Laine's Blog, Thinking Out Loud

A Tippping Point...

 

 

Are there angels among us?

 

This world seems to be divided

between the warring

and the loving.

Are we approaching a tipping point,

weary of war,

and resolved to truly love our neighbors,

even if they are very different from us?

 

If you think that living a compassionate,

kind life,

isn't making a difference-

think again.

And thank you!

 

 

 

©2024LaineQuinn

Republished from Laine's Blog, May 21st, 2014

Everything...

 

 

Everything has to do with loving

and not loving.

                                                       

                                                  Rumi

 

 

 

 

From Laine's Blog, November 2018.

©LaineQuinn 2021

 

Friends...

 

 

 

Life can be overwhelming at times - aging parents, sick children, losing a treasured pet.

Even joy can flood the heart, so much beauty, so much love, so complex.

That's where our friends come in.

They walk with us even when we are apart and help us to make sense of our mortal lives.

Where would we be without our friends?

Here's to old friends, new friends and the friends we are about to meet!

Thank You!

 

 

 

 

Reprinted from Laine's Blog, November, 2011

©LaineQuinn 2021

Sculpture found at Cummer Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida.

 

Let The Autumn Light Reach You

 

What nourishes you

in the middle of a Pandemic?

 

What nourishes you

when political forces take a dark turn

and plunge us into a past that should be long forgotten?

 

 

For me it is Poetry -

Poetry and Music that soothe my soul

and the beauty all around me -

flowers still blooming in our Florida gardens and

the angle of the sun in the trees at a certain time of day,

and of course the beach!

And happy dogs and peaceful cats!

And friends, young and old!

 

Let the autumn light reach you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

©2021 Laine Quinn, photo of Spanish Moss in Live Oaks at Washington Oaks State Park.

 

 

 

Egret With Fish...

 

 

Does the Egret apologize to the fish?

Is the fish feeling like a victim, getting angry and huffy?

These two marvelous creatures are

  living and dying on the same page.

No apologies.

No blame.

When we seek honestly that which nourishes us,

we thrive.

 

 

 

Reprinted from Laine's Blog, October, 2011

©LaineQuinn 2011

I'm ok 2...

When memories pop up that remind you of your mistakes, missteps and lost opportunities -

do they come to make you feel bad all over again?

Or are they coming to maybe help you?

Help you to find forgiveness and compassion for your self?

To finally move off - move on - to the happiness you found in life -

the happy memories?

 

Sure it's all intermingled but remember the kindness, the love and the friendships,

the comraderie and the joys you found in nature - in being alive,

in reading a good book and sharing a good meal,

the good work that you did.

In the BIG tapestry of your life

the missteps  would shrink beside all the good all the joy and happiness -

all the little things that made your life whole.

 

Funny that they come, those haunting memories,

but next time flood them with the joys and maybe they will cease and desist

eventually.

 

Maybe after forgiveness and compassion there is acceptance.

"Yeah, I did that , but I also did this and this and this...

I'm okay!"

 

You're okay!

I'm okay.

 

 

 

 

©2021 Laine Quinn

Tapestry, "Tree of Life", Astoria Grand at Wayfair.

 

A note to my email subscribers, the email address [email protected] is no longer active, an I have corrected it so that you can reply to my blog in your email and I will get it in my google account.

Thanks for all!

 

What I know...

 

What I know - what I know is -

Love will find a way.

 

Conflict in your life?

Say this -

Love will find a way.

 

Anxious?

Say this in your heart and mind -

Love will find a way.

 

It does.

It will.

 

 

Somehow it opens your heart and reminds you of the love there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a song that goes like the first line of this post but I can't find it!

But there are 2 others with the title of "Love Will Find a Way" by Pablo Cruise and Lionel Ritchie.

In any event, Love will find a way!

©Laine Quinn 2021 Photo of sunrise with steady waves, one after the other, 09/08/2021

Getting Grounded Again...

 

How's it going?

Personally - within?

 

Take a moment to remember

that you are here now

with your very own life.

 

Your very own precious life.

 

How's it going?

Within?

 

Breathe.

 

 

©Laine Quinn2021

 

Yes and Yes...

 

Can you be stressed and joyful at the same time?

Worried and happy at the same time?

Yes

and

Yes!

 

It takes some living and loving and forgiving

to arrive at a time in your life

when your emotions balance

without effort.

 

Joy and happiness can rise to the top like bubbles in water.

 

Stress is still stress and worry is still worried,

but they're paired with your innate joy

and they don't eat away your minutes and hours-

your days and nights.

 

The edges are smoothed and softened.

You can still find gladness in the little things

and laugh at your clumsy self.

 

 

 

 

©Laine Quinn 2021, Vilano Beach July 2021.

 

Sometimes...

 

 

Sometimes when I am standing at the water's edge,

looking out over the waves,

I think that I should be having some profound thought

or insight into my life or life in general.

But, I never do.

 

Sometimes I am worried about something.

Sometimes I am not worried!

 

 

Standing there or walking,

loving the wind on my face and the waves bumping into each other

and the low ceiling of clouds moving overhead -

it is enough -

more than enough.

 

Just being there!

Yes,

it is plenty!

 

 

 

 

©LaineQuinn 2020

Waves at Vilano Beach, Egrets and Pelicans and Gulls in the distance and Dolphins and fish swimming below!

 

Earth Day

 

 

That we dedicate a day for the celebration of the Earth

is absurd and also necessary.

 

The, so called, "most intelligent" creatures that life has spawned

can't even protect that which sustains their very existence.

(It wasn't always this way.)

 

There are people involved in the destruction of our air, water and soil

who just don't care.

They don't see the earth as a living, breathing, life sustaining entity -

all they see is profit and power.

 

They continue to exploit the natural resources that belong to all of us

without consideration of the consequences,

much to our peril

and all in pursuit of profit and the power that comes with it.

 

Promises are made and broken.

They just don't care.

 

You and me - we can do our part and should continue to do our part -

but until corporations and governments stop tearing the fabric of life apart

we are doomed.

 

 

It is a few at the top,

the very top of the pyramid who allow the destruction to continue.

 

There are new promises in the works that will help to mitigate the destruction -

let's hope it is not too little too late

and that those promises are not broken.

 

It is time to hold their feet to the fire -

hold those in power accountable and don't let up.

 

 

"We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality,

tied in a single garment of destiny.

Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly."

 

                                                                        Martin Luther King Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

©LaineQuinn 2021

In an attempt to remain positive in my blog, I must say that I am positive that we are in a very precarious situation!

 

Moonlight...

 

Every day brings us closer to moonlight

But

Where is she now?

                                                               

 

(Crescent moon coming soon to your neighborhood sky!)

 

 

 

 

In Honor of National Poetry Month, an original!

©Laine Quinn

Photos taken in 2013, the moon and Venus just after sunset.

 

 

                                                                         

Hidden Gifts...

 

 

 

What I have been trying not to say out loud,

is that there are blessings or gifts hidden in tragedies,

and these gifts may not be obvious for some time to come,

but they are there.

 

If we can make a commitment not to let the anger and helplessness

allow us to disconnect,

and instead turn to our friends and families,

and really see them in that deep way that keeps love alive,

then that compassion spreads to our neighbors, and the person behind the counter,

and we become part of the force that moves us away from the madness,

and towards creating a loving and compassionate world.

 

Be gentle with each other and kind and open.

 

 

 

 

 

Reprinted from Laine's Blog, 4/2013 and 6/2016

 

It's Time...

 

Imagine a world where the inspired leaders of our young nation

had been inspired enough to include women in those first drafts of the

Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America.

 

Would there have been the wholesale murder of the indigenous people who helped us settle this wild land??

Would there have been slavery?  Civil War?

Industries that destroy our air and water and health?

Factory farms? Economic disparities?

The Atomic bomb?

A military set on destruction and aggression and not peace?

 

Perhaps and perhaps not.

 

240 odd years later it is incumbent upon us, the heirs of an imperfect plan,

to right this ship and set it on a course of cooperation and partnership

with each other and our beautiful ailing earth.

 

The old way is crumbling and fighting to the bitter end to deny equality and justice for all.

 

Representative Government must represent the voices of a livable future -

a livable present.

Be vigilant in demanding true representation of your true values.

 

As the young poet, Amanda Gorman, said in her beautiful poem on inauguration day,

America is...

 

...a nation that isn't broken,

but simply unfinished...

 

Women are now included and people of color are now included,

immigrants are now included.

 

It's Time!

 

 

 

 

© 2021 Laine Quinn

 

Things...

 

 

I am a thing

among other things.

 

There was a little book

in the "Tiny Library"

next to the little playground

which is next to the community garden

in my neighborhood.

My young friend wanted to play on his own

for a little bit,

so I picked up the little book,

"The Alphabet of Grace"

to peruse

and sat on the bench

to read.

 

I forced myself to remember that line,

or close to it

because it seemed to equalize everything!

 

Me, the swing set, the sliding board,

the moon and the stars.

 

We are all just here,

doing what we do

with all of the rest of nature and things!

 

Why be so serious?

Relax.

Enjoy!

 

You are just a thing

among other things!

No better

and no worse either!

 

Make good trouble!

 

 

 

 

When I went back to borrow the book, it was gone!

But I found the author on line, Frederick Buechner.

Photo of lizard on a thing, at the edge of the garden,

© 2021 Laine Quinn

 

 

Wild Flower...

 

Shamrocks seed themselves

all over St. Augustine.

Wild?

I think so!

Delightful?

Definitely!

Lucky?

Let's hope!

 

 

 

Violets too, much to my delight!

©2021 Laine Quinn, backyard shamrocks.

A Round of Robins!

 

Noisy birds in the Hollies

dozens of them

with a familiar sound from childhood

Robin Red Breasts

 feasting in Florida

away from the Arctic Air and ice up North,

and stopping for a bath!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canadian Robins, a long way from home and probably glad of it, the original "Snow Birds!"

©2021 Laine Quinn

 

 

Teach Us...

 

Teach us to care and not to care

Teach us to sit still.

                                               T.S. Eliot

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the poem "Ash Wednesday"

Photo ©Laine Quinn

Boat on a pond in Wellfleet.

More Light After a Storm...

 

 

St. Augustine Harbor

looking east, with the sun low in the west

lighting up the sky,

after an afternoon storm.

 

(True Colors!)

 

 

 

 

 

©LaineQuinn 2015 St. Augustine, Florida

 

Good Bye...

 

2020

 

Oh My -

Goodbye goodbye goodbye -

and don't come back

ever again.

 

The odd thing about this horrid year

is that the world is more united

than ever before.

A global pandemic has brought us closer.

 

 

The virus crossed from one country to another -

without passport or visa -

sewing together the human race in tragedy and grace.

Tragedy and Grace.

 

 

 

And everywhere in the world

People are kicking 2020 out of the door

and into space

and welcoming the new year -

collectively -

of one mind and heart.

 

A New Year,

perhaps more welcome that any other in our lifetimes.

 

2021

 

You are very welcome!

Come in, come in,

have a seat,

stay for a while.

Hello! Hello!

 

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

 

(Is it safe to come out yet?)

  

 

 

©2020 Laine Quinn

How Are You Doing?

 

 

It's that time of year -

in a very odd year _

when emotions are raw and memories haunt you.

 

 

 

Riding waves of feelings,

not knowing where they come from,

or why,

or how long,

you hang on.

 

 Storms come and they go,

and you hang on.

You hang on.

 

 

 

 

And they go.

 

 

Life is still life -

imperfectly perfect.

 

Stay safe,

and patient

and perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

©2020 Laine Quinn

A Change in Perspective...

 

 

Simple.

A little planet in a grand and glorious galaxy

in an unimaginable universe.

 

Our little rock is spinning on its axis,

rotating around our star, the sun,

which is rotating in the galaxy,

which is traveling in the universe,

with other galaxies

and planets and stars.

 

We've learned so much in the last 50 years!

What will we find in the next 50 years?

 

Time will tell!

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving!

 

How can a year as strange as 2020

appear to be whizzing by?

 

Already Thanksgiving!

And still grateful -

for the moon and stars and planets

(especially this one!) -

grateful for blue skies and rain

trees and flowers

wild waves and calm.

 

Grateful to be alive and well

and loving

and loved.

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

 

 

 

Girl picking flowers depicted on a tile found in the lost city of Pompei.

 

A Gift!

 

 

Out of nowhere

nature paints a rainbow

coming out of the horizon

and it's just sitting there!

 

I see a guy

coming along in the distance,

too far to shout out

but somehow I get his attention

and point to the rainbow

and he

excitedly

gives me a thumbs up!

 

He saw it too!

 

And

then the little rainbow

just

disappeared!

 

 

 

 

 

Vilano Beach, 11/20/2020

©2020 LaineQuinn

 

 

Just Because...

 

 

Just because light and color conspired to spread joy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

ONE MORE DAY...

 

One day more...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love...

 

Here I am surrounded by giant old oak trees,

dripping with spanish moss,

living with a joyful dog

and a handsome cat,

while it feels like the world is coming apart at the seams.

 

It is not.

 

The birds still sing.

The frogs still croak and slap themselves onto the windows at night.

The moon rises and shines.

The sun too.

 

All that is worrying us will change,

and soon.

One way or the other.

 

To quote Wendell Barry,

 

Be joyful even though you have considered all the facts.

 

Be joyful and see the world around you with fresh eyes and love.

 

"Love is why we have hope"

 

 

Love your world!

And hope for the very best for all of us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspired by the book by Anne Lamott,  Almost Everything, Notes on Hope.

The quote about love is from the back cover and the Wendell Barry quote is found on the inside front cover.

She is fearless and funny and inspiring!

Photo is a view outside of Lake Lure, NC. ©Laine Quinn 2015

 

Peace of Mind...

 

 

An old Spring House in San Miguel, Mexico -

a reminder to be grounded -

in our friendship with ourselves,

with nature,

with each other.

 

 Grounded in uncertainty, and upheaval,

and accepting the times we find ourselves in.

 

Grounded in whatever way you get grounded,

for your very own peace of mind.

 

 

 

 

 

©Laine Quinn

 

Connections...

 

"...when we try to pick out anything by itself,

we find it hitched to everything else in the universe."

                                                                                       John Muir

 

 

 

 

 

Quote from Brain Pickings on Sunday, by Maria Popova.

Butterflies from St. Augustine, Key West and Baltimore. © Laine Quinn

Just Ask Any Whale...

 

It's a good idea to embrace

the other's otherness,

because

we are the other's other.

 

 

Just ask any whale!

 

 

 

 

 

We are all in this together!

Two Whales, ©2015, Laine Quinn, Cape cod

Kindness is Contagious...

 

 

In his book, "Humankind, A Hopeful History",

Rutger Bregman writes about cynicism vs. realism.

And I quote:

 

Isn't it telling that in modern usage the realist has become synonymous

with the cynic - for someone with a pessimistic outlook?

In truth, it's the cynic who's out of touch.

In truth, we're living on Planet A,

where people are deeply inclined to be good to one another.

 

So, be realistic. Be courageous. Be true to your nature and offer your trust.

Do good in broad daylight,

and don't be ashamed of your generosity.

You may be dismissed as gullible and naive at first.

But remember, what's naive today may be common sense tomorrow.

 

It's time for a new realism.

It's time for a new view of humankind.

 

 

 

 

It's a good book, with lots of examples of goodness that outweighs the craziness.

Photo of Treaty Oak, in Jacksonville Florida, ©2020 Laine Quinn

They say that this Southern Live Oak tree is over 200 years old, but I would offer that it is way older than that!