Tuesday ~ October 20, 2016

Let's start with a fundamental human problem, and I don't mean race or religion or origin. I mean fear. Fright, my young friend, may be the first serious enemy you have to face in our society. It's the most destructive emotional bogeyman there is. Cold feet, panic, depression, and violence are all symptoms of fear - when it's out of control. But this feeling, ironically, can also trigger courage, alertness, objectivity. You must learn not to try to rid yourself of this basic, human emotion but to manipulate it for your own advantage. You cannot surrender to fear, but you can use it as a kind of fuel. Once you learn to control fear - to make it work for you - it will become one of your best friends.

( Jose Torres, 1936 - 2009 )

Monday ~ October 19, 2016

The day comes when remaining the same becomes more painful than the risk to grow. And when that happens there are many goodbyes. We leave old patterns, old friends, old lovers, old ideas, and some cherished beliefs. Loss and growth are so often one and the same.

( Phoebe Eng, b. late 20th century )

Sunday ~ October 18, 2016

When grief sits with you, its
tropical heat thickening the air,
heavy as water more fit for gills
than lungs;
when grief weighs you like your
own flesh
only more of it, an obesity of grief.
you think, how long can a body withstand this?
Then you hold life like a face
between your palms, a plain face,
no charming smile, no violet eyes,
and you say, yes, I will take you
I will love you again.

( Ellen Bass, 1947 -   )

Sunday ~ October 18, 2015

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