Einstein 19: Mystery & Beauty
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. – Albert Einstein Memorial Day began in the 1860s as a time to decorate soldiers’ graves. This weekend, while enjoying summer’s first barbecue, the sales and permission to start wearing white clothes, remember that ‘holiday’ originally meant holy-day, a sacred and consecrated time. Wakeup World suggests that we need time and space to “to experience a depth, richness, and sense of meaning that usually escapes us in fast-paced everyday life.” Read more. Everything Soulful lists four ways to create sacred space, including clearing clutter and adding aromatic oils. Read more. Most important, holidays can involve slowing the busy-ness long enough to simply be, to allow time to gaze at the stars, flowers, a lake, birds in flight,, flags in a cemetery and ask, “Why?” Blessings & best wishes. Shop This Week’s Featured Art Featured Video The Black Folk Who Started Memorial Day Several dozen organizations claim to have started Memorial Day, by laying flowers on the graves soldiers who died during the Civil War. Women in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania began decorating graves in 1864, In 1866, the women of Columbus, Mississippi decorated the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers, understanding that all the men had families where they were sons, fathers and brothers. But May 1, 1865 can stand as “The First Decoration [Memorial] Day.” To honor 257 Union soldiers who died fighting to end enslavement, Black people of Charleston, SC dug bodies from a mass grave and labored for two weeks to provide decent burials, commemorated with a parade of 10,000, led by 2,800 Black children. Read more. Also Read You must acknowledge problems to fix them. – Dr. Phil Three documentaries about the 1921 Tulsa tragedy present a problem this country must fix to become truly great and stand as a shining example before the world. HISTORY CHANNEL “Tulsa Burning,” broadcast Sunday May 30, 8 E/7C. Preview PBS-HDTV, “Tulsa, The Fire and The Forgotten,” broadcast Monday, May 31, 9pm ET Preview NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL, “Rise Again, Tulsa and The Red Summer,” broadcast June 18, 9pm Eastern Time Preview
Einstein 7: Bicycles
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. – Albert Einstein In 2005, while trying to forget an ex-girlfriend, Jeff Goldblatt realized many struggled with lost hopes and dreams, disappointments and loves. He founded National Get Over It Day This annual opportunity each March 9 [Tuesday, this year] includes a certificate that states, Under no coercion by anyone [except those who are tired of hearing me bitch and complain], I hereby declare that I will get over the following: To keep riding our bicycles during stalls, the Purpose Fairy recommends peddling to a community that feels warmer, safer and more hope filled. Read more. LifeHack.org’s “Five Secrets to Keep Going When You Think You Can’t” include: Fake It Till You make It, because — eventually — the experience teaches something helpful. Read more. Mary Oliver agreed when she said, “Someone I loved once gave me a box of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” To truly get over those kinds of presents, go garden shopping. Prepare to celebrate National Plant A Flower Day, March 12 [Thursday this year]. Blessings & best wishes, Sandra Gould Ford ***** In my attempt to Get Over Winter and plant flowers, I checked statistics and found my city, Pittsburgh PA averages nine days and almost five inches of snow in March. I investigated more and learned: Falling snow is clear, not white. 7,600 people joined the biggest known snowball battle on January 31, 2016 in Saskatoon, Canada. Six-pointed stars, diamonds and rods are three of over 35 snowflake shapes Here are More Fascinating Snow Facts *****