Daily Reminder #14

Trying to say something vaguely sage every day is really HARD. Therefore, today I am going to cheat and post a section from one of the most beautiful and profound books ever written: Kahlil Gibran's THE PROPHET. Awesome book. Never fails to move and inspire and touch and challenge me. I typed out a different passage but decided I'd rather use this one on Joy and Sorrow. Today's photos are from past years.... Kitties and a Groundhog because my friend E - for whom these posts are intended - is very fond of both.

Then a woman said, Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes fillled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one is alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his sliver, needs must your joy or sorrow rise or fall.

Some things I'm grateful for today:

• The garbage man
• Kahlil Gibran and The Prophet
• words and language
• my cane
• cedarific cat litter