Breathing easier right here
as wildfires across the west
are being put out
& smoke clears across my skies.
Record August heat
& now cooler evenings
offer body & mind comfort, locally
as dog daze of summer.
But, elsewhere people,
animals, plants & earth
violently uprooted by nature’s
undiscriminating forces.
Wishing comfort, assistance,
food, shelter & medicine
for those effected by tornadoes,
earthquakes, fires, floods,
worldwide.
May we all help each other
near and far,
as best as we can.
There is no calamity greater than lavish desires.
There is no greater guilt than discontentment.
And there is not greater disaster than greed ~Lao-Tzu
smilecalm 
Wonderful poem, dear David! 🙂
smiling to your kind,
compassionate words, Maria 🙂
🙂
I was in the Shasta-Trinities last week, and got smoked out. Whew, can I relate. And now a friend lives in Naples, FLA.
thank you for sharing your
1st hand experience, Tom!
i’m glad you’re breathing
easier and cleaner, now.
wishing your friend safety 🙂
may Irma
and Jose
be peaceful
thank you, Tippy
for your compassionate
wish! the picture i’ve seen
from space are incredible.
Thank you for this compassionate post, David. We are in Pennsylvania but are very concerned for the wellbeing of our condo and car (in the garage) in east Naples. The storm shutters are up and its a concrete structure with tile roof. Thankfully most of our friends and neighbors have evacuated. The others are stubbornly staying put. May all beings be safe and free from harm! The rest is just stuff.
so happy that your precious self
is out of hurricane’s path, Sunny!
a long time ago i visited Florida.
I’m happy many have gone to higher ground
and hope buildings and stuff stay put
and as dry as possible 🙂
Thank you, precious friend! I read this today on the Florida Community of Mindfulness email in SW Florida https://www.floridamindfulness.org/
“In closing please remember the Three Fierce Mantras of Tsangpa Gyare:
1. Whatever has to happen, let it happen.
2. Whatever the situation is, it is fine.
3. I really don’t need anything to be happy.”
Love,
Sunny
thank you for sharing
this beautiful mantra!
for clarity, i’d add
the usefulness
of dry socks &
of a credit card 🙂
As always smilecalm, your energy is in the heart of things 💖 . Thank you.
smiling to your clean,
kind way of being, sasokisoaps Sarah 🙂
The dog days are not going out without a fight it seems. May we have a peaceful Autumn
thank you for your doggie insight, JC!
wishing you and the other SE doggies
a warm, safe shelter from the storm 🙂
i love dogs…smiling back David…beautiful colours too…have a happy day ~ hedy 😀
the doggies smile
back to you
from their relaxed,
reclined meditation 🙂
They do have to relax and do yoga poses 🤓😀
Fantastic pictures! Love ginger dogs 🙂
thank you, dear inese!
the giant king charles spaniels
send love to you, roofe, rufe 🙂
Ah sweet dog 🙂 They are beautiful.
Beautiful photos and prose, David. Love the dogs. Having recently moved from Florida, we are praying hard for family, friends, and everyone in Irma’s path. We’re praying for nothing more than high winds in our Georgia home. We shall see. Also keeping prayers going for all of the calamities happening — floods, fires, earthquakes, hurricanes.
i’m grateful for your kind words and personal reflection, dear Linda! I had a pleasant holiday in Florida decades ago. Thank you for bringing the place, people and other beings there into clearer view. wishing y’all near the storm
safety, connection and spare batteries for the transistor radio.
so many “natural disasters” at once. this cartoon seems relevant to me 🙂
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2017/09/08/messaging-at-the-white-house-reaches-biblical-proportions/?utm_term=.557dc926f43e
Thank God and Mother Earth for the change of seasons. I’m so glad the fires are being put out and appreciate your thoughts for those in danger. That quote by Lao-Tzu is a good one. I think lavish desires and greed have contributed much to the calamities of the world.
thank you for your calm, kind nature, dear JoAnna,
and helping put out life’s
literal & figurative fires 🙂
I am honored. Thank you, David for your consistently encouraging words. 🙂
May your dog daze be filled with clear, sunny skies. 🙂
looking up
i see they’ve
just become clearer 🙂
Super cute dogs, David! Dogs rock! Dogs are family! 🙂
We donated to the Red Cross regarding Harvey and now will be donating again regarding Irma. We sure need to do better, as a species, regarding the environment. Big Oil, Pharmaceuticals, and Big Industry have too much unreined control.
thank you for your kind words, Tom
and generous contribution towards
the well=being of others.
yes, to controlling those corporations
who now claim to be people 🙂
Mother Nature is certainly revealing around the world the consequences of not giving back. We simply cannot continue to take from this gift of abundance. Beautiful reminder David. Glad the skies have cleared for you and your furry friends. ☀️
smiling to your insight & kindness, Karen!
the skies are pleasant after another warm day.
may your sky be vast, clear & full
of potential 🙂
Clever . . . . the dogs seem pasted into the scene. How did you do that?
Since I do not pray for anything, I always appreciate your expansive views and the comments you receive.
thanks, dear susan!
the doggies didn’t seem
to mind being photoshopped
into the field, beach or street!
as long as they were compensated
with a few doggy bones!
may all find shelter from the storm 🙂
Smoke has cleared here too, replaced by the relief of actual rain clouds. Thoughts are with those in Florida though, as Irma closes in…and all those in Texas who are still suffering. And so many other disasters around the world.
Thank you for your gentle, caring words, and your wonderful good humor. (Oh, and i enjoyed the doggy photos. 🙂 🐕 )
I’m happy to hear you can breathe
cleaner and more relaxed, Betty!
May all be safe and have adequate shelter
from the storms, and
rest soundly like the doggies
in their beds 🙂
I, too, live in the Pacific NW and understand your thoughtful writing. Your lovely message of helping each other is so important; especially in the midst of storms. 😘
thank you, dear poet for your thoughtful understanding. i’ve distant memories of hiking in beautiful places in Oregon & Washington that are now burned. Truly sad. Having been helped, I can appreciate the value of feeling connected, especially in times of real need. 🙂
To those who truly wish to learn everything is a lesson.
i’m working my towards
that level of openness, dear Ben!
may it be so for us
collectively 🙂
May it be so.
A reminder if needed of the crazy weathers and calamities affecting so many…I am glad you are safe now, David and my thoughts are with all those affected by the hurricanes. There have been so many wonderful tales of people helping each other and really it is the only way to cope and at times survive. Finally, I’m so taken with your first photo…so atmospheric, gorgeous dogs and wonderful ethereal lighting.
thank you for your caring, Annika! So many in need of help and finding consolation in knowing others are there for them.
the doggies are wagging at your nice complement, even though they were photoshopped in 🙂
David, when we lose all our possessions to the fires, floods, and raging winds, all we have left are each other. To get up back again, we need one another.
smiling to your insightfully recognizing the storm’s
silver lining, dear Rosaliene!
may all experience to supportive
presence of others 🙂
Such lovely photos of your dogs, David, and important reflections about the need to help each other during these challenging times.
i’m happy to receive this message
from one who knows the art
of helping others!
the doggies thank
you, also, Carol 🙂
Well presented wonderful message.
makes me happy
that you find it so,
dear Maverick 🙂
hello smilecalm its dennis the vizsla dog hay dog days ar the best days if yoo ask me!!! and if peepul wer mor like dogs then evry day wood be a dog day and we wood all be better off!!! ok bye
dennis the vizsla haz da rite vew! dennis fer prezident or emperor
of planet of da dogz 🙂
I pray that things die down and get better. Lovely poem you wrote🙂
smiling to your empathy
and kindness 🙂
I feel more calm after reading you!
smiling that it offered
some calmness, dear Lara/Trace 🙂
You make me smile happy!
great 🙂
Hard times but we’ll make it through, and maybe become more caring.
thank you, Michele
for offering ease
for yourself & others
in these dog daze 🙂
smiling that it offered
some calm, dear Lara/Trace 🙂 dennis fer prezident or emperor butterfly
of major planet of da dogz 🙂
Your dog daze photos and words of wisdom, with the beauty of Lao-Tzu’s quote were gentle and lovely, David. It’s a fiery earth in some places, and terrifyingly spinning in other places, best we all just help each other.
smiling to your supportive words
and gentle visit, dear Jet 🙂
Beautiful and kind words put together. Thank you for sharing. The doggies are adorable 🙂
“Now who’s put that ‘dog on leash’ sign here?”, thought he. 🙂
not inclined to read signs,
the dog smiles & keeps walking 🙂
I am late arriving here as per usual dear David.. And yes so much calamity around the world.. And I whole halfheartedly echo these words of yours
” Wishing comfort, assistance,
food, shelter & medicine
for those effected by tornadoes,
earthquakes, fires, floods,
worldwide.”..
They are indeed in my thoughts, as are many around our world that are suffering right now..
Loved your photos.. And sending much love, and Blessings to you and yours David..
Take care..
Sue 🙂
Thank you for just arriving
at the right time, Sue!
Even though our wordpress orbits
have seemingly different timings
I know that you are a bright star
lighting up a part of the universe
in need of light.
Sending a smile as I again circle
the wp galaxy 🙂
Big smiles David.. And you always brighten my world when you orbit WP.. Thank you 🙂
Oh those dog days
Wishing natural forces
To turn around
And disappear
yes, it is
our collective
hope 🙂