le bon mot du jour, merci de biggity smalls.

"But what we call our despair is often only the painful eagerness of unfed hope."

- George Eliot-

so mum, you were right when you said, "feeling unwell? use salt water."

"Do you know a cure for me? Why yes, he said, I know a cure for everything. Salt water.
Salt water? I asked him.
Yes, he said,
in one form or another,
sweat, tears or the salt sea. "

- Isak Dinesen -

je vais porter les graines de moutarde du naufragé.

In Another Year of Fewer Disappointments

The minor angel mops his brow and laughs
his miraculous laugh, ringing with sorrow.
His face—if this is his face—this mask
of wrecked grace says, Sit with me.
Come sit with me for a while.
Ah, to be as wise as he is—

but we can't know what suffering will cost us.
It could cost the very self that longed for it,
that winked at its specter, lurking,
blueing the sky. In the wake of its coming,
the small boat of our souls—
where we imagined we'd ride out the gale
in high style—has splintered and sunk,
one gunwale washed onto the beach
for the jittery, pea-brained seagulls to perch on
and spatter. What does that matter,
the angel asks. One rib made the world once.


Eliza Griswold

wood engraving "The End" by Rockwell Kent

yep. it suits my congenitally bowed legs, or life in the saddle...

Lisa [via text]: What is it about cycling that you like so much?

Me [via text]: This is it precisely: it challenges me. It's practical. It's eco-responsible. It's incredibly satisfying to make the distance by my own strength that others would only make by car. It's meditative. It appeals to my nerdy, boyscout-pack lite/but be prepared sensibilities. And i can pace and race myself.

thank you, biggity smalls for reminding me...even as i am destroyed, i am healed.

[...in pursuit of wholeness,
i seek wholeness for all others,
what inspired me today...]

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

In Buddhism it is taught that everything has the power to
heal and cure.
That means that anything we encounter in our lifetimes can serve as beneficial medicine. This is an important concept because it reminds us that so often our well-being is in our own hands.
We can use our environment and our world
to help us heal our hearts and restore our health.
We can be healed by words;
we can be healed by relationships;
we can be healed by medication;
we can be healed by the diet;
we can be healed by friends;
we can be healed by touch and massage;
we can be healed by nature.
Crystals have healing properties as does music.
Prayer helps us heal and visualizations help us heal.
Studies have shown that animals and pets help us heal and shorten recovery periods.
We can be healed by everything we touch and everything that touches us.
We are all healers;
we can learn to heal ourselves;
we can help in the healing of others.
Healing energy takes place through an agency
far greater than, yet immanent in,
each of us.

The healing mantra of the Medicine Buddha is:

TA-YA-YA OM BEKANZÉ BEKANZÉ MAHABEKANZÉ
RADZA SUMUD-GATÉ SOHA

Roughly translated, it says:
"Oh healing Buddha, reliever of all suffering,
relieve my pain and all suffering. Relieve the roots of suffering.
So be it!"

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

- from "Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be" byLama Surya Das -

le bon mot du jour.

When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.

- h.g. wells -

We've seen several efforts to make roadways safe, not only for motorists, but also for everyone that makes use of them. For instance, there is the bicycle traffic school in Santa Cruz, California, that teaches safe cycling practices, and the growing movement for Cyclist Memorials, which raise awareness about cycling fatalities. Now a new site--HonorTheStop.org--has been launched, with the aim of "promoting safe, courteous and respectful use of roadways" for all.
The concept is simple: those interested in promoting the cause can order red and black wristbands and pledge to "obey all roadway laws and undertake to respectfully encourage others to do the same." Anyone from individuals, to corporations, to municipalities can partake in the program. So far the town of Woodside, California, has decided to support Honor the Stop, and will be launching a safety and awareness campaign. Now that high gas prices have encouraged more people to hop on their bikes, it's especially important that safety be emphasized as neophyte cyclists hit the roads and mingle with drivers that are feeling pain at the pump.
Via: ::HonortheStop.org

Great American Backyard Campout Set for June 28th.

by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY
originally posted at treehugger

If you’ve got a wish to get outside and check out the great outdoors with friends and family, consider getting involved with the Great American Backyard Campout set for this upcoming Saturday.

Sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, they’re asking folks to register their campsite and take part in what may be the largest concerted camping effort in backyards across America since the Revolution.

Of course, you’ll need to provide the gear, s’mores and fun yourself, but there’s no doubt it could be a great way to bring out the kid in those around you while inspiring some of the real kids around you to take a new appreciation for nature itself.

To date there are approximately 19K people signed up to participate, but there’s certainly room for a few more.

Registering for the Great American Backyard CampoutTo register just head over to the Great American Backyard Campout’s website and fill out the details of where it is you’re camping out, whether it’s in your own backyard or even your favorite campsite nearby. They promise to load you up with packing lists, recipes, wildlife guides, activities, and tips to help ensure you have a great time.