Thursday, July 10, 2008

Blessings need counting & sharing, always....

This was going to be a post about my not feeling 'the greatest I've ever been' lately, then I looked at the TV News, read the paper, and took a good look around me. What I found was what I've known all along, but sometimes tend to forget. So, I decided to turn all 'preachy' for one post and share a favorite poem, some American Indian wisdom, and a view much like my own on religion. If we all did just a tiny bit every day, this world would be that much nicer to live in. I seem to have let my personal physical discomfort overcome my appreciation of all I have, so, at least for today, I will share those blessings with someone, and we'll both benefit from them. The Kindness of Others by Cathy Song The kindness of others is all they ever wanted, the laughter of neighbors prospering in the blue light of summer. Those of the small sputtering flame and the sudden white sprung hair, who feed off envy and grow old quickly, desire largesse. The role of poor relation evokes a lack they are not apt to admit, or unbearable pity. They prefer to penetrate the giver’s effortless knack of giving they perceive as vitality, a pulsating entity that rewards the kindness of others tenfold. This they have witnessed. This they have tabulated relentlessly. The generosity of others whose spirits, like their long-legged children blossoming into a progeny of orchards and fields, flourish. Those who have never known kindness drag into the privacy of their smallness the baskets of fruit appearing year after year on their porches, to be picked apart in the hushed posture of thieves. They peel skin, probe flesh the color of honey as if the seeds will yield something other than a glimmer of sweet air rising from the roots of trees and licorice-laced, half-opened leaves. Those of the small flame, who feed off envy and grow old quickly, live out their lives hungry, glaring at themselves across the table, wife of the cruel mouth, husband of the thin broth trickling like spittle.

So many ways there are to express the same ideas. We all believe in something, even those who believe in 'nothing', have 'nothing' as a belief. ~Euripides "I stand for the children of tomorrow. I believe in the constructive aspect of humanity. We need each other. We need to come together in the circle of life, and not leave anyone behind. We need to reach out to each other and accept each other unconditionally. More than ever, it is necessary for people to face the light and walk in balance. In every darkened valley there is a light source; walk toward it. Stand in your own truth. No one is like you. You have your own particular gift, and your own contribution to make." ~Sarah Smith, Mohawk Elder Being kinder to yourself counts too!!

Until next we meet, take care and be well.

16 comments:

MissKris said...

This is great, Mike, and has always been my Life philosophy, too. Same thing with smiling. I've heard tell it takes less muscle effort in the fact to smile than it does to frown. I dunno about you, but the little random acts of kindness I do make ME feel better! Therein lies the secret to a happy life...it is better to give than to receive. I hope you get to feeling better. When a person suffers pain, it does suck the happy-juices out of us, doesn't it? Take care.

MissKris said...

Oh well. This will teach me to comment at 4:30 in the morning. It was supposed to read less muscle effort in the FACE! Ha!

tweetey30 said...

Wonderful post Mike. I love the poem.Never heard it before but its beautiful. I have many beliefs but they are strange anyway.

deanna said...

So if that's preaching, I say we need more such sermons. I'll be thinking about it the rest of the day.

tshsmom said...

That about covers MY life's philosophy too.

Muhd Imran said...

This long post definitely took you much effort. Thank you for sharing with everyone.

Kindness is the key to life and living. A good reminder. A very good post.

Have a great weekend my friend.

jmsjoin said...

That guy sitting on the rock that is reflection I mean perfection oneness with life! Kindness it put another way does not require you to be kind but use one word before you act and you will always do the right thing and be thought of as kind. Consideration!

Midlife Mom said...

Great post Mike! We all need to stop and think about all the blessings that we have in this life. Great poem, lots to think about there as well. I always try to smile at those that seem down when I am out and about. It always brings a smile back. I hope it brings a small ray of sunshine into their life. Random acts of kindness ROCK! I missed one the other day that I could have done and have kicked myself in the be-hind every since. :o(
I like your take on the names of flowers! haha! Sure makes it easier on the brain then trying to remember all the correct names! I spent two hours trying to remember Bee Balm for pete's sake!
Got company coming from your area today. My sister is coming for a few days. :o)
Hope you are feeling better soon!

My ancestry is Micmac, do you know where I could get some good information about it? My aunt did a geneology and history but it got lost when she passed away so I didn't get to see what info she had acquired.

MissKris said...

So nice of you to visit! I remember visiting NH for the first time in 1968. July. When my brothers and I stepped off the jet onto the tarmac at Logan back then, into the sweltering summer heat of Boston, we all turned and looked at our mom like, "Let's get on the plane and go back HOME!" When we'd left Portland that morning, it wasn't even 60 degrees! Ha! Relatives have told us that was one of the hottest summers in the region for a long time. I believe it! And I've never experienced a warm-water ocean like the Atlantic is at Hampton Beach! Or the gentle swells that kind of roll in and fizzle out at the surf line! I dunno where you've lived in your lifetime, but the Pacific here is so cold even into the dog days of summer, standing in the surf for more than a few minutes can make your ankle joints ache and your feet turn blue! Did I tell you my mom lived in Kittery as a little girl? And my step-grandmother grew up in Lubec. My favorite spot that I visited in Maine was the quaint little village of Perkins Cove. I hope to travel back there again some day with my Dear Hubby...I wonder how much it's all changed since my last visit in 1973?!

Midlife Mom said...

Thanks for all the information sources Mike, I'll get right into it now!!

greymatters said...

Wow, Mike. What a great reminder for those on the hamster wheel. Indeed, my Mother speaks often in words and with a sensibility similar to yours.

Thus, I just smile at the invitation to appreciate the presence of familiars and others in my life (rarely done).

Thank you.

Unknown said...

Good one, Mike!

Love and kindness are gifts of the creator. They have a peculiar quality to them: they multiply when given away. When selfishly held inside, they wither and die, but when freely given away, you always have more to give.

My cup runneth over.

Anonymous said...

Nice post, Mike. We all need a reminder sometimes that we reap what we sow, what goes around comes around, and that one day, we are sure to be needing a little kindness ourselves. That's when it's good to have some in our own Kharma bank.
Have a nice day.

Anonymous said...

Very nice post, Mike, I can't agree more with the message, kindness should be the only coin worldwide, the most important things in life are having a good relation with your relatives, and having loads of friends who give you the same than they receive from you. Thank you for this nice post and for your rewarding friendship. A huge kiss, Mar,

Cherie said...

AMEN!

This is great, Mike, just great.

Thanks!

Heather said...

What a wonderful post. Thanks for the reminder and introduction to this beautiful poem.