tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.comments2014-06-18T20:14:24.584-04:00The Journey and the questionsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00283624331765457846noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-10577074089283026012014-06-08T14:07:24.213-04:002014-06-08T14:07:24.213-04:00So true. We are responsible for our own happiness...So true. We are responsible for our own happiness and have a responsibility to contribute to the happiness of others. That said, I think it is also important to periodically evaluate whether the situations we are in are optimal for our development and ability to make meaningful contributions to the world. If not, we should be brave enough to make changes. Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-1255073688075893842014-06-08T14:03:14.426-04:002014-06-08T14:03:14.426-04:00I think it is important to know wherein our power ...I think it is important to know wherein our power lies. We may not be able to control all the circumstances that confront us, but we have the power to choose how to react. Once we have found this power, we can share it to help others deal with less than optimal circumstances. Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-24484536418680657002014-05-22T20:17:34.988-04:002014-05-22T20:17:34.988-04:00That poem could have been written for me! Thank y...That poem could have been written for me! Thank you for posting it. Embarking on a new path is scary, but also exhilarating.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-62951420497744712262014-05-13T20:43:06.865-04:002014-05-13T20:43:06.865-04:00Beautiful picture to go with a beautiful quote. We...Beautiful picture to go with a beautiful quote. We are lucky to have so much beauty around us to put things in perspective.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-25198252360048330382014-05-06T20:06:28.344-04:002014-05-06T20:06:28.344-04:00Thank you for that inspiring quote. It really res...Thank you for that inspiring quote. It really resonates! Those beautiful spring flowers certainly embody hope and joy too.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-58600178931203295382014-04-29T19:58:07.375-04:002014-04-29T19:58:07.375-04:00It's great that you are committing to paying b...It's great that you are committing to paying better attention. I don't think it has to be a hard task. I would see it more as just relaxing and noticing things in a leisurely way rather than rushing around and trying to do more things than are worth doing. It might help to keep a daily journal of the things that particularly moved you during the day. And knowing that you were going to write them down might make you notice them more. Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-4239650140191801162014-04-26T13:55:48.132-04:002014-04-26T13:55:48.132-04:00Those are comforting and inspiring thoughts. Feeli...Those are comforting and inspiring thoughts. Feeling that God is with us facing our challenges and seeing God in those around us as they face their challenges can bring about strength, courage, and empathy.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-80540263227498621222014-04-15T19:36:17.705-04:002014-04-15T19:36:17.705-04:00I think we seek truth and understanding because it...I think we seek truth and understanding because it is empowering. In order for us to take responsibility for our actions and our lives, we need to know our place in the world and to understand why we are the way we are. This can be a starting point for making changes that will improve both ourselves and the world around us. Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-89481043288972060972014-04-08T20:35:26.232-04:002014-04-08T20:35:26.232-04:00I think contemplating the beauty around us brings ...I think contemplating the beauty around us brings out the beauty in us. Spring has so much beauty in it. If we just stop and look at the blue sky or the ever changing clouds and the blossoming flowers and the energetic and colorful birds and inhale the wonderful scents and feel the breeze, how can we not be grateful to be alive? I think recognizing beauty is a way to commune both with mysteries that we can't understand and also with our inner selves, which maybe we don't understand either. I think beauty puts things in perspective. The beautiful sunrises and sunsets will continue to come and go regardless of whatever petty things are distracting us from being our best selves. Maybe the point of beauty is to bring us back to the present wonderful moment.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-39530715166614297422014-04-01T19:06:17.451-04:002014-04-01T19:06:17.451-04:00While I agree that asking questions is an importan...While I agree that asking questions is an important part of who we are, I don't believe it's unique to humans, nor is laughter. Rodents, for instance, have been demonstrated to laugh. But anyway, for all of us sentient beings, asking questions does bring more meaning into our lives because it means we are paying attention and care about why and how things are what they are. Being without curiosity would be so limiting. Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-87221899768438863552014-03-29T13:08:08.701-04:002014-03-29T13:08:08.701-04:00I think we need to learn to love and accept oursel...I think we need to learn to love and accept ourselves in order to be able to do the same for others. And instead of focusing on whether or not others are loving us, we should concentrate on generating love, both for ourselves and others. In the process, we will also become more lovable ourselves.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-9480078892445450012014-03-21T15:51:54.249-04:002014-03-21T15:51:54.249-04:00I can't say I've watched House of Cards, b...I can't say I've watched House of Cards, but I certainly am familiar with people who feel they need to grab power. It seems to me that these are insecure people who feel powerless and are trying to compensate. Truly powerful people have nothing to prove and are free to be themselves. It seems like this is the way we can heal both ourselves and the world around us.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-80693456371362056042014-03-15T13:09:07.142-04:002014-03-15T13:09:07.142-04:00"Do it anyway" is a wonderfully inspirin..."Do it anyway" is a wonderfully inspiring poem. It appears to have been written or at least edited by Mother Teresa: http://prayerfoundation.org/mother_teresa_do_it_anyway.htm<br /><br />It's empowering to be reminded that each of us as individuals in our own small way can be a force for good. Even if it seems unlikely that our solitary efforts will make a difference, we should remember this Margaret Mead quote: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."<br />Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-9407562015376392212014-03-03T15:45:28.220-05:002014-03-03T15:45:28.220-05:00Beautiful pictures, as always. And I like the way...Beautiful pictures, as always. And I like the way both TNH and Dillard find similar poetic and vivid ways to describe our inter-being with the Earth. It's wonderful that all we need to do is stop and pay attention to all the wonders around us to be able to appreciate and enjoy them. Let's hope though that we humans come to our senses soon enough to preserve all these wonders for generations to come.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-52695908588507970422014-02-25T15:47:13.691-05:002014-02-25T15:47:13.691-05:00I think that thrush is living in the moment and is...I think that thrush is living in the moment and is not just hoping for a future Spring. He is able to find joy even though it is Winter. And there is indeed a certain stark beauty in the coldness and darkness and emptiness and quietness of this season. It gives us a chance to reflect on what is meaningful in our lives and also what we might want to change. Becoming more aware of what is going on inside and outside of us is a wonderful thing and perhaps Winter gives us an opportunity for this awareness that we could miss during the distractions of the other seasons.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-32388716722371598322014-02-21T14:54:24.248-05:002014-02-21T14:54:24.248-05:00Yes, I agree that a lot of our stress comes from v...Yes, I agree that a lot of our stress comes from valuing the wrong things. We get so many messages about how we should be a certain way and accomplish certain things and we are often valued by others for what we do rather than who we are. We would certainly be more at peace with ourselves and be able to appreciate others if we were more accepting of all our imperfections and appreciative of the gifts of our individual natures. It is not easy to resist the habitual thinking patterns that we are surrounded and influenced by, but so necessary for peace and happiness.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-59987492671323012562014-02-14T16:12:44.406-05:002014-02-14T16:12:44.406-05:00I think it can be difficult for people to really k...I think it can be difficult for people to really know who they are unless they take the time to retreat from all the distractions of daily life and to be really honest with themselves. While it's not a good thing to just accept what others think of us, it's also not good to disregard everyone else and assume we're always right. We need to find a balance. If we listen carefully to what others say and then contemplate how we see things ourselves, we might learn some important lessons. I also think many people equate alone with lonely. We need to spend sufficient time alone to really get to know ourselves, but that doesn't mean we have to be lonely. When we really know ourselves we can be more stable and resilient in the presence of others.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-11890563186091539852014-02-06T16:12:33.752-05:002014-02-06T16:12:33.752-05:00Beautiful picture, especially for right now when a...Beautiful picture, especially for right now when all the deciduous trees have shed their leaves, and beautiful quote. We do need to protect all those trees too. We can each do our part by choosing a more sustainable lifestyle. For instance, production and consumption of animal products is a major contributor to green house gases and deforestation. Our wonderful planet just cannot survive unless we make some changes, hopefully before it is too late.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-20521471115448072252014-01-28T15:29:50.097-05:002014-01-28T15:29:50.097-05:00Such adorable children in your photos! Looking at ...Such adorable children in your photos! Looking at them makes me want to protect them from the sometimes harsh realities of life. They also inspire me with their sense of wonder. As adults we so often forget how to just play and take ourselves too seriously. I find that sometimes my cats can help me remember how restorative play time can be.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-46881266471053877652014-01-21T15:21:28.616-05:002014-01-21T15:21:28.616-05:00That book looks good. Thanks for mentioning it. B...That book looks good. Thanks for mentioning it. But I'm not sure I agree that there is a difference between regretting things that we did or didn't do. I think in both cases we can still do something in the present to compensate for things we regret doing. Thich Nhat Hanh speaks of a Vietnam veteran who was haunted by his memory of murdering Vietnamese children. However, he found redemption by devoting his life to helping other children in some way, I can't remember the details. I think the point is that we can decide at any point to be braver or kinder or whatever we aren't yet. We don't have to be limited by whatever was our previous inadequate approach. There's no time like now to act on our beliefs.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-9437860231340139172014-01-17T15:18:43.302-05:002014-01-17T15:18:43.302-05:00I agree that faith should involve inspiring us to ...I agree that faith should involve inspiring us to take care of each other. I can't see how a religion could be meaningful without this. And it's even been shown scientifically that empathy and generosity increase the happiness of both the giver and the receiver. Thich Nhat Hanh would go even further and say that the giver and receiver aren't even separable anyway, that they inter-are. So it seems that kindness and happiness shouldn't be rationed or in short supply. Rather, they can be increased exponentially, starting with small actions of us all. Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-44750096734381451492014-01-10T16:29:17.738-05:002014-01-10T16:29:17.738-05:00Thanks for the inspiring readings and that wonderf...Thanks for the inspiring readings and that wonderful TED talk!<br /><br />What gives my life meaning is thinking that as one unique individual I can make a difference. There are several areas in which I'd like to make a difference and they include raising awareness about the injustices that are suffered by both human and nonhuman animals so as to lead to improved conditions for us all, applying my scientific abilities to discoveries that will hopefully be of benefit to others, and finding other ways to apply my creative energy that will make the world a better place. I guess the areas I focus on change over the years, but the intent remains the same, to change the world in ways, however small and humble they may be, that wouldn't have happened without me.<br /><br />So what gives your life meaning?<br />Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-57284625479454796562013-12-31T15:37:30.998-05:002013-12-31T15:37:30.998-05:00I like the way Thich Nhat Hanh talks about how suf...I like the way Thich Nhat Hanh talks about how suffering and joy are really interconnected and that we can't have one without the other. For instance, without having had a toothache, how can we appreciate how good it feels not to have one? What we may see now as hardships and difficulties may actually be teaching us things that will then bring us joy. It can be hard to have that perspective at the time, but I'm sure many of us can look back and be grateful for how apparent failures made us step back, change direction, and move onward in a new and better way. The end of a year can be a good time to reflect on how things have been going and whether there are lessons to be found.<br /><br />Your link led to a "page not found" error.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-24446521843851260292013-12-31T14:34:16.388-05:002013-12-31T14:34:16.388-05:00I think an important lesson to keep in mind is tha...I think an important lesson to keep in mind is that we don't have to be perfect to make a difference and bring goodness into the world. We all contain elements of the divine. And yes, it is a responsibility as well as a privilege to share our gifts and love with others. Perhaps some people reject goodness because it makes them feel inadequate. But I think we should remember that just because we can't do everything, that is not an excuse not to do something to make the world a better place. Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008677658012268479.post-86059639688321221732013-12-21T15:07:35.303-05:002013-12-21T15:07:35.303-05:00Certainly at this time of short and dark days, it ...Certainly at this time of short and dark days, it is wonderful to have hope and to keep noticing all the beauty and goodness around us. The beauty of fresh snow, a clear night sky with a full moon, the refreshing sounds of the wind blowing, are all gifts to remind us of the wonders of nature and our world, if we can just pay attention. I also love hearing Christmas hymns and instrumental music. Maintaining joy and hope at this time of year may require more mindfulness than in the spring, for instance, but it is a good way to train our minds to focus on the positive. Cathynoreply@blogger.com