Author: Kay Foley

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We Get To

I got to walk with a friend on this bitter cold day.

Ceasar F. Barajas says, about meditating, “Remember. We don’t have to. We get to.” What a beautiful philosophy for the whole of life.

I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and trying to remember to switch my “have to” to a “get to” whenever possible. It really does change everything about all those pesky things on your To Do List, things you’d rather not be doing but most likely do in order to enjoy something else.

I decided I didn’t like this painting so I got to paint over it.

Think about it. If we’re not homeless or refugeed or living in a wartorn place, we can most likely change anything we think we have to do into something we are lucky to be able to do. This includes paying taxes and bills, exercising, taking medicine, buying groceries, scraping the ice off the car morning after morning, taking care of our dogs or loved ones, just about anything you can think of. All of these chores, responsibilities and so many more of the things we do can be reframed into privileges, things we wouldn’t get to do if we weren’t privileged in some way.

And it really does flip a little switch in your brain (heart and body) when you catch yourself and say “get to,” instead of “have to.” I get to put gas in the car, even though I’m already late for something, simply because I am able to drive and I actually own a car and I can afford to buy gas. So, great! I may be running late for something else I get to do because I get to fill up my car with gas first.

Lately, I get to cook food for Miles, whom I love, because he has kidney problems now and refuses to eat the packaged kidney diet food. More worry and more cooking. Geez. It gets old. Yet another thing to do. But I have a beautiful dog that I love. And I am able to do something about his problem. I have a stove and pots and pans and I can afford to buy sweet potatoes, rice, etc. and I know how to cook them–so whenever I feel a bit overwhelmed or crabby or impatient about having one more thing to take care of, I get to remember that I get to do it for him.

Try it!

“To say you have no choice is to relieve yourself of responsibility.” ― Patrick Ness, Monsters of Men

“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” ― Brené Brown

“You may believe that you are responsible for what you do, but not for what you think. The truth is that you are responsible for what you think, because it is only at this level that you can exercise choice. What you do comes from what you think. ”― Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

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Epiphany

January 6th is observed by some religions as the Feast of the Epiphany, a church festival celebrating the coming of the Magi to see baby Jesus. We celebrated it as Catholics when I was growing up. I think we may have had a day off of school (so good). I always think of it on the 6th and hope to have some kind of epiphany of my own on that day.

Well, as usual I did not, but on the 7th I can say that I did! I had an epiphany of sorts, inspired by the lovely Deepak Chopra.

I was listening to a 6-minute meditation in which he said, “Ask yourself, ‘Who am I? What am I?’ And then, ‘What is it that wants to know the answer to the question Who am I?'” Whoa. That is deep. He says you needn’t try to answer, just ask. Well, my meditation was interrupted but I did consider those questions as I wrote my morning pages and today I had what I am calling an epiphany. La!

Here, I just want to share the experience of having it. For me, writing freely, like I do in the morning, sometimes opens up the possibility that I will learn something. Maybe it’s not even a new something, or even new to me, but it might be fresh for me in that moment, on that day. And so it was. And on this grey and brown day I experienced a beautiful, bright and fresh idea that gave me lightness of heart.

This little meditation continues with the question, “What is my deepest desire?” Again he says, don’t try to answer. It will come to you as a sensation, feeling, image, or thought. Follow that with, “What is my purpose?, i.e. What are my gifts? What should I be doing with them? How can I help others?” And finally, “What am I grateful for?” Again, don’t worry about the answers; just see what arises. All of which leads to self-awareness, abundance, embracing unpredictability, connecting with others, bringing out creativity, connecting with spirit.

Holy smokes! All of this in a 6-minute meditation! I didn’t even hear half of it the first time and yet it provoked my beautiful epiphany. Of course, I experience these kinds of things as so very ephemeral. I want them to last, I’d like to be a changed person, Dalai Lama-ish, never again bothered by petty things, beautifully aligned with spirit and others Forever and Ever Amen–but I’m well aware that these states of mind are fleeting. I’ve put a star next to this meditation so that I can listen to it again and again, in the hope that one day these feelings will stick. And I can reread what I wrote this morning whenever I want. I am in charge of that.

So many teachers, everywhere. I try to be the student I was not, in high school.

“It’s the hard things that break; soft things don’t break. It was an epiphany I had today and I just wonder why it took me so very, very long to see it! You can waste so many years of your life trying to become something hard in order not to break; but it’s the soft things that can’t break! The hard things are the ones that shatter into a million pieces!” ― C. JoyBell C.

“Whereas life separates meaning from emotion, art unites them. Story is an instrument by which you create such epiphanies at will, the phenomenon known as aesthetic emotion.” ― Robert McKee, Story

“Rather than getting more spoilt with age, as difficulties pile up, epiphanies of gratitude abound.” ― Alain de Botton

“Epiphanies awaken the soul.” ― A.D. Posey

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”
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New Year’s Day – Another Chance

Last night I rewatched the last two episodes of Ted Lasso, since I’m letting my subscription go. I heard again this great Ted quote: “You know, I don’t know about you, but I hope that either all of us, or none of us, are judged by the actions of our weakest moments, but rather, by the strength we show when, and if, we’re ever given a second chance.”

Second chances is a theme throughout the show. So what is New Year’s Day but a chance to do better and be better, a chance to make our actions match our heart’s best intentions?

This could be said, of course, for any new day, week, or even moment. Do better, be better, try again. So you’ve just said something unkind (we all do). Do better. Soften, apologize, say the kind thing. It’s always possible to change the next moment, to start again, to create our own second chances if we have to, and make good on them.

I love New Year’s Day for formalizing the setting of intentions. It’s a beautiful opportunity to give yourself a second chance at being your best self, at setting personal goals and working hard to follow them through, at looking back over the year that just ended with honesty, gratitude, and clarity. What did I set out to do and what did I actually do? What might I want to do differently in the coming year?

I’m writing this on December 31st, my day to look back over the year. Like young Woody Guthrie (above), I did wash my teeth, take baths and change my socks. I read lots of good books, loved my others and made up my mind about some things. Today I wrote out a list of the big things I did in 2023. There were lots of them. Again, I shake my head at my lucky life. I thank the universe or God or the angels or whomever is responsible. Tomorrow I will write out my intentions for 2024. I will include things like “Open the mail when it arrives,” along with higher goals. A friend invited me to make 2024 the Year of Yes. Of course I said YES.

New Year’s Resolutions are an invitation to say yes and give yourself another chance. Why not take it?

“Every Saint has a past. Every Sinner has a future.” ― Oscar Wilde

“You can’t go back and make a new start, but you can start right now and make a brand-new ending. — James P. Sherman, Rejection

“There’s always a second act. Always.” ― Ken Liu, Speaking Bones

“Somehow, miraculously, everything had fallen into place as it was supposed to all along. Through heartbreak and sorrow, sacrifice and drudgery, through hope lost and hope regained, I’d learned little by little to be honest. To pay attention. To seek joy. And through all the ups and downs, the tears and bittersweet lessons, my lemon of a life had gradually been transformed into this—the most deliciously sweet, perfectly imperfect second chance I could ever imagine.” ― Rachel Linden, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

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Happy Happy Merry Happy!

I wrote this verse and made it into a card many years ago. It was a new feeling I had about winter, brought about, as I recall, by working from home and my boys grown. I no longer had to face getting my car out on snowy, icy roads if I didn’t feel like it. I was able to think of winter as a cozy time.

I just now finished this year’s Christmas cards. I put lights on a little tree outside just two days ago. And it’s balmy here today, with rain predicted for our Christmas Day, with a high of 60. My cards are late and apparently winter is, too, this year. We are in sync.

The other day in the woods a guy called out, “Merry Happy!” as he passed with his dogs. I like that. So I’m thinking “Happy Happy Merry Happy!” Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, and New Year’s. Many reasons to celebrate. Many reasons to call out cheerfully to people one doesn’t even know. It’s just too bad the holidays are all crammed in together, rather than spread throughout the winter, for even though I like winter much better than I used to, one does still long for a beach around about the end of January or early February.

A virtual 2023 Christmas card from me to you

Anyway, I just wanted to call out cheerfully to all of you, who make it possible for me to write these letters every Sunday morning. Without you there would be no point. Now that I’ve said that I’m remembering that I told a friend just yesterday that I would write a strongly worded letter to God about all the health troubles my friend has been facing, with aplomb, I might add, for years and years. So I suppose I could write my letters even if you weren’t out there reading them. I could send them out to the universe. Nevertheless I’m grateful for you, lovely reader, and am happy to wish you all sorts of holiday cheer, or as much of it as you can stand.

“One can never have enough socks,” said Dumbledore. “Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

“Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we celebrate the darkness as it is in its fullest influence. The once fertile forests are now bare and awaiting their rebirth. The surrounding shadows whispering to us of our natural-born powers. And the knowledge of a convergent awakening.” ― Dacha Avelin

“Mistletoe,” said Luna dreamily, pointing at a large clump of white berries placed almost over Harry’s head. He jumped out from under it. “Good thinking,” said Luna seriously. “It’s often infested with nargles.” ― J.K. Rowling , Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

“Jolabokaflod – noun; an Icelandic tradition in which books are given as Christmas presents and opened on December 24, after which the evening is spent reading the books: from a practice begun in 1944, when paper goods were among the most available items in postwar Iceland.” – Dictionary.com

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

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In Need of a Hug

Sometimes a person just really needs a hug.

Today is that day for me. I had a day that challenged me yesterday, following an early morning epiphany from a quote that I myself had posted several days earlier but failed to really take in until yesterday. It is thus:

“Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.” – Rilke

Can you see the lovely space?

I felt unloved (though I know I am not), thus unlovable and then not terribly loving, followed again by unlovable, etc., etc. As it sometimes goes. But revisiting that quote made me decide that I should be a loving princess, rather than a bleak, dark dragon. Beautiful idea. Unfortunately, I failed. I did not manage to be Princess Kathleen, after all.

Woke up today, again, crabby. All possible human affection currently unavailable, I headed for my hugging tree in the woods. The trunk of that great big cottonwood has a nice concave place where a human of a certain size can fit, just so. I needed to fit myself into that space and commune with that tree, feel its cells buzzing all up close and commingling with my own. I needed to feel the love. I suppose, more, I needed to give the love, as Rilke says.

Sometimes being a good human is hard. Sometimes just being a human is hard, challenging, deflating, disappointing. I prefer it to be beautiful, uplifting, joyous, magical, mystifying, toe-tappingly musical. And often it is all of those things. But not always. And then one has to find a hugging tree. I hope you have one.

“The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity… and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself.” ― William Blake

“In our world, dear reader, sad and terrible things often happen, though I wish I could tell you otherwise. But strangely wonderful things also occur, and this is the truth that makes life worth living.” ― John Mark Green, She Had a Very Inconvenient Heart

“Trees have long thoughts, long-breathing and restful, just as they have longer lives than ours. They are wiser than we are, as long as we do not listen to them. But when we have learned how to listen to trees, then the brevity and the quickness and the childlike hastiness of our thoughts achieve an incomparable joy. Whoever has learned how to listen to trees no longer wants to be a tree. He wants to be nothing except what he is. That is home. That is happiness.” ― Herman Hesse, Bäume

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

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One Butch Thing & A Cautionary Tale

The one butch thing I feel confident I can do is change a tire. I’m not particularly good at sawing (too imprecise) or electrical things (I always worry that even if the power is off, it could jump out and get me anyway) or mechanical things–but I can change a tire and many’s the time I’ve done it.

Recently, that pesky CHECK TIRE PRESSURE light came on in my car, of course on a Saturday. I went and filled up all the tires, though I’m not very good at that, either. One of the tires kept going down all weekend and either I or my son filled it up. On Monday, after being told at Lee’s Tire Company (“round for you”) that I would have to wait until Tuesday to have it fixed, I had the brilliant notion (Oh yeah!) of putting on the spare. And so I did. My neighbor came across the street, astounded, and made a little video of me doing it. She then bragged to a friend that I, in my 70s, had changed my tire.

Unfortunately, the spare was flat. Not the first time this has happened! And certainly an unwelcome outcome, after I had exhausted myself with the tire changing. I may still be able to do it now that I’m in my 70s, but the doing of it exhausted me far more than it used to do back in the day. Whew!

Now for the cautionary tale. Years ago, when my then-husband and I were driving across the country, we had a flat in New Mexico. Well, he set about to put on the spare. He is actually the person who taught me how to change a tire. However, on this occasion he failed to set the brake before jacking up the car. Very big no-no! So it slipped off the jack and the jack punched a hole in the gas tank. Aiyiyi!!

Well, this is a very bad situation in which to find oneself. We ended up sitting in a cafe while a crazy man at a garage welded a patch onto the gas tank. In fact, everyone who worked in the place exited the building. As you can imagine, welding a gas tank is a dangerous thing to do. Gas fumes and welding torches do not make good bedfellows. Fortunately, no explosion occurred and we were, eventually, good to go. Amazing! So now I definitely know always to set the brake before jacking up a car.

So there you have it–the one butch thing I know how to do. What about all of you out there? Got any stories? I bet you do. We all have stories. That is one other thing I really do know.

“Difficult things aren’t easy, but they’re worth it.” – Mia Love

“The best way to learn is by doing. The only way to build a strong work ethic is getting your hands dirty.” – Alex Spannos

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

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One Woman’s Treasure

Leaves. They’re pretty coming in, lovely on their way out, and beautiful (to some) on the ground. When I was a young girl, I boxed some up in the fall and brought them into the basement, to keep them out of the cold. I suppose we all love leaves to varying degrees.

My neighbors across the street hired a guy to clean up the leaves from their impressive pin oak. There was a leaf blower and there were many young girls with big rakes working away. (I hope he paid them.) Then the blue tarp was brought out and the gate of the pickup truck was lowered. I looked over wondering . . . wanting . . . hesitating . . . yearning . . .

I finally called out, “Excuse me?” They stopped their work. I walked over and said, “Do you think you could bring those leaves over here?” The man in charge gave me such a look. “You–want–the leaves.” I said yes. I’d recently torn out all the giant weeds and vines on the east side of my house, which I’ve done before, only to have them return. Even after dosing them with (shh) RoundUp, back they came. Thorny things, big giant tall things, all manner of vines, etc., all kinds of things! I, however, envision a variety of lovely bushy hydrangeas over there. Perfect spot and all, I’m guessing, though I am not actually a gardener.

I only ever garden as absolutely necessary, when I just can’t bear the look of my yard another moment. Most often, my gardener-ish behavior consists of pulling things out and chopping things down. Thus, for me, gardening is not in any way relaxing. I’d consulted another neighbor about my plan for this area and was given the go-ahead to chop it all down, pull up what I could (not much), cover the whole area with cardboard and then pile lots of leaves on top. Then, in the spring (I think?) put down dirt, compost, the lovely plants I want and lots of mulch. Or else hire the dreamy-eyed gardener I long for to do it.

So I’ve collected cardboard and hauled some big rocks (from a previous hare-brained project) over there. Now I need leaves, lots and lots of leaves. Right? Even though just last year I was bagging them up in a grumbly way, since most of them came from that pin oak and another neighbor’s tree. But here’s a guy across the street with a big tarp full of leaves, so why not? I offered to pay him but he said I’d be saving him a trip to the compost site. Yes. But that look! That look said, “Lady, you are crazy!”

Just goes to show how, as “they” say, one person’s trash is another’s treasure. So many of the things “they” say turn out to be true, don’t you think? Without research or clinical trials or empirical studies.

“Lovely flowers have been known to grow out of trash heaps.” – Elizabeth Kata

“The ground’s generosity takes in our compost and grows beauty! Try to be more like the ground.”― Rumi

“Life: composted lessons for our hearts to blossom into our souls.”― Soul Dancer, Pay Me What I’m Worth

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

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Be a Goldfish

The television more-than-a-comedy “Ted Lasso” is full of food for thought. Soccer coach Lasso has a take on teamwork, love, and how to live a good life that illuminates the best way to be a human. But one of his many bits of wisdom comes from the humble goldfish.

After a tough defeat, Ted says, “You know what the happiest animal in the world is? It’s a goldfish. It’s got a 10 second memory. Be a goldfish.” He goes on to encourage the team to forget the losses and focus on what’s next. Put the missed shots and opportunities, the losses and disappointments behind you and work on doing better. Shorthand for this, as the show goes forward (as we all are reminded to do) is, “Be a goldfish.”

I love this show. It’s one that is well worth watching. When I finally got to see all of it, I was spoiled for anything else. I just wanted to watch it all over again, which I quickly began to do. It is filled with nuggets of wisdom.

Be the goldfish. Leave it all in the past. Okay, don’t leave the beautiful things, the happinesses and glories, the lovely littles and bigs behind you. Keep those tucked away someplace safe. But don’t hang onto the ugly bits that aren’t doing you any good. Be a goldfish and swim over to your tiny castle, waving your pretty little tail as you go.

Rufus, paying rapt attention, as we all should.

I always feel that it’s important to look and listen for these bits of wisdom wherever I can, in whatever conversation, book, movie, overheard comment, child’s remark, dog’s behavior, act of nature, and of course my own reaction to something or other. It’s important to always be listening, paying attention, noticing. Otherwise, what might I be missing? What important message or idea might escape my notice? What bearer of wisdom might be left shaking its head and rolling its eyes, wondering how to get my attention next time?

But with “Ted Lasso,” there’s a banquet of wonderful morsels just laid out for you, so easy to pick up and so palatable. It might sound like I work for Apple+ TV but this show is worth watching. Honestly, I haven’t found much else of worth there, but when I find something like this gem, I want to tell about it.

Here are a few more Ted Lasso-isms.

“I promise you there is something worse out there than being sad, and that’s being alone and being sad. Ain’t no one in this room alone.”

“There’s two buttons I never like to hit: that’s panic and snooze.”

“I think things come into our lives to help us get from one place to a better one.”

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

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Life Song

A few years ago, someone asked me what I’d say my Life Song is. I thought it must be a Thing, but apparently it isn’t. At least, a) I find no reference to the idea anywhere online and b) my DJ son has never heard of the term. So now I can say definitively what it means and now it can be a Thing because I’ve said so.

At the time and forever since, I’ve believed it to be a song that’s been with you for a long time, a song that has always resonated with you, that evokes deep feelings within you, a song for which your fondness never seems to tire. It won’t necessarily be associated with a particular time or incident in your life, but rather, with who you are on a deep level.

So here’s mine. I actually have two that I cannot choose between: “Over the Rainbow,” written by Harold Arlen and made famous by Judy Garland in the movie “Wizard of Oz;” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart.” At first they seem vastly different, don’t they? But I think only in terms of style.

To me, both songs evoke a feeling of yearning, of wanting something beyond the ordinary. Have a listen to Willie Nelson’s version of “Over the Rainbow” or Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s and of course only Bruce’s “Hungry Heart” and see what you think.

I cannot quite explain why both songs speak to me in just the way they do. I have always been a dreamer, always had high ideas for how I’d live my life. I do very much love the ordinary, in which I often find the extraordinary, as well as contentment. But as a creative soul, I’m always looking for love. Look what I’ve made, please love it, and, therefore, love me. Feed me! Feed my hungry heart.

So what is your Life Song? What song has spoken to you for most of your life? What song has resonated deeply for you beyond a particular incident, person, or time in your life? What would you want played to celebrate your life, when that time comes? I’d love to hear.

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” ― Albert Einstein

“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.” ― Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy, Poems

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

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Same Old Lesson

Once again I learned that same old lesson. The day that looks gloomy from inside can be glorious when you’re out in it.

A couple of weeks ago we had a cold, wet, cloudy Sunday, the sky packed full of clouds. I was not eager to go out again into the dreary weather after my two short dog walks. I had a couple of big computer projects to work on. Well, the first was my MerryThoughts letter, which I almost always write on Sunday morning. Then another bigger task took a few hours. Well, my body was crying out for a walk by the time I was close to finishing. Back, neck, shoulder all so sick and tired of sitting at my desk.

Despite the look of the day, I bundled up, put on my waterproof boots, and went out, with an especially lovely walking meditation to listen to.

So you already know, then, that the walk was absolutely glorious. I went over to a little neighborhood park where a friend has carved a narrow path through the tiny woods. There’s a stream running through, too. Charming. Lovely. Soul satisfying. The wet only accentuated the fall colors against the black bark and branches, just as it does. Remember? Remember? Just as it always does. I did not need sun to jazz up the color or open my eyes wider. It was all there, all the beauty, the glory of nature, just as it always is, at the ready, no matter what the bigger elements decide to do. Always.

The chill on my face was enlivening, as the rest of me was bundled up. My feet were dry. (You know what they say–there’s no bad weather; only bad clothes. Remember?) I had some beautiful words to listen to. I felt refreshed, rejuvenated, reborn, both during and after that absolutely glorious walk. I felt bouncy and boundless, full of life, renewed and wanting to tell everyone this thing that I had (once again) discovered.

And I felt chastened, as well. How many times have I learned that lesson? So many! I once had a card and still have a print that reads, “Be patient. Sometimes you have to learn the same thing over and over again.” Boy oh boy. I will probably learn this again, too, since I am a human being. But as with meditation, I don’t have to learn it. I get to. Yeah, I get to.

“You are the one who declared a gloomy day as gloomy! In fact, there is neither a joyful nor a gloomy day, only a mind that evaluates what that day is!”― Mehmet Murat ildan

“And from the midst of cheerless gloom/I passed to bright unclouded day.” ― Emily Bronte

“When a bad thing happens a pessimist thinks, ‘just my luck’, an optimist thinks, ‘this will pass’, and a teacher thinks, ‘what’s the lesson here?’.” ― Garry Fitchett

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”