The Miracle of A Single Flower

"Teach us
delight
in
simple things."
~Rudyard Kipling

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change." ~ "Buddha's Little Instruction Book"

photo by Patty Ann Smith Posted by Hello

An Ongoing Project: "Creating An Atmosphere For Healing"



photo by Craig Smith Posted by Hello

A Philosophy For The Relief Of Suffering



~ have faith

~ pay attention to nature

~ take only what you need

~ find a need and fill it

~ realize that "Judging others is a spiritual error." (Dr. Caroline Myss quote)

~ and that tranquility, peace and serenity comes from right action

photo by Craig Smith Posted by Hello

A Culture of Peace and Non-Violence

I found this in one of my files I hadn't looked at in a while and it is still as beautiful to me today as it was 5 years ago when I first read it at http://www.unesco.org and since we are not doing too well with this goal, we sometimes need to remind ourselves that it has not stopped being a goal.

"Manifesto 2000 for a culture of Peace and Non-violence

Because the year 2000 must be a new beginning, an opportunity to transform - all together - the culture of war and violence into a culture of peace and non-violence.

Because this transformation demands the participation of each and every one of us, and must offer young people and future generations the values that can inspire them to shape a world based on justice, solidarity, liberty, dignity, harmony and prosperity for all.

Because the culture of peace can underpin sustainable development, environmental protection and the well-being of each person.

Because I am aware of my share of responsibility for the future of humanity, in particular to the children of today and tomorrow.

I pledge in my daily life, in my family life, my work, my community, my country and my region, to:

Respect the life and dignity of each human being without discrimination or prejudice;

Practice active non-violence, rejecting violence in all its forms: physical, sexual, psychological, economical and social, in particular towards the most deprived and vulnerable such as children and adolescents;

Share my time and material resources in a spirit of generosity to put an end to exclusion, injustice and political and economic oppression;

Defend freedom of expression and cultural diversity, giving preference always to dialogue and listening without engaging in fanaticism, defamation and the rejection of others;

Promote consumer behavior that is responsible and development practices that respect all forms of life and preserve the balance of nature on the planet;

Contribute to the development of my community with the full participation of women and respect for democratic principles, in order to create together new forms of solidarity;

Peace Is In Our Hands

2001-2010 International Decade
For A Culture Of Peace And Non-Violence
For The Children Of The World " http://www.unesco.org

What can I tell you.....I believe I have more of a chance to make a difference for peace in the world than I do of having enough money to buy an enchanting "villa in Tuscany"! :)

Farm Aid


photo by Craig Smith Posted by Hello

"Together, we can restore America's farm-centered agriculture that ensures safe, healthful food, protects natural resources and strengthens local economies." ~ Farm Aid

Farmers work all year long to grow our food, and summer is a great time to support our local family farms. Talk to farmers at farm stands and farmers' markets. Visit a local farm where you live. And, you will feel an immediate kinship between the farmer and yourself because they provide the food you eat.

If you'd like to learn more about what you can do to help family farmers, visit: http://www.farmaid.org

photo by Patty Ann Smith Posted by Hello

How We Handle Our Illnesses...Makes All The Difference



One of my daughters is going through a very rough time with Bipolar/Manic Depression right now. For those of you who are dealing with some of the devastating affects of a loved one with this illness, you know what it's like. And for those of you who are just in the beginning stages of awareness, here are some very nice websites to start with that can really help:

http://www.nmha.org

http://www.dbsalliance.org

and http://www.bipolarhappens.com

I love the sub-heading of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: "We've Been There. We Can Help." Their lovely Mission is: "To improve the lives of people living with mood disorders."

With any illness, we all have two basic choices: either to "accept it" or "deny" it. And, the one you choose makes "all" the difference in the quality of your own life and the lives of those who love you.

"As long as the earth can create spring, I can create spring.
As long as the earth won't give up, I won't give up.
I'm confident that you're not going to give up either.
And I'm confident that because you won't give up,
you won't miss life's beauty."

~ Alice Walker

Musicians Help To Heal The World


Patty Ann Smith Posted by Hello

Craig took a picture of me in our music studio, working on our upcoming CD!

Free "Live 8" Concerts...Coming In July


Recently, Rock Musician Bob Geldof announced plans for free concerts in five separate locations around the world on July 2 (London, Paris, Berlin, Rome and Philadelphia) to make a powerful statement to the leaders of industrialized nations to end world poverty. The G8 world leaders meet in Scotland on July 8 to discuss world problems. These "Live 8" concerts are scheduled "to tilt the world a little bit on its axis in favor of the poor"(Geldof said). Everyone involved and everyone who shows up will be helping to "Make Poverty History".

On stage at one place or another will be Paul McCartney, U2, Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder and MANY MORE.

To find out more about what you can do, visit these sites:

http://www.live8live.com
http://www.makepovertyhistory.org
http://www.thehungersite.com
http://www.mercycorp.org

photo by Craig Smith Posted by Hello

Me and You and The Flowers and Stars



"...My joy is like the spring,
so warm it makes flowers bloom in all walks of life.
My pain is like a river of tears,
so full it fills up the four oceans..."

~ Thich Nhat Hanh


"The stars above us
are a priceless heritage
not only for scientific knowledge,
but also for our identity
as human beings."

~ D. Crawford
"...the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save."

~ Mary Oliver

Yin and Yang


photo by Craig Smith Posted by Hello

Balancing and Blending With Each Other Is Essential To Maintaining The Greater Whole

Yin and yang, male and female, sun and moon, night and day, hot and cold, north and south, east and west,...neither can exist without the other. They are all pairs of opposites that are dependent on each other in order to maintain balance.

The Ancient Chinese observed the sky and discovered that every day the universe is in a continual process of change. It's easy for us to understand that the sun, moon and universe change with ease but it is not so easy at all for us to apply those principles to our own lives in the Western World that we live in. Even though this is the most natural occurrence in the process of life/in every living thing...many of us do not allow this life affirming ease and freedom of movement to be a significant and qualitative part of our own lives. And, by not accepting the balancing and blending of opposites in our lives, each of us in our own way eventually comes to a crossroad where our own mental and/or physical health is impaired because of it. Yin and yang are opposites that cyclicly unfold and evolve together. They cannot exist without both parts. Everything in the world is in relationship to something else and is intended to create some sort of balance with each other...and oftentimes, harmony as well.

Balance and Continual Change ~ is the secret to Peace.

~ Patty Ann Smith

Copper Woman


photo by Craig Smith Posted by Hello


"She has been abused and neglected.
Yet she is loving and caring.
She has had to overcome seemingly unsurmountable odds,
and she has been brave and strong.
She not only cares for her own but for others as well.
And, she shines a light that is unmistakably born
from her own pain and suffering.
She is Love.
She is Wisdom.
She is every woman who has ever suffered at the hands of injustice, and
"she" could be my mother or yours, she may be you or me,
she might be your daughter or mine..." ~ Patty Ann Smith
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