Happy Fourth of July!!!

I spent a lovely afternoon with friends today at Cameron Band Shell, better known as the Stage in Beacon Hill Park, listening to The O’Brien Family, originally from the U.K. have resided in Victoria since 2004. Their lively folk music was complemented by a varied repertoire of music written by O'Brien Family members and other popular artists. The most beautiful was Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.

July 4^th - Independence Day in the U.S.A. was not far from my mind even without marching bands and the Stars and Stripes waving.

We were an audience of Victoria residents, tourists from near and far composed of moms, dads, dancing running kids, grandparents, - and squabbling herons high up above. Well kept park benches were spread across gently sloping grass in front of the outdoor stage and surrounded by tall hedges and old trees. The afternoon sun moved to the west and as it did the audience moved with the shade.

July 4^th - Independence Day - U.S.A. - a statement of belief.

“Freedom is the atmosphere in which humanity thrives. Breathe it in.”

~ Rachelle Goodrich

Respect Your Butterflies

‘Respect your butterflies’
Three words I said to myself
Fold up your butterfly pj’s instead of tossing them in a heap

Butterflies reside with me all through my house
On a pillow, in a picture, on upholstery
Fluttering through my home and my life

The sun has been shining hot and bright
Bees buzz and butterflies - well they flutter.
Pretty and fragile, not necessary to life and limb.

Or are they?
Butterflies flit along the edges of our ecosystem
pollinating flowers in gardens, fruit trees and grains.

And that is just the beginning
‘Respect all butterflies’ ~
Believe that butterflies are more important than their beauty

“We are all butterflies. Earth is our chrysalis.”

~ LeeAnn Taylor

Belief Defined

Beautiful
Evolving
Luminous
Intuitive
Enigmatic
Faith

“Your greatness is revealed not by the lights that shine upon you, 

but by the light that shines within.”

~ Ray Davis

Happy Canada Day!!

The Event:
Canada Day - building a flag to believe in.

The Scene:
Red or white t-shirts every where ~ all parts of the Canadian flag

The Location:
The grounds of the provincial legislature in Victoria B.C.

Extras:
Victoria residents, tourists from near and far composed of moms, dad, kids, grandparents, dogs, horse drawn carriages, ……………

Catering:
Food trucks lining Menzies street.

Photography:
Cameras large and small, cell phones and tablets.

“There is hopeful symbolism in the fact that flags do not wave in a vacuum.”

~ Arthur C. Clarke

Shaken

Touched and troubled by personal beliefs that quietly, steadily move against the grain ~
rubbing up against brittle edges of status quo.

Sharing those beliefs in a way for the world to follow
seems arrogant and unreasonable.

Strength and security in personal beliefs shaken and faded.
Yet, when writing or speaking about those same beliefs
confidence rushes in to shore up heart and soul.

  “Status quos are made to be broken.”

~ Ray Davis

Believing is Not Enough

Most of us know that 
abuse of drugs and abuse of alcohol leaves the brain demanding more.

Many of us believe ~
Just Stop! And carry on with life like the rest of us do.

What many do not know is that
early sobriety does not bring emotional security with it.

What many cannot know or feel is
waving, spiking moods with rages or tears or just plain numb
the wondrous clear eyed days of energy and motivation
unpredictable or non-existent sleep
waking up knowing that your life is your own again
tripping and staggering when not drunk or stoned
playing hop-scotch with your children without a miss
nightmares and dreams noisy with past days and nights of drinking or drugging.
Many a good nights sleep.

Early sobriety does not equal emotional security.
Emotional security can be built.
Day by day
Friend by friend
Self-help or professional - or maybe both

Detoxing is the easy part.
The first years of sobriety are a challenge.
The first years and all that follow are living life like the rest of the world.

“People still question my sobriety, my commitment to the program, 

and that hurts. I take things day by day, and sometimes I take them 

minute by minute, but I honour my commitment to stay sober.”

~ Tom Arnold

Emotional Security

Emotions like clouds ~

floating in whatever skies
thin gauze or thick blankets
bright shining sun hidden or with a wide open smile.

Emotions ~ ever changing

a challenge to even the strongest
balance between bowing to rest and taking initiative
despite the look and feel of the sky ~
a secure anchor while riding high or low.

~ Emotional security 

“And from the midst of cheerless gloom I passed to bright unclouded day.”

~ Emily Brontë