Daily walks are a bit different here ...
For every minute you are angry you lose 60 seconds of happiness. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Do not ignore your role regarding the quality of life here on Earth. It is your input that contributes to determining whether tomorrow will be a beautiful day. Gregge Tiffen (It’s Springtime: Flow With the Power of Nature - March, 2007)
Gregge Tiffen’s quote above refers to our impact on weather. “Weather is an atmospheric blanket that surrounds us” he continues, “… our mental movements affect the atmosphere. If we are angry, upset, fearful, exhausted or in any way upsetting the normal flow of Universal energy, we affect our weather.”
As I reflect on what I’ve witnessed in the national political arena this week and notice my thoughts about and reactions to that, I wonder when, where, and how the anger will manifest. I wonder how much upset it takes to generate a hurricane like Katrina that struck New Orleans, Louisiana in August, 2005 or any of the many “natural disasters” throughout time. I’m curious about the impact of both the travesty of how our government responded to Katrina and the impact of the upset and fear of the people impacted.
And, then I bring my reflections to me.
How many ‘seconds of happiness’ did I abdicate yesterday when I reacted in disgust to the sad state of our political discourse? What is my responsibility for helping shift that climate simply by living life more gently and expressing kindness as an act of creativity?
What about those moments of being annoyed by a canine cancer patient who isn’t sure if she wants to be inside or out? She teaches me so much about how to live when she lights up and jumps with joy when ‘ball, walk, and park’ are in the same sentence and we head out the door. And, what about those times when I’m upset with me? Perhaps that’s a story for another day.
I’m struck by how the Universe continues to march forward in its own natural flow, adjusting as required to keep an infinite number of celestial bodies from crashing into one another. Who do we need to be to tap into that knowledge and wisdom?
I’m humbled to be a speck in this unfolding and to know that what I do, what I say, what I think matters and that the atmosphere I create in the moment for me (and my canine crew) impacts the weather.
And, so it is for each of us. Know the importance of doing that which makes you happy and brings you joy this day (and the next …). Be the cause that creates the effect you want on the planet. Do it for you. Do it for humanity. Do it for the planet. Moment to moment. Day to day.
Luke's 'cousins' Bonner & Gilley
Luke sporting his protective shirt (and that's another story for another day!)