The Mind & The Sky

"The mind should be a vastness like the sky.  Mental events should be allowed to disperse like clouds."  Longchenpa  (1308-1363), Tibet

This seems like pretty good advice to me, because if we dwell on worthless or negative thoughts it impacts our entire state of being.  So, next time your thoughts get you down, just remember this quote & look up at the vastness of the sky & try to focus on something positive.  Most negative thoughts seem to get worse if you dwell on them, so try to rekax & put your thought in perspective.  Have a great day!

Sunset on Kauai

"With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thurnderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Alligiance?" Jay Leno

Well said, Jay! If you don't want to say the word God, then don't say it, but don't expect it to be removed simply because you don't believe in God or don't want it there. It's not abusing your rights by leaving it in, but it is abusing ours by being forced to remove it. If you don't like it, just do what the kids do these days, and put your hands over your ears and say, blah, blah, blah.

Mountains

"Mountains are to the rest of the body of the earth, what violent musclar action is to the body of man. The muscles and tendons of its anatomy are, in the mountains, brought out with force and convulsive energy, full of expression, passion and strength." John Ruskin (1819-1900) England

If you follow this blog or visit my website very often, you've probably seen this picture before. I shot this one at Glacier National Park last year, late in the evening as the sun was setting. I used my tripod and took several shots so I could process the images in HDR. Some of the colors that you see in this image, were not even visible when I looked at the scene. Processing in HDR, however, brought out the colors that were hidden from my eyes. I processed this particular image a little differently from the previous version to accentuate the warm colors.

Don't Weep For Me

Today's blog is dedicated to a friend who just lost her mother. I lost my mom over three years ago and still miss her terribly. I don't think we ever get over losing a loved one, but time does ease the pain. I hope that, in some small way, this poem helps with that process. God bless you and your family.

Do not stand by my grave and weep.

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints upon the snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain and

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am that swift uplifting rush,

Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft star that shines at night.

Do not stand by my grave and cry.

I am not there. I did not die.

Being Together

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Staying together is success." Henry Ford

Being together isn't always easy. There are compromises to be made and you don't always get your way. It may seem like you're always giving instead of getting, but perhaps that's just your perception of the situation. The other person may feel the same way. The rewards of staying together may sometimes seem elusive, but if you work at it, they can also be oh so sweet.