Message from the Mountain

It was fun enjoying the different decorations we collected to help us celebrate the holidays, but our collecting actually goes on all year round. One way we do it is to find magnets that we can display to bring back positive memories of our travels.   Support the show

As we wait for the ground to be covered in snow, I look for a little bit of color in Nature to brighten the day; today I find the greens of moss growing on rocks to be grateful for. I believe there is something each day that can color our hearts with love. Support the show

Today we have a blank slate in front of us. It is a new year, and, yes, there are situations which carry over from last year, but, by following our hearts with gratitude for the opportunities in front of us, we can bring about positive changes. Support the show

On this last day of 2023, many people will be making New Year’s resolutions that will more than likely last for just a short period of time. I prefer to establish a morning routine using heart-based gratitude to set my intentions for reaching my goals, not only for me but for the greater good of others. Support the show

We are fogged in again here in the mountains and I am reminded of times, both staying on the seacoast and sailing with a friend, where we could see just a few feet ahead. Now there is new technology to help guide us, and we always have our internal guidance when our brain seems fogged in. Support the show

The recent rainy weather reminds me of when I was a child, pressing my face against the window on a rainy day, wishing it would go away. I still feel like that in inclement weather today, except now I know enough to set my intentions for there to be always something positive shining in my heart. Support the show

Over the holidays my wife wished that we had a small Christmas tree to put on a side table. So, the day after Christmas she found exactly what she was looking for on sale. It is never too late to begin a new tradition any time of year. Support the show

I recently noticed some apples hanging on to a tree in the orchard well beyond harvest time. I also noted that the beech leaves were still hanging on while other varieties had dropped their leaves a while ago. I thought of habits people have that have long since served their purpose but still hang on. Support the show

The varieties of animals that pass onto our land include predators on the hunt for their next meal. They can take a toll on other animals such as rabbits, partridges, and even turkeys. It would be nice if people did not act as predators towards others but work together for the greater good. Support the show

Regardless of whether you celebrate Christmas, another sacred day, or something entirely different this time of year, our wish for you is, ”Peace on Earth, Good Will towards Man”. Support the show

A couple of weeks ago, it looked like we were going to have a white Christmas, but then Nature washed the snow away, and it will be a brown one instead. Still, we have memories of past white ones and can now dream of the next one. Dreams can come true. Support the show

Memories come flooding back to me of all the times I have searched for the perfect Christmas tree. As a young child it was on the frozen bog near our home, to the trees my parents used to send in the mail was I was in Boston. Now they remain in Nature. Support the show

Just before the recent rain washed the snow away, we checked our game cameras to see if any wildlife were moving on the land. It is exciting to see the number of deer that use some of the same trails as people do. It is a good lesson in harmony. Support the show

For me this is a double celebration, being able to do my 5900th podcast on the day of the winter solstice, the time when daylight will now expand every day for the next six months. Then again, there is something to celebrate every day. Support the show

My intention each day is to wake up feeling gratitude, including just another day to discover something new. My focus of gratitude today is on the beautiful handmade view of the mountains that is displayed behind our nativity. Support the show

All thoughts of a White Christmas have been washed away by a large warm windy Northeaster that raised havoc in our area. The weather here can change in a moment, as it can in life. I choose to focus on being grateful for something. Support the show

As we approach the shortest day of the year, I find great joy in waking up to the warm glow of holiday lights shining in our windows. My heart is filled with gratitude for the magic that surrounds me. What a great way to start the day. Support the show

When we built our home here, we had a commanding view of the mountain range across the valley. Over time trees have grown, blocking out what we used to have. Fortunately, a painting my wife did for our first Christmas helps me remember. Life is always changing our perspectives. Support the show

When we first moved to New Hampshire, we would often drive around, and we fell in love with one specific view of Mt. Chocorua. Then we bought land with a similar view. Several years ago, around the holidays, a friend found a painting done by my great uncle of the mountain. Unbelievable. Support the show

I have enjoyed sharing stories with photos of remembrances from the holidays that would go unseen to people that never visit, such as a window with hanging ornaments. I am reminded that we all have unseen abilities we often hide from others. Support the show

We have a carved wooden bust of my father, and during the holidays we place a Santa hat on his head. Years ago, Father used to answer calls to Santa from children in town and one summer a child heard him laugh and looked at him wide-eyed, declaring, “You are Santa!” Support the show

We were left with a mountain of snow blocking our parking after the last storm. My wife shoveled enough space to unload the groceries. Now in the spirit of a distant relative who spent years, night after night, moving a mountain, I move a mountain of snow.   Support the show

Another one of our holiday favorites is a live poinsettia plant put where we can appreciate its beauty during the season and beyond. Our positive thoughts are also alive and growing way beyond the holidays. Support the show

Once we are old enough to have experiences that create memories, we often seek to re-experience these events at similar times in our future. The older we get, the more nostalgia we have, especially during the holidays. We are re-experiencing a beautiful ceramic nativity, discovering it again for the first time. Support the show

Nature is joining in the celebration of the holidays by adding her own sparkle to all the lights. She has formed tiny ice crystals on the frozen snow that sparkle in the sun like diamonds. Life has so much sparkle to take in all year round from people and Nature. Support the show