The most we can do is to write — intelligently, creatively, evocatively — about what it is like living in the world at this time. — Oliver Sacks
One of the activities I engage in everyday when possible is a walk along the Tomebamba River near my home in Cuenca, Ecuador. During this walking meditation my mind wonders along with that of the river. I love the sound of water. When the river is high, it blocks out the sounds of the city …
Continue reading "Rollo Del Tomebamba XXI — Beauty In Death"
I wanted to sing like Johnny Hartman, paint like Picasso, dance like Mikhail Baryshnikov, and write like Camus, but I did not. I was not given at birth their unique talent to do those things. It might have been their genes or a gift from the gods. I do not know. I know what I …
Who are we, if not measured by our impact on others? That’s who we are! We’re not who we say we are, we’re not who we want to be — we are the sum of the influence and impact that we have, in our lives, on others. — Neil deGrasse Tyson Life is a continuum, …
To be full of strength and vigor one moment and virtually helpless the next, in the pink and pride of health one moment and a cripple the next, with all one’s powers and faculties one moment and without them the next – such a change, such suddenness, is difficult to comprehend, and the mind casts …
Continue reading "I Am Not Me Anymore, At Least I’m Not The Same Me I Was"
I woke up early this morning because the roosters were roostering more and louder than normal. As I do every morning, I looked out my window to see if the mountaintops were clear. This is usually a good indictor of what the weather will be like for the day. This is the place I love …
Why is life worth living? Okay, for me, I would say...well, Groucho Marx, to name one thing, and Willie Mays and the second movement of the Jupiter Symphony and Louis Armstrong's recording of 'Potato Head Blues', and um, Swedish movies, naturally. Sentimental Education by Flaubert, Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, those incredible Apples and Pears by …
One of the activities I engage in everyday when possible is a walk along the Tomebamba River near my home in Cuenca, Ecuador. During this walking meditation my mind wonders along with that of the river. I love the sound of water. When the river is high, it blocks out the sounds of the city …
Continue reading "Rollo Del Tomebamba XXIII — A Dialogue With Life"
If I Were King... With the arrogance of youth, I am determined to do no less than to transform the world with Beauty. If I have succeeded in some small way, if only in one small corner of the world, amongst the men and women I love, then I shall count myself blessed, and blessed, …
Feasting On My Life Sometimes, I need a little help from my friends...and when I do, I often turn to poetry. Another one of my favorite poets is Derek Walcott. I keep a copy of his poem Love After Love in my rainy day box. I am grateful each morning I awaken to this life but …
Acedia There are times when I have not wanted to be of this planet. In truth, I have grown weary with the world, the politics, and the unending changelessness of things. A presidential campaign lasting for more than two years. The power and wealth of the few and the continued suppression of the many. The …
I Am Here! - The Poem There is one other thing to know...when you have expressed yourself to the fullest, then and only then will it dawn upon you that everything has already been expressed, not in words alone but in deed, and that all you need really do is say Amen! — Henry Miller …
Does Life Get Better With Age? This is not something anyone can tell you or if they do, you probably won’t believe them, but I am going to atempt to tell you just the same. I am stubborn that way. In my 20’s, I thought I knew everything, and I did from my perspective as …
The Sum Of My Life We can never know what to want, because, living only one life, we can neither compare it with our previous lives nor perfect it in our lives to come. — Milan Kundera Today, I have been alive on this planet for 26,000days or 624,000 hours. If I am blessed to live …
Life, Death, And Creativity I do not know if creative people have a more difficult life because of the stress of the creative process or we just hear about the tragedy of their lives more often because they are in the public's eye. When I think of creative people like Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Winehouse, Robin …
Life’s Greatest Gift What keeps me alive is found between the images, between the words, between thought, the emptiness of feeling, and in the emptiness of the body...there arises the fullness and significance of life… —Basarab Nicolescu I have received so many gifts, appearing as presents from you. The still, shadowy, vapor filled clouds you …
I woke up early this morning because a procession of church school students were carrying a cross down the road singing hymns in Fijian. I have no idea what the words are but the voices are beautiful island gospel. They are carrying a large cross to their village church seven miles away. It is Good …
A Measured Perspective I did not sleep well the night before and I was in a funk upon awakening. I attributed this unusual occurrence to the full moon and just went about my day. During my morning walk on the beach, I realized today is the day my mom died, one year ago. My body …
Who Am I? I am a philosopher, poet, revolutionary, student, mystic, teacher, listener, father, grandfather, brother, traveler, prophet, husband, son, writer, dreamer, lover, and friend. At different points during this span of life, I have played all of these roles, often times collectively. I grew into all of these parts of me. I walked in …
If You Had Ten Minutes To Live... Who would you call? What would you say? Why aren't you doing it? Most participants in the one day seminar on “Death & Dying” presented by Stephen Levine and Elisabeth Kübler-Ross had instant answers to the first two question. Everyone would call a loved one and say, “I …
Life’s Last Day It is a disarming feeling to know I am going to die. No matter how much I philosophize or write on the subject. No matter how much I know it is an unavoidable end for all of life. I am still somewhat unsettled in his presence. I know a little of life, …
If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation. —Jiddu Krishnamurti
When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses... We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth. — John F. Kennedy
...If one looks long enough at almost anything, looks with absolute attention at a flower, a stone, the bark of a tree, grass, snow, a cloud, something like revelation takes place. — May Sarton
The truest philosophy, is not to long for anything in particular, but to accept everything as it comes, and find out the reason of it coming. — Marie Corelli
The most we can do is to write — intelligently, creatively, evocatively — about what it is like living in the world at this time. — Oliver Sacks
