When do you wanna start ?

Driving down the highway searching for a radio station because we only have one in Ka’u and there might be something different over here. And the announcer says “I have a challenge for all you listeners out there. I challenge each of you to go a whole day, a whole 24 hours, without complaining……..If you are really thankful you won’t complain.” A long pause, then…

“So! When do you wanna start?”

“Well…. let’s see…” says the other announcer, “why don’t we wait until tomorrow….”

An Old Oak Tree

As I was walking through the woods I stopped to admire a beautiful old oak tree.  Its massive trunk supports an enormous canopy with lower branches almost as large as the trunks of other nearby trees.  I’m sure the tree must be several hundred years old, and I thought about all the change it must have witnessed during the course of its life at the edge of a deep ravine.    Continue reading “An Old Oak Tree”

Sometimes you have to let one get away

One day not too too long ago this critter sauntered up onto the lanai, hopped up on the log, and made himself at home while surveying his kingdom.

Did not pay any of us mere humans one iota of notice.

A magnificent bird !! Long may he reign !!

Best regards to all of you
Dear Readers and Dear Writers

Giving thanks

Today is the American holiday Thanksgiving, and so I want to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to this website by stopping by and reading our articles, by sharing them with your friends, and by writing constructive and encouraging comments for the blog writers.  Thank you for being people in search of new answers (which are sometimes old answers rediscovered) and new questions.  Thank you for being a community of writer/readers, network-builders, and open-hearted learners.  Thank you also for all you do in “the real world” to make places of beauty or clean up the messes or protect the weak.

And of course,  a big huge thank you to the writers both here on this website and elsewhere for their bravery.  It can be a really scary thing to put yourself out there in writing,  on the net.   Thank you for taking that risk again and again.  We need every voice.  I know it sounds clichéd but I’ve come to realize that it’s really true.  We have to speak a new language and for that to happen we need every voice.  

So, struggle on, my friends, with courage and good will,  have a wonderful (holi)day and thank you!!!!

 

Waste Not, Want Not

The annual holiday celebrations have arrived and it seems a good time to think about what we are really celebrating.  It seems the historic and religious significance of these holidays have been overshadowed by consumerism.  Thanksgiving and Christmas have become celebrations of consumption filled with opportunities to eat, drink, and make merry with food and gifts.  It is the time of plenty (often purchased on credit), but do we really recognize when we have plenty?  Perhaps it’s time to pause and think about what our consumption means and if in fact, we are happier for it.

Continue reading “Waste Not, Want Not”

Atlantic.com discussion of the usage of “tribe”

Please read if you will
https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2017/11/tribalism-before-and-after-the-virginia-vote/545408/

The following is a comment from the peanut gallery (author unidentified) that is at the heart of concepts that i had not been able to find the words for… Not only relating to human interactions but to our relationship to the other species and co-habitants of this planet.

Continue reading “Atlantic.com discussion of the usage of “tribe””