‘MOTHER NATURE’ that is! Are the two of you on good terms? Do you tell her how much you appreciate her and her unconditional love and generosity? How is she feeling? Is she in good health? These are important questions that need to be addressed and discussed among all of her children - the collective US! - Mother Nature with her consistent blessings is always taking care of us but do we return the favor?

Our culture, with all the machines and technology, makes it very easy for us to become disconnected - once we cut the cord between ourselves and nature all hell breaks loose - it’s obvious that many start to take earth’s provisions for granted and some of us end up having absolutely no regard for her at all.  The results of this disregard have been devastating - pollution is everywhere - you can see the smog in the air, landfills are now an accepted part of our landscape, and our oceans, rivers, lakes, streams and underground springs are victims as well.

Before the invention of the combustible engine the large majority of the earth’s human inhabitants were hunters, fisherman, farmers, and gatherers. The dynamic of the relationship between humans and nature created a very strong bond, deep respect, and an overall appreciation for the earth and the abundant bounty she provides. If there once was a connection or respect for nature it was lost somewhere during the last hundred years or so - Technology was and still is intended to make our lives easier, more manageable and more convenient - this may be true but at what cost? Many of those conveniences are major contributors to the aforementioned destruction of nature which I believe is a direct correlation to the drastic decline we’re seeing in people’s over all health and well-being.

I believe there are solutions to all of our earthly problems but the only way we stand a chance to correct them is if we make an effort to reconnect - Work on creating a closer relationship with Mother Nature and stop taking so much while making an effort to give back or at least show her a little more well deserved respect and appreciation. I could give you many suggestions on how to reconnect with nature but I will give you the the one that’s at the top of my list - grow a garden - This simple task will immediately change your perception and appreciation for nature -

In closing I want to say that I think Planet Earth is in desperate need of our immediate attention and I also think she is well worth it - after all she is our Mother.

(Entry made by John Nies)

The following is one of the definitions for intentions that I liked —  A course of action that a person intends to follow; The goal or purpose behind a specific action or set of actions

We all know that this can be used for both good or bad - Look around and we’ll find plenty of ‘good’ ones in the World but unfortunately there’s a whole lot of ‘bad’ one’s out there as well. The word came up a few times over the past week and it prompted me to think about my own history of intentions - For the most part throughout the short time I’ve been on this earth I think mine have been pretty good and yes I’ve had a handful of bad ones that led me down a road I’d rather not go back down - even in reflection - intentionally doing bad things leads to nowhere you or I ever want to go - it’s a very dark, dangerous, and scary place and the karma or the effect of your cause will ultimately create misery and suffering.

Id rather discuss and focus on the good one’s - I love the old adage: we reap what we sow - unless a good intention is backed by right action and a burning desire to bring things to fruition chances are the end result will be a big disappointment for all those involved - all good intentions do not have positive outcomes which is why people like Aldous Huxley were quoted saying things like “Hell isn’t merely paved with good intentions, it is walled and roofed with them.” Many good intensions are given up on, disposed, and left behind - resulting in disappointment, discouragement, resentment and even some guilt can be thrown into the mix

I believe that a focused mind, a strong body, and a bright spirit will help us see our best of intentions through - all the way till we reach our goals where the fruits of our efforts are ripe for the picking - In order to give us the best opportunity for success it’s so important to take care of the whole person that we are mind, body, spirit, and emotion - May all of your dreams come true.

John Nies

Why not? After all, they say there’s strength in numbers - Whoever ‘they’ are? - Well whoever ‘they’ are I happen to agree with them and here’s why - Take the first word of the three - ‘FAITH’ - that is a very powerful word - I can’t imagine going back to living the life I was living when my faith was fractured, questioning, and unstable - with faith we can enter into the realms of everything and anything is possible and man what an awesome feeling that is! - As we all know life will sometimes hit us hard challenging us with different types of adversity - creating anger, frustration, doubt and confusion which can sometimes leave us questioning our faith - now watch how word number two is going to make ‘FAITH’ even more powerful than it is all alone - ‘PATIENCE’ - by practicing patience we develop an ability to roll with those hard punches life hits us with - in time patience will thicken our skin and soften our hearts, teaching us very valuable lessons along the way - combining patience with faith enables us to accept things for what they are and see that perhaps things do happen for a reason - now lets add the third and final word into the mix - ‘TRUST’ - another big, powerful, and important word for us to contemplate - when we truly trust our faith then we absolutely have nothing to fear and without fear we are at peace - when we are at peace we are happy, we are connected, and once there we are able to direct our energy and focus into more meaningful and purposeful endeavors - Strength in numbers? - what do you think?