Author: Karuna Poole

I am recently retired psychotherapist who now spends much of my time working as a forest and habitat restoration volunteer. For decades, I have focused much of my attention on watching for and learning the lessons life sends my way. I share my stories and reflections, both past and present, in my blog Living, Learning and Letting Go.

Just What I Needed

I haven’t watched any of the new season of America’s Got Talent or Britain’s Got Talent. Then earlier today, a friend sent me a link for a video that shows three of the performances of the person who recently won Britain’s Got Talent. Within a few minutes of starting to watch it, tears were pouring from my eyes. Tears of appreciation, tears that come when my heart is touched. As I was putting together this post, I watched it again. More tears. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Amma Quotes

I’ve seen quite a few Amma quotes recently that I have wanted to share. I decided I would put them all in one post!

Having the freedom to decide how to act, we should exercise the faculty of discrimination to choose the right actions and attitude.

Pray: Let the music of peace and harmony be heard everywhere.

It is pure love and selfless service that sustains this universe.  

We must cultivate a spiritual culture that respects and worships the sanctity of all beings.

Patience, constant enthusiasm and firm determination are necessary factors for success.

A Fascinating Plant- Update 1

On October 9th, I posted photos of a plant that had grown from a sweet potato that had sprouted in my kitchen. At first, I had put it in water. Once roots had developed, I planted it in soil. That was done during the 3rd week of September.

Since it was so late in the year, I had planted it in an indoor pot. Today, I noticed how much the plant had grown since I last took photos of it on October 6th. I decided to post new photos!

October 13
October 13

FOTD

A Fascinating Plant

When I came home from Woodinville in mid-August, I discovered that a sweet potato on my kitchen cabinet had sprouted. By then the sprout was at least 8 inches long and it had many 1/8 – 1/4 inch leaves. I watched it grow for a few weeks and then decided to cut off the part of the sweet potato with the sprout. I put the cutting in a cup of water.

I was shocked by how fast the roots grew. Pretty soon the glass cup was filled with roots. I took a photo at that point but when I looked for it on the camera later, it was nowhere to be found.

The third week in September, I decided to plant the cutting in dirt. It was too late in the year to plant it outside so it would have to be a house plant. Once planted in dirt, it seemed like the leaves doubled in size every day. It was hard to imagine they had only been 1/8 – 1/4 inches weeks before. This photo was taken on September 23.

And here are two I took on October 6.

It is a beautiful plant. I hope it continues growing. I wonder if it will ever produce sweet potatoes. If so, will it be during the winter since it is being treated like a house plant? This will be an adventure.

FOTD

Surprise Visitors

One day early last spring, I was taking a walk in my neighborhood. When I looked down a nearby alley, I was surprised to see some chickens. I don’t remember if they were roosters or hens. I’ve never seen any chickens running free around here before. Recently, however, I have heard a rooster crowing many times, mostly in the evening.

A few days ago, I asked a neighbor for some help. While he was at my house, he looked out the window and noticed a hen walking down the driveway on the south side of my house. I’ve lived here since 1973 and this was the first time I’ve see a chicken walking through my yard.

After the neighbor left, I looked out the windows on two sides of my house, hoping to get another glimpse of the hen. I was surprised to see both a hen and a rooster in my front yard. Then, I noticed a second hen. I rushed to get my phone so I could take some photos. I was able to get shots of two of them.

Soon, two of the chickens crossed the street in front of my house.

A few seconds later, this is what I saw!

I had one more surprise in store. When I looked out the window, I was shocked to see a rat run across my garden and into the street. It went under a car and then from underneath that car to underneath a parked pick up truck. I hope to not see that kind of surprise again.

Later, I found out that the chickens belong to someone a street away from me.

Amma Quote

September 21 was the International Day of Peace. This was Amma’s message that day.

Let there be goodness, prosperity, health, happiness, peace, and abundance for everyone. May Mother Nature forgive our mistakes and bless us with a year in which there are no natural disasters. May everyone’s stomach be full and may everyone have a roof over his head. May there be peace on every corner of the earth. Let us sow good thoughts and reap good actions. Let us sow good actions and reap good habits. From good habits and behaviour, we can build a beautiful life. Through living a good life, we can rewrite our destiny. The strength, courage and goodness to overcome difficult situations is inherent within each of us. We need to awaken them. If we have a heart that doesn’t lose hope and a mind that’s always cheerful, we will be able to see newness and find happiness in everything. If we are able to be loving, friendly and content, there can be no greater cause for celebration. May all of you become messengers of love and peace in this world! May grace fill your lives with peace and happiness! – Amma

Link to Video Message https://youtu.be/hU-Wvw9t79U