I write as a mother, wife, woman, Australian,
Christo-Catholic, Zen Taoist, seeker of beauty,
worker for peace, teacher, idealist, beachcomber
and curious wanderer.

My winter walk today was extra poignant
as I face an operation tomorrow and i have a sense of vulnerability
going through a general anaesethic and the risks involved at my age.

I especially enjoyed the crunch of the autumn leaves under foot
the crispy crunch of the maples
the sleeky softer crinch of the elms
and then  silence underfoot once in the bush
where footfall is absorbed by soft mulshy leaves
as if I am not there
making it easier to disappear into the environment.

I found the beauty of the light overwhelmingly stunning,
the tickling sound of the creek,
the birdsong and scratch of the bush turkey.

I observed and marvelled at the beauty of nature around me.

I especially loved the tiny toadstools growing out of the mossy trunk
and sighting young orchids growing from the tree trunk.

 
And I am very gratiful that I could walk into the bush
and that I have my special pocket of bush for escape.

The poet Lucille Clifton’s says: 

“I choose joy because I am capable of it, and there are those who are not.” 

Life is challenging.

Many of us couldn’t wait to see the end of 2024 

and I like others were longing for a new start.

Yet on New Years Day  I spent time with my diary and was able to write

some memory to be grateful for, in every month.

Sometimes I think we forget the gifts and blessings and graces that come our way.

Of course  for our future, there are deep concerns.

Our environment, forests, trees, rivers, oceans, desert, lakes, all are suffering:

fresh air, clean drinking water, good soil and seed are essential for life

to continue on the earth and they are all at risk.

Our animals, birds, bees, Christmas beetles and many other species are threatened. As I suggest in my recent haiku:

billabong
song of frogs
gone silent

CK

my garden
beetles, bees and bandicoots
missing

CK

And yes, the grandchildren growing up so excitedly to face their world  gives me deep joy,  

but I realise the warring world that they will be contending with is  struggling to find a way to peace. 

There are so many positive signs of people claiming peace but the petro- war and weapons machine is powerful.

Which is why we can’t give up or give in to despair.

We can feel it, but we can’t let it paralyse us.

 I also think often of Gandhi’s words: 

“Anything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.”  

And, while I’m on a roll quoting, Marcel Proust says: 

“The purpose of the artist is to draw back the veil that leaves us indifferent before the universe.” 

There is no room for indifference anymore  Indifference is complicity in allowing inhumanity and if one person is treated inhumanely we are all in trouble.

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