I've always loved Pema Chodron's books

"The everyday practice is simply to develop a complete acceptance and openness to all situations and emotions, and to all people, experiencing everything totally with out mental reservations and blockages, so that one never withdraws or centralizes into oneself."
--Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
From the book, "The Places that Scare You," by Pema Chodron, published by Shambhala Publications Inc.

What a common theme this is becoming in these quotations.

Had a great, long chat with one of my very oldest childhood friends tonight. We spoke through MSN Messenger, he in London, England and me here in Halifax. We kept visual contact through our webcams, too. Very nice. He's a great friend, really -- we realized tonight that we've known each other for more than half our lives now. Tremendous.

Worried about my family right now, though. Through delays and missed connections, their arrival in Calgary has now been delayed by almost four hours. The dogs have been in their kennels for exactly 12 hours as I write this. I hope Riker hasn't gone mad in that time. They've probably both had to pee in their beds by now. My poor, poor babies. I hope they're okay. I can't stop thinking about them cooped up in there for that long period.

(no subject)

http://www.web-police.org/

nice little poem

The last stanza is so true. Especially when I think about all that I ate yesterday. Oh, well. No regrets, just lighter eating today.

"tomorrow"

It's usually tomorrow in Palestine
before anybody here
has thought of what
could be easily done
to reduce poverty and fear.

It's usually tomorrow in Tokyo
before anybody here
wakes up to what has happened
to their neighbors from afar.

It's usually tomorrow in Melbourne
before anybody here
has bothered to think where wool comes from
and why sheep are so dear.

And it's usually tomorrow
right where we stand today
when we know
what we should have said
and done just yesterday.


December 15, 2002
Brian Fitzgerald (from the Sufi Mystic list)