Tag: Joy

Sunday Quote: Restless

Karl Duffy2 Comments

File:A black cat searching for food - 0997.jpg

Today marks the start of Advent – the start of a new year in the Christian Calendar, this year occurring between the shopping festivals of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Two different views of what makes us happy. One feeds the ever wanting heart, which sees only what can be bought. The other feeds, as a friend reminded me yesterday, that part of us which cannot be seen, that which is hidden:

If your soul is un-wanting, you will see what  is hidden.

The ever-wanting soul is forever chasing
only what it wants.

Lau Tzu, Tao Te Ching

photo amada44

Saturday: Moments which contain everything

Karl Duffy1 Comment

File:CSIRO ScienceImage 939 Prawn salad.jpg

 

Look, I want to love this world

as though it’s the last chance I’m ever going to get

to be alive

and know it.

Mary Oliver, October

photo CSIRO

Being thankful ……or closing our eyes

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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Marimo_%285369843501%29.jpg

Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which garden we will tend … When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives,  but when we are grateful for the abundance that is present — love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure – the illusion of wasteland falls away and we experience heaven on earth.

Sarah Ban Breathnach

photo takashi hososhima

Training in contentment

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File:Kater in Lauerstellung vor einem Loch.JPG

Peace is the result of retraining your mind

to process life as it is, 

rather than you think it should be.

Wayne Dyer

photo 4028mdk09

On change, choice, life and death

Karl Duffy3 Comments

paths

Two paths diverge in a wood….

You start dying slowly
If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths…
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.

You start dying slowly
If you avoid to feel passion
And their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten
And your heart beat fast.

You start dying slowly
If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job, or with your love,
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,
If you do not go after a dream,
If you do not allow yourself,
At least once in your lifetime,
To run away from sensible advice…

Pablo Neruda from Dying Slowly

Sunday Quote: Broken but..

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crack

Lessons learnt from the week that has passed.  Two different personalities using words in different ways: one path ascends, the other descends.

This was reinforced in a conversation with a close friend yesterday: The Western mind is performance driven, with value being given to the highest achiever. This might be good for external advancement and achievement, but will it last in terms of wisdom and inner peace?

The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again, I heard them say
Don’t dwell on what has passed away
or what is yet to be.

Ring the bells that still can ring 
Forget your perfect offering 
There is a crack in everything 
That’s how the light gets in 

Leonard Cohen, Anthem, died Friday November 11th

photo of centuries old rock in Glendalough