Autumn Ahhs

“The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools.” ― Henry Beston

We are well into the autumn season that brings with it lots of changes. The leaves begin to fade and fall from the branches. The leaf rake comes out and a battle with the wind to keep our yard looking neat fills my weekend. The cooler weather helps but this year the eighty degree temperatures seem to be holding on longer than usual.

Ahh, those autumn evenings.

I have watched many weather changes through out my years of living. While the general nature of those changes remains the same, I always seem to notice something different. And maybe it really is no different than other years, but only that I took notice. My attention was somehow captured by something different, something new to me.

Ahh, those autumn evenings.

This year the smells of autumn have captured me in remembrance of my growing up on the farm. Those days of knowing the cold winter would be upon us but before then the preparation of the hay in the barn loft, and finishing the harvest. It could be considered the end of something but I always viewed it as a beginning, a start of something new.

Ahh, those autumn evenings.

The life we live, the particulars of what is happening around us and what the future brings is what a change in seasons is to me. It might be the current politics we have, the relationship we are in, a job or one of a dozen things that puts us in a particular season of life. But those seasons change and those changes can bring great things.

Ahh, those autumn evenings.

You might be in a good season of life right now, but change is inevitable just as the changing seasons of nature are. The change does not mean it will be bad, just different, a "new normal" in your life. The change brings opportunity to improve, correct or simply adapt to. This is how life is and we need to embrace the change if only because of "ahh, those autumn evenings."

Stay inspired my friends!

Cult of Personality

“The master key of knowledge is, indeed, a persistent and frequent questioning.” – Peter Abelard

Who do you look up to these days? Is it the latest reality TV series star, a super hero character from the movies, someone in our military forces or a highly viewed Twitter account?

Some would argue we live in a cult of personality period when it comes to our politics. A political "cult of personality" occurs when a political group or even individual is able to use mass media, propaganda, or other terms as defined in Wikipedia "...to create an idealized, heroic, and worshipful image of a leader, often through unquestioning flattery and praise."

One can find in history a long list of people who fit this title. And I am sure there will be those who will tie this to modern day politics. And yes, I would say it has been a topic of great interest.

It is true of any personality obsession we have in our culture today.

I would say we need to question ourselves when the admiration and unrelenting support of a leader, sports, movie or other person becomes an obsession. We should question why the "cult of personality" draws us in and captivates our support. We should do so regardless of political leaning, religious belief or any other aspect of life.

Question, ask, inquire, query, yearn to know and quiz the reasons why this cult of personality has been given.

Stay inspired my friends!

Whose Side Is Time On?

“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.” ― Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

Does the past justify the present or does the present justify the past?

It seems like a paradoxical question I suppose.

We struggle with what happened in the past through the lens of today.

There are many different subjects one could apply today's thinking on yesteryear's events.

Sexual harassment, racism, health or a whole slew of other topics come to mind if you scroll through social media feeds.

So much changes as time passes by and what one person calls society progressing, another yearns for what once was.

If something happened five, ten, twenty or even more years ago ... does time resolve everything?

Or does time merely delay the eventual reckoning?

I guess only time will tell.

Stay inspired my friends!

Holding On Tight

“You're going to make it; You're going to be at peace; You're going to create, and love, and laugh, and live; You're going to do great things.” ― Germany Kent

A couple of months back, a fairly strong storm came through our neighborhood where we live. It was early morning and the wind was incredible for the short amount of time it took to pass through. In the aftermath, damage to a couple of trees in the backyard was quite apparent including a large Maple tree.

Over the next two weekends I took my time cutting down and cutting up the broken branches and limbs from these trees. Yet there was one particular tree branch too high for me to risk or really worry about. I figured that it would die and break away to be cleaned up at a later time.

The branch continues to hang on and live.

So here we are at least two months post-storm and the branch hangs lonely, broken but still living. Its leaves are just as green and vibrant as those on much stronger branches. It has not given up and somehow I believe it will be interesting to watch nature repair itself.

I have witnessed and I have lived a broken life. Many of you have probably had your limbs broken from the main branch of life. Maybe shattered or fractured but holding on in some small manner pulling what little sustenance you could from the the pieces still attached.

Some view this broken attachment as the final end, waiting for the main tree trunk to snap the remaining connection. What little remains though is meant to hold on. It is meant to hold on in both directions the connection between you and others.

The connection allows you to hold on tight.

While you still have breath, you have a connected piece to those around you. The broken can be mended for there is laughter and love for you in this life.

It comes through the life giving connection to others. It comes from not giving up. And watch as the green of growth will shine brilliantly and strong, just like the others around you.

Stay inspired my friends!