wallup.net
It’s 29 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind speed of 13mph so it feels like 17 degrees. It’s brutal here in St. Louis this morning.
Today’s haiku: Flying In
no snow yet but the
bitter wind reminds me that
Winter’s flying in
May you be warm wherever you are.
heatholders.com
“December 14 is Monkey Day! We may look just a bit different from our primate pals, but we shouldn’t forget that we share a common ancestor with them in chimpanzees! Warm up those vocal cords and get ready to unleash your wildest calls and cries in observance of this holiday, which celebrates not just monkeys, but everything simian.
Casey Sorrow and Erik Millikin, both studying art at Michigan State University, are responsible for the creation of this simian-centric celebratory day. Sorrow (fittingly) would admit to the Detroit Metro Times that he experienced a form of malaise around the holiday season and felt compelled to find a way to combat these December blues. After jokingly jotting down “Monkey Day” in a friend’s calendar, Sorrow took the idea and ran with it … What started out as a bit of fun has evolved into a full-blown operation. Monkey Day serves as an important anniversary each year for raising awareness of modern threats to monkeys, with entities such as National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution, and Greenpeace promoting the day.” https://nationaltoday.com/monkey-day/
Today’s haiku: National Monkey Day
Any season think:
our ancestors wish us well –
do monkey around
I am thankful for life and for the wisdom to appreciate life. Here are a couple of thoughts that come to mind for me today:
“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is Thank You, it will be enough.” Meister Eckhart https://internetpoem.com/meister-eckhart/quotes/
Psalm 92: “It is good to give thanks. Does God need to hear my praise? No, I need to express it. To awaken to wonder, to holiness, to God, I must transcend the ego-centered drama I pretend is life. To shatter pretense, give thanks. Each thank-you reduces the false you. When I give thanks, I embrace others. When I give thanks, I move from drama to play and discover the aliveness that Is when I stop playing God and discover that God is playing me. It is good to give thanks for through thanksgiving awakening lies.” Minyan – Ten Principles for Living a Life of Integrity (c) 1997 Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro http://rabbirami.com/#Perrenial-Wisdom
“Religions are like languages: no language is true or false; all languages are of human origin; each language reflects and shapes the civilization that speaks it; there are things you can say in one language that you cannot say or say as well in another; and the more languages you speak, the more nuanced your understanding of life becomes.” http://rabbirami.com/
My humble senryu: Thanksgiving Day Wisdom
I’m grateful for you,
for us, for all beings and
this day to say THANKS
Three granddaughters with Nonno Photo taken by my daughter Mary
“Big dogs, small dogs, yappy dogs, fluffy dogs, all kinds of dogs deserve our love and affection every day, but most of all on Thankful for My Dog Day.
In Western society, people highly value dogs because of their characteristics of friendship, protectiveness, loyalty, and affection. Dogs are also widely used in animal-assisted therapy. This type of treatment helps to relieve anxiety, pain, and depression in people with a range of mental or physical health problems.
Show off your dog today. Post photos and videos of your pupper on social media and say how proud you are of them. Also, tell your dog you love them when you’re with other people — animals understand when we’re pleased with them.” https://nationaltoday.com/thankful-for-my-dog-day/
Today’s haiku: Thankful for My Dog Day
In ev’ry season
dogs point out nature highlights –
let’s follow their lead
Here’s a few photos from our household:
Please post photos of your dog(s) below.
Freepik
Since 1971, World Hello Day has been celebrated as a simple, nonviolent, peace promoting, secular holiday.
Recognized by over 180 countries and supported by Nobel Peace Laureates, celebrities and writers, this is something everyone can do.
Specific suggestions include saying hello to at least 10 people every day and learning how to say hello in multiple languages.
See https://nationaltoday.com/world-hello-day/ and https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/how-to-say-hello-in-10-different-languages
Today’s senryu: World Hello Day
privet, ni hao, chao,
hola, bonjour and hallo –
please give peace a chance
quotesgram.com
nicepng.com
As we approach the giving season, a couple of wise sayings come to mind:
“Some people spend their money freely and still grow richer. Others are cautious, and yet grow poorer. Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others and you will be helped.” Proverbs 11:24-25 http://www.goodnewsbible.com
“If you knew, as I do, the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing some of it.” http://www.quuf.org/the-buddha-on-the-power-of-generosity/
While generosity is a common topic across religions, it is also a subject for academic research. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK6xbsn1jfw and The Science of Generosity at https://generosityresearch.nd.edu/
Whomever or whatever motivates you, please consider giving a little more this year.
Today’s senryu: Giving and Receiving
if you see a need
then contribute what you can
what goes ’round comes ’round
Today’s senryu: 3 Questions at Rainbow Bridge
Together again?
Secure attachment regained?
Trust in the Pure Land?
Today is one of those days when big questions collide for me. I’m trying to sort out a few of them and would appreciate your insights.
This bottle-fed young moose has developed an attachment to its caregiver (at Kostroma Moose Farm). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_theory Might this attachment be mutual?
wshs-dg.org
“The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors essential to the health and wellbeing of both.” https://vetexplainspets.com/human-animal-bond/
“The Rainbow Bridge is a meadow where animals wait for their humans to join them, and the bridge that takes them all to Heaven, together.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Bridge_(pets)
Pinterest.com
“It is only because of our misunderstanding that we think the person we love no longer exists after they ‘pass away.’ This is because we are attached to one of the forms, one of the many manifestations of that person. When that form is gone, we suffer and feel sad. The person we love is still there. He is around us, within us and smiling at us. In our delusion we cannot recognize him, and we say: ‘He no longer is.’ We ask over and over, ‘Where are you? Why did you leave me all alone?’ Our pain is great because of our misunderstanding. But the cloud is not lost. Our beloved is not lost. The cloud is manifesting in a different form. Our beloved is manifesting in a different form. If we can understand this, then we will suffer much less.” Thich Nhat Hanh, No Death, No Fear
Dr. B and Dr. C from The Two Doctors https://thetwodoctors.uk/
As a life-long learner, I appreciate great teachers, those who love learning and love helping others learn. Dr. B and Dr. C are role models worth meeting.
Most recently, Dr. B, has introduced his readers to Senryu (pronounced sen – rye – ooo). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJmzsBmog_Q
Senryu is described as “a Japanese form of short poetry similar to haiku in construction: three lines with 17 or fewer syllables in total. However, senryū tend to be about human foibles while haiku tend to be about nature, and senryū are often cynical or darkly humorous while haiku are serious.” https://www.languageisavirus.com/poetry-guide/senryu.php
Another good source of information on senryu is a blog called Failed Haiku at https://failedhaiku.com/2022/11/. Editor Bryan Rickert with founder and now Video Editor Mike Rehling offer regular publications and contests for participants.
My first knowing attempt: Senryu to You Two
wonderful teachers
encourage exploration:
who are you, again?
Fanny Mendelssohn, sketched in 1829 by her husband, Wilhelm Hensel
“Fanny Mendelssohn (14 November 1805 – 14 May 1847) was a German composer and pianist of the early Romantic era who was also known, after her marriage, as Fanny Hensel (as well as Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel). Her compositions include a piano trio, a piano quartet, an orchestral overture, four cantatas, more than 125 pieces for the piano, and over 250 lieder, most of which went unpublished in her lifetime….Due to her family’s reservations, and to social conventions of the time about the roles of women, six of her songs were published under her brother’s name in his Opus 8 and 9 collections.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Mendelssohn
How sad that patriarchy feels threatened by the creativity and talent of their sisters. How fortunate that the United Nations has been celebrating international girls and women’s events to correct the inequities of the past.
Today’s homage haiku: Happy Birthday Fanny Mendelssohn
Due honor withheld
until later in life – we’re
grateful you played on
Fanny Hensel, 1842, by Moritz Daniel Oppenheim
Kobe, a female Shih-Poo, was our first family dog. She lived with us for over fourteen years from puppyhood to her final day. Kobe was humanely and tearfully euthanized on my birthday. Kobe paved the way for many canine companions to follow.
Today’s haiku: Remembering Kobe during HARA Week
Far more than a pet
Furever Family – we’ll
meet at Rainbow Bridge
For more information see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Bridge_(pets) and https://nationaltoday.com/human-animal-relationship-awareness-week/
“Human-Animal Relationship Awareness Week is held Nov. 13-19, 2022. It is always scheduled for the second week of November. Share photos celebrating this special bond with hashtag #HARAWeek.
This pet awareness week was launched in 2016 by Animals & Society Institute, a nonprofit human-animal relationship think tank that is devoted to advancing human knowledge to improve animal lives. ASI is the publisher of Society & Animals and Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science.
Life Matters 