It is kind of a cliche that this time of year can be hard on people…the trying to find the right gift (or hurry to make the right gift) …the shorter daylight hours…missing those who are no longer in our lives…those both living and passed. I was doing fine until the morning of the 24th of December. I was stressed with the cleaning I wanted to have done before company came on the 25th. I took it out on my husband and daughter and one of them then said something that triggered my meltdown. Lots of crying and isolating for an hour or two. I think I needed the cathartic release of the crying…getting rid of some pent up feelings. Then a few good hugs and kind words pulled me back into being present in the moment. The house got cleaned with help from family and I got to watch my favorite holiday movie: Dolly Parton’s Coat Of Many Colors
It also has been a time for calmness and quiet and pretty lights.
A time for Nature’s colors…
The subtle change in color of native poinsettias…
And A Red Bud Leaf’s Boldness
A time for bareness…
And a time for fullness…
Our yard full of Red Oak leaves from neighbor’s tree
A time to light up the darkness…from the neighbor’s lighted blue and white inflatable Llama for Hanukkah to…
“Illuminations” at The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Tis the season for expressions of love and peace like the one I saw on a child’s sweatshirt at the Wildflower Center. It read: “Make smores, not wars”
And the Monks Walking for Peace …
This is a screen shot from You Tube…
As I write this on December 30th, the monks are on Day 66 of their Walk For Peace. They set out from Ft. Worth, Texas and are heading through the southern U. S. towards Washington, D. C. Their saffron robes walking down rural highways have created quite a following. People are following their progress on Facebook and Instagram. Even Aloka, the little dog traveling with them, now has his own Facebook page.
In towns large and small, people greet them and feed them and put them up for the night. And the crowds of the curious and hopeful are growing. The monks try to walk about 25 miles a day, even in the cold and wet.
I have been following them via You Tube videos since they were in East Texas. I am in awe of them and of the people turning out to greet them. They have helped me come back to center in my own life in many ways:
Tis the season to be grateful for life, family and friends and
to carry forgiveness into the new year ahead.
Tis the season to keep moving on towards peace and love.
“Love and accept each other, and always be kind”-quote from another holiday movie: Dolly Parton’s Circle of Love
Links to videos of Monks Walking for Peace:
And one more:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1196917959054660
(Photos by B. McCreary or stills and videos from You Tube)
Natural Musings 