opened up

washington state, originally uploaded by McBeth.

We all experience many freakish and unexpected events - you have to be open to suffering a little. The philosopher Schopenhauer talked about how out of the randomness, there is an apparent intention in the fate of an individual that can be glimpsed later on. When you are an old guy, you can look back, and maybe this rambling life has some through-line. Others can see it better sometimes. But when you glimpse it yourself, you see it more clearly than anyone.

-- Viggo Mortensen

inflate your life raft

persimmon's art, originally uploaded by McBeth.

I don't understand people who like to work and talk about it like it was some sort of goddamn duty. Doing nothing feels like floating on warm water to me. Delightful, perfect.

-- Ava Gardner

Mister Owl, how many licks does it take?

three tomatoes, originally uploaded by McBeth.

Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.

-- Buddha

wide open

blue sky barney, originally uploaded by McBeth.

The greatest religious problem today is how to be both a mystic and a militant; in other words how to combine the search for an expansion of inner awareness with effective social action, and how to feel one's true identity in both.

-- Ursula K Leguin