Changes. Lately, we have heard a lot about change in our political and financial systems and whether we have seen any real change on these fronts. Well, regardless of our country as a whole, many of us have seen plenty of changes in our lives. This is especially true for my husband and me. 2010 will be a big year of change for us. Our youngest child graduates from high school in June, Pat retires after 29 years in the Navy on July 1, and hopefully both girls will be safely ensconced in their Florida colleges by August. We will have no outside pressures to dictate that we live in Northern Virginia. (One could argue that there never was any outside force telling us where to live, what with free will and all that…but that is the topic for another time.)
Trying to make all the decisions about where to live, what to do, whether to travel and trying to make these decisions consciously, without over powering the other person, was the main focus of our Columbus Day weekend trip to Luray, VA. Nestled in the beautiful fall foliage of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we set out to try to determine our next steps.
Being a project manger in Corporate America, I jump started the weekend by making several lists of questions that I knew we were going to need to answer. I categorized them by topic: Finances, Job Issues for Pat, Job Issues for me, etc. But the first question that needed to be answered, in my estimation, was whether it was in the highest good for both of us to live in NOVA after our lease is up in May 2010. I believe that we needed to think about / meditate / pray / arm wrestle with this question before any of the other questions are considered. It is hard to plan possible vacations, retirement parties, college orientation visits, if we haven’t decided if our furniture will be in storage, in another state or to re-up the lease.
When I explained this to Pat, he agreed with the approach and said it was like a decision tree, that wonderful logical tool of every project manager.
While I like the usefulness of a decision tree, the limitation of the tool is that you usually need to know all the options up front in order to follow the logic of the binary paths. I believe we need to give up the binary approach of a well managed project decision tree and instead look at the decisions we have to make in life more like a well aligned spinal column.
I want to line up the Cervical 1 vertebra, the atlas, with the base of the skull, as perfectly as possible before worrying about the alignment of the C2 (question number two). And I want to get the C2 – C7 aligned way before I worry about the Thoracic spine, the lumbar region and definitely before I even consider the sacrum. I am not saying that I want to ignore the health of the lower back. All the other questions need to be answered and possibly aligning these questions may take more time than answering the first question. For instance, scheduling a moving truck in the summer in the Washington DC area will take some pre-planning and I have already “pre-investigated” a cruise to Alaska, but as real or as fun as thinking about those potential options are…until the C1 is aligned with the bottom of the skull, the date we leave for glacier bay really doesn’t matter.
Obviously, the tricky part here is how to align an individual vertebra with the vertebra above it. We all have different ways of seeking the inner wisdom: meditation, fishing at a quite pond, jogging, dancing, sitting near the Potomac watching the planes land at Reagan National, seeking a counselor or simply being still without music, TV or other people to influence the wisdom we know, but frequently deny, is within us.
Interestingly, once you have aligned each question in proper order, there maybe a whole host of different answers more joyful than just the binary answers you thought about in your two dimensional decision tree. That is the true freedom of using alignment with inner wisdom to make decisions instead of the “if / then/ else” statements.
I encourage you to still the mind, seek the heart, and I know you won’t fail. OK – maybe you will fail…but the effort won’t be for nothing. As Friedrich Nietzsche said: On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow.
Focus on your alignment with your wisdom. Know once you have the C1, C2 and C3 aligned continue to align the rest of the vertebrae and the pain anticipated in the lumbar region, will go away, magically. I will remind myself this and to lift with my legs, when I am unpacking all those boxes!!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Become of Fan of the only game in town
Every Autumn we hear the rallying calls of high school, college and professional teams….”Are You Ready For Some Football?” I saw a show recently that said the reason Americans get away with having NFL games on Sunday afternoons is that Football is a religion in the US. I am not suggesting we all become apostates from this national fervor, but I am hoping to hearken us back to the original turf for these Astroturf games; Mother Earth.
This autumn, we will see a plethora of venues to discuss debate and determine a way forward for us, the children of Mother Earth, to honor and respect all that she provides us.
These gatherings are as grandiose as the United Nations Summit on Climate Change that occurred in New York, yesterday (Sept 22, 2009), to the G20 Countries conferences in Pittsburg, PA, today and tomorrow, to the well publicized and lauded last-best-hope for the planet at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, held Dec 7 – 18, 2009.
If your ticket to these conferences has gotten lost in the mail, as I am sure mine has, I invite you to do something as meaningful for the game as being one of the players; be one of the fans. You can be one of the fans by attending more local gatherings like the Green Festival in the DC area Oct 10 / 11 (www.greenfestivals.org), finding more energy friendly pursuits or simply spending more time enjoying the great outdoors. These are just a few ways to show you are a fan of Mother Earth.
For me, however, I want to invite you to the ultimate tail gate party for Mother Earth that doesn’t require a cooler full of beer, sleeping in the parking lot the night before the game or a funny hat. Whether you set intentions, goals, practice a healing modality or pray, I am inviting you to keep Mother Earth in your thoughts at least once a day every day of the Fall Season 2009.
Our encouragement will let all know that we are in this game no matter how many wardrobe malfunctions we have to over come and no matter how many overtimes we must cheer. We can be the fans whose encouragement the world leaders need to know they will be welcomed back home with the preverbal ticker tape parade. We are fans because, truly, losing is not an option. And with the greatest fans in the world, Mother Earth won’t lose.
This autumn, we will see a plethora of venues to discuss debate and determine a way forward for us, the children of Mother Earth, to honor and respect all that she provides us.
These gatherings are as grandiose as the United Nations Summit on Climate Change that occurred in New York, yesterday (Sept 22, 2009), to the G20 Countries conferences in Pittsburg, PA, today and tomorrow, to the well publicized and lauded last-best-hope for the planet at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, held Dec 7 – 18, 2009.
If your ticket to these conferences has gotten lost in the mail, as I am sure mine has, I invite you to do something as meaningful for the game as being one of the players; be one of the fans. You can be one of the fans by attending more local gatherings like the Green Festival in the DC area Oct 10 / 11 (www.greenfestivals.org), finding more energy friendly pursuits or simply spending more time enjoying the great outdoors. These are just a few ways to show you are a fan of Mother Earth.
For me, however, I want to invite you to the ultimate tail gate party for Mother Earth that doesn’t require a cooler full of beer, sleeping in the parking lot the night before the game or a funny hat. Whether you set intentions, goals, practice a healing modality or pray, I am inviting you to keep Mother Earth in your thoughts at least once a day every day of the Fall Season 2009.
Our encouragement will let all know that we are in this game no matter how many wardrobe malfunctions we have to over come and no matter how many overtimes we must cheer. We can be the fans whose encouragement the world leaders need to know they will be welcomed back home with the preverbal ticker tape parade. We are fans because, truly, losing is not an option. And with the greatest fans in the world, Mother Earth won’t lose.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Spring Cleaning, Getting Rid of Hate Crime Terminology
{Writer's note: The Washington Post challenged us to think of what we should get rid of this Spring. Here is my entry.}
We have all seen the news stories with graphic details regarding a young man being beaten because he was gay or the dangling of nooses around trees in the South. These actions against another human are motivated by hate. However, these are not the only crimes motivated by hate or its many gradations.
Bullying, beating or terrorizing a person doesn’t cause the recipient less panic just because he is the same ethnicity as the assailant. These crimes stem from the idea that the other person is lesser than or not as worthy to have the same liberties as the bully. The crime manifests from the fear that the recipient’s influence on people, systems and governments may upset the balance of power.
This applies to white collar crimes as much as to violent crimes. The possibility that racism and other “hate” crimes are the only ones motivated by hate diminishes our need to look to the root causes for other crimes. Take the current economic situation. The motivation for the actions, some criminal, is hate; total contempt for the effect our actions have on one another.
Why call one action a hate crime and not the other? Society is trying to assuage its guilt and shame for participating in, condoning or ignoring when certain groups had their rights, freedoms and sense-of-self abused. To atone for our involvement, whether covert or overt in these heinous crimes, we want to stand on the bully pulpit, declare that the actions of the new perpetrator is above the pale and punish them more harshly, just to prove our point.
This spring, let us rid ourselves of the collective misperception regarding hate crime terminology. Let us remember that all crimes are a motivated by a lack of compassion and love toward our fellow humans.
We have all seen the news stories with graphic details regarding a young man being beaten because he was gay or the dangling of nooses around trees in the South. These actions against another human are motivated by hate. However, these are not the only crimes motivated by hate or its many gradations.
Bullying, beating or terrorizing a person doesn’t cause the recipient less panic just because he is the same ethnicity as the assailant. These crimes stem from the idea that the other person is lesser than or not as worthy to have the same liberties as the bully. The crime manifests from the fear that the recipient’s influence on people, systems and governments may upset the balance of power.
This applies to white collar crimes as much as to violent crimes. The possibility that racism and other “hate” crimes are the only ones motivated by hate diminishes our need to look to the root causes for other crimes. Take the current economic situation. The motivation for the actions, some criminal, is hate; total contempt for the effect our actions have on one another.
Why call one action a hate crime and not the other? Society is trying to assuage its guilt and shame for participating in, condoning or ignoring when certain groups had their rights, freedoms and sense-of-self abused. To atone for our involvement, whether covert or overt in these heinous crimes, we want to stand on the bully pulpit, declare that the actions of the new perpetrator is above the pale and punish them more harshly, just to prove our point.
This spring, let us rid ourselves of the collective misperception regarding hate crime terminology. Let us remember that all crimes are a motivated by a lack of compassion and love toward our fellow humans.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Yellow Submarine - AWAD
Ok - so I am now I'll be humming The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" all day. Just this morning I was reminded what great teaching we can learn from many of their songs. Here is the background!!
I have been a subscriber to the free weekday email service called “A Word A Day” (http://wordsmith.org/awad/) for years. The publisher takes an English word, tells the word origin, pronounces it and quotes where it has been used in a newspaper or magazine. I have been a subscriber for a decade; long enough to remember when it used to be sent 7 days a week.
Normally, there is a theme to the week’s worth of words. The week of January 19th, the publisher focused on words that now US President Barack Obama has said in speeches or his books. There was quite a bit of feedback on some of the publisher’s comments that accompanied those words and the publisher shared those comments with the readers in the weekly “Compendium of Feedback.” That is what has sparked my blog entry today.
Some of the feed back was on Mr. Obama’s use of words which makes sense considering the forum. Plus, there was feedback in favor of the new President and others expressing displeasure at the unveiled support of Mr. Obama’s presidency that the publisher shows.
My favorite visceral comment was from a reader who doesn’t agree with Mr. Obama’s fiscal policies. This AWAD reader’s comments included a derisive tone that it wasn’t rational for a policy to be based on “each should give according to his ability and take according to his need…” It is not my intention to discuss whether this reader is correct in her summation of Mr. Obama’s policies nor indeed whether I agree with said policies.
Instead, there are many universal truths that we could debate in this one statement, "each should give according to his ability and take according to his need." One of these pearls of wisdom might be that Divine Responsibility and Divine Compassion can be used in the same sentence as examples of principles for which we all should strive. But my immediate response to the statement was to hearken back to the lyrics from the Beatles song, “Yellow Submarine”.
“As we live a life of ease
Every one of us is all we need, (is all we need).”
What a great sentiment! The line doesn’t say that we all HAVE all we need. It says that we ARE all we need. WOW. What a wonderful way of remembering the essence of what is truly important; not the having, not the taking, but the being. And in the being, we are all we need.
Couple this concept with a previous stanza of:
“And our friends are all aboard,
Many more of them live next door,
And the band begins to play.”
We start to see the benefits of viewing this earth as a place where we all live and thrive together; only not just living and not just thriving. We are living and thriving in joy. I would find in nigh impossible to listen to this song and not have loving joyful thoughts for my shipmates and those living next door.
Here is to a life of peace and ease where we rely on all and none! Let the band begin to play! Namaste.
I have been a subscriber to the free weekday email service called “A Word A Day” (http://wordsmith.org/awad/) for years. The publisher takes an English word, tells the word origin, pronounces it and quotes where it has been used in a newspaper or magazine. I have been a subscriber for a decade; long enough to remember when it used to be sent 7 days a week.
Normally, there is a theme to the week’s worth of words. The week of January 19th, the publisher focused on words that now US President Barack Obama has said in speeches or his books. There was quite a bit of feedback on some of the publisher’s comments that accompanied those words and the publisher shared those comments with the readers in the weekly “Compendium of Feedback.” That is what has sparked my blog entry today.
Some of the feed back was on Mr. Obama’s use of words which makes sense considering the forum. Plus, there was feedback in favor of the new President and others expressing displeasure at the unveiled support of Mr. Obama’s presidency that the publisher shows.
My favorite visceral comment was from a reader who doesn’t agree with Mr. Obama’s fiscal policies. This AWAD reader’s comments included a derisive tone that it wasn’t rational for a policy to be based on “each should give according to his ability and take according to his need…” It is not my intention to discuss whether this reader is correct in her summation of Mr. Obama’s policies nor indeed whether I agree with said policies.
Instead, there are many universal truths that we could debate in this one statement, "each should give according to his ability and take according to his need." One of these pearls of wisdom might be that Divine Responsibility and Divine Compassion can be used in the same sentence as examples of principles for which we all should strive. But my immediate response to the statement was to hearken back to the lyrics from the Beatles song, “Yellow Submarine”.
“As we live a life of ease
Every one of us is all we need, (is all we need).”
What a great sentiment! The line doesn’t say that we all HAVE all we need. It says that we ARE all we need. WOW. What a wonderful way of remembering the essence of what is truly important; not the having, not the taking, but the being. And in the being, we are all we need.
Couple this concept with a previous stanza of:
“And our friends are all aboard,
Many more of them live next door,
And the band begins to play.”
We start to see the benefits of viewing this earth as a place where we all live and thrive together; only not just living and not just thriving. We are living and thriving in joy. I would find in nigh impossible to listen to this song and not have loving joyful thoughts for my shipmates and those living next door.
Here is to a life of peace and ease where we rely on all and none! Let the band begin to play! Namaste.
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Times In Which We Live
(Author's note: I wrote this is July hoping it would be published this fall in a holistic magazine. Please enjoy the energy and sentiments of it, now. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, giving gratitude for all that is.... And May you feel the love, joy and abundance of the universe, within you, always. Namaste. Lori)
As a practitioner of energy work, I have had occasion to discuss these seemingly terrifying times in which we live with like minded entrepreneurs. As disposable incomes become more disposed on fuel and food, and vacations become “stacations”, holistic entrepreneurs and purveyors of healthy foods and lifestyles are wondering whether our services and products will be the next trend to go the way of the SUV and boating holidays.
Are our services nice-to-haves that promote peace, health and long life, but something that can be put on hold until the economy is stronger? Or maybe our clients might find a different method for what ails them that is covered by their medical insurance.
Others may wait for a new administration to feel secure enough to trust a more holistic approach for their troubles. Maybe our clients, friends and fellow practitioners can wait another half year to learn new techniques for relaxation and better health. It is only a half year, right? How much harm can we do to ourselves by waiting until we feel more secure?
Light workers truly see our responsibility and service to Mother Earth and Humanity as self growth, holding the space for others to evolve and creating the infrastructure for all of us to move together. For us light workers, these times that seem so channeling and wrought with potential for terrifying actions and outcomes are really just the opposite. To paraphrase my teacher, Kris Duffy, these aren’t terrifying times; these are terrific times.
These times are terrific because of the opportunity we have to step out of our hiding places onto the path where our services and voices will do the most good. It is time to step out in the faith that we have trusted so many times before to hold us, it is time to walk the talk of no fear. It is time to walk the talk of universal love, universal energy, and universal brotherhood. It is not time to fall back on the divisive ways of recession, digging our heels in, building our barricades, stocking our shelves, bolting the doors, arming the alarms, waiting for the potential thief to come to us on his terms. If divisive ways worked, we would be home by now. We would already All have reached Nirvana, if divisive ways worked. They don’t. Those of us who know this must re-double our resolve to break down the barriers between ourselves and others. But, most importantly, it is time for us to redouble our efforts to remove the barriers within ourselves.
How do I do this, you ask?
First, we all need to look at how we spend our time, not just our money. Does the time we spend further us on the path we seek? Or are we simply waiting for the clock hands to move to the next position that we prefer…the evening cocktail hour? The weekend? Don’t get me wrong. I think Miller Time is a divine time of the day. But, so is oatmeal time, service time, walking time and devotion time.
Do we use our time to further our efforts or thwart them? Can we, in good conscience, say that a force outside of ourselves is hindering us from moving forward? Or do we remember that all pressure and power is within? The trouble with realizing that all the power is within us is that we then only have ourselves to blame (or congratulate, for that matter) for our situation.
Thus, we need to spend more time on the actions that affirm ourselves and our path and eliminate those that don’t. Then, as the old phrase goes, follow your bliss and the money will come. Once you sort out how you spend your time and whether you are doing the things that thrill your soul, you will prioritize how financial resources are spent and obtained.
Secondly, we need to remember that true abundance doesn’t have that much to do with financial security. Try this exercise. Make a list of what makes you feel truly abundant. I bet the items on the list will look more like “smelling the warm grass on the community greenbelts”, “sitting in meditation” and “quietly contemplating the unlimited abundance of the universe” than it does “saving for the larger house complete with maid service” or “billing an extra 3 hours a week”.
Finally, consider how you feel about your own security. Do you feel secure in your daily activities as they exist today? If not, waiting for a new administration, a new protector or a new rescuer won’t help the matter. The answer to our troubles, indeed to the condition of the country and world as a whole, is where it has always been; inside each one of us.
Inside each one of us, individually and collectively, is the security we seek, is the abundance we crave, and is the love we desire. We only need to remember the vast unlimitedness that is our true self and work toward merging with this energy daily. Inside each one of us is the power to create and destroy our own plight and our own pathway. Reach for the invitation that the universe offers us. Inside our daily practice to grow and evolve, to help our fellow man, is the power to change our situation from terrifying to terrific.
As a practitioner of energy work, I have had occasion to discuss these seemingly terrifying times in which we live with like minded entrepreneurs. As disposable incomes become more disposed on fuel and food, and vacations become “stacations”, holistic entrepreneurs and purveyors of healthy foods and lifestyles are wondering whether our services and products will be the next trend to go the way of the SUV and boating holidays.
Are our services nice-to-haves that promote peace, health and long life, but something that can be put on hold until the economy is stronger? Or maybe our clients might find a different method for what ails them that is covered by their medical insurance.
Others may wait for a new administration to feel secure enough to trust a more holistic approach for their troubles. Maybe our clients, friends and fellow practitioners can wait another half year to learn new techniques for relaxation and better health. It is only a half year, right? How much harm can we do to ourselves by waiting until we feel more secure?
Light workers truly see our responsibility and service to Mother Earth and Humanity as self growth, holding the space for others to evolve and creating the infrastructure for all of us to move together. For us light workers, these times that seem so channeling and wrought with potential for terrifying actions and outcomes are really just the opposite. To paraphrase my teacher, Kris Duffy, these aren’t terrifying times; these are terrific times.
These times are terrific because of the opportunity we have to step out of our hiding places onto the path where our services and voices will do the most good. It is time to step out in the faith that we have trusted so many times before to hold us, it is time to walk the talk of no fear. It is time to walk the talk of universal love, universal energy, and universal brotherhood. It is not time to fall back on the divisive ways of recession, digging our heels in, building our barricades, stocking our shelves, bolting the doors, arming the alarms, waiting for the potential thief to come to us on his terms. If divisive ways worked, we would be home by now. We would already All have reached Nirvana, if divisive ways worked. They don’t. Those of us who know this must re-double our resolve to break down the barriers between ourselves and others. But, most importantly, it is time for us to redouble our efforts to remove the barriers within ourselves.
How do I do this, you ask?
First, we all need to look at how we spend our time, not just our money. Does the time we spend further us on the path we seek? Or are we simply waiting for the clock hands to move to the next position that we prefer…the evening cocktail hour? The weekend? Don’t get me wrong. I think Miller Time is a divine time of the day. But, so is oatmeal time, service time, walking time and devotion time.
Do we use our time to further our efforts or thwart them? Can we, in good conscience, say that a force outside of ourselves is hindering us from moving forward? Or do we remember that all pressure and power is within? The trouble with realizing that all the power is within us is that we then only have ourselves to blame (or congratulate, for that matter) for our situation.
Thus, we need to spend more time on the actions that affirm ourselves and our path and eliminate those that don’t. Then, as the old phrase goes, follow your bliss and the money will come. Once you sort out how you spend your time and whether you are doing the things that thrill your soul, you will prioritize how financial resources are spent and obtained.
Secondly, we need to remember that true abundance doesn’t have that much to do with financial security. Try this exercise. Make a list of what makes you feel truly abundant. I bet the items on the list will look more like “smelling the warm grass on the community greenbelts”, “sitting in meditation” and “quietly contemplating the unlimited abundance of the universe” than it does “saving for the larger house complete with maid service” or “billing an extra 3 hours a week”.
Finally, consider how you feel about your own security. Do you feel secure in your daily activities as they exist today? If not, waiting for a new administration, a new protector or a new rescuer won’t help the matter. The answer to our troubles, indeed to the condition of the country and world as a whole, is where it has always been; inside each one of us.
Inside each one of us, individually and collectively, is the security we seek, is the abundance we crave, and is the love we desire. We only need to remember the vast unlimitedness that is our true self and work toward merging with this energy daily. Inside each one of us is the power to create and destroy our own plight and our own pathway. Reach for the invitation that the universe offers us. Inside our daily practice to grow and evolve, to help our fellow man, is the power to change our situation from terrifying to terrific.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Washington Post Letter to the Editor
Hi All,
I was enjoying a morning in our back court yard lingering over eating breakfast outside and reading the Washington Post, yesterday. I was reading the Op-ed page and disagreed with something one of the authors said regarding whether peaceful measures have ever stopped war-like behavior. I then meditated for a while and realized I should probably write a letter to the editor explaining my ideas on the topic. Well, low and behold, they published my letter to the editor today.
So - I will put the original link from yesterday's paper and the link to my letter, today.
Op-ed page, July 24, Topic A: Obama in Berlin. Click on the comments by Michael Rubin.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/24/AR2008072403148.html
Letter to the Editor on July 25, What even a strong military can't do
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/25/AR2008072503165.html
Enjoy.
Namaste.
I was enjoying a morning in our back court yard lingering over eating breakfast outside and reading the Washington Post, yesterday. I was reading the Op-ed page and disagreed with something one of the authors said regarding whether peaceful measures have ever stopped war-like behavior. I then meditated for a while and realized I should probably write a letter to the editor explaining my ideas on the topic. Well, low and behold, they published my letter to the editor today.
So - I will put the original link from yesterday's paper and the link to my letter, today.
Op-ed page, July 24, Topic A: Obama in Berlin. Click on the comments by Michael Rubin.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/24/AR2008072403148.html
Letter to the Editor on July 25, What even a strong military can't do
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/25/AR2008072503165.html
Enjoy.
Namaste.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Arbor Day
I am the tree in your neighbor’s courtyard. I hang over into your courtyard with the imposing and un-apologetic-right-to-be-here only surpassed by teenagers at a mall, all in your face, talking on the phone assuming the world wants to hear what should be a private conversation.
I am here. I will drop non human edible cherries on the courtyard, staining the brickwork, tripping you up if you don’t notice another cherry has fallen and you roll just a little with the momentary loss of footing. I laugh a little when that happens. Not because I want you to fall, but because I want to be noticed. I don’t want to be taken for granted.
Then, I laugh even harder when, amongst my many branches, a squirrel takes a bite of the non human edible cherries and drops the un-wanted portion on you as you eat your human food while sunning in the courtyard. Yes, this makes me laugh and smile and take full enjoyment of the interconnection of us all. Me, the squirrel, the sun, and you. We are all in sync, laughing, loving and doing what we do best.
But, I remember when the rains and winds came in a couple months ago. There was so much moisture in my spring foliage that a couple of my branches gave way, and fell into your courtyard. Nothing and no one other than me was harmed in this situation. And I had plenty of back up branches, so even I didn’t morn the loss. It was simply a chance to downsize a little. This allowed more wood for your wood stack and more light to come into the courtyard.
Your neighbor said that she would have a professional group come in to trim the rest of me once the arborists had time for non emergency tree trimming.
Well, today, the professional came and now you are sad. You are sad because what use to be a home for birds and squirrels, blocked so much sun that tomato plants wouldn’t bear fruit and instead bore non edible cherries that shed itself in a raking mess, won’t be doing that for a long time. All my branches have been cut 6 feet. I look sick. I look like the people who have gone on radical diets or had their stomachs stapled and now look unhealthier than they did when they were clearly overweight. So – it seems with tree pruning, as well as dieting; very few know the benefits of moderation.
You tell me you regret having ever thought or expressed one complaint about me, for I am now a eunuch, without strength or power to guard. I am home to no birds, no squirrels and no shade.
The only saving grace is, similar to most people who have lap band surgery, my virility, my passion, my appetite isn’t really measured by my girth, but by my heart. I look forward to the day I am an imposing being again; the day of joy when the squirrel once again drops cherries on your head. I know you look forward to that, too.
I am here. I will drop non human edible cherries on the courtyard, staining the brickwork, tripping you up if you don’t notice another cherry has fallen and you roll just a little with the momentary loss of footing. I laugh a little when that happens. Not because I want you to fall, but because I want to be noticed. I don’t want to be taken for granted.
Then, I laugh even harder when, amongst my many branches, a squirrel takes a bite of the non human edible cherries and drops the un-wanted portion on you as you eat your human food while sunning in the courtyard. Yes, this makes me laugh and smile and take full enjoyment of the interconnection of us all. Me, the squirrel, the sun, and you. We are all in sync, laughing, loving and doing what we do best.
But, I remember when the rains and winds came in a couple months ago. There was so much moisture in my spring foliage that a couple of my branches gave way, and fell into your courtyard. Nothing and no one other than me was harmed in this situation. And I had plenty of back up branches, so even I didn’t morn the loss. It was simply a chance to downsize a little. This allowed more wood for your wood stack and more light to come into the courtyard.
Your neighbor said that she would have a professional group come in to trim the rest of me once the arborists had time for non emergency tree trimming.
Well, today, the professional came and now you are sad. You are sad because what use to be a home for birds and squirrels, blocked so much sun that tomato plants wouldn’t bear fruit and instead bore non edible cherries that shed itself in a raking mess, won’t be doing that for a long time. All my branches have been cut 6 feet. I look sick. I look like the people who have gone on radical diets or had their stomachs stapled and now look unhealthier than they did when they were clearly overweight. So – it seems with tree pruning, as well as dieting; very few know the benefits of moderation.
You tell me you regret having ever thought or expressed one complaint about me, for I am now a eunuch, without strength or power to guard. I am home to no birds, no squirrels and no shade.
The only saving grace is, similar to most people who have lap band surgery, my virility, my passion, my appetite isn’t really measured by my girth, but by my heart. I look forward to the day I am an imposing being again; the day of joy when the squirrel once again drops cherries on your head. I know you look forward to that, too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
