in my house. It eventually got shoved in a closet after a few moves across country. A few months ago, I found it in a closet & started reading it aloud to myself each morning.

(I've seen this with line breaks and stanzas, but I like it as a prose paragraph, which is how it is in my framed version. I'm not sure exactly what the asterisks are about. In the one I have, they actually look more like flowers than asterisks. Anyhow, I'm guessing they just note a longer pause between sentences.)

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. *** Keep interested on your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. *** Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. *** Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. *** You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. *** Therefore, be at peace with God whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. *** With all it's sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.