Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.

- Mary Oliver

Okay. Here is my favourite eclipse photo that I took - you’re going to have to click on it to see the eclipses as it is very tall. I originally wasn’t going to share it because it’s a little too computer generated for me. It’s actually 2 photos, each one made up of 3 bracketed shots, stitched together.

However, as many of the most popular eclipse photos are composites (the CN Tower and Niagara Falls photos where the eclipse didn’t even appear at totality immediately come to mind), I figure at least I can still call mine a photograph.

A welder does some minor repairs on the Chi-Cheemaun today. I love the improvised rain shield.

I wrote a piece for Escarpment Magazine on the Chi-Cheemaun . I haven’t got my hands on a hard copy yet, but the digital version is here. The first photo, that extends across two pages in the magazine, is my favourite. I look forward to seeing it most.

My favourite thing about spring hikes is being reminded how quickly nature returns.

There are a lot of “C” words that are connected to being a good teacher (and maybe a good human being?) - compassion, courage, cooperation, community. But the most important, in my opinion, is curiosity.

Holding on to your curiosity in the face of the many forces, including school, that try to program it out of us is no mean feat. And, perhaps, it is the root of many of the other “C” words mentioned above.

Curiosity is both humbling and awe-inspiring. And, like so many things, it is paradoxical in nature.

Tom Lutz, in a piece I listened to yesterday, describes it this way:

“This is the paradoxical nature of a literary education - we read because we don’t know and what we learn is that there is much more that we don’t know than we had guessed. The unknowable points at a real emotion and committed readers get hooked on this feeling. It is a legitimate emotion. In part because, no matter how much we know, the world remains a foreign thing and as such a ‘marvel to the spirit.’ Reading is a sure-fire means of encountering that marvellous unknown. And the more difficult the text…the more certain it is that we will be rewarded with the vastness of our unknowing.” 

“Knowing” is limiting (another paradox?). Especially in a world where so much of what we “knew” has been uprooted. But rather than being afraid of this unknown, as many suggest, get curious. 

The Abyss of Possibility Awaits.

I did some things I don’t normally do on Saturday night. I ventured out on my own. To an all vinyl dance night. The DJ’s were two former students. I was likely the oldest person there. And I danced. And I sat. And I watched the psychedelic light show. And I didn’t really talk to many people…by choice:). But the few interactions I did have were highly enjoyable. I stayed fairly late. I had a really good time.  And I took some photos.

Yesterday was a tough day around our place. For over 20 years, we were lucky to have the run of the acreage next to us. Last year it was sold and yesterday the new owners started the building process by clearing the forest. We understand why they have to do it, but it was still hard to see so many old, majestic trees whose company we’ve enjoyed come down.

Of course, there was also the feeling that we were losing some privacy and shelter from the world around us as we can now see our neighbours if we try hard enough.

However, this was also a good lesson for me, as my daily sit included this reflection from Sam Harris on negative visualization (I am paraphrasing):

Identify your lowest moment in the day and reflect on how much worse things could be. And consider all the people who would think their prayers were answered if they could change places with you.

So, I did this. And I imagined having a conversation with them. And thought that after I had explained what was happening yesterday, they would probably respond with some of the following:

- “You have acreage?”

- “You have a house?”

- “You have privacy?”

- “You have trees?”

“We are so lucky to get another day to live on this earth. Enjoy it!”

I couldn’t resist pulling over and getting this shot as I headed for Cobble beach early yesterday morning.

I’m going to start adding some of my writing to my posts occasionally, as it’s really all good noise. And it’s what I do. Below is my first.Wednesday Wisdom.

If you feel down about the state of the world or depressed because life isn’t fair, rather than following the same old patterns or blaming people or things beyond your control, try something different. Go for a walk, sit quietly for 10 minutes, soak up the sun, read, join a group, start a group, make something… the options are endless.

Because, as my mom always told me (and something it’s taken me a long time to understand) - “you can’t change the world, but you can change yourself.”