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smiling YES

Thursday June 18, 2015


Life is fair.

Do you believe that?

I’ve had smiling YES moments and moments of shouting ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Most of my experience is with middle-ground, not at neither extreme, moving along – navigating pylons, fears, uncertainty, doubts – like most everyone …

Most of us are fortunate folks who live outside the 3rd world,  away from conflict zones, away from horrific dangers. Not by choice. By choices our parents or grandparents gave us when they ventured far outside their comfort zones for life in a new land – for opportunity, freedom and better life.

Life has never been about fair.

I’ve been on both sides of that argument.

Happiness in life has little to do with fairness.

Happiness is this gift we give ourselves, and others, when we try.

I’m trying.

What about you, are you spreading some around?


Mark Kolke

column written/ published from Calgary, AB

morning walk:  10C/50F, overcast skies with afternoon-thunderstorms on their mind, everything is soooo green – amazing what a good soaking yesterday’s rain provided – Gusta’s belly is a soggy matted mess but she doesn’t seem to mind …


Reader feedback:

FEELS BETTER

Hi, Mark, Do not know how many mornings there, the first thing for me is to search / look for Peace of Mind among  your words, especially, when my "day" is gloomy like today. You have every reason to feel better; your life is certainly valued by valuing others' every day. Best Regards & Thank you very much, JH, Calgary, AB

Thank you – you seemed to really to hit the nail on the head today.  Like it’s in the “air”… Our family lost our Baba in November 2014 (my husband’s mother); the family Matriarch if you will.  The healing continues, but it is getting better as days go by, some harder than others – no doubt. And losing her has drastically changed many perspectives in the family on everything you’ve mentioned on priorities and rethinking… Thanks, your writings are thought provoking and very familiar at the same time. Have an awesome day!!, CP, Westlock, AB 

WHY NOT ME

Wednesday, June 17th was a harvest day for me.  Two years ago we decided to move toward self-sufficiency in the area of food; at least produce, for now.  Our second garden was dedicated to experimentation with what would grow in deep southeast Texas where there is about a 50/50 split between sand and a semblance of dirt.  Today we dug up the red potatoes and they are a repeat for next year with a slight change to mostly hay.  Picked our first green beans of the season and they are a definite repeat.  Pickled my first batch of cucumbers; they did fairly well last year and are doing better this year.  Tomatoes abound and we will ALWAYS plant tomatoes.  You just can't get that fresh off the vine flavor from a supermarket.  We will probably not repeat yellow squash as we can't seem to get a packet of seeds that has both male and female; we end up with all male flowers.  Why am I sharing all of this?  To say that if you simply take those first steps, you can reach goals that seem impossible at first.  GW, Bon Wier, Tx.


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