For so long, the world seemed like a bleak and hopeless place
my days were blotted with sorrow and fear
but I stopped fighting reality, I cleaned my own lenses
all is good and light now that my vision is clear

For so long, the world seemed like a bleak and hopeless place
my days were blotted with sorrow and fear
but I stopped fighting reality, I cleaned my own lenses
all is good and light now that my vision is clear

Oh, apple of Eden!
Symbol of immortality, sin, knowledge, and temptation –
Raw and cutting,
Sweet and delectable,
You are such a sauce-y tart!

When I don’t get enough sleep, everything bugs me. It’s early to bed tonight!
Fact: “Man is the only mammal that willingly delays sleep.” (sleepfoundation.org)

There are things you ought to do quickly: running races and putting out fires come to mind.
But most things are better done slowly and with full presence: eating, visiting with friends and family, petting your dog, folding laundry, washing dishes, drawing scary rabbits…these daily activities are what make up the vast portion of your life.

“There is a big difference between having an opinion and being in the grips of an opinion.”
Eckhart Tolle

The need to possess trophies speaks to a weakness within the consciousness and a tantrum of the ego.
Let nature be. Appreciate her in all her glory.

Peacocks (male peafowl) are believed to display their fantastic feathers in order to woo peahens. They are never aggressive in their courting…
which makes them smarter and better than (some of) their human counterparts.

When I walk among the trees,
I drink in the rays of light
that peek through the leaves
and my feet crunch the “dead” things
but they are not lifeless
see here?
insects march and work
fungus and lichen exchange food
the twigs lie in wait
to service fires and soil
and you are not dead – never were –
your spirit lives on in everyone you ever met

I shared my drawing of llamas today with my fifth graders.

I got a rousing, “Not bad!”
For some reason, they loved yesterday’s 5 minute timed writing prompt:
“Describe how to drive your teacher crazy.”
Ahhhh. Kids.
Each morning, I open my drawing book, 20 Ways to Draw Everything. I make myself draw whatever is in front of me. I am always tempted to draw the easiest figures. I might start with the easiest, but I know that I will not get better if I stick to the simple ones. My initial goal was to draw all 20, but because I have only 45 minutes to draw before I go to work, I choose about six: a few easy, a few difficult.
It’s become my morning meditation.
It’s pre-sunset and I navigate the dark to the kitchen,
boil water, grind beans and allow the two to fuse in the French press
Open the drawing tablet and book – smile
choose a page arbitrarily and put pencil to paper
