- Life is always in transition. One must strike a balance between savoring the past and moving on.

- One of my co-workers was very pleased with himself for his parody of Nickelback's "Photograph." His version goes: "Look at this photograph, it's a picture of my wife's fat ass."

-  I had my second dream this week where I was beating a man in the face. I suppose my frustration with my co-workers is more than just surface level.

- Dan seemed to try to apologize for "picking on me" today with a sort of brotherly shoulder-grab. I suppose the art of humility involves taking every opportunity to exercise forgiveness, no matter the scope.

- I like journaling because it keeps my writing, naturally, very much in touch with dailiness. The challenge of modern living, or perhaps any sort of living, is to remain joyfully immersed in the present. The bills, difficult co-workers, traffic, and general weariness should not interrupt our meditation, rather, they are part of it. At least, this is the ideal when trying to live gently and at peace.

- Sometimes, you meet people who seem to have very few redeeming qualities. I wonder if you have ever had this experience? But, if you spend enough time with anybody, a bit of tenderness is bound to show through. It may never appear in the proportion you'd like, but it's good practice to appreciate it when it comes.

- At 4:30 this morning as I was leaving for work, I saw a strange formation of lights over town. As I moved closer, I could see an amoeba-like outline glittering like embers in a campfire. A large section of the mountain across the river had evidently caught fire, and was still smoldering. I left wishing I could have watched the scene a little while longer, to contemplate the feeling it inspired.

- Today Shirley asked me: "Whatever happened to people being good-natured?" It was a very heartwarming and sympathetic moment. I felt a surge of "togetherness" that has largely been absent from my workplace.

- When I count in tens to see what time I need to be back from lunch, I use my fingers. Should I be embarrassed?

Everything is an endless cycle of desire and fulfillment . What we call liberation is really an increased awareness of this cycle. For the body itself requires and implies desire, as does the fluctuating of the seasons; the very momentum of time.

Can we find joy in the transience of each moment, rather than sadness?

First day that the new leaves are really noticeable here in Brattleboro. Seems like they've suddenly opened.