There is an old joke that if you are not depressed, you are simply not paying attention… and I submit that most of the time people are not paying attention, and that is how we keep finding ourselves here, over and over again.

Be that as it may, every morning the sun shines, the rain falls, and the tide goes in and out, the birds sing, and people help each other, and babies are born, and people fall in love.  It is beyond doubt a beautiful world, and one well worth saving.  I know that I made a conscious choice to come here, to see that this beautiful place becomes the garden it was meant to be, whether this means the human race lives here, or not.  When I bring my attention to the beauty and sacredness of this Earth, and of every star and universe, I feel connected to it all, one grateful drop in an ocean of love.  When I focus on human affairs, it is easy to become discouraged and depressed, so as often as I can, I return to my meditation practice and I get outside and feel the beauty.  Music helps.  Helping others helps too.  We are all here together experiencing life, and we have a choice mainly whether we bring love, or fear, hope or despair, to ourselves and to others each day.  So don’t feel bad about being depressed — it is a part of being conscious, just like joy.  i find the best I can do is remember that the choice of what I put my attention on and my energy in is mine, in every moment.

So, fellow traveler, I hear you, and I send you a little light to start your day, and I thank you for all you have done in 72 years to bless this little planet, because everything  counts… Mahalo nui loa — thank you!

and, thank YOU for the smiles you provided today! if we each take turns “lifting”, we can all keep our heads above the troubled waters this time has brought to us.  we will keep looking for the light to shine through!