Haiku -- Astronomic Harbinger

Gazing at the moon
I am reminded again
the sun is shining.

Haiku -- Pink Tabebuia Tree

Pink tabebuia
teeming with blossoms and bees
demonstrates the spring.

Favorite sayings: Behold the turtle...

he only makes progress when he sticks his neck out.

This was another gem gleaned from a friend's bedroom poster in the 70's.This simple poster encouraged me to take risks. (But when you take risks, it sometimes gets messy.)

Decades later I read a proverb, "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is gotten by the strength of an ox."

Simply put, oxen make messes, but they get a lot done.

I've heard it put this way, "The only people not making mistakes are those who are doing nothing."

The Chinese have a story about an apprentice who is instructed that it takes 10,000 mistakes in making a tea cup before you are a true artisan.

I say, if you want to get good at something, you're going to make a lot of mistakes, so get busy! Stick your neck out!

Very little damage is done by a turtle anyway. Live large!

Favorite sayings: If you solve your number one problem...

... number two gets promoted.

Life is full of problems. Get used to it. In fact, have fun with it. Those who learn to problem solve effectively are able to navigate the sea of life more successfully.

No problems? Not likely.

Problems are often like puzzles: some easy, some hard, some fun, some not-so-much. The nice thing is that sometimes you solve a problem and get to move on to a new one.

You won't run out. You can even go look for them! You'll never be bored.

If you don't like problems, or if you think you'll one day solve all your problems: then you have a problem. Oops!

Ponder that!

Zoom in... Zoom out...

So much of conflict seems to result from a lack of perspective taking. Often we’re so in love with our own vantage point, that we can’t see things from someone else’s point of view. Often we lose sight of the fact that most things in life are not competitive, but complementary.

Maybe Republicans and Democrats have some good ideas!

Maybe proponents of abortion and opponents of abortion have some merit to their arguments.

Maybe science and religion aren’t mutually exclusive.

Maybe the world is not as split into two camps as we might like to pretend.

I like to practice perspective taking with my camera. I like to zoom in… and zoom out. And when I do, I get a fuller view of things. I see a richer view. I see multiple perspectives that are complementary not conflicting.

What’s the "best" science? Sub-particle physics, chemistry, biology, neurology, medicine, psychology, sociology, anthropology, astronomy, cosmology? Maybe they all contribute their perspective of truth? (And then the humanities might have more to add!)

Zoom in… Zoom out!

Try it out. Get good at it. Different filters, different magnifications, different subject matters yielding a richer view of the Universe. It’s enlightening!

Favorite sayings... Don't major...

in the minors.

I like to get things done. I like to get the right things done. I like to get the right things done without burning myself out.

I'm generally successful because I’ve learned not to major in the minors.

Many things in life don’t matter. Many difficulties, digs, and dramas simply need to be overlooked: they’re minor. They don’t deserve to be the focus of my time, attention, and emotions. If I let life’s minor irritations become my focus, then I won’t achieve what matters: the majors.

Life is short. Time and energy are limited. If I let the tyranny of the urgent rule my life, then I’ll never get the important things done.

I don’t always succeed in this effort, but I periodically check to make sure I haven’t been sidetracked into wasting my limited resources on things that don’t matter. I’ve learned to prioritize based on my core values. I've learned to move forward towards my goals at a sustainable pace.

I still do many mundane things. I re-create and have fun. “All work in no play makes Jack a dull boy” is still true. I find enjoyment in the midst of life, but I also get a lot done. How?

I major in the majors, not the minors. And when I get off-track, I recalibrate. I adjust. Again.

If it wasn't for the last minute...

half of what I do wouldn't get done.

I'm almost done with a big project. It was sort of due last week, but really needs to be done by Monday. Deadlines: gotta love 'em!

(These are October pictures of a local ball field and some Eucalyptus trees. Fall in the OC.)