Well, we do need something, don't we? Earthquakes/tsunamis/reactor malfunctions/radiation leaks/civil wars/revolutions/government shutdown. Holy cow. I guess it makes last year's Haiti earthquake almost pale in comparison. Almost.
I find my good news where I can. And when I can. Dreary, rainy weather for the last week is having a noticeable effect on lawns. Greener by the day. Tulips, irises and more are sticking their shoots above ground, reaching for the sun. Trees are budding. First the small, almost unnoticed growth. Then, getting larger and more colorful until they burst out in an explosion of color. An explosion of beauty that is all too short lived.
More birds, and different kinds of birds are noticeable by the day, too - if you're watching. Soon the trillium will be blooming in the hardwood forest areas. They will give way to the other wildflowers. One of my favorites is the imported ornamental 'Dames's Rocket'. It will grow to almost 4 ft tall and has a beautiful fragrance. You'll find it in moist woodands, open meadows and thriving along roadsides. It comes in shades of white and pink and purple. Yes, it is an invasive species, but one that I tolerate easily. The sight of a patch of it growing, and the scent as I drive by with my windows rolled down never fails to lift my spirits.
The Tigers had their Home Opener today and beat Kansas City 5-2. Go Tigers!
The Detrot Syphony Orchestra (DSO) strike has been settled (officially as of about 40 minutes ago) and free concerts at Orchestra Hall this weekend are going to be a full house! It always amazed - and yet disturbed me - that a relatively small and beautiful venue like that could not sell out for every performance. It really is 'pure' music. And so masterfully performed and conducted. It has been a very strange year without our monthly fall and winter journeys to hear the DSO.
I've also been privileged to participate in some great community activities, one of which was the recent Brighton Optimist Spring Beak Fun Day. A totally free day for kids in the grades K-4, filled with a variety of activities and even the proverbial 'free lunch'. Watching the 170 or so children exerience crafts, karate, swimming, kayaking, face painting - even a small scale version of 'Minute To Win It' - made me smile deeply.
If you're searching for a positive way to spend some time, start looking at your local community groups. We're all busy and we all have a lot of reasons to not participate, but I have to tell you that your time spent on activities like this pay huge dividends in your mental state, your outlook on life and in your sense of value and fulfillment. It's a beautiful thing to give back to the kids in your community without a thought of what you'll get in return. If nothing else, they got a chance to interact with other kids and do things that didn't involve keyboards and video screens.
Nothing stays the same forever, and there is still much to be thankful for in our lives. If you're getting down about world or local events, cut your news time to 20 minutes a day. You can't do anything about those big news events anyway. Find something in which you can make a difference and get out and do it.
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