Blue Moon

As the day's activities draw to an end, my husband and I can usually be found on the porch breathing in the refreshing night air, collecting our thoughts, and forging new plans. To me the night sky seems to provide cleansing and nourishment for the soul, raining down energy on the weary thirsty traveler. As I gaze upon the stars, I also feel a connection to a greater whole as if the night sky is a unifying force connecting all life, now and throughout time. For New Year's Eve the night sky will be brightly illuminated by the moon in all her full glory, the second full moon in December. What a unique blessing with both the night and the moon symbolizing a time of reflection and new beginnings. During this time of saying my farewells to the past and looking forward with great expectation to the coming year, a word that comes to mind is gratitude. I am grateful for all that has transpired, the good and the bad, for it has brought me to where I am today, and I look forward with gratitude for the many blessings yet to come.

I've noticed on your blogs that some of you are participating in a one word challenge for the new year. I had not planned to do this until I noticed the one word that presented itself as I finished this post. I will go into 2010 with the intent of using gratitude as my rudder to steer me on my travels.

Happy New Year and I wish you all many blessings throughout the coming year.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, 1927

Discovering Self

"I write not to be understood, but to understand." C. Day Lewis (father Daniel Day Lewis)

I have found writing to be quite therapeutic, a way to peel back the layers and see what is underneath. I began writing to organize some of the thoughts rambling around in my head, but I never consciously envisioned that I would discover my core self in what came out in my written word. I even recently began playing with some fictional characters just for fun and before I knew it the story began to turn semi-autobiographical. Although the story is totally fictional, I have found I was writing in characteristics of my past, present and even future self. The future characteristics have become motivation to propel me toward some of my goals, which is still, and always will be, a work in progress. I am sure many of you bloggers have found this to be true as well, but I highly recommend to anyone that writing can be used as a way to explore themselves and life in general.

BTW I don't know if anyone is still out there, I've been away for a while. I wasn't actually away as I've been keeping up with your blogs and have even written a few post but never seemed to feel like hitting that publish button. I've been on quite a knowledge quest the last few months, getting my green building certification, studying permaculture and sustainable living, wetlands workshops, planting rain gardens for which I plan to get certified for in January, just took a fascinating beekeeping course and am presently studying soil microbiology. Hmm what have I forgotten, oh I got semi-hooked on Facebook which I swore I'd never do. Hope everyone is having a great weekend, the weather is a bit damp here in the South (by that I mean I'm living in the middle of a swamp that used to be my yard).