Good Morning Digital Neighbors! Happy Wednesday and November ADD Irregulars, Vagabonds of the WSN, Friends, Refugees, Early Birds, Later Dayers, Conversants, Lurkers, Phamily, Dawn Patrol, Triggeratti, Beautiful Bigots, Fascinating People and all Seekers of Sanity & Civility! I never did make a beginning of the month post for November, the day got ahead of me with its comings and goings. But today is here, and here we go at it again.

How about some quotes about death & dying today since in Cath-O-land it is all Souls Day and for many in Spanish cultures it is El Día de los Muertos. These Days of the Dead encapsulate All Saints (yesterday) and All Souls (today) and often overshadow the rest of the month. They are not meant to be days of morbidity and fear but rather celebrations of life and remembrance. The celebrations are often a syncretistic blending Catholic prayers for the Dead during November with some of the Ancestor remembrance and worship found in many cultures. Honoring the past is often as healthy thing for culture as it is for an individual. Destroying your past never allows one to learn from the difficult chapter or find integration through forgiveness. Forgiveness is never a blanket whitewashing of the past, like say amnesty which is a trendy word for the moment thanks to those who want a free pass on past actions. Forgiveness only works when there is accountability and repentance, not when there is a forgetful ignoring of the past as if "nothing happened." Lying poisons relationships and it is lethal when both the liar and the deceived know the lie is afoot and unaccounted.

Sorry, digressing, back to death and dying and some quotes. Perhaps a weeks worth, stay tuned for tomorrow. 🌞

Ordinary people seem not to realize that those who really apply themselves in the right way to philosophy are directly and of their own accord preparing themselves for dying and death. - Socrates

Few things have enriched my living more than thinking of dying. Few things have made me use time better than knowing it is not limitless. When I keep that awareness before me I experience many more days that are fruitful and vibrant rather than grey and nondescript. I hope it is many years from now but I try to be mindful of the moment being potential unknown.

Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows. - Pope Paul VI

There are only so many tomorrows - figure out what you think your life is about and get to it. Vocational discernment, discovery of your talent, realization of your passion or gift is much better for our youth than the standard grind of indoctrination-education. Discern well, but act on it sooner than later. That seems to be some of the best advice as we find our pilgrim journey and its meaning. Of course if you are prone to think life has no meaning, then enjoy the blindfolded roller coaster ride called life and death. Life is full of meaningful experiences even if one is prone to think there is no greater meaning at all.

All my life's about is cracking up people and them cracking me up and trying not to think about dying. That doesn't cost very much money. - Norm MacDonald

I hope my last words are none of the following: Hold my beer or Watch this! or Oh oh After faith, nothing helps me find meaning, purpose and mindful discernment like humor. Prayer (meditation if you are not a deists, they are different but similar enough) and laughter are some of the best things I have brought along on my pilgrimage of life. Happy Wednesday Digital Neighbors!

Forest Sun in November