Not long ago, our long-time friends, Earle and Dalene, suffered that most unspeakably painful grief of losing their adult son. What we know is that grief is a form of love – it hurts so badly because we have loved so deeply. One of the ways that Dalene has found to help herself walk through this is to turn to the love and share it.

So, she crochets baby booties, in different styles and colors and carries them with her everywhere. When she sees a pregnant woman, she approaches and says, “Excuse me – I’m just a crazy old grandma and it looks as if you are expecting someone new. May I give you a gift for the baby?” Then she pulls the perfect pair from her bag, gives it to the woman and walks away without another word. Says Dalene, “You cannot imagine the looks I get. It is SO MUCH FUN!”

When she learned we have a new baby in our family and another on the way, she gave me an adorable pair of Mary Janes and a precious pair of red high top Converse. The Converse went to Galveston to await the arrival of our first great-grandbaby in January. The Mary Janes went to Vermont to our new great niece, Eloise. Here she is modeling them for you.

What Delights me about this is seeing how Love thrives everywhere, even in the most painful of human experiences. And how when we turn to that Love and let it move through us, it ripples on and on – far beyond what we can see or imagine. Love is the only true power there is. It is unstoppable – uncontainable and eternal. All we need to do is open our hearts and let it shine forth!

Hi friends!
After a very long spell of this blog being quiet, I’m testing the waters to see how many folks are still out there and if your email address is still valid!

I have something delightful I’d like to share. Recently, after reading “The Book of Delights” by poet Ross Gay, I decided to borrow his wonderful idea. I began a year of noticing – really noticing – and recording everyday Delights. And (no surprise), I find that the more attention I give them, the more joyfully abundant they become. So, I’m sharing some of them on Facebook and may do so here as well. Here’s the first one…no pressure, no stress, just a moment of pure delight!

                            WHOLE BODY HAPPY

Waiting in the lobby at the Optometrist, a woman who is deaf and a staff member holding an iPad come in, both smiling broadly. She signs so the camera can see her and the machine speaks aloud, interpreting it for the staff. He responds aloud and she sees it in sign on the screen. It is quick, seamless and a Delight to see. She settles comfortably to wait her turn. We smile at each other across the room.

I can’t resist. I approach and with a combination of lips and gestures say, “That is SO cool!” She lights up with Joy and I say, “Could you show me?” She shakes her head and points to a button and lets me know that it requires a staff person to activate it. I say, so she can read my lips, “That allows you to be independent, doesn’t it?” “Yes, Yes!” she says with such glee that her whole body is participating.

In that moment, I am reminded of a little dog we used to have who was one of the happiest creatures I’ve ever known. When she was delighted (which was often), she wagged her whole body, sometimes nearly knocking herself off her feet. Such is the nature of Delight when we surrender to it body and soul.

Last night, after listening to the Surgeon General telling us to brace for what will possibly be “one of the worst weeks of our lives,” we decided to leave it all for a while and follow Christopher Robin through a magical door at the base of a tree into the land of Poo, Piglet, Tigger, Owl, Eeyore and friends. No one in the Hundred Acre Wood has ever heard the word “coronavirus.” Thanks to Disney and Netflix, for a blessed two hours, we accompanied a grownup Christopher as he found his way back from stress, worry and complication to innocence and a clear seeing of what really matters. We laughed, chuckled, smiled, teared up and felt our own stress and worry melt away.

This morning, as I do every morning, I left early for my own magical woodland. I am extremely fortunate (and I do not take it for granted!) that close to my home is a lovely urban wood. The trail follows the lake shore a while and then winds through a small but diverse and beautiful forest. Because I am there early, I can often walk the nearly three mile path without encountering another human. I have done this hundreds of times and yet, each time is brand new. I am reminded of a favorite quote from Heraclitus, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.”

Because some of us are not physically able to do such a thing, or perhaps live in the middle of a city where such a place isn’t available, or simply don’t have time because you are working or caring for others, I’m inviting you along on this morning’s walk.

 

 

 

Here is my favorite tree.

I call her “Abuela.”

Many times I have leaned into her and felt welcomed and comforted.

It only takes a smidgen of imagination to see an open door and a window.

Let’s go!

 

 

 

Humans call this a weed.

But look at that perfection.

Hundreds of snowy white starbursts

ready to take flight in the breeze.

I pass by gently.

I bet it will be gone tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

Up the hill into the trees. I feel a familiar shift in me.

What every schoolchild knows is that trees, and all plants, take in carbon dioxide, toxic to us, and give back oxygen, which is necessary for our life.

Is it any stretch then to understand that on a more subtle level, they take in dense, negative energy and transmute it – giving back lighter, healthier energy? We have always known this intuitively.

That’s why we feel good here. I notice my shoulders relax and I am breathing deeper with every step.

 

I walk slowly and gently, not looking for anything but being open to everything.

Everywhere Life is rejoicing with the coming of spring. It’s fresh, new, vibrant and bursting with potential.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first mayapples of the season,

where yesterday there were none

Fairy-sized umbrellas, wet with the morning mist.

 

 

 

And here…almost hidden from the path…a fawn lily!

Graceful while petals, streaked with lavender, sheltering a golden stamen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And just when I think the show is nearly over…what is this??

If you know, please post it! It is HUGE, magnificent fungi growing from a downed log with skin like a toasted tortilla and a well in the center with a pool of water.

The larger one is at least 14 inches in diameter. It’s amazing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything about our familiar human-constructed world is in chaos now, shifting beneath our feet faster than we can comprehend. We look to “experts” for comfort, for predictions, but the truth is no one knows. We do our best to protect ourselves and our loved ones, but it can feel this invisible virus is lurking everywhere, waiting for us to let down our guard or make a mistake. It is confusing and frightening.

Now, more than ever, we need each other and we need the reliable, confident perfection of the natural world. Life knows exactly what to do, and is going right on doing it, without any fear or hesitation. It is a great comfort to know that. At a time when we cannot gather with loved ones, cannot give and receive warm hugs with friends, cannot do so much that we took for granted, there is still much we can do. We’ve all watched creative ways to be connected blossoming like the spring. Love can’t be squelched – it just appears in new ways.

I encourage you to let Nature nurture you and love you as well – in whatever way is possible.

Thanks for walking with me today.

Love,

Gayle

A couple of times in recent days, I have had a feeling that I remember having when someone dear to me passed away.  There was a sensation of seeing life around me go on merrily – people laughing, a gorgeous sunset, lighthearted music playing. I remember looking around, stunned – how could it all still be happening like this when I feel like the world has just been flattened, smashed.

Yesterday, my husband and I walked in the sunshine, breathing deeply. My eyes wanted to grow wider so I could take in a whole grove of trees filled with blossoms. I wished I could angle my ears like a cat to catch every note of the songbirds celebrating spring. I was filled with awe at the marvels of Nature.

In the next instant, I passed a woman with her arms tightly wrapped around herself and eyes dark with fear and sadness. And there was that feeling…the awareness of the profound contrast between the joyful, abundant beauty of the natural world and the massive anxiety and pain being experienced by humanity.

For a second, it was disorienting. Then, I was flooded, saturated with gratitude. It is spring. If the signs aren’t yet obvious where you live, they will be soon. Life for us as humans is always on a pendulum that swings between joy and sadness, pleasure and pain. Regardless of where our current experience falls on that continuum, the essence of all life is Love, Beauty and Creativity.

When a giant redwood tree falls, or even when it is cut to a stump by loggers, a circle of new baby trees, clones of the original, will often grow up around the stump. This is called a Fairy Ring, or sometimes a Family Circle. The ancient “mother tree” likely lived many centuries, growing steadily and peacefully through wars, famines and pandemics. Left alone, these new trees will do the same. Life continues to renew itself.

Let Nature be a source of hope, peace and comfort to you now. Take a walk in the trees if you possibly can. It is safe and healthy there. Science has proven what we have always known intuitively – forests, even small strips of urban forests, promote health and well-being. If that’s not possible, do what you can to be near living, growing things. We need to feel connected with each other now – most of us seem to be recognizing that. What may not be as obvious is that we need – profoundly need – to know we are a part of the natural world. We need to feel our place in the irrepressible cycle of Life that goes on, unstoppable, through any and all experiences.

And please, if you are so moved, share your thoughts and experiences here. We would all love to hear them.

Love,

Gayle

 

 

 

 

 

Hello, my friends –

This blog has been quiet a long time. But the first day of spring seems the perfect time to resurrect it. As our ability to be in physical proximity with each other decreases, the value of our online connections increase.  This blog, called “Surrendering to Serendipity,” was originally created to allow us to travel together on the 90-day roadtrip following the Mississippi River. It was glorious to have you all traveling vicariously with me then – and also to have you with me on the two-year book tour of Roadtrip with a Raindrop.

Life is very different now for all of us. Changes are happening faster than we can comprehend. We aren’t traveling physically, but life is always a journey. Sometimes it’s smooth and easy and sometimes it can be scary and difficult, but always we need each other.

Life is bountiful and irrepressible. This robin, singing its heart out, is reminding us all that life is constantly renewing itself, regardless of the current circumstances. The daily news is bleak, but everywhere there is evidence of the beauty of the human spirit and the power of Love.

This post is a bit of a trial balloon – to see how many of you are still out there and haven’t changed your email addresses, etc. Then we can see how we can help each other through this. So, if you receive this and you are moved to do so, post a “comment” – it can be very brief if you like, just so I know you’re there!

Shine on, my friends!

Love, Gayle