Nature's Nurture

"I believe that the universe is one being, all its parts are different expressions of the same energy, and they are all in communication with each other, influencing each other, therefore parts of one organic whole (this is physics as well as religion, I believe.)" 

- Robinson Jeffers.

Robinson Jeffers wrote poetry that revered the environment movement. Rachel Carson described ecology as wholeness not only with oneself but also wholeness with the rest of the natural world. This meant the integrity of the universe itself. 

Jeffers coined the term inhumanism to describe a counterpoint to this awareness. He felt concern that humanity had become separated from the rest of nature, too blind to the "astonishing beauty of things." He believed our natural inheritance and civilizational responsibility includes the protection and participation in nature's beauty.

Drink deep, drink deep of quietness,

And on the margins of the sea

Remember not thine old distress

Nor all the miseries to be

Calmer than mists and cold

As they, that fold on fold

Up the dim valley are rolled.

Learn thou to be. – Robinson Jeffers

John Muir believed, "When we try to pick out anything by itself we find it hitched to everything else in the universe."

During our challenging time, let nature's nurture help with balance and respect. 

"When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." - Lao Tzu

Joys of Imperfection

 "The saxophone is an imperfect instrument, especially the tenor and soprano, as far as intonation goes. The challenge is to sing on an imperfect instrument that is outside of your body." - Stan Getz

As human beings, we often feel the goal of life involves the race for "perfection."  It sounds like such a great achievement when charging toward quality and excellence serves us better.  

Nature provides beauty as designs with angles, colors, and fragrances. Birds reveal their differences in feathers.

All sport their imperfections.

“I hog the covers, and my second toe is longer than my big one. My hair has its own zip code...You don't love someone because they're perfect. You love them in spite of the fact that they're not.” - Jodi Picoult

Accept your perfect imperfections. 

It takes a good heart to discover the wonder that's hidden within them.

"Life is not always perfect. Like a road, it has many bends, ups and downs, but that’s its beauty.” - Amit Ray

Punctuation Play

Play with punctuation.  After you've responded to each of the ten choices, do a freewrite to combine them.  Let your life sentences emerge.

Observing your life:

l.    Describe a comma (a pause) you've experienced.

2.   What felt like an ending ( a period).

3.   Include a parenthesis ( ).

4.   Use an action verb to push the punctuation.

5.   What connection has a semi-colon made for you?

6.   Add a dash of -

7.   Entertain ellipses to begin or end . . . .

8.   What does a colon offer your list of fun or fantasy?

9.   Question the quesion mark that appeared before a choice.

10.  In what situations do you feel possessive like an apostrophe?

Have fun and live your life as an exclamation point!