Forest Bathing

Some years back, an old friend shared about the wonders of forest bathing.  Well, it seems that I've been doing that for a long time.

Just never called it forest bathing.

Being mindful with Nature, being in touch with sights, smells, sounds, and touch of Nature has been part of me since childhood.

But the reminder to be conscious of every step, sound, smell, sight, and touch helps to bring one back to being part of the greater universe.

Go back to Nature but with a more conscious mind.  And be aware of all around.

Overcoming Challenges

In today's tumultuous world, survival means being resilient. Overcoming odds to survive.

Having a life is another thing altogether.

Life and Death

 

We live in a juxtaposed world. Life and Death co-existed in contention.

Old and New alike share the space around.

We try to separate the two but deep in our hearts, we know that Life and Death are indeed partners in the cycle of the way things are.



Breath of Fresh

Little flowers decorate the wedding venue. It's spring time and the rebirth of life.

What colors bring to our lives as we venture into another year of unknowns and expectations, trepidations and anticipations.

We wonder what lies ahead of us as we leave the familiar behind.

We worry that the challenges in front of us may be insurmountable.

We worry unnecessarily.


 

Old Friends Revisited

It's been a tough week and

emotionally draining too.

Life at the office has been challenging and

has sucked the energy out of me.

There is one therapy to remedy this and

that is to visit old friends and

release the endorphins that

had built the bonds of oneness.

We don't spend enough time and energy with our dear family and friends.

Little Flower

In the rain, a little flower stands strong,
refusing to bend or droop in the torrent that falls.


We are stronger than the little flower


What, then, is there that holds us from standing firm and strong in the face of adversity?

Stepped into a church the other day.




It was an interesting building with an interesting mix of architecture and colors.

Couldn't put my finger to a definitive style so I thought it best to just sit back and enjoy the quietness.

Burst of Yellow

It's just so interesting how colors play so much a part of our lives.

A blue flower would add calm and peace to my day.

A red flower would put a different emotion as a white flower.

The yellow flower would add zest and energy to my day.

Choices

In life, we are often faced with choices. One that will benefit us, one that will grief us.

We know not when which of these would be the correct decision.



Nonetheless, we make the choice.

No matter work the outcome is, we still have to choose.

Lightly I tread

Lightly and gently, I reach into the sky.

Each petal, each soft white petal like little fingers stretching to the stars.

Someday, we will be reunited - my spirit with the stars.

Death

In passing,

we mourn our loss.

One an older woman, a great-grandmother

a ripe old age of 99

passed on quietly in the night

The other a younger woman,

not that much younger

struck by the cancer curse

both

mourned by some who felt the pain of the loss

while others felt the relief that she is gone,

that her pain and suffering are no more

relieved that they can move on.

and in the morrow after the last tear has been shed

after the last flame at the crematorium

had been extinguished,

we all move on

on to the daily grind that we must face

until our own journey's end

until our turn to cross the river

Goodbye Carol.  Goodbye Mary.

Similar but not the same.

Admitted but not accepted.

Morning in the Tropics

Good to get out in the morning in the tropics and catch a little sunshine and warmth before the day gets too hot and humid.

Just about the time to catch the sun rising and the birds come through the morning air with their song.

This is probably one of the two best times in the tropics.  That one moment when Nature awakes.




The other best time comes as the sun sets - that brief moment before the world plunges into darkness and the jungle comes alive with new sounds and noises that trembles the human souls.




But for now, savor the morning freshness as the earth dries itself of the dew that comes from the night's cool air.

Arise!

Lent is coming to a close soon.

A reminder that out of the ashes, glory arises.

Out of the mud and scum of the pond, rises the water lily in its splendor and beauty.

I Fade into the Shadows

Because no one apparently reads my blogs, it becomes a chore to even post anything. 

Out of having nothing to post comes an emptiness, a loss of purpose, a search for meaning.

Like a flower that has fallen from the tree, the colors, the vigor, the energy all fade away.

Washed by the rain and scorched by the sun, it dulls and becomes nothing.

Nothing but food for the renewal of the earth.

The Purple Flower revisited

Recalling a post from March 2014 when I first put a photo of this flower and a poem by Joseph Kolawole.

Strangely, while we know who wrote the poem, the name of the flower escapes us.

This appears to be Aystasia instrusa.

We pass by people everyday - on the streets, in the bus, on the train, in the store - and they are often faces without names, without life.

What does it cost to take a second to share a smile or a hello.

Life as with the flower at the top? Or life as with the flower at the bottom.

And the words of Etienne de Grellet echoes in my head, again.

Loss

The earthquake struck. People die. Young people. The pain, the grief, the sorrow.

Beyond words, beyond understanding, beyond reason.

The loss is real. No words, no deeds can change that.

Bread of Life

It's the Easter season again. And though I remember a great friend I had lost to cancer many many years ago at this time of the year, I know that to live life is to move on and make the best of each opportunity.

It's the Easter season again and at church we sing of resurrection and new life - and I will raise you up on the last day. I think of Mom, gone six years ago. It seemed only like yesterday. I look at Dad and I think he misses her more than he says.

It's the Easter season again and late in the evening as I prepare to turn in, Dad walks in and says he's experiencing chest pains. We rush him to the emergency room. I flip through his wallet and finds that he still has Mom's photo in there. I think he is counting his days.

And I worry a little that he may be giving up.

After the sun the rain. After the rain the sun.

It's beginning to make sense to me now.

We will overcome each challenge in life.

A Day Not to be Forgotten

You never forget the day you enlisted into the armed services. And you never forget the day when your son enlisted.

One wonders if there will be a time when he is called to combat. One wonders. And worries.

In this conflict-ridden 21st century, we never know.

So perhaps it is apt that the first plant I chance upon today was the Plumeria rubra - the Polynesian red version.

So here's to all the men and women, drafted into service throughout the world. May courage find your heart as you strive to defend the peace. My hope is that they will never have to use their training, skills and equipment for the destruction of humanity.

John 21:18

There have been too many changes in life in the past month. Some changes that I relish and some changes I seek to postpone.

Life has taken a turn and I am back to where I was in my career. It's not a return I wish to make, having gotten so used to the current work I do and the people I work with. And yet, there are things in life that we don't want to do.

I recall John 21:18

And where I am now is not where I really want to be. Or is it?

 No original photos to share today except this Cockscomb. A reminder not to think too hard but to live life more.