Slow Bursts

Committing to tolerance is 

like taking a deep breath

each morning when joints creak, muscles protest and whine, eyes take a bit longer to focus and waking with energy is alien.

Sleep shaken off, muscles and joints begin to cooperate, a good cup of tea ~ or coffee ~ brings peace to my being ~ then ~ taking the deep breath of tolerance I bring slow bursts of energy to my day.

“Growing old is humbling and it takes effort 

to accomplish this stage of life with dignity.”

~ Kilroy J.Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls

Balance

Patience stepped forward…….

Equal differences……..

Agreeing with each other……..

Committing to tolerance…….

Every day matters……..

“When the power of love overcomes 

the love of power, the world will know peace.”

~ Jimi Hendrix

Opening the World

Tolerance toward each other flowers when windows and doors swing open without effort.

Intolerance toward each other 
sets in when walls and rules block the way,
Exits and entries shut off from another world

In the world of intolerance,
barbed edges reach into the heart of any matter
shards of glass litter the ground beneath feet of clay.

Tolerance toward each other 
will not distain image, dress or stance
but will throw a party or just share a quiet cup of tea

Tolerance toward each other
dissolves barriers with determination, a smile and a nod
magically embracing the mosaic of our world 

“Books and minds only work when they’re open.”

~ James Dewar

Author's note: Edited January 27, 2024

Determination: Theme for October 2016

Daring to try one more time
Enthusiasm for ideas
Tolerance toward each other
Excitement for onward movement
Responsible forward actions
Magical belief in story
Illumination of nuggets of truth
Natural next steps
Anticipation of success
Thoughts of kindness and respect
Intimidation of circumstance
Opportunity to advance self
Never giving up.

“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance. 

The wise grows it under his feet.”

~ James Oppenheim

Hateful: A New Definition

Honesty

Awareness

Tolerance

Ethics

Fulfillment

Understanding

Learning

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Simply Intolerant

While walking in the brilliant sunshine at New Brighton Park in Vancouver, yesterday afternoon, I came upon this simple monument honouring the historic events of June 18, 1935 when longshoremen and their supporters attempted to reclaim their jobs. Dubbed The Battle of Ballantyne Pier, these longshoreman and their supporters clashed with local, provincial and federal authorities on that fateful day.

Union activities have often left me feeling powerless and in the midst of angry fights or discussions. And yet union activities have also won rights and benefits that would not be in place for many workers historically through to today, including rights and benefits that I personally enjoy. The vitality that I see and hear from those strong in their belief in the role that unions play in our society is really quite impressive.

There have been many times I have been intolerant of the union-management antagonist language and behaviour. Those of you that know me have probably heard some of my intolerance. I do not support or believe in violence. For some reason, this monument spoke to me yesterday. I thought of those that quite literally fought for their rights - not with words, but with broken bodies. Those longshoremen and their supporters did not win that particular fight, but continued to fight for what they believed in. The intolerance of union members is toward what are considered unfair labour practices for a broad range of workers. I do believe I have been humbled!

“Nothing dies so hard, or rallies so often as intolerance.”

~ Henry Ward Beecher

Putting Down Roots

Recovery is not a thing ~ an item that can be picked up from a store or found hanging from a tree. Recovery is a process. There is no finite time when illness or misfortune ends and recovery begins, and further, when life returns to what is considered normal.

There are, in my opinion, two opposing factors involved. The once valid and valuable spiritual beliefs which became channeled and squashed into a myriad of dogmas, creeds and higher powers. And then there came realism ~ secularism. Solid fact. Researched data. Provable points. Again all squashed and channeled, but this time into rules, regulations and the attendant higher powers of authority figures.

Recovery occurs along a hidden seam between these two disparate factors. Solid recovery spreads out like far reaching roots of a tree, knitting both  areas of life firmly together. Recovery, outside of the directives and counsel of health care professionals is the sometimes rather bulky baggage that an individual can choose to carry, unpack and absorb into their life. Emotional, physical and mental discomfort and pains can become teachers of strength and tolerance or heavy chains to bind and drag through life.

Recovery involves laughter and tears in balance. Tears to relieve grief, sadness, anger, remorse........ Laughter to lighten and brighten with dark humour and just plain silliness. 

Recovery is a process, not an event.

“The learning process continues until the day you die.”

~ Kirk Douglas