Tag Archives: gratitude

Get your praise on!

Posted on June 22, 2016 by jyourist

On our way to Father’s Day breakfast, my son called to tell us to put our car radio on V103. It was Sonya Blakey’s Sunday Gospel Show. Playing was a rendition of the Mississippi Children’s Choir’s “His Eye is on the Sparrow” (see … Continue reading →

Posted in music, retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Still Life with Gratitude” by Dean Rader

Posted on May 23, 2016 by jyourist

One day, the scientists tell us, every star in the universe will burn out, the galaxies gradually blackening until the last light flares and falls returning the all to darkness where it will remain until the end of what we … Continue reading →

Posted in death, poetry, relationship, stars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Seasonings

Posted on November 21, 2015 by jyourist

First snow of the season, first meal of the season inside (salmon, rice, red cabbage and raisins) in front of IB’s Japanese window screens because it is too cold to eat on the back porch, first Satsuma mandarins of the season … Continue reading →

Posted in food, fruit, Japan, seasons, winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

For no apparent reason

Posted on August 14, 2014 by jyourist

For no apparent reason, today I am feeling especially centered, open, compassionate. All my demons are quiet. Maybe it was the T’ai Chi at the lake that got the day rolling. Or my son finally resolving some difficult and thorny … Continue reading →

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Guru Purnima

Posted on July 12, 2014 by jyourist

Today is the Indian festival of Guru Purnima, a celebration of  gratitude to teachers, both academic and spiritual. In sanskrit, gu means darkness or ignorance and ru means the remover of that darkness. Purnima means full moon and this day … Continue reading →

Posted in sacred, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sit With Me A While Longer

Posted on June 4, 2014 by jyourist

Last night my good friend Michael shared his words and his heart with about 40 people at a poetry reading introducing his second book of poetry, Sit With Me A While Longer. Though he has written for quite some time, when … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimers, compassion, poetry | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Three Passover poems shared by three friends

Posted on April 19, 2014 by jyourist

On the second night of Passover, three Passover poems shared by friends: The first by Jane Hirshfield: xxxx In a Room with Five People, Six Griefs In a room with five people, six griefs. Some you will hear of, some not. … Continue reading →

Posted in poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Peonies in December

Posted on December 12, 2013 by jyourist

For the past several years, I have served as president of our union. It has not been the easiest of responsibilities. It took enormous amounts of time and energy, and sometimes I found myself beset with issues that presented moral … Continue reading →

Posted in union, work | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

in a genuine non-Hallmark-cardish way

Posted on December 21, 2012 by jyourist

…an unsolicited note I received today. I love my job.

Posted in Holidays, school, Teaching | Tagged , , | 1 Comment