The secret of happiness
lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life,
and in elevating them to art.
William Morris, English Designer, 1834 – 1896
In the details
Tag: Be fully present
Once we notice…
The aspects of things that are most important for us
are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity.
And this means: we fail to be struck by what, once seen,
is most striking and most powerful.
Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations
photo dave parker
Following our dreams
What if, on the first sunny day,
on your way to work, a colorful bird
sweeps in front of you down a
street you’ve never heard of.
You might pause and smile,
a sweet beginning to your day.
Or you might step into that street
and realize there are many ways to work.
You might sense the bird knows some-
thing you don’t and wander after.
You might hesitate when the bird
turns down an alley. For now
there is a tension: Is what the
bird knows worth being late?
You might go another block or two,
thinking you can have it both ways.
But soon you arrive at the edge
of all your plans.
The bird circles back for you
and you must decide which
appointment you were
born to keep.
Mark Nepo, The Appointment
photo The Liliac Breasted Roller
Sunday Quote: Planning
No valid plans for the future can be made
by those who have no capacity for living now
Alan Watts
photo mattbuck
A lot of thinking
The concept of beginning and ending is time, produced by thought. Can we see, right now, that beginning and end, getting somewhere, being somebody, wanting to get the something I lack, are all products of the imagination. As long as this isn’t clear, this bodymind remains tied up in knots. Can we see that a thought is always away from this present moment, where time does not exist?
Toni Parker, The Wonder of Presence.
photo adam jwc
There is nothing ahead
Some of the sentiments expressed around New Year – or the current fad of people posting pictures online – can lead us to think that looking to the future, or looking for happiness somewhere other than where we are, is good for our mental health. These beautiful few lines from Rumi – an extract from a longer inspiring poem – reminds us that it is in this moment, in what is right here, and not in our concepts, is where we need to keep our awareness.
Forget the future.
I’d worship someone who could do that.
On the way you may want to look back, or not.
But if you can say, There’s nothing ahead,
there will be nothing there.
Rumi,
from Coleman Barks, Rumi: The Book of Love: Poems of Ecstasy and Longing
photo kevin law
