Plant your own garden, Decorate your own soul

Posted on July 10, 2020 by Perpetua

Layla Pie and Miss Pretty planting the hydrangea

After a while, you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul
And you learn that love doesn’t mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises.

Weather forecast for the first day of summer. Rain.

And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open,
With the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build all your roads on today,
Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain.
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

Lavender Harvest. A good day. Rain the following day.

After a while, you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate
Your own soul, instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers

Flower girl.

And you learn that you really can endure…
That you really are strong,
And you really do have worth
And you learn and learn and learn.
With every goodbye, you learn.

Note:
I originally posted this title on June 13, 2013, here. According to Dear Abby, it was a poem AFTER A WHILE by Veronica Shoffstall. Much to my surprise, this is my top post and most visited. As a curious person, I wonder who Veronica Shoffstall is?

In my searches, I cannot find a reliable source to indicate that Veronica is the real author. In the Urban 75 forum, this question Who is Veronica Shoffstall came up. Apparently, it was a Spanish poem written by Jorge Luis Borges. With the help of google translating it to English, much to my surprise (again} so it was his poetry.

I really don’t know whether it was plagiarism. That is not for me to judge. I just want to throw some more light into the validity of who I am quoting.

At any rate, it’s still beautiful poetry.

Canadian Loon vs American Eagle

Posted on May 23, 2020 by Perpetua

A loon defends itself against a swooping bald eagle. (Jon Winslow)

Beaking news … fatal clash between a bald eagle and a loon protecting its chicks, Canada’s loonie mascot stabbed America’s national bird through the heart.

We know conflicts between bald eagles and loons have soared in recent years as a result of the recovery of our eagle population. We are seeing more and more eagle predation on loon chicks and even adult loons. Who would think a loon would stand a chance against such a powerful predator? (Blogspot)

To create a story

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Perpetua

We create stories, fact or fiction, war or peace, love or indifference, poetry or ballad. What is more compelling in all that we created, there is always lessons to be learned, hope and charity.

In the end, the child raises a very pertinent question, “Why did it take a virus for the world to become a better place?”, to which the poet answered, “You have to get sick in order to get better.”

Epic Lines

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Perpetua

In the galaxy far, far, away … someone said this epic line:

“May the force be with you” became a famous line on the 4th of May. Hence, we sometimes use this line “May the 4th be with you!”

The Star War saga has so many lifelines that we can use as tools to improve the human race namely:

Once you start down the dark path, forever it will dominate your destiny – Yoda on Fate
Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering – Yoda on Consequences.
In a dark place, we find ourselves and a little knowledge lights our way. Yoda on Problem-solving
The fear of loss is a path to the dark side – Yoda on Anxieties
Who’s the more foolish; the fool or the fool who follows him? – Obi-Wan Kenobi on Obedience
The ability to speak does not make you enlightened. Qui-Gon Jinn on Silence
I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die. Qui-Gon Jinn on Inaction
Your focus determines your reality. Qui-Gon Jinn on Perception
Let go of your hate. Luke Skywalker on Freedom
Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is essential to a Jedi’s life. Anakin Skywalker on Compassion

And of course, this the famous line I use all the time:

Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.

Bloom where you are planted

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Perpetua

At the Manor, there are 48 suites with two or one-bedrooms and bachelor suits. Most of the people who live here are immigrants from the Chez Republic, Bosnia, India, Ireland, Iran, Korea, Japan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Yugoslavia and other countries that I can’t think of.

I am one of them.

The Birdhouse took over by bees.

Now, we are citizens of Canada. We made The Manor our home.

“O Canada, our home and native land” is the first line of our National Anthem.

Front entrance rock garden.

The residents here are lovely, approachable and pleasant. We enjoy chatting from the balcony, window or entranceway as I potter around the garden. I must admit the garden is an icebreaker for many, even from passersby.

Bloom where you are planted.

One of the tenants took up photography and had a field day taking macro shots of all the flowers in the garden. The end product was framed and gifted to our lovely manager of the building.

When I cut flowers from my hard-earned gardening, these go to the manager as well.

Our Doors.

From single to couple to third-generation residency, I’ve witnessed them. Most of these people love to have their family around living in the same roof. It’s good to see a couple having a child or two and be able to bring a surviving parent to add the responsibility of taking care of their children.

Of course, I get to play with the children when they were younger in the garden.

The Blue Room

Kindness plays a big important role in living in this community. If you are unkind, who else will help you but your neighbour?

I must admit I find myself special because the manager allowed me to paint my suite when I had one of my episodes on mental breakdown. The activity kept my focus away from living in my head.

The end result was brilliant.

Pistachio green paint in the living room, kitchen and hallway. A hint of a rose colour for the bathroom. Skyblue for my bedroom to calm me down.

Oh, these little things, I am grateful.

The Good That We Do

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Perpetua

For small hands, the best musical instruments for kids to learn are drums, xylophone, pianos, handbells, etc.

For adults, simple pots and pans, spoons, or carpenter’s saws are just as good as a violin in having a jig.

The question is: who is first and foremost instrumental in providing this innovative music lessons? The parents, family, adults, teachers, of course!

Yesterday, I mentioned that my nephew is a music teacher. He has to go beyond teaching in front of the students by providing a recorded lesson plan.

Instrument

Watching him perform solo with no audience is so inspiring. And this was his introduction:

(Piano introduction)
Good morning. Good afternoon. Good evening, boys and girls.
Welcome to music class, distance learning style.
We miss you all very much.
We wish we could see you in person and experience music together.
It’s so much fun.
But for now, we will be learning music this way.
(piano playing)
In a very different way.
(piano playing)
But, the cool part is, you get to experience it with your family.
Maybe even alone, which is also just as much fun.
Now, when you listen to music by yourself,
sometimes you hear things that you may not catch when with a group.
Those are the best thing about music.
(piano playing)

Whispering Hope

Posted on April 12, 2020 by Perpetua

I have written about the c-word here. Some commented on what it means to them.

The ‘C’ word is synonymous with another ‘C’ word, I believe…and it’s a Catalyst for change….. personally and collectively. In the long run, humanity as a whole may evolve to a higher level of consciousness, I opine. But Change can also be Crippling if one is unable to adapt.

Catalyst. Change. Collectively. Consciousness.Crippling. Profound c words from the passion for truths.

For me, there is one c-word that controls my whole being for it has been known by many other people before me how their life changed amidst suffering.

Quora asked this question and what it means?

” I am the way, the truth, and the light, nobody can come to my Father except through me” in John 14:6

“ricercare et trovatà,” one answered.

2020 Easter

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Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.

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” I am the way, the truth, and the light, nobody can come to my Father except through me” in John 14:6

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