@Vozy Good morning brother!

@ACG2 good morning!

@MLClark Oh It's been anything but quiet. I'm in Richmond and helping a buddy recover from Cervical Spinal Stensosis surgery.

It's been... intense. They have been in a lot of pain, and I've been doing what I can to help, but its been taking up virtually every bit of time I have.

I've been holding on to the foundational elements of my routine by my claw tips. Daily meditation, Daily workouts. I had to cut my workout Wednesday but I've hit it hard the last few days

I should be home mid August

The last few days have been intense but save for Wednesday I was able to get to the gym. I hit it hard yesterday and again today! Here are my numbers! I’m seeing improvements!

#run #workout

@wolfwoman @LiseL That is a joyful sculpture! Oodles of rad!

THank you for thinking of me. I think of you often, you're a true buddy and the grooviest of souls.

@Vozy she finally slept and so did I. Her parents are down to visit.

@amarand exactly. Present moment perfect moment. No matter the moment.

Goodness, it's been a hard day already. Seeing people in constant pain can be tough on the spirit.

My line of reasoning gets stopped cold when I hit things like World War Two, where it absolutley had to be stopped, but I think about how WW2 was caused by WW1, and the desire for revenge worked into the treaty of Versailles.

Conditions have to be ripe for tyrants to rise, and so long as we continue the same patterns, the same results will arise.

And if it saves lives and changes hearts, isnt that better? If the change is more impactful and long lasting isn't that better?

As much as violence seems a quicker solution with our history of wars and what not, we can see the damage of that violence stretching out over generations of damage, not just from those that participated.

Compassion and the endurance of suffering isn't "sexy" nor is it cut and dry. It's a process, like erosion. It's a wearing down and a process of endurance, but it can and does change the world every day.

The willingness to show up and sacrifice for the betterment of one soul can change the whole world.

It's often a hard and costly road. It's what caused Thich Nhat Hanh to be exiled from his country, and it saw MLK Jr and a cadre of protesters beat savagely on Bloody Sunday on a bridge in Selma.

But through their endurance of their suffering, their refusal to rise in hatred and martial violence, did they turn things around

The incident on the Selma bridge led to the passage of civil rights acts. Hanh founded a global network that now includes his home country that is changing the world today

I've noticed lately I've been using King's speech at Wesleyan University on soul force a lot lately.

It's a prescient idea. As I reflect on this, I think it's because we make much in Western culture of the martial idea. The hero valiantly rising to beat down the bad guy.

People that don't fight are often seen as meek, or the support, but there is another way to push against the dark... Compassion.

Service is the path. This is what I am for, but after almost six months of being on, I am looking towards August with the hope of taking time for myself and recovering for a while, seeing to my own routines.

I still need to get Farthest Star out, and get back to writing. My hope is that after this initial week or two of hard recovery, she will settle and improve.

That was always the plan. I hate seeing her suffer knowing there is nothing I can do but provide palliative care.

This has been one of my more intensive "Missions" of the last few years. Every time I think things are going to slow down into a regular routine and flow, errands must be run, or things take a turn.

Her pain has been a monster to manage, and its been a struggle each day.

It's very hard to get consistent time to focus on anything outside of care. I never know how long there is going to be between requests/needs.

This is not a complaint, just me outlining my current reality.

Good morning groovy souls!

I am not heading to the gym this morning. The buddy I'm helping recover is having a terrible time. They haven't slept much at all in the last 2 days because there pain is so high. This is causing their function to degrade.

We have an emergency appointment today at 10 with their pain management specialist, and I'm hoping they'll be able to fall asleep after with some new meds which might let me catch up at the gym

The tree that does not bend, breaks in the wind!

The saying "We do not get to choose our time" has been coming up a lot in my recollection lately.

It's easy to feel powerless in the face of national decrees, and movements, but freedom is something we hold in each of our hearts with every choice we make.

It has been said that dissent is the highest form of patriotism. Dissent, ultimately, is an individual choosing their own path, come what may.

To quote King :

Hello Groovy souls! Good morning!

There's storm clouds out there on the horizon. I am feeling deeply concerned for the future of my country today, but while I hear the thunder, the storm may still yet miss us.

I am resolved to do what I can, and face the future with mindfulness and compassion.

The dawn always comes. Despair is a trap.

@Lindy @singlemaltgirl I fell asleep. I'm sorry buddy.