March 20, 2015,, Goodyear, AZ- So, as I headed down to this western suburb of Phoenix, for a reunion with old friends, on the occasion of our Nineteen-Day Fast’s conclusion, the March Equinox brought Spring to the North and Autumn to the South. The evening was mostly convivial, and I got to know someone, who had once been off-putting, a bit better.
The occasion of Naw-Ruz, the ancient Persian celebration of the Vernal Equinox as New Year, has been adopted by the Baha’i Faith as our New Year. More about this, in my next post.
I used today as a time to formulate short-term affirmations and goals, for the season of Spring itself. These are in the categories of personal, community and extended community.
Personal- I will adhere to waking at 5:30 AM, each day.
I have eliminated sources of frivolity from my daily routine.
I will continue the regimen of daily health checks, morning devotions and exercise.
I will add evening devotions to that daily regimen. (This being one activity that lacked consistency in my life).
I will walk at least a half-hour after dinner, wherever I happen to be, every evening.
Hikes will continue to be a regular part of my weekly regimen.
I will continue with random, and intentional, acts of kindness, each day, wherever I happen to be.
Community- I will remain actively involved with my Baha’i community, with the Red Cross, with Angels of Prescott, and with Slow-Food Prescott.
I will serve out the remaining months of my term with the American Legion Post, though continuing as its Chaplain is a matter on which I am undecided, at this point.
Extended community- I will continue to expand on the size of this.
I will visit with friends both locally and farther afield.
I will offer daily messages and acts of support to those in my world.
I will continue to share and educate people, regarding Essential Oils.
I will make a journey, in late May and the month of June, to the Pacific Northwest and to Southeast Alaska.
Knowing these affirmations and goals will resonate with some, and viewed askance by others, I will honour them anyway.