In moments of difficulty or stress, I endeavor to remember to have the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. And I keep getting up, no matter how many times I fall.
I have not written about hurricanes in a little while and yet I now must. Last week Hurricane Helene (category 4) swept up the western coast of the United States, leaving devastating damage and destruction throughout Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. More than 170 people are dead or missing and almost 2 million people had no power. Homes and buildings were twisted and left looking like pickup sticks.
Climate Week also took place in New York City with pledges to triple funding for nuclear energy, the establishment of a new green banks’ forum, and calls for more carbon removal. Education about sustainability was also high on the list so that corporations and the general public better understand the options they have to remove carbon.
I bring up these two topics because they are intertwined. The consequences of climate change are high. If we persist in driving up CO2 levels in the atmosphere, we will continue to experience catastrophic weather events which devastate lives, businesses, and our emotional well-being. We must reduce our carbon footprints, we must work with one another, and we must act urgently. As I have said before, time is of the essence.
These last weeks I had the honor to be part of both a wedding and a funeral. The wedding was for my best friend. It was a joyous celebration and a wonderful reminder of the happiness that two people can bring to each other and to those around them. The funeral, on the other hand, was for a “grand homme”, a great man who was like a father to me. He was young, yet managed to positively touch the lives of so many around him. He taught me so many things, and I will miss him dearly.
What springs forth from this wedding and funeral, two deeply moving events, and the people in them, is the reminder that we must endeavor to live each day well. Tomorrow is not guaranteed and our every behavior has a ripple effect down the line, touching someone else or even an animal. Life has its joys and its sorrows, its ups and downs, and its hardships. And I keep hold of these words by Khalil Gibran, “your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you, as by the way your mind looks at what happens”.
“The way not to lose heart is to realize how everything we do matters.”
Pema Chodron
Sometimes life throws us an unexpected curve ball or an unjust slap in the face. It takes courage when this happens. And so I share this quote which inspired me today.
“No coward soul is mine.
No trembler in the world’s
storm-troubled sphere.
I see Heaven’s glories shine.
And faith shines equal
arming me from fear”
Emily Bronte
Life can afford us many surprises, and I was fortunate to see this double rainbow. I hope this photo and the following lyrics bring a smile to your face. This is one of my favorite songs, the Rainbow Connection and was sung by Kermit the Frog and the Muppets.
“Someday we’ll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
La lala la lala la la la lala la la
Why are there so many
Songs about rainbows
And what’s on the other side
Rainbows are visions
They’re only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we’ve been told and some chose to
Believe it
But I know they’re wrong wait and see
Someday we’ll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
Who said that every wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star
Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
And look what it’s done so far
What’s so amazing
That keeps us star gazing
What so we think we might see
Someday we’ll find it
That Rainbow Connection
The lovers the dreamers and me
Have you been fast asleep
And have you heard voices,
I’ve heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound that calls
The young sailors
The voice might be one and the same
I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it
It’s something that I’m supposed to be”
Not knowing when the dawn will come
I open every door
Or has it feathers like a bird,
Or billows like a shore?
Emily Dickinson
The US Fish and Wildlife Service just finished reviewing petitions to add certain species to the endangered list, one of which includes the Southern Plains bumblebee. This large black-and-yellow bee is found in the mid-Atlantic states, the mid-west and the Plains states from Texas to North Dakota. It lives in open prairies, meadows and grasslands. It is also found in grasslands and savannahs of south-east states, including Florida. Habitat loss and degradation, plus pesticides have led to sharp population declines.
Some things that you can do to help bumblebees in your area include planting pollinator gardens, avoiding the use of pesticides, and making sure there is long grass and undisturbed leaf-litter (in early spring) so that bumblebee queens have adequate cover. Thank you for being kind to animals and bees.
On this special day I take the opportunity to wish you many blessings, good health, and peace in the year. I also shall share this poem by Emily Dickinson, one of my favorite poets. It is part of the collection of 1,775 poems that were not published until after her death in 1186.
“If I can stop one heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.”
It is almost the end of the year — and for many it is a season of reflection, joy, sadness, cooking, making snow people, wearing sweaters, shopping and spending moments with loved ones. As we speed through the minutes and hours into tomorrow may we take a moment to be grateful for all of our blessings. May we take time to honor those animals, friends, relatives, or strangers who are no longer with us. And may we take time to enjoy the food we eat (that someone probably grew on her or his farm) and may we thank those, even strangers or pets, who show us kindness. You see, kindness does not cost anything and yet it gives us so much. A simple act of kindness has the power to bring the giver joy and good feelings, AND it brings the same to the receiver. So, at this time, I ask you to see if you can share some kindness today, no matter how big or how small. Thank you. May you have many blessings and peace in your heart.