Another Sunrise

I made it to see another day, and I'm grateful.

Annapolis Sunrise

Tomorrow is a new day (with less swimming I hope), and I'm looking forward to seeing it unfold.

A Final Sunset

A closish acquaintance lost her twenty two year old son today. The death of a child hits close to home. Shortly after our own X died, I was working for a good man whose sixteen year old daughter was killed by a car walking home with friends. The death of a young person is a sobering wake-up because it defies expectations. Things aren't supposed to happen that way, and even when the outcome seems likely (as was the case with X) a child's death is still a very painful surprise.

Today was still a good day, and I'm grateful for the reminder that none of us are guaranteed a chance at tomorrow. Every sunset and sunrise that we are given the opportunity, by the universe, to witness is a special gift.

College Creek Sunset

Today wasn't the most colorful sunset I've witnessed out on college creek. In terms of vividness it's probably not even in the top ten, but I got to see it and I'm grateful. I'll bet Frankie would have loved to have the opportunity to bear witness to the celestial crossing into darkness of the life bringing sun. He didn't get to witness the final sunset.

Every day on this earth is a good one. Every sunset is worth going out to see if you're able. Tomorrow, if it should come, is going to be a good day, and I'm looking forward to experiencing it with the gusto the greatest gift that is ever given deserves.

 

Stick It to the Man - Optimism as a Form of Resistance

This morning, I watched the sun rise over the Washington Navy Yard and the Anacostia River. I've not experienced this view hundreds of times, and today proved again that this experience is unique and always worth getting up in time to observe.

Sunrise Over the Anacostia

A little bit later in the day, but before noon, my longest running roommate notified me that we'd received an eviction notice. Now, in a way of explanation, I've always paid my bills on time, we've not had any complaints about our behavior, we've generally treated the house as our own, and I'd like to think we've been pretty good tenants. 

I believe this forty five day eviction notice hinges upon the desires of our landlords to replace our tenancy with the tenancy of some folks that are higher on their priority list. I've looked at the documentation, and although they've made some mistakes, I suspect that at the end of the day these folks have to power to impose their will.

This reality as a bit disappointing to say the least, and I'm struggling to understand just how this situation is going to work out for the best. I've seen enough of life to understand that it probably will work out that way, but, as is often the case, it's tough to see how that plays out when you're right in the middle of things.

On my commute home, I was listening to a TED Radio Hour on optimism, and one of the presenters suggested that, properly viewed, optimism was a form of resistance. Given my current situation, I really like the sound of that philosophy, and the introduction of that idea came a just the right time in my life. My outlook shifted immediately, and I've decided that this situation is not going to get me down. I'm going to Stick It to the Man with resistance through optimism.

In keeping with that world view, I'm going to get political for just a moment.

Capitol Building - Summer Afternoon

This election year has been a bit turbulent, but I have a great deal of faith that the American people are going to make a decision that works out for the best. This house in the picture above really does belong to the people, and I have faith in a system that has proven very resilient through times more trying than this epoch that we're experiencing right now. Whatever the results of the upcoming lesson, our ideals will survive because they are universal ideals being implemented by imperfect folks just like you and me.

"The Man" can make me move from a house, but he can't move my spirit. Challenge accepted. It's going to be a sporty day tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to what shakes out of it.

One Picture Post #1

Anacostia River Thunderstorm

Another Great Day

I'm not going to bore you with the details, but I'll wrap it up quick with the observation that today started out right and got better from that point forward.

Reflections on a Commute

This was the view in my rearview mirror on my way into work this morning. The sunrise is remarkable enough, but the reflection of the reflection off the window and side of the care is the product of fantasies. When I glanced over to check the traffic behind me and saw this view staring back I was taken aback. Lile pink pebbles on a baby blue beach with all the detail a digital camera can muster. It would be hard to believe if you couldn't see for yourself to complex beauty that lies all over the world at our feet.

Anacostia River Reflections

Here's another one where the interface between the air and the water is the spot where vistas come together on the plane of reflection.

Sunrise on the Anacostia

Another where the sky and water become one on the horizon. These are special moments, and they're happening all around me all the time. My life is filled every day, and I'm looking forward to see what pours out of the pitcher tomorrow.  I suspect it will be something like this, but unique and stunning in its own special way.

Scalloped Cirrus and a Power Plant near the Anacostia River

Monday

Subtle changes have managed to creep into my life since I started "practicing" for the N2N-TCP. I say subtle because it took me till today to realize that I really don't dread Mondays the way that I used to welcome the opening of the work week.  Don't get me wrong, I often question how I'm choosing to spend my precious time on this azure rock, but dreading the coming morning on Monday just doesn't happen anymore.

Muggy Monday Morning on the Anacostia River

Today dawned hazy and hot, but I got out on the trail. Walking on Monday is actually a pretty big joy because on Monday my first meeting doesn't kick off until 0800.  That's thirty minutes more walking or thirty minutes more sleep.  Recently, I've been choosing the sleep, but one way or another I don't face a feeling of dread.

Anacostia Waterfront

This is the second time I've shared this view, but ever since the new floating docks have been installed adjacent to Yards Park, I've found I can locate a place of solitude in the early morning to enjoy the natural and man made wonders. By this time I was sweating bullets, but it felt good to be alive to welcome the day.

Bridge at Yards Park

I've been at this job for so long I still consider this bridge a new installation even though it's been here for several years now.  Again, the early morning finds a place of calm beauty, and this path, to a degree, represents the bridges I've crossed to get to this point in my journey. Not every river is an obstacle, and if you're patient not every canyon is a stumbling block. Life has a way of delivering just what you need when you need it, and I'm grateful that I've finally hit upon this lesson enough to truly begin to learn it and live it.

Sunrise - Anacostia River

No matter how thick the haze, if you look hard enough there's a beautiful view just waiting to be discovered. Once you learn how to find these views, you can come back to the same spot again and again for a little rejuvenation and strength.  On Monday, Sunday, Saturday, Thursday, or any other day for that matter, somewhere the sun is rising and there's a great glorious gift to observe. Finally discovering this truth, I welcome the new day, and tomorrow I'm looking forward to meeting another dawn.  We'll all call it Tuesday, but what it's really just another miraculous gift.

Back to the Practice

Today was the first day since 08 Jul 2016 that I pulled off a full day's practice. A full day's practice involves walking, photography, writing, blood pressure measurement, working at least one aspect of the business of the pilgrimage, ten daily ideas, meditation, minimalism by getting rid of material goods, and three sets of calisthenics. Although it was a hot walk in Annapolis, today turned out to be quite productive.

Fishermen and Women on College Creek - Annapolis

Although the brief respite from the heat from yesterday's thunderstorms lingered only as a fond memory today, it was great seeing people out and about enjoying the summer. It's sundress season in Annapolis, and that's never a terrible time of year.

We'll see what tomorrow will reveal. I'm looking forward to finding out.