The Eskimo has 52 names for SNOW.

 There ought to be as many for LOVE !

                                                                                                   Margaret Atwood

               Love.  Appreciation. Understanding. Acceptance. Reverence. 

These past days, week, have been hard to watch on news broadcasts. Incomprehensible. Stunning. 

How do we reverse. How do we change the tide. How do we make a difference.
I suggest it takes:

Little steps. Baby steps. 

Read poetry to a shut-in.

Trade smiles with a passer-by.

Slip a note into a book sharing what you loved about the book, for the next reader to discover.

Hold hands with the elderly.

Knit gloves, neck scarves for a rest home, homeless shelter.

Build a birdhouse for a neighbor. Better yet, paint it bright colors.

Keep dollars in a pocket to slip into the red bucket.

Let another car merge in front of you.

Be a Fairy Godmother to a neglected child.

Change one's mind, attitude and perceptions.

Hug another.

Care for animals, all living creatures. Adopt from a shelter.

Donate gently read magazines to a neighbor, a doctor's waiting room, senior home, hair salon.

Choose a charity that really makes your heart happy.

Listen deeply when another speaks.

Understand and learn about other cultures.

It is funny being human, share your humorous stories, generously.

For one day, only say "yes."

Meditate upon what it means to not go hungry.

Forgiveness multiplies and melts away rigid positions.

Hang a chalkboard in an accessible place, write weekly affirmations.

Donate to charity items that are worthy of our brothers and sisters.

Tithe your talents to another, an organization, a worthy cause.  Give liberally.

Hang a world map on a wall, mark where different people live that we want to better understand. 

Read often to a child.

Listen to a child Read.

When we see sadness in others, catch their tears.

Listen more than one speaks.

Open your mind to looking at people and actions with clarity. 

Celebrate the qualities that we share with everyone.

Hang a world map on a wall, mark where different people live that we want to better understand. 

Read often to a child.
When we see sadness in others, catch their tears.
Listen more than speaking.
Open your mind to looking at things from various angles.

Celebrate small moments in your day. They are the cream on top. 

Hand out popsicles in the park.

Invite friends over for an "art night" to create something unique.

Be a fabulous friend to someone seeking friendship. 

Look for the good in ALL. 

May 2015 be THE YEAR where we ALL seek to love, understand and value others. 

Little Steps.     Baby Steps. 

TO BLOOM

In December I planted assorted bulbs and succulents to bring a touch of summer warmth and light into the darkest months of the year. 

Indoor bulbs planted in "treasure to trash" containers.

Although I do not have a gardner's magic touch, everything did grow, in fact so tall and gangly (in some instances, over two feet!!!)  that many long stems and leaves, before they could bloom, fell flat on their "faces." 

Pretty obvious I didn't really know what I was doing. 

But some did me "proud." 

And THEY lined up to have their portrait taken.

Joining Kim Klassen's Tuesday Textures.

Texture: Abstract 

"Life comes in clusters, clusters of solitude, then a cluster when there is hardly time to breathe."

        May Sarton