A Prime Day

The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.”

Elise Boulding

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Amazon apparently had more than a billion dollar in sales on Prime Day, which lasted 30 hours. Really?

The most popular items sold were smart speakers, tablets, 4K TV screens, programmable pressure cookers, DNA ancestry tests, Whey protein powder and “Game of Thrones” on Blu-Ray. Exactly what I needed, not.

When do we realize that this mad consumption does not make us one iota more happy, free or healthy? To the contrary.

Twilight on the Chilkat River

I am happy to report that I have spent zero dollars and more importantly zero seconds on trying to buy anything on Prime Day.

Have a grand day out.

Note to Self

“Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be.”

Groucho Marx

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Some days it is difficult to remember that happiness is a choice.

Wishing you and me the ability to remember that.

That and great views.

Clouds, Mist, and Rain

“Clouds come floating into my life,
no longer to carry rain or usher storm,
but to add color to my sunset sky.”

Rabindranath Tagore

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The storms that drifted into my life lately have brought mist and rain. Considering we are in the middle of August that is not surprising. The rainy season is about to begin. Mushrooms are popping up everywhere, the first yellow leaves are falling to the ground…

The clouds have also brought colors into the sunset sky. Or is it that the sun is actually setting? By 10PM I need to switch on the lights to read. They were not needed during the earlier part of summer.

So I will consider Mr. Tagore’s advice and enjoy the colorful sunsets.

Rabindranath Tagore was an Indian poet, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.

Road trip

Sometimes I prefer traveling over arriving. This year’s road trip went from Salt Lake to Alaska. It’s the third time that I made the long trek up north. For the first time in July, which made for amazing weather and beautiful wild flowers along the way.

See for yourself.

Floating trees, BC

Picture perfect weather, BC

Wild flowers, BC

Mt. Robson, BC

Athabasca Falls, BC

Banff National Park, BC

First ship

“The traveler sees what he sees.
The tourist sees what he has come to see.”

G.K. Chesterton

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The first cruise ship of the season has arrived in town. Spitting out 3000 passengers in search of memories and experiences.

For some travelers these memories consist of merchandise: T-shirts, hats, and diamonds…

Unfortunately the diamond hunters did return empty handed, as none of the 25 diamond stores in a town of 700 souls had opened their seasonal shops. The stores are closing in fall the day the last ship leaves and remain locked for the whole winter. The large window fronts collect dust, hiding the bare interior. In spring a row of nondescript, rusty containers roll into town. Overnight windows are cleaned, shop signs are polished, and display cases are overflowing with expensive jewelry, watches, and art work. Well, I assume the goods are expensive, since no prices are displayed.

This year the first ship beat the diamond stores to the punch. All we had to offer was a beautiful spring day. I wonder how many visitors appreciated the precious beauty of their surroundings and took home those memories free of charge.

Spring time

Compassion

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I am trying to read a book on the Dalai Lama’s Vision for Our World by Daniel Goleman. It’s not going very well…

Though I found a few nuggets early on.

One of the Dalai Lama’s morning routine is to listen to the BBC. Goleman writes: “The BBC’s litany of human injustices and sufferings has led him to the insight that most tragedies are the result of a single deficiency: a lack of compassionate moral responsibility.”

…

“Today’s news echoes last year’s, last decade’s, last century’s”

…

As an escape from this vicious cycle the Dalai Lama sees one solution: the creation of a force for good.

If you want to understand what this means you have to read the rest of the book, although it is not an easy read. I wish the Dalai Lama had written the book himself, as his introduction is brilliant and concise.

“As a human being I acknowledge that my well-being depends on others and caring for others’ well being is a moral responsibility  I take seriously.”

Dalai Lama

The answer

“Love is the answer.

What was the question?”

John Lennon

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since it is Valentines Day, otherwise “The Calm after the Storm” would have been a good way to describe today’s ski excursion into the Coastal mountains. Now, we are waiting anxiously for the clouds to disappear and giving way to the Northern Lights.

Can’t wait to see the aurora with this backdrop on a crisp night.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Errands

Iditarod Trail Invitational

Had to go to the store today and watch the Superbowl in my favorite dive. Didn’t feel like driving, so I bundled up, got my bike out and rode to town. 12 mile round trip, 6 inches of snow on the road. I met one snow machine rider, three trucks, and one skier. Home in the dark with head lights. Beautiful, quiet ride with no wind, just around freezing.

21 days until the 2016 Iditarod Trail Invitational, the longest winter ultra marathon by fat bike, foot and ski and following the historic Iditarod Trail. The short race is 350 miles, the big boys and girls go all the way to Nome for about 1000 miles. Me? No I am not going, hoping to put in some turns in the local pow, if you get my drift.

Best Wishes

Merry Christmas &  Happy New Year to all of you, your family and friends!

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“Dear Santa!

I’d like a slim body and a fat bank account. Hope you get it right this year and not the other way around, like last year.”

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I had to laugh, when I read that joke the first time. I still have to laugh.

Seriously, money and appearance are nice, but what counts most is health and happiness. In that sense, I hope we all find ways to maintain a healthy body and a grateful mind.

Winter Solstice

“Is it snowing where you are?

All the world that I see from my tower is draped in white and the flakes are coming down as big as pop-corns.

It’s late afternoon – the sun is just setting behind some colder violet hills, and I am up in my window seat using the last light to write to you.”

Jean Webster

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The sun did rise this morning at 8:56 behind a snowy sky. Not that we have seen a lot of her, lately. It is the beginning and the the end of winter. Starting tomorrow there will be more daylight. We are heading for spring and summer. The colors will be muted for some months to come. But they will return.

In the meantime, we’ll make the best out of it. Reading, writing, working from home. Enjoying breaks in the weather. It is a good time to appreciate what we have.