Sow some friendship seeds today

Everybody is on a journey in life

We all have struggles and obstacles to overcome

Other’s struggles are not always obvious when you first meet them

People develop incredible skills to hide their problems from view

If you show kindness and compassion to others it will certainly help them

Even if they don’t acknowledge it

Pay it forward every day

Sometimes you will get it paid back

Be bold and show your appreciation for the kindness of others

Its the seed that can sow a friendship

Happy paying it forward day

Happy seed sowing day

Happy friendship harvesting day

Make the best of everything you have

They say if you can’t have the best of everything, make the best if everything you have

I woke up this morning and studied the trees outside my bedroom window

Gold, rust, deep red, orange and green were all on display

Autumnal colors are just about peaking in this area

Its costs nothing but a few moments in time to be in awe of this dynamic explosion of nature’s palette

I took a walk along a wooded trail

Stepping on a carpet of fresh fallen leaves

They rustled and swished under my feet

Urging me to look down at their fallen display

Their last hurrah before mulching into the winter soil

I picked up a few brilliantly colored leaves on the trail

Brought them home and pressed them in a book

I will bring them out some time in the future

To relive these beautiful autumn moments

Leaves keep falling

Seasons march on

A spectator pauses to make memories

Make the best of everything you have today

Are you a glass half empty or glass half full kind of person?

There are so many different ways to look at this, here are some I collected through research:

Optimism (Half Full) vs. Pessimism (Half Empty)

1. Optimist: Sees opportunities and potential in every situation (half full).

2. Pessimist: Focuses on what is missing or lacking (half empty).

3. Realist: Acknowledges the glass has both water and air without emotional bias.

4. Pragmatist: “Does it matter if it’s half full or empty? Just drink it.”

5. The Entrepreneur: “How can I sell the remaining space in the glass?”

6. The Scientist: “Technically, the glass is always 100% full—half water, half air.”

7. The Philosopher: “Does the glass even exist, or is it an illusion?”

8. The Engineer: “The glass is twice as big as it needs to be.”

9. The Environmentalist: “At least the glass isn’t leaking!”

10. The Economist: “It’s a case of supply meeting fluctuating demand.”

Behavioral and Psychological Perspectives

11. Growth Mindset: “What can I learn to fill the rest of the glass?”

12. Fixed Mindset: “The glass will always be this way, nothing I do matters.”

13. Gratitude Perspective: “I’m thankful for the water I have.”

14. Scarcity Mentality: “What if I run out? I need more!”

15. Abundance Mentality: “There will always be enough water to go around.”

16. Positive Psychology: Focusing on the glass half full encourages happiness.

17. Negative Thinking: Focusing on half empty creates stress and anxiety.

18. Cognitive Reframing: Shifting between both perspectives can improve mental flexibility.

19. Self-Compassion: “It’s okay if my glass is only half full for now.”

20. Perfectionism: “Why isn’t the glass completely full?”

Social and Cultural Interpretations

21. Cultural Norms: Some cultures focus on what’s missing to encourage improvement (half empty), while others celebrate what is present (half full).

22. Team Dynamics: Positive leaders focus on half full, while critical ones dwell on half empty.

23. Relationship Impact: Partners who see half full focus on shared experiences, while those focused on half empty dwell on what’s wrong.

24. Generational Differences: Younger people may see potential (half full), while older generations might view it with caution (half empty). 25. Media Influence: News tends to highlight half-empty narratives to grab attention.

Philosophical and Existential Thoughts

26. Existentialist: “What does it matter? The water will evaporate eventually.”

27. Stoic: “Focus on what you can control—drink the water you have.”

28. Optimistic Nihilism: “The glass being half full or empty is meaningless, but enjoy it anyway.”

29. Temporal Perspective: “The glass will refill or empty over time.”

30. Mindful Perspective: “Appreciate the glass as it is right now.”

Personally I like to keep things uncomplicated so I am sticking with number 4

Where do you stand?

Say it in a letter

There is something special

About opening a letter

Not those junk sales letters

Nor those overdue bills

But a letter from a distant friend

You can see their name on the envelope

You touch the stamp they affixed

You pause to read how they addressed it

Checking the postmarked date

Wondering what they are writing about

Trying to recall your last contact

Then you open it carefully 

Using a well cherished opener

One thats been in your family a long time

Gently pulling out the letter inside

Lest anything hidden spills out

You unfold the pages

Start to read it slowly

Your mind forms each word

To the sound of their voice

You can hear them reading the letter to you

Its an old fashioned voice message

One that was recorded on paper

And sent to you in the mail

You conținue reading at a faster pace

Desperately hoping nothing is wrong

Thankfully there is only good news

You carefully put the letter back in the envelope

Smiling because your friend reached out

Not with a text or an email

They had put pen to paper just for you

You put the letter in a safe place

Knowing you can read it again later

With their voice talking in your head again

Picking up your phone to compose a text

Saying thank you for your letter

You delete it before sending

Searching for a pen and paper

You start to write a letter in reply

Filling pages with all your news, hopes and dreams

Inviting your friend to come and visit you

The ink is hardly dry as you put the stamp on

Walking quickly to the post office

Soon your letter is on its way

Your heart races each day the mail arrives

Waiting impatiently for their reply

A few weeks later their next letter arrives

This is so much more fun than emails or texts

Reasons to switch from regular to non-alcoholic beer

Fewer calories and less sugar helps with weight management and overall health

High water content keeps you better hydrated

Electrolytes and carbs without alcohol can help your post exercise recovery

Less strain on your liver

No hangovers

Safe drink for pregnant women

No problem driving after drinking

Low risk of addiction

No risk of impaired mental clarity

Better quality sleep

Easier to digest

Social inclusion at events

Lower cancer risk

Better cardiac health

Lower risk for those with AFib

Reduced inflammation

Lower blood pressure

Lots of varieties to choose from

Less expensive

So what are you waiting for?

I dare you to make the switch

Hide and seek moon

Woke up yawning

Dreary damp morning

Cool with cloudy drizzle

No more summertime hot sizzle

Fall weather is officially here

Winter is looming I fear

A full moon was in the sky

Not visible to the eye

Hidden behind a cloud

Smiling ever so proud

I saw her rising last night

It was an amazing sight

She came up out of the sea

Maybe to just see me

Clouds rushed over to cover her completely

She vanished in silence very discretely

Leaving me drowning in sorrow

Maybe she will reappear for me tomorrow

Seasons are changing

last week was warm and sunny

this week is much cooler

seasons are changing

cold crisp mornings and mild afternoons

no more single layers when biking

seasons are changing

The sun rises later

the daylight hours are shorter

seasons are changing

summer green foliage is fading away

leaves are turning red, orange and yellow

seasons are changing

winds have picked up making boating unpleasant

time to pull the boat out for the winter

seasons are changing

migrating birds fill the sky in huge V formations

They are heading south for the winter

seasons are changing

sunsets are more spectacular

filling the clear cool skies with dramatic colors

seasons are changing

time to reflect on fun summer times

package up all the summer memories

seasons are changing

we will soon be heading south also

leaving our summer home before winter arrives

seasons are changing

The music changes throughout the day

We have music piped into every room at home

Waking up to something lively

Usually a 70’s complication

Stevie Wonder fills the air

Foot tapping to Earth Wide and Fire

Munching breakfast to Marvin Gaye

After breakfast a change of mood

Writing to relaxing morning jazz

Lunch time with the 80’s

Talking Heads while prepping food

A club sandwich with Culture Club

Hot tea with the Thomson Twins

Dunk a cookie with Duran Duran

Time to Rev it up while cleaning the house

Rocking the floor mop to ZZ Top

Deafening vacuuming with Def Leppard

Make your bed with the Beatles

Clapton makes cleaning toilets fun

Housework is done and its time to chill

Relaxing Spa music while reading

DIY projects go faster with British Invasion bands

Sawing wood while the Who blast away

Hammering nails with the Stones

Painting walls Manfred Mann

Yard work with the Yard birds

Mid afternoon break with country music

Cheryl Crow joins for afternoon tea

Reminding me that all I want to do is have some fun

Run to the store for errands with Kenny Rogers

Ride back with Merl Haggard

Tammy Wynette helps restock the fridge

Cooking dinner with Glen Campbell

Dinner is served with some cool jazz

Set an extra dinner place for Frank Sinatra

Michael Buble for dessert

David Bowie helps to clean the dishes

Evening jazz rounds off the day

Go to sleep in silence

Thanks Mr Wind

I rode into the wind

Heart racing

Head down and pushing hard

Legs aching

Checking the computer

5 miles in

The wind blew harder

Head down lower

In the paceline

Clipped into pedals

Pulling up and pushing down

Legs complaining

Ignore the pain

Focus on speed

Checking the computer

10 miles in

Leading the paceline

But speed is dropping

Head down lower

Can hardly see the road

Push hard downstroke

Pull hard upstroke

Heart rate increases

Speed slightly up

This is supposed to be fun

Checking the computer

15 miles in

Still battling the headwind

Open fields offer no shelter

Mr Wind spots us easily

Rushes towards us relentlessly

I try my best to hide

At the back of the paceline

Checking the computer

20 miles in

Rest stop approaching

Take a welcome break

Hydrate and eat some carbs

Short rest and back on the bike

Homeward with a tailwind

Leading the pack again

Speed magically increases

This is worth the effort

Riding with head up

Taking in the scenery

Breathing the Eastern shore air

Not breathing near chicken farms

Checking the computer

25 miles in

Eagles fly overhead

Old men in lycra fly below on bikes

The wind blows harder

We pick up more speed

Sailing home gracefully

Checking the computer

30 miles in

Legs stopped complaining

Heart rate up but steady

We break formation to chat

Friendly banter as we fly

Time to split up

Riding final leg solo

Drop the pace slightly

Cooling down phase

Arrive home

37 miles in

Exhilarating ride

Thank you Mr Wind

Northern lights

Stepping outside late in the evening

It was a very dark, clear, star filled sky

After a few minutes my eyes adjusted to the low light

Looking north I could see a faint red glow

Not far away was a gentle green glow

The longer I looked, the clearer the glow became

It was my first time witnessing the northern lights

Total silence accompanied the spectacle

Everybody whispered as a mark of respect

Fearful that any sound might frighten them away

These mysterious colored flying ghosts

Only appearing when conditions are perfect

Thankfully we were in the right place at the right time

Great show northern lights

How about an encore nightly