Everyday Courage

I feel very fortunate to be living here, now, in this place. But I know that not everyone is having an easy time. For those who are struggling and cannot find their way I hope that you find

today and always.

Recently I had a small dose of worry and angst when both my cat Gracie and husband, Jon, seemed to be feeling unwell much of the time. Fortunately both of them are doing much better now.

Sometimes, when I fear

the small light I bring

isn’t big enough or bright

enough, I think of that night

on the beach years ago

when every step I took

in the cool wet sand turned

a glowing, iridescent blue—and the waves themselves

were a flashing greenish hue—imagine we could do

what 7.9 billion

one-celled can plankton do—can shine when it’s dark,

can shine when agitated,

can shine with our own

inner light and trust when we all

ring the tiny light we have,

it’s enough to illumine the next step

in the long stretch of night.

— Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Here is Gracie this morning, back to bird watching from the table in my office.

But it reminded me that the one sure thing in life is that everything fades and dies sooner or later. Since none of us (Jon, Gracie, and myself) are spring chickens anymore, I am even more aware of our mortality.

I was slowly learning that love did not mean holding on, which I had always thought, but rather letting go.
― Ken Wilber, Grace and Grit

So it became important to me to seek a kind of peace and acceptance that included the prospect of loss of loved ones without letting it suck the joy out of my life. I decided that I don’t want to live in a state of constant worry about what might happen to my loved ones or myself.

So I have created an everyday discipline of noticing when I shift into worry and consciously pulling myself back to the present moment. My practice is imperfect but it has helped. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve uttered the mantra, “In this moment I am okay,” to myself.

I look around with divine precision and gazing free upon the earth, I see — architects and earthquakes — empaths and robots — fictions and near misses — lives changing, children sleeping, beauty brimming.
I see us — trying on ways of being — so sweet and messy, so worthwhile. Laurie Perez

Seeking Grace and Grit

Finding beauty, choosing the joy of creating photographs, seeking wonder, and feeling gratitude are my antidotes for worry. How are you doing, dear friends? Are you finding beauty and choosing joy in your life today?

Life is messy. Grit and grace come at us fast, side by side. Sometimes the grit becomes overwhelming and diminishes our spirit. What’s good seems lost and gone forever. This is a story about the pathway back to what’s beautiful, when the way back seems impossible.

— Sharon E. Rainey

May you walk in beauty.

Note: In many of today’s photos I played with zooming the lens while making the photographs.

Everyday Courage

Published by Marilyn on August 5, 2022