The quiet wonders

Remember the quiet wonders.  The world has more need of them than it has for warriors.

~ Charles de Lint, Moonheart

A bench in winter

I’ve been sitting here wondering how to start this post, what to write beyond the initial quote, and then I noticed that the first few photos I picked out involve the same bench.  I shot it from different perspectives, and I thought, at first look this morning, it might be different benches.  Funny how sometimes one thing will call to me, grab my attention, and then become a series of things.  A series of stories, perhaps, told from various points of view.

What was I thinking at the time?  I don’t remember.  Perhaps it was the serenity of the scene.  Perhaps it was the light of the setting sun shining on the trees in the background.  Perhaps I just wanted to sit down.

The tree on the left

Maybe it wasn’t the bench at all that spoke to me.  Maybe it was the tree on the left.  Like the bench, it made its way into a series of shots from various viewpoints.  Some of those images were in yesterday’s post.  The tree has a very distinctive, fan-like shape.  Like a peacock’s tail without the colors.  It’s easy to spot.

The tree and the bench are now in the background

2013:  The Year of Small Changes

If you can’t change everything all at once, then at least work on changing something each day.  Become aggressive in your battle with the ego.  You probably don’t need all the things that it wants.  You need hope, discipline, creative expression, love, and serenity — these are the important things.  Remember, when you are balanced, one stepping stone will lead you to the next.  But you will rarely see the whole journey or all the answers at once.

~ Stuart Wilde

I have decided to make some small changes over the next year.  Call them resolutions if you want.  Or call them goals, aims, objectives, intents, or missions to accomplish.  I am thinking of them as opportunities, potentials and possibilities.

Here is the magic of a hike on a winter’s day

It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom.

~ Aristotle

January is going to be the Month of Early Rising.  I have attempted  this in the past and have found that early rising leads to productive days in many ways.  I am less likely to skimp on my meditation and yoga practices, rushing through them as if I have a very important date that I’m almost late for.  I am less likely skip or skimp on my cardio and/or strength training sessions.  I am more likely to eat whole, good-for-you foods, and somehow — I’m not sure how or why this happens — my home stays neater and cleaner.

Eastern Bluebird. Isn’t he beautiful?

Being realistic, I’m going to start on January 2nd because it’s highly possible M and I will be ushering in the new year at midnight.  You never know, though.  We might decide on a quiet night at home, watching a movie and retiring early.  No final decision on the matter has been made as of this writing.

There were several little bluebirds hanging around this open source of water.

I reckon that’s it from the Bogs for today.  Thank you for dropping in and following along on my rambles.  Today’s photos are all from Friday’s hike at the Holden Arboretum.  There is more snow on the way tonight, followed by quite a drop in the temperature.  Tomorrow morning might bring some interesting frost.

Wishing you a joyful 2013, a year that is filled with magic, hope, and love, as well as lots of quiet wonders.

Walking off into the sunset of 2012.

It depends on us… Another year lies before us like an unwritten page, an unspent coin, an unwalked road.  How the pages will read, what treasures will be gained in exchange for time, or what we find along the way, will largely depend on us.

~ Esther Baldwin York

Related articles

• Quiet: The New New Year’s Celebration (suzemuse.com)
• Auld Lang Syne (sandypucblog.com)

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