More life beginning in our hanging baskets: Joy and mourning

We have discovered another bird's nest in one of our hanging baskets.  This one is right outside our bedroom window.

(see one of our hummers flying to its feeder?)

Vicky carefully got a photo:

We, like everyone else, are reeling from current events.  Haim Ginott, the wonderful and wise Clinical Psychologist, had a few guidelines for living effectively.  One of those guidelines seems so simple, but is deceptively difficult to achieve at times.

That guideline is:   Allow yourself to have two feelings.  You don't need to be happy OR sad.  You can be both happy AND sad. 

Yesterday we posted a joyful dance video.  We continue to find ourselves getting better at dancing, because of practice.  We also did a powerful 30 mile bike ride.  Today we are going to learn some new dance steps and play ping pong, which we are also getting better at because of practice.

We are determined to find joy in our lives and in the world this week.  We are no less in mourning for doing this.  Two feelings.  We can't allow ourselves to be overcome by the misery and allow it to change us.  Instead of being incapacitated by the suffering, we have to take effective action which, for us, means contributing financially to the Presidential candidate who we believe stands the best chance of making a difference.   And it means holding onto joy.

Our joys this week included our granddaughter finishing sewing her first dress, something that required many hours of learning from Vicky who patiently taught her all of the steps.  Emily and Sean celebrating their 10th anniversary.  Our grandson Adam winning his Little League bracket by throwing a strike-out to the last batter in a see-saw game.

And we danced, and cycled, and laughed--laughed even when I was changing the flat tire in the middle of our bike ride. 

And watched with pleasure and awe at the new life being produced outside our bedroom windows.

And mourned.