July 31--Be A Dreamer

The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams. 
--Oprah Winfrey

    My younger son said to me recently, "I'm getting to do all the things I moved to Colorado to do." That includes snowboarding, golfing, tubing, paddle-boarding, attending concerts, and hanging with friends. He lives right downtown within walking distance of his two jobs. He's lovin' it!

    Today closes July and our theme of adventure. But don't let that stop you from exploring and expanding!

        Leta

July 30--Enjoy Life Now

Drink and dance and laugh and lie, 

Love, the reeling midnight through,

For tomorrow we shall die!

(But, alas, we never do.)

--Dorothy Parker

    We humans just assume we'll be here forever. If you've been here for very long, you know that's not true. The assumption is helpful, though, because we can't live a full, rich life if we are constantly focused on dying. At age 66, I'm anxious to get more bucket-list things done, because I'm much closer to my transition now than I was at 26. Note the Fisher quote from July 25: "When shall we live if not now?"

    Happy cavorting!

        Leta

Doris Laughton sculpture,
Fort Collins, Colorado

July 29--Better Listening

A journey is a person in itself, no two are alike.  --John Steinbeck

    For my purposes today, I will use the quote like this:

                        A conversation is a person in itself, no two are alike.

    These words come from Richard Rohr's "Daily Meditation" of July 26, offering the wisdom of Sikh activist Valarie Kaur:   

Kaur understands the complicated nature of listening to those we see as our religious, cultural, and political “opponents” and the emotional toll it takes:

It turns out it is extremely difficult to draw close to someone you find absolutely abhorrent. How do we listen to someone when their beliefs are disgusting? Or enraging? Or terrifying? ... An invisible wall forms between us and them, a chasm that seems impossible to cross. We don’t even know why we should try to cross it. ... In these moments, we can choose to remember that the goal of listening is not to feel empathy for our opponents, or validate their ideas, or even change their mind in the moment. Our goal is to understand them. ...

When listening gets hard, I focus on taking the next breath. I pay attention to sensations in my body: heat, clenching, and constriction. I feel the ground beneath my feet. Am I safe? If so, I stay and slow my breath again, quiet my mind, and release the pressure that pushes me to defend my position. I try to wonder about this person’s story and the possible wound in them. I think of an earnest question and try to stay curious long enough to be changed by what I hear. Maybe, just maybe, my opponent will begin to wonder about me in return, ask me questions, and listen to my story. Maybe their views will start to break apart and new horizons will open in the process. . . . Then again, maybe not. It doesn’t matter as long as the primary goal of listening is to deepen my own understanding. Listening does not grant the other side legitimacy. It grants them humanity—and preserves our own.

    I bolded the last two sentences, as a reminder to myself mostly. We are all humans, despite our "us vs. them" culture. 

        Leta

Tote bag for sale at
The Lyric, Fort Collins, CO

July 28--Freedom for ALL!!! (Part 2)

Night is the other half of life, and the better half.  --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    I love to sleep--I consider napping a hobby--so I'm especially fond of nighttime for that reason. 

    In this post, I'm going to work loosely with "half." Note the sign below quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: "Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere." Amen! Now I shall use this idea in this way:

Taking away anyone's freedom is a threat to freedom everywhere.

    The example here is the Walgreen's clerk who refused to sell condoms to a customer because of the clerk's religious beliefs. (Many similar examples exist these days.) Walgreen's supports this behavior with company policy. This clerk and the conservative "half" like him believe their religious freedom is perfectly valid but others should not have the same right. And they believe men should have full autonomy over their own bodies, but women should not. There is likewise the very mistaken belief that the U.S. is a Christian nation. It is not--it was founded specifically with freedom of religion. 

    You simply cannot take away people's rights without threatening the rights of everyone in the long term. You might note the example of Nazi Germany. 

        Leta

In a neighbor's yard

July 27--FREEDOM FOR ALL!!!

Not all those who wander are lost.  --J. R. R. Tolkien

    I'm having a tough time coming up with something to write. I am so frustrated with the anti-woman, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-birth-control crusades that are happening. Click on the photo below of George Carlin from his 1996 show (yes, 26 years ago) that sums up my irritation:

    Are we headed for the repeal of women's right to vote?!?!?! 

        Leta

July 26--Another Experiment

All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better. 
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

    There have been times in life wherein I have felt that everyone else got "life's instruction book," and I missed the handout. Truth be told, there is no such thing. We have only those who have been here longer to guide us, and that may or may not be a good thing! One of my oft-repeated phrases is "Sometimes a bad example can be a good thing--at least I know what NOT to do." 

    I believe our fear-based perfection-demanding society discourages experimentation, and that is not good for the individual or the whole. We would have no light bulbs, telephones, computers, toilets, dishwashers or a bazillion other things if it weren't for experimenters. Our innate essence and purpose here is to create, and how can we do that without experimenting? 

    My husband is replacing our deck. He's an engineer and math nerd, so he is totally digging this project. He built the previous one, but this new one is a different size, and he will be using composite decking boards for this version. It's all experimental. I have no doubt it will turn out great. 

    Happy experimenting!

        Leta

The experiment so far...

July 25--Homeward Bound

When shall we live if not now?  --M. F. K. Fisher

No one need starve. There is enough land and enough food. No one need die of thirst. There is enough water. No one need live without mercy. There is no end to grace. And we are all instruments of grace. The more we give it, the more we share it, the more we use it, the more God makes. There is no scarcity of love. There is plenty. And always more.  --Rachel and Rosemarie Freeney Harding

    There is a desire, and the fulfillment of that desire, and the space in between those two things. I'm in that space at the moment, and my controlling mind wants details relative to how that desire shall be fulfilled. It is a time of angst for me. Here's the desire, using my best ability to keep it simple and stay out of the "hows": I'd like to have a place in the Fort Collins area where I could reside one or two weeks a month so that I can be as close as possible to the grandbaby. I have no desire to purchase a property as real estate in the area is ridiculously expensive, and I do not want to put my name on another mortgage in this lifetime. Having a pet complicates things, because when my husband and I are both using the space, we would have Barney with us. The angst comes in with a) this will obviously cost a good chunk of money (rent); b) is this even a reasonable desire? c) the baby will only be a baby for a short time, and I don't want to miss that; d) I'm very healthy, but who knows how long I'll be on the planet--I've waited a long time to be Grammie, and I want to make the most of it. 

    When shall we live if not now? I've recruited my son, an excellent manifester, to help with this. He wants us involved with the baby a lot, but it just won't work to stay in their home for extended time. He has a friend who is creating a studio apartment above his detached garage, and it will be ready mid-August. The friend has offered us a trial of the above idea, complete with an OK for the dog, and then we'll see where things may develop from there. The place will also be used for the visits of the friend's mother, and possibly airbnb at other times. All schedules are flexible.

    This is potentially a very simple, timely and easy fulfillment of my desire. This is encouraging me to drop any and all angst and KNOW that my "team" in the Universe is going gang-busters to fulfill this desire, one that is totally based in love. 

    Stay tuned,

        Leta, heading back to Wichita today...

Early morning CO rainbow, photo by my daughter-in-law
(Is that a good omen or what!?!!)

July 24--NEW Sights

My favorite thing is to go where I've never seen before.  --Diane Arbus

    The photo with this quote in "Daily Gratitude" is a school of colorful fish. I remember the first time I went snorkeling. It was on the east coast of Mexico, and I was astounded at the underwater world. The colors and textures and variety amazed me. There truly is a whole 'nother universe under the surface of the sea, and sadly, I bet the majority of folks on the planet have never seen it except in pictures!

    I love to travel, and if you've been with me here for any length of time, you know that I love to share my travels. I heartily agree with Ms. Arbus' idea of fun. I rarely go to the same vacation destination twice, because there is so much "never seen" territory on our spectacular Mother Earth. All the exceptions to my "don't-go-to-the-same-place-twice" tendency have included a sunny, warm beach. 😉😉

    We are a couple weeks away from the arrival of the grandbaby. I'm really looking forward to having a little one around to enjoy him or her seeing things for the first time--that sense of wonder that we typically lose as we grow older. 

    The photo below is from the Colorado morning dog walk into an area that I had "never seen before." 😎

    Explore somewhere new today, please!

        Leta

July 23--Startling Potential

To live is so startling, it leaves but little room for other occupations. 
--Emily Dickinson

    How about we turn our startling lives into ones that are love-based rather than fear-based? New energy is integrating and expanding in our world. The ugliness we are witnessing today is the old energy dying but "kicking and screaming" with all its might.

    Here are  relevant words from Lee Carroll:

The old-energy spirituality actually wants structure and feels uncomfortable and threatened with the changes at hand.

It fights to retain old concepts that say spirituality must have punishment as part of its core, that evil must exist to balance love, that Humans are worthless and must find a higher source to worship, thereby giving them strength, and that spiritual truth requires a hierarchy of organized men and women, buildings, texts, and a long lineage of "do’s and don’ts" to live by.

The new-energy spirituality is indeed very different. It opens by stating that "we are God." It tells us that the only structure we need is inside, and that it’s all there for the finding.

It speaks of a plan where a fear-based existence grounded around eventual punishment is instead replaced by an awakening to self-responsibility—a responsibility that enhances wisdom and that creates morality from within.

Replacing fear of punishment is the joy of creating Divine purpose.

This new-energy philosophy also creates self-esteem and a joy-filled existence. It is self-regulated, without all the trappings of organization, buildings, rules, or priests. It honors the God within, and claims that the very essence of God is available there—all the "do’s and don’ts"—and that all the spiritual strength is inside.

    We surely would be startled if we knew our full potential,

        Leta  

  

Beautiful Mariana Butte Golf Course, Loveland CO

July 22--Do This. Don't Do That. AAARRGGGG!

If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.  --Katharine Hepburn

    This is one of my favorite quotes and a sentiment that I love. You also learn more in life by occasionally breaking the rules. 

    I belong to two ladies' golf leagues, and the players are quite the "sticklers" for rules. I get that. Some, however, are not nice about it, and have been known to make other golfers cry with their fussing. Geez, it's a game, get a grip.

    I truly appreciate other folks following the rules, traffic laws being a good example. But all of us, on occasion, have run a yellow light ("squeeze that lemon") or even a red light ("crush that tomato"). Those times were only fun if we made it through without incident. 

    And how about all the rules swirling around us today relative to food?!!? Must eat this, must not eat that--the rules are endless and wretchedly confusing. Obeying all those rules makes one miss the fun of trying new foods, one of the great pleasures of life. 

    It's a good practice to consider whether that rule you are following is a good and worthy one. 

        Leta

July 21--Binge on Life

Life itself is the proper binge.  --Julia Child

    I can just hear Ms. Child's squeaky voice and see her joyful enthusiasm while cooking (and eating). I've had more than my share of binges (think "Thin Mints"), and I agree--it is much better to binge on life than on food or any other substance. I know from experience that if one is bingeing on a substance, one is most definitely missing out on life. 

    I'm in Colorado, bingeing on mountain scenery and fun family time. Despite the heat, golfing will ensue. Because of the heat, pool time will follow. The grandbaby in Mama's belly is quite active and getting ready to make his or her entrance into the world soon. 

    Life rocks in every way!

        Leta

Along an oft-driven road near Fort Collins

July 20--NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We don't know who we are until we see what we can do.  --Martha Grimes

    I must say that every "Vote Yes" sign I see makes me angry. So I'm angry a lot of the time. Kansans have a huge election upcoming wherein we decide if our women are second-class citizens whose bodies are to be controlled by old, corrupt, white men (primarily) with totally fucked-up priorities. I am pretty much at the point that I am embarrassed to say I live in Kansas. PLEASE, stand for freedom, vote NO on August 2!!!!

    That's a short version of my soapbox. Tomorrow, back to our regularly-scheduled programming.

        Leta

July 19--Delicious Firsts

It was the first peach I had ever tasted. I could hardly believe how delicious. At twenty-five I was dumbfounded afresh by my ignorance of the simplest things. 
--Ted Hughes

    New experiences are so much fun. Enjoying those are what the first few years of earthly life are all about--exploring and expanding. A good life keeps the adventure going. What causes us to become fearful of trying something new? 

    My husband is a mighty-fine cook, and we make the effort to eat in-season food, helped greatly by a weekly Farmers' Market a mile from our home. Each year we look forward to the first asparagus, the first garden tomato (yielding BLTs), and the first sweet corn, to name a few. All are extra-delicious because they are annual treats that last only a short time. 

    Any day now I'm going to be dumbfounded by the joy of becoming a grandma. I'm pins-and-needles excited. 

    Ponder some of your firsts... pretty fun, huh?

        Leta

July 18--Flowers Along the Way

Let us decide on the route that we wish to take to pass our life, and attempt to sow that route with flowers.  --Madame du Chatelet

    Being a many-decades gardener living in the same home for 37 years, I've done a lot of sowing my route with flowers. It has been a very rewarding part of my life, and it thrills my heart that both of my sons have developed a love for growing things. That's my literal take on this quote. 

    But figuratively... flowers are beautiful, colorful, diverse, interesting, mysterious, abundant... aren't those the characteristics of a fine life? Think flowers instead of weeds (harmful beliefs), rich earth rather than desert (dry, barren, stingy attitudes), clean flowing water rather than stagnant muck (harmful intentions). 

    I like the flowery route better,

        Leta

A garden bed along my walking route with Barney

July 17--That's a Great Story!

Have your adventures, make your mistakes, and choose your friends poorly--all these make for great stories.  --Chuck Palahniuk

    Haven't you, at some point within a bizarre set of circumstances, said, "This is gonna make a great story."? I grew up in the boondocks of PA. Once when I was visiting my elderly aunt, her male companion/helper spent a half-hour describing to me in great detail how to cook a possum. Alas, I don't remember the cooking tips, but I kept thinking, "This is gonna make a great story." 

    I would say, with just a few exceptions, that the quote above describes my college and grad-school days perfectly. Except that was so long ago, I don't remember any of the great stories!!! 

    Share one of your "great stories" with someone today.

        Leta

July 16--Risky Business

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. 
--T. S. Eliot

    I'm headed out this morning to play in a golf tournament at Newton's Sand Creek Station, a rather challenging course for me (not that they aren't all challenging!). A friend is coming over to walk and hang with Barney while I'm gone. As usual I expect my enthusiasm will make up for my lack of skill. It could be really good or really bad, but I'm willing to risk it for time outdoors with friends. 

    Maybe push yourself a bit today? Take a risk? Step outside your box?

        Leta

July 15--Go and Do!

Adventure is worthwhile in itself.  --Amelia Earhart

    I have been watching a Netflix series titled "UnXplained" about all sorts of things that we humans don't yet understand. There are very many, including the human brain and consciousness. The first item in the "Bizarre Rituals" episode is fire walking. Yes, that's walking across a six-foot-long stretch of burning hot coals. Of course, the question was how can that be done without getting burned. I certainly don't know, but I have fire walked probably a dozen times without so much as a blister. It's a mind-over-matter thing, which really puts the scientists into a tizzy. I offer much gratitude toward spiritual giant, Edwene Gaines, for the opportunity to do such a "bizarre ritual" at her retreat center.  

    Ms. Earhart is presumed to have crashed and died in the Pacific Ocean as she attempted a flight around the world. But what if she didn't? What if she lived an anonymous life of wild adventure somewhere else on the planet?!?! 

    Have an adventure today!

        Leta

Amelia Earhart

July 14--In The Garden

In summer, the song sings itself.  --William Carlos Williams 

    The photo with this quote is a panorama of rolling hills covered in bright yellow and orange wildflowers. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and picture that in your mind. It is a lovely example of Mr. Williams' sentiment. 

    Warm-weather joys for me include golfing, gardening, walking with Barney, hanging in the backyard with my husband and a cold drink before dinner, lazing in friends' pools, baseball, and visiting the family in Colorado. While I'm not fond of extremes in heat and cold, I do appreciate no-need-to-bundle-up in the summer. 

    Speaking of songs, today's quote of "summer" and "song" made me think of one of my favorite hymns from my youth. Hence today's blog title: "In The Garden." It was also one of my mother's favorites, she being an avid gardener, too. Summer is a great time to visit a garden and appreciate the bounty of our fabulous Mother. 

    Stop and smell the roses!

        Leta

On a morning walk with Barney

July 13--Have You Been Cavorting Lately?

Cavort, dear, just cavort.  --Carol Burnett

    I remember Carol Burnett being quite good at cavorting. Merriam-Webster gives these definitions of cavort: 1) to leap or dance about in a lively manner or 2) to engage in extravagant behavior. 

    If you were to spend some time today cavorting, what would that look like for you? Leaping is pretty much out for me due to a titanium hip joint and general lack of desire. Dancing I can do, especially since it will be just me and Barney (dog) hanging out at home. Barney looks at me like I'm goofy when I dance, but that only makes me laugh. My singing makes him move to another level of the house. I'm also in the middle of a big de-cluttering project, which is for me very extravagant behavior. 

    Consider adding a little cavorting into your day!

        Leta

July 12--Focused on Love

We love because it is the only true adventure.  --Nikki Giovanni

    I've said many times that I could easily be a hermit. I know deep down that this is because I would not have to deal with the messiness of relationships, especially my codependent and people-pleasing tendencies. But I also know deep down that what I value most in life is due to love--family, friends, home, my dog Barney, creative work, fun hobbies. 

    Here's a challenging adventure... Richard Rohr, in his Daily Meditation from yesterday, reminds us: There is nothing to be against. Just keep concentrating on the Big Thing you are for!  There is so much in the world that I don't like, and it's easy to focus on that. It is a much bigger challenge to stay focused on love, the presence of Spirit in and through everyone and everything. We want love to expand, not antagonism and violence, so it behooves us to stay centered in love. 

    Consciousness matters.

        Leta

July 11--Alice is Right

No, no! The adventures first, explanations take such a dreadful time. 
--Lewis Carroll

    This quote is from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. 

    My recent lengthy road trip, in hindsight, was a little nuts. Maybe it was a lot nuts. But given the opportunity and what I wanted to accomplish, the way things fell into place was too perfect to pass up. I had a great time planning the route, hotels, baseball games, all of it. The anticipation of adventure kept me going, and fortunately I didn't think of how nuts it was (the "explanations") until afterward. 

    With last December's parasailing adventure in Jamaica, I accomplished the big three for me: skydiving, zip-lining and parasailing. I've shared explanations with many folks, but it is just too tough to put those experiences into words. Intentionally falling out of an airplane? Shooting across a canyon a thousand feet above ground? Flying silently over the ocean? If I can, anyone can! Go and do!

    How quickly we can talk ourselves out of adventure with too many explanations... "what if?" "I can't" "bad weather is coming" "I should do ____ instead" "what will people think!?!" No, no! Just do it!!

        Leta

    

July 10--Horizon

There is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.  --Christopher McCandless

    I'm not too happy with the sun these days. Temperatures are in the high 90s or more, with what feels like equally high humidity. Dog walks have to happen very early and very late. It makes any sort of outdoor activity no fun, and even dangerous. It's cutting into my golf time. 😞 That being said, I still walk the dog--I just sweat a LOT. And I realize that the sun is not the problem!

    It's easy to let a dog walk fall into the "chore" category, same turf covered every day, no change in horizon. I get cranky when it's so hot and humid outside. But my crankiness reminds me that I don't have to make a chore of the dog walk, and if I actually look around, there's plenty to see and appreciate. (I tend to look down when I walk so that I don't trip on something.)  

    Reminding myself to check out the horizon,

        Leta

Barney endorses the NO vote.

July 9--BIG!

The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark. 
--John Muir

    Yes, yes, yes! I've been to various parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, Central America, Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and many parts of the United States. As much of the world as I have seen, I still want to see lots more, and there is plenty more to see. It is curious to me that some folks are afraid to travel. I offer my inspiration that it is bad business to kill the tourists, so countries generally discourage that. Anyway, I'd rather die on an adventure than when sitting bored at home!

    Our Creative Source, maker of our world, is big, too. Here's a fun quote from Robert Fulghum:

Arguing whether or not a God exists is like fleas arguing whether or not the dog exists. Arguing over the correct name of God is like fleas arguing over the name of the dog. And arguing over whose notion of God is correct is like fleas arguing over who owns the dog. 

    We have unending opportunities to explore our world and Creator. To infinity and beyond!

        Leta

Alan Seeger Natural Area, central PA

July 8--Trippin'

It's great to arrive, but the trip's most always most of the fun.  --Malcolm Forbes

    I offer some random disjointed thoughts...

    These are trip-relevant definitions: a trip with children and/or pets is an adventure; a trip without kids/pets is a vacation. I do have to say that my recent 4,600+ mile trip was most fun in the arrivals, but the trip, i.e. driving, was not bad. Driving was the only way to accomplish what I had chosen to do. I couldn't have done it by flying. 

    I remember on road trips when the kids were young that it felt like we had to stop at every rest stop along the way. They seemed determined to see every toilet on the route. Now my husband and I are older and our bladders make us stop almost that often! 

    What is "arrival" anyway? There are stopping points, but we keep moving on, even in the transition known as death. It's one big long (hopefully!) life trip here on earth, in the midst of an eternal journey. 

    I like to listen to podcasts or audiobooks when I'm driving long distances. They keep me engaged and awake and seem to make the time pass so much faster. Invariably, I learn something from each one, which makes the trip even more rewarding. 

    As a general rule, I don't care to go to the same destination twice, because there is so much to see on our huge Earth home. I have made exceptions to my rule, and there is usually a beach involved. I've been to the eastern shore several times, to Mexico twice, and I'll be returning to Jamaica this December. To be in ocean, sun and sand is an arrival spot of which I doubt I shall ever tire. 

    Onward!

        Leta

Ocean City, Maryland, view from the condo

July 7--Yes, You CAN Dance!

Dance till the stars come down from the rafters! Dance, dance, dance till you drop!  --W. H. Auden

    On very rare occasions, I have invited my yoga class to dance, simply move the body to music as a change of pace. I would have probably received the same response had I dropped a bomb in the room. "You want us to do what?!!?!" "I can't dance!" "Someone might see me." "Well, if you insist, I'll just sway a bit." I dearly hope when they are alone that they do some boogieing. I love to dance in my clutsy sort of way. Don't you love to see a toddler shaking her booty? Where did we get the idea that moving the body needs to be evaluated as some sort of performance? 

    Get out there and twist the night away!!

        Leta

July 6--Roads Travelled

The road was new to me, as roads always are going back.  --Sarah Orne Jewett

    I find this prayer by botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer to be comforting, suggesting a road taking us back to being a good steward of others, our earth and our Creator: 

Today we have gathered and when we look upon the faces around us we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now let us bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People. Now our minds are one. . . .

We are thankful to our Mother the Earth, for she gives us everything that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she still continues to care for us, just as she has from the beginning of time. To our Mother, we send thanksgiving, love, and respect. Now our minds are one. . . .  

We now turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator. Now our minds are one.

    We are all in this together... let's act like it!

        Leta

Kishacoquillas Valley, PA

July 5--How Are "Yes" and "No" Working for You?

If you come to a fork in the road, take it!  --Yogi Berra 

    Here are a few more great quotes from Yogi:

• Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical.
• Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.
• I never said most of the things I said.

    We are about four weeks or so from being grandparents for the first time. We are reaching that point where any phone call from our son could be the "big news." That will be a huge fork in the road for our family, one we are all wildly excited to take--first-time parents, first-time grandparents, first-time uncle. 

    Where will adventure take you today? 

        Leta

July 4--Gratitude and Freedom

There is a time for departure--even when there's no certain place to go. 
--Tennessee Williams

    Today on Independence Day, I am grateful for freedom, and hope that we can retain the freedoms that so many have fought for. I offer these words of Henri Nouwen:

Gratitude...goes beyond the “mine” and “thine” and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.

Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in hurt and resentment. It is amazing how many occasions present themselves in which I can choose gratitude instead of a complaint... The choice for gratitude rarely comes without some real effort. But each time I make it, the next choice is a little easier, a little freer, a little less self-conscious... There is an Estonian proverb that says: “Who does not thank for little will not thank for much.” Acts of gratitude make one grateful because, step by step, they reveal that all is grace.

    Celebrating freedom,

        Leta

July 3--Keep Moving

If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.  --Dale Carnegie

    I did a lot of self-talk during my recent beach-baseball tour, reminding myself to not be afraid. I also had a few "Notes from the Universe" to remind me of that. After I did three MLB games in three cities (Atlanta, Tampa, Miami) on three consecutive nights, I told myself, "That was a little nuts." Fear could have easily stopped me from undertaking the trip. My every-MLB-stadium quest gets me out and keeps me busy. 

    Fear is no fun,

        Leta

Braves--Atlanta

Rays--St. Petersburg (Tampa)

Marlins--Miami

July 2--Be A Hero

We all live in suspense, from day to day, from hour to hour; in other words, we are the hero of our own story.  --Mary McCarthy

    If you live in Kansas, you can be a hero for yourself and the women you love by voting NO on August 2. Let's stop the madness of the Republican agenda to keep us sick, dumb and poor. Let's not go backward any further. 

    Leta

July 1--Today's Adventure

Cease to inquire what the future has in store, and to take as a gift whatever the day brings forth.  --Horace

    Yippee!!! The theme for July in "Daily Gratitude" is adventure, one of my favorite things. (ICYMI, my latest travel adventure (beach and baseball) is recounted in the June 10-27 posts.)

    I had another first in life yesterday. I witnessed a hole-in-one. My cart partner teed off on #12 at Auburn Hills, and we all agreed that her shot would put her in a good spot on the green. We did not see the ball go in the hole. She discovered it when she couldn't find her ball, and finally looked in the hole. Yelling, hopping around, hugs and shots (alcohol) ensued. It was her THIRD hole-in-one. "Please, golf gods, let me have one before I die!" 

    More fun on the way,

        Leta