Happy New Year Janisse! A visit to pitcher plant bog sounds like a great way to start the new year. I went for a hike on the Mt. to Sea Trail outside Asheville and saw a collared calostoma. A good omen.
Thanks so much for New Year's greetings and the lovely poem. I had not read it before and I am so glad that you showed it to us. I hope it doesn't sound like humble-brag, but I do try to be kind and cheerful to everyone I meet, even if the circumstances are difficult. A person filling my water glass at a restaurant is deserving of a Thank You. And the man who sacks my groceries surely deserves a smile and a nod and Thanks. My goal this year is to pay more attention to Trackless Wild because of all the good things I will learn. I'm learning new birds up here in the NW. Things like that excite me. Cheers to all, Happy New Year to all. (I can't pretend that horrible things haven't happened already this year. I can only try to continue to be joyful and supportive and calm.)
I'm in CO and last night drove to the middle of nowhere looking for a chance sighting of the Northern Lights. I leaned on the truck, unbalanced, looking up at the night sky and was struck speechless and breathless (and not just because it was 13 degrees) by the sheer majesty, beauty and genius. No lights, but I didn't care. Constellations I don't know all the names of that have been there for all time. A map - to those who know how to read it. All I could say was "Thank you".
Today I accepted the opportunity to be me, to talk out loud to whomever cared to listen, saying, “This line is so slow because I got in it. Sorry about the wait. I know every line I get into is likely to stall. I’ve come to expect it and not let it steal my peace. When it doesn’t, and the line moves smoothly and swiftly - what delight! A gift from The Present!” Best part was helping myself to remain open and wholehearted with the rest of my retail interactions! Love the poem! Thank you!
What a beautiful poem. And then the Northern Lights. Years ago I flew to Taos to see my daughter and to sit in the hot springs by the Rio Grande. That night over wine and conversation I saw bands of green light up the rocks. I told my daughter we were seeing the AB but she said we’re too far south. She’s smarter than I am, but I’m more persistent. I had books on this phenomenon and basked in my good luck to sit with her and be gifted with this radiance. When I got home I read in the newspaper that by some celestial gift the AB was visible in areas where it normally doesn’t appear. Decades later I can still see that sky show and hold that night close.
Absolutely love these sentiments. I haven’t been able to yet add “happy” to my greeting, but rather a steadfast “Wee, 2025” as an invitation and acknowledgement of a new turn being added to the unpredictable roller coaster of modern American life. Thank you for sharing your friend’s photo — such magic and majesty of the universe!
Know how in the South we say, "I'm good," when someone asks how we're doing? A teacher at Drepung Loesling in Atlanta once said that each time he says this he is reminded that he truly is fundamentally good and capable of goodness, and each time someone answers him in this way he is reminded of their fundamental goodness & capacity for good actions. Don't you love that? So Happy New Year, Janisse--we're doing good up here in MN, and I trust all is good with you and yours back in GA!
Belated Happy New Year to you, Janisse😊! Your first day of the year sounds perfect. The northern lights photo is outstanding. They are so amazing.
I love this so much, thank you! 💖
Happy New Year!
Bravo Small Kindnesses! True love.
Happy New Year Janisse! A visit to pitcher plant bog sounds like a great way to start the new year. I went for a hike on the Mt. to Sea Trail outside Asheville and saw a collared calostoma. A good omen.
Thanks so much for New Year's greetings and the lovely poem. I had not read it before and I am so glad that you showed it to us. I hope it doesn't sound like humble-brag, but I do try to be kind and cheerful to everyone I meet, even if the circumstances are difficult. A person filling my water glass at a restaurant is deserving of a Thank You. And the man who sacks my groceries surely deserves a smile and a nod and Thanks. My goal this year is to pay more attention to Trackless Wild because of all the good things I will learn. I'm learning new birds up here in the NW. Things like that excite me. Cheers to all, Happy New Year to all. (I can't pretend that horrible things haven't happened already this year. I can only try to continue to be joyful and supportive and calm.)
I'm in CO and last night drove to the middle of nowhere looking for a chance sighting of the Northern Lights. I leaned on the truck, unbalanced, looking up at the night sky and was struck speechless and breathless (and not just because it was 13 degrees) by the sheer majesty, beauty and genius. No lights, but I didn't care. Constellations I don't know all the names of that have been there for all time. A map - to those who know how to read it. All I could say was "Thank you".
Today I accepted the opportunity to be me, to talk out loud to whomever cared to listen, saying, “This line is so slow because I got in it. Sorry about the wait. I know every line I get into is likely to stall. I’ve come to expect it and not let it steal my peace. When it doesn’t, and the line moves smoothly and swiftly - what delight! A gift from The Present!” Best part was helping myself to remain open and wholehearted with the rest of my retail interactions! Love the poem! Thank you!
Yes...the simple kindness mean so much. Thank you for this beautiful post. (By the way, my husband is still working on your satchel ;))
It's the small kindnesses that can make the most impact. It's a life lesson I taught my daughters and we are now teaching their kids.
Happy New Year Janisse! I so appreciate you and how you write about the world you experience. We all are richer for it.
What a beautiful poem. And then the Northern Lights. Years ago I flew to Taos to see my daughter and to sit in the hot springs by the Rio Grande. That night over wine and conversation I saw bands of green light up the rocks. I told my daughter we were seeing the AB but she said we’re too far south. She’s smarter than I am, but I’m more persistent. I had books on this phenomenon and basked in my good luck to sit with her and be gifted with this radiance. When I got home I read in the newspaper that by some celestial gift the AB was visible in areas where it normally doesn’t appear. Decades later I can still see that sky show and hold that night close.
Absolutely love these sentiments. I haven’t been able to yet add “happy” to my greeting, but rather a steadfast “Wee, 2025” as an invitation and acknowledgement of a new turn being added to the unpredictable roller coaster of modern American life. Thank you for sharing your friend’s photo — such magic and majesty of the universe!
Reading your Trackless Wild and this lovely poem are a great start to the New Year. Thank you friend and I look forward to our visit.
Sounds like a wonderful way to ring in the New Year, Janisse!
Know how in the South we say, "I'm good," when someone asks how we're doing? A teacher at Drepung Loesling in Atlanta once said that each time he says this he is reminded that he truly is fundamentally good and capable of goodness, and each time someone answers him in this way he is reminded of their fundamental goodness & capacity for good actions. Don't you love that? So Happy New Year, Janisse--we're doing good up here in MN, and I trust all is good with you and yours back in GA!
Happy New Year to you and your little family. She’s going to be mobile soon! Mixed blessing.
🥰 Virginia