Word Rich: Dark Energy
I once asked a bird, how is it that you fly in this gravity of darkness? She responded, love lifts me. — Hafez Succeed and Soar’s first, the 2022 “Words” series explored phrases that could help appreciate and heal human experiences. The 2025 theme is astronomy. Although Dark Energy is invisible, this force fills 85 percent of the universe. This power pulls the galaxies away from each other. The closest galaxy to our Milky Way, Andromeda grows more distant by 1,122 miles each moment. The most distant, observable galaxy is now considered MoM-z14. It formed 280 million years after the Big Bang and grows more distant by nearly a quarter million miles each moment. Essentially, “dark matter” is the vast parts of the universe that cannot be seen but which affect what’s visible. While the universe contains a power that pulls things apart, the same energy exists within and around people. In the post “4 Hidden Influences That Are Holding You Back,” inc.com lists, Personal experiences Family Beliefs Cultural Patterns Social Imprints The well-being site Arcto360 reports, Since the day we are born, we are constantly inundated with the influences and opinions of those around us. Over time these influences often shape our default way of thinking, unconsciously guiding our perceptions and decisions. Since we have thousands of thoughts every single day, we usually don’t recognize how often our mind is making interpretations and judgments about the world around us without our conscious consent. To discover the ‘hidden influences’ creating distance from what the heart and soul desires, the Arcto360 article suggests these three ways to address personal ‘dark energy,’ Practicing mindfulness which involves separating events from responses. Mindfulness can be learned by paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Taking a walk and practicing yoga can help. Meditation can enrich mindfulness. Further, the Mayo Clinic finds “meditation reduces stress, anxiety, and blood pressure, while also improving sleep, attention, and memory.” Journaling promotes self-reflection and awareness that can uncover unconscious influences. Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. Click Here to View Dark Matter and Dark Energy Explained in 6 MinutesSee Also: Neil deGrasse Tyson: What is Dark Matter? What is Dark Energy? 10 minutes What is Dark Matter? 02:25 Fine Art America Journals Record dreams, hopes, plans and achievements in these beautiful, inspiring notebooks. Details: 6” x 8, spiral notebook 120 pages, ruled on both sides Art printed on front Cover is thick paper stock. Back cover is medium gray Inside front and back covers have pockets for storing extra paper and pens View All Notebooks Thanks for shopping!
Rich Words, Event Horizon
May your dreams defy the laws of gravity. – H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Click Here to View “What Exactly Is a Black Hole Event Horizon?” [12 Minutes] See Also: What if You Fell in a Black Hole? [5 Minutes] What Happens at the Event Horizon [19 Minutes] Succeed and Soar’s first, the 2022 “Words” series explored phrases that could help appreciate and heal human experiences. The 2025 theme is astronomy. Event Horizons border Black Holes. NASA describes them as an, “object with a gravitational pull so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.” While the sun is about 864,000 million miles wide [109 Earths could line up across the center], the Milky Way galaxy, and others, have remnants of stars 100,000 to billions of times larger than the Sun. When huge stars collapse, they become “singularities,” Black Holes bordered by Event Horizons. Inside, time and space is different. A rocket must fly at over 25,000 miles per hour to escape Earth’s gravity. Light travels at at 670,616, 629 miles per hour yet is not fast enough to escape Black Holes. Once crossing an Event Horizon, nothing returns. That boundary separates the known ways the universe works from what is not knowable. Of Event Horizons, educator Patrick Overton said, “When you walk into the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for you to stand upon or you will be taught to fly.” Overton wrote Rebuilding the Front Porch of America “Going into the unknown is how you expand what is known,” says Julien Smith, business management coach and author of My Morning Routine. Annette White, author of Bucket List Journeys adds, ““Each time you try something for the first time you grow—a little piece of fear is replaced with empowerment.” The nearest Black Hole yet discovered is “1,560 light-years from Earth.” On Earth, Event Horizons are much closer. Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. I’ll be glad to schedule a Zoom chat this topic. COMMENT. Wise Ways shares observations and meditations on how to make the most of each moment. Topics range from time management strategies to handling Sub-Optimal decisions a/k/a mistakes, fearful situations and more. This book is beautifully illustrated, encouraging and offers lots of inspiration. 5×8, 36-page Pocket book $13.00 Preview-Purchase 8×10 64-page Sketch Journal $20.00 Preview-Purchase Through March 26, 2025, all books 15% off with Discount Code INSPIRE15. Additional savings available starting with purchases of 10, 20 and larger quantities. Contact to arrange In-Person and On-Line workshops. Thanks for shopping!
Life’s Great Wheel
This too shall pass. — Eleanor Roosevelt Earth spins at a thousand miles an hour. Our sun hauls its planets through space at 448,000 mph (720,000 km/h), taking 225 million years to circle its galaxy. Goodness knows what the Milky Way orbits and how long that takes. In time, the Atlantic will wear away the rocks in this post’s Featured Art. The setting sun will shine again. While Eleanor Roosevelt is credited with saying, “This too shall pass,” the phrase is three thousand years older. Legend says those words were offered to a Persian monarch who wanted wisdom that would be true in all situations. Abraham Lincoln told this story about joy and sadness, failure and achievement in 1859. So, how can life’s ups and downs be survived … more easily? Zig Ziglar suggested evenly distributing time given to jobs, spiritual and intellectual growth, friendships, family, financial planning and physical care using his Wheel of Life. Think of the circle below as a personal Wheel of Fortune rolling along life’s highways and byways. By staying centered, in the white hub, progress is possible without the ups and downs experienced on the rim. Eleanor’s Insights Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ These rocks featured in this post were photographed at Martha’s Vineyard. Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
Einstein 22: Your Awesome, Big Picture
A human being is part of a whole called by us the universe. – Albert Einstein Savor the following marvels about who you are and your glorious possibilities: “We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out.” Neil deGrasse Tyson Read More. “When we look out into space we are looking into our own origins because we are truly children of the stars.” Source Unknown Read more. “The world would have you agree with its dismal dream of limitation. But the light would have you soar like the eagle of your sacred visions.” – Alan Cohen More “A person is neither a thing nor a process but an opening through which the Absolute can manifest.” – Martin Heidegger More With these awesome thoughts, Succeed & Soar’s Einstein Inspirations series ends [and can be revisited here.]. Hope you’ve enjoyed. For the past month, I’ve considered taking a posting break. Aah! But there are so many wonderful wisdoms and images to share. So, this summer Succeed and Soar will deliver quick delights chosen to lift hearts and spirits, awareness and humanity. Blessings & best wishes, Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire Shop “Gorgeous Green,” this week’s Featured Art. This Post’s Featured Video A Super Special Weekend Saturday, June 19: Juneteenth We also don’t want people to think it’s a Black thing, or a Texas thing because it’s not. None of us are free until we’re all free. And we aren’t free yet. – Opal Lee, Grandmother of Juneteenth Read more. The holiday’s name encompasses the week required for word to cross Texas that the United States had ended Chattel Slavery and for celebrations with music, games, parades and red soft drinks to begin. Check out: How to Celebrate Juneteenth Earliest Juneteenth Celebrations Pittsburgh Juneteenth Observances 50 Companies observing Juneteenth and investing in social equality Sunday, June 20 Father’s Day Sometimes, we need to father ourselves as well. Here are precious ways. Summer Solstice When Earth’s north pole is tilted farthest from the sun [at 11:32 pm EDT], the northern hemisphere enjoys its longest day [remember to enjoy strawberries]. ******* Sandra’s Greeting Cards Keep in touch with family and friends beautifully! My greeting cards will send smiles across the miles. Say thank you, share something funny, send birthday wishes and let folks know you’re thinking of them. My greeting cards, Measure 5” x 7” large enough to frame Made of chlorine- and acid-free, archival-quality 120 lb. premium cardstock Available in matte or glossy finish Professionally printed Sold in set of 10 or 20 with white envelopes Produced in compliance with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Made in USA Twelve images from my galleries are currently offered [selections change]. Support Succeed and Soar. Shop today. Join Succeed & Soar Mail List
Einstein # 12: The Difference Between Clever and Wise
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein I can’t add to Einstein’s words but want to share that this is International Dark Sky Week. It encourages us to enjoy starry skies and reduce light pollution. This week, those who rise before the sun can see the crescent skim Saturn, then Jupiter, backed by the constellation Capricorn. Read more. Since 2002, the third Thursday in April has been National High-Five Day. It began when students at the University of Virginia gave away lemonade and happy hand slaps. BTW, the High Five uplifted the earlier ‘low five,’ also called “slip-slapping”, “slapping the plank” and “soul shake” Read more. Whether by clever means or wise, succeed and soar enjoy high-fiving folks Thursday and star gaze all week … always! Shop “Hydrangea,” this week’s Featured Art. Blessings & best wishes. Ramadan This week’s new crescent launches Ramadan. These thirty days are best known for prayer and fasting, when Muslims eat and drink nothing from daybreak to nightfall. As a month that focuses on the inner life, these four weeks and two days offer much to any spiritual practice. Gossip and arguments are avoided. Patience, compassion, mercy, forgiveness and gratitude are highlighted. What a wonderful way. This year, Ramadan starts at sundown, Monday, April 12. Read more. Photo Credit: PNGTree.com
Einstein #11: Driving in Reverse
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. – Albert Einstein Conservation values the past and how things were once done. Progress requires a different, more expansive future. Conservative and progressive approaches have their places, like checking the rear view mirror while zooming forward. That said, consider the guide for Samurai warriors. The Hagakure teaches, It is said that what is called “the spirit of an age” is something to which one cannot return. That this spirit gradually dissipates is due to the world’s coming to an end. For this reason, although one would like to change today’s world back to the spirit of one hundred years or more ago, it cannot be done. Thus it is important to make the best out of every generation. As this post’s Featured Video shows, we cannot stay where we are. The universe always sails forward, advancing, progressing. Along the way, keep asking questions. ***** Hermitage, Pennsylvania’s Avenue of Flags was created by in 1977. Tom Flynn established the park as a special place for veterans and to remind that freedom isn’t free. A democracy is a government of social equality shaped by the voters. For a democracy to work, voting must be encouraged, effective and easy. The voting changes legislated in Georgia have caused the outcry that includes boycotting companies headquartered in that state. See list. Beyond Georgia, additional situations require progress to make the United States a democracy that’s truly representative and that honors those who’ve sacrificed to make it so. Read more.