Nowness

The late great jazz drummer Jerry Granelli called it “nowness.” It’s when our experience of the present moment deepens to the point where the twinned impediments of past and future cease to matter.

On gratitude

My daughter recently posted this. I re-post it here with her kind permission: “Gratitude. I’ve never had more than I do right now. Two weeks ago I found out I have brain cancer. I am booked in for surgery at the end of this month to remove as much as possible. I don’t know what the future holds, no one does. What I do know is how grateful I am for this physical body of mine that has supported me to the best of its abilities for 41 beautiful years. I know it is still doing its best even during these more challenging times. I am grateful for my family and my friends who have embraced me with so much love, protection and healing energy. This experience has bonded us. I am grateful for the way this cancer revealed itself to us. In the safety of my own home with my strong as nails husband and wise beyond her years daughter. I am grateful that I am able to be treated and cared for in a specialized hospital in such a fast and efficient way. I could go on but I am amazed how Gratitude alone can change a situation. This is meant for me and I am grateful. Gratitude and love, my two favourite feelings. Sending both to you all.”

Four white swans

Conflict coarsens us. No one who seeks peace will fail to find it.

Full of grace

Opera singer Erin Wall died at 44 from metastatic breast cancer. Nearing the end of her journey, she cautioned intimates not to use the word ‘battle’ when referring to her life or illness.

To be Young, Gifted and Black

What do we learn from the death of Chadwick Boseman? At least this: That Stoics are sometimes confused with super heroes; that it is not important to live a long life; that living well is dying well; and that Einstein was undoubtedly right when he wrote, “The only rational way to educate is by example.”