the answer to anxiety

relax
hold your breath
look around
and let it out
stop tapping your fingers
be still
cease flexing your toes
can you feel the moment moving?
can you feel space expanding?
can you feel time ticking?
be still
life is happening

the beauty of writing

writing frees inner demons from their cells
and exposes questions lingering deep inside
how easily honest words uncover pain, fear and doubt
uncomfortable though it may seem
probing deeply and answering candidly offers
waterfalls, rivers, lakes and rainstorms of catharsis

saying goodbye

my eyes fill to the brim in expectation of your departure
an empty chair where creativity and teabags once brewed
there's a void aleady
on the Web site, in the parking lot, the local coffeeshop
your peace, your mind, your spirituality have all colored our world a brighter shade
your name will always summon laughter, sincerity, dedication and talent
too many lessons to recount
there's a mark on my heart
left by your editor's pen
i'll hold it close to me
whenever i immerse myself in story
i'll listen for you in those paragraphs
and pass along the wisdom you've taught

Why I love the Internet

A friend from work showed me this video: Where the Hell is Matt - 2008

I think it is really beautiful.

Holden is

a summer camp
an intentional community
a hippy commune
a spiritual oasis
a place for old and new friends to meet and share
a retreat center where adults wear yellow 'let it mellow' shirts
and where heirarchy seemingly doesn't matter as much as the few moments we share together in our journey on this earth
a candlelit vigil to remind us we're not alone in this trek
a place where nature is both revered and respected, never controlled
full of compost bins--many more than garbage cans
a wildly optimistic take on how we can and would live in peace and harmony--if only we would try in great numbers
a beginning

Holden Village Web site

Cloudy Pass - Wenatchee National Forest

Toward Cloudy Pass

Fourth of July dinner!