Carol A. Hand
I remember the golden light of other northwoods’ autumn mornings
The brisk refreshing winds that caress my cheeks and toss my fairy-fine hair
I’m grateful for the memories of love and laughter in my life
It is enough
As I listen to my parakeets and dog sing to greet the day
The morning sun streams through the windows
Casting dancing lights and shadows on the wall
It is enough
To learn of my daughter’s accomplishment and share laughter in an email
I think of my family and hope that they will continue to experience
The beauty and gift of golden autumn mornings like today
It is enough
Knowing when “enough is enough” and being grateful – the path to peace.
Photo: Autumn Trees
Reflections inspired by the Tao:
When people do not follow Tao
Their horses are harnessed for war,
Their energies are used for destruction,
And many go hungry.
Great trouble comes
From not knowing what is enough.
Great conflict arises from wanting too much.
When we know when enough is enough,
There will always be enough.
(Dreher, 1990, p. 126).
Work Cited:
Diane Dreher (1990). The Tao of inner peace: A guide to inner and outer peace. New York, NY: Harper Perennial.
Copyright Notice: © Carol A. Hand and carolahand, 2013-2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Carol A. Hand and carolahand with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Voices from the Margins 
Didn’t see anything about achievement, awards and recognition! Wow. Love and beauty are enough for peace.
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I love your playful comment, April. Thank you.
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Appreciating what is and knowing that it is enough is a blessing! Beautifully expressed in your poem, Carol.
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Lovely, thoughtful comments, Tiny. I’m deeply grateful to you.
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Simply stunning and oh so true, Carol. I have to agree 100% with Tiny’s comments. Today and always, enough is enough! Love, N 🙂 ❤
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Love and hugs to you, too, Natalie. I’m deeply grateful to you for sharing your lovely comments. ❤
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Carol, I believe you have named the scourge of our time. Maybe it is just the bane of humanity. So hard to witness endless consumption.
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It is hard to watch, Michael. Consumerism is not an easy compulsion to overcome without a sense of connection and purpose …
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a beautiful expression, Carol!
carrying me into knowing
this day
that i have more
than enough 🙂
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Lovely thoughts, David. I’m deeply grateful to you 🙂
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Funny, I’ve been re-reading a new translation of the TaoTeChing for the past couple of weeks. It grounds me in the helter skelter at the clinic. Lovely poem.
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Thank you for your wonderful comments, Skywalker. 🙂
The Tao is lovely and deeply meaningful. I don’t read it as often as I used to. Still, I keep Dreher’s book on the nightstand by my bed and sometimes open it randomly to see the message that appears. Occasionally, I wake up the next morning with an insight I feel an urgency to share as I did the morning I wrote this short poem.
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Very timely post for me, as we in Canada are celebrating Thanksgiving this very weekend in our churches and communities! (Our holiday is not connected to any historical episodes. For those of us following Christ in our spiritual practice, this is a special time of thanking God for the harvest and all the blessings we enjoy daily, even amidst troubles. We are reminded not to take our blessings for granted, and to share with others so there is enough for all). Your poem’s vivid imagery beautifully inspires the enjoyment of the simplicity and blessings of every day life! The Dreher poem clearly expresses the mindset of the Thanksgiving message too – we share some essential principles. Thank-you for this lovely post! Wishing you continuing simplicity, thanksgiving, and peace each day. 🙂
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Thank you fro sharing such thoughtful and lovely insights, Hildegard. Being grateful for the simple things every day helps me stay focused on what really matters.
I send you wishes for a blessed and peaceful thanksgiving.
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Thank-you Carol! Every day is thanksgiving… 🙂
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My favourite time of year. Thanks for reminding me to be thankful for beauty even in the midst of a determined struggle for my country against a hate-sowing tyrant.
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Sending you my best wishes, Bob, and my gratitude for your kind words and for the important work you’re doing these days on the election 🙂
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Reblogged this on Buster's Two Cents and commented:
A perfect thought! Unfortunately, old Bernie’s take on the subject is also needed in our current circumstances.
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