This waterfall has been dry since spring. But we had about 5 inches of snow melt in a powerful rainstorm. I had a feeling that might have got it going and I was right. We’re so fortunate to have beautiful nature close to home.
From My Journal
Eclipse in a Dish
The Path of Small Achievements
I wrote yesterday about enjoying each small success with Tao of Thoreau: each book I sell, the pocket change I earn per edition.
I am developing a philosophy that goes with this: the path of small achievements.
About 5 years ago I decided to start going to poetry open mics. It was so much fun! I got to read my work and get applause, sometimes even hooting (my wife always counts the hoots).
Continue readingReality > Dreams
Ever since I was 12, I saw myself as a writer. Not just any writer, but one destined for fame, fortune and awards.
Well, those sure were impressive dreams. Sadly, my reality hasn’t quite measured up.
It turns out I like my reality better than those dreams. When I refresh the statistics on my Amazon dashboard, I get excited every time I sell a book. So, this morning when I saw this:
It made me happy.
Some days I don’t sell any. Some days I only sell one. Others, I sell a few. Recently I refreshed and the number jumped from 1 to 13! I literally couldn’t believe my eyes. I was so excited.
Forty-seven cents is not drop the mic money, obviously. I intentionally left the price point low. My goal is not the fortune of profit, but the profit that I hope my readers take from the wisdom of Tao of Thoreau. The thought that people I don’t know are reading my book is so much better than my fantasies of fame. These are real people, and real readers. Somehow, that seems bigger than my gigantic imaginings.
A nice memory from my journal
Plump Robin
Christmas Tree
Had a wonderful time decorating with Patty. I haven’t always been in the right spirits doing these things, so I made sure my head was on straight. I put on some Christmas music as we put on the ornaments, and we had a lot of fun!
Subtle Part of the Forest
In his story, My student wrote: “our parents decided to move to a more suttle part of the forest.” Yes, he misspelled the word. And he was misusing it even if he spelled it right. But I'm not taking points off. Because now I want to move To a more subtle part of the forest. A place off the path, But just off the path, A place that everyone passes But not everyone sees. A clearing bounded by pine needles and leaves. Within, giving loamy earth. The air is the mingling scents of green. Sun light rays down Defining trees Giving them their shadows. Forest dust shapes the sun shafts that shooting-star bugs plunge through.
Walking around without glasses
Every once in a while I would ask my wife to look at something, and she’d say “Wait, let me get my glasses.” After a while I realized she frequently walked around without contacts or glasses. I would always question her, not understanding why she would want to walk around “blind”.
Then, one day, I found myself doing it. And you know what: I liked it. My eyes felt relaxed, and I wasn’t straining to see anything. After all, the blurry world is my actual world.
Now my only problem is I’ve started leaving my glasses in random places around my house. If you see them, please let me know where they are.
Mark Bozeman 