Hard to believe but it’s true…the blog turns two.  Blogging has given me so much more than I ever expected.  I can’t imagine life without the friends I’ve made.  Nor can I imagine life without all the inspirational sites I’ve grown so fond of, visiting them over my morning coffee and feeling grateful for the way the Internet can broaden our lives.

Thank you to each of you who visit here, who leave comments and send emails.  I appreciate the time you spend here and the things you share with me.  Thanks for coming along on this part of my journey!

Compassion has been on my mind a lot recently.  Synchronicity set in and I heard it talked about on the radio, caught passing comments on TV, found it appearing in conversation.  And then most recently, in a book–a mystery/crime novel at that.  In John Connolly’s book Dark Hollow I read the following paragraph, spoken by the semi-retired burglar, Angel:

“…It’s not enough to suffer, and you know that. What matters is that you understand that others suffer, and some of them suffer worse than you could ever do. The nature of compassion isn’t coming to terms with your own suffering and applying it to others: it’s knowing that other folks around you suffer and, no matter what happens to you, no matter how lucky or unlucky you are, they keep suffering. And if you can do something about that, then you do it, and you do it without whining or waving your own f—in’ cross for the world to see. You do it because it’s the right thing to do.”

Our ideas of our own compassion, the times when we feel we have exhibited compassion, provide a great deal to meditate on.  It is not compassion to see the misfortune of others and express relief we were spared such suffering.  Certainly we should be grateful in those instances for our own blessings.  But pity springs quickly from such thoughts and can be confused for compassion in our own minds.  Nor is it compassion to express sentiments no matter how well intentioned.

Compassion in its purest form requires us to let go of our own self, of our own reflexes and responses.  Its expression is a form of meditation and an understanding of this reality.  An understanding that acknowledges the suffering and allows for selfless acts to alleviate that suffering.

Compassion is something we practice.  Something we are.  Something that changes us and the world we live in.  For the better.

Well laid plans…you have to wonder if they aren’t just an invitation for Chaos to intervene.  I’d like to say that I’ve been crazy busy with new and exciting patterns and tutorials for all of you.  And that I’ve been working on new projects, making my way through some gorgeous stacks of fabric.  Or that I finished an afghan.  Or something.  Anything.

Instead, major allergies, a summer cold, gray mornings with continued below average temps and other stuff equally uninteresting and certainly demotivating.  On the bright side, the sun has been coming out by 1 o’clock here on the coast.  And as you can see, the neighborhood crows are happy about it too.  They like to come by and drink and bathe in the fountain. 

Now, I know they eat other birds babies.  And they can be destructive and mischievous.  But they can also be very entertaining.  And I’ve appreciated their antics as they play in the water and toss large pieces of bark mulch at or away from each other.  They remind me that spontaneous play is a natural thing. Something we humans have long forgotten.

Any creative journey is a huge adventure replete with all the epic elements you might expect from a blockbuster screenplay. Monsters of doubt to be slain, unknown lands to cross without a map, unexpected setbacks–they’re all there. They might seem incapacitating if it were not for the prospect of all the positive along the way. The knowledge and skills acquired through patience and practice, the beginning of understanding and wisdom, the moments of clarity and the help and encouragement of those you meet along the way.

Two of this sort, the positive and encouraging type, are Jennifer and Jenny. Their recent posts are an indication of the upbeat attitude and excitement they exemplify. I am very grateful to have them in my life! Thanks, you guys!!! I’m so glad you are part of my journey!

I’m also grateful to all you readers, old and new, who visit the blog. I hope that this will be a place for you to find encouragement for your journey. A place where you can come for ideas, for laughs, and for a diversion from your day to day activities.