I hurt my knee in an impulsive, spontaneous moment of trying (too) hard. I heard a “pop” and was down on the ground, writhing in silent pain.

Almost immediately, images came to mind showing me a very limited, dreary future; no more yoga, skiing, tennis… the images kept coming… pain, deformity, osteoarthritis, knee replacement, disability…all in flashes like a horror movie. It all seemed so believable. No wonder the pain escalated.

Read more: Without A Clue

A sabbatical: a break or change from a normal routine.

According to Merriam Webster, it is to happen every 7 years. (Oops, I am 7 years late).

A sabbatical intends for rest, travel or research. I drop the “or” and make it “and,” rest, travel and research. Yes.

Read more: I Wore Through Another Pair of Carharts

One of my mother’s many mottoes was, “Make your trip count.” If I was running upstairs to my bedroom, her voice would echo off the walls, “Take up the laundry, Jenny. Make your trip count!” If I was heading down the cellar (Old school Mainer’s don’t call it a basement.), I had to bring down some random items she wanted down there for storage. I would roll my eyes and follow her demands.

Read more: Make Your Trip Count

True confessions… as a teenager, as much as I could get away with, I would steal away to McDonald’s and partake in a Big Mac, large fry, diet coke and hot fudge sundae. This was heavenly to me. In college I could eat (proudly) 5 cheeseburgers in one sitting. On weekends at the college cafeteria, I would fill a cereal bowl with cream cheese, toast two bagels, (not 2 halves), smearing and piling the white on white high and wide, topped with jam. Scrumptious! And this was just the warm-up for breakfast.

Read more: The Pendulum Swings

Regardless of my opinion about it, reality happens. There are two ways of dealing with it, with peace or with resistance. If I am in resistance, it is coming from inside of me. If I am at peace, it is coming from inside of me. The circumstances are always changing and if my peace or happiness depends on Reality being a certain way, well... I will always loose to the Lord of Reality. It seems like a kind option to be internally at peace with whatever manifests in each moment.

Read more: Reality Happens

All things in this creation exist within you, and all things in you exist in creation; there is no border between you and the closest thing, and there is no distance between you and the farthest thing, and all things, from the lowest to the loftiest, from the smallest to the greatest, are within you as equal things. In one atom are found all the elements of the earth; in one motion of the mind are found the motions of all the laws of existence; in one drop of water are found the secrets of all the endless oceans; in one aspect of you are found all the aspects of existence… {Thus} “Your life has no end, and you shall live forevermore.”...Kahlil Gibran

She innocently gives and gives and gives. Whatever we want, it’s there for the taking. We don’t even have to ask permission.

Read more: Gaia Giving