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The Sunshine of My Life
“The sun of real happiness shines in your life when you start to cherish others.” — Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
When I think of summer, I experience a restorative state of mind: easy days, dazzling sunlight, leafy trees, blooming flowers and cheerful moments. I think of a bright, yellow sun, bathing the skies and shooing the clouds away. A sunny day lifts me up, even when things might not be going well.
When we are not blessed with sunlight, however, it might be easy to let the clouds drift in. Before we know it, shadows linger nearby, visions narrow and loneliness sets in. But if we are wise, we remember that our lives are illuminated in the cloudy moments through our relationships with others. At those times when we feel most alone and not appreciated, the world looks dark. But when we cherish others, embrace the beauty and warmth of sharing our lives with friends, family and colleagues, the sun is always shining.
Thank you, Ricochet, for shining the sun into my life.
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Published in Group Writing
Hah! Wasn’t me.
I’m not lettng you off that easy, @percival. You know darn well how much cheer and warmth you bring to us on Ricochet. It is a joy to know you.
Exactly!!!!!
Being able to look at that evil dinosaur from a distance, it’s actually kind of cute. Wouldn’t want to be in the same place with it, though.
The sky is a uniform pale gray here at the moment. The ground is a much brighter white. That’s the whether report. Whether the sun exists or not, it’s cold outside. And now for the sports and leisure section of our broadcast.
This is another brick in the wall of our Group Writing Series under February’s theme of “We Need a Little Slumber.” No, wait, that’s “We Need a Little Summer.” Well, whatever the theme, we’re here for you. Operators are standing by. Someone stole their chairs and sold them, and then blamed the health program because science says that sitting shortens your life. So does sleep deprivation, which is why I am sleep-typing this, because…because…because, well, surely there was a point to this somewhere. But, if you want to help me sleep at night and be able to sleep the peaceful slumber of the generous and kind yourself, perhaps you could see your way to our schedule and sleep testing center, er, ah, sign-up sheet, and volunteer to take a day in February for our Group Writing Series.
@arahant, I was going to say, get some sleep! but your writing takes on a whole new . . .um.m.m….ambience in your current state.
For me, Autumn is the season when I begin to feel revitalized. The weather starts to cool off—not completely, but it tells me the heat of Summer will end before long. Soon, I’ll be able to sit on my front deck, cigar in one hand, adult beverage in the other, and chill out as I listen to the sounds around me—or the quiet.
For me, Autumn has always been a time for new beginnings, whether it was the start of a new school year (when I’d find out how many cute girls were in my classes), or the beginning of football season (when the agony of last year’s losses were wiped away, offering hope for a winning season). Even when Autumn ends, it ends with another beginning: Happy New Year!
Winter: cold, wet, grey, rainy. Spring: everything grows, Daddy mows. Summer: Heat is a bummer.
I’ll take the Fall, y’all!
Now, Stad, I didn’t say summer was my favorite season. I just love sunshine. But we get that in the Autumn, too! Don’t tell anyone but my favorite season is Autumn, for the same reasons you list. Except for the cigar smoking . . . ;-)
Agree – After that nasty bitter cold spell here in NW Florida, the sun feels amazing – all the birds are tweeting loudly in the morning, my cat is stalking squirrels, a baby fox hollering because mama was leading him out of the den yesterday to forage – green shoots and buds emerging, all’s right when the sun comes out!
Tonight it will be about 4 degrees, tomorrow night around minus 9.
Despite having lived in Minnesota most of my life, every winter it is the same: I almost can’t grasp what summer is like. The idea of green grass, flowers — it all seems fantastical. And in the middle of summer, the reverse is true: I can’t really grasp the reality of winter. My husband and I confidently tell each other that sure, we’ll take our little plane out during the winter sometime, because – hey! It’s not so bad! January thaw and all that…..But of course when it comes to this time of year, everything is just so cold it hurts. We don’t go flying – though as I’m typing this I can hear a plane outside, so there are braver souls.
Ahhhh, summer…..what is that like, now?
Yes, we had our nasty days down here, too! Love your description, FSC! Don’t you love the birds waking you up–the sandhill cranes are our alarm clock!
The positive side is that you live in the moment, @painterjean. That can be a blessing, even when it’s bitter outside!
If you tried a good cigar once . . .
I never thought I’d like cigars until my uncle gave me an expensive one as a treat. I had tried the cheap cigars produced in this country (machine-made garbage), but was turned off. They were harsh, hot, and stunk to high heaven.
Hand-rolled cigars from the Caribbean are awesome. The flavor, the smoothness, the aroma . . . are to die for (uh oh, the anti-smoking crowd will have a ball with that one). They add something to the beverage I’m sipping when I smoke, which has been Tennessee Honey of late.
I smoke a cigar maybe once or twice a month, mainly because they cost anywhere from $4 to $10 apiece, but also because I have other things to do. However, the experience of smoking a fine cigar is worth it.
While my favorite brand is Macanudo, I have grown fond of the Monte Cristos with the Habana 2000 wrapper. Got both in my humidor . . .
I find all this happiness bizarre and off-putting.
I’ll take your word for it, Stad. I enjoy reading about the pleasure it gives you; that’s enough for me!
Ah Henry, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Tough times?
It’s very true, cigars are not for everyone.
You are being quite kind and positive, Susan. The truth is it’s a kind of weird amnesia that strikes both summer and winter. It’s like that scene in Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings”, when Frodo tells Sam, on the slopes of Mount Doom, that he can’t remember the Shire, or the feel of green grass….
Maybe it’s a natural defense mechanism for living in a place that is brutally cold in winter and hot and humid in summer.
I don’t doubt it, Jean. Many years ago my husband had the chance to take a job in Portland or in Boston–both miserable place in the winter. I suggested we go to Boston because I didn’t think I could handle continuous rain. (I’ve heard that Portlandians do everything in the rain–picnic, go for bike rides, and so on. It was brutal, the two years in Boston, and then we went to Denver, where it got cold but warmed up, even in winter. Still, I don’t remember wishing to remember what a warmer season was like in the winter, so I don’t know if I had your kind of “amnesia.” Obviously mine is current (on the past!) It’d be interesting to know if that occurs for others.
I think I was reading that more as, if you can’t join them in happiness, beat them so they join you in misery. 😁
Very funny. No. ;-)
Thank you Susan for the sunshine you bring our way :)
Tomorrow, in fact.
Whoa! Thank you for the reminder.
Stevie and a @susanquinn post…doesn’t get much sunnier :-)
For some reason, this reminded me of a little chorus my mom and grammy used to sing with me sometimes as a child…
This is beautifully stated, Susan. I am so happy for you, and your subline attitude. Today is my birthday, and you added to it by allowing me to read such a heartfelt post. God Bless You and Yours!
I love that one. Now I’ll be singing it to myself all day! That’s very sweet, Mim. Thanks for the kind words.
I hope it is the happiest of birthdays, George. God Bless you, too.