Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “life lessons”
Recently as I walked the Alamosa levee in sight of a long stretch of snowy Sangre de Cristo peaks––just north of where Mount Blanca towers over the southern part of our valley––a recent writing prompt came to mind: “What gives your life meaning?” For the past week I’ve been rolling this question over in my mind, each time finding something new to add to my mental list. On this morning, as with most, I started my walk with the mountains straight up in my view, and I prayed for our …
Finding tools to strengthen mental health and then practicing using them can contribute to a better life.
Walking in single digit temperatures by the Rio Grande River and later beside Blanca Vista Lake, I hear thumping, knocking, and the rumble of water beneath the ice. I become still and close my eyes, waiting and listening as the morning sun warms my back. Recently I was reminded of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words, “The earth laughs in flowers.” I say the earth speaks in the groans of water coated in layers of ice. The winter chatter of the river and lake are as beautiful to me as …
Finding Ernest wasn’t likely, but it was worth spreading the word with every Navaho I encountered while visiting Chinle, Arizona and Canyon de Chelly. News travels at its own pace on the reservation, and I hoped someone would tell him I was looking for him. “Used to be a hiking guide down in the canyon. Played a flute.” Without a word the motel clerk shook his head, as did the server in the motel cafeteria and a motel cleaning woman. Two Navajos I saw hiking the next day squinted their …
Eight degrees in Alamosa is not that cold in the context of San Luis Valley winters. Our first winter here it got down to forty below, and our new Texas neighbors behind us noisily packed up and moved in the middle of that frosty night. But eight degrees in the wee morning hours felt plenty chilly as I stood in our backyard, clad in my robe and furry slippers, watching our newest adopted dog watch me. “C’mon, Ruffi. Do your business already.” Ruffino looked at me, then at the top …
Townsend Warbler (photo by John Rawinski) Last Friday I went birding with the experts, John Rawinski and others. John wrote a book on birding in the San Luis Valley that I will soon own. He recognizes every feathered creature in this area, and during the approximately seven hours we birded, eleven of us tallied around 90 species. (I maybe saw 70 of those, one being the Townsend Warbler above.) It was exhilarating, if you like birding, to be out on a pristine fall day, soft breezes on the edges of …
Today’s my birthday. Bill has planned two of my favorites: his homemade chili rellenos, and he ordered a lemon meringue pie from the Amish bakery. Our close friend and former neighbor from Denver, Kathy Jones, is here. Tonight we’ll toast as we cast our gazes across the San Luis Valley and watch the first stars pop out, and I’ll make a wish similar to #66 on the list below. Last night, Carolyn, a close friend of 51 years, was here, and I asked her and Bill if I could read …
