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Hints of Gladness
May 19, 2022
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
~ Mary Oliver ~
For 30 days (or more) I’m going to post and talk about the things that give me joy. I'm going to do my best to record hints of gladness especially when I go for my daily walks.
To sustain this, and what will hopefully become a habit, I have to keep it as simple as possible, so I’m not going to write or do anything too elaborate other than to briefly comment on what's making me glad and have a picture or two to go along with it.
Take good care,
~ Rod
P.S. If you'd like to join me, let me know. I would love to have some fellow travellers who are taking note of their hints of gladness. Email rod@hintsofgladness.com
_ _ _
5.19.22
Hints…
Birdsong. Always birdsong.
The sun! One thing about living in a rainforest is that it sure makes you appreciate when the sun comes out especially after weeks and weeks gloomy wet weather. I feel like I could Tay-K a hint of gladness picture with every step I’m taking this morning. Also the way spellcheck just spelt “take” above makes me smile. How did it come up with that?
It’s so nice just to be out here. I just saw a yellow canary? I can see my breath. It’s cool and I love it but in mid-May? The sun is out, so it’s going to warm up.
It feels still out here today. I always love the look of these trees in the shadows. (below)
No Merganzer‘s today. Just a tiny wood duck. (above)
A nice long conversation with two trail buddies. While we’re talking, we see an eagle, geese, cromerans, and the crows come and hang out with us.
There’s so much going on, on the inlet today. Seals, herons, and more.
Thought from the trail. It is the wonder. It is the mystery. It’s the “I don’t know what” behind the beauty and not the beauty necessarily. It’s looking through the glass dimly and being okay with that. It’s this moment, then this moment, then this moment and the next. It’s not clinging to any particular moment. It’s “we’re all connected“ but I don’t know how and being okay with that.
The transition from the busy street into the park is so sweet!
Feeling the pace of nature tonight. So tranquil. It’s seeping into me and connecting with my soul. It ebbs and flows but it’s there and the ebb and flow is perfectly natural.
Meditation...
Be with. Be with each thought
as it arises and drifts away.
Be with each feeling
as it arises drifts away.
Be with your breath.
The in breath
and then the out breath.
Be with what you see, here,
smell, and taste.
Be with the beautiful dogwood flowers
as you pass by.
Be with the creek
underneath the bridge
as you walk over it.
Be with the people
who walk or ride by.
Just be with.
Don’t analyze,
don’t criticize or judge.
Just be with.
Let your being with
have as little intensity as possible.
It should be almost imperceptible.
And if this creates a gap
or a void in your awareness
just be with that too.
Simply, just be.
Take good care,
~ Rod
