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Our 2026 Program Calendar is now available. This year marks another important milestone in our history as we launch new programming, products, and more in celebration of Br. David’s 100th birthday.
I have the opportunity to learn and grow with every person I meet. Hearing about their experiences and the wisdom that they have learned can be shared with me. I can also learn from and about myself and use that to continue to grow love for myself and others. I can also learn from the natural world every day and stay grounded from its presence and beauty.
I hope that I’m learning and growing all the time.
Making commitments and saying yes, even when it might be uncomfortable or challenging, is one of the ways I’m moving forward and learning and growing.
That’s a great way,
dear Charlie,
and one I should participate in
more often.
Thanks for the encouragement. ♥
My mother and I
failed each other on so many levels,
but there was one place where we literally shone for each other.
She loved teaching me about the natural world
and everything in it . . .
that’s why she let me keep a baby robin I rescued
on a laundry rack in our kitchen and care for it
until it could fly.
She and I
also split the cost of an Audobon Society record album
that identified hundreds of brdsongs.
She couldn’t afford it on her own,
so I saved and contributed from my weekly allowance.
We were pals in the woods and on the beach,
turning over leaves and rocks,
finding toadstools to identify
and start my collection of rocks.
She told me about the nature of flowers and plants
as we explored our world.
I had no fear of the less ‘popular’ wildlife . . .
squirrels, snake, turtles or lizards,
and saw them all
as fellow travelers in this life.
She would pet the fuzzy backs of bumble bees,
and hold a stem of poison ivy in her hand,
for which I later suffered.
We came to a stream,
and there was a nice, plump frog that I tried to catch . . .
I put my hand around him
and he popped out the top . . .
I grabbed him as he emerged with the other hand
and so on,
until the slippery little guy escaped,
and she laughingly took a picture of my attempt.
She taught me a love of discovery,
showed me how to put a rock snail into the flower of a sea anemone
and watch it get snatched, eaten,
and the shell tossed back out.
When I was an adult
she took me up into the lower foothills of Boulder, Colorado,
and helped me dig up seashell fossils
from before the time of man.
That love,
along with a love of all of the natural world
has stayed with me,
even as our relationship deteriorated over the years.
She also taught me to sew and to cook,
how to make things from nothing,
and sometimes,
due to our lack of money,
she taught me how to think creatively.
even as our relationship deteriorated over the years.
That was her legacy to me . . .
not the one she intended,
I’m sorry,
but it has become one of the most meaningful things in my life,
and I will thank her for that
for as long as I live.. ♥
What a heartfelt ode to what sounds like a difficult relationship. I am glad you have this legacy of caring and attention to the natural world, what an endless repository of awe.
It is perhaps the most important gift I received from her,
dear Drea.
Thank you. ♥
❤️
I am back!! My daughter is home finally and doing much better. She has a wonderful friends group now that supported her while she was ill but I needed to pay attention from a distance to what was going on. Thank goodness for Hospital portals. I could read all of the doctor notes. Now it is time to think about me again. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I was just not in the happy new year spirit and needed to focus on my darling daughter. Happy New Year! ✨
Thank you for this update, glad to hear your daughter is now back home.
Welcome back 🙂
Welcome back, Robin. I’m happy for you and your daughter.
I hug you with pleasure,
dear Robin Ann,
that your daughter has recovered
and has been released from the hospital.
Now you can breathe
and enjoy her improved health
with love . . . ♥
Mary pointed out to me, (Mary Mantei, I’m not speaking in first person ☺️). Anyway, Mary Mantei pointed out to me that there is much possibility in connection. So true. What a great awareness! Being somewhat shy, I don’t connect as much as I would like to, but I do appreciate the connections that I make. The opportunity for me is to be open to connecting and to appreciate connections as they happen. (A reminder to pay attention and avoid sleepwalking 😌.
Also I recently read that the opposite of depression is connection. I love that. I think I’ll write that one down and put it where I will see it often.
♥️♥️♥️ The opposite of depression is connection. ♥️♥️♥️
“The opposite of depression is connection.” Good reminder to proactively connect, to keep reaching out. Thank you Mary.
Yes, I agree 100%! It’s important to make connection a priority.
I have opportunities to learn and grow in every moment, every where, any where, every being, every environment and in all forms of knowledge and wisdom, and my willingness to be open, be present, not put any barriers towards learning and growth by opening and using my senses – sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, processed by my eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin, respectively that sends signals to my brain to build my understanding of reality. My experiences of learning have taken place when I least expected it through my life’s experiences, students, all spectrums of lives, situations, and age groups, present or absent, all forms of information materials such as the Bible, poetry books, …. “One of the most extraordinary aspects of our humanity is our capacity to learn, grow, and change.” Sheryl Chard
“My experiences of learning have taken place when I least expected….”
So true!
“So true!”
So true . . . . ♥
With the passing of my husband it feels like i’m taking a Masters course in mortgages, HELOCs, tax write-offs, house alarms, internet service, 97 4Runners, pensions, bank bureaucracy, insurance of all kinds … the list goes on. I’m a smart woman with a successful career – but THIS is hard stuff. So as i reflect on the question i’m going to choose to see these things as opportunities for growth.
My husband transitioned 3 months ago. It is overwhelming. Yes I have had to learn many things foreign to me. Hugs for the journey. Be gentle. David Kessler has many wonderful resources. We are in this alone and together.
I’m sorry you have to go through all of this,
dear Carly,
especially while grieving for your husband.
I don’t know if I could do it.
I hope you are able to make space for yourself
and your grief,
and for goodness’ sake,
I hope you have some loving help.
I hold you in my heart
with much love . . . ♥
sparrow
I can imagine how overwhelming all of that must be. Especially having to learn it while grieving. Choosing to see these things as opportunities for growth is so wise. I hope you are allowing yourself to have plenty of help too. ♥️♥️♥️
Oh, to be seen. Thank you.
I have many such opportunities every day.
In my work life, where I’m seeking to become a better leader in challenging times.
In my creative life that I seek to encourage and expand. This week I start classes in bookmaking and an introduction to drawing through our community center. I’m reading Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act: A Way of Being. It speaks to awareness, to bringing back the openness of childhood.
In my physical life. As I get older I adapt to the changes of my body. At the same time I don’t need to lose capabilities prematurely. I’ll be taking a dance/aerobics class Saturday mornings and learning movements to the sounds of Bollywood movie sound tracks while I build my aerobic capacity a bit.
In my life as a friend, parent, and wife. What people need or want from me changes over time. Paying attention to their direct requests and unspoken signals will deepen our connections.
In my life as a gardener. It’s time to consult seed catalogs and get some of those packets of life potential heading my way so I can start them indoors. I did this for the first time last year and started late, so I’m using that lesson this growing season. “Learn and grow” quite literally, for this part of my life!
Wow, you have really thought this through, Barb. I’m impressed.
How do you always have such great ideas for books to read???
I will look into Rick Rubin’s book. Thank you.
I have a lot of books I *haven’t* read yet too, Mary! I read every day. I wouldn’t want to imagine my life without reading.
Lately, I’ve been noticing my own resistance, while simultaneously cultivating surrender and faith. There’s a lot of growth and learning in the space between.
Thank you everyone who commented yesterday, when I shared that I would have hand surgery. I was dazzled this morning by your love and support.
You deserve every bit of that love and support. You are a real light here. 🌟
Thank you Mary, so are you! I love following your posts.
I am dazzled,
dear Drea,
by your courage and humor
with love . . . ♥
Thank you Sparrow, I deeply appreciate your poetic insights as well.
Yes, Sparrow, me too..
I have a perfect example in front of me. It’s supposed to snow tomorrow. I don’t have to go up to work, I can work another day. I have learned about myself from therapy that I’m not flexible and if things don’t go exactly my way, I get upset. I can practice flexibility and accept that it may not be the exact way I like by changing the days I work. It’s an opportunity to grow.
I love your focus on growth, Christina.
Thank you, Mary! Like many here my focus is on growth.
I will gather with 5 other women on Tuesday to brainstorm 20 fun activities to put in our 2026 year. I am looking forward to the possibilities.
That’s an amazing idea!!!
What a good idea! Gives plenty to look forward to.
I’m struggling because old tapes are replaying in my head. To paraphrase Joseph, the monkey is jumping around in the tree and I want to shoot him!The need to control is rampant. I’m labeling everything–experiencing the good/bad duality that gets me “no where” instead of “now here.” Today’s question has helped me state it here. That’s the beginning of acceptance and the willingness to let it teach me. Sigh! It is so humbling!!!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wjqhdfIT-qs
I just watched this short on youtube and waned to share it.
That damn monkey! Best for me to invite him into my lap, instead.
I’m sorry you’re “playing old tapes”. I know that feeling well. I like the David Brooks clip.
I was friends with someone for a short while, while I was at my lowest point, and he showed me a better way to be. And it did make a difference at the time.
His courage to engage with others that were struggling, and how he chose to do this, was inspiring and I admired him and wanted to be more like him.
Yes, this business of self discovery ain’t easy. 😁
Your openness inspires me, Carol Ann.
And great clip!
Carol Ann, you are seeing the need to control, the duality, and its consequences. That is 70% of the battle! Keep it up.
I admire David Brooks. I have read a couple of his books and find so much wisdom in them. Thank you
Each day presents itself with an opportunity to learn and grow.
Simply put, everywhere. Openness, interest, curiosity, presence, awareness are all doors to learning. It is a very satisfying way to go about life. ♥️
I agree, Mary. Really there are opportunities to grow everywhere.
Life is filled with opportunities to learn and grow. Recently I realized that these questions and this space create an outlet and connection I don’t always share with people in my everyday life. I try and have shared this site but no one seems to be interested.
I think it’s time to open up dialog with people in my life drawing from this place. I think there is much to learn. For example what does faith mean to my loved ones? It’s an answer I take for granted and don’t ever ask. What are they truly grateful for? Again I assume the answer but never feel the need to ask. These are the lessons I want to dive into.
I admire your willingness, Deann.
I read once to keep the word ” fork” in mind when we hold a conversation.
F….family
O…… occupation
R… Spiritual ideas, values, beliefs
K….. Knowledge
This may have come from one of David Brooks books.