“Let’s Give It All Away”

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How many times have we held on to things that will have no value for others and apparently no longer have any value for us because we’re not using them anymore? Rather than hoard, or worse yet, pay for storage for items we will no longer put to good use, why not donate them now?

Lynn J Kelly’s blogpost, You Can’t Take It With You, (see link below) is as provocative as always. It also reminds me of Paul Newman quote: “Let’s Give It All Away.” See his link at the bottom.

Let’s be minimalists. Let’s be donors. Let’s share the wealth.

You Can’t Take It With You

Our Founder | Newman’s Own Foundation

Get Still, Stop Talking, and Put Your Hand on Your Heart

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The sky in southern Michigan today looks like this today. The meteorologists say it is due to Canadian fires. The adjective, apocalyptic, is used to describe this phenomenon.

Photo by Patrick J Cole

Synchronistically, Tricycle offers a free set of three Dharma teachings today under the umbrella topic of Buddhist Advice for When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed. The first teaching comes from the 2021 article entitled Overwhelmed? Pay Attention by Kimberly Brown.

Kimberly Brown’s article sums up with this brief prayer and gently encourages us to “repeat as necessary”:

“May we be free from danger, violence, and hatred. May our actions bring benefit and do no harm.”

You can check out her article here: A Practice for When You’re Overwhelmed – Tricycle: The Buddhist Review

And find the links to all three teachings here: Buddhist Advice for When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed

Is It Harder to Practice Alone?

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Attended a three-day retreat last weekend and enjoyed the meditation practices with some 80 people attending. Collective energy, collective mindfulness is a palpable reality.

Below Lynn J Kelly elaborates on what a retreat might do for each of us depending upon where we are on the path.

How ’bout you? Are retreats helpful for your practice?

What Happens on Retreat?

You Can Have This Heart to Break

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💔 Broken Heart Emoji – Meaning, Pictures, Codes

Billy Joel is part of my life soundtrack. He eloquently expresses my joy and suffering like no other artist.

I’ve recently been listening to his album, The Essential Billy Joel, and the song that most resonates with me at this time is: And So It Goes. The title reminds me of my favorite writer, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., and Joel’s lyrics hit me right in the heart.

Yes, sometimes life sucks but there are still good memories to keep us going. Perhaps the music video below will bring back some good memories for you.

Billy Joel – And So It Goes (Official Video)

Billy Joel – And So It Goes (Official Video) – YouTube

The Tears of Things

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I’m feeling sad today – how ’bout you?

Richard Rohr, in his book published last year (see book cover below), says it so well:

“There is an inherent sadness and tragedy in almost all situations: in our relationships, our mistakes, our failures large and small, and even our victories. We must develop a very real empathy for this reality, knowing that we cannot fully fix things, entirely change them, or make them to our liking …. all things have tears and all things deserve tears.” p.4 of The Tears of Things by Richard Rohr (c) 2025.

The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage: Rohr, Richard: 9780593735817: Amazon.com: Books

Fortunately, I’m also recalling the Buddha’s metta (loving-kindness) prayer: “May we be happy … may we be well … may we be safe … may we live with ease.”

Now if I can only hold the feelings of sadness and loving-kindness simultaneously. How ’bout you?

Picture taken by author at Magnolia Grove Monastery in Batesville, MS