Perspectives

While walking to the Plaza yesterday in Santa Fe, you picked up a small branch that made a perfect "y-shape" and asked me what letter it was. Trying to be funny, I said, "Why should I guess?" To which you groaned, and gave me a "Not again, Papa..." look. I then told you about diving rods and that it would be a great stick for that, which then Sean also said when he saw the branch. Then, his daughter saw it and said you could make a good slingshot from it. From that one branch then, we had three different possibilities. Always see the potential in something ordinary, or, at least from a new perspective to enrich your life.

Going Up is Sometimes Easier than Down

We had a beautiful hike and picnic yesterday in the Santa Fe National Forest, north of the City Different. In between thunderstorms and with good friends, we hiked up the trail, with you blazing ahead of all of us, for well over a mile. We saw beautiful mountain wildflowers, butterflies, and the most interesting tree-carving graffiti I have ever seen. And, you learned (luckily without falling!) that coming down the slope is sometimes more tricky than going up. Sometimes things just aren't what they seem to be until you experience them for yourself.

Where Things Come From

Yesterday, on the Plaza, we got you a small bracelet with lots of tiny rocks and gemstones from a nice woman selling her family's jewelry. She told you that her 14 year-old grandson, Dayne, had made the bracelet. It is easy in the modern world to forget that things are made by other people when everything is packaged and sterilized for mass consumption. Like going to the grocery store with Papa to make dinner, remember that the best things in life are crafted with care.

If Wishes Were Horses

Last evening, after the mountain monsoon came in and broke the heat, leaving a cool alpine breeze, we were all sitting out on the deck and a rainbow appeared over the eastern range. It got more and more intense, and ultimately was one of the most complete rainbows I had ever seen. You said that "glitter" rainbows are the best, because you can ride down them on a pony and have an infinity of wishes. The best rainbows are also those that you share with your loved ones.

Cottontail Crossings

Last evening, driving home, we saw a bunny rabbit run across the road and into the brush. It reminded you of the stuffed cottontail bunny that Grandma gave you and is back in Antwerp. You said that there should be Yellow, diamond signs with black bunnies on them to warn drivers about bunnies crossing the street. May you keep that compassion for other sentient beings.

Ummmm...

Yesterday, we drove by the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Santa Fe and you asked me, "Papa, if after the birds have eaten our skin, how can we then go up into the sky?" I told you that I believe in an invisible part of us called the soul, or spirit, and that we live on in some way after our bodies die, but, in all honesty, there are some questions that even Papa doesn't know the true answer to. So, your guess is often as good as mine. Life, and Death, still holds many mysteries for us.

It Ain't Easy Being Five (Sometimes), and that's OK

Last evening at dinner, you had a bit of a rough time while waiting for the food at the restaurant. Lots of excitement in the afternoon with new faces and friends and all at dinner too, and then being hungry and tired. So, you got a bit upset. Sometimes we get upset when we are tired and hungry and not sure why, especially when we are just five. Papa and you went outside and sat and after a while, we sniffed the flowers that give you kisses on your nose. You liked the white ones the best and I liked the indigo ones. Soon, you were giggling again and all was well when the food arrived.

Battery Recharge

Remember to always check the batteries to make sure they are charged before going places so that things work when you need them to. This is also important for us. We need to be re-charged before we do something new. If you are not rested before starting a new adventure, your batteries will die.

The Little Girl Who Could

Yesterday, at the pool, when we first got in, you clung onto Papa, saying, "Papa! I can't swim!" I asked you to say what the "Little Engine that Could" said, "I Think I Can, I Think I Can, I Think I Can!" You kept saying it, and you kept trying. At one point, I let you go and, you swam.
You did it.
I knew you could.

Small Adjustments

Just like with the three plane rides, taking jetlag one day at a time, you are able to get on a new time zone. Each day we have stayed up just fifteen minutes or so longer, and slept likewise later by as much. Now, instead of 4am, it is 6am when we are up, and we are back on schedule. Making those small adjustments, and not big ones help us face the bigger challenges in life as well. Don't be in a hurry to change everything all at once.

Ending on a Good Note

Yesterday at the pool, you learned something new simply by watching others. All by yourself, you learned how to do a somersault under water!! I was so proud and amazed.
You had been in the water for a while, and it was time to go, but you wanted to show me you new accomplishment. You did it three times, and the third time was perfect.
I asked you to then go, so that we could end on a good note, and you did. Well done.

Nothing So Lovely as a Tree

Yesterday, waiting for the swimming pool to open, we went into the gym and practiced some yoga "poses," that you had invented. Learn to breathe and relax and things will come to you easier. Then, we did Vriksasana, the Tree Pose, and for a moment stood there facing each other like two trees in the forest, smiling. It was a wonderful moment. Then, you started giggling and we both fell out of the pose laughing. 
Remember to breathe.
Remember to laugh.

Eat, Drink, Sleep

One of the precepts of Zen is that you eat when you are hungry, drink when you are thirsty, and sleep when you are tired. However, sometimes our bodies are a little out of synch with the world around us, like when we travel across the big Ocean from Belgium to Texas, and we have to learn to adjust our bodies' telegraph messages to us to get into the groove. For a couple days then, our Zen is how to make those adjustments.

Billions and Billions

Looking out of the window on the airplane while we were flying to America, you remarked that there must be "billions of clouds" out there. Never loose the wonder of exaggeration when viewing nature in all her splendor. There are billions and billions of grains of sand in the ocean and deserts, stars in the skies, blades of grass on the ground, ants in and out of the ground, atoms in our bodies, people on the earth, and on and on. It is easy to take such sublime numbers for granted when we just see "a beach" or a "meadow" or "the sky" and not realize how many special, individuals it takes to make up the whole.

One Plane at a Time

Yesterday, Papa and you flew from the Brussels airport in Zaventem all the way to Amarillo, Texas. The journey took us over 20 hours and three planes: the Papa-sized plane, the Mama-sized plane, and the Baby-bear sized plane, each flight getting shorter and plane smaller. However, we took it one flight and one plane at a time, and the trip went by without any problems. Taking a large project in smaller portions can make even the most daunting tasks seem okay.

Walking with Knives

Last evening at dinner, Papa asked you to help with setting the table. However, I did not let you walk to the table with the sharp cutting knives and you got upset because you thought that I did not think you could do it. Papa cut himself just the other day with one of those knives and was just looking out for you. Sometimes, when we ask others not to do something, it is out of love and genuine concern, not lack of trust or absence of faith in their ability to do it.

Upside Down

Turn upside down every now and then and look at the things you have been seeing every day and you might appreciate them in a new perspective.

How a Flower Grows

My favorite line from a Cat Stevens' song is "the soul of nobody knows/ how a flower grows." Remember always that nature has more mysteries than we have answers.

Giving Aid to Others

Papa cut his finger last night, cutting onions with a sharp knife and needed a band-aid, which you helped put on his finger, with empathy, rather than saying "I told you to watch out with the knife, Papa!," which you indeed had told me to do, but did not rub it in. Thank you.

Bubbles

The simplest thing, a collection soap bubbles, can reflect an infinite number of universes, like a giant net, made of diamonds, reflecting each other.