The Sense of Wonder

The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common. – Emerson Wonders abound in the day-to-day world. We only need to untangle ourselves from the biases and illusions binding our senses to realize the small miracles around us. Creative people know the feeling when the veils drop away and you embrace …

The Flowers of Autumn

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. – Albert Camus The magic of autumn has filled the air with golden ripeness. The shortened days and chilling winds add a pleasing crispness to life. All around, Nature paints the scenery with exuberant sparks from a blazing palette. The seeds of spring have …

20 Ways to Improve Well-Being

Improving one’s sense of well-being brings great rewards. A person begins to feel at home wherever they go as they begin to be the unique individual they were born to be. In this fast-paced world, it is far too easy to neglect your well-being. Take the time for self-care each day and live your true …

Mountain and Moon Fairy Tale

Today is the romantic Mid-Autumn Day moon festival. When I was a managing editor in China, I had to write a large percent of the new content for the monthly magazine and weekly newspaper. The city of Hangzhou is world famous for its Mid-Autumn Day celebration. One year I wrote a well received fairy tale …

Poetry: Touch of The Wild

A touch of the wild resides with us all Our soul-songs resonate with nature’s call Instincts stirred by nameless scent trails drifting in the wind Rise from ancient gray-green mind-mud Nostrils flare and pulse quickens The net of consciousness far cast into the wild landscape Subconscious skills engage gathered sensory echoes Body hairs bristle at …

The Cost of Freedom

We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. – William Faulkner My Dad racing after WWII My Dad passed away at the beginning of July a year ago. Because of the pandemic, I was not able to travel back for his funeral. But I held my own memorial service …

Street Photography in China

Everything that is visible hides something that is invisible. – Renee Magritte I have been sorting through my photographs of China from 2003-2019. My first visit to China, I went to Beijing in July, 2003 – just after the WHO cleared the city for international travel after SARS. I want to share a few of …

Home of the Great Spirit

The Great Spirit is in all things, he is in the air we breathe. The Great Spirit is our Father, but the Earth is our Mother. She nourishes us, that which we put into the ground she returns to us…. Prayer of Big Thunder (Bedagi) a member of the Wabanaki Alonquin First People People should …

Not Lost in Translation

He who neglects to drink of the spring of experience is likely to die of thirst in the desert of ignorance. – Li Bai (Greatest Tang Dynasty poet: 701AD -762 AD) I got some great news this week. One of my poems – a Haiku – is going to be published in an upcoming issue …

The Speed of Life

How did it get so late so soon? – Dr. Seuss A Gigasecond (one billion seconds) ago, I became a single father. My kids were 7, 5 and 3 years old. I measured each day differently after that. If we are lucky like my Dad we may have three gigaseconds to live our life the …