TODDLER RUNNING

 

 Something happens every now and then…it’s something I adore…

when a toddler, who can’t control his our her excitement…

goes running up and down the aisles of our store.

If you’ve ever seen a toddler run…their body shifts from side to side…

They are one move from falling over…and there’s a smile they can’t hide.

Yes, the entire time they’re toddler running…between the counter and bookcases

their hands are extended out for balance…and there are smiles on their faces!

And when their parents look at me…as they faithfully follow after…

we often share a smile or we join in their children’s laughter.

I was thinking about this today…as before me lay an empty street…

then I stopped in the darkness, smiled…and looked down at my fee.

Then I started running…but with two bad knees…I found my body shifting from side to side…

and even though I was one move from falling over…my smile…I couldn’t hide.

I certainly can’t run as gracefully or as fast as I did when I was a boy…

but, with my arms extended for balance…I could not hide my joy.

It seems by ability to run as decreased as my years in life accrue…

And at 71 years old…toddler running is the best that I can do.

But at 71…I also refuse to let anything like bad knees stop me

from experiencing joy…or having fun…

Which means:

Whenever I have the opportunity…

I will run like toddlers run.

THANKFUL FOR THE OWL

 

Today I’m thankful for the owl…

A truly wonderful bird….

who reminds us we can be wise

without ever saying a word.

OWL FLY-BY

 

On my walk this morning a little owl flew very close to me…

The tip of her wing touched my shoulder before she disappeared into a tree.

In the quiet darkness of the morning my mind formed this conception:

I think that owl had a message for me…not just poor depth perception.

Some believe if you’re touched by an owl it’s a sign…a message from someone you knew… 

but I was immediately confused…because I could not determine who.

My first thought went to my mom and dad…but soon other names amassed…

Deborah’s mom and dad…and our friend Tim…who recently has passed.

To Susan, a woman I taught with year ago…I think around 1988…

Cancer took her during that school year…she was 28.

To Denny a good friend I grew up with…whose life too soon came to an end…

To Chrissy…who we also lost early…she was Ali’s friend.

It’s as if when that owl brushed my shoulder…the moment our two paths crossed

she opened up a door to memories of people I have lost.

But it wasn’t their deaths I thought about…after that little owl arrived

I spent the rest of that walk…smiling…remembering…when they were alive.

Perhaps that was this owl’s message…

at least it’s the best reason I can think of yet….

How we need to stop every now and then…

to remember people we don’t want to forget.

THANKFUL FOR THE ABILITY TO FALL IN LOVE

 

Today I’m thankful for the ability to fall in love..

for this simple reason why…

The moment we fall in love…

Is the moment…our heart learns it can fly.

IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR

 

We have this January 1st tradition…to which we faithfully adhere

We head to the beach so we can watch the sun rise on a new year…

For years we’ve been going to the same beach…as each new year’s begun…

to stand along the water’s edge and smile as we greet the sun.

We love coming back to the same spot to rekindle memories we’ve collected

and…as very often happens…to make new memories…unexpected.

The old memories were there to greet us where the water meets the land…

the trees, the birds, people walking their dogs…the ocean and the sand.

But it was on the boardwalk…as we watched the sun begin to rise….

where the new year…just waking up…delivered her first surprise.

As the sunlight reached the boardwalk…that boardwalk became the perfect stage

and in that perfect spot…that perfect moment…we watched a couple get engaged.

We were the first to congratulate them…the moment his proposal was done. 

The first with hugs and handshakes…

The first to see the ring on her finger shining in the sun.

It was a beautiful moment and we took their picture in the midst of a sunburst…

We…a couple who’ve been married 35 years taking a photo of them…

a couple about to start their first.

As we left them to enjoy their moment…

(she couldn’t stop looking at her ring!)

I thought…if this is just the first day of the year…

I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Yes…if New Year’s Day was any indication…

then, to me, it seems quite clear….

2024…is going to be…one amazing year.

THANKFUL FOR NEW YEARS

 

Today I’m thankful for new years…

As we bid adieu to last year…

and ahead to the new year look….

and think of how we’d like to fill…

the chapters in this year’s book

JUST IMAGINE THAT

 

 Albert Einstein believed that imagination…mixed with our effort and our actions

when it comes to the world we’re trying to create…

can be a preview of coming attractions.

So…something different this year…as into a new year we swing…

Instead of new year’s resolutions…I’m trying new year’s imaginings.

Imagine a world in balance…

a world of peace, compassion and equality…

where we all embrace our differences and live together in harmony.

Imagine a world where we help each other…from the young to the old and gray

regardless of who we love…

how we look…

our gender…

or to what God we pray.

Imagine if this is the coming attraction…

a world where everyone is family….

a friend…

and as I imagine all of us imagining this…

I can only imagine how this movie will end.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE