Life Finds a Way

Here in the Pacific Northwest, there’s nothing more depressing each August and/September than seeing the summer sky filled with wildfire smoke, and constantly scanning air quality sites to see if I can safely walk the dog, or shut in for the day.

This is a view from my house one morning last week while walking the dog.

It’s very gloomy, and it’s hard not to get depressed knowing that in the years to come this will probably get worse, not better. On the other hand, I thought about it, and I was still thankful to be alive, able to breathe, and see the sunrise. I don’t mean this in a naïve “live laugh love” sort of way. It’s just like that Zen aphorism about every day being a good day: it’s not that every day is happy and blissful, especially if you have to deal with work, kids, and bills, it’s just that simply being alive one more day is still kind of remarkable in a way.

Also, each little thing you do, each decision you make, each word you say, does matter even if you can’t see the results right away.

Namu Amida Butsu