Category Archives: Life

Life

Darkness and Light

As we take a moment to celebrate all of the holidays during this special season I would like to take a moment to acknowledge all of you who read this blog. I thank you for your comments and support, and wish you much happiness and many blessings.

Since the days are getting shorter and the nights longer, I have been thinking of darkness and light, and their meaning in our lives. Many people say that is a time to slow down and be reflective, and a time to set new intentions for the future. I agree. We can also remember not to get stuck in our heads and to follow our hearts. Yes, the mind likes routine, predictability and to feel safe; yet the art of true happiness is through the heart which prefers spontaneity and adventure. I shall endeavor to find a balance between the mind and the heart, and hope you can too. With my warmest wishes, Nicole

Life

Courage

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.

Life

A Wedding and a Funeral

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”.

Life

Courage

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

Kindness, Life

Rainbows

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”

Butterflies, Kindness, Life, Nature

Some Inspiration for 2024

Nicole Altneu

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.”

Animals, Carbon Footprint Reduction, Children, Climate Change, Kindness, Leadership, Life, Uncategorized

Hope

I hope you all had a nice summer and enjoyed some time with your loved ones. There is so much hard news out there and devastating forest fires in Canada, the United States, Greece, Spain, Croatia and Vietnam. People and animals have lost their homes, and many died from smoke inhalation. And yet, I remain hopeful that we can turn this situation around. There are so many people working to mitigate climate change and make sure that the Earth’s temperatures stop rising and start to decline. So, this is message which is meant to be encouraging in its nature. In the words of so many, we can do this. We each, individually, and collectively, can make a difference to help our fellow humans, and the precious animals of the world. Please reduce your carbon footprints, eat less meat, consume less, and take a walk in a forest or swim in the ocean. I have said it previously, each minute counts. Each one of us matters, and we can positively impact the future.

Animals, Carbon Footprint Reduction, Leadership, Life, Nature

Canada’s Wildfires

I write this blog while scorching wildfires race through eastern and western Canada.  Honestly, my heart is quite heavy and I fear greatly for our precious, livable planet.  The fires are out of control and over 9.4 million acres have already burned.  The fires affect countless people, pets, and wild animals.  The smoke from the fires is so bad it has reached down to New York, NJ, and Washington DC.  Air quality levels have been frightening and New York City ranked among the worst cities in the world.  People have been told to stay at home and schools are conducting remote classes.  As I think about all of the animals inhaling smoke who can’t shut themselves in an enclosed space with air purifiers, I shudder.  I wonder about the animals in Canada literally fleeing the fires and dying.  I had to bury two dead birds that I found lying on my lawn.  When will we end this chaos?  When will we all wake up and drastically cut our carbon footprints and change our ways of life?  This matter is so urgent and time is of the essence.  Please, we must WAKE UP!!!  We must make different choices.  It is truly a matter of life and death.

@climatereality
@gretathunberg