The boy is nervous about wild animals that might be stalking around outside. Yet when he hears scratching at the door, he opens it, a bit.

Two poems about loss & hope--one from a grand river, and one from a small creek in the wilderness.

There are lots of things to be afraid of as a writer--being exposed, ignored, ridiculed. But there’s also elation, even wonder, as I write.

He touched the lives of millions around the world, faithfully scattering seeds of peace, compassion, mindfulness, non-violence, humor & joy.

What a strange and sometimes very difficult thing it is to be a human being. And perhaps no period is more difficult than the time of grief

Another song--it could be a modern psalm to the mysterious, the unfathomable, the achingly beautiful unknown. Tender beyond hope.

Never really listened to the words for any Grateful Dead songs. True statement. Never listened to or looked at the words, fool that I was.

I never thought it would happen to me. I know that's trite but there was some secret part of my mind that never believed I would get old.

Sometimes I slow down enough to tune into a tree, enough--perhaps--to hear the trailing notes of an ancient song.

A fearful thing to love, to hope, to dream, to be–to be, And oh, to lose. A thing for fools, this, And a holy thing, a holy thing to love.

Today I just want to share a few poems that have touched me over the years.

No one could discern the roots of that terror. It was strangely elusive, perhaps from a time or place where there were no words.

Something has been pulling on me, calling me to simplify, ease down, clear space to make room for something...new? different? re-focused?

The essence of mindfulness. When I am here, I can feel my feet, feel my breath, feel my beating heart--notice in this moment that I am okay.

Over the past week I stumbled across three short pieces of writing in different places. And noticed a few things that made me ponder...

I didn't feel good there, but sometimes I felt a little less bad. A tiny shift, but it was a start.

This is a good sequel for almost all of the tools I've shared over the last year. In fact, it is probably the most important concept of all.

I'll never forget the train ride home after Christmas that year, as every clack of the wheels pulled me further & further away from her.

"And when I dreamed my dream I awoke and came swiftly....I heard the stars singing as I came and felt warm wings about me..."

A lighthearted song...I hope it brightens up your day, bringing back some good memories--your own or maybe your kids' or grandkids'.