Welcome, July, the month of Summer. The month of watermelon and popsicles. The month of dips in the lagoon, cooling off in the sprinkler and long, balmy evenings. Welcome, July, the month of being with my children all-day-long and hearing their laughter, and mine, filling the house. Welcome, July, the month of fairy gardens, bees and butterflies. Welcome, July. We are looking forward to unwrapping the gifts you have in store for us. We have been filled with worry but now we set that aside and welcome your sunshine into our days.
I have been doing a lot of inner work. Work to help me set aside recent disappointments and fear. Work to help me see through a challenging time and to visualize and realize the gifts that lie ahead. Our spirits and goodness can’t be shackled unless we allow them to be.
Along with this inner work, I have been trying to see the miracles that are so abundant all around me. Miracles like sparkling dew on a summer’s morning.
Here are some of my recent photos that reveal this particular miracle… sparkling orbs of rainbow joy. And, accompanying them, are beautiful quotes from a master of understanding miracles, Tich Nhat Hanh.
“Around us, life bursts with miracles–a glass of water, a ray of sunshine, a leaf, a caterpillar, a flower, laughter, raindrops. If you live in awareness, it is easy to see miracles everywhere. Each human being is a multiplicity of miracles. Eyes that see thousands of colors, shapes, and forms; ears that hear a bee flying or a thunderclap; a brain that ponders a speck of dust as easily as the entire cosmos; a heart that beats in rhythm with the heartbeat of all beings. When we are tired and feel discouraged by life’s daily struggles, we may not notice these miracles, but they are always there.”
“I promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given me to live.”
“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.”
“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”
“When we are mindful, deeply in touch with the present moment, our understanding of what is going on deepens, and we begin to be filled with acceptance, joy, peace and love.”
“If you love someone, the greatest gift you can give them is your presence”
“When we walk like (we are rushing), we print anxiety and sorrow on the earth. We have to walk in a way that we only print peace and serenity on the earth… Be aware of the contact between your feet and the earth. Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.”
“I am determined to practice deep listening. I am determined to practice loving speech.”
“At any moment, you have a choice, that either leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it.”
“When you begin to see that your enemy is suffering, that is the beginning of insight.”
Welcome, July and all the beauty you bring.
Blessings and magic,
Donni
4 Responses
Wow, Donni, what a beautiful post! And photography is simply breathtaking. Thank you!
Thank you, sweet Anya. xo Donni
My Abba often tells me: We are surrounded by incredible opportunities, brilliantly disguised as insurmountable obstacles. And I get it. It’s easy to choose to focus on the opportunities, but harder to do that a day and a step at a time. Hang in there. I am cheering for you (both) and your kidlets. Your family serves as a perpetual inspiration, and a reminder to cherish each child’s unique talents and build a beautiful, welcoming home.
Thank you for your beautiful, wise words, Helana. I’m so thankful for your thoughts.
xo Donni