Category Archives: Wisdom

High Coo – Oct 12 – National Pet Obesity Day

October 12 is National Pet Obesity Day. See https://nationaltoday.com/national-pet-obesity-day/

“Many pets become overweight due to poor diet and lack of exercise. Another huge factor is the pet owner literally loving their pet to death. Most pet owners think their pets deserve treats every day and don’t need to go for walks if the pet would rather lie on the couch. This is a mistake the owners are making.

Diet is a major key factor in a pet’s body condition. It all starts with a measuring cup and good quality dog food.

The single most important thing that you can do to increase the lifespan and health of your pet is to maintain a healthy body weight.” See https://www.elkovet.com/services/blog/national-pet-obesity-day

Is your dog overweight? For more information check out this excellent article How to Determine Your Dog’s Healthy Weight and Body Condition at https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/dog-nutrition/dog-weight-management/dog-weight-chart

Today’s haiku: National Pet Obesity Day

Don’t forget to play –

your pet needs exercise too –

healthy together

High Coo – Oct 11 – Happy Birthday Thich Nhat Hanh

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Zen Master and peace activist, Thich Nhat Hanh, was born on this day in 1926. He died earlier this year, at the age of 95, January 22, 2022. Known mostly for his non-violent peace activism during the American/Vietnam War in the 1960s, he was lauded by such notables as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Father Thomas Merton.

Thich Nhất Hạnh, or Thay’ (which means “teacher” in Vietnamese), “published over 130 books, including more than 100 in English, which as of January 2019 had sold over five million copies worldwide. His books, which cover topics including spiritual guides and Buddhist texts, teachings on mindfulness, poetry, story collections, and scholarly essays on Zen practice, have been translated into more than 40 languages as of January 2022. In 1986 Nhất Hạnh founded Parallax Press, a nonprofit book publisher and part of the Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism.” See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thich_Nhat_Hanh

As one of his thousands of students, I have taken comfort especially in his books: Living Buddha, Living Christ, No Death, No Fear and No Mud, No Lotus published in 1995, 2002 and 2014 respectively. See https://www.parallax.org/authors/thich-nhat-hanh/ An inspiring quote from the first book mentioned is “Because you are alive, everything is possible.”

Today’s humble haiku: Happy Birthday Thich Nhat Hanh

Ev’ry moment counts,

relative and ultimate –

let’s pause, breathe and smile

https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/thich-nhat-hanh

High Coo – Oct 10 – Indigenous People’s Day

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“In 1992, Columbus Day became Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a sign of protest against the massacres that the Native Americans suffered at the hands of the Europeans. …Celebrating Columbus Day and Columbus himself goes against the very essence of indigenous nations as he was the man who began the genocide of the Native Americans.

For the Native Americans, Columbus Day was always hurtful as it glorified the violent past constituting 500 years of colonial torture and oppression by European explorers like Columbus and those who settled in America. Indigenous Peoples’ Day draws attention to the pain, trauma, and broken promises that were erased by the celebration of Columbus Day. Before his arrival, the indigenous folk were successful self-sufficient communities that sustained life for thousands of years.”

Find more information on this day at https://nationaltoday.com/indigenous-peoples-day/, https://www.vox.com/2014/10/13/6957875/christopher-columbus-murderer-tyrant-scoundrel and https://www.revolt.tv/article/2021-10-11/109820/the-truth-about-christopher-columbus-massacre-of-indigenous-caribbean-peoples/

Today’s haiku: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY

Greed and genocide

cannot erase the beauty

of native peoples

Joy Harjo – https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/first-native-american-poet-laureate/

High Coo – Oct 7 – Happy Birthday Desmond Tutu

High Coo – Oct 6 – National Coaches Day

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National Coaches Day began in 1972 with the statement, “”Coaches are highly qualified teachers—in highly specialized fields. But more than that, they are friends and counselors who help instill in their players important attitudes that will serve them all their lives.” See https://nationaltoday.com/national-coaches-day/

Who are your favorite coaches? Who inspired you to be your best in a specific field?

A humble haiku: National Coaches Day

Little things matter,

continuous improvement –

kaizen ev’ry day

For more information on John Wooden’s successful coaching method see Andrew Hill’s book Be Quick – But Don’t Hurry! at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/796259.Be_Quick_But_Don_t_Hurry

High Coo – Oct 5 – World Teachers’ Day

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Lao Tzu – Author of Tao Te Ching
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2622245.Lao_Tzu

Since 1994, October 5 has been a day for commemorating teachers. Today we focus on “appreciating, assessing and improving the educators of the world.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Teachers’_Day

As the 27th verse of the Tao Te Ching reminds us:

“These are the paths to enlightenment. Those who arrive at their destination teach those who are still on the path, while those still on the path are sources of wisdom for their teachers.” See Tao Te Ching – A New Translation & Commentary by Ralph Alan Dale (c) 2002, p.55

A humble haiku response: World Teachers’ Day

We learn then we teach

consciously or not – our life

is our lesson plan

What My Teachers Taught Me About Teaching – Edutopia

High Coo – Oct 4 – World Animal Day

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“World Animal Day dates as far back as 1925 when Heinrich Zimmermann organized the first celebration in Berlin. Zimmermann, the publisher of a German animal lovers’ magazine, “Man and Dog,” launched the event to raise awareness and improve the welfare of animals. The date of October 4 is also known as the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron Saint of animals.” See https://spiritoftheholidays.org/animal-holidays/world-animal-day/

As highlighted in a 2020 announcement, there are (at least) “seven acts of kindness to animals” we can consider:

Release wild animals into their natural habitat
Place a feeding or water bowl for birds
Make your yard wildlife friendly
Plant a tree
Let them take rest
Help young animals find their mother
Stop making animals fight each other

See https://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/news/view/seven-acts-of-kindness-to-animals for more information.

Today’s humble haiku: World Animal Day

The Golden Rule

applies to all animals –

human and “more than“

High Coo – Oct 2 – Happy Birthday Mahatma Gandhi

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Mahatma Gandhi b. Oct 2, 1869 – d. Jan 30, 1948

Known as the “Father of the Nation” of India, Mohandas Gandhi was also called Mahatma (Great Soul) or Bapu (Papa). Gandhi’s birthday, 2 October, is celebrated in India as a national holiday, and worldwide as the International Day of Nonviolence.

“Gandhi grew up in a Hindu and Jain religious atmosphere … which were his primary influences, but he was also influenced by his personal reflections and literature of Hindu Bhakti saints, Advaita Vedanta, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, and thinkers such as Tolstoy, Ruskin and Thoreau… At age 57 he declared himself to be Advaitist Hindu in his religious persuasion but added that he supported Dvaitist viewpoints and religious pluralism.” (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi)

“Time magazine named The 14th Dalai Lama, Lech Wałęsa, Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez, Aung San Suu Kyi, Benigno Aquino Jr., Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela as Children of Gandhi and his spiritual heirs to nonviolence.” (See “The Children of Gandhi” (excerpt). Time. 31 December 1999.)

One of his most famous sayings is “Be the change you want to see in the world.” (See https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/5810891.Mahatma_Gandhi)

Today’s humble haiku response: Happy Birthday Mahatma Gandhi

Complicated man

demonstrating persistence –

truth will overcome

“God is truth. The way to truth lies through ahimsa (nonviolence)” – Sabarmati, 13 March 1927

High Coo – Sept 30 – Rumi Day

High Coo – Sept 29 – Confucius Day

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The Temple of Confucius in Jiading, now a suburb of Shanghai. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius

Confucius Day is celebrated on September 29. See https://nationaltoday.com/confucius-day/

Confucius, or Master Kong, was born on September 28, 551 BCE and lived for nearly 72 years before dying in 479 BCE. Known as a philosopher and master teacher, Confucius presented himself as a “transmitter who invented nothing” yet considered himself a transmitter of values which emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, kindness, and sincerity.

“His teachings require examination and context to be understood. A good example is found in this famous anecdote:

廄焚。子退朝，曰：傷人乎？不問馬。

When the stables were burnt down, on returning from court Confucius said, “Was anyone hurt?” He did not ask about the horses.

— Analects X.11 (tr. Waley), 10–13 (tr. Legge), or X-17 (tr. Lau)

By not asking about the horses, Confucius demonstrates that the sage values human beings over property (which animals seem to represent in this example); readers are led to reflect on whether their response would follow Confucius’s and to pursue self-improvement if it would not have.” (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius)

My humble haiku response is Confucius Day

horses are horses,

humans are humans – are not

both worth honoring?

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