What do you want? As time goes on, what I thought I wanted is not as black and white as I believed it was.
Years ago, I knew I wanted to be a court reporter. A deli, title insurance, writing and bookkeeping businesses all entered the picture at various times. Personal desires such as hiking, walking, riding a bike and photography have been passions I’ve enjoyed. Volunteering as a domestic violence, Alzheimer’s and canal commission advocate as well as with church, writing and business activities complemented my desires.
Time has made me more aware of the deeper meanings under all those desires. Those meanings included financial freedom, helping small business owners, partaking in outdoor activity while enjoying and sharing the beauty of my world.
Today as I transition from my decades of self-employment and volunteerism, I find what I truly want is peace and freedom. I create peace through my actions and inaction, focusing on what truly brings me joy.
How about you? What do you REALLY want? Please share.
Do you see anything different in this picture? There’s something practically hidden in plain sight.
This is a better picture of a green heron. This one was feeding off whatever he found interesting as it flowed by toward the lock waterfall. This guy stayed easily 30 minutes!
Years ago I was trying to take a picture of a bee pollinating a flower at the watershed. The last picture I shot after I gave up trying captured the bee in flight. (Sorry, I couldn’t find the picture to add it here. That’s one of my upcoming projects – to tag and organize my 10K + pictures.)
I wonder how many times we ‘miss’ seeing something because we’re not really seeing in the present moment. We focus our vision on one thing but sometimes never see the full picture.
That’s true also of so many other aspects in life. We see someone do something we believe is wrong or selfish or…or…or…yet we may not realize the full picture. Erroneous judgments based on what perception and belief we create in that moment result.
The true reality may be hidden from our vision or understanding. As we mature and our vision changes, wisdom grows.
“Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.” Edgar Allan Poe
Can you imagine the effects of accepting such a concept?
Yesterday I saw a Mama duck, I believe, teaching her little ones how to fly. She has her flock follow her to the lock and flies down to the water, urging them to take a leap of faith to meet her in the water.
I’m not sure but it’s probably 10 to 15 feet from the sidewalk to the water.
These ducklings decided to go back into the upstream water where they walked up the embankment and down the trail. They then met Mama downstream. So cute and smart!
Yesterday I saw another mama doing the same thing. Mama was in my yard (on the opposite side of the trail) having difficulty flying over the fence while six much smaller ducklings voiced their distress from the sidewalk on the trail side of the canal.
By the time I took my packages into the house and came outside to see how I might help, Mama was no longer in my yard. All but one of the ducklings had also disappeared from the trail side of the lock.
The lone straggler remained on the sidewalk above and continued to let Mama know he was scared. Yet his fear of getting separated from his family apparently trumped his fear of jumping down to meet them. He took a leap of faith, plopped into the water and very quickly reunited with his family.
We all share a commonality with the ducklings. Sometimes we need to take a leap of faith which scares us. We make a choice to either not ‘jump’ or to move forward despite our fears.
Can you share an example from your life…and share your feelings on the choice you made? Your comments may help others or give us a laugh!
These plants and veggies love the LED lights under my kitchen counter. It’s hard to believe it’s May 2nd and this poinsettia still looks this good!! Some of these plants will be in this year’s garden.
What’s odd also is I heard about being able to grow celery, romaine lettuce and sweet potatoes by putting the bottom cutoff section into water. It’s working for the celery, but I just put the sweet potato ‘root’ in yesterday. The broccoli seeds from Wednesday’s Seed to Supper class put on by the Master Gardeners of Carbon County are in a spot where I hope it, too, will love the lights before they get transplanted into the garden.
Patti and I chipped in for a 4 x 8 32″ tall raised bed Vego Garden. FedEx delivered the box last weekend. The packing tape around the bottom of the box showed evidence of an issue in shipping. Turns out all the nuts, bolts, etc. were missing. After a phone call and three emails listing what was missing, yesterday’s email said it was on its way! YAY!
We went to Lowe’s and got 14 bags of organic raised bed soil. Hopefully we can put it together this week.
We learned in addition to loving the light and good soil, other nutrients, companion planting and TLC will give the plants the best opportunity for an abundant yield. Composting is one of the components of nutritional soil. My research suggests coffee grounds and egg shells are two everyday contributors that add nutrients to the soil so I started collecting both.
Can’t wait to get my hands in the soil so this year’s garden will hopefully yield more than last year. I’m also hoping to learn more about indoor hydroponics and aeroponics systems so I can grow over the winter. I’ll try to keep you informed as the season progresses.
Are you gardening this year? If so, what are you planting?
Tom’s rheumatologist wrote me two words on a sheet of note paper: Wabi Sabi. I had no idea what that was. She was offering the idea to my husband but handed me the paper. My inquisitive mind wanted to know.
According to AI overview Google search,”Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic and philosophical worldview that finds beauty in imperfection, transience, and natural simplicity…” That’s only part of the finding but the rest, to me, is worth reading.
That seems to be the underlying meaning of this blog, a blog I’ve been writing off and on since April 2010! I’m ignorant of the Buddhist philosophy or tenets. Yet this represents a philosophy I’ve been practicing most of my life.
I enjoy biking, even now with few buds or blossoms or leaves. Once spring progresses, all those will come.
My wabi-sabi sees beauty in a gravel trail, grass turning green and an early-morning, cold ride as a GREAT start to the day. Yes, those are gloves on my seat. This morning was warm in comparison to what many, many mornings have been so far this year. Despite the weather, I found myself involuntarily smiling from ear to ear as I rode across the parking lot to get onto the trail.
Isn’t it great to enjoy and appreciate what is? That outlook solidifies my contentment and fulfillment. I really DO appreciate the simple pleasures and gifts life provides. Like enjoying a sunrise, a sunset or a bike ride, life presents itself in the moments. Not always the way we expect or want. Not always at the timing we prefer. Yet the moment is all we all have. We cannot change the past or the future. We CAN enjoy the moment. We can do what we feel inspired and motivated in that moment to create the future we envision.
I envision a season of bliss as I ride on the trail. My first real ride of 2026 was shorter and 9 minutes slower than last year, but that’s okay. I’m starting where I’m at and enjoying the journey. My hand brace bothered me a bit after the ride but the support prevented the issues I faced for the last 1 1/2 years after a fall and torn ligament. Yes, I’m slower. Sometimes slower isn’t so bad. Feeling the fresh air and joy over riding again fuels my passion and enthusiasm.
Yes. As of 10:46 a.m. they say it’s officially spring. Yes, this is my poinsettia Patti gifted me back in mid-December. I’ve never had one that stayed so nice for so long!
The long, cold winter weather (I hope and pray!) is over. Trees are pushing noticeable buds. The geese once again have graced us with their lawn contributions. Soon goslings and ducklings will meander the trail and grace us with their innocence, beauty and joy.
I look forward to riding my bike on the trail. I rode it the other day over to the Lehighton Outdoor Center to get it tuned up for the season. Rode it back a day later. I’m ready for biking on the D&L trail. I’ve been walking once the ice and mud began to disappear, but biking fuels my outdoor passions. For me, spring means I can again enjoy the enthusiasm created, the crisp, fresh air and sightings of nature in all its glory.
How about you? What do you love most about spring?
Tuesday’s temps hit the upper 70s in northeast PA, a rare pleasure in early March. With the change of seasons teasing us, I aired out the house for a little while. When I open the bedroom window and the patio door, it creates the perfect flow to get rid of stale air.
Patti and I went for a walk on the trail and saw Jake enjoying that flow when we came back. He enjoys the change of season, too, no matter how fleeting it is. Temps tomorrow may struggle to get out of the 30s again.
Yet there’s something about that tease that inspires us to look forward to the coming season. On the walk, I took a few pictures that also show the contrasts of the change.
What’s your favorite thing about the change of seasons? This year for me it’s the promise of temperatures consistently above freezing.
It brings a smile to my heart when I see how often and how easy Jake, my two-year-old cat, creates fun. Not once a day, but multiple times.
Jake’s new toy from Christmas
Jake typically gets what many call the ‘zoomies’ at least once a day, too. He’ll run around like a nut from the couch to a chair to the bedroom to another chair as if he’s chasing something. He’s having fun!
I read a column today in The Times News written by Pattie Mihalik. She hits the nail on the head for many of us who are ‘mature.’ We tend to forget what we once enjoyed when we were younger.
I’ve decided to create a little fun in my life each day. I found a channel called Laff More. It’s great! It offers shows such as the Doris Day Show, The Ghost and Mr. Muir and many other old-time TV shows. Yes, some of them are corny. But the programs reflect on an era when TV had fewer channels. The shows shared innocence and fun.
Tonight’s fun for me includes playing Uno or other games with my husband Tom and some friends, weather permitting. Tom and I also play double solitaire on a semi-regular basis when time allows. (Today I beat him two games to one!)
Growing up, board games, cards and Jax were regular activities. Summertime games included bean bags, badminton, croquet and tag.
Yes, we’re older. Some of these things may not work for us now. Yet science proves creating fun as a priority has benefits. A short video from a woman who calls herself a recovering science journalist elaborates a bit on those benefits and how to create fun in your life.
What about you? Is fun a priority for you? If not, how can you make it a priority?
I didn’t. For me, I decided it’s insanity to make a resolution.
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Albert Einstein
After decades of making and not following through on New Year’s resolutions, I’ve chosen a different option.
I’ve chosen to live in the present with my desires and make changes as I go forward each day.
For those of us who used chalk and blackboards each day in school, you understand how erasing what’s written eventually isn’t enough. It works for a little while. Yet without washing it to wipe off the excess chalk dust, reading becomes more difficult. A daily wet wash brings more clarity to read what’s written.
Clarity of my day’s desires after a morning review allows me flexibility to change my priorities.
Priorities change. Desires change. Life happens. A resolution made a week, month or year ago may no longer be a priority. I’ve chosen to throw consistency away in favor of living in the present.
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
I see nothing wrong with making New Year’s resolutions. They simply do not work for me.
