Moss Street Paint-In 2016

Created by Victoria Animal Control

Greeted by this lovely portrait of a dog done in a variety of coloured dog tags, I joined the throngs at the end of the Moss Street Paint-In that  today ran from 11am until 4pm today. Streets were closed off to traffic from Fort Street and Mass Street all the way to Dallas Road and Moss Street. 





This annual event always attracts thousands of residents and visitors. A day to stroll outside and view art of many genres: painting, sculpture, pottery, jewelry and music. Face painting and, this year, a free drumming workshop.

I went on my own this year to give myself an opportunity to go at my own pace and my own curiosity. Pottery drew me like a magnet. It was good that I was several blocks from home. I only bought one small piece. The Moss Street Farmers Market, held every Saturday, was also in full swing. I made certain to get potatoes on my way through and past. I was about to call it an afternoon, but the drumming across the street on the steps of Fairfield United Church drew my attention - and my drumming hands. Watching the two and three year olds just slapping those drums brought big smiles to my face. I joined the drummers for this free workshop - a completely new experience and I loved it.

I continued my long walk from the Paint-In home via Cook Street and stopped at The World of Flowers for more fresh vegetables. It was a two hour stroll through a really great neighbourhood.

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.”

~ Ruth Reichi

Permission Granted ~ 2

Letting go
  Not necessarily an easy task
    Prying away one finger at a time
      Loosening memory's tight grasp

Letting go of
  a cherished loved one
    times of fun, family and childhood
       or a comfortable, worn old sweater.

Letting go challenges
   how much we control in the moment
      how often we unknowingly reach back
         how willing we are to move forward

Letting go grants permission
   to step outside of the hallowed zone of memory
      to explore with curiosity our precious todays
         to find a new zone within all that we find.

Letting go opens wide
  the closet of childish things
    the curtains that are shadow shrouds in sunlight.
      child-like hearts, minds & souls with kindness, love and respect.

“If you don’t give yourself permission to create

 a new world, chances are nobody else will.”

~ James Altucher, The Rich Employee

Author's Note: Edited January 21, 2024

Wondering ~ 2

I wondered this evening
What things make a person curious
And then I got hungry and made my supper.

When I woke up this morning
I wondered whether I should sleep a few more minutes
Or stay in my warm bed while I woke up.

Then I drove to work after breakfast
And I wondered
If it was time to fill the car with gas

The team I work with gathered for another busy day
I wondered about why I had the good fortune
To work with such an amazing group of women.

Listening to the laughter or tears of our clients
I wondered why I had the good fortune
To work with such a resilient group of clients.

On my way home
I became curious about my own life again
Whether I needed another liter of soy milk

And here I am at home
In wonderment of the life that I live
Grateful for the abundance that surrounds me.

“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.”

~ Socrates

Old Habits Die Hard

Old Habits Die Hard

Harry’s back was sore. His knees ached. And his shoulders. His shoulders felt pushed down and heavy. Harry the Habit was quite grumpy. He heaved himself out of his comfortable old chair, scrabbling around for his walking stick. A walking stick as old and gnarled as he was. 

“I’m getting too old for this and I’m just plain tired.”

Harry the Habit had had to watch his language far too long. When Lulu was a child, he understood. Now? She hadn’t been a child for longer than he’d been alive. Now he had a few choice words for her when she used him as an excuse for not getting things done. Things she said she wanted to do. Always getting them started and then running out of steam. Blaming it on Harry the Habit. No wonder his back was so hunched and sore. Clothing? He had to throw on any old robe lying around. He had warty bumps and lumps on his nose and his ears. When he was young, he was tall, handsome with baby smooth skin.

When Harry had landed the assignment to teach the child her life lessons, he had been on top of the world, flushed with pride that he had been chosen. He did think it would be a piece of cake, but didn’t know that the precious baby girl would grow up. Grow up and learn more than he would teach her. Then he was afraid that he would sit in a quiet corner, gathering the dust that floated through the child’s mind. When she didn’t need him anymore, he would just get tossed on the ‘lesson’s learned’ scrap heap.

Every day, as soon as she got out her paper, pen and those new fangled technology things, he had to hoist himself up and get to work securing all the old habits. “Sit still and colour.” “Don’t be silly.” “You won’t be playing with paper dolls when you’re a big girl.”

Didn’t Lulu know she was a big girl and had been for decades! Always too busy with her life outside of her head to pay attention to old Harry the Habit. All those habits they had established were useless. Harry felt useless. Actually, Harry was bored. Why was she never curious enough to create any new habits? Put a new twist on some of the oldies but goodies. 

This making sure to stay stuck was just so much noise. ‘Harry, the tape’s come loose again.’ ‘Harry. The door's open and it’s drafty in here.’  ‘Harry….. pound a nail, get some more glue, seal up that window.’ 

He Was Too Old.

Well next time she asked him to keep her stuck he was just going to say No. Do it yourself. Harry would hand her his tool box, go back to his chair, turn the TV on and unless he had any new ideas he wouldn’t reply. 

“Enthusiasm is the electricity of life. How do you get it? 

You act enthusiastic until you make it a habit.”

~ Gordon Parks

Author's note: Edited January 21, 2024

Jungle Talk

Allowing curiosity to take root 
is a big job

Pushing past the past
Lives crowding in from all sides

Echoes of old messages
insisting that questions are unnecessary

No machete cuts through this jungle
merely questionable self-esteem.

When curiosity does begin to blossom,
excitement builds cautiously

Personal beliefs peeking into the light of day
just might be the edge that slices through the past.

“You’ve always had the power, my dear. You’ve just had to learn it.”

~ Glynnis Goodwitch, Wizard of Oz

Defining Curiosity

Courageous

Unformed

Risky

Initiative

Open-minded

Searching

Inquisitive

Tantalizing

Yummy

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. 

Curiosity has it’s own reason for existing.”

~ Albert Einstein

Awakening ~ 3

My body was heavy this morning
Each leg and arm sluggish, heavy and slow
My mind and body stretched toe to head

Curiosity of motion began a busy day.

“Be sure to bend but never break.”

~ Nikki Rowe