Zen

Apr17

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Cashew lies down on the floor

Very content 

Without a care

As I blow dry my hair

 

I’ve been wondering what goes on

In that head of hers as she lies there

I’ve noticed she spends a lot of time

Sitting and staring into space

What is her thought process during these times?

How does she entertain herself?

 

The times she sleeps, eats, and plays

I understand

But what about when she stares into the distance?

 

I know dogs are different from people

I should not compare

But this question comes up again and again

 

Maybe those times are her zen times

Her meditation times

Maybe that’s why she’s so relaxed

Maybe I should meditate more too

It seems to be working for Cashew!

 

April 17th, 2020

Learning from our mistakes

Apr15

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Is man incorrigible?

Will we ever learn from our mistakes?

Not always it seems

We make the same mistake over and over again

But why?

Because we have not changed

We see things the same way and behave the same way

Only a shift in our values and behaviour

Will give rise to better decision making

There needs to be a fundamental shift

In how we see ourselves and our place in the planet

We need to put justice before profit

We need to be less greedy and more generous

We need to look upon others as our brothers and sisters

We need to value honesty and trustworthiness

Our values will determine the outcome

 

April 15th, 2020

Formative days

Apr14

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These are days of isolation

Of social distancing

Of hunkering down 

 

These are the days of slowing down

Driving less

Travelling much less

Returning home

 

These are unusual times

The world is going through a crisis

And geography and borders matter not

 

These are days of compassion for others and ourselves

Of the selflessness of those who venture out for us

The nurses the doctors and other essential workers

Who must continue to be out and about

 

These are the days of realizing 

The level of our interdependence 

These are the days of coming together

To look for solutions 

 

These are the days of empathy

Of patience

Of evaluation

 

These days are formative days

The effect of which will last a long time

 

April 14th, 2020

Our new reality

Apr10

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Our new reality

Two feet apart

Grandparents who can’t be visited

Parties that can’t be held

Schools out of session

Universities on line

Theatres and sports arenas empty

Working from home

Zoom meetings

Isolation for those who live alone

 

If we choose International cooperation

Share scientific data

Care for the vulnerable in our communities

House those who live on the streets

Commute less

Pray more

Empathize more

Share more

Acknowledge the oneness of our species

Acknowledge our interdependence

 

Then our new reality

Has some draw-backs in the short term

But it can be very beneficial in the long run

 

April 10th, 2020

Zoom mehmouni*

Apr7

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During these times of no mehmouni

We’re resorting to Zoom ones

There are advantages involved

With no commute time or air plain ride

We can come together from various counties in the world

Cross-continental mehmounis are what we have now

We can bring our cup of tea or our ‘tokhmeh’*

We can even have a meal at the same time

We can arrive when we want

And leave when we want

We can be inside or outside

Zoom mehmounis are wonderful

The only things we can’t do is talk at the same time

 

April 7th, 2020

 

Mehmouni:  party

Tokhmeh: seeds in their shell that are cracked and eaten as refreshment

Looking for calm

Apr5

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Back and forth
Back and forth
From icon to icon
On my cell phone:
WhatsApp
Instagram
E-mail
News
Facebook
I read
I listen
I contemplate
And repeat…

Too much news?
Too much information?
Too much screen time?
Perhaps

So I put my phone away
Open my notebook
And start to write

Suddenly time slows down
I relax
I don’t have to process so much information
I don’t have to listen to sad news
I can be in my place of calm

The coffee shops are closed
So, the comfortable chair in our bedroom, by the window
Is where I’m writing today
It’s cloudy and
We’re longing for the return of the sun

We’re all doing our best to cope
To stay connected to friends
To avoid getting cabin fever
To do things in new and different ways

Thankful that writing centres me
Thankful that I’m in touch with my friends
Hoping we’ll emerge stronger and wiser
When we’ve made it through these challenging times

April 2nd, 2020

Our times

Apr4

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The streets are empty

The parks are empty

No one is going to the movies

The parking lots are empty

Traffic is light

Many people are in their homes

The trees are breathing cleaner air

The bird are singing in clearer skies

Families are having more family time

Coffee time, dinner time

Are spent together unlike before

Everybody is trying to adapt and improvise

Work places are empty

Zoom meetings are all the rage

Working from home saves people the commute time

These changes are bound to affect our world view

Our priorities

Our activities

Our jobs

These changes are giving the planet a chance to breath

A chance to recuperate from our all out assault 

These changes will give us pause to reassess

How will live, what we do and how

 

April 4th, 2020

Girls

Apr1

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Why are girls so difficult, I wonder

One minute they’re happy

One minute sad

Emotions bubbling up regularly

 

Some are quiet when they’re upset

Some must vent and vent and vent

Some don’t want to talk about how they feel

Others want to do that continually

 

Some cook only when they’re in the mood

Some don’t like to organize their rooms

 

Sometimes they don’t get along with another girl

Girls like magnets, sometimes repel

 

But girls can also be so sweet

So caring

So delightful

So enchanting

 

They can lift a finger

And you do as they say

They can bring you lots of joy each day

 

Girls are wonderful but difficult too

After all,roses come with thorns

 

April 1st, 2020

Apart yet together

Mar29

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Apart yet together

Far yet next door

In these days of social distancing 

We find other ways to socialize 

 

From WhatsApp calls and video chats 

To Zoom meetings and gatherings 

Technology is our loyal friend 

 

Many people work from home

And see each other even more 

We have meetings on the cloud

Wherever we are in the world

 

Distance is meaningless

It’s a thing of the past

All hail technology 

We live in a new world 

 

March 29th, 2020

Interesting times

Mar27

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These are interesting times

We have virtual coffee dates

Zoom get togethers

And communicate with others

From the comfort of our homes

 

These are interesting times

Empty streets

Stores that had to close

Even hairdressers!

I’d say this is an essential service

Especially for the ladies

 

These are interesting times

Health care workers

Are putting themselves in danger

To save others’ lives

 

These are interesting times

Families can spend more time together

And we are forced to slow down

 

These are interesting times

Resilience is needed

Hope is essential

Patience is necessary

And creativity is helpful

 

These are interesting times

Kind words and deeds go a long way

Prayer and meditation provide a balm

Nature is still our playground

 

These are interesting times

We can see that the world has become

A global village

Cooperation is needed

And we each need to do our part

 

March 26th, 2020