Minnie the barn cat

  December 29, 2008 – A friend told me recently that there is joy in being alive, whether you are happy  or not, or whether or not you have difficulties in life. I believe that. Working in hospice, living on this farm, writing and taking photos, I find joy in my life every day, and more than once. Life is not to be wasted, or overwhelmed with gloom and worry. I am not always happy, and there are plenty of problems for us to wrestle with – money, jobs, illness, misfortune. I have no time for pollyannas, or those who seek perfect lives outside of their own.
  Life is not always good, and things do not always go our way. None of us have perfect lives, or lives defined only by happiness and good fortunate.
  Life is defined by the pain and challenges we experience as much as the good luck and happy times.
  This, then, is the joy of life, at least to me. The opportunity to create, to seek and find love, and most of all, the great good fortune at having the opportunity and time to live, grow, learn and struggle to be better.
  2009 will be a good year for me, because that is my choice, and I mean to make it happen. That is the joy in being alive. My life is not only defined by trouble, and there is plenty of that, but by fulfillment, creativity, the joy of being an artist, the good fortune to be a writer, and the human connections I am  learning how to make. Precious stuff.

P.S. I am a big believer in memes, ideas that are spread electronically through the culture. The media meme, popular right now, is that we are all doomed, going over the cliff, heading for ruin. My meme is that things are going to get better, healthier and more meaningful, despite the pain and trouble. Do your part. Spread the word. Send your signal. Our meme is better than theirs. “Out Of The Shadows” can now be pre-orderd.