Lilacs, Sweet Woodruff, and a Sunny Day in May

...heavenly...

(When I walked outside this morning, I thought without thought: "this is heaven".)

  

Steven Heighton's poem, Constellations

This is a poem that provides a beautiful image. Imagine placing glow-in-the-dark stars all over you, soaking up some light, then turning off all the lights and dancing in the dark--or watching someone else do a star dance. You can read the poem (and the specific story that goes with it) in his book, The Address Book: Poems. Thanks to my friend, S, for turning my attention toward Steven's work.

Feelings About Mother's Day (and the Cultivation of Compassion)

Today is Mother's Day. For some, it is filled with warm feelings, laughter, reflection, gratitude. For others, it might include almost none of the sort, but instead feelings of anger, pain, longing, loneliness. Grief might be felt and this might be a blend of feelings related to absence and presence, what was and wasn't, what is and isn't, what was and now isn't or now is. Mothers may have a wide range of feelings too--as well as those who are not mothers, some of whom may deeply want to be mothers but aren't.

As much as I might sound like a broken record (do you remember those???), what I want to offer today is this: not sentimentality but kindness to each of you in whatever circumstance you are in with whatever feelings you have.

I will also mention a book I am reading, Compassionate Mind: A New Approach to Life's Challenges, by Paul Gilbert who works as a psychologist. At 513 pages, it isn't a book I'd recommend to someone who is not up for long reading; and I will also say that Paul expresses some of his beliefs that may or may not resonate with everyone (like everything of course); however, Paul writes with a friendly tone, a sense of humour, and great compassion for human experiences and the struggles people find themselves in. The second half of the book, which I haven't delved into yet, is filled with ways of intentionally fostering the further development of compassion, which is not limited to but includes the cultivation of courage.

A walk in the park (and the importance of green spaces)

Today I went for a walk in the new park that is in development in Kingston along (a) concession between Alfred and Nelson. I came home. I thought, "Trees are the bees knees."

Electromagnetic radiation and health

Do you have a DECT cordless phone in your home? Wireless technology? Use a cell phone regularly? Live or work where wireless abounds? Have you read much about the research in these areas looking at the effects of these devices on a cellular level and concerns that have been raised about their effects on health? Curious? If so, here are three suggestions to get you started on your search:

1) Listen to the interview on these topics that aired this morning on CBC's radio program, The Sunday Edition, hosted by Michael Enright. 

2) Google "Magda Havas"--a researcher at Trent University--and read about her research and follow where all of that leads you. Check out her website.

3) Watch the documentary, Full Signal, if you get the chance. (I haven't seen it yet but it looks interesting. If you hear of it coming to Kingston, let me know.)

Two 2-Minute or Less Stories

1. For my cat, a call to action: the opening of the fridge door.

2. Today at lunch for a treat, I decided to purchase a tea at a local Tim Hortons. Typically, I would make my own cup of tea at work if I wanted some, but I had forgotten to bring a small amount of cream from home. I ordered a medium-sized tea with bag in and with cream. I got: a white creamy liquid with no evidence of tea colour whatsoever--even after it steeped for 30 minutes! Is there such a thing as a faulty tea bag? As I sat at my desk thinking to myself, what a waste, the idea occurred to me: I made my own cup of tea in-house, then, when ready, poured some of the cream-saturated cup of faulty tea from Tims' into my new cup. The result was for me a "just right" cup of tea, a rather expensive creamer, and a creative solution.

Best wishes to you.

The Inner Life of the Cell

Here is a wonderful and inspiring 3 minute trailer to an 8 minute film that was made by XVIVO, a scientific animation company located near Harford, CT. I first read about the video at studio daily's website.