It’s always so nice when I head out                                                                                                in the wee hours of the morning to take my puppy on a stroll around the neighborhood and watch the sky light up in pinks and reds as the sun rises up to warm up the day. Feeling the golden light of the sun on my face, and smelling the scents of the trees and flowers and the wafts of coffee and breakfast drifting from kitchen windows, is such a pleasant way to start the day. “What a beautiful day it is today!” I often say to my puppy on such mornings. And my puppy, who before I adopted him had endured years of neglect and abuse, and yet has come out of that situation as complacent, wise, and loving as a once incarcerated Buddhist monk, always replies, “As they all are, Mummy. As they all are!”

Many mornings are not like this though. Often it’s cold and raining, but as we walk the neighborhood, we see the birds, insects, and plants playing in and drinking in the fresh rainwater. How refreshed and clean the rain makes everything! When it snows, a bright and beautiful loud silence surrounds everything. When it’s windy, the windchimes and trees get to dance and sing. When it’s all of the above…it’s an orchestra with a whole chorus singing!

Today it is cold and raining, and today is a beautiful day. As they all are.