Happiness

"Happiness is like a butterfly: The more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder."

— Henry David Thoreau

Connecting Light

Albert Einstein:

A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

Albert Einstein

Morphic Fields

The Hundredth Monkey

by Ken Keyes, jr.

The Japanese monkey, Macaca fuscata, had been observed in the wild for a period of over 30 years.

In 1952, on the island of Koshima, scientists were providing monkeys with sweet potatoes dropped in the sand. The monkeys liked the taste of the raw sweet potatoes, but they found the dirt unpleasant.

An 18-month-old female named Imo found she could solve the problem by washing the potatoes in a nearby stream. She taught this trick to her mother. Her playmates also learned this new way and they taught their mothers too.

This cultural innovation was gradually picked up by various monkeys before the eyes of the scientists.

Between 1952 and 1958 all the young monkeys learned to wash the sandy sweet potatoes to make them more palatable.

Only the adults who imitated their children learned this social improvement. Other adults kept eating the dirty sweet potatoes.

Then something startling took place. In the autumn of 1958, a certain number of Koshima monkeys were washing sweet potatoes -- the exact number is not known.

Let us suppose that when the sun rose one morning there were 99 monkeys on Koshima Island who had learned to wash their sweet potatoes.

Let's further suppose that later that morning, the hundredth monkey learned to wash potatoes.

THEN IT HAPPENED!

By that evening almost everyone in the tribe was washing sweet potatoes before eating them.

The added energy of this hundredth monkey somehow created an ideological breakthrough!

But notice.

A most surprising thing observed by these scientists was that the habit of washing sweet potatoes then jumped over the sea --

Colonies of monkeys on other islands and the mainland troop of monkeys at Takasakiyama began washing their sweet potatoes.

Thus, when a certain critical number achieves an awareness, this new awareness may be communicated from mind to mind.

Although the exact number may vary, this Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon means that when only a limited number of people know of a new way, it may remain the conscious property of these people.

But there is a point at which if only one more person tunes-in to a new awareness, a field is strengthened so that this awareness is picked up by almost everyone!

(from the book "The Hundredth Monkey" by Ken Keyes, jr. The book is not copyrighted and the material may be reproduced in whole or in part. You can look at the whole book also.)

Spring Light

Butterflies
Blossoms
Green
Welcome Spring

A Duck Tale

A True Duck Story From San Antonio ....
Something really cute happened in downtown San Antonio this week. Michael R.
is now an accounting clerk at Frost Bank and works downtown in a second story
office building. Several weeks ago, he watched a mother duck choose the concrete
awning outside his window as the unlikely place to build a nest above the sidewalk.

The mallard laid ten eggs in a nest in the corner of the planter that is perched over
10 feet in the air. She dutifully kept the eggs warm for weeks, and Monday
afternoon all of her ten ducklings hatched.

Michael worried all night how the momma duck was going to get those babies safely off their perch in a busy, downtown, urban environment to take to water, which typically happens in the first 48 hours of a duck hatching. Tuesday morning, Michael watched the mother duck encourage her babies to the edge of the perch with the intent to show them how to jump off!


The mother flew down below and started quacking to her babies above. In his disbelief Michael watched as the first fuzzy newborn toddled to the edge and astonishingly leapt into thin air, crashing onto the cement below. Michael couldn't stand to watch this risky effort. He dashed out of his office and ran down the stairs to the sidewalk where the first obedient duckling was stuporing near its mother from the near fatal fall.

As the second one took the plunge, Michael jumped forward and caught it with his bare hands before it hit the concrete. safe and sound, he set it by the momma and the other stunned sibling, still recovering from its painful leap.

One by one the babies continued to jump. Each time Michael hid under the awning just to reach out in the nick of time as the duckling made its free fall. The downtown sidewalk came to a standstill.
Time after time, Michael was able to catch the remaining 8 and set them by their approving mother.

At this point Michael realized the duck family had only made part of its dangerous journey.
They had 2 full blocks to walk across traffic, crosswalks, curbs, and pedestrians to get to the closest open water, the San Antonio River . The on looking office secretaries and several San Antonio police officers joined in. They brought an empty copy paper box to collect the babies.
They carefully corralled them, with the mother's approval, and loaded them in the container.
Michael held the box low enough for the mom to see her brood. He then slowly navigated through the downtown streets toward the San Antonio River The mother waddled behind and kept her babies in sight.

As they reached the river, the mother took over and passed him, jumping into the river and quacking loudly. At the water's edge, he tipped the box and helped shepherd the babies toward the water and to their mother after their adventurous ride.

All ten darling ducklings safely made it into the water and paddled up snugly to momma.
Michael said the mom swam in circles, looking back toward the beaming bank bookkeeper, and proudly quacking.

Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly. And leave the rest to God.

Passing the Purple Hat-Words of Wisdom

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it ... . live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!

Passing on the Gift

Heifer International is an organization I support on an annual basis. For the month of April, they are focusing on remembering that we each have wonderful gifts to share with the world. Whether that gift is time, skills or resources, we each have something that can positively affect the journey of others.

Web of Light

I am memory alive
not just a name
but an intricate part
of this web of motion
meaning: earth, sky, stars circling
my heart
centrifugal
...Joy Harjo

The Light of the Sun

Last week Parade Magazine had a great article on solar cookers that are saving the women of Darfur. Such a simple idea. Web site solarcookerproject.org.

Refuge

"My refuge exists in my capacity to love.
If I can learn to love death then I can begin to find refuge in change."
Terry Tempest Williams from her book REFUGE

Life's Purpose

We are here
to love each other
and be happy...

Art & Soup

The painting is Tulips by Larry Winborg. It is the featured art for Community Nursing Services 21st annual Art & Soup. It is the major fundraiser for the agency and one that was my responsibility for many years. It is a fun event with lunch and dinner sessions on March 11 & 12 at the Sheraton City Centre. Lunch runs from 11-2 and dinner from 5-9. Cost is $12. You can walk around and see/buy art from the 30+ artists and taste soups, breads, etc. from the 30 restaurants. The art is selected from an open call for entries that occurs in the fall. The artist donates the painting for auction and then agrees to participate in "quick draws" during the event and/or a small percentage of sales.

Light of Love

Spring Affirmation

May the energy of change and renewal accompany me throughout the month of equinox and May my path be aligned with all of Nature and mankind. (Shirley MacLaine)

Dawn's Light

At dawn's first light
Unconditional love
Comes in on four paws
One graceful leap to the bed
Blue eyes purring
Good Morning

Light of Essential Self

In her book, Finding Your Own North Star, Martha Beck asks her readers to answer 25 questions with often, sometimes, rarely, or never. The questions are:
1. My life feels like a great adventure.
2. I feel sure I can solve any problem I encounter.
3. I have fun.
4. I laugh out loud.
5. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.
6 I spend time in comfortable solitude.
7. I am fascinated by things I am learning
8. I feel deeply understood.
9. Things just seem to work out for me.
10. I get so involved in projects I forget to stop.
11. I use my imagination.
12. I do things I loved when I was a kid.
13. People seem to enjoy being around me.
14. I play.
15. I feel perfectly safe.
16. I get excited when it is time to go to work.
17. I feel mentally sharp and alert.
18. I have really cool ideas.
19. I love my body.
20. I'm flooded with love for other people.
21. I do new things, or old things in new ways.
22. I do what I want to, even if it's scary.
23. I'm completely relaxed with other people.
24. I feel intense physical pleasure.
25. I am very pleased with myself in general.

She writes that if you didn't anwer"often" to every one of the questions. you stand to be in closer contact with your essential self.